Archery

…Liam's grin only deepened.

The arrogant curve of his lips was enough to ignite Cia's temper once again.

She took a step forward.

Before she could move any further...

Elisa gently caught her wrist and tugged her back.

Cia turned to look at Elisa.

Elisa simply shook her head with a soft smile, silently asking her not to escalate the situation.

Cia exhaled slowly.

Reluctantly...

She stepped back.

Even so...

Her glacier-blue eyes never left Liam for a single moment.

The chill behind her gaze alone was enough to make Braylen instinctively avert his eyes.

"Alright."

Liam folded his arms across his chest.

"You've accepted."

A smug smile spread across his face.

"So..."

"Shall we go?"

He looked directly at Chris with an unmistakable scoff.

"Um..."

Rhys scratched the back of his head.

"Chris..."

"Do you... actually know what the Apex Range is?"

His expression became increasingly confused.

…

Chris blinked.

The realization struck him all at once.

"Wait..."

"I accepted..."

"Without even knowing what it is..."

A wave of embarrassment washed over him.

He slowly raised his right hand to cover his mouth before awkwardly looking away.

Then...

Without facing Liam directly...

He spoke.

"Liam..."

"Just one question."

Liam raised an eyebrow.

"Anything."

"Go on."

His voice dripped with amusement.

"What..."

Chris rubbed the side of his cheek.

"...exactly is the Apex Range?"

…

Silence.

Then...

The entire group erupted into laughter.

"Hahahaha!"

"Hahahaha!"

Freya bent forward, clutching her stomach.

She walked toward Chris while pointing directly at him.

"You don't even know what the Apex Range is..."

She struggled to stop laughing.

"...and you seriously thought you were going to beat us?"

Ivy wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.

"So..."

She smirked.

"Where did all that confidence disappear to?"

The two girls continued laughing openly.

Braylen, however...

Remained silent.

The memory of Cia's freezing gaze still lingered vividly inside his mind.

He had absolutely no intention of provoking her again.

…

Liam finally stopped laughing.

A wicked grin slowly crept across his face.

"Alright."

"I'll educate you."

"The Apex Range..."

His eyes narrowed slightly.

"...is the Academy's Archery Field."

"It's located a reasonable distance away."

"But getting there is easy."

"We simply use the Kinematic Appendages."

His smile remained.

Yet the hostility hidden behind it became far more obvious.

"Uhm..."

Rhys awkwardly scratched the back of his head again.

"What exactly..."

"...is a Kinematic Appendage?"

…

For the second time...

Liam and his entire clique burst into uncontrollable laughter.

"You people..."

Liam wiped beneath one eye.

"...are honestly more ignorant than I imagined."

His mocking gaze settled upon Rhys.

"You really don't know anything."

…

Cia's fingers slowly curled into a fist.

The temperature around her quietly dropped.

Once again...

She attempted to step forward.

Once again...

Elisa gently held her back.

"Cia..."

Elisa smiled reassuringly.

"Not yet."

Cia clicked her tongue.

Then reluctantly remained where she stood.

"Listen carefully."

Liam's expression became slightly more serious.

"A Kinematic Appendage is a nanobot-constructed flight system."

"It allows Zodiacians to travel rapidly between the Academy's countless branches, sub-branches and specialized facilities spread throughout the Academy's immense territory."

"The Academy is far too vast for ordinary movement."

"So..."

"They're the standard means of transportation."

He folded his arms.

"There."

"Simple enough?"

"Alright."

Elisa nodded politely.

"So..."

"How do you activate it?"

Ivy sighed dramatically.

"Ugh..."

"Do you people know anything at all?"

She pinched the bridge of her nose in exaggerated disappointment.

Cia's expression immediately darkened again.

Elisa quietly tightened her grip on Cia's wrist before she could react.

Liam ignored the tension and continued.

"The Synaptic Hand Chain controls everything."

"It contains an electromagnetic sensor."

"Simply wave your hand over it."

"The interface will appear automatically."

He demonstrated the process.

A translucent rectangular interface projected itself above his hand chain.

Its sleek holographic frame floated effortlessly in the air, composed entirely of microscopic nanobots and shimmering Synaptic Energy.

"The interface changes color according to its user's Aura."

"The home display is intentionally minimal."

"Along the left side are three primary systems."

He pointed toward each icon in order.

"Communication."

"Map."

"And..."

"Appendage."

"Select the Appendage System."

"Then allow visualization."

As he finished speaking...

Everyone raised a hand over their Synaptic Hand Chains.

A gentle pulse of electromagnetic energy swept across their palms.

Immediately...

The interfaces materialized.

Chris's holographic interface glowed with a rich monochromatic grey.

Rhys's shone with a warm beige radiance.

Elisa's illuminated the air with elegant light purple hues.

Cia's interface shimmered like living glacier-blue crystal.

Liam's projected a refined Celestine glow.

Braylen's radiated soft periwinkle.

Ivy's gleamed with vibrant azure.

Freya's reflected a deep cerulean brilliance.

Each interface floated weightlessly before its owner, its Aura color subtly pulsating with every heartbeat.

They selected the Map function.

A magnificent three-dimensional projection unfolded into the air.

The Academy expanded before them.

An enormous living blueprint composed entirely of light.

Its countless districts, academies, sanctums, training fields, Lyceums, dormitories, cultivation grounds and specialized facilities stretched far beyond the visible projection, emphasizing once again that the Academy itself rivaled entire civilizations in scale.

The cursor drifted across the holographic landscape.

Finally...

It settled upon one destination.

APEX RANGE.

Each of them selected the location.

"Visualization confirmed."

The interfaces shimmered brilliantly.

Then...

The Kinematic Appendages materialized.

…

Thousands...

No...

Millions of nanobots erupted from the central pack positioned along each Zodiacians upper spine.

They surged outward like torrents of living silver, flowing seamlessly into one another with breathtaking precision.

The microscopic machines branched elegantly from the sockets of their shoulder blades before expanding outward.

Layer...

After layer...

After layer...

The appendages gradually took shape.

Their construction resembled neither machinery nor ordinary wings.

Instead...

They appeared as a flawless union between advanced technology and divine artistry.

The central framework consisted of an immaculate white-and-silver exoskeleton whose elegant architecture mirrored the branching rhythm of a living heartbeat.

Every movement synchronized perfectly with its user's pulse.

The overlapping articulated plates unfolded with absolute precision, each segment gliding effortlessly over the next without producing the slightest mechanical resistance.

Between those plates...

Dark obsidian glass intertwined with translucent crystalline shards.

Each crystalline fragment resembled an impossibly refined feather carved from pure light.

As the nanobots completed their construction...

Their users' Aura naturally flowed through every segment.

The crystalline feathers immediately ignited.

Chris's appendages shimmered with flowing monochromatic grey radiance.

Rhys's glowed beneath warm beige light.

Elisa's wings blossomed into elegant streams of luminous lavender.

Cia's radiated the breathtaking brilliance of glacial sapphire.

Liam's shone with proud Celestine brilliance.

Braylen's illuminated the air with soft periwinkle.

Ivy's glimmered beneath vibrant azure.

Freya's burned with deep cerulean light.

The wings themselves emphasized elegance...

Light...

Freedom...

And divinity.

Every crystalline feather reflected the Aura of its owner, causing countless streams of colored light to ripple across their surfaces whenever they moved.

For a brief moment...

It no longer looked as though eight Zodiacians stood before one another.

It looked as though eight celestial beings had descended, each adorned with magnificent mechanical wings born from the limitless craftsmanship of the Academy's infinite nanobots.

…The wings unfolded completely, expanding with the steady rhythm of a living heartbeat. Every articulated feather-like plate slid flawlessly over the next, each movement smooth enough to resemble the pulse of a great artery carrying life itself. As they spread farther, the appendages released the Life Aura of the individuals from whom they stemmed, cloaking each Zodiacian in a soft luminescent radiance that reflected the color of their central Aura.

The appendages were massive.

The upper pair branched majestically into the atmosphere, their elegant span overshadowing everything beneath them. Barely an inch below rested a second, smaller sub-layer of wings, separated just enough to function independently while perfectly complementing the primary pair. Together, the four-winged configuration created a harmonious system of flight, the larger wings reigning above while the lower pair stabilized and balanced every movement with effortless precision.

The entire structure radiated elegance.

Rather than resembling crude machinery, the appendages mimicked the flawless anatomy of celestial avian life while preserving their unmistakable mechano-receptor design. Both the upper and lower wings shimmered along their edges with glowing streams of Aura. Obsidian glass-like panels rested at their centers, each pane illuminated from within by the user's Aura, while razor-thin luminous strips pulsed rhythmically in perfect synchronization with their heartbeat and energy output. Thin iridescent membranes stretched between the crystalline structures, catching the surrounding digital light and scattering it into dazzling reflections that danced across the sky.

Every feather moved independently.

Micro-hydraulic systems and magnetic mechano-repulsion allowed each articulated plate to rotate, contract and fan outward with breathtaking precision, giving the appendages an almost living intelligence. The upper wings measured nearly sixty inches in length, while the secondary pair extended roughly thirty inches beneath them, creating an aerodynamic balance that was both magnificent and mechanically perfect.

"SICK!"

Rhys shouted at the top of his lungs.

His beige wings flexed excitedly, pulsing back and forth as streams of Aura rippled through every crystalline feather. The appendages stemmed directly from the central pack situated along his upper spine, seamlessly connected to the socket joints of his shoulder blades through a perfectly spherical pore constructed by the nanobots.

"This is beautiful..."

Elisa whispered softly.

Unable to resist, she reached toward one of her luminous lavender wings and gently stroked its smooth crystalline feathers. The appendage responded almost instinctively, flexing gracefully beneath her fingertips as though acknowledging her touch.

"Wait..."

Cia tilted her head slightly.

"What exactly is the purpose of wings when we can simply volitate to our destination?"

Her voice carried genuine curiosity.

…

Liam simpered faintly.

For a brief moment, he simply stared at Cia, wondering how someone could ask what seemed to him such an elementary question.

"First off..."

He folded his arms.

"It would kill you."

His expression became unusually serious.

"The Academy's troposphere contains an infinite current of circulating Aura. That current never stops moving."

He pointed upward toward the endless skies above.

"Advanced nanobots known as Mechanobots permanently reside within that layer. Their sole purpose is to regulate the overwhelming flow of Aura and prevent its backflow."

"If that Aura were allowed to collapse downward unchecked..."

His eyes narrowed.

"...the pressure alone could crush vast portions of the Academy."

Everyone instinctively glanced upward.

"The Kinematic Appendages continuously surround their user with an incredibly thin flux of nanobots."

"They're so microscopic..."

"So light..."

"...that you don't even realize they're there."

"Those nanobots constantly neutralize the overwhelming Aura pressure surrounding us."

"They keep our bodies stable."

"They keep our Aura balanced."

"And most importantly..."

"They keep us alive."

A smug grin slowly returned to Liam's face.

"So no, Cia..."

"We can't simply volitate through the academies long distances."

"We'd evaporate before traveling very far."

Braylen quietly leaned closer.

"I think we should get going now, Liam."

His voice remained barely above a whisper.

Unlike before...

He had no intention of drawing Cia's attention again.

"Alright."

Freya stepped forward after receiving a slight nod from Liam.

"Since everyone has already selected the Apex Range on the map..."

"All that's left..."

"...is to accept Aloft."

"Then we're off."

…

Once again, everyone hovered a palm above their Synaptic Hand Chains.

Their holographic interfaces immediately materialized.

Across each display...

A brilliant nanobot-constructed inscription illuminated the center.

ALOFT

Beneath it floated two commands.

ACCEPT

DISENGAGE

Without hesitation...

Everyone selected Accept.

The moment the command was confirmed...

The appendages awakened completely.

The upper wings slowly descended.

The lower pair adjusted beneath them.

Then...

A rhythmic cycle began.

Each downward movement of the primary wings transferred force seamlessly into the secondary pair, distributing weight throughout the entire structure with astonishing efficiency. Their movements became perfectly synchronized, flowing from top to bottom in an elegant mechanical rhythm that resembled the breathing of some enormous celestial creature.

WHOOOOSH!!

A tremendous squall of wind erupted beneath every Zodiacian.

The surrounding air twisted violently as the appendages generated overwhelming lift.

One after another...

Their bodies gracefully rose from the ground.

There was no violent jolt.

No instability.

Only smooth ascension.

Their Aura illuminated the crystalline feathers, causing streams of monochromatic grey, beige, lavender, glacier blue, celestine, periwinkle, azure and cerulean light to paint brilliant trails through the atmosphere.

Then...

They accelerated.

…

As their speed continued increasing, the appendages subtly transformed once again.

Every feather-like plate elongated into a refined oblong profile, minimizing air resistance while maximizing efficiency.

Remarkably...

The wings no longer flapped.

Instead...

They glided.

Effortlessly.

The air itself seemed to welcome them.

Their hair flowed freely behind them, dancing in perfect synchronization with the graceful movements of the appendages, creating a flight so smooth that it resembled an elegant melody being performed across the heavens.

"Damn!!"

Rhys shouted joyfully.

"This..."

He laughed loudly.

"...is AWESOME!"

"We fly all the time..."

Elisa stretched one hand into the rushing currents of air.

"...but it's never felt this real before."

She smiled brightly as the wind slipped gently between her fingers, carrying the cool fragrance of the Academy's endless skies.

…

On the opposite side...

Ivy merely scoffed.

Freya rolled her eyes.

The two cliques maintained separate formations while soaring through the immense troposphere, Chris's group gliding along the right side while Liam's flew parallel to them on the left.

"It really isn't as exciting as you're making it seem."

Ivy shrugged with a pompous smile.

"We've done this countless times."

"It honestly becomes..."

Freya yawned exaggeratedly.

"...kind of boring."

Rhys simply grinned.

For a brief moment...

He straightened his body completely in mid-flight.

Turned toward Liam's group.

Stuck out his tongue.

Then dramatically blew them a raspberry before returning to the natural rhythm of flight.

Chris couldn't help laughing.

Even Cia smiled faintly.

Elisa covered her mouth as she giggled.

Braylen clicked his tongue.

Freya looked thoroughly offended.

Liam merely sighed.

"Hopeless..."

He muttered beneath his breath.

…

Gradually...

Their speed increased even further.

The surrounding scenery blurred into magnificent rivers of color.

The rushing wind intensified.

The appendages instinctively adjusted their formation.

Then...

As one...

The wings slowly contracted.

Their speed gently decreased.

They hovered high above the landscape for several seconds before beginning a smooth and graceful descent.

The mechanical wings folded inward layer by layer as though returning to a resting state.

The wind gradually settled.

The skies grew calm once more.

And then...

It appeared.

Before every one of them...

Standing proudly beneath the endless heavens...

Was a monument of breathtaking magnificence.

A monument so grand...

That for a brief moment...

Every conversation ceased.

…The Apex Range stood before them like a monument carved from the dreams of civilization itself. It was an Edifice spanning what seemed like an endless hundred thousand square feet, so vast that the human eye struggled to determine where its beginning lay or where its magnificent boundaries finally disappeared into the horizon. Every section of the colossal structure blended soft monochromatic hues into one another, creating an elegant harmony of pale silver, luminous grey and faint crystalline white. The colors shifted gently beneath the changing light, giving the entire monument a lavish brilliance that felt almost alive.

Around the immense exterior, nanobots swirled endlessly in organized currents. One great stream circled the upper half of the Edifice, another revolved across its central layer, while a third flowed gracefully around its lower foundation. Above all three revolutions, an immense vertical current of nanobots ascended toward the heavens before curving back downward, creating a perpetual revolving cycle that resembled a colossal pillar of living light connecting earth and sky.

The edges of the Range were adorned with vast openings framed by intricate nanobot-erected castellations, each one crafted with astonishing precision. Elegant battlements stretched endlessly along the circumference, every crest, pillar and arch possessing its own intricate geometric artistry. Beneath them, an ocean of nanobots blanketed the surrounding terrain so perfectly that it resembled a flourishing field of exquisitely maintained emerald grass. Gentle waves rippled across its surface whenever the wind passed, disguising the countless microscopic machines hidden beneath.

The atmosphere surrounding the Range was overwhelming.

Majestic.

Dominating.

Every layer of the Edifice possessed the imposing grandeur of an ancient dungeon reborn through impossibly advanced technology. Towering walls rose toward the heavens while magnificent castellation crowned every visible edge, blending medieval elegance with futuristic perfection. Every angle seemed deliberately sculpted to inspire awe.

The Apex Range was nothing short of mesmerizing.

It felt less like a building...

...and more like a landmark that had existed since the dawn of history.

Its sheer scale overwhelmed perception.

Its beauty silenced thought.

For the briefest moment...

Everyone simply stared.

"Holy shit... this is beautiful." Rhys whispered, his jaw slowly dropping as he struggled to comprehend the monumental structure standing before him.

"It is stunning..." Cia said softly, admiration flowing naturally through her usually composed voice.

"The structure... the design... the castellation..." Chris murmured, his eyes wandering endlessly across the Edifice.

"It is all art."

"It warms my eyes just looking at it..." Elisa whispered, unable to tear her gaze away.

Their Kinematic Appendages gradually slowed.

The magnificent wings folded inward with synchronized elegance before dissolving into countless shimmering nanobots that drifted through the air like radiant stardust, leaving behind faint trails of each Zodiacian's Aura before disappearing completely.

"Now..."

Freya smirked.

"Let's get to it."

…

Both cliques began strolling along the broad esplanade leading toward the entrance of the Apex Range.

Every step revealed another breathtaking detail.

Chris...

Rhys...

Elisa...

And Cia...

Could not stop admiring the overwhelming magnificence surrounding them.

As they approached the entrance, the colossal aperture responded instantly to their presence.

A deep mechanical resonance echoed throughout the structure.

The massive gateway slowly ascended toward the heavens.

Layer after colossal layer unfolded before them.

And the moment the entrance fully opened...

They realized the exterior had only been the beginning.

The interior was even more breathtaking.

…

The inside of the Apex Range was a masterpiece of engineering.

Every inch of its vast interior functioned as a perfectly climate-controlled and sound-dampened environment, meticulously designed to maximize precision, concentration and accuracy during every shot. The silence within felt deliberate. Even the faintest movement carried remarkable clarity without ever producing distracting echoes.

Throughout the immense chamber, nanobots swarmed tirelessly, continuously constructing and reconstructing countless shooting lanes with flawless precision.

From the floor emerged numerous Ranging Alcoves, each resting upon perfectly balanced spherical platforms supported by powerful anthropomorphic mechanical grippers. Guided by electromagnetic synchronization, the grippers elevated each alcove smoothly through the immense chamber until it reached its designated Archery Gallery.

The Ranging Alcove itself resembled an advanced spherical command chamber.

Its framework consisted of three concentric mechanical spheres interconnected by glowing electromagnetic streams that flowed endlessly between every layer. The upper chamber was fitted with an exceptionally soft synthetic-fiber cushion lined with countless microscopic pores that adapted perfectly to the user's posture.

Encasing the upper sphere was a seamless shell of dark, pitch-black stained glass that curved gracefully around the chamber before opening into a perfectly engineered firing aperture. It was through this singular opening that every shot was released with absolute precision.

The nanobots continuously erected magnificent Archery Galleries.

These galleries extended outward through immense suspended pathways stretching as far as the arrow's maximum projectile trajectory. Entire galleries materialized and vanished according to demand, allowing Zodiacians to practice from virtually any conceivable distance. They surrounded every side of the Range, ensuring effortless accessibility regardless of where a Zodiacian entered.

…

The interior also housed fully automated target retrieval systems, each capable of adjusting to variable distances through commands issued directly from every Zodiacians Synaptic Hand Chain.

Every wall throughout the enormous facility had been reinforced using specialized, ultra-high-density nanobots capable of absorbing even the most devastating impacts without sustaining structural damage. This reinforcement allowed every arrow, regardless of its power, to strike with complete effectiveness while preserving flawless accuracy throughout repeated practice.

It was truly...

A state-of-the-art facility.

Above them, advanced atmospheric filtration systems continuously purified the air while maintaining perfect temperature and humidity throughout the entire Range, ensuring every Zodiacian performed under ideal conditions regardless of the weather outside.

…

The illumination of the Range was equally extraordinary.

Rather than remaining constant, the lighting subtly adapted itself to the unique characteristics of each Zodiacian's Aura. Whenever someone entered a Ranging Alcove, integrated luminous panel monoliths synchronized with their Aura signature, adjusting brightness, contrast and visual clarity to maximize their perception and shooting performance.

Far beyond the galleries, countless Ocular Nodes hovered throughout the immense target fields.

These sophisticated nanobot constructs projected crystal-clear visual displays of every arrow's trajectory, impact point and accuracy regardless of distance, allowing even the most remote shots to be observed with perfect clarity.

…

Beyond the training grounds, the Apex Range also contained numerous luxurious lounges and private chambers, each beautifully furnished to provide comfort and recovery between training sessions.

Elegant seating areas, observation balconies and peaceful relaxation spaces were distributed throughout the enormous complex, allowing Zodiacians to recover both physically and mentally before returning to practice.

Every detail served a purpose.

Nothing existed without intention.

…

Beyond the primary structure stretched the immense Archery Gallery itself.

Unlike ordinary ranges, this vast landscape blended seamlessly with the surrounding environment, creating a dynamic and deeply immersive training experience while preserving complete environmental efficiency.

The target field extended seemingly forever.

Perfectly maintained emerald grass stretched toward the horizon beneath endless shooting lines.

Protective pavilions stood at carefully calculated intervals while professional-grade targets waited patiently in the distance.

Each target was a nanobot-derived platform constructed with extraordinary precision. Spiraling grading rings expanded outward from the center in perfect symmetry, their upper and lower sections marked with progressively lower values while the exact center represented absolute perfection.

The further one's arrow travelled...

The more breathtaking the challenge became.

And standing at the entrance...

Chris finally understood why this place was called...

The Apex Range

…A winding trail stretched gracefully through the immense Archery Gallery, weaving naturally across the landscape like the course of a gentle river. Along its path stood countless nanobot-erected target platforms positioned at carefully calculated intervals, each one designed to cultivate razor-sharp archery efficiency, hunting precision and flawless projectile control. The Gallery blended so seamlessly with the surrounding environment that it felt less like an artificial facility and more like nature itself had willingly evolved into the perfect training ground.

At every strategic point, sophisticated Ocular Nodes and precision sensors stood silently watching over the field. The instant an arrow struck its target, streams of nanobots analyzed the trajectory, velocity, penetration and point of impact before displaying the precise score with absolute accuracy. Every system functioned in perfect harmony.

Everything...

From the smallest mechanism...

To the grandest structure...

Was the embodiment of luxury fused with overwhelming technological advancement.

"Drop me dead..."

Rhys breathed, his eyes widening even further as they wandered endlessly across the breathtaking interior.

"The inside is even more lavish than the outside."

His excitement echoed throughout the chamber.

"Don't start with your exclamations."

Freya folded her arms with a snobbish expression.

"We come here almost all the time."

"So this really doesn't amaze us anymore."

…

Rhys merely grunted.

He completely ignored her remark.

His attention remained fixed on the magnificent Range.

"Every inch of this place is nothing short of astounding."

Cia said calmly, her sharp eyes analyzing every structure, every mechanism and every carefully engineered detail surrounding them.

"Just look at it..."

Elisa whispered warmly as she turned toward Chris.

"It really is beautiful."

"Yeah..."

Chris smiled back at her.

"It really is gorgeous."

For a brief moment...

Their eyes met.

Neither of them spoke.

Elisa simply gazed quietly into his eyes.

Chris returned the gaze without realizing it.

Seconds passed.

Then...

Realizing what she was doing...

Elisa quickly turned her face away.

A rosy blush slowly spread across her cheeks until they became adorably crimson.

Snap!

The sharp sound instantly drew everyone's attention.

Liam lowered his hand after snapping his fingers.

Both cliques turned toward him.

Without another word, he began strolling toward a nearby chamber.

Everyone followed.

…

The chamber radiated a refined golden glow layered beneath delicate silver reflections that shimmered softly across every surface. Its polished architecture possessed a noble elegance befitting the Apex Range itself. Positioned before them were two magnificent Archery Alcoves, both resting silently upon their platforms as though patiently awaiting the next archers to board them.

Liam stopped before the alcoves.

He slowly folded his arms.

"Judging by the way you've all been reacting..."

His eyes swept across Chris's group.

"...it's obvious none of you have ever been here before."

He smirked.

"And you've definitely never experienced archery inside the Apex Range."

He inhaled deeply.

Preparing himself to explain.

"So..."

"I'll give all of you a proper breakdown of how this concur is going to work."

He gestured toward the two alcoves.

"These alcoves are the chambers where every shot will be taken."

"The moment you board one..."

"You'll activate the interface on your Synaptic Hand Chain."

He raised his own wrist as an example.

"Navigate to the second group of Home Functions."

"There you'll find three primary panels."

He projected the holographic interface.

Three luminous icons floated neatly before everyone.

"The first..."

He pointed.

"Synaptic Suit."

"The second..."

His finger shifted.

"Fencing Blade."

"And finally..."

He tapped the last icon.

"Archery Bow."

"The moment you select the Archery Bow panel..."

"...the nanobots immediately synchronize with your Aura."

"They construct a bow perfectly calibrated to your physique..."

"...your Aura..."

"...your dominant hand..."

"...and your shooting style."

"It won't simply be a weapon."

"It will become an extension of your own body."

Liam lowered his wrist slightly.

Then paused.

Allowing everyone to absorb the explanation before continuing.

"When the bow is manifested..."

Liam continued his explanation while gesturing toward the Archery Alcoves.

"...the interface immediately transmits a command to the Ranging Alcove."

"The command is simple."

"{START}."

"The moment that command is accepted..."

"...the nanobots surrounding the alcove activate."

He pointed toward the spherical chamber.

"A reinforced layer of transparent glass immediately rises around the chamber, completely enclosing the archer inside."

"The glass isn't entirely sealed."

"It leaves behind a narrow flag-shaped aperture directly ahead."

"Within that opening..."

"...electromagnetic strands woven together by billions of nanobots immediately stabilize."

"They act as a launch conduit..."

"...allowing every nanobot-constructed arrow to travel through the Gallery without interference while maintaining perfect trajectory and Aura synchronization."

Liam slowly lowered his hand before pointing farther into the Range.

"The Anthropomorphic Grippers then engage."

"They extend the Ranging Alcove onto the designated pathway where the nanobots construct the appropriate Archery Gallery."

"As soon as the Gallery is completed..."

"...another transparent barrier is erected."

"This one separates the competitors from the spectators."

"It ensures complete safety without obstructing visibility."

He pointed toward the towering displays situated around the chamber.

"At the same time..."

"...the Integrated Panel Monoliths are erected for the audience."

"They calculate..."

"...display..."

"...and update every score in real time."

"No point..."

"No distance..."

"No statistic..."

"Escapes the sensors."

Liam paused.

A slight breath escaped his lips.

He chuckled to himself before lightly tapping Braylen's shoulder.

"You take it from here."

Braylen nodded once.

Stepping forward.

…

The atmosphere subtly shifted.

Where Liam's explanation carried confidence and arrogance...

Braylen's deep voice carried calm authority, which subtly trembled anytime his eyes so much as grazed the sight of Cia.

He folded his arms before looking across both cliques.

"Alright."

"There are five phases to this Concur."

He raised a single finger.

"SPEED."

"This phase measures exactly what its name implies."

"The velocity of your arrow."

"The sensors embedded throughout the Gallery continuously calculate the arrow's acceleration, stability and maximum speed from release until the moment it reaches its destination."

"The Gallery itself has virtually limitless range."

"So both speed and distance become deciding factors."

He raised a second finger.

"It is divided into two categories."

"Fixed Distance, Fastest Speed."

"Every archer fires across the same distance."

"The fastest arrow wins."

He lifted another finger.

"Fixed Speed, Farthest Distance."

"In this category..."

"Every arrow must travel at the same predetermined velocity."

"The winner is decided by whichever arrow maintains that speed while covering the greatest possible distance."

Braylen paused briefly before continuing.

"ACCURACY."

"This phase evaluates nothing but precision."

"The targets are graded from the lowest..."

"G Rank."

"...to the highest..."

"SSS Rank."

"The closer your shot lands to the absolute center..."

"...the higher your score."

"The team with the greater total points claims the phase."

He calmly raised another finger.

"STRENGTH."

"This phase determines the destructive capability of your arrows."

"Throughout the Gallery..."

"...the nanobots erect countless reinforced obstacles."

"Your objective is simple."

"Destroy as many as possible."

"The farther your arrow travels while continuing to shatter those obstacles..."

"...the higher your score."

"It is also divided into two categories."

"Total number of obstacles destroyed."

"And maximum distance maintained while retaining destructive force."

Braylen's expression grew noticeably more serious.

"The fourth phase..."

"...is PRECISION."

"This is considerably more difficult."

"Instead of striking a single target..."

"...you'll face dozens."

"Some move."

"Some rotate."

"Others disappear and reappear while the Gallery itself generates numerous environmental obstructions."

"You must manipulate your Aura through the arrow itself..."

"...guiding its trajectory after release."

"The more targets struck during a single shot..."

"...the more points your team earns."

He inhaled deeply.

Then slowly raised his final finger.

"And finally..."

"The pinnacle of archery."

"DRIFT."

His voice became noticeably heavier.

"This is no longer target practice."

"It is an aerial duel between two arrows."

"Both teams release their arrows simultaneously."

"Each archer manipulates their Aura continuously throughout the Gallery."

"You'll alter your arrow's speed..."

"...its strength..."

"...its trajectory..."

"...while avoiding obstacles..."

"...redirecting momentum..."

"...and even attempting to displace your opponent's arrow."

"The objective is simple."

"The first arrow to successfully reach the designated terminal platform..."

"...wins."

Braylen slowly exhaled after finishing.

A deep breath escaped his lungs.

Silence briefly settled across the chamber.

Clap!

Liam brought both palms together sharply.

The crisp sound immediately drew everyone's attention back toward him.

"With that settled..."

He folded his arms confidently.

"Pick your archer for Round One."

"There are four rounds."

"Each round consists of five phases."

"Best out of twenty claims victory."

He glanced toward Chris's group.

"And..."

His grin widened.

"The losing team apologizes."

He casually pointed toward his own group.

"Our representative..."

"...is Freya."

His Celestine eyes settled upon Chris.

"We're waiting for yours."

…

Chris, Elisa, Rhys and Cia immediately gathered together.

Without exchanging many words...

They instinctively placed their hands together above the center of the circle they formed.

A brief silence followed.

Everyone considered the opening round.

Not even five seconds passed.

"I'll take Round One."

Cia spoke with quiet confidence.

There wasn't the slightest hesitation in her voice.

The others immediately nodded.

No objections.

No debate.

The decision was unanimous.

Chris turned back toward Liam.

A determined smile spread across his face.

"Hey Liam."

"Our archer..."

"...is Cia."

Liam merely smirked.

"As expected."

He gestured toward the two waiting Archery Alcoves.

"Then take your positions."

"Board the chambers..."

"...and..."

His smile sharpened.

"START."

…

Without another word...

Cia walked toward the alcove positioned on the right.

Freya calmly entered the one on the left.

The spherical chambers quietly sealed behind them.

Both girls raised their hands above their Synaptic Hand Chains.

Their holographic interfaces instantly materialized.

Without hesitation...

They selected ARCHERY BOW.

Streams of nanobots immediately surged into their waiting palms.

Elegant bows began taking shape.

The interfaces synchronized with the Apex Range.

A luminous command appeared before both archers.

{START}

Simultaneously...

They accepted it.

The Ranging Alcoves awakened.

Nanobots erupted into motion.

The transparent chambers sealed.

The Anthropomorphic Grippers engaged.

The Galleries began constructing themselves.

And just like that...

The impulsively crafted Concours D'Archérie officially began.