As Leon, Felix, and Nox sprinted through the dense forest, the towering mountain loomed before them, its peak shrouded in mist.
The trees blurred together, their branches swaying ominously in the wind.The mysterious figure stood tall at the summit, his piercing gaze fixed on the trio.
He was Tall,hand green and sharp eyes,and had white hair,along with pointed ears,like that of elves.
The Archer's lips begun to smile as he grasped his intricately designed arrow.
The wind patterns etched onto its surface seemed to dance in the fading light.
With calculated precision,he nocked the arrow onto his bowstring, the wind-like designs at the arrow's fletching beginning to glow with an otherworldly energy.
As the archer drew back the string, the glow intensified, and the air around the arrow seemed to ripple.
With a swift release, the arrow shot forth, hurtling towards Leon with deadly accuracy.
The glowing projectile became enveloped in a swirling vortex of air, as if the very wind itself had been harnessed to propel it.
Felix, ever vigilant, sprang into action. With lightning-fast reflexes, he positioned himself between the arrow and Leon, his own body a shield against the incoming threat.
The arrow struck Felix's deflective gesture, and its trajectory altered, sending it crashing into a nearby tree.
The impact was cataclysmic – the tree's trunk splintered, a massive hole blown through its center, as if the arrow had unleashed a miniature tempest upon impact.
The trio skidded to a halt, their eyes fixed on the destruction.
Leon's gaze flicked towards Felix, gratitude etched on his face. "Thanks, Felix."
Felix nodded,as he saw up.
A deadly storm of arrows erupted from the mountain peak, tens of flaming projectiles hurtling towards Leon, Felix, and Nox.
The arrows' burning tips left trails of sparks and smoke, casting a fiery glow across the forest floor.
"Dodge!" Shouted Leon.
The trio ducked and dodged, desperately avoiding the hail of arrows as they rained down around them.
"This guy's got the high ground," Leon muttered, his eyes fixed on the mountain peak.
"He's got a clear view and can easily shoot at us from up there."
Suddenly, a spark of Idea struck him. "I've got it!" Leon exclaimed, a plan forming in his mind.
"We won't approach the mountain on foot."
Said Leon.
Nox raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"
Leon's grin was mischievous. "We'll jump our way there." Nox's eyes widened in shock. "What?!" He shouted, incredulous.
Leon's eyes sparkled with determination. "We'd use the trees to our advantage. We'll jump from tree to tree, using the forest canopy to close the distance."
Felix's eyes widened. "You mean, tree-hop our way up the mountain?"
Leon nodded. "Exactly! We'll be harder to hit, and it'll give us cover from Arrows.And even hinder his sight."
"It is a chance to reach the top without getting hit by one arrow." Said Felix,alongside Leon.
Nox's face was a mix of incredulity and concern. "Are you insane?!,That's a crazy risk! And while Jumping off the trees,it exposes our unguarded body in the mid air."
Leon's grin was infectious. "Let's give it a try."
Leon exhaled slowly, the air steady despite the chaos.
"Felix. Protect me."
Felix smirked, rolling his shoulder once.
"As always, my lord."
Leon bent his knees.
The moment the decision settled in his mind—
He jumped.
The ruined ground cracked beneath his feet as Leon launched himself upward, landing on a thick tree branch at the forest's edge.
He didn't hesitate.
A deep breath.
Then another leap.
Branch to branch.
Tree to tree.
The forest canopy blurred beneath him as Leon moved like a shadow carried by the wind, his body flowing seamlessly through the night.
"Here we go!" he shouted, already airborne.
They begun to leap from one branch to another from tree to tree.using forest canopy as shield.
As Leon, Felix, and Nox jumped from tree to tree, the forest canopy blurring around them, the Archer's eyes tracked their movement, a mix of amusement and annoyance etched on his face.
"Interesting," he muttered, his voice barely audible over the rustling of leaves. "They're quite the team."
He raised his bow, the wind-like designs on the arrow glowing brighter as he took aim at Leon. The arrow shot forth, hurtling towards its target with deadly accuracy.
But Felix was vigilant, his sword flashing in the fading light as he deflected the arrow with a precise swing. The arrow embedded itself in a nearby tree trunk, its fletching quivering with the force of impact.
The Archer's gaze narrowed. "Swordmaster, indeed."
Another arrow was nocked, this one aimed at Nox. The Archer released the string, and the arrow soared through the air, its trajectory true.
But Leon was ready, his agility allowing him to dodge the arrow by mere inches. It whizzed past his ear, embedding itself in the trunk of a tree behind him.
The Archer's smile grew wider. "This is entertaining."
A flurry of arrows followed, each one aimed at the trio. But they were a well-oiled machine, their movements fluid and coordinated. Felix blocked, Leon dodged, and Nox countered with his own projectile, forcing the Archer to adjust his aim.
The forest canopy became a deadly obstacle course, the arrows striking trunks and branches, sending splintered wood flying everywhere. The trio leapt and bounded, their feet barely touching the branches as they propelled themselves towards the mountain peak.
The Archer's amusement turned to frustration. "How are they so... persistent?"
He loosed another arrow, this one aimed directly at Leon's heart. But just as it was about to strike, a branch snapped, deflecting its path. The arrow embedded itself in the ground, its quivering shaft a testament to the Archer's skill.
The trio landed on a rocky outcropping, their chests heaving with exertion. The Archer's gaze met theirs, a glint of respect in his eyes.
"Interesting," he said again. "But it ends here."
His eyes flicked to Leon, and his expression turned cold. "You're the target, kid. And that man beside you... he's a Swordmaster. He's troublesome."
The Archer sighed, his shoulders relaxing. "Guess I'll just kill you, and escape."
He raised his bow, the wind-like designs on the arrow glowing brighter, the air around it rippling with energy. The trio tensed, ready to dodge...
But the Archer's finger hesitated on the trigger, a glint of curiosity in his eye. "No... not yet. Let's see how far they can go."
The standoff hung in the air, the only sound the wind rustling through the trees, and the creaking of the Archer's bow.
Mana gathered around his bowstring. Pure blue light twisted, compressed, and solidified
forming an arrow so sharp it distorted the air around it.
He released.
FWOOM—!
The mana arrow screamed downward like a falling star.
A Narrow Escape.
Leon felt it before he saw it.
The pressure.
The killing intent.
"Leon!" Nox shouted.
Leon twisted mid-leap, muscles screaming as he forced his body to move faster—
He landed on the next branch a fraction of a second early.
The mana arrow slammed into the canopy above.
CRASH—!
The branch exploded. Mana tore through the trunk, embedding itself at the very top of the tree. Leaves rained down like shredded paper, drifting through the air.
Far above, the archer clicked his tongue.
"…I missed?"
Nox said, "Wait… You dodged!? How?"
Leon replied, "It's a good thing I bought that item in the shop using the CP I got."
Nox's eyes widened in shock, "W..Wait What!?"