The Dark King

by Steffen Schmidt

  A chef was ready to cook meals casually anytime before 9 pm. Moreover, there was no limit to how much you could eat.

  Dudian arrived very promptly at 8.30. There was a fresh fried steak and a sharp-tongue foie gras ready for him. It was the aristocrat's favorite food.

  After eating, Dudian returned to the room arranged by the young instructor to sleep.

  The room was independent(not-shared) and very spacious. He enjoy it rare occurrence.

  The night quickly went by. Next day Dudian woke up on time and came to the hall below the castle. He saw a lot children around the age same as him. He saw the trainee archers there too.

  "Good morning." The boy saw Dudian and frankly greeted him: "My name is Texon. I heard you came back late last night. The first day is very hard. Actually they have given you 1000 arrows to complete. Indeed the people with magic marks have terrifying requirements."

  "You'll get magic marks, too," Dodian said politely.

  Boy's mouth upturned into a smile but didn't say anything. He said goodbye to Dudian as he went over to get his breakfast.

  Dudian also stood in queue to get the breakfast. After a night of recovery he still felt sore feeling from his arms. He knew that today's practice will be much more harder.

  After the breakfast Dudian directly come to the area. The other five hasn't come over yet, and servants weren't present too. Though Dudian ignored all of it.

  After about hunred arrows shot, he saw the other five coming over. The young instructor was very free. As long as they completed the tasks given by him, he wouldn't get to force them to train. It was up-to them to arrange and manage their times.

  They greeted Dudian and began to train.

  Day-to-day life was extremely boring for the children of this age because of single training course. But Dudian was patient as he was aware and had the first hand experience of the brutality and destruction of the world outside the giant wall. The desire for strength was getting stronger with each and every arrow.

  This desire had overcome all the other interests that could bring him joy and fun.

  It didn't take long as the day went past.

  Young instructor had come sever times to see the crowd train. He guided them with the basic positions of the archery, especially the way their shoulder, arms and other parts of the body played role while shooting. However he left as soon as giving them tips and tricks.

  By the eight o'clock in the evening, Dudian's arms were cramped again. He had to stop as he had done more than the task asked him to do. However, today he barely bassed twelve hundred arrows which compared to yesterday was hundred arrows less. The main reason was that he had overdrafted yesterday and after-affects of it were still felt in his arms today.

  Dudian went back to eat dinner and sleep without doing anything at all.

  The next, fourth day, Dudian still went back at 8 o'lock at night.

  Morover, the number of arrows shot had increased to 1500 arrows. After a rest at night, his arm's ache had gone and his body had began to gradually adapt to the new condition. By the fourth day, the number of arrows shot had reached 1600 arrows.

  Because of high-intensity training, Dudian's body adjusted quickly.

  Target hitting rate was twice as high than previous results. Almost every ten arrows were hitting the target. Only one or two out of ten arrows would deviate from the target. Of course, this odds applied to the first few hundred arrows. As he shot more the lower than target rates would decrease.

  Other five were surprised at his improvement in just a few days.

  However, the explained Dudian's improvement and related everything to the existence of magic marks.

  Actually Dudian's improvement have let them be more competitive too. They took it more seriously as they wanted to catch up with Dudian at least from the target hitting rate.

  In the blind of an eye a week had gone by.

  Dudian's number of shots had increased to 1800 arrow per day.

  "You should've adapted by now so from today onwards your daily shot volume shall increase to 1500 arrows! "Young instructor spoke in cold and strict tone: "Moreover, the arrow that hit the target much reach 300!"

  Dudian nodded but didn't say anything. In fact, by now the number of arrows that reached the target had increased to 500. Almost double the amount set by the instructor. However, he didn't care much about the tasks set by the instructor as his goal was beyond the limit. He wanted to squeeze himself to the limit!

  As for the completion of the tasks set by the instructor, he didn't consider them as competition at all.

  Chapter 100: To the extreme

  Hard training continued.

  Another seven days went by.

  Young instructor seemed to set a seven day period as a stage. In the eighth day of the archery training he once again increased Dudian's indicators. The number of arrows to be shot increased to 1600 while the hits on target had reached 400.

  This time he didn't directly increase it to 500 as if taking into the account the physical limits of Dudian's body. According to their previous studies and assessments the limit for the hunter's physique was two thousand arrows. So from their perspective completing 1500 arrows was a very difficult task.

  His assessment was derived from a variety of information and seemed very accurate on the surface. But he didn't know the when he set the task, Dudian had already reached 2080 arrows.

  And, this record was immediately broken in the next day, reaching 2112 arrows!

  However, after this it seemed that he had hit the physical limit as the quantity wise increase didn't happen as it was before. His target rate had reached 700 arrows. In other words, he could continue to hit the target for the first seven hundred arrows straight!

  This was a good indicator as it meant that he was an entry level archer.

  However, it was only just an entry level archery. As shooting is stationary and the target area was larger. If he wanted to accurately hit a target in the head or in the heart in a smaller ranger, the difficulty would arise.

  Arrows continuously flew out. Most of the hit the target while three arrows hit the red mark.

  Dudian's actions were stable as the sore tired arms from yesterday and recovered after a night's rest. His body has been fully adapted to such a high-intensity training.

  Other five trainees joined him in the training ground after he had finished shooting two hundred arrows.

  Dudian's rapid progressed has impressed the other five. However, they still thought that the only reason for Dudian's performance were magic marks. They felt envy and were a bit jealous.

  It didn't take long for the young instructor to join them. He had always been easy-going as he looked at Dudian and chuckled: "Today, its been a month that you have been training here. I believe that your arm has been able to adapt to the training because of the tasks that I have given you for the last month."

  Dudian stopped and looked at him.

  "Next, I'm going to teach you bow shooting skills. If you can master them you can be considered truly qualified as an archer!" Young instructors smiled as he picked up a black bow and few arrows from the shelf. He said to Dudian: "Look carefully, this trick is called 'alignment shooting'"

  He finger loosened and string ejected the arrow.

  Arrow pierced into the middle of the heart of the target.

  Dudian looked back at the young instructor but heard another arrow hitting the target. He was stunned to see the there was another arrow which had pierced the exact same point.

  "You did not see." Young instructors smiled: "The so-called aligned shooting is firing the arrows in rapid bursts without a pause. The difficulty of this trick is to be stable and fast. Both arrows have to maintains the line. It can be lethal as if you meet a monster with strong defense then the first arrow would tear the scale, the second arrow would pierce the flesh and blood while the third arrow will be able to take its life!"

  Dudian looked and nodded: "I got it."

  "I'm going to
give you half a month to master it." Young instructor spoke in a cold tone: "If you can't grasp within the given timeframe then a hellish training is waiting for you!"

  Dudian nodded slightly, that he had understood him.

  "Remember, the key to this trick is stability. You got to be as stable as you can while putting the arrows! " Young instructor said again as if to remind him.

  Dudian saw in details that the arrows were virtually shadowing each other. Almost the time when the first arrow was shot, instructors hand was already grasping the second!

  Dudian also began to practice this method.

  However he soon felt the difficulty. First of all, when he wanted to improvise the instructor, he wasn't able to grap the arrow as fast as he wanted. Occasionally he would catch them but in that case his speed would slow down and won't be able to 'burst' the way instructor showed.

  Young instructors saw that Dudian was practicing so he said 'good practice' and turned away to leave.

  Dudian repeated practice.

  Another day passed.

  He completely immersed himself in shooting direct arrows instead of practicing the way of 'aligned shooting.': "How many arrows were shot today?

  "Two thousand five hundred and thirty arrows." Servant replied.

  Dudian was surprised as the number of arrows shot by him three days ago was around two thousand three hundred and fifty arrows. Today, he had reached two thousand and five hundred arrows. However, he seemed to be reaching the physical limits of his body.

  "Too much input, but did not feel my body tired at all." Dudian suddenly saw his fingers had worn blisters and a bit of watery liquid and blood flew out. He wrapped them and went back to the dinner.

  the next day.

  Dudian as usual came early to continue to exercise aligned shooting.

  Dudian had more understanding about the aligned shooting after number of times of exercising.

  "Rapid shooting of the arrows... Although the continuous two arrows, and even the three arrows are highly lethal but the shortcomings are obvious. Rapid archery will lead to weaken the strength of each arrow. The real damage caused by the three arrows wouldn't be fatal. This is not as good and effective as the normal method. Although it was slow in comparison to aligned shooting but arrow's strength and damage potention was much higher."

  "Moreover, an individuals energy is limited while practicing aligned shooting takes to long and strains on brainpower as there is much concentration to be taken into account. At the end of the day, I would be mentally exhausted."

  He decided to go to the extreme!

  He had to achieve the ultimate.

  Although aligned shooting looked good, fancy and seemed powerful but Dudian felt that it wasn't worth wasting energy to study the technique. He must excel at the most destructive way which was the normal method that had higher penetrative power and more vital.

  Dudian abandoned the practice of aligned shooting and continued to repeat the previous basic archery.

  Moreover, he didn't blindly purse the amount of shots made but insteead focused on how to make each arrow's destructive power even more.

  ...

  ...

  Chapter 101: Emergency

  In the blink of an eye another two weeks of time gone by.

  Because of repeated archery training Dudian had rapid growth in terms of control and accuracy of shots. Almost every arrow could hit the target while seven out of ten arrows would nail the heart of the target. For an ordinary person to achieve this result, at least three to five years of hard training was needed. But because of Dudian's hunter physique it was completed rapidly in about two months of time.

  In addition to precision, every arrow shot by him penetrated the target. The lethality of the arrows had improved significantly, but his aligned shooting hasn't had the slightest progress. When the young instructor was aware of his progress in aligned shooting he had gone crazy.

  "Do you think that just because you have magic marks you are fit to be a hunter? Your performance outside the giant wall will be nothing but a bit better than some of the scavengers. You would be able to kill low-level monsters only!" Young instructor angrily announced " Since you are lazy like and can't even learn aligned shoot then from tomorrow on your basic archery tasks would increase a lot!"

  Dudian thought: "Is this what he means by hellish punishment?" He didn't think that the youth will just increase his daily task of basic archery practice. His heart was in joy and it was revealed a little in his face. His 'indifferent' look made the young instructor to go crazy in anger.

  Thus, the young instructor raised Dudian's daily number of arrows to be shot to 2200 in the next month! In his view, it was beyond the physical limits of Dudian, would overload and break him at some point. He thought that Dudian wouldn't be able to reach the tasks given by him and won't be able to eat dinner by the appointed time.

  So he thought that Dudian will fall into a vicious circle. Because according to young instructor, Dudian would have to overwork himself to reach the daily tasks and at some point his willpower wouldn't be enough to continue on.

  It was the purpose of the young instructor. Actually because of the interests of consortium the style of the punishment were a bit childish in comparison to Tobu's punishments.

  Dudian's archery has long reached the level of two thousand eight hundred arrows so he had already passed the 'high standard' of the young instructor. That's why he continued to immerse himself to get insights about archery.

  ...

  ...

  World outside the giant wall. Mellon Foundation. Area no 1.

  In comparison to the other areas under the control of Mellon consortium, you wouldn't be able to see buildings, metal wreckage and others in the area no 1. It was an extremely open area just like a vast wilderness. Occasionally trace of the collapsed highways could be seen. Everything was dilapidated and covered in moss and dust. There was an indication that at some point in history it was an urban area.

  Only, you wouldn't be able to see a complete building in the area.

  Gravel and blood was everywhere. Rain had washed the blood into every corner of the crevice. After it had dried up natural and wonderful patterns colored in blood red had branded the earth and structures around.

  At the moment, near of ruin of a wall, five shadows appeared. They were quiet as they checked the street through the broken remnants of the wall. On the street there were two, half a foot deep, dent on the ground. Next to the dent there was a lump of dark dirt which exuded a strong pungent odor. After a closer look they saw some remnants of bones as well as corroded metal in the dark dirt.

  One of the five quietly stepped forward and picked up a stone and lightly poked at the dirt. He went back and whispered: "It hasn't dried up yet, most probably it has left for no more than two hours."

  "Chase."

  One of them ordered.

  Five people of them quickly and quietly began to catch up with the huge dents along the ground.

  A quarter of an hour later, one of them suddenly made an anxious gesture and signaled them to stop.

  The man spoke in low but dignified tone: "I smell it. Three o'clock direction. About eight kilometers away from us."

  "Well, you prepare and ambush in the back and the four of us will take it on." Leader's eye shone in excitement.

  Previous man nodded but his face suddenly changed as he said:"No! Fast hide -"

  puff!

  Claws penetrate from the ground where they were standing and pierced the vests of few of them.

  ...

  ...

  In the castle at the Hunter headquarters.

  Black crow flew in through the window and dropped an envelope which fell on to the desktop.

  A maid was serving the afternoon tea to the man behind the desk. He saw the red mark on the left corner of the envelope and quickly opened it.

  "A 'black weaver' have appeared in area no1 and killed three hunters?" His face changed as he read through the cont
ents of the intelligence. "Sixth team was tracking a 'mountain lion' while they were sneak attacked by a 'black weaver'. Only the captain and another member escaped. They are seriously injured... "

  He got another paper and wrote few things on it. As soon as he finished the letter, he put it into an envelope and hang on black crow's feet. He touched the crow as he said: "To Glenn."

  Black crow twitched and shook off its wings as it flew from the window.

  ...

  ...

  Hunter training ground.

  Dudian was training as usual. His precision was get more and more acute. Even he wanted to find some moving target to practice.

  It was almost noon mean time when young instructor all of sudden hurriedly came to the training ground to find Dudian. He handed him an envelope: "This is an order from the consortium. There is an emergency situation outside the giant wall. There is temporary lack of free hunters and you have the super small ability form juranzhi so consortium wants you go with the team to outside and implement the urgent task. Hurry to prepare!"

  Dudian could not help but stop as he was stunned, "But I'm still in training period."

  "This is an emergency call. As long as you are implementing other tasks outside the giant wall, you have to put off all the work at hand and respond to consortium's call!" Young instructor spoke very fast: "Your hunter arrow has been ordered and will be ready by the time we reach the place. Quickly stop so that you don't consume physical strength. Let's go as someone will come to pick you up at the wall."

  "That quick?" Dudian also quickly put down the bow, no longer wasting energy, "Aren't there any other hunters who are resting now?"

  "Other hunters either recuperate or are injured. If there was anyone else available the headquarters will not send you to this dangerous place. " Young instructor urged: "Quick!"

  Chapter 102: "Black Weaver"

  "What is the urgent task about? Is it very dangerous?" Dudian could not help but ask.

  Young instructor replied: "I heard there is a rare monster which appeared. There is a bit of a danger but the team will be led by Glenn. She is one of the two strongest hunters in the consortium. By the way, you will be only responsible for tracking the smell. They will protect you as long as you don't fall behind."