Chapter 97

Season 1, Chapter 97 of "The Genius Archer"

34. Close Combat (1)

Cliff Forest.

This place was chosen as the final stage for the promotion match.

If I can climb up the cliff, I will win this game.

However, paradoxically, the key to winning this map was to be the one who best resists the urge to climb up the cliff.

Now that the Blue Zone has completely moved towards the cliff.

There are many who are waiting to prey on players trying to climb up the cliff.

'Just climb up.'

'Is there any stupid climber out there?'

'Go ahead, then.'

They couldn't see each other,

but almost 25 guns were aimed at the cliff.

There are about 35 people left,

and if 25 guns are aimed at the cliff, it means the remaining 10 are trying to climb it.

These are the ones in a situation where they can't be the first.

'No stamina, so I have to gamble on the cliff...'

'My farming status is terrible, so I have to do this.'

'With this equipment, it's impossible anyway.'

Whether they couldn't farm, suffered major injuries, or had poor weapon conditions,

they bet on climbing the cliff, thinking they couldn't take first place by normal means.

If they reach the top of the cliff, there's even a box with a legendary item, so they could aim for a comeback.

Nine players who bet their lives on this gamble slowly began to climb the cliff.

The people at the bottom of the cliff were watching each other, hoping deep down that the others would fall.

But that was just a wish.

The cliff battle always starts by knocking down those who climb the cliff.

Bang──

A gunshot became the signal.

25 guns fired simultaneously.

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!

"Ugh!"

The hand of the climber who was reaching for the next rock turned bright red and burst.

A bullet also hit his shoulder.

Shattered rocks from missed bullets rained down on his head.

"Uuuuuuuu!"

The player who was leading the climb finally fell.

As he fell, he grabbed the waist of the player climbing behind him.

"I won't die alone!"

"Hey! Hey, you crazy...!"

The player who suddenly found himself in a water ghost situation was taken aback.

In the meantime, a barrage of bullets turned his back into a honeycomb.

He, too, eventually fell and became a corpse.

Thud!

A terrible sound echoed as he hit the ground.

In the race towards the cliff, two were already out.

'Now is the time.'

At this moment, the leaves of a large tree, which seemed to be empty, trembled.

Rustle.

25 people aiming at the cliff, 9 climbing the cliff, and someone who didn't belong to either group.

He began to move.

Squeak──

His weapon made no sound,

Whoosh!

and the deaths were so fast that the victims didn't even know what hit them,

Thud!

and they were precise.

[Almond → Nolimsu]

[Eliminated!]

[29/100]

* * *

One person at the bottom of the cliff died.

Almond was satisfied.

He intervened at the right time.

'Good.'

If the climbers died too quickly, this plan would be meaningless.

If he started attacking when no one had died, it would draw attention to Almond.

He intervened when two had died.

The result was good.

No one paid attention to Almond, and some didn't even know he was there.

The sound of arrows was indistinguishable from the sound of the wind amidst the many gunshots.

Almond drew his bow again.

Whoosh──

Another arrow, making a snake-like sound, pierced the opponent's head.

Thud!

[Almond → Maigumi]

[Eliminated!]

[27/100]

Out of 35, only 27 were left.

Four climbers had died, and now Almond had eliminated two more.

The other two seemed to have died fighting each other at the bottom. It was a chaotic battle.

The unspoken truce among those shooting at the cliff was also breaking.

Almond had to act quickly.

He needed to reduce the numbers to almost half before the truce broke.

Almond loaded four arrows from his quiver.

He started rapid firing, aiming at different players.

Like a machine gun spraying bullets, the players he aimed at started falling one by one.

[Almond → Bechuwanna]

[Eliminated!]

[Almond → Paiyer]

[Double Kill!]

[Almond → Westcoast]

[Triple Kill!]

All four arrows hit their targets.

One of them, thanks to a helmet, took two shots.

That's why it was a triple kill.

- Wow, he's insane!

- Kyah!

- Sooo cool!

- He's on fire!

- Summer? I'm not afraid. I watch Almond's stream.

'Faster.'

Almond wasn't satisfied yet.

He had to finish it off when he had the chance. Who knows when such an opportunity would come again.

The enemies still hadn't figured out Almond's position or even his existence.

He glanced at the cliff.

'3...!'

Only three climbers were left alive.

If these three die, the battle at the bottom will become chaotic, and Almond won't be able to move freely.

Almond quickly took out four more arrows from his quiver.

Four arrows flew in succession.

This time, two died. Both had helmets, so they each took two shots.

[Double Kill!]

Almond checked the cliff again.

One had fallen.

Two were left.

'Two...’

There were still 10 people on the ground.

Including himself, a total of 13.

[The Blue Zone will shrink in 30 seconds!]

The Blue Zone was shrinking. But there was no time to check the map. The final battle would be decided within this Blue Zone.

Almond's fingers were loaded with arrows again. He drew the bow.

Four rapid shots in succession.

Two more died.

One, barely surviving with a helmet, quickly ran behind a tree to escape, but Almond's arrow, as if anticipating, bent and followed.

"Ugh!"

He died with a final scream.

Almond took out four more arrows.

This time, four died. All had helmets, but they were all destroyed. One by one, they fell.

Without hesitation, Almond took out the next four arrows.

Now, only one player was left on the cliff.

Bang──

With the last gunshot, the one remaining let go of the cliff. As always, no one managed to occupy the cliff.

Almond quickly drew his bow.

His right hand held the string straight, without a single waver, as if it were the first arrow he was shooting today, and he released it smoothly.

Whizz──

Three were left at the bottom of the cliff.

Four arrows flew through the air in an instant, and two died.

Indeed.

Two out of the three died.

'Damn.'

One was left.

The one remaining had been hit in the head twice but was still fine.

I've seen this before.

'Legendary?'

A legendary helmet. He had to aim for the body, not the head.

Almond's hand, reaching for his quiver, only stirred the air.

'None.'

No arrows.

The viewers, unaware, were excitedly chatting.

- Really, he's in a good position and dealing damage, isn't he?

- What is this... d d d

- Human turret Almond.

- He's really insane!?

- Wow! How many people died in an instant!?

- If you deal damage like a stake, this is what happens!?

- Is this the first stake damage since Kingdom Age? It's amazing, really.

- Wow, s b kkkk

- What did I just see?

- Is it already 1v1?!

The remaining one seemed to think Almond would naturally catch him.

'I didn't farm arrows much because I took the hospital route.'

He didn't get any kills and farmed stably at the hospital.

There were many medicines but no weapons.

[2/100]

But now, a 1v1 situation.

Click.

The opponent raised the barrel of a rifle, which seemed to be legendary, roughly figuring out Almond's position.

[The Blue Zone is shrinking!]

The Blue Zone started to shrink.

Crackle...

Static electricity crackled from behind Almond.

* * *

The viewers also noticed the danger.

- Hey! Almond has no arrows!

- Damn!?

- Oh, man.

- Ah, the hospital farming snowball d d

- Holy s b

- Insane. This is the first time Almond has run out of arrows at this moment?

Even the Blue Zone was working in the enemy's favor.

The distance was a very small difference, but Almond had to move, while the enemy could stay still. The difference was as extreme as ice and fire.

Almond made a decision.

He immediately dropped from the tree.

The enemy, having completely figured out Almond's position, started shooting.

Rat-tat-tat-tat-tat!

Holes were drilled into the tree. The destructive power was amazing.

The tree Almond was on collapsed.

Thud!

The tree provided no cover. In fact, nothing in this jungle seemed capable of stopping that gun.

No cover. Then he needed to hide.

Almond ran.

Outside the Blue Zone.

[Exposure to the Blue Zone's toxic gas!]

[Critical damage is accumulating!]

The toxic gas made the vision blurry.

As the concentration increased, the vision became almost invisible, and the damage was increasingly critical.

It was the late game.

Click.

Almond immediately poured all the painkillers into his mouth.

The tingling on his skin subsided.

[Remaining health 36%]

With a legendary rifle, this health could be killed with a single shot. At least the bulletproof vest might allow him to survive two shots.

The sound of the enemy's gun continued.

Fortunately, Almond wasn't visible, so the shots were going in the wrong direction.

Almond moved back a bit and used two more first aid kits.

[Remaining health 94%]

His health increased to 94%.

But it dropped to 89% after 3 seconds.

'This won't last long.'

This is the damage he received after taking 8 painkillers.

The late-game toxic gas is almost lethal if ingested.

Almond checked his inventory.

Smoke grenades, flares, grenades, and several bandages.

'Grenades.'

Yes, grenades.

This was the only offensive weapon he had.

There was something he learned from Funsna about using grenades.

[Remaining health 74%]

His health dropped again while checking his inventory.

Almond moved quickly.

'Can I do it?'

He wanted to ask himself.

But he decided to stop.

It was a meaningless question.

No one asks if they can breathe and then breathes.

'I have to do it.'

This was something he had to do.

If he didn't, he would die.

He took a deep breath.

Then he started running around the edge of the Blue Zone.

The enemy started shooting upon hearing the footsteps. Thanks to the toxic gas, the accuracy was low.

Almond threw all the smoke grenades and flares into the Blue Zone.

The loud light and sound, and the thick smoke, covered everything.

The sound of the enemy's gun disappeared.

Was he confused?

Almond took advantage of the moment and ran.

Crackle.

He re-entered the Blue Zone.

With 46% health