Supreme Archer: Taking The Game's Weakest Class To The Top

"I'm SWalker. Let's have a fair and square duel, Archer," SWalker introduced himself upon taking over the stage. His nickname wasn't unknown to the crowd, so a few comments about him had reached Jake's side.

Jake smiled. "I'm Archer. I'll do my best and win against you."

"You're fighting for a greater cause, after all. I expect nothing less from you," SWalker replied with a faint smile. "Is this your first character?"

"Yeah, why?" Jake stared at the man after responding to his unusual question.

SWalker chuckled. "And so am I a newbie. That's great."

These two didn't go deeper into their play styles, even though curiosity tugged either side.

For what reason did Jake stay at such a low level? Was he training his proficiencies before clearing up higher-leveling grounds, or was there something else keeping him back at the low level?

What about SWalker?

Those questions weighed on them until it was time for a duel.

SWalker put his hand on his sword's hilt.

He deeply inhaled.

He thought, 'He'll begin with a rapid release of arrows. If I don't break them all, I'll leave up a window for him to teleport to, which will give him an opportunity to broaden the distance between us when in jeopardy. It'll be difficult for me to defeat him once I give him enough time to release many arrows.'

Jake would have been a monster if he could release lots of arrows.

He'd create so many teleportation points that catching up to him would require skills and luck.

Anyone who caught his movement skill's secret had inferred it, including SWalker.

'He can make too much space with his movement skill. It doesn't eat a lot of stamina, and his mana pool is oddly high. If I let him snowball this duel, he'll win against me with his stats and skills. He's not a mere archer who can only shoot from a long distance and pray for a critical strike,' SWalker thought. 'I can't forget about his bow, either. He can always use it as a striking weapon.'

Knowing so much about his opponent, SWalker conjured a perfect plan for his victory.

Jake may have been full of surprises and had many more skills up his sleeve, but the important skills had already been exposed to others.

SWalker believed that he knew enough about him to take over the first seconds of the battle to inflict severe damage on Jake or perhaps even disable him.

'Yes. I know a lot about you, but you know nothing about me.' SWalker thought. 'It's our first battle. We may be enemies or rivals down the line, but now, the odds are in my favor. Archer…'

[3…2…1…]

'…I'll win,' SWalker told himself just as the duel was about to commence.

Once it did, SWalker dashed at Archer. He didn't dare to waste even a second. During his run, the swordsman activated his buff skills to become stronger and faster.

At low levels, melee classes could lick fantasy only by strengthening themselves beyond human limits.

A skill like The Perception allowed them to sink deeper into the fantasy pool, taking their senses to another level similar to The Zone that sportsmen on Earth sometimes entered during their matches.

The world slowed down for them.

They could see and feel much more.

Their natural instincts silenced by the modern times awakened in that zone!

SWalker saw three arrows flying at him and could make up their trajectories. One of them was going at his head, while the other two wanted to pierce through his chest.

Cutting through them with ease, SWalker overcame the first hurdle.

The crowd cheered.

Alas, SWalker wasn't in good spirits. 'So heavy! I can see why Peace's boyfriend switched to his final card after taking only one of them! I must have lost a lot of stamina! But he didn't shoot any of them past me! Is he inviting me for a close combat?

Doesn't matter! My perception has been on his bow since the start! I keep a close watch on his bow's ends, too! I'll take head on whatever you've prepared, Archer!'

His plan was also not done yet.

A few steps and broken arrows later, SWalker entered the reach, where he could unleash his only long-distance attack.

A surprise card that Archer shouldn't be ready for.

Lifting his sword up, SWalker brought the hilt closer to his face. He ran with his sword's end, looking like a drill meant to burrow into Jake's chest.

Once in the perfect range, SWalker thrust his hands forward, sending the silver beam of light straight at Jake's bow!

His target was Archer's weapon—the bow—to disable him!

'That's Asta Mana Sword, which takes my mana and the sword's mana to make a projectile skill! My sword is not a cheap sword found in monsters' bodies, but the one I bought at the auction house after saving money ever since I appeared on the mainland! That sword has been my partner for months! I know its mana, and so does it mine!' SWalker declared!

Though he didn't craft his own weapon, SWalker bought it with money he'd gathered by painstakingly saving his precious coins after each quest. It was also a sword that could grow up with levels, so it wasn't like he had spent his money for naught at early levels.

His bond with it was comparable to Jake's relationship with his companions!

'That's why once I use skills, their damage is much higher than an average swordsman! I respect and train swordsmanship, not just swing sword because it's cool!' SWalker thought.

BANG!

The silver projectile bolted straight into Jake's bow handle.

It exploded with a loud bang!

Everyone could see that Jake's bow suffered damage as Jake grasped the bow's handle with both hands.

"Is he trying to stop it from crumbling?"

"Don't tell me he's already done?"

"I didn't know SWalker had such a powerful skill! What the hell! I thought making mana swords and stuff was possible only at higher levels!"

"It's not exactly a simple mana sword," said a high-level player. "This is a skill from Asta Sword Household, which he must have gotten from the instructor after winning a few training ground events. This skill combines the player and the sword's mana. The latter's mana is different, and the concept is not so simple.

It means that this skill must be the least rare grade, but I bet it's epic grade skill."

"You know a lot about it, man."

"A bastard from The Golden Lotus killed me with it."

"Oh. My condolences."

"Don't mind it. I got him after that."

"Cool. Revenge tastes sweet, doesn't it?"

"It's too sweet."

Back to Jake and SWalker's duel, the swordsman had a strange feeling deep in his heart.

The bow undoubtedly suffered the damage.

Jake didn't even hold it like an archer.

So why… why did it feel like he didn't get any advantage?

Why did it feel that instead of being on the better side, he was still equal to Jake?

"My turn," Jake said.

SWalker looked up.

A golden eye shone at him.

Goosebumps went down SWalker's back.

'It's his strengthening skill! Your bow is broken, tho! What will you do, Archer?!' SWalker shouted.