The world of [Chronicles of Legendary Heroes] is filled with wars, deaths, and tragedies.
After all, the world is currently facing two extinction-level threats: Vampires on land and Kalis in space.
Over the course of seven centuries of warfare, the soldiers of the Union Military have developed several strategies for fighting against them.
But even still, throughout the span of the first half of the novel, there were numerous wars with uncountable casualties.
However, not all wars were fought against Vampires and Kalis.
Nuh-uh.
There were few instances when humans had to fight against elves, dwarves, and even fellow humans.
Why, you may ask yourself? There were many reasons.
First and foremost, Vampires can compel other races and control their minds. They can make you fight against your own kind.
The second reason is the power struggle.
Yes, power struggle.
Since the last few years have been relatively peaceful and the world isn't in any immediate unforeseen danger for now, the struggle for power has been presumed.
People have started fighting themselves instead of the threats they should be focusing on.
Yeah, I know—foolish power-hungry bastards.
Anyway, the third reason was even more foolish: the difference in races.
Elves are too prideful. Dwarves are too rude. And Humans are the greediest of them all.
So needless to say, a few conflicts were unavoidable and one should be ready to fight at any given moment against anyone to maximize their chances of survival in this world.
In simple words, my point is that a good cadet should be ready to face any kind of danger that's thrown at them.
That's why, after Liz was done with our roll call, we were sent to the training field.
Currently, we are going through a drill exercise called 'anti-personnel combat training,' the first thing in the morning.
Now I personally don't have a problem with it, but it's exhausting to move my body in the morning since I'm not a morning person.
Anyway, it's an hour-long class where cadets spar against each other with their preferred choice of weapons.
It doesn't need to be the weapon they chose during the Weapon Selection; it could be anything.
After all, a soldier should at least know how to get around using as many weapons as one can.
They could use any martial arts as long as it's not lethal. They could also not use mana in their attacks.
So for that, everyone was gathered in the concrete training field and since it was technically our first day, we were using practice weapons.
Practice weapons were made of wood and carbon fiber to make this class a little less painful for the cadets.
Looking around, I could see the main characters paired up against other main characters for this training drill session.
Nero, the male lead, was sparring against Chase.
Elijah was barely holding his own against Quinn.
Aster was valiantly going up against Anastasia, the female protagonist, and so on.
Ah, what a brilliant sight~
Young cadets sparring against each other, bonding and enjoying themselves for a little while.
Hmm? What about me, you ask?
Haha. Funny story. I was paired up with Amelia. Yes, the girl Lucas tried to… you know.
"Ahem"
Breaking the suffocating silence with a dry cough that was filling the gap between Amelia and me, I let out a wry smile.
"So… been a long time. What are you up to- Kyaaa!"
Swish—!
Before I could spat some weird nonsense, an arrow brushed past my face.
A red line formed under my right eye and a drop of blood coursed down my cheek.
I couldn't even follow her movements! When did she shoot?!
And even if it was a practice arrow, it was ridiculously sharp! Was she aiming for my eye?!
"Tsk, I missed." the black-haired girl clicked her tongue in frustration.
She was! She was totally aiming for my eye!
Flashing a smirk, I jerked my head. Nothing left to do but face her head-on.
Instantly, I knocked an arrow on my bow and-
Swish—!
"Aeik!"
…And before I could even draw the string, another arrow shot past me, barely leaving my eye intact.
It was so unexpectedly fast that it startled me and a girly shriek escaped my mouth….
"Do you want to take my eye out?!" I yelled.
As she was enjoying watching me suffer, Amelia mockingly shrugged while feigning ignorance.
"Accidents can happen," she said.
"It's not an accident if it's intentional!" I barked at her in a ridiculing tone.
Paying no mind to my wailing, Amelia knocked another arrow on her bow, drew the string, and quickly aimed at me.
Widening my eyes, I drew back my bowstring too. Locking my target on her, I released the bowstring and shot my arrow at her.
To counter, she too shot an arrow of her own at me.
Damn she was fast.
Tak—
Swish—!
I tried to duck and dodge her arrow but another cut appeared on my face. I was too late to react– No, instead she was too fast!
Her precision was amazing! And despite being so fast to shoot, her aim was perfect.
And if that wasn't enough, she was quick on her feet too. Despite us shooting at the same time, she easily managed to avoid my arrow by tilting her head.
Sigh…
Even in the novel, Amelia was an amazing archer and a brilliant fighter.
In one arc, she was poisoned by the vampires. Even when she was losing consciousness and all her senses were shutting down due to the effects of the poison, Amelia managed to hit all her targets and subdue her poisoners.
Her talent in archery was only second to Anastasia, the female protagonist. And even that's because Anastasia had a cheat.
Even now, she was intentionally aiming slightly below my eye or else I would've ended up with only one eye by now.
But even so! It doesn't matter how good she was or how much of a big shot she would go on to become in the future; I can't let her trample all over me!
Even if her talent is second to only one in the whole world, I will not let her win this–
Swish—!
"Aeik!"
Arghh! Fine! She was now asking for it!
Gritting my teeth, I started running in her direction.
A sniper's weakness is close-range combat. That's why they carry a secondary weapon with them.
However, since this was merely a practice session, no one bothered to grab a secondary weapon.
Not me though. I was smart. I knew something like this could happen, so I grabbed a dagger and concealed it under my right-hand sleeve!
Muahahaha!
I will close in on her, take my dagger out and-
Swish—!
Thrub—!
"Arrgaaaaa!"
Before I could even close half the distance, an arrow collided with my leg.
Although it didn't pierce through, it felt like I was hit by ten paintballs at once on a single point in my leg.
"Did you bring a secondary weapon? Aren't you smart?" Amelia shot a smirk, "But it's all pointless if you can't close the distance on me to use it."
Baring my teeth and enduring the pain in my right leg, I got up. Throwing the bow to the side, I pulled out the dagger from under my sleeve.
"Fine, I'll play along." With a bored expression plastered on her face, Amelia shrugged and threw her bow aside too.
As if I was no threat to her whatsoever, she started walking toward me.
Oh, she shouldn't have done that.
An archer allowing their opponent to close the distance is akin to them digging their own grave.
A taunting grin formed on her face as she came face to face with me.
Does she think she can beat me in close range?
I admit Lucas wasn't the strongest or the toughest, but this guy was still elite.
Despite his slacking off most of the time, he was trained in various kinds of martial arts since childhood.
So there was no way I would lose to an archer in close combat.
And besides, I was up against a girl. The difference in our gender's evolutionary biology has already given me an edge over her!
Thinking that my victory was already assured, I gripped my dagger hard in my right hand and swung it directly at her neck.
If she were to duck, I would hit her in the face with a knee.
If she were to block by hand, I would hit her with a kick to her open side.
And if she grabbed my hand, I would twist her grip, pull her close, and clutch her in a submission lock.
Yes! How do you like this, you arrogant bitch?! This is my perfect victory-
Kwoosh—!
"...Huh?"
Thwack—!
For a second, the whole world turned upside down and I saw my dead grandma looking down on me from heaven.
Then the next second, everything turned black. When my vision returned, excruciating pain spread all over my body.
"Arghkk!"
It seems like using my own momentum against me, Amelia managed to flip me over her shoulder.
Huh… it was a blunder on my part.
"Arghh fuck-"
-Krwuush!
However, before I could get my pain-stricken body to get up and move, Amelia held my right hand and locked me into an armbar submission lock.
Ahh, fuck!
Over-the-shoulder flip followed up by an armbar! She was using Jiu-jitsu!
An archer was using modern martial arts at close range?! Fuck, fuck, fuck! I didn't think of this!
There was no such thing mentioned in the novel since Amelia never had to display her close combat skills!
"Arghhhhaaa!"
It felt like my arm was going to be ripped off.
And knowing how much Amelia hated Lucas even in the novel, I had no doubts that she would actually break my arm if I let this drag on.
No, no, no! I don't want that!
"Submit!" while I was locked in an armbar submission lock, Amelia's cold voice fell into my ears.
Submit? Was she asking me to tap out and admit defeat?! Hell no!
As if she had read my mind, Amelia bent her back and doubled the intensity of the armbar.
"Arghhhha!"
"Tap out, you bastard!"
"Arghhahaha! Let go, you bitch!"
I was struggling for my dear life. But as if hell-bent on making me suffer, Amelia didn't let loose the grip on my arm.
Fine! She wants to play it that way?
Using my left hand, I grabbed one of her legs that was holding my right arm in place.
Then I pulled her leg to my face and using all the strength I had in me, I bit her leg….
"Heik! Ewww! W-What the hell?! Let go! Let go! Let go! You pervert!" she started squeaking.
Now she was the one who was struggling for her dear life!
"Shu let gho pasht! (You let go first!)" gnashing on her leg, I shot back.
My strange action had turned the surroundings silent.
Was everyone watching us?! Eh, but I had no time to think about it!
For now, all my focus was on this leg! This leg! I will eat it off! I swear I will eat it off!
"T-This is a warning, Lucas! Let go! I said, LET GO, YOU BASTARD!"
I will eat this leg piece today, even if it's the last thing I do! I'll eat it down to the bone!
"Y-You!" grabbing the bow she threw away earlier by reaching it with one of her hands, Amelia raised it up, intending to hit me with it.
In my vision, I saw a wooden bow speeding toward my face.
'Ah fuck.'
Once again, I saw my dead grandma in the clouds. She was waving her hand at me from heaven.
I have no recollection of what happened after that.
