Focusing her mind and steadying her breath, she concentrated all her attention. Her fingers drew the bowstring taut, the bow curved like a full moon, binding death to the prey within a thousand meters.
This arrow would undoubtedly hit its mark!
The archer’s gaze pierced through layers of obstacles, locking onto that tiny white figure.
Betting his reputation as a divine marksman, this shot would not miss, as always.
The number of fugitives who had died by his hand had long since passed double digits.
Time seemed to slow to an illusion; a second felt like eternity. The archer could hear his own breathing, fully focused. He treated Bai Ya as a truly threatening prey.
All distractions vanished from his mind—honor, wealth, fame—all cast aside. Only the belief in hitting the target remained. Usually, he could never achieve such a state, but now he had.
A state of perfect clarity and calm—the ideal condition for an archer.
“This is my best form yet.”
A faint smile lifted the archer’s lips. He finally released his grip; his hold on the arrow never loosened, yet his release was without hesitation. This was the mark of an excellent shooter. A special arrow with a trident tip silently shot forth. Though quiet in flight, its destructive power was immense, like a spiraling meat grinder that pierced trees along its path, blasting massive holes.
The arrow had been loosed. The archer relaxed, resting one hand at his waist. He was confident this shot would hit, for he had no reason to doubt it.
His arrow was fast, soaring hundreds of meters in an instant. With the reaction speed of an ordinary person, there was absolutely no chance to dodge! He aimed for Bai Ya’s right foot. Though the target area was small, his expert marksmanship made the shot achievable.
No matter what, Bai Ya could not possibly avoid this arrow—this enchanted armor-piercing arrow that the archer rarely used. Once fired, it always drew blood!
But Bai Ya dodged it.
As the archer drew the bowstring, Bai Ya twitched her ear.
Suddenly, she vanished. Just as the arrow flew, she disappeared from the ground. The arrow cut through the spot where she had been, whipping up a fierce gust.
“What the hell!” the archer spat in rage. “How did she disappear?!”
He wasn’t the only one who noticed Bai Ya’s strange vanishing. The capture team lost their target and flailed like headless flies through the forest. The archer dared not slack off. Gripping his bow, he searched for Bai Ya’s trail. He swore to make this girl, who had crushed his pride, pay dearly—to vent his fury.
He tracked Bai Ya’s escape route while others scouted different areas.
Bai Ya had stayed right where she was… just below—a small slope.
She sensed danger and leapt down without hesitation. To others, she simply vanished.
The archer followed her footprints relentlessly.
Bai Ya sat on the damp earth, her petite body pressed against a wall covered in plants. She wanted to hold her breath, but the recent exertion made her chest heave violently, making it impossible.
“Damn, this body’s way too weak. Movement’s sluggish. My luck really sucks.” Bai Ya showed a thoughtful expression. She twitched her ears, picking up sounds beyond the insect chirps—approaching footsteps.
“But hey, that’s what makes it fun.”
A game without difficulty had no appeal. Bai Ya’s eyes flickered with an odd excitement.
After a moment, Bai Ya stretched out her right hand, fingers splayed. Then her thumb folded into her palm, followed by her index, middle, ring, and finally pinky finger.
A black boot stepped near her left hand.
“Saplace!”
Bai Ya shouted and grabbed a palm-sized rock, striking hard at the intruder’s lower body.
She had estimated the man’s height; his crotch floated about fifty centimeters above the ground, so she wouldn’t miss.
This was the only and sure way for Bai Ya—a weak girl—to subdue a strong man.
“Ah—!”
The man screamed so piercingly it startled a flock of crows.
“Defeated a ranged unit; EXP increased significantly, gained a map, some gold, and what’s this?”
“A secret aphrodisiac,” the captured archer replied obediently, tears at the corners of his eyes, enduring sharp pain in his groin.
“I’ll take it then.” Bai Ya tossed the crystal vial, grabbed it, and stuffed it into a pouch taken from the archer.
“You’re a girl—why do you want something like this? Ah, I get it—you’re a frustrated little… huh? Your man isn’t enough?” The archer glared venomously, spewing filthy words even as a prisoner. His pride wouldn’t allow him to admit defeat.
To think he was beaten by a girl who hadn’t even fully matured—humiliation beyond words! Even if he survived, he’d be laughed to death!
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m a proper man,” Bai Ya said, completely unfazed by his crude insults that would usually enrage an innocent girl.
“So you’re a lunatic.” The archer almost cried, overwhelmed by defeat.
“Brand! Are you okay?”
“He’s been captured by the target! That useless guy!”
“You’re not escaping now. This is a major victory!”
Hearing the archer’s cries, three members of the wandering capture team arrived, weapons in hand. They found Bai Ya and the archer named Brand, their faces alight with cruel glee. To them, Bai Ya was a harmless little lamb, ready to be subdued.
“Ahahaha! My backup’s here—you’re dead! You’re dead! You’re dead!” The archer laughed arrogantly, basking in triumph. This was a total reversal! A dramatic turnaround!
To have been so thoroughly humiliated! After the owner grew tired of me, you’ll pay with your body! Let’s break you completely! The archer’s gaze upon Bai Ya was wild and lecherous. Soon, she would be his captive!
“In escape games, the death cries of minor monsters attract more enemies—expected. Escape games are my specialty. No, any game—I’m good at all of them.”
Bai Ya ignored the archer. Muttering to herself, she stayed still. The slave capture team expected her to panic and flee, but she did not. Maybe she was stunned.
If this were a game, she would never lose.
A glint sparked in Bai Ya’s crimson eyes.
Game mode: activated.
“Three enemies approach. If my level is 1, they are level 10 monsters, armed with weapons, armor, and unknown items. The chance of winning in a direct fight is zero. One hit, and my health bar will be wiped clean.”
Bai Ya suddenly laughed. Her voice was pleasant, like the delicate whisper of a sprite. The archer was stunned. Was she insane? How could she laugh at such a dire moment?
“I’ve found the way to defeat them.” Bai Ya kept laughing. Her gaze was no longer that of someone struggling to survive. Her red eyes burned with a passion fiercer than fire.
And with the thrill of certain victory.