Into The Portal: Monster Invasion

Target Practice Facility - Shooting Range.

Miles came to the training facility to practice his archery using the newly purchased arrows. This place is one of the many target practice facilities for archers and gunmen in the commander lounge. Since Miles had no bow on him, he used a training bow provided by the facility for those who do not carry or own any.

The heavy and sturdy arrows he purchased needed a durable bow and a string tough enough to be used on par with them.

Miles pulled the bow with 40N force and nocked an arrow on it. The poison arrow would release poisonous fumes upon contact with a target.

In such a close area, Miles made sure to distance himself enough so that he would not inhale any of the gas. Although the small amount of poison seeping from the arrow would hardly hurt him, it was still better to not inhale it.

He locked on the target as he pulled the string.. He held his breath at that moment and focused intently. He only had the target in his sight. All notions of sound disappeared. His body became motionless like an ancient millennium-old tree. His posture-steady. It was now time for release.

The arrow left the bow.

Bullseye!

Miles successfully shot the arrow at the center of the target. It penetrated deep through. Green smoke fumed as it came into contact with the target. The poison was in effect. These pinnacle-tier arrows weren't just for show.

"Not bad!" Miles smirked at the good results. He practiced more so that he could get used to it. "Should I ask Uncle Serzen for some pointers? After all, he is the best sniper I know."

"I should visit Uncle Gordon too, sometimes." Miles pondered as he kept on practicing.

He didn't have any flashy moves like Kai from the Graders Showdown, but his accuracy was a sight to see. He had mastered the basics of archery long before he entered the Portal World. He wouldn't miss any target as long it wasn't moving too fast.

Speed, be it monster or human, can create a disadvantage for any ranged hunter. At such high velocity, they could easily dodge incoming arrows. That however, is not troublesome for someone like Kai. He could control arrows mid-flight and curve them as he willed.

As for Miles, he could only predict an enemy's movement as he aimed. He wasn't a psychic, nor could he read minds. By observing and calculating the enemy's behavior, their eyes, muscles, and actions, he would maneuver himself accordingly. Even so, he would still fail 9 out of 10 times if he were to depend on them alone.

Miles then pressed a buŧŧon on the wall. The targets started to move in various directions - up, down, left, and right. They moved neither too slow nor too fast. The speed was just enough for Miles to hardly miss.

As he shot every arrow at a moving target, he was able to land a bullseye. But no matter how focused he was on trying to shift the arrow's direction mid-air, he simply couldn't. He expected this, as the laws of physics weren't for nothing. A released arrow would not change its direction without a great external force.

"I felt some kind of energy, similar to what Kai had used. I just don't know how to apply it. At this point, I don't know if I should even be using it. It nearly broke every bone in my body the last time I did. I really need to resolve this predicament." Miles could only groan.

He then dispelled the negative thoughts and pressed the buŧŧon once more. The targets' movement became disorderly and a little more random this time. As he looked at them, their movements slowed in his eyes.

He locked his eyes onto one and released an arrow. Air cuts echoed in the silent room. It was about to hit the center when another target appeared in front of it.

Miles had failed to notice the other target. The arrow then fastened itself on its low point area.

'I should practice the technique Adam gifted me.' Miles thought. Coin brought up the technique and Miles looked at the stances and descriptions.

"Seven Shots of Victory!"

As soon as Miles read the title his mind went blank. "What?!" He shouted in surprise.

"What happened?" Coin asked.

"This is the most expensive archery technique in the Hall of Arts' G-Tier. I wanted to learn this technique, but without 1-star coupons it is impossible to get." Miles exclaimed in surprise.

Hall of Arts was the place where all the techniques humanity had created to this day were kept, exempting certain family secret techniques and arts. The 1-star coupon required to purchase the most precious G-Tier technique and arts in the Hall of Arts.

It wasn't easy to earn these coupons. Not even high-ranking officials could get their hands on them easily. One had to perform meritorious deeds for the Hall of Arts to earn these coupons. The easiest way was by donating other techniques.

"It really is the Seven Shots of Victory!" Miles cried in joy and kept on reading.

"This technique requires 49 premoves to unleash the essence of the art. Without achieving full mastery over premoves, it is impossible to cast the technique. But when performed correctly, the force you can release will be devastating."

Miles looked at the 49 premoves and sighed in relief. Luckily they weren't ċumbersome. He had to move his fingers, hands, arms, head and waist to achieve 42 premoves to bring the energy into his fingers. Then, each arrow would achieve another premove. When the last arrow would be fired, the true might of the technique would be released.

The creator of the technique killed a Form-Rank monster with a regular arrow when he used the 49th premove.

Before Miles could try, Coin's voice reverberated in his ear, "Cale is calling."

"Oh, answer it." Miles said with surprise and impatience. He wanted to test the technique.

"Yo, Lil Miles!" Cale's carefree smile appeared on the screen.

"What's up, Cale?" Miles asked with a smile. He liked this lighthearted foot soldier.

"We will meet with dudes from old times in a week, wanna join?" Cale asked.

"From R&R?" Miles asked in surprise, "You know I can't mingle with them easily right?" Miles was after all from a military family. If he were to meet high ranking soldiers, it might be misunderstood. Other generals or soldiers might even put the military coup hat on Cross Family's head.

"Don't worry about those boring things. They are not strangers." Cale laughed.

"Alright, I will be there." Miles nodded after some thought. Since Cale thought it was okay, he didn't have any qualms about it either.

"Good to hear. I have a request too." Cale said. Whispered towards the end. Miles could swear a blush flashed on his face.

"Oh, this is gonna be good." Miles teased with a smile.

"Don't play with me, lil bro." Cale sighed in defeat. "I have needs too."

"Haha! Sure, sure. Tell lil bro what you need." Miles laughed heartily.