Knight: Becoming King of the World

Chapter 99: Chapter 87: The Caliber of the Royal Capital Knight Academy’s "Divine Shooter

Meanwhile, the Free People and merchants caught wind of the event and sprang into action. They brought their own food and drink, spontaneously organizing themselves to follow the nobles to the hunting grounds.

Nobles always enjoyed having people cheer and flatter them. It not only added to the festive atmosphere but also made them feel more proud and satisfied.

The Free People got a show to watch, and the nobles had an audience to cheer them on. A win-win!

At Henry’s command, the wolf hunting party set off toward Westwood Laine’s Forest Hunting Ground.

Sunlight filtered through the treetops, dappling down on them in patches of light.

Edmund’s hounds excitedly led the way, their noses to the ground as they searched for the wolf pack’s trail.

’I could get some pets for fun, too,’ Henry thought. ’I’ve heard the people of the Northern Lands are fierce and have a tradition of raising brown bears.’

The nobles rode on horseback, holding spears or bows, their eyes glinting with anticipation and excitement. Their conversation was filled with lighthearted jokes, but there was no lack of seriousness about the upcoming competition.

"Baron Henry, how many arrows did you prepare for today?" Edmund asked curiously.

Henry pointed at Bain, who was laden with quivers. "Not too many," he said, "but more than enough for that wolf pack to get a proper taste."

Calvin laughed heartily. "Then let’s see who hunts the first wolf!"

By noon, the noble hunting party had reached the outskirts of the Forest Hunting Ground, and the competitive atmosphere began to grow tense.

The Hunters of the Forest Hunting Ground had already placed animal carcasses near the area as bait, the scent of which would attract wolf packs looking for a meal.

They also imitated wolf howls, using the sound to pique the packs’ curiosity and draw them closer to the hunting ground.

Some of the more experienced Hunters used a special wolf bait that contained scents or tastes favored by wolves, capable of attracting them from a great distance.

Through these methods, the Hunters ensured the nobles would experience a challenging and thrilling competition during the Wolf Hunting Festival.

"Edmund, that’s cheating, using hounds to help," Calvin said, displeased with a somewhat smug Edmund.

"They’re just for finding the Grassland Wolves. Aren’t we competing in mounted archery?"

Boras voluntarily abstained. He wasn’t fond of this sort of activity; his participation was merely to show respect for Lord Henry. Compared to hunting wolves, he was more willing to watch over the spectating Free People and merchants on Henry’s behalf.

As a wolf’s howl echoed through the forest, Henry gave the order, and Claude waved a colored flag to signal the start of the competition.

The nobles quickly fanned out, forming their own small teams with their Attendants.

Some chose encirclement tactics, using the terrain and teamwork to trap the wolf packs. Others chose to track, relying on a Knight’s agility to pursue their prey.

Suddenly, a howl shattered the forest’s tranquility, and Edmund’s hounds immediately became agitated and restless.

Hearing the dogs bark, the nobles all knew a Grassland Wolf was nearby. They tightened their grips on their bows, their bodies recalling the Martial Arts they had trained in since childhood.

"Look, wolf tracks!"

A Knight shouted, pointing at the paw prints on the ground, his voice laced with excitement.

"A Grassland Wolf must be close."

Just then, a Grassland Wolf the size of a calf burst from the bushes, its eyes warily staring at these unwelcome guests.

Henry looked at the Grassland Wolf. ’How did it get so big?’ he wondered. ’It couldn’t have grown this large even from eating Minotaurs, right?’

Upon seeing the wolf’s size, some Knights readied their spears and bows.

"Who’s first?" Calvin shouted, his voice full of fighting spirit. The iron tip of his arrow glinted coldly in the sunlight.

"I’ll go," Edmund said calmly, taking down his bow with a fluid motion.

Edmund sat steadily atop his horse, his legs gripping its flanks tightly. His body rose and fell gently with the animal’s breathing.

He took a deep breath, then slowly nocked an arrow on his bowstring, drew the bow to its full extent, and took aim at the wolf.

Sunlight shone on his face through the gaps in the leaves.

Edmund loosed two arrows in quick succession. They streaked through the air like shooting stars, whistling as they flew straight for the wolf. One arrow struck true, hitting the wolf’s hind leg. The other was even more precise, piercing straight through its flank.

The Grassland Wolf let out a piercing howl, struggled for a few moments, and then collapsed to the ground, its life extinguished.

"Nice shot!" Henry exclaimed in admiration.

Edmund put away his bow and smiled. "I look forward to seeing your mounted archery skills."

Henry, however, simply stroked his bow. That little hunt was merely a warm-up.

’When it’s my turn, I’ll show them what ruthless really means!’

Unlike the other nobles, Henry didn’t rush off to find the wolf pack. Instead, he sat quietly on his horse, listening to the sounds carried on the wind. ƒreeωebnovel.ƈom

’Grassland Wolves are cunning and wary prey,’ he thought. ’That last one was just a fluke. Its size made it overconfident, and it just came out to die.’

Only the most patient and wise of hunters could capture these Grassland Wolves.

In the next second, a glint flashed in Henry’s eyes. He yanked hard on his reins, spurring his mount toward a seemingly quiet thicket.

Before the other nobles and Knights could react, they heard the whistle of Henry’s arrow cutting through the air.

Almost instantly, a Grassland Wolf leaped out of the thicket, trying to escape the sudden threat.

But Henry’s arrow was faster and truer, piercing straight through the wolf’s heart.

The Grassland Wolf collapsed to the ground, dead before it could even let out a howl.

Not far away, Edmund and Calvin witnessed the entire sequence, their eyes wide with shock.

Henry’s mounted archery was not only incredibly precise, but it also carried an indescribable sense of power.

Henry smirked. ’Heh. Six or seven of my Passive Skills just triggered. And you think you can compete with me in mounted archery?’

Henry didn’t stop. He continued to weave through the hunting ground, and every time he acted, another Grassland Wolf was discovered.

He could faintly sense the locations of the Grassland Wolves, locking onto his targets before they even became aware of the danger.

As time went on, Henry emptied his quiver. Bain would immediately pass him a full new one, allowing Henry to continue his slaughter.

Henry’s mounted archery became a performance in the hunting ground. Every draw of his bow was filled with a wild power admired by the people of the plains.

He not only demonstrated precise shooting from a standstill but also completed one unbelievable kill after another while moving at high speed.

During one sharp turn, Henry shifted his entire body until he was practically hanging from his horse’s belly. But even from this extreme position, he was still able to hit his target with unerring accuracy!

Getting into the spirit of it, Henry stood up on his horse and delivered a fatal blow to a Grassland Wolf that was trying to escape. freewebnoveℓ.com

The arrow pierced the wolf’s body like a Javelin, and as his warhorse galloped onward, Henry settled smoothly back into his saddle.

Edmund, Calvin, and the other nobles were all completely captivated by Henry’s performance.

A few Knights who hadn’t gone far stopped what they were doing, quietly watching Henry’s every shot.

’I thought this was a competition? How did it turn into his one-man show? What the hell is the point of even trying to compete? Might as well just go home and sleep.’

By the end, every successful kill Henry made was met with round after round of cheers from the surrounding nobles.

Finally, as the sun began to set, the day’s Wolf Hunting Festival competition drew to a close.

Edmund rode up to Henry’s side. He looked at the towering pile of Grassland Wolf carcasses loaded onto Henry’s warhorse—so many that Henry was forced to walk—and was completely bewildered.

’Was this a wolf hunt or a wolf slaughter?’

"Baron Henry, your skill has left us all in awe. You are a true master of the hunt."

Edmund considered his own mounted archery to be decent, but after witnessing Henry’s dazzling display of trick shots, he was too embarrassed to even mention his own "pathetic" skills.

Calvin came over as well. "You were without a doubt the most outstanding in today’s wolf hunt. I’m now greatly looking forward to the chance to fight alongside you one day."

Henry looked at his haul and said, "I had a title at the academy: Divine Shooter."

The two men’s faces showed sudden understanding. The Royal Capital Knight Academy was the cradle that nurtured the Emperor’s own Knights and officers.

To earn the title of "Divine Shooter" in a place like that held a prestige comparable to a medal of honor from a major battle.

Edmund’s gaze flickered as he looked at Henry, understanding now that this had been a demonstration of his formidable Martial Arts.

A young, powerful, and ambitious Border Noble with an elite army...