High Martial Arts: Invincible Starts from Basic Archery Chapter 1 No Prey
The shadows of the sky deepened as the looming night prepared to swallow the earth in total darkness.
Standing within the throng of people, Chen Fan strained on his tiptoes like everyone else, his gaze fixed on the distant horizon.
The low, menacing cries of fierce beasts drifted occasionally from the heart of the desolate wilderness.
If the Hunting Team failed to reach the Earth Castle before nightfall, they would be trapped in a void of absolute black, vulnerable to the relentless pursuit of mutated predators.
A sudden, desperate pressure on his arm caused Chen Fan to look down. He saw his mother gripping him tightly, her face drained of color and her eyes swimming with helplessness.
“Don’t worry, Mom. Dad and the others will be back any second now.”
He offered these gentle words of comfort to soothe her.
The woman gave a small nod, though her eyes remained glued to the distance in an agony of suspense.
Surveying his surroundings, Chen Fan saw the faces of more than a hundred villagers, all etched with the same frantic dread and panic.
He let out a silent sigh. It was still hard to believe that a simple nap on the subway had resulted in him waking up in this world; today marked only his second day here.
This realm mirrored his old world, save for a cataclysmic shift in nature a decade ago. Every bird, beast, and plant had undergone a mutation—growing massive, violent, and consumed by bloodlust.
In response to this chaos, Awakeners appeared among the human race. These individuals wielded spiritual power that transcended human limits, allowing them to manipulate the elements. The most powerful among them were immune to conventional firearms and could obliterate an entire pre-apocalypse town with a single blow.
However, Awakeners were a rare breed. Their presence served as the foundation for cities that drew in survivors. Rumor had it that life in the great metropolises remained much like it was ten years ago, complete with electricity, the internet, fine dining, and clean water. There, people still lived the nine-to-five life, commuting by subway.
Yet, resources were finite. Ordinary people were denied entry to such sanctuaries, even the smaller ones. Their only choice was to establish camps to defend against the fierce beasts.
In these outposts, electricity was a dream and basic safety a luxury. Plagued by a lack of food, medicine, and energy, the inhabitants lived in a perpetual dance on the edge of the grave.
The previous occupant of this body had actually died of starvation. Driven to madness by hunger, he had consumed unknown wild fruits, resulting in a fatal three-day fever that allowed Chen Fan to take over the vessel.
“Did something truly go wrong?”
The thought made him tighten his fists involuntarily.
Just then, a jubilant cry erupted from the wooden watchtower, which stood nearly eight meters tall. “They’re here! They’re coming!”
“Is it true?”
“Where? I can't see anything!”
“The guards have the vantage point. They’ll be in sight soon!”
“Thank heavens! They’ve finally returned.”
The gathering broke into cheers. Squinting toward the horizon, they eventually spotted tiny black specks that grew larger as they drew near. Relief washed over the crowd, and smiles began to reappear.
But as the group drew closer, those smiles slowly turned to ice.
A dozen or so men came into view, clutching spears and bows, looking battered and broken. Some were hobbling with the help of comrades, while others were being carried. Even those who could walk were covered in wounds.
Crucially, there was no sign of any prey.
The more observant villagers quickly realized that several faces were missing from the group.
The battered team eventually stopped before the drawbridge. Leading them was a man with a square jaw and a grim expression. His right arm was a mess of bloody gashes, but his eyes were filled only with profound shame.
For a moment, it felt as though time itself had stopped.
Licking his parched, cracked lips, the man spoke in a low voice. “I am sorry. We were ambushed by two mid-level fierce beasts. In the chaos, we lost our haul, and… Zhuzi, Ah Hua, and Xiaogao… they didn't make it.”
Before he could finish, several people in the crowd collapsed, the world spinning out of control for them.
Pandemonium broke out as people rushed to carry the unconscious back to their homes.
The remaining hunters hung their heads, unable to look the widows, orphans, and elders in the eye.
Chen Fan felt a slight tremor run through his body.
Three dead?
Lost in a single hunt.
Recalling the memories of the body's previous owner, this was the most devastating blow the camp had ever endured.
The square-faced man was Chen Guodong, Chen Fan’s father and the founder of this Earth Castle.
Faint weeping and heavy sighs filled the air as the lucky ones tried to offer solace to those who had lost everything.
Once the Hunting Team had shuffled inside, the drawbridge was hauled up. Enclosed by walls over three meters high, the camp offered a fleeting sense of protection.
While the families of the wounded were distraught, a secret sense of relief lingered—at least their men had come home.
The lightly injured retreated to their shelters with their kin. Soon, the camp was plunged into a darkness lit only by the pale glow of the moon.
“Guodong, look at your arm.”
The woman hurried to the square-faced man, tears trailing down her cheeks as she took his injured arm.
Chen Fan walked over, still feeling the awkwardness of his new life only a few days into his transmigration.
“It’s nothing,” Chen Guodong muttered, shaking his head while consumed by guilt. “This is on me. If I had sensed those beasts sooner, Zhuzi and the others wouldn't have… they wouldn't…”
“Bang!”
A heavy hand clapped onto his shoulder. A bald man stepped forward to offer comfort. “Guodong, don’t blame yourself. This cursed world is the problem. It’ll take us all eventually.”
“Get some rest.”
He gave Chen Guodong another pat, flashed a quick grin at Chen Fan, and then departed with his own family.
“Dad, let’s head back,” Chen Fan urged. “My brother is waiting for us.”
Chen Guodong hesitated for a second before nodding.
Silence reigned over the Earth Castle. Inside the nearby dwellings, the faint glow of fires was the only sign of life, punctuated by the occasional crackle of wood and hushed whispers.
“Mom, I’m so hungry. Can I have just a little more?”
“Go to sleep, my child. You won't feel the hunger once you're dreaming.”
“But it hurts, I’m really hungry.”
“Please, be good. There is simply nothing left.”
The voices eventually died away.
The weight of regret on Chen Guodong’s face grew heavier.
Chen Fan felt his own heart sink. His new father was a man of few words, characterized by his honesty and selflessness.
Whenever a hunt was successful, he ensured the meat was shared fairly, prioritizing the vulnerable and the elderly even if it meant his own family went without. It was a trait that had caused some friction in the past.
Lately, their hunting luck had run dry. Everyone was on the brink of starvation.
With the harsh winter approaching, Chen Fan feared that if things didn't change, the camp might descend into the horror of cannibalism.