However... he failed.

THUD!

The Arrow precisely struck Marcus in the right side of his chest.

Even without a sharp point, the Arrow couldn’t pierce Marcus’s tough flesh, but the immense force of the shaft still slammed into him.

He grunted, a searing pain spreading from his right pectoral and forcing his muscles into an uncontrollable spasm.

"Leave the arrowhead on! Again!"

It wasn’t enough. Marcus grit his teeth against the pain.

Kneeling on one knee, his eyes wild with madness, he roared.

"This isn’t enough! I need a real threat! The feeling of death closing in!"

"Again, Valles!"

"Fine!"

Valles gritted his teeth and steeled his resolve.

He knew Marcus was past the point of no return; nothing could change his mind now.

’If that’s how it is, then so be it!’

Valles drew another Arrow. After a moment’s hesitation, he did not remove the Quiver-mounted Arrowhead.

’Marcus... I hope you can really stop this!’

He drew his bow and nocked the Arrow.

Under the sun, the arrowhead glinted ominously, silently locked on Marcus.

The instant Valles took aim, the fear of death seized Marcus’s heart.

His breath came in ragged gasps, his heart pounded like a war drum. His legs even shifted subconsciously, instinctively trying to dodge.

This caused his Fighting Qi to run even more rampant, crashing chaotically through his body with no semblance of order.

’Focus... I have to focus!’

’Block that Arrow! I have to stop it! This is my best chance to break through to Middle Level Warrior! C’mon, Marcus!’

A flicker of pity crossed Valles’s eyes, but he released the bowstring nonetheless.

The Arrow tore through the air with a piercing whistle!

WHOOSH!

ROAR!

Marcus roared in unison, focusing all of his will on a single thought: ’defense’!

He desperately tried to control the rampaging Fighting Qi, attempting to form a Shield on the surface of his skin.

But once again, he failed...

SQUELCH...!

A spray of blood erupted from his shoulder as the Arrow embedded itself in Marcus’s left shoulder.

The moment the Arrow struck, a soul-tearing pain erupted in his left shoulder. The immense force of the impact sent him staggering back several steps.

He had still failed to control his Fighting Qi and form a Shield.

...

"So... this is the reason you’re injured?"

Inside a room at the Red Beard Inn, Zelir looked utterly speechless.

He had rushed over to visit as soon as he heard Marcus was injured.

But Zelir never imagined Marcus could be so insane.

’To advance his rank, he actually asked Valles to shoot him with a real Bow and Arrow... How reckless can you get?’

"Honestly, you..."

Zelir couldn’t help but turn and chide Valles.

"Marcus told you to shoot, and you actually went through with it? Weren’t you afraid something would go wrong?"

Valles just pursed his lips and didn’t argue.

"You should be glad Valles didn’t use Fighting Qi or aim for Marcus’s head," Gray chuckled from the side.

"Ahem... It’s not his fault."

Marcus gave a slightly embarrassed cough. "Besides, it was worth it... If I hadn’t pushed myself, I never would have become a Middle Level Warrior."

"Huh?"

Zelir’s eyes widened in astonishment at his words.

"You... you broke through?"

"Yep." Marcus nodded with a satisfied smile.

He held out his uninjured right hand and slowly clenched it into a fist.

A tangible current of air flowed out, rapidly coiling around his forearm. Then, with a HUM, it coalesced into a thick, solid, translucent Energy Shield—a Combat Qi Shield!

This was the defining mark of a Middle Level Warrior!

...

"Ugh... haah..."

After being struck by the Arrow, Marcus dropped to one knee, his breathing heavy and suppressed.

Blood trickled down his arm, staining the grass a dark crimson.

"Marcus!" Gray paled at the sight and started to rush forward.

’I knew it!’

Valles let out a deep sigh and also prepared to go treat the wound.

Thankfully, he’d had the foresight to bring a medical kit.

Valles had held back on that shot. Otherwise, with his Power and Bow Skill, it likely would have been a much more severe piercing wound.

"Stay back!"

Marcus painfully raised his right hand, his voice filled with unwavering resolve.

He pushed himself slowly to his feet. Beads of sweat dripped from his brow, and the tight clench of his jaw made his profile look as if it were carved from stone.

He stared intently at Valles, forcing out two words through clenched teeth.

"Valles! Continue!"

"You’re insane!" Valles finally snapped.

He’d never met someone so fanatical.

"Marcus, stop this madness!" Gray couldn’t bear to watch any longer.

"Continue!"

Marcus ignored their pleas. His expression was borderline ferocious, a profound ruthlessness radiating from the very marrow of his bones.

A faint white vapor began to rise from the surface of Marcus’s body. He was using his unyielding will to forcibly suppress the wild, untamable Fighting Qi, forcing it to merge with his very flesh and blood.

’Just one more push... I’m so close to succeeding!’

Valles looked at Marcus’s death-defying stance, then down at the Longbow in his hands, his mind in turmoil.

Finally, a similar ferocity surged through him.

"Fine...! You’re betting you can stop it, so I’ll bet on you, too!"

The hesitation and pity vanished from Valles’s face, replaced by Absolute Focus.

For the third time, he drew his bow and nocked an Arrow!

Marcus forced himself to ignore the searing pain in his shoulder. He stared, unblinking, at the arrowhead’s cold glint.

’Focus... Focus all your attention!’

’Feel it! Feel the Power inside you, about to break free!’

’Fuse your Fighting Qi with your resolve to protect everything!’

WHOOSH!

The third Arrow was loosed.

In that instant, the world in Marcus’s eyes seemed to slow to a crawl.

He could clearly see the Arrow’s trajectory through the air, feel the pressure as it rent the space before it.

And at that very moment, the faint white vapor on Marcus’s skin began to collapse inward, condensing at an astonishing speed and fusing perfectly with his body!

The instant before the Arrow could strike Marcus, a thick, pale white Shield materialized!

CLANG...

The arrowhead was deflected by an immense force, sent tumbling through the air!

He had succeeded!

"No way..." Gray was stunned by the scene.

Marcus had actually withstood the pressure and completed his promotion from Junior Warrior to Middle Level Warrior!