Martian Archer

Leon stood outside the Archery Academy, his fists clenched.

The rejection still stung.

"So that's it?"

"I came all the way from Mars just to be turned away?"

As he turned to leave, the receptionist sighed and muttered, almost as an afterthought—

"Of course, if you had a recommendation letter from a respected archer… maybe, just maybe, we'd reconsider."

Leon's eyes snapped back to him.

"A recommendation?"

"That's right." The receptionist barely looked up. "But good luck with that. Only a handful of archers on Earth hold that level of respect, and they don't waste their time on rejects."

Leon's heart raced. He wasn't out of options yet.

As he walked away, Hugo grinned beside him.

"Hah. This is getting interesting."

"Do you know someone?" Leon asked, desperate.

Hugo scratched his chin, dramatically dragging out the moment before smirking.

"I might know a legendary archer… but you're not gonna like it."

They traveled to the outskirts of the city, leaving behind the towering skyscrapers and floating trains.

Here, the landscape was untamed—overgrown grass, abandoned structures covered in vines. The air smelled of wet soil and rust.

Finally, they stopped in front of a solitary house.

It was covered in solar panels, its walls half-swallowed by creeping ivy.

Leon frowned.

"This doesn't look like the home of a 'legendary' archer."

"That's because she's not just an archer." Hugo knocked on the metal door. "She's the best damn weapon Earth ever built."

A long silence.

Then, the door slid open.

Inside stood a woman.

She was stunning.

Flawless skin, piercing silver eyes, long white hair tied into a neat ponytail. She moved with an inhuman grace, every motion smooth, calculated.

Leon's breath hitched.

But the moment she spoke, any illusion of warmth vanished.

"Hugo." Her voice was calm, clipped, mechanical. "Why did you bring a child?"

Leon's eyes widened.

"Wait, you're Not A Human?"

"Affirmative."

His stomach dropped.

" She's an android?!"

Hugo grinned, giving Leon a hard slap on the back.

"Welp, good luck, kid!"

Before Leon could react, Hugo spun around and sprinted out the door, slamming it shut behind him.

"HEY—"

Leon lunged for the door, but it locked automatically.

A wave of dread rolled through him as EVA-07 turned to face him.

She reached behind her and pulled out a carbon-black longbow, sleek and futuristic.

Her silver eyes narrowed.

"Lesson one."

She raised the bow, aiming directly at his heart.

"Survive."

Leon barely had time to move before the first arrow flew.