Martian Archer

Leon's vision blurred as he staggered to his feet. His leg throbbed from the blow, but he wasn't done yet.

The outskirts of the city stretched before him -massive metal structures, docking bays, and towering spaceport gates. Beyond those gates, shuttles were preparing for departure.

Earth was so close.

But between him and freedom stood a single figure.

A tall, armored enforcer in a sleek black bodysuit lined with cybernetic enhancements. He carried a composite bow, its limbs lined with glowing blue circuits. Red Bolt's top-tier tech.

Leon's stomach twisted.

This was no ordinary guard.

This was the company's elite archer-Dante.

The enforcer smirked, knocking a sleek, black-arrowed shaft onto his bowstring.

"You're persistent, Leon. I'll give you that."

Leon's fingers gripped the rough wooden bow slung over his shoulder. It was cheap, outdated, barely functional. His arrows were scraps, modifications of factory defects.

He was outmatched.

Dante raised his bow in one smooth motion, aiming for Leon's chest.

"Let's see if you can survive against real archery."

Leon had no time to think. He dove behind a metal cargo container just as Dante loosed his first shot.

BZZZT!

The arrow sliced through the air, emitting a faint hum before exploding against the container's surface. Sparks rained down as metal shrapnel flew past Leon's face.

Explosive arrows. Great.

Leon's heart pounded. He couldn't fight this guy head-on. His only chance was to outsmart him.

Dante's cybernetic eye scanned the battlefield.

"Come out, Leon. We both know you can't win this."

Leon's mind raced.

Dante's arrows were powerful, but they had a fatal flaw-too much reliance on tech.

Leon pulled out one of his handmade arrows -one designed to split mid-flight and scatter debris.

I just need to blind him for a second.

He notched the arrow and took a deep breath. Then-

He fired.

The arrow split apart midair, sending a spray of sharp, reflective shards directly at Dante's cybernetic eye.

Dante flinched.

"Tch-!"

For a split second, his enhanced vision glitched, momentarily blinded by the overload of light.

Leon moved.

He sprinted toward the docks, his heartbeat loud in his ears. The spaceports were just ahead. If he could just-

"Not bad."

Dante's voice was cold.

Leon barely had time to react before a shockwave arrow struck the ground near his feet.

BOOM!

The force launched him into the air, his body flipping uncontrollably.

He crashed onto the hard pavement, pain searing through his ribs.

Dante walked forward, knocking another arrow. His bow glowed ominously.

"This is over, Leon."

Leon gritted his teeth.

No. Not yet.

He forced himself to his feet, lungs burning. He was still being chased. He was still running.

He forced himself to his feet, lungs burning.

He was still being chased. He was still running.

But he wasn't out of tricks yet.

And he wasn't going to lose.