High Martial Arts: Invincible Starts from Basic Archery Chapter 1 No Prey

The sky grew increasingly dim, and it wouldn't be long before the darkness of night completely swallowed the land.

Standing within the throng of people, Chen Fan was perched on his tiptoes like everyone else, straining to catch a glimpse of the far horizon.

The intermittent roars of savage beasts echoed from the deep reaches of the wilderness.

Should the Hunting Team fail to reach the Earth Castle before nightfall, they would be forced to endure the absolute blackness while facing the relentless threat of predator attacks.

Suddenly, Chen Fan felt a firm grip on his arm. He looked down to find his mother clutching him; her face was pale, and her eyes were clouded with a sense of helplessness.

"Mom, don't worry. Dad and the others will be back soon, any moment now."

He offered these gentle words of comfort.

The woman nodded in response, then raised her head again, her gaze fixed anxiously on the distance.

Chen Fan surveyed his surroundings. The faces of the hundred-plus people gathered there were etched with a mixture of panic and dread.

He let out a silent sigh. It was still hard to believe that after taking a simple nap on the subway, he had woken up in this strange world. This was only his second day here.

This world mirrored his previous one, except for a cataclysmic shift in nature ten years prior. Animals, birds, and even the vegetation had mutated—growing massive, more aggressive, and driven by a thirst for blood.

Awakeners had appeared among the human population, individuals gifted with spiritual power that far exceeded the limits of ordinary people. These elites could manipulate the elements, and the most powerful among them were immune to conventional firearms, capable of leveling a pre-apocalyptic town with a single blow.

However, Awakeners were a rare breed. Their presence served as the foundation for cities that drew in survivors. Word had it that in some of the great metropolises, life continued as it had a decade ago—complete with electricity, the internet, gourmet food, and clean water. In those places, people still worked nine-to-five jobs and commuted via the subway.

But resources were finite, and the vast majority of common folk were denied entry into the cities, even the smaller ones. Their only choice was to establish camps for mutual defense against the fierce beasts.

Forget about modern luxuries like electricity—even basic survival was a struggle. They were constantly deprived of food, medicine, fuel, and daily essentials, living every moment on the razor's edge between life and death.

The original inhabitant of this body had been driven to the brink by starvation. He had sneaked out to consume unknown wild fruits, which resulted in a fatal three-day fever, eventually allowing Chen Fan to take over the body.

"Could something have actually gone wrong?"

He couldn't help but squeeze his fists tight.

Just then, frantic cries erupted from the wooden watchtower, which stood seven or eight meters high. "They're coming! They're coming!"

"Is it true?"

"Where? I can't see them yet!"

"They have the high ground. We'll be able to see them in a moment."

"Fantastic! They've finally returned."

The crowd broke into cheers. Squinting toward the horizon, they spotted tiny black specks that grew larger as they approached. As everyone breathed a sigh of relief, the tension on their faces gave way to smiles.

But as the team drew nearer, those smiles began to freeze.

About a dozen figures came into view, carrying spears and bows, looking completely disheveled. Some were leaning on their comrades for support, while others were being carried. Even those walking unassisted were covered in wounds.

Most notably, there was no sign of any hunted prey.

A few sharp-eyed onlookers realized that several faces were missing from the group.

The team eventually reached the drawbridge and came to a halt. At the front stood a man with a square jaw and a grim expression. His right arm was marred by several bloody gashes, but his face was dominated by an overwhelming sense of guilt.

For a moment, time seemed to stand still.

The man licked his parched, cracked lips and spoke in a low voice, "I'm sorry. We were ambushed by two mid-level fierce beasts. Because of the sudden attack, we lost our kills, and Zhuzi, Ah Hua, and Xiaogao... they..."

Before he could finish, several people in the crowd fainted from the shock, the world spinning around them.

Chaos erupted as people scrambled to carry the unconscious back to their homes.

The remaining members of the Hunting Team hung their heads in shame, unable to face the gazes of the women, children, and elderly.

Chen Fan’s frame shook slightly.

Three people were dead?

Lost in a single hunting trip.

According to the memories of the body's previous owner, this was the most devastating loss the camp had ever endured.

The square-faced man was Chen Fan's father, the leader who had founded this Earth Castle.

Muted sobs and heavy sighs filled the air as people tried to console the grieving families.

As the Hunting Team filed inside, the drawbridge was pulled up. The entire settlement was enclosed by walls over three meters high, providing a rare but fragile sense of safety.

The wives and children of the wounded were heartbroken, yet they felt a secret sense of relief that their own kin had at least made it back alive.

Those with minor injuries retreated to their homes with their families. Soon, the camp was plunged into total darkness, illuminated only by the pale glow of the moon.

"Guodong, look at your arm."

The woman took hold of the square-faced man’s right arm, her face wet with tears.

Chen Fan stepped closer; having only been in this world for a few days, he still felt a bit awkward in his new role.

"I'm alright."

Chen Guodong shook his head, his voice thick with remorse. "This is on me. If I had detected those beasts sooner, Zhuzi and the others wouldn't have... wouldn't have..."

"Bang!"

A heavy hand clapped onto his shoulder. A bald man spoke up to offer comfort, "Guodong, don't blame yourself. This cursed world is to blame. It will come for all of us eventually."

"Go get some rest."

He patted Chen Guodong once more, flashed a quick grin at Chen Fan, and then departed with his own family.

"Dad, let's go home,"

Chen Fan said, "My brother is waiting for us."

Chen Guodong hesitated for a second before nodding.

The Earth Castle was shrouded in a heavy silence. Inside the nearby dwellings, the faint flicker of firelight was accompanied by the soft crackle of wood and hushed conversations.

"Mom, I'm hungry. Can I have something else to eat?"

"Just sleep, sweetheart. You won't feel the hunger once you're asleep."

"But it hurts, I'm so hungry."

"Please, be good. There isn't any food left."

The voices slowly drifted away.

The look of guilt on Chen Guodong’s face intensified.

Chen Fan’s heart grew heavy at the sight. His father in this life was a man of few words, but he was profoundly honest and kind-hearted.

Whenever they caught prey, he insisted on distributing it fairly throughout the camp, ensuring the elderly, the weak, and the children were fed—even if it meant his own family had to go without, which caused some friction.

Lately, their hunting luck had turned sour, leaving their food supplies nearly exhausted. Everyone was on the brink of starvation.

With the harsh winter approaching, if their situation didn't change, the grim reality of cannibalism might truly become unavoidable.