Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player



The next few hours of that early morning were dedicated to intense training. Klaus was focused, but his thoughts kept returning to the conversation he'd had with Emma.

As he pulled the bowstring and took aim at the targets, his mind wandered between his own worries and the determination he now felt. More than ever, he needed to work hard to compensate for the burden he would have to carry from now on. There was no longer any division between Kaizen and Klaus, from that day on they were one.

As Klaus practiced, the sun slowly rose over the Los Angeles skyline. He was so immersed in his thoughts that he barely noticed when someone approached him. It was only when a familiar voice called out to him after the end of an arrow session that he turned around, a little surprised.

"Training like that, Klaus? That's dedication," said Andrew, one of his department colleagues.

Klaus took a deep breath, coming back to reality. "Ah, Andrew. Yeah, I'm just trying to stay sharp for the tournament final. You know, it's in a few hours."

Andrew looked at the score on the stand's main monitor. "Looks like you're doing pretty well. But, hey, are you okay?"

Klaus took a deep breath and sat down on the bench behind him, grabbing a towel to wipe the sweat from his forehead. "So, have you seen it too?" he asked.

Andrew sat down next to Klaus, his expression showing empathy. "Yes, the news spread quickly. I can't believe it happened just now, so close to the final. But don't worry, man, we all know that you're an incredible archer and that you put in more effort than most. You're going to be very good."

Klaus looked at the ground for a moment before meeting Andrew's eyes. "I wasn't expecting this to happen so soon. It's strange... seeing it all exposed."

"Look on the bright side, now a lot of women will want you not only because you're tall, handsome, skilled and charismatic, but also because you're rich and very famous."

Klaus smiled sideways, taking a sip from a bottle of water. "Thanks, Andrew. It's nice to hear that from someone, but don't repeat it when Ashley's present, she'd kill you."

"HAHAHA! I know she would!"

"And I'm not rich... In fact, not even close." Klaus said, looking at the water in the bottle in his hands.

"What? But I heard you made a few hundred thousand dollars as a child from salaries and awards." Andrew asked, surprised. "Ah, yes, your family's accident..."

Then Klaus let out a heavy sigh, feeling the tension in his shoulders as he talked about this subject. "Yes, it's true that I earned some money when I was younger, but most of it was used to pay for my family's medical expenses after the accident. After that, things didn't improve financially. So, after a while, most of the money just disappeared."

Andrew looked at Klaus with understanding in his eyes. "I had no idea, man. I'm sorry you had to go through all that. You're incredibly strong for facing those challenges and still becoming the remarkable person you are."

Klaus smiled sincerely at Andrew. "Thank you. I've never said much about it because, you know."

"I respect that," said Andrew, nodding. "But know that you're not alone. If you need help with anything, don't hesitate to talk to me or any of us here in the department. My father owns a business, I can give you a job as a cashier if you need it." He joked.

Laughing, Klaus punched Andrew lightly on the shoulder. "Stop being an asshole for a minute, haha!"

The sound of their laughter echoed through the archery stand, dissipating the slight tension of Klaus' outburst. He felt grateful for Andrew's friendship and the support he was receiving from those around him.

"It's good to have friends like you around," Klaus admitted, as he picked up his bow to prepare for another series of shots. "Sometimes all we need is a little humor to take the weight off difficult situations."

Andrew nodded, getting up from the bench. "Well, I'll let you get back to training. I'm looking forward to battling you in the final, let's show everyone what the New York Archery Department is capable of."

"We'll do our best," Klaus replied, determination clear in his expression. "And again, thank you for being here."

With a farewell nod, Andrew left the booth, leaving Klaus with his thoughts and his bow. As the morning wore on, Klaus channeled all his emotions and energies into intense practice. Every arrow he shot was a way of releasing the pressure he was feeling and preparing himself for the imminent challenge.

The calluses on his hand turned into blisters, and the tips scratched his fingers in several places, forcing him to tape everything shut so as not to burn.

The hours passed quickly, and soon it was time to prepare for the final.

Klaus returned to his hotel room for a quick shower and a change of clothes. As he looked in the mirror, he reflected on everything that had happened in the last few hours. The conversation with Emma, Andrew's understanding and the silent support of a few people on the networks had all spurred him on to face the final, otherwise he might not have made it.

So when it was time to go to the SoFi Stadium, someone knocked on Klaus' hotel door.

Klaus opened the door and was met by one of the tournament staff, a middle-aged man with a friendly smile on his face, but also a serious expression that indicated he had something important to say.

"Klaus, it's time to go to the stadium," said the man, greeting him with a nod.

"I'm ready." Klaus said, taking one last look around the room before closing the door.

However, the organizer's words didn't stop there. "Before we go, there's something you need to know." he began, his expression becoming more serious. "There are hundreds of fans and several journalists in front of the hotel, waiting to see you. The news about the exposure of your identity has spread, and they've come here to support you. Do you wish to make a statement?"