Rise Online: Return of the Legendary Player

On the webnet, the comments tabs were already in full swing and many were outraged.

[User Raphezeras: I can\'t believe Kaizen lost! It must have been bought!

User RedCloakX: Emma would never come third, you saw her performance in the second round! She was the best!

User Lex1: These fanatical fans have got to be going crazy. Lara Cavalcanti deserved to win! She\'s been practicing archery since she was a child, and she certainly knows how to hunt more than any of those Rise Online players!

User BRTparker: My heart stopped when I saw Lara top the leaderboard. I felt strange, a mixture of relief and very confused frustration.

User M@tsu: It\'s good to know that the Kaizen monster isn\'t capable of everything! As well as being handsome, athletic and successful, he was also going to be an official NIST champion.

User Rafahell: I looked up Lara Cavalcanti and she was nobody before the Special Program! Why did she get in?

|User FlmSS: The Special Program is for talented people, animals. And since you\'re commenting shit here, you must not be anything special].

...

However, it was obvious that none of the competitors in the grand final cared enough about all this to interrupt the closing medal ceremony.

As dusk illuminated the busy evening in Los Angeles, the stadium lights began to come on, creating a magical scene.

In the center of the field, a stage was set up, decorated with colorful banners and the tournament emblem, replacing the forest of holograms from before.

The other competitors in the final were called up to the stage, one by one, to receive their well-deserved medals of recognition, until finally, the great winner Lara Cavalcanti took to the stage with a mixture of humility and pride. The gold medallion hanging from her neck shone in the light of the spotlights, and while the crowd applauded, she felt the thrill of her achievement, of receiving the admiration of others.

Klaus Park, who had won the silver medal, took the stage just after Lara. He smiled at the audience and thanked them with a slight inclination of his head. The defeat was still fresh in his mind, but he chose to embrace the experience as a valuable learning experience.

Third-placed Emma Nielsen also took to the stage with a determined smile. She accepted the bronze medal with grace, knowing that she still had a lot of potential to explore on her path as an archer. The competition had challenged her in ways she had never expected, but that only motivated her to try even harder.

As the medals were handed out, the competitors posed for photos in a friendly manner, as indeed they were, and the tension of the competition had turned into a feeling of mutual respect between them.

After the medal ceremony, the competitors remained on stage for a short speech by Stephanie J. West, Director of the National Institute of Standards and Technology, which organized the tournament in collaboration with Hónghé Holdings.

Stephanie took to the stage, her beaming smile reflecting her excitement. Her gaze swept over the faces of the competitors and the crowd, and then she began to speak in a firm but slightly velvety voice:

"Good evening, everyone! Thank you for being here to celebrate the incredible talent and dedication shown by our extraordinary young people. Today, we have witnessed not only fierce competition, but also a display of determination, resilience, maturity and the relentless pursuit of excellence."

She paused briefly, looking around the stadium. The lights shone like stars in the sky, illuminating the crowd.

"This new generation, represented by Lara Cavalcanti, Klaus Park and Emma Nielsen today, reminds me that evolution is constant. Unlike our parents\' and grandparents\' era, we are no longer condemned to repeat the mistakes of the past, we are not stuck in a loop of alienation."

Stephanie paused, allowing her words to echo in people\'s minds, letting the message sink in.

"These young archers, with their diverse backgrounds and unique skills, show us that it is possible to exceed expectations, break down barriers and challenge what is considered \'normal\'. They remind us that the real challenges lie within ourselves, in our quest to overcome our limits and discover what we are capable of achieving."

She cast a warm glance at the competitors, a gesture of encouragement and support.

"Guys, the world is constantly changing, and this new generation is ready to face the challenges ahead. Not only have they mastered the technical skills, but they also have the mentality to question, learn, persist and evolve. They understand that progress is not just about wins and losses, but about continuous growth."

Stephanie looked at the horizon, where the sun was slowly saying goodbye.

"As the day turns to night, remember this moment. Remember the talent and passion we have witnessed today. Remember that we are here to support each other, to grow together and to create a future where the mistakes of the past no longer define us. May the journey of these young archers inspire us all to embrace change and to embrace the limitless potential that resides in everyone."

Her speech had an impact on the crowd, and the night soon unfolded over the stadium.

The large crowd began to disperse quickly, but of course for the competitors it wasn\'t all over yet. On the way out to the vans, a wave of journalists were of course waiting for them and their intentions were anything but pure as they asked them about their experience at the tournament, especially Klaus Park.

…

Edited by: DrHitsuji

If you want to see original illustrations of Rise Online characters, consider helping me on pa treon: Pa treon.com/NandoFalske

More character images in:

https://discord.gg/bpqq9u4gS8

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