Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

I closed my eyes, focusing on my breathing and the sensation of mana pooling at the center of my being. Visualizing the virtual core as a concentrated sphere of energy, I felt the mana gather and pulse with each breath. It was a strange but invigorating sensation. nøvel.coɱ

'Alright, let's see how this works,' I thought, taking a deep breath and allowing the mana to flow from the virtual core through my limbs.

Contrary to how you would think, there are no cores in this world for the Awakened to use mana. The mana itself that belongs to you is not stored in a specific place in your body. Rather, the concept is a little bit different.

It is stored everywhere across the body itself and even around you. The more strong you get, the more mana around you that you can easily influence. That is also the reason why high-ranking hunters are able to be influenced just by walking around.

'Virtual Core.'

In a way, it acted as the second brain.

I opened my eyes and took a step forward, feeling the energy spread out. My movements felt more deliberate, the flow of mana enhancing my strength and speed. It was similar to how I would enhance myself while fighting against others, but at the same time, there were some differences.

–SWOOSH!

I threw a punch, and while it wasn't perfect, I could feel the difference.

'It's about control,' I thought to myself, repeating the motion. 'It's not just about power but about channeling the energy efficiently.'

With each movement, I focused on maintaining the connection to the virtual core, ensuring the mana flowed smoothly.

I practiced basic punches and kicks, each strike becoming more fluid and powerful as I integrated the flow of mana.

The process was slow and methodical, but I could feel myself improving.

The virtual core acted as a regulator, making it easier to control the energy and direct it where I needed it most. It was a balancing act, requiring both physical and mental focus.

'I see.' As I continued, I began to understand the nuances of the technique.

'The longer you use the Virtual Core, the more mana you are going to spend.'

In a way, for the sake of directing your mana into a special place and redirecting from it, you were bound to lose your energy. And if you were to constantly do that, you would spend a lot more.

TAP! TAP! At that moment, my ears picked up a sound. She was walking slowly, possibly not to alert me, but with my senses developed, she had missed the mark.

Dakota returned, her eyes assessing my progress. "How do you feel?" she asked, her tone serious but encouraging.

"Better," I replied, feeling the burn in my muscles. "I can feel the difference. The mana flows more naturally now."

"Hmm…." She said, walking over to me. "Not bad. You have already grasped it."

It seemed she was already expecting me to understand how the core worked.

'Then it must be an easy job.' Considering this was something basic for the whole [Martial Artist] community, it made sense for it to be simplified.

"Now, we'll start incorporating this into more complex combat techniques."

With that, Dakota stood right before me, her posture relaxed but radiating a controlled power. She looked at me with a serious expression and began explaining what we would be doing next.

"How do you think martial arts were first developed?" she asked, her eyes locking onto mine.

I thought for a moment, considering the question. "Martial arts were likely developed through observation and necessity. People needed to defend themselves and started to observe the movements of nature, the way animals moved and fought."

Dakota nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "You're correct. Humans imitated the beasts. Just like we are Awakened and able to use mana ourselves, beasts were also able to harness their mana and use magic of their own. And most importantly, they were beasts with strong bodies like weapons."

She took a step back and assumed a stance, her movements fluid and controlled. "Humans observed the powerful, efficient movements of these beasts and began to imitate them. This was the foundation of martial arts—learning from nature and adapting those lessons to our own bodies."

As she spoke, she demonstrated a series of techniques, each one flowing seamlessly into the next. Her movements were precise and powerful, embodying the principles she was describing. "We harness the energy within us, just like the beasts do, and we learn to move with the same efficiency and power."

She stopped at that moment, looking at my eyes.

"Which type of beast do you think this style originated from?"

I simulated her movements in my head, noticing the fluidity and power behind each strike. The way she moved, the grace combined with raw strength, the swift, precise attacks—it all reminded me of a predator in the wild.

"A tiger," I said after a moment. "Your movements resemble those of a tiger."

Dakota nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. "That's correct. The tiger is a symbol of strength, power, and grace. Each Martial Artist uses a different combat art, much like any other weapon. Some arts are specialized in speed, others in strength, and some in explosiveness."

She turned to look at me, her gaze intense. "For me, the style I mainly use is called [Tempest Fang]." Her eyes seemed to shimmer with energy as she continued. "It's an art-focused heavily on explosive strikes, overwhelming the enemy with a constant barrage of powerful attacks, like a tempest raging in a storm."

As she said this, she demonstrated a rapid series of strikes, each one delivered with incredible force and precision. The air seemed to crackle with energy as her movements created shockwaves.

"The key to [Tempest Fang] is to maintain relentless pressure on your opponent," Dakota explained. "You don't give them a moment to recover. Every strike flows into the next, creating a chain of attacks that becomes nearly impossible to defend against."

I watched closely, absorbing every detail of her demonstration. The way she channeled her mana into each strike, the fluidity of her movements, and the sheer power behind each attack were awe-inspiring.

"And to be able to achieve such a result, your understanding of the basic movements must be perfect so that not even for a split second, the flow is broken. Which is what we are going to focus on from now on."

Dakota stepped back, giving me space. "Let's start with the fundamental strikes. We'll build from there. The goal is to make each movement seamless, flowing from one to the next without any hesitation."

I nodded, ready to begin. "Understood, Master."

She demonstrated a series of basic strikes, each one executed with precision and grace. "The [Tempest Fang] has three main stances," she explained. "Each stance serves a different purpose and strategy. The first stance is called [Gale Stance]. It focuses on quick, successive strikes to overwhelm your opponent. The second stance is [Storm Stance], which emphasizes powerful, explosive attacks designed to break through defenses. The third stance is [Cyclone Stance], a more advanced form that combines speed and power to create a relentless assault."

Dakota began with the [Gale Stance]. "This is the easiest stance to start with. It's about speed and precision. Watch closely."

She demonstrated a series of rapid strikes, each one flowing seamlessly into the next. Her movements were fluid and controlled, a perfect example of what I needed to achieve.

"First, you need to master each strike individually," she said, showing the first basic strike. "We'll start with this."

I mimicked her movements, focusing on the exact positioning and execution of the strike. Dakota watched carefully, correcting my form and providing feedback.

"Good. Now, the next strike," she continued, demonstrating another swift, precise attack. "Remember, it's not just about speed. Each strike must be controlled and accurate."

I practiced the second strike, feeling the energy flow through my body. As I moved, I visualized the virtual core within me, channeling mana into each motion.

"Excellent. Now the third strike," Dakota said, moving seamlessly into the next attack. "Maintain your focus and control."

I repeated the process, mastering each individual strike. The repetition was intense, but I could feel myself improving with each attempt.

"Once you've mastered each strike, we'll start combining them," Dakota explained. "The key to [Gale Stance] is the transitions. Each strike must flow into the next without any hesitation."

–WARP! Just at that second, something appeared right before me. It was a small manual.

"This….." I was about to say, was this manual the thing that I thought?

"You are right," Dakota said. "This is the manual of the [Gale Stance]. Though I am not doubting your memory, if you wish to answer some of your questions, you can refer to this manual. It may be precisely helpful for how to make your mana flow in your body."

I nodded, taking the manual and flipping through its pages. The detailed illustrations and descriptions provided valuable insights into the stance's mechanics and the flow of mana required for each strike.

"I will leave you alone in this place until 9 A.M., as indicated in your program," Dakota said, stepping back. "Remember, the key is to internalize these movements and the flow of mana. I can't remain with you all the time, and it's crucial for you to develop the ability to learn and adapt on your own."

"I understand, Master," I replied, bowing slightly in respect.

Dakota nodded; her expression was serious but encouraging. "Good. Keep practicing, and don't hesitate to refer to the manual if you need guidance. I'll check on your progress later."

With that, she turned and left the training area, leaving me alone with the manual and my thoughts. I understood the importance of this time alone.

I took a deep breath and began to practice again, focusing on each strike individually.

'Fist.'

'Repeat.'

'Fist.'

'Repeat.'

The manual provided valuable tips on how to channel mana more effectively, and I incorporated those insights into my training.

********

As Dakota exited the training hall, she couldn't help but reflect on Astron's progress. She had initially expected to spend more time on the basics, but Astron's rapid assimilation of concepts was impressive.

'He's advancing faster than I anticipated,' Dakota thought, her steps measured as she made her way down the corridor. 'I underestimated him a little.'

She considered the implications of this realization. Astron's potential was immense, and he had the drive to match. If she pushed him harder, he could reach levels of mastery that few ever achieved. But to do that, she needed to speed up his training regimen.

'We can't waste time on the basics for too long,' she mused. 'He's ready for more advanced techniques, even if it's earlier than usual. His ability to internalize and apply what he learns is exceptional.'

Her thoughts drifted to the next steps in his training. She needed to introduce him to more complex concepts and techniques, ones that would challenge him further and unlock his full potential. As she considered this, she glanced at her smartwatch, where a new document had just appeared.

Everchanging Glyph

"I need to get this one today."

It was a body imprint.

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