Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

SWOOSH!

As I stepped into the room, I was greeted by the sight of Kael and Lyra, who were both lounging around, seemingly in the middle of a conversation. Lyra was the first to notice me, and she immediately perked up.

"Hey, you look a bit shinier now, for some reason," Lyra commented with a playful grin.

"Is that so?" I replied, raising an eyebrow. I hadn't realized any noticeable change in my demeanor.

"It is!" Lyra insisted, leaning forward with curiosity. "Did something happen? You seem… lighter, I guess? Happier?"

I paused for a moment, considering her words. It was true; I did feel more at ease, perhaps even content, after the conversation with Irina. But was it really that obvious?

"I guess I just had a good conversation," I said, keeping my response simple.

Lyra's eyes sparkled with intrigue. "A good conversation, huh? Who with? Don't tell me you've been chatting up a secret admirer?"

I shook my head, amused by her teasing. "Nothing like that. Just catching up with someone important. It's been a while since I've had the chance to talk freely, I suppose."

"Isn't that normal? You are not talking to me without hiding anything either."

"…."

Kael, who had been quietly observing the exchange, chimed in with a nod of approval. "Talking with someone you trust can do wonders for your mood. It's good to see you looking more relaxed."

It seems he wanted to change the flow of conversation, and that made sense. While these guys were not bad, they were also people whom I had recently met.

Lyra pouted slightly but then shrugged, accepting my point. "I guess you're right. Still, it's good to see you more at ease. We're all in this strange place together, so it's nice to have some normal conversations every now and then."

'Your conversations are definitely not normal.' I wanted to say, but I refrained from doing so. Since that would definitely upset her, and there was no reason to do such a thing.

"You definitely thought something rude."

"Please don't assume things on your own."

"Humph….Kael, he is bullying me."

Kael chuckled, shaking his head. "I don't think that's bullying, Lyra. If anything, he's just being his usual self."

Lyra crossed her arms, still pouting but clearly not too upset. "You're supposed to be on my side, Kael."

"I'm on the side of truth," Kael said with a grin. "And the truth is, you're just fishing for reactions."

Lyra finally broke into a smile, her pout fading. "Fine, fine. I'll let it slide this time. But Astron, you owe me a proper conversation one of these days."

"We'll see about that," I replied, keeping my tone deliberately vague.

Lyra rolled her eyes but laughed. "I'll take that as a yes."

Kael just shook his head, a smile still on his face. "Well, at least we're all in good spirits. Let's keep it that way—tomorrow's going to be another tough day, I'm sure."

'Well….It will indeed be a rough day….Dakota is returning after all.'

*******

<Combat Training Arena, Eighth Day of Training, 7.46 A.M.>

The training hall was filled with the sound of clashing strikes as Astron and Dakota moved in a blur of motion, their bodies executing the [Gale Stance] with precision and power. Sweat dripped down Astron's face, but his focus remained unbroken as he met Dakota's attacks head-on, his strikes more fluid and controlled than ever.

Dakota's eyes gleamed with approval as she matched him strike for strike, pushing him to his limits. Each clash was a test, and each time, Astron adapted just a bit faster and moved just a bit sharper.

Finally, Dakota stepped back, signaling the end of the session. She looked at Astron, a hint of a smile on her face. "You're getting better, Astron. I can see the improvement."

Astron nodded, catching his breath but feeling a sense of accomplishment. "Thank you, Master."

Dakota wiped the sweat from her brow, her expression serious but with a glimmer of excitement in her eyes. "If you keep this up, we can start training a new stance tomorrow. You've got the [Gale Stance] down pretty well."

Astron's eyes lit up. After all, he was itching to learn more. "I'm ready."

Dakota chuckled, her voice light but filled with pride. "We'll see about that."

With that, she gave him a nod of approval and gestured him to come once again. "Let's continue."

SWOOSH!

And Astron dashed forwards.

********

<Acrobatics Training, 11 A.M, Eighth day of training>

Tianna stood with Astron at the base of a towering wall in the training area, her expression serious. "Today, Astron, I'm going to teach you a new spell that will be crucial for your advanced training. It's a spell that allows you to stick to walls, enabling you to climb without falling. However, maintaining this spell will drain your mana quickly, so control is key."

She demonstrated the spell, her hands glowing with a soft blue light as she pressed them against the wall. Her feet followed, and within moments, she was walking vertically up the surface as if it were flat ground. "The spell works by using your mana to create a magnetic-like force between you and the wall, keeping you adhered to the surface. It's effective, but the mana consumption is high, so you'll need to practice managing your energy."

Tianna descended the wall effortlessly, landing back on the ground beside Astron. "Now, it's your turn. Focus on channeling your mana to your hands and feet, and try to maintain a steady flow as you climb."

Astron nodded, his eyes narrowed in concentration. He mirrored Tianna's movements, pressing his hands against the wall as he channeled his mana. Slowly, he felt the familiar pull of the spell take hold, and he began to ascend the wall. The first few steps were smooth, but he quickly noticed the rapid drain on his mana reserves.

As he continued climbing, he felt the strain of maintaining the spell. The mana consumption was indeed intense, and the longer he held the spell, the more unstable his grip became. Halfway up the wall, Astron paused, his mind racing as he analyzed the situation. He could feel the spell's pull weakening as his mana fluctuated.

'This spell… it's effective but flawed,' he thought, his grip on the wall wavering. 'It relies entirely on using mana to cling to the surface, but the drain is too high to maintain for long periods.'

An idea began to form in Astron's mind as he considered the properties of the spell. 'What if I were to use adhesion instead? Something that doesn't rely so heavily on mana consumption…' He could almost see the possibility of a different approach that might allow for a more efficient use of energy.

Carefully, he began to adjust the flow of mana, experimenting with altering the spell's structure. Instead of simply using mana to create the force, he focused on manipulating the natural adhesion properties of his energy, trying to create a bond that required less active maintenance.

Slowly, he felt a change. The pull became more stable, and the drain on his mana lessened. Astron's grip on the wall grew more secure, and he continued his ascent, this time with a more controlled and efficient use of the spell.

Tianna watched from below, her eyes narrowing as she sensed the shift in Astron's mana flow. 'What is he doing?' she wondered, intrigued by the sudden change in his climbing technique.

When Astron finally reached the top of the wall, he looked down at Tianna, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Instructor, I think I've found a way to improve the spell."

Tianna raised an eyebrow, impressed. "Already? What did you discover?"

Astron climbed back down, explaining as he went. "Instead of relying solely on mana to create the force, I tried using the adhesion property of my energy. It seems to require less mana and provides a more stable grip."

Tianna's eyes widened slightly as she processed what he was saying. "You… modified the spell while climbing?"

Astron nodded. "I'm not sure if it's perfect yet, but it feels more efficient. I'll need to experiment more, but I think this could be a better way to approach wall-climbing techniques."

Tianna could only shake her head in amazement.

******

Stealth Training, 12 A.M., Eighth day of training

"You're ready for the seventh stage?" Kennet asked, a mixture of curiosity and anticipation in his voice.

"Yes," Astron responded confidently.

"You look confident. But I would not advise you to do so," Kennet cautioned, his tone firm.

"Why?" Astron inquired, his curiosity piqued.

"You are not ready. You've grasped the essence, but your body has not. You will need one more day," Kennet explained, his gaze steady.

"I see. If that is what the instructor advises, then I have no reason to refuse," Astron replied, accepting the wisdom in Kennet's words.

"It is good that you are not arrogant," Kennet remarked a hint of approval in his voice.

With that, Astron nodded, mentally preparing himself for the additional day of training, knowing that his readiness was just within reach.

'It seems he will be able to finish the training this week. Even if that was expected, it was still one week earlier than usual. And his main focus was not even this course.' *******

Astron approached the training room, his mind running through possible passwords. 'It could be Break the Limits,' he thought as he deciphered the psions.

"Surpass Your Limits."

The answer was different once again. He let out a small sigh, shaking his head. "Still not quite there," he muttered as he entered the room.

Reina stood waiting, her posture relaxed but her gaze intense. "Let's not waste time," she said, her tone brisk. She conjured a new set of psion lines, this time even more intricate, with multiple higher-ranked threads weaving through each other. "Today, you'll focus on handling the most complex combinations yet."

Astron nodded, immediately extending his mana threads. He had grown accustomed to the challenge, but today's task was another step up. The psion lines were more tightly interwoven, demanding even more precise filtering and assimilation.

*******

"Welcome, Trainee Astron Natusalune. Beginning body training session focusing on Everchanging Glyph optimization."

"Commencing with the heavy ropes."

"Trainee Astron's body limits are pushed to 85%. Increasing the intensity."

Another day ended just like that.

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