Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

"Today, I continued my work researching the places where I had marked before." She said as she tapped onto her smartwatch. Following that, right on top of the table, the holographic map of the Veilcroft appeared.

The map flickered briefly before stabilizing, showing a complex network of streets and districts, with several locations marked prominently in red.

Lira pointed to a specific location on the holographic map, a cluster of red markers indicating one of the most affected areas in the southern district. The room's attention remained fixed on her as she continued her report.

"This location," she said, zooming in on the map, "has shown the highest frequency of disturbances. Over the past few days, I've been focusing on more than just the physical and environmental factors at play. I've started investigating a possible psychological commonality among the victims."

She tapped her smartwatch again, and the holographic map shifted to display a series of profiles—images and brief descriptions of individuals who had reported encounters with the whispers and other phenomena.

"What I've found is that many of these individuals share certain psychological traits," Lira explained. "Specifically, they have all experienced significant emotional stress in recent months—loss of a loved one, financial difficulties, personal crises. It's as if these disturbances are targeting those who are already vulnerable, amplifying their fears and despair."

She paused, letting the gravity of her findings sink in. The monitors displayed data points and correlations she had uncovered, showing a clear pattern in the psychological profiles of the affected individuals.

"I believe that there is an intelligent design behind these disturbances," Lira continued, her tone resolute. "The way these whispers and phenomena are escalating suggests that someone, or something, is deliberately manipulating the emotions of the people in Veilcroft. This isn't just a random occurrence—it's a planned activity, likely orchestrated by a villain with a specific agenda."

She looked around the room, gauging the reactions of her colleagues. "If this is the case, then we're dealing with an adversary who understands human psychology and is using these disturbances to create fear and chaos. The whispers are likely a tool to sow discord and weaken the populace, making them easier to control or manipulate."

However, before anyone could respond, Mikhail leaned forward, his expression thoughtful but firm. "I disagree," he began, his voice calm but carrying an underlying tension. "While I respect Lira's findings, I believe we're looking at this from the wrong angle."

He tapped his own smartwatch, and the holographic map shifted again, this time highlighting several older, less populated areas on the outskirts of the city.

"There's a different pattern here," Mikhail continued. "The locations Lira has pointed out are indeed significant, but I've been studying the history of Veilcroft and cross-referencing it with reports of ancient creatures and forgotten entities. I believe these disturbances are the result of an ancient monster being awakened—something that has been dormant for centuries, perhaps even millennia."

He paused, letting his theory take hold before continuing. "The whispers, the strange phenomena—they're not just psychological attacks. They're the echoes of a being that is gradually regaining its strength. The people who are most affected may not just be psychologically vulnerable—they could be more sensitive to the influence of this creature, drawn to it in ways they don't fully understand."

Mikhail's words introduced a new layer of complexity to the situation. While Lira's theory focused on an intelligent, calculated plot, Mikhail suggested that the disturbances were the result of something far older and far less human—an ancient force of nature that was reawakening after a long slumber.

"This being," Mikhail continued, "could be influencing the city on a subconscious level, drawing power from the fear and despair of its inhabitants. But its ultimate goal might not be to control or manipulate—it could be something much more primal, like survival or feeding. If that's the case, then we're not just dealing with a villain—we're dealing with a force of nature that needs to be contained before it consumes the entire city."

The room was tense, but at the same time, people here looked like they were used to it.

'Hmm…..Has this been happening before as well?'

As I asked myself this, the answer became clear. It was most likely a yes, as the reports belonging to Lira and Mikhail were all focused on their respective perspectives.

Lira didn't let Mikhail's theory stand unchallenged for long. She leaned forward slightly, her expression thoughtful but with a hint of skepticism.

"Mikhail, if such an ancient monster existed and was powerful enough to influence the city on this scale, why would it suddenly decide to wake up now? What triggered its reawakening? Creatures like the one you're describing don't just stir after centuries of slumber without a reason. If this were the case, there should have been signs, gradual increases in disturbances leading up to this point—not a sudden, concentrated escalation."

Her voice was calm but firm, and she continued, "Also, if this entity is truly ancient and primal, it would likely act in predictable, cyclical patterns aligned with natural phenomena or certain historical events. But what we've seen here is a targeted attack on specific individuals, which suggests intention, not just instinct."

Lira's gaze remained steady as Mikhail responded, his voice measured but firm.

"The patterns you're talking about, Lira—how can you be so sure they're intentional?" Mikhail asked, leaning slightly forward. "The whispers and disturbances we've observed aren't specifically targeting individual people but rather affecting broader areas, impacting the entire crowd. There's no clear evidence that the victims were chosen based on their psychological state. The disturbances are widespread and affect anyone within range, regardless of their mental stability."

Lira's expression tightened slightly, but before she could respond, Ren, who had been quietly analyzing the data, interjected.

"Mikhail's right," Ren said, his voice carrying a note of certainty. "I've been going through the data we've collected so far, and there's no strong correlation between the disturbances and the mental health of the individuals affected. In fact, the data suggests that the whispers and phenomena are indiscriminate in their targets. They're not honing in on specific people with psychological vulnerabilities; they're impacting entire areas without distinction."

He tapped a few buttons on his terminal, and the holographic display shifted to show a series of graphs and charts. "If we look at the distribution of reported incidents, it's clear that the disturbances are concentrated in certain regions, but within those regions, the impact is spread out evenly among the population. The analysis doesn't support the idea of a targeted psychological attack. Instead, it points to something more generalized—something that affects everyone within a certain proximity, regardless of their individual state of mind."

The graphs highlighted the spread of incidents across different areas, showing that while some areas were more affected than others, there was no clear pattern of targeting specific individuals.

Lira listened carefully, her expression thoughtful. She was not one to dismiss evidence lightly, and it was clear that the data presented by Ren was compelling.

"I see your point," Lira said slowly, her tone shifting to one of consideration. "If the disturbances are affecting broader areas without targeting specific individuals, then it does suggest a different kind of influence—something more primal, as Mikhail suggested."

She glanced at Mikhail, acknowledging his theory with a nod. "However, I still believe that there's an element of intent here. Even if the disturbances are not targeting individuals based on their psychological state, the fact that they're spreading fear and despair so effectively suggests that whoever or whatever is behind this is aware of the impact they're having. The whispers might be designed to create an atmosphere of fear, regardless of who's hearing them."

Mikhail nodded in return, appreciating Lira's willingness to consider his point. "That's a possibility. If this entity is ancient, it may be using its influence in ways that we don't fully understand—ways that could appear both calculated and instinctual."

Ren, ever the pragmatist, spoke up again. "Whether it's intentional or not, the result is the same: widespread fear and destabilization. Our focus should be on finding the source and understanding its capabilities so we can figure out how to neutralize it."

Shanks, who had been listening to the exchange with a thoughtful expression, finally intervened. "This discussion has clarified that we're dealing with a complex situation, one where both theories—Lira's and Mikhail's—could be contributing to the overall picture. The disturbances may be the result of an ancient force that's reawakening, but that force might also be manipulating the environment in ways that are more deliberate than we realize."

He looked around the room, meeting the eyes of each team member in turn.

"Is there anything one of you wants to add?"

Shanks's gaze swept over the room, finally settling on me. His expression remained neutral, but there was a subtle expectation in his eyes as he addressed me directly.

"Anything you want to add, newbie?" Shanks asked, his tone almost casual, though it carried the weight of authority. Before I could respond, he gestured towards Lira and Mikhail. "Lira, Mikhail, this is Astron Natusalune. He's new to our team, but he's got a reputation for being sharp. Astron, you've had some time to review the reports and get a feel for the situation. What's your take?"

I nodded in acknowledgment, appreciating the introduction but aware that all eyes were now on me. Keeping my expression neutral, I took a moment to gather my thoughts before speaking.

"I've read through the reports carefully," I began, my tone measured. "Both of your theories have merit, and from what I've seen, they're not mutually exclusive. The disturbances could very well be the result of an ancient force reawakening, as Mikhail suggested. But at the same time, Lira's point about the calculated nature of these events can't be ignored."

I paused, glancing at the holographic map still displayed on the table. "If this force is ancient, it's possible that it's acting on instinct, following patterns that we don't fully understand yet. But that doesn't mean there isn't some level of intentionality in how it's spreading fear and chaos. The line between instinct and intention can be thin, especially when dealing with something that's been dormant for so long."

I kept my words carefully balanced, appearing to play it safe. But in reality, I was already piecing together a different understanding of the situation—one that I wasn't ready to fully reveal yet.

At least, I needed enough evidence. Without it, I would look like a fool.

"The reports indicate that this situation is evolving rapidly," I continued, "and both perspectives will be important as we move forward. We need to remain adaptable and ready to shift our approach as new information comes to light. For now, I think it's wise to continue exploring both angles."

Shanks watched me closely, his expression unreadable, before giving a slight nod.

"Not bad. At least you seem to know how to talk."

I could feel the scrutiny of the team, especially from Lira and Mikhai, both of whom clearly assessed me.

In a way, I had just repeated what they said, but at the same time, it was a slight warning of what was there to come tomorrow.

Shanks shifted his focus back to the rest of the team. "Alright, let's wrap this up for now. We'll reconvene when we have more data."

Just like that, the team dispersed.

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