Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

As the last wisps of smoke faded and the chamber settled into silence, Irina stood at the center of the group, her fiery yellow eyes subtly sliding to the side to observe Sylvie. Her arms were crossed, her posture composed, but her thoughts were anything but.

’She’s improved so much,’ Irina thought, her lips pressing into a thin line as she watched Sylvie catch her breath. It wasn’t just the precision of her movements or the confidence in her strikes—it was the sheer force behind her attacks. Even Irina, who had sought Sylvie out for her talent in mana manipulation, magic, and enchantment, hadn’t expected this.

’Sylvie’s talents were always in control and refinement, not raw power. At least… that’s what I thought.’

Her fiery gaze narrowed slightly as her thoughts turned to the glowing yellow mana that had surrounded Sylvie during the fight. It wasn’t just strong; it felt potent, different from anything Irina had associated with Sylvie before. There had been a resonance to it, something that had made the air around her seem heavier, sharper.

’What is that yellow mana?’ Irina’s mind raced as she replayed the moments of Sylvie’s combat in her head. ’Why was it that strong? It felt… off. Not in a bad way, but definitely not normal.’

Her thoughts flicked briefly to Astron, who stood a few steps away, his calm demeanor masking the sharp focus in his purple eyes. She caught the way his gaze lingered on Sylvie, studying her with the same intensity he often reserved for unraveling complex puzzles.

’Did this guy notice it as well?’ Irina wondered, her fiery eyes narrowing as she followed his line of sight. Astron wasn’t one to miss details, and the way his gaze remained fixed on Sylvie told Irina he had noticed something. ’Of course he did. There’s no way he wouldn’t.’

Her irritation flared momentarily, but she quickly tempered it, her thoughts shifting back to Sylvie. ’What’s her game? Has she been hiding this, or is this something new?’

Sylvie, oblivious to the scrutiny, was brushing a strand of hair behind her ear, her faint smile betraying a mix of pride and humility. Jasmine stood beside her, grinning widely.

"You’ve really been holding back on us, haven’t you?" Jasmine teased, nudging Sylvie lightly. "That mana, those moves—you’ve been training hard."

"It’s nothing," Sylvie said softly, though her glowing cheeks suggested otherwise. "I’ve just been… trying to keep up."

"Keep up?" Irina interjected smoothly, her tone sharp but tinged with curiosity. Her fiery yellow eyes locked onto Sylvie, who blinked in surprise at the sudden attention. "That didn’t look like ’keeping up’ to me. That was something else."

Sylvie hesitated, her gaze flicking nervously to Astron before returning to Irina. "I’ve just been practicing," she said simply, her voice steady but guarded. "That’s all."

Irina’s smirk returned, but it lacked its usual edge, her mind still turning over the possibilities. ’Practicing, huh? If that’s all it is, then she’s been training with something—or someone—far beyond what she’s letting on.’

Astron’s voice cut through her thoughts, calm and measured as always. "It was good work," he said, his purple eyes still fixed on Sylvie. "The mana usage, the timing—it was effective. You really have improved a lot compared to when we left off."

Irina’s fiery yellow eyes perked up at Astron’s words, her sharp gaze snapping to him as his calm, measured tone lingered in her ears.

’When we left off?’ she thought, her brows furrowing slightly. The phrase echoed in her mind, tugging at a memory she hadn’t revisited in a while. Then it clicked—a scene from the first semester.

’Ah, at that time

She could clearly recall Sylvie standing in front of the class, her voice steady but tinged with nervous determination as she asked Astron to teach her how to fight. It had been unexpected, bold even, and Irina had dismissed it at the time as Sylvie’s attempt to improve herself.

But now, hearing Astron’s words and seeing Sylvie’s significant improvement, the memory took on a new weight.

’They were training together, weren’t they?’

Irina’s fiery eyes narrowed slightly as her mind filled in the gaps, conjuring vivid, unwelcome images. She imagined Astron standing close to Sylvie, his sharp purple eyes focused and precise as he guided her movements. In her mind’s eye, Sylvie leaned in, her body brushing against his as he corrected her stance, his calm voice instructing her in that maddeningly composed way of his.

’Tch,’ Irina thought, her jaw tightening as the images played out in her mind. ’That’s way too close.’

Her fingers tapped lightly against her crossed arms as her imagination took another turn. She pictured Sylvie smiling at Astron, her green eyes gleaming with admiration as he demonstrated a technique. In this imagined scene, Sylvie leaned toward him, her body language too familiar, too comfortable.

’What were they doing during those sessions? Just training?’ she wondered, the thought sparking a sharp irritation that she couldn’t entirely suppress.

"That training really helped this much?" Jasmine suddenly asked.

Layla, oblivious to the undercurrents of the conversation, tilted her head. "Training? What training?"

Astron, unbothered by the question, replied calmly, "It wasn’t thanks to me. Most likely, Sylvie put in the effort herself. When we left off, she wasn’t like this."

Sylvie’s cheeks flushed faintly, her green eyes flickering with a mix of embarrassment and pride. She hesitated for a moment before taking control of her expression and speaking steadily. "If it weren’t for him," she said, glancing briefly at Astron, "I probably wouldn’t have taken the first step. So… it was thanks to him."

Irina’s fiery yellow eyes flicked sharply between Sylvie and Astron, her irritation bubbling over into words before she could stop herself. "What does that mean, exactly?" she interjected, her tone sharper than intended. "What kind of training were you even doing?"

Sylvie froze for a moment, her expression hardening as she turned to Irina. "Why do you ask?" she said, her voice steady but carrying an unmistakable edge.

Irina crossed her arms, her fiery gaze locking onto Sylvie’s. "I’m just curious," she said, though the defensive tone in her voice betrayed her. "I mean, you’ve improved so much—don’t you think it’s natural to wonder what exactly you were doing?"

Sylvie’s green eyes narrowed, her usual composure slipping as she took a step closer to Irina. "Curious, huh?" she said, her voice tinged with defiance. "You seem ’really’ invested for someone who’s ’just curious.’"

Jasmine, sensing the tension between the two, glanced nervously between them, while Layla looked utterly bewildered. "Uh… should we—" Layla began, but Jasmine quickly placed a hand on her arm, shaking her head as if to say, Let it play out.

Irina straightened, her fiery aura flaring ever so slightly as she met Sylvie’s glare head-on. "I think it’s fair to ask, considering how much we’re relying on you now. Don’t you?"

Sylvie’s lips pressed into a thin line, her frustration evident as she retorted, "Fair to ask? Or are you just looking for something to criticize?"

Astron, who had been silent until now, stepped between them, his calm presence instantly diffusing some of the tension. "Enough," he said quietly but firmly, his purple eyes sweeping over both of them. "This isn’t the time for this."

"What is enough?" Irina pressed, still lingering in her irritation.

"The talk. The monsters are coming," Astron said firmly, his tone brooking no argument.

The low rumble of growls echoed ominously through the chamber, signaling the arrival of the next wave. The sound was deeper, more menacing than before, and the faint vibrations in the ground hinted at larger numbers.

"Formation!" Astron commanded, his voice slicing through the tension.

The team quickly adjusted, taking their positions without further argument. Layla braced herself at the front, her shield raised, while Jasmine and Astron moved to the flanks. Irina stayed in the center, her fiery gaze sweeping the chamber, and Sylvie held the rear, her yellow mana beginning to glow faintly once more.

The monsters emerged from the shadows in greater numbers than before, their snarls filling the air. Wolf-like creatures were joined by larger beasts with jagged horns and glowing red eyes. The team had no time to waste.

Layla took the brunt of the charge, her shield ringing with the impact of claws and teeth. She gritted her teeth, holding firm even as the weight of the assault pushed her back a step. "They’re stronger!" she shouted.

Continue your adventure at

Jasmine darted forward, her sword flashing as she struck at the monsters attempting to flank. But in her enthusiasm, she moved too deep into the enemy lines, momentarily leaving her position. "Got one!" she called, unaware of the gap she’d created.

"Jasmine, fall back!" Astron’s sharp voice cut through the chaos as he intercepted a creature that had slipped through. His daggers flashed in precise arcs, neutralizing the threat. "Stay in formation!"

Jasmine blinked, realizing her mistake, and quickly retreated to her position. "Sorry!" she muttered.

Irina, meanwhile, had unconsciously stepped forward, her fiery magic blasting through waves of monsters. Her confidence pushed her further than intended, disrupting the balance of the formation. "Heh. Just di-" she declared, flames surging from her hands.

"Irina, pull back!" Astron called, his tone firm. "You’re leaving the center exposed!"

Irina hesitated, her fiery yellow eyes narrowing as she glanced back at him. "I can handle it!"

"Stick to the formation," Astron insisted, his voice unwavering. "This isn’t about individual strength."

Reluctantly, Irina stepped back, her irritation simmering as she returned to her position. ’Fine,’ she thought, her fiery aura flaring slightly as she refocused on the fight.

At the same time, Layla wavered under the relentless assault, her confidence faltering as the monsters’ strength pressed her back. "I… I can’t hold them!" she cried, her voice tinged with fear.

"You can!" Astron’s voice reached her, calm but commanding. "Focus. Trust your training."

Layla swallowed hard, her grip tightening on her shield as she planted her feet. With a deep breath, she pushed forward, regaining her stance and holding the line.

The team adjusted quickly, their movements more coordinated as they followed Astron’s corrections. The wave was fierce, but under his steady guidance, the formation held firm. Irina’s flames, Jasmine’s strikes, Sylvie’s support, and Layla’s defense worked in unison, each member contributing to the team’s survival.

As the last of the monsters fell, the room fell silent once more, save for the team’s labored breathing. Astron lowered his daggers, his purple eyes scanning the group.

"Don’t forget the reason we are here."

His eyes were glinting a little.

---------------A/N----------------

My exams have finally ended....

I am finally free....

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