Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 676 Chapter 150.1 - Why don't you see for yourself ?



676 Chapter 150.1 - Why don't you see for yourself?

Astron settled into position, his stance shifting slightly as he prepared to engage the dummies in earnest. Irina watched closely, her curiosity intensifying. She was already familiar with his impressive speed and agility-qualities that had always set him apart. And true to form, he displayed those traits now, weaving effortlessly through the oncoming strikes with a fluidity that made it look almost easy.

Yet something nagged at her. This was the same Astron she'd seen before, albeit with a slightly heightened speed thanks to the bracelet. He moved with precision, slipping between attacks, delivering well-timed counters that incapacitated the dummies one by one. But that was it. Nothing about his movements explained why he'd chosen the bracelet over artifacts that were far more powerful and suited to magic or even defense.

Irina's brow furrowed as she continued to watch, scrutinizing each of his moves. He was fast, yes-almost too fast for an ordinary opponent to keep up. But was that all? Was it really so important to him that he'd chosen a modest agility boost over enchanted weapons or protective amulets? It didn't add up.

'What am I missing?' she thought, irritation pricking at her as she tried to reconcile his choice with what she was seeing. The bracelet made him faster, sure, but there were many ways to achieve speed. And even though he moved gracefully, each strike landing with purpose, she couldn't shake the feeling that the bracelet was only part of the equation.

She leaned forward slightly, her eyes narrowing as she focused, determined to see beyond the surface. "Why this piece?"

Irina continued to watch Astron, her eyes tracking every movement as he navigated the relentless strikes from the enchanted dummies. His speed was remarkable-higher than she'd ever seen from him before. But as she observed more closely, she realized that this speed wasn't simply from the bracelet. The increase felt far beyond what a modest agility boost could provide.

'He must've been training intensely during the break, she thought, her brows knitting in confusion. The bracelet, though useful, couldn't account for this significant leap in his stats. It was clear he hadn't been idle; if anything, his agility and reflexes seemed almost honed to a razor's edge, each movement so precise it bordered on effortless. Still, the nagging question remained: why the bracelet?

As the session wore on, she felt a faint sense of frustration. While he performed flawlessly, each strike perfectly timed and each movement unhindered, she couldn't pinpoint what she was supposed to be observing in relation to the artifact. In truth, he could've achieved nearly the same outcome without it.

When Astron finally slowed, allowing the room's enchantments to power down, Irina ཆོཟད་ཆེན-Aཎ2LALALAMET ་་་་་་། S།" ་་M---LLA ILLIALLLALLAAŲཔ།།ཟམ། AAAI stepped out of her reinforced section and approached him, her curiosity unabated. She folded her arms, leveling him with a direct look.

"All right," she said, her tone edged with challenge. "You've tested the bracelet. But... what was I supposed to see, exactly?" She gestured toward his wrist, her eyes scanning his calm expression, looking for any hint of an explanation. "Because, from where I'm standing, it doesn't seem like it made much difference."

Astron looked at her, his expression calm as he nodded, seemingly agreeing with her assessment. "That's exactly how it was supposed to be seen," he replied, his tone measured. "After all, whoever brought this bracelet into your family's armory would've tested it thoroughly. If it had any obvious powers, they would have noted it. So, what you saw is precisely what anyone else would see."

Irina frowned slightly, processing his words before nodding. "All right," she conceded, though her curiosity was far from satisfied. "Then... what's the point?" Astron didn't answer immediately. Instead, he looked at her with a question of his own. "Tell me, Irina-what makes a piece of equipment better than others?"

Irina straightened, feeling as though she'd just been handed a challenge. Her knowledge and training as a mage had long since taught her how to evaluate equipment, and she didn't hesitate as she began explaining.

"Well, it depends on a few factors," she said, her tone shifting into that of a teacher, as if she were presenting a lesson. "First, the equipment's inherent properties matter-its enchantments, how well it's crafted, and what kinds of materials were used. Then, there's compatibility. An artifact that aligns with the wielder's mana or abilities can elevate its effectiveness. And of course, there's adaptability, how versatile the piece is in different situations. Some artifacts shine in specific uses, while others are well-rounded and dependable in any situation."

else."

Without further explanation, he took the bracelet in one hand and held the Orichalum in the other, his gaze steady as he watched her reaction. He seemed to be measuring her understanding, waiting for the realization to dawn.

Then, he spoke, his voice calm but purposeful. "Let me ask you something, Irina. Why do you think a bracelet like this-something that doesn't align with any of the Emberheart skills or fighting style-ended up here, in your family's armory?" Irina considered his question, her mind racing as she looked from the bracelet to the

Orichalum in his hand. Why indeed? If this bracelet had no direct use for her family, then there had to be something else that warranted its place among their treasures.

She thought back to what he'd already hinted at.

"The material..." she said slowly, piecing it together. "It's because of the material it was

made with, isn't it?"

"Exactly," Astron replied a glint of satisfaction in his gaze. He motioned for her to come closer, and she obliged, intrigued despite herself.

"That's why it's here," he continued, holding up the Orichalum in his hand. "The bracelet is made with a dormant layer of a similar mana-conductive metal, one that can be activated-but only with a specific kind of flame."

Irina's breath caught as she began to realize what he was implying. "You mean... my

flame."

"Precisely." His tone was matter-of-fact as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "Only a flame like yours-one from an Emberheart-can invoke a reaction in this material. It wasn't about choosing a piece with immediate power. It was about seeing the potential for something greater."

Irina furrowed her brow, skepticism flashing across her face. "This is... why do I feel like this is just a bunch of nonsense?" she muttered, half to herself, still grappling with the idea of her flames activating the bracelet's dormant potential. Astron merely shrugged, a calm, knowing look in his eyes. "Of course, it sounds hard

to believe. It's not something most would notice right away." He took a step back, positioning himself with a relaxed stance, clearly inviting her to test his words. He raised a hand, gesturing for her to come at him, a slight curl tugging at the corner

of his mouth. "Why don't you see for yourself?"

It was an invitation to fight.