Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 721 164.3 - The Attack

Astron surged through the dense smoke, his legs powered by concentrated mana, every step a burst of speed. Irina lay silent across his shoulder, her weight insignificant compared to the oppressive suppression fields thickening the air. The din of chaos-the muffled shouts of operatives, the hum of enchantments, the crackle of suppression spells-pressed down on him as he navigated the labyrinthine halls of the museum.

"The smoke won't hold much longer, he thought, his sharp gray eyes darting through the shifting haze. The operatives' equipment was already countering his smokescreen, faint glimmers of light and mana-sensing lenses cutting through the obscurity. Their voices grew louder, their movements more precise.

"Hold your breath," Astron had ordered earlier, and now he exhaled slowly, steadying his focus. His eyes flickered faintly with mana as he activated his perception ability. The museum's layered formation shimmered faintly in his vision, revealing the intricate threads of the suppression network.

Ahead, another squad of operatives emerged from the fog, their movements

disciplined and coordinated. Their weapons glinted faintly, suppression runes etched along the blades and arrows, designed to disrupt and incapacitate.

"Block the exit!" one of them barked.

Astron's lips pressed into a thin line. He adjusted Irina's position slightly on his shoulder, her silence a testament to her understanding of the situation. She wasn't resisting; she knew he needed every ounce of focus to get them out alive.

The faint glow of the suppression field's knots pulsed in Astron's vision. His mind calculated quickly.

'If I can break those..."

Astron veered sharply to the left, his figure a blur as he sprinted toward a grand archway leading into another wing of the museum. Behind him, the operatives gave chase, their footsteps a thunderous rhythm against the stone floors. Suppression arrows zipped past, narrowly missing him, their mana-laden shafts embedding into walls and displays with sharp thunks.

He reached into his spatial bracelet, pulling out a dagger, Channeling mana into the blade, he hurled it toward the nearest knot in the formation-a faintly glowing point nestled in the wall near a display case.

BOOM!

The dagger detonated, shattering the knot and sending a shockwave through the network. The oppressive mana in the immediate area flickered briefly, the suppression weakening.

"Three more to go."

But the operatives were relentless. Another squad emerged from an adjacent corridor, cutting off his path. They raised their weapons, and mana flared as they prepared to

fire.

Astron's mind worked rapidly. He skidded to a halt, his sharp eyes scanning the area. To his right, a massive column extended to the ceiling, its base adorned with intricate carvings. Beyond it, the second knot shimmered faintly.

"Hang tight," he muttered under his breath, shifting Irina's weight.

Astron's mind raced as the operatives closed in, their weapons raised and shimmering with lethal intent. His sharp gaze darted to the hall's ceiling, supported by ornately carved pillars. Each structure gleamed faintly in his mana-imbued vision, revealing subtle weak points that he could exploit.

The suppressive weight of the surrounding mana surged as the operatives unleashed a coordinated attack. Bolts of energy, arrows, and enchantments rained down toward him in a torrent, a deadly storm aimed to pin him in place.

Astron gritted his teeth, his muscles coiling with anticipation. "[Shadowborne]." Shadows rippled across his body, coiling like tendrils as his speed surged beyond normal limits. In a blur, he dashed forward, weaving through the barrage with precision. Yet, he could feel Irina's weight affecting his ability to maneuver-he wouldn't be able to keep this up for long.

"This isn't sustainable, he thought grimly. His mind clicked into gear, calculating a new strategy. One that required him to change tactics entirely.

He skidded to a halt behind a shattered display case, placing Irina down gently against its jagged remains. His purple eyes glowed faintly with mana as he turned to her.

"Stay low," he commanded, his voice calm but firm.

Irina blinked, her hazel eyes locking with his. "Astron-"

"Do you trust me?" His voice cut through the chaos, sharp and deliberate.

Irina's hesitation lasted barely a moment. "Yes," she replied, her voice steady despite the madness around them.

From his spatial location, he drew the [Celestalith], its sleek form materializing in his hand with a faint hum of energy. The weapon shimmered as it shifted, its form morphing seamlessly into a bow. The string of the weapon glowed faintly with a pulsing blue energy, emanating a cold, otherworldly light.

Irina's eyes widened as she watched him. This was the first time she had seen this weapon. 'What is this?"

She knew it was not the time to ask this, but she did subconsciously.

Astron wasted no time. Drawing back the bowstring, he summoned three arrows simultaneously, each one crackling with concentrated Lunar energy. He aimed with precision, his movements fluid and deliberate despite the chaos around him. "Let's start clearing some space," he muttered under his breath.

TWANG!

The first set of arrows tore through the air, streaking toward three of the towering pillars. Each projectile struck its mark with unerring accuracy, exploding on impact

with a surge of blue light.

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

The pillars shattered, their fragments raining down in a cascade of debris. The operatives nearest to them stumbled, their formation thrown into disarray as dust and rubble filled the air.

Without pausing, Astron nocked another three arrows, pulling the bowstring taut. His focus never wavered as he targeted the next set of pillars supporting the expansive

ceiling.

TWANG!

The second volley flew with devastating speed, each arrow streaking toward its mark. More pillars collapsed under the explosive force, the structure above groaning ominously as the balance of the space shifted.

The operatives hesitated, their once-coordinated movements faltering as the battlefield tilted in Astron's favor. He didn't give them time to recover.

"Keep your head down!" he called to Irina, his voice cutting through the crumbling

chaos.

She obeyed without hesitation, crouching low behind the debris while Astron loosed his final volley. The arrows shot forward, each glowing brighter than the last as he

poured more mana into the attack.

TWANG! TWANG! TWANG!

The last three arrows struck the remaining load-bearing pillars, detonating with immense force. The ceiling above groaned and buckled, chunks of stone and beams collapsing onto the operatives below. Cries of alarm and the clang of falling debris echoed through the space as the team scrambled to avoid being crushed.

The battlefield fell silent for a moment, save for the sound of settling rubble. Astron straightened, the glow of his bow dimming as he turned to Irina. Dust and smoke swirled around them, obscuring the view of the operatives who had been chasing

them.

"That should buy us some time," he said, his tone calm but edged with exhaustion. Irina stood, brushing debris from the armor that she had conjured.

'Flames.'

As the dust began to settle, Irina stood cautiously, brushing debris from her armor. Her flames, usually a roaring source of her power, were suppressed, leaving her feeling unbalanced and vulnerable. But as she clenched her fists, trying to summon

them again, she froze.

'Wait.'

Her hazel eyes flickered with realization, her mind racing. She could feel the familiar weight of suppression smothering her fire mana-but that wasn't all she had. 'What am I even doing? The thought struck her like a bolt of lightning. She wasn't

limited to her flames. Her mana wasn't just fire-it was hers. It was versatile, adaptable, and more than capable of finding another path.

Astron glanced over at her, his sharp purple eyes narrowing slightly. "What is it?" he

asked, his tone calm but alert.

Irina didn't respond immediately. Instead, she closed her eyes, focusing on the flow of energy within her. The suppression fields were intricately designed to target elemental mana, particularly flame-based Awakened. But telekinesis? That was

different.

Her eyes snapped open, a small, triumphant smile curling her lips. "They suppressed my flames," she said, her voice steady. "But they didn't suppress me."

Astron's expression didn't change, though his gaze sharpened. "Go on." Irina extended her hands, her mana flaring-not as fire, but as pure force. Invisible

threads of energy pulsed outward, gripping the scattered debris around her. Shattered stone and steel fragments trembled before rising into the air, suspended in her

telekinetic hold.

"I've been relying on my flames too much," she admitted, her voice laced with determination. "But I'm not just fire. I'm better than that."

With a flick of her wrist, the debris launched forward, slamming into the remnants of the operatives' formation. The precision of her telekinesis was evident-each projectile moved with deliberate, deadly intent, targeting joints and weak points in their armor.

The operatives scrambled to adjust, their once-coordinated movements thrown into

disarray.

Astron watched, his lips twitching faintly as if in approval. "Good," he said, his tone steady. "You are adapting well."

Irina smirked, the challenge igniting something fierce within her. "Oh, I plan to do

more."

She crouched low, her hands sweeping in controlled arcs as she manipulated the battlefield. Shards of glass and steel lifted around her, forming a swirling barrier that moved with her as she advanced. It wasn't just a defense-it was a weapon, striking at

the operatives who dared approach.

"Then now.....Go...."

Irina straightened, her grip tightening on the swirling mass of debris orbiting her like

a barrier. The dust and smoke from their chaotic battle hung thick in the air, the operatives adjusting their approach as they realized she wasn't a passive target anymore. Her hazel eyes gleamed with determination as she turned toward Astron.

"You're holding back because of me," she said, her voice steady despite the chaos around them.

Astron, still poised and ready, glanced at her sharply, his daggers glinting faintly in the

dim light. "I'm making sure you survive," his voice calm yet firm-"not holding back."

Irina smirked faintly. "I'll survive. I'm not helpless, Astron. You said it yourself-I'm adapting." The operatives began advancing again, their movements slower now as they assessed her capabilities. Irina flicked her hand, sending a shard of steel whistling through the air, striking one of the operatives squarely in the shoulder and forcing him back.

Astron remained silent, his sharp gaze locked on her. The hesitation in his stance, however slight, didn't go unnoticed.

She turned to him fully, stepping forward despite the press of enemies. "Do you not

trust me, Astron?"

His expression didn't change, but the faintest flicker of something passed through his purple eyes. "I trust you," he said simply, his voice unwavering.n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

"Then go," she said, her tone resolute, mirroring his earlier command to her. She

gestured sharply toward the shadows beyond the operatives. "You're faster on your own, and you'll cover more ground. Get to the next suppression knot." Astron's gaze lingered on her for a moment longer, searching for any sign of doubt or

uncertainty. There was none. Irina's stance, her expression, and the fire-not literal, but unmistakable-burning in her eyes all spoke of unwavering resolve. "Fine," he said, at last, his tone low and measured. "But don't overestimate them-or

yourself."

"I won't," she replied, her smirk returning. "But don't you underestimate me either."

Astron gave the faintest shake of his head, his lips twitching into the barest hint of a

smile. Without another word, his figure dissolved into the shadows, his presence vanishing as if he'd never been there.

'Now.....let me show you that I am more than just a flame sorcerer.' She had picked up a thing or two in her spars with Astron as well.