Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

675  Chapter 149.2 - Really

"Not quite. I need to test the equipment. That's it."

Irina considered his request for a moment, her curiosity piqued. It was fair enough that he wanted to test the equipment—she could only guess at what he'd seen in that bracelet, and part of her was eager to witness it firsthand. Besides, they had the rest of the week ahead of them; one night spent indulging his request wouldn't cut into her plans too much.

And also it was freeing to be done with all obligations, with only the open week stretching before them. 'I'll have all the time I need to get my plans in motion,' she thought, glancing sidelong at Astron, who followed her with his usual calm. Their official deal hadn't even started yet; tonight, he wasn't under any obligations from the bet. Monday would mark the beginning of the week she'd won, a whole week before classes resumed.

"Fine," she nodded, a faint smile tugging at her lips. "Go ahead. I'll show you to the training grounds." She turned, leading him through the Emberheart estate's winding halls and out to the grounds specially designed for intense combat practice. The large space was outfitted with powerful, mana-reactive equipment, each piece built to withstand the force of their family's fiery abilities.

"Wait…."

Irina paused mid-step, the realization hitting her like a spark in a powder keg. Why was she even considering the main training grounds, knowing full well that the place was constantly under some form of surveillance? With Astron's tendency to keep things hidden, he'd likely hold back, wary of prying eyes. Not to mention, the general training grounds could be bustling with people at this hour, trainees honing their skills even after dark.

'No,' she thought, quickly dismissing the idea. Her training ground would be better—more secluded, and far from any unnecessary onlookers. Her family maintained a private area meant for high-level training and sparring, typically reserved for those with the Emberheart name or their most trusted allies. And tonight, it was empty.

She couldn't deny the convenience of it. She'd have an uninterrupted view of his techniques, and he could train without the constraints of public scrutiny. Not that she needed a private place with him, of course—it was simply the best option. This was about practicality, not the slight thrill that came with the idea of having his undivided attention in her personal space.

With a firm nod, she turned to him, her face the picture of calm resolve. "Actually, I've got a better idea," she said, her tone casual as if the thought had just occurred to her. "I have my own training ground. It's away from the others, so you won't have to worry about interruptions."

Astron tilted his head, his eyes narrowing just slightly as he studied her, though he didn't protest. "Lead the way, then."

Irina did just that, fighting to keep a neutral expression as they walked the short distance to her personal training grounds. It was a quiet, open-air arena set back from the main complex, shielded by high walls and enchanted to keep sound from escaping. Only the faint glow of mana lights along the perimeter illuminated the area, giving the space a good ambiance.

Of course, he knew her motives, as what she did was evident. And she also knew he knew, but so what?

In the end, did it matter?

As they returned to her own building, Irina led Astron into her personal training grounds, her expression neutral despite the underlying anticipation.

She had already shown him the way in her building so she didn't do it again.

The first room she showed him was dedicated to mana and magic training, the second was the physical combat room, a space outfitted with dummies, reinforced targets, and specialized equipment for agility, strength, and endurance.

And the third one was the one she relied on most for battle training—her combat magic room. Here, targets were enchanted to react with high-intensity defenses, forcing her to weave her physical prowess with her magic.

There was also a place that she would consider as her most personal space, though for the time being Astron had no business being there.

Irina guided Astron into her third training room, the one she relied on most for refining her combat magic. She had shown him this room briefly during the tour, but now she intended to give him a real demonstration of how it functioned. The air inside felt different—charged with traces of residual mana and the unmistakable scent of singed metal and stone. Enchanted targets lined the far wall, each one specifically designed to withstand high-intensity attacks, adjusting its defenses in response to the level of force applied.

"Here we are," she said.

Astron scanned the room, his expression thoughtful as he took in the reinforced walls and the strategically placed mana channels embedded into the floor. She could tell he was assessing every detail, and she resisted the urge to smirk. 'Go ahead, try to figure it all out,' she thought. 'I've spent years in here, and I doubt you'll grasp it all in one glance.'

Without waiting for him to respond, she strode over to one of the targets, her hand glowing faintly as she summoned a controlled burst of Emberheart fire. The flames flared to life around her palm, dancing in rich shades of crimson and gold as she channeled them into her fist. With a sharp exhale, she punched forward, sending the flames barreling into the target. The enchanted defenses responded instantly, a shimmering barrier flaring up to absorb the impact before dissipating just as quickly.

"This is what I mean," she explained, her tone matter-of-fact. "The target's enchantment adjusts to absorb or deflect attacks, so I have to keep increasing the force if I want to break through. It's a battle of endurance and control."

She stepped back, looking at him expectantly. "So… any thoughts? Or are you just going to observe?"

"Observing is part of it," he said smoothly. "But I didn't come here just to watch. Change the mode to the all-rounder one."

Irina blinked, momentarily thrown off by Astron's request. "All-rounder mode?" she echoed, slightly confused.

But then, understanding dawned on her. Of course—this room had three modes, each tailored for different training purposes: Offense, where the targets focused purely on countering her attacks; Defense, where they simulated a constant onslaught for her to parry and evade; and finally, the combined mode, which her family had given a formal name—Total Resonance. It was a mode designed to push both offensive and defensive abilities to their limit, forcing the user to adapt between attacking and evading with little warning.

Because he said All Rounder instead of Total Resonance she didn't grasp it at once.

She let out an exaggerated sigh, crossing her arms. "Honestly, anyone with a functioning brain could have figured that out," she muttered, though her words lacked real annoyance. It was just like Astron to pick up on the nuances of the room with a single glance.

With a nod, she stepped over to a panel embedded in the wall. A faint pulse of mana later, she activated Total Resonance. The room responded instantly: mana channels embedded in the floor and walls flared to life, casting an ethereal glow over the area. The targets along the far wall adjusted, their forms shifting as they prepared to engage in both offensive and defensive maneuvers.

She turned back to him, giving a half-smirk. "There you go. Let's see if you can keep up."

Astron glanced around, a gleam of interest in his eyes as he took in the changes. "Remember, I am not here to showcase my abilities, we are here to test the bracelet out."

"Heh….You might be planning that. But this is my home. Remember the saying? In Emberheart Estate, do as Emberhearts do."

"…..That saying, it definitely was not Emberhearts."

Hearing Astron's response, Irina couldn't help but smirk, crossing her arms. "Well, I just changed it, then. Does that bother you?" She raised an eyebrow, the faintest hint of a challenge in her tone. "Or are you just scared?"

Astron let out a sigh, shaking his head. "Do you really have to use the same excuse every time? I'd think you'd have found a better provocation by now."

She whistled, feigning innocence. "When have I ever used the same excuse? You're imagining things." Her tone was light, teasing, and she watched as he merely shook his head, a ghost of a smile touching his otherwise stoic face.

Satisfied, Irina turned on her heel, walking toward a small, enclosed section at the edge of the room. The area was reinforced with multiple defensive formations, designed as a spectator's safe zone while still offering a clear view of the action. From here, she'd be able to watch Astron's every move without the threat of stray mana or debris.

Settling into her vantage point, she leaned casually against the transparent barrier, watching as he stepped fully into the center of the training area. She could already see the targets recalibrating, shifting subtly as they assessed his presence and prepared to challenge both his offense and defense simultaneously.

"Let's see the bracelet that you have chosen."

Irina's gaze narrowed with intrigue, her curiosity growing as she settled back into the safe zone. Her eyes stayed fixed on Astron, her thoughts lingering on the bracelet he'd chosen. Out of all the artifacts in the armory, what had he seen in that simple, unassuming bracelet to make it his choice?

As if in answer, Astron stepped into position, facing the enchanted dummies now poised to attack. The room went silent for a heartbeat, and then the targets launched forward in synchronized motion, moving with a speed and precision that would force most opponents into evasive maneuvers. Yet Astron didn't move to dodge. Instead, he held his ground, a faint pulse of mana radiating from him, calm and controlled.

Irina's eyes widened slightly as she observed his aura. His entire body seemed charged with mana—not just coating his skin in a protective layer, as most mages would do when enhancing themselves, but rather circulating mana through his body in a strange, almost rhythmic flow, moving from inside to outside, every fiber of him infused with power.

"Martial arts?" she muttered to herself, realization dawning on her as she watched. This wasn't ordinary combat magic or body reinforcement—Astron was channeling his mana through his internal circuits, almost as if he were one with it, blending strength and agility with an elegance that went beyond typical spellwork.

And as she remembered, only [Martial Artist]s tended to do that.

'Interesting…..'

It seemed Astron had not been slacking off in his break at all.