Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest



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."

She paused, glancing at him to gauge his reaction, but his face remained unreadable, prompting her to continue. "Lastly, there's potential-some artifacts grow stronger with the user or adapt over time. So, to sum it up, the best equipment is strong in its own right, works seamlessly with its wielder, and has potential for growth." Astron nodded thoughtfully, his gaze unwavering. "You're right, Irina. But the way you're assessing it-it's a consumer's perspective. And while that's useful, it lacks a certain depth."

Irina arched an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed. "So, you're saying I should look at it from the creator's perspective?" She crossed her arms, a hint of challenge in her tone. "If it were that easy, I'd be creating my own artifacts, wouldn't I?"

"True," Astron agreed with a slight incline of his head. "But understanding a piece of equipment as a creator would isn't necessarily about crafting it yourself. It's about knowing what to look for. Sometimes, even with basic knowledge, you can infer a lot if you approach it from the right angle."

Irina's eyes narrowed, scrutinizing him. "That's exactly what you're good at, isn't it?" Her voice softened as the realization dawned on her. "You don't just look at things the way everyone else does."

She paused, her mind racing as she pieced it together. "This guy sees things differently. It's like he has a lens no one else has... something about his eyes!

The pieces fell into place with a startling clarity. Astron's ability to choose the bracelet wasn't just about theoretical knowledge or random chance. He had seen something others hadn't. Her ancestors, the armory appraisers, anyone else who had looked at that bracelet-they'd only looked with surface-level vision. But Astron, he'd been able to see through it, to look deeper in a way that went beyond ordinary observation. "Your eyes," she murmured, barely audible, staring at him with newfound curiosity. "There's something... different about them, isn't there?"

Astron held her gaze, his expression unreadable but the faintest flicker of

acknowledgment in his eyes.

Irina's eyes narrowed as she considered her next question, trying to put the pieces together. "So... is it about the material? Or maybe something with the engraving?" she asked, her tone probing, her gaze intent on him.

At her words, she caught a faint shift in Astron's expression-a barely noticeable change, but enough for her to sense she was onto something. Her eyes widened in realization. If she was right, then this meant Astron could actually see through the material and grasp a possible way to improve it? The thought left her momentarily

speechless.

"This guy...' she thought, awe settling over her. He has an ability that goes beyond typical sight.

Then, without a word, Astron reached into his spatial storage, his hand reappearing with a small, slightly shiny piece of metal that seemed to pulse with contained mana. He held tout to her, the material gleaming in the dim light of the room. "This is Orichalum," he said simply, the name carrying weight. The metal was rare, difficult to refine, and incredibly potent in mana conductivity. For many, this was the foundation of high-grade artifacts. Though her family possessed the resources to acquire it, even they used it sparingly due to its cost and the skill needed to work with

it.

Irina looked at the Orichalum in his hand, her mind racing with possibilities. "You're telling me... you saw a way to use this with the bracelet?" she asked, incredulity coloring her voice. "You could refine it?"

When Irina asked if he could refine the bracelet himself, Astron simply shook his head.

"If I could do that, I'd be an artifact creator," he replied dryly. "But I can do something

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.