Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 471 105.7 - What it means to be a Genius

<Acrobatics Training, 11 A.M, Fifth day of training>

Within minutes, Astron completed the fourth stage exam, landing softly and standing with his usual composed demeanor.

Tianna walked over to him, her voice filled with genuine praise. "Astron, your progress is extraordinary. You've completed the fourth stage with remarkable ease."

Astron nodded, acknowledging her words but staying focused.

Tianna continued, "For most of the trainees here, this would be the end of the course. Most of them are either fighters or mages, and they do not need to go beyond the fourth stage. However, your training goal is to master all seven stages, which means you will be different."

She paused, ensuring Astron was absorbing the gravity of her words. "From now on, you will be in the advanced course. You will learn more advanced techniques for the fifth, sixth, and seventh stages. It will be more challenging, and it's crucial that you keep your focus at all times."

Astron nodded his head in understanding. "I understand, Instructor Tianna. I will keep my focus and continue to train hard."

Tianna smiled, a rare expression on her usually stern face. "I have no doubt you will. Prepare yourself for the advanced training. The next stages will test you in ways you have not yet experienced."

With that, she dismissed him as she prepared herself for tomorrow's training. As for the other cadets...

They looked at him as if they were looking at a monster.

*********

<Stealth Training, 12 A.M, Fifth day of training>

"Good morning, Astron," he greeted, his tone neutral yet expectant. "Today, you will work on mastering the [Veil of Shadows]. Are you prepared?"

Astron nodded, his resolve clear. "I am ready, Instructor Kennet."

"Excellent. Let's begin," Kennet said, stepping back to observe.

Astron closed his eyes, taking a deep breath to center himself. He focused on extending his sensory awareness, feeling the ambient mana in the room. Slowly, he projected his mana, creating a subtle ripple that blended with the surrounding energy.

He began to move, each step deliberate and controlled. His breathing was shallow, his heartbeat steady, syncing perfectly with his movements. The ripple of his mana expanded, forming an almost imperceptible barrier around him. Astron's presence seemed to melt into the shadows, his form becoming one with the environment.

When he reached the end of the course, Astron turned to face Kennet. The instructor's expression was one of approval.

"Well done, Astron," Kennet said, nodding. "You've demonstrated a remarkable understanding of the [Veil of Shadows]. You're starting to grasp the essence of stealth."

"Thank you, Instructor Kennet."

Kennet stepped forward, his tone instructive. "It seems you've begun to understand how things need to work. Before, your main focus was always on how to keep yourself invisible, but now you are starting to understand the importance of other senses as well."

He placed a hand on Astron's shoulder, a gesture of both guidance and acknowledgment. "That was something that I had been planning to inform you about today, but with how things are going, it seems I no longer need to do that."

He could feel the truth in them, as the subtle shift in his approach had made a significant difference in his training already.

'This instructor. He is really earnest.'

Astron thought as he looked into Kennet.

"Continue to practice this technique," Kennet advised. "Expand your awareness, deepen your connection with the ambient mana. The more attuned you are to your environment, the more effective your stealth will be."

"Understood, Instructor," Astron replied, his determination evident. "But there is one thing I am curious about."

Kennet raised an eyebrow, waiting for Astron to continue.

"The manual you mentioned," Astron said carefully. "Is there a more advanced version of the [Veil of Shadows] technique?"

Kennet's face darkened slightly at the mention of the manual. "I thought we had closed that topic yesterday," he said, his tone cooler.

Astron immediately responded, his tone respectful. "If my question was offensive, I apologize. I'm just curious as to what the next stage would be."

Kennet studied Astron's face, his gaze cold and piercing, searching for any hidden intentions or ulterior motives. Astron met his gaze steadily, his expression open and sincere. After a long moment, Kennet seemed to relent, though his expression remained guarded.

"There was a next technique," Kennet began slowly as he stood up. "But, it was not about stealth."

Astron felt a pang of curiosity but remained silent, waiting for Kennet to continue.

Kennet's expression was thoughtful as he chose his words carefully. "The next technique focused on something beyond just blending in or erasing one's presence. It required a deeper understanding and a broader perspective."

He turned away slightly as if contemplating how much to reveal. "Remember this, Astron," he said, his voice low but firm. "One must never forget that traits or arts do not always have to follow the same direction. Many traits have a wider coverage than you think."

With those cryptic words, Kennet began to walk away, leaving Astron to ponder his message.

The moment Kennet's words sank in, something inside Astron shifted. It was as if a veil had been lifted, revealing a broader horizon. He began to realize that his understanding of his abilities had been too narrow, too focused on a single path.

'That is right. Why had I not thought of that before?' He asked himself.

The techniques and arts he had learned did not have to be confined to one purpose. There were multiple ways to apply his skills and multiple directions to explore. The [Shadowborne] arts, for instance, might encompass more than just stealth and invisibility. They could be tools for manipulation, protection, or even attack, depending on how he chose to use them.

'The next stage of my [Shadowborne]. It may not have been related to stealth at all. And the same is valid for [Lunar Enigma].'

While this was something that he had already known, that did not mean his subconsciousness thought the same.

'Because how I was focused on the fact that the [Shadowborne] of the usual game and [Shadowborne] of the easter egg was different, I did not think of the possibility that they may have crossed paths at some point.' He thought as he realized he was once again limiting himself.

'I need to reflect once again. Broaden your horizons, Astron.'

With that thought, he continued his training while making a small mental note.

******

As I left the training grounds, Kennet's words echoed in my mind. "Traits or arts do not always have to follow the same direction." What could the next possible stage of my [Shadowborne] trait be? What other aspects could I explore and harness?

Lost in thought, I made my way to the cafeteria. The usual hum of conversation and the clatter of trays provided a comforting backdrop to my musings. As I entered, I spotted Lyra and Kael at a table, waving me over.

"Long time no see!" Lyra greeted with a bright smile.

I raised an eyebrow. "It's only been two days."

Lyra laughed. "The fact that we didn't see each other for two whole days while being roommates is what makes it abnormal!"

"Fair point."

Kael leaned back in his chair, grinning. "Seems like you've been busy. How's the training going?"

"Intense but productive," I replied, taking a seat. "What about you two? How have your sessions been?"

Lyra rolled her eyes playfully. "Same old, same old. Lots of illusions and mana control exercises. It's fun but exhausting."

Kael nodded. "We've been working on strategy and combat drills. It's tough, but it's making a difference."

I nodded, appreciating their dedication. "That's good to hear. We're all pushing ourselves to the limit."

"Speaking of limits," Lyra said, leaning in conspiratorially. "Have you heard about the new guy who's been tearing up the acrobatics course? They say he's a natural."

Kael chuckled. "Oh, come on, Lyra. Don't tease him too much."

I tilted my head, curious. "Who's this new guy?"

Lyra grinned. "It's you, dummy! Everyone's talking about how you aced the first few stages of the acrobatics course. You've got quite a reputation already."

I shook my head with a wry expression. "I'm just doing what needs to be done."

Kael gave a knowing nod. "That's the spirit. Keep pushing, and you'll go far."

We continued chatting, and our conversation was light and easy. Despite the intense training and the challenges ahead, moments like these somehow made me remember that I am no longer in that place.

'Right. This place is a lot different.' There was hope here.

******

<Reina's Room, 3 P.M, Fifth Day of Training>

Astron stood before the door of the training room, his mind already working on deciphering the new password. 'The password... It should be, Are you ready to face the second?' As he thought, he deciphered the psions.

"Are you ready to face the second?"

The answer was correct this time. 'Got you.' After entering, he saw Reina sitting. Her fit was different this time, with a slightly short skirt and long boots.

'From the traces, it seems she had visited the outside world.'

It was clear that she came from a field mission.

'I even think she can access this place from anywhere she wants.'

It was just speculation on his end, but that would explain many things.

"Let's begin today's training," Reina said, her tone brisk. She created a new set of psion lines, this time with higher-ranked threads. "Today, you'll start from scratch. The targeted mana psions are of a higher rank, so you'll need to focus on filtering and assimilation for a single mana thread first."

Astron nodded, his determination evident. He extended his mana threads and began the process. The higher-ranked psions resisted more than the previous ones, their complex structure requiring greater precision and control.

He closed his eyes, centering himself. The ambient mana in the room pulsed with energy, and he felt the subtle rhythms of the psion line. Filtering out the unnecessary noise, he honed in on the unique flow of the higher-ranked thread.

'Reina's right,' he thought. 'This is more challenging, but the principles are the same.'

He wove his mana into the psion line, focusing on harmonizing with its rhythm. The process was slow and meticulous, but his previous experience guided him. He adjusted his approach, finding the right balance between his energy and the thread's flow.

As he worked, Reina observed him closely. 'He's adapting quickly,' she mused. 'The higher-ranked psions are not an easy hurdle, but he's applying what he's learned with remarkable efficiency.'

Hours passed, and Astron's progress was undeniable. He managed to filter and assimilate the single mana thread, his understanding of its structure deepening with each attempt. The room seemed to hum with energy as he worked, the ambient mana resonating with his efforts.

By the end of the day, Astron stood before Reina, his expression determined. "I feel like I've grasped it," he said, his voice steady.

Reina nodded, her eyes filled with approval. "You've made significant progress. Tomorrow, we'll tackle multiple higher-ranked threads simultaneously."

"I understand."

********

"Welcome, Trainee Astron Natusalune. Beginning body training session focusing on Everchanging Glyph optimization."

He went through the heavy ropes, weighted climbing, and compound exercises with determination. Nôv(el)B\\jnn

"Trainee Astron's body limits are pushed to 80%. Increasing the intensity."

In the gravity room, he felt his muscles adapting quicker.

"Bone density and muscle resilience increased by 3%. Mana reserves stable."

He ended the session in the herbal bath, the water bubbling as impurities were expelled.

"Administering high-rank mana potion. The muscle reconstruction process is ongoing. Body limits pushed to 115%."

The session concluded with the AI's final report.

"Process complete. Trainee Astron, muscle and bone density increased by 2%. Adaptation to Everchanging Glyph's influence is on schedule. Recommend rest and further monitoring."

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