Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 680 151.2 - Let me see your strength

"Not so fast, Astron," she called, her voice tinged with both challenge and excitement. "Let's see what you will do now!"

The searing wave of fire surged forward, its heat rippling through the air as it bore down on Astron. For a moment, Irina was certain I would force him to retreat-or at least slow him down. But then, something unexpected happened.

A sudden shockwave erupted from Astron's position, blasting her flames apart with a force that left the air crackling. Her eyes widened as she saw the bracelet on his wrist glowing faintly, its surface shimmering with the energy it had absorbed.

'The bracelet... he's using it already?"

Before she could fully process the situation, Astron shot forward, his body enveloped in a layer of mana. His speed was overwhelming, far surpassing the pace he'd shown earlier. It was as if the previous exchanges had been nothing more than a warm-up. SWOOSH!

In an instant, he was right before her, his hand aimed directly at her exposed stomach. The precision and speed of his strike were undeniable, and Irina knew that evasion was no longer an option. But even as the realization struck her, she remained calm, a faint smirk tugging at the corners of her lips.

'Did you think I wouldn't prepare for something like this?"

Her mana surged, flames flickering briefly before she focused entirely on defense. With a quick motion, she activated a spell she had honed to perfection.

School of Irina: Pyroclastic Barrier]

A barrier of fiery mana materialized between them, but it wasn't just an ordinary shield. Irina's mastery of telekinesis allowed her to compress the psions within the barrier, bending the very space behind it. This compression created a unique effect- stretching the collision time of any impact and dispersing the force over a broader

area.

Astron's strike connected with the barrier, and for a brief moment, the room seemed to be still. The collision time extended unnaturally, the momentum of his attack being systematically absorbed and redistributed. Instead of the force transferring directly to Irina, the barrier diffused it, rendering the strike far less effective than it should have been.

The barrier shimmered under the strain, its compressed psions glowing brilliantly as it held firm against the blow. Irina felt a slight jolt as the residual momentum reached her, but it was negligible-nothing she couldn't handle. Her smirk deepened as she locked eyes with Astron, the faint flicker of surprise in his gaze not lost on her.

"You didn't think I was just going to let you land that, did you?" she teased, her voice steady despite the lingering heat in the air that she was channeling.

Now that she had the free time, she couldn't allow him to stay in the same position hence she had already cast her next spell.

SWIRL!

Flames compressed and shot forward to Astron, and he was forced to retreat. But because the barrier had extended the space itself, he was a tiny bit slow to move, and flames pushed forward and burned his skin a little.

SWOOSH!

Though, he didn't let himself get attacked for too long and he had already increased the distance just then.

"Heh.." Irina sneered as she started casting another spell.

On the other hand, Astron's expression didn't waver, but the faintest trace of respect. flickered in his eyes as he pulled back. "Clever," he admitted, his tone neutral but edged with acknowledgment. "You compressed the psions and manipulated the impact... not bad."

Irina tilted her head slightly, her flames flaring to life once more as she prepared for the next exchange. "It's my own technique," she said, pride evident in her voice. "You're not the only one who's been innovating"

Astron nodded, stepping back just enough to dodge the trailing remnants of her flames. "It's a good trick," he said, his tone calm and matter-of-fact, though his words carried an undertone that felt like praise.

Irina's brow twitched, though she didn't let it show. How could he already figure out the intricacies of her spell after seeing it just once? The way his sharp gaze dissected her techniques made her feel as though she were facing some kind of battle-hardened strategist, not someone supposedly on her level.

"This guy... He's too much of a cheat,' she thought, the faintest ripple of annoyance flickering in her chest. Still, she refused to let it rattle her.

SWIRL!

Her flames surged forward, weaving tightly together as she directed another volley of fire toward him. The attack split into multiple tendrils, each one seeking to ensnare him from a different angle.

Astron's expression didn't waver. As he released a slow, measured breath, his body shifted slightly-just enough to let him evade the first wave of flames. His movements were precise, and calculated, as though he were predicting her next strike before it even formed.

"Your control is impressive," he said, dodging another tendril of fire while

simultaneously closing the gap between them. His hand darted out, slashing through a burst of flame with a quick swipe of his mana-coated palm. "But you're leaving just enough of a pattern to predict."

Irina's flames coiled back as she raised her hand, casting another spell mid-motion. This time, her flames expanded outward in a sudden, explosive wave.

[School of Emberheart: Incandescent Tempestj

The flames roared toward Astron, leaving him no choice but to retreat. Even his agility wasn't enough to completely evade the heat, and Irina smirked as she saw a flicker of discomfort cross his face. A faint scorch mark darkened the edge of his sleeve, and she could tell the heat had gotten to him.

"Heh..." Her smirk widened. "What was that about patterns?"

Astron didn't reply immediately, his focus sharp as he ducked beneath a secondary surge of flames. His movements remained fluid, but Irina could see the faint sheen of sweat on his brow now. It was proof that her relentless assault was wearing him down -if only a little.

"Still not bad," he said at last, his voice steady even as he deflected another burst of fire with a precise twist of his wrist. The bracelet on his arm shimmered faintly, absorbing the lingering energy from her attacks. "But don't think I haven't adjusted." 'He's not just evading,' Irina realized, narrowing her eyes as she tracked his movements. The way he shifted, the subtle rhythm to his steps-he wasn't simply dodging her attacks; he was testing her, probing for weaknesses while simultaneously building momentum.

Her flames flared brighter, mirroring her resolve. She refused to let him dictate the pace. "Then stop running and show me what you've got!" she called, her tone sharp

but laced with anticipation.

Astron's lips twitched into the faintest hint of a smirk. "Alright," he said, and with that, he surged forward, his body a blur of motion.

This time, he didn't aim directly for her. Instead, he darted to the side, forcing her to adjust her aim. The shift in his trajectory was subtle but effective, and for a moment, she had to split her focus to track him.

But Irina wasn't one to be easily cornered. She drew her flames inward, channeling

them into her core as she prepared for his next move. If he wanted to get close, she'd make him fight for every step. Flames danced along her arms, surging outward in quick, precise bursts designed to box him in.

Astron's speed increased again, his movements almost blurring as he closed the gap. His hand shot forward, aiming for her shoulder this time, but she was ready. With a sharp motion, she cast another spell, a wall of fire erupting between them just as his strike connected with the edge of her barrier. The flames bent outward,

dispersing the impact but forcing him back once more.

"You're persistent," she said, her tone a mix of irritation and respect as she readied her

next move. "But don't think I'll let you off that easily."

Astron didn't reply to her taunt, his focus unwavering as he shifted his stance. Irina felt the weight of his concentration, and for a moment, she realized he was preparing

to strike harder and faster.

But she wasn't one to back down.

With a sharp motion, she extended her arms, her mana surging in two distinct directions. On one side, five fiery spears materialized in the air, their tips glowing molten red as they hovered, ready to strike. On the other, her flames began to coil and twist like a living creature, forming into a whip of concentrated fire that lashedn/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

outward with crackling energy.

[School of Emberheart: Ember Spear VolleyJ

[School of Emberheart: Whip of Infernoj

Irina's movements were seamless as she directed both spells simultaneously, her whip

slicing through the air toward Astron's chest while the spears launched forward in rapid succession. Each spear tore through the air with unerring speed, forcing Astron

to respond.

His reaction was immediate. Dropping his center of gravity, he moved like a predator -a tiger stalking its prey. His form was low, his body fluid and efficient as he weaved through the incoming spears. The fiery whip lashed toward him, but he ducked and rolled, narrowly avoiding the searing heat as he repositioned himself.

Irina's eyes narrowed. 'He's faster than before!

Astron's speed had doubled, his figure blurring as he darted forward. It was unmistakably a skill-one that amplified his already impressive agility. But Irina didn't panic. Instead, she smirked, her mana flaring even brighter.

'So you're going all in, huh? Then let's see how you handle this.' Astron closed the gap in an instant, appearing right in front of her with his hand poised to strike. But Irina's flames surged to life again, her whip snapping back to guard her flank while her barrier spell shimmered into existence between them.

At the same time, the spears Astron had dodged earlier suddenly reversed direction, twisting midair and flying toward him from behind. The shift was almost imperceptible, but Irina's telekinesis proficiency allowed her to manipulate the trajectory with precision. The fiery projectiles shot toward him with deadly accuracy, catching him in a pincer attack.

Astron's sharp eyes flicked to the spears, his instincts warning him of the incoming

danger. But it was too late to fully evade.

One spear grazed his shoulder, leaving a faint burn. Another singed his leg as he

twisted to avoid a more direct hit. The others slammed into the ground near him,

creating bursts of flame that forced him to retreat once again.

But, he did something different.

THUD!

His palm rushed forward as it aimed through Irina's body.