Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

As Astron surveyed the swinging platforms, he turned to the group. "We’re not just going to brute-force this. Everyone plays a part. Elise, you’re the quickest and sharpest here. Find the rhythm of the platforms and lead us across."

Elise blinked in surprise at the directive but nodded. "Got it."

Astron’s gaze shifted to Simon. "Your strength will come in handy if anyone slips. Be ready to catch or stabilize anyone who needs it."

"On it," Simon replied, rolling his shoulders again.

"Julia," Astron said, meeting her gaze, "watch our backs. These platforms are likely enchanted. Look for signs of something unusual—a change in the rhythm, mana surges, anything."

Julia raised an eyebrow but smirked. "Understood, Captain Serious."

Astron stepped back, gesturing for Elise to move first. "You lead. We’ll follow your pace."

Elise crouched slightly, her sharp eyes locked on the swinging platforms. She waited, watching the rhythm of their movements, before leaping onto the first one with practiced agility. The platform wobbled slightly under her weight, but she maintained her balance and moved to the second platform with a graceful hop.

"Come on," she called back, her voice steady. "One at a time."

Simon went next, his heavier frame causing the platforms to sway more noticeably. Halfway across, the faint hum of mana pulsed through the air.

"Something’s off," Julia said, her eyes narrowing as she spotted faint ripples in the mana. "The platforms are moving faster."

Astron frowned. "Elise, hold up! Simon, brace yourself!"

As if on cue, a ghostly figure emerged from the shadows beneath the platforms—a translucent creature with clawed hands and glowing eyes. It darted upward, aiming for Simon’s legs.

"Ghostymonster!" Elise shouted.

Simon cursed, swinging his arm in a wide arc to knock the creature away, but his footing slipped. He wobbled dangerously on the platform, the ghostly figure lunging again.

"Julia!" Astron called.

"I see it!" Julia reacted quickly, drawing a dagger from her belt and throwing it with precision. The blade sliced through the ghostly figure, causing it to dissipate with an eerie wail. Simon steadied himself, muttering a quick "Thanks" as he moved to the next platform.

Astron followed, his movements deliberate. As he landed on the third platform, a sharp whistle filled the air. His instincts screamed danger, and he ducked just in time to avoid a dart flying past his head. It embedded itself into the platform behind him, a faint green mist hissing from the tip.

"Poison darts!" Astron called out. "Julia, cover us!"

Julia moved quickly, her eyes scanning the shadows for the source of the attack. Another dart shot out, and she deflected it with a quick flick of her wrist, sending the projectile harmlessly into the ravine below.

"Keep moving!" she shouted. "I’ll handle these!"

The team advanced with renewed urgency, Astron pausing briefly to steady Simon as he made the final leap. They regrouped on the far side of the ravine, breathing heavily but unscathed. R̃ＡℕỒ𐌱ÈŞ

"Nice work," Astron said, his tone calm but firm. "We handled that well."

Simon smirked, wiping sweat from his brow. "I’ve gotta say, that was... something."

Elise grinned, catching her breath. "You’re pretty good at this whole teamwork thing, fearless leader."

Before they could continue, the path ahead shimmered, and the air around them grew distorted. The rocky trail seemed to bend and twist unnaturally.

"An illusion formation," Astron muttered, his purple eyes narrowing. "Stay close. It’s designed to disorient us."

Elise squinted, trying to focus. "How do we get through it?"

Astron scanned the area, his gaze sharp. "There’s usually a pattern—something that stands out. Julia, use your instincts to find the real path. Simon, stay ready in case this thing throws something physical at us."

Julia stepped forward, her eyes darting around the distorted landscape. "Alright, let’s see..."

She moved cautiously, her sharp instincts guiding her as the terrain shifted and shimmered. At one point, she nearly stepped onto what appeared to be solid ground, but the faint glint of mana stopped her.

"That’s a trap," she said, motioning for the group to avoid it.

They followed her lead, the path ahead slowly unraveling as they moved deeper into the formation. Halfway through, a low growl echoed around them, and spectral wolves materialized from the shadows.

"Great, more ghosty things," Simon muttered, cracking his knuckles.

Astron stepped forward, his voice calm but commanding. "Stay together. Elise, focus on the path. Julia, Simon, and I will handle the wolves."

The team worked in tandem, Astron’s blade slicing through the spectral creatures with precision while Simon used his brute strength to shield the others. Julia darted between them, her daggers flashing as she kept the wolves at bay.

"Found the exit!" Elise called, her voice urgent. "This way!"

The team regrouped and followed her, the spectral wolves fading as they crossed the boundary of the illusion formation. They emerged onto solid ground, their breaths heavy but their spirits high.

Astron turned to the group, his gaze steady. "Good work."

"Yeah...We made it through because we relied on each other."

Julia grinned, her earlier teasing replaced by genuine respect. "Not bad, Captain Serious. Not bad at all."

Simon nodded, his usual bravado tempered by admiration. "You’ve got my vote, Astron. Let’s see how far you can take us."

Elise gave a small smile, her sharp eyes glinting with curiosity. "Yeah. I’m still curious about you, but I’ll admit—you’ve got skills."

Astron didn’t respond immediately, his focus already shifting to the next section of the course. "Let’s keep moving. The summit’s not far."

As the team caught their breath and prepared to move on, a sharp chime echoed from their smartwatches. Each member instinctively glanced down at their screens. A notification blinked on the display:

[Alert: First Place Achieved]

Time to Summit: 1 hour, 12 minutes.

Julia blinked in surprise before letting out an incredulous laugh. "Wait, someone already finished? Are you kidding me?"

Simon frowned, his brows furrowing. "How’s that even possible? We’ve been moving pretty fast, haven’t we?"

Elise tilted her head, her sharp eyes scanning the notification as if it might offer an explanation. "Either we’re slower than we thought, or someone is ridiculously good at this."

Astron, standing slightly apart, didn’t react visibly. But inwardly, he nodded to himself. ’Most likely Victor.’

Victor Blackthorn, the reigning number one, was in a league of his own. His skillset wasn’t just impressive—it was borderline fraudulent. With his ability to bypass conventional obstacles and his unparalleled mana manipulation, it wasn’t surprising that he’d claimed the top spot.

Still, Astron said nothing, his focus shifting back to the path ahead. He didn’t need to vocalize his thoughts. The team would see the results soon enough.

Julia’s voice broke the brief silence. "Alright, Captain Serious, what’s the plan? Are we gunning for second, or do we just enjoy the scenery now?"

Astron’s gaze studied Julia for a little while, as if to say, ’Isn’t it obvious’?

"Thought so."

Julia smirked, her tone teasing. "Ever the pragmatist."

Simon adjusted his gloves, shaking off the lingering tension from the illusion formation. "If Victor’s already at the top, we might as well focus on making it there without losing anyone."

Elise nodded, her sharp eyes darting ahead. "There’s another incline up ahead, but it looks steeper than the last. Let’s move."

*******

Irina and her team advanced through the course with calculated precision. The last clearing before the final incline was in sight, and their pace quickened as the summit loomed closer. The rocky path beneath them gave way to a plateau, where the terrain opened wide. As they emerged, Irina’s fiery yellow eyes locked onto a group moving just ahead.

It was Julia’s team.

Irina’s gaze swept over the group, her competitive instincts kicking in instantly. Her sharp focus lingered briefly on Julia, but her attention quickly shifted to someone else—Astron. He moved with quiet authority, directing his team through the rugged path with calm efficiency.

’Heh.’ A spark of challenge flared in Irina’s chest. Her lips curled into a smirk, and her posture straightened as her pace picked up slightly.

"Let’s move faster," she said, her tone brimming with determination.

Sylvie, following close behind, glanced at her in confusion. "Irina, what’s going on?"

Irina tilted her head toward Julia’s group, her smirk growing wider. "Them."

Sylvie’s gaze shifted toward the group, her cheerful demeanor fading slightly as her eyes took on a faint, unnatural glow. For a brief moment, her expression was unreadable, almost instinctual. "Oh… I see."

Irina raised an eyebrow at Sylvie’s sudden change but didn’t question it. Instead, she motioned for the team to adjust their formation. "Stay sharp. We can catch up, but don’t get reckless."

"Got it! Let’s show them what we’ve got."

Behind them, their two teammates exchanged glances, sensing the subtle shift in the team’s atmosphere. Irina’s competitive energy was infectious, and Sylvie’s unusual reaction added an edge of intrigue.

As Julia’s team advanced, seemingly unaware of Irina’s group closing in, Astron paused briefly to reassess the path ahead. He turned slightly, his sharp purple eyes flicking back over his shoulder. For a fleeting moment, his gaze met Irina’s.

The exchange was brief, but it was enough to ignite Irina’s resolve further. She raised her chin, her smirk unwavering as she pushed forward. "Let’s go. We’re not losing to them."

"This just got interesting."

Both teams moved steadily toward the summit, the tension between them mounting with each step. It was no longer just about finishing the course—it was a race, a battle of will and skill.

At least Irina really thought so.

The summit drew closer with each passing second, the air thinning as both teams pushed themselves to their limits. Irina’s team maintained a steady, calculated pace, her fiery presence at the forefront driving them onward. Sylvie’s [Authority] manipulated the terrain with precision, smoothing jagged rocks into stepping stones and creating footholds where none existed. Irina’s spells burned away obstructions with surgical accuracy, leaving their path clear and efficient.

Behind them, Astron’s team wasn’t far behind. Astron led with quiet determination, his keen eyes scanning for traps and guiding his team with unwavering precision. Elise darted ahead, her agility allowing her to navigate the rough terrain and call out hazards, while Simon’s strength proved invaluable in clearing heavier obstacles. Julia, bringing up the rear, kept their pace steady with her sharp instincts and quick reactions.

As the summit finally came into view, Irina’s team surged forward with one last burst of energy. Irina’s fiery spells blazed a trail through the final incline, her competitive spirit blazing even brighter than her mana. Sylvie’s enchantments complemented her, ensuring every move was efficient and deliberate.

Just as Astron’s team reached the summit’s edge, they saw Irina’s team step onto the plateau. Irina came to a halt, a triumphant smirk curling across her lips as she glanced over her shoulder.

Astron stepped up seconds later, his expression calm and unreadable as he took in the scene. Julia, however, didn’t miss the smirk aimed in their direction.

"Fuck…" Julia muttered, doubling over with her hands on her knees to catch her breath. She glared up at Irina, her voice laced with exasperation. "If I knew you were coming, I would have run faster."

It was Julia’s loss.

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