Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 176

Chapter 176 40.1 - A test

The courtyard outside the academy echoed with the grumbles and yawns of students, all wearing various shades of disheveled uniforms. The early morning sun cast long shadows as they reluctantly assembled.

As the group grew, one by one, students arrived with tousled hair and bleary eyes. Some carried steaming cups of coffee, attempting to combat the persistent lethargy that clung to them. A particularly disgruntled student, Tessa, couldn't resist voicing her discontent.

"Why do we always need to gather this early?" she muttered, her voice laden with the weariness that still clung to her.

A nearby student, Aaron, yawned in agreement. "Right, I wish I knew that too."

A third voice, belonging to the ever-cynical Jake, chimed in, "Well, it is probably because they want to teach us how to be disciplined."

"Ho? We have a smart-ass here, huh?" mocked another student, Sarah, shooting Jake a teasing grin.

"What—"

"Bastard, do you think we don't know what? We just want to complain because we couldn't sleep enough," interrupted Mike, another student who shared the sentiment.

"Yeah. Of course, we know this is the right thing to do; it is just we hate it," added Lily, a normally cheerful student who seemed equally affected by the early hour.

The courtyard buzzed with grumbles and agreements, a collective sigh of discontent rising from the group.

Just as the disgruntled chorus reached its peak, a hushed silence fell over the courtyard as the students noticed a figure approaching.

Eleanor, the stern instructor known for her unwavering dedication to discipline, emerged from the shadows.

She walked with purpose, her gaze sweeping across the assembly of tired faces. The students straightened, attempting to shake off their morning grogginess and assume a semblance of alertness.

"Tch."

However, in the end, none of them could escape from the stern eyes of their insatiable professor.

"And these kids are supposed to be the saviors of the world," Eleanor grumbled as she took her position in front of them, her gaze continuing to assess everyone, one by one.

'But, there are still good ones in the batch.'

With the semester going forward and the cadets being tested every time, she now had enough data to assess most of the students.

Unsurprisingly, those from renowned families had already done well, and even then, some of them still surprised her.

Especially the blue-haired kid smiling in front of the rows.

Ethan Hartley.

He had already become the topic of the talk in the academy and in the Hunter Community, but as the professor who had been grading Ethan's notes from the start, she knew a lot better than everyone else how talented he was.

'That kid has that natural talent in him.'

When she was a student, she was also one of those 'natural' talents since she could feel a lot better than her peers all the time. Thus, she knew when she saw another monster.

According to her observations, Ethan's talent didn't lie in how good he was with mana or spear. It was his talent regarding combat.

Whenever he was against a strong enemy, even if he was overwhelmed, he had the possibility of winning.

'As if he was bound to overcome hardship.'

It was a weird feeling to see. The kid got stronger whenever he encountered someone strong. The more he fought, the stronger he got.

The more he fell into the pit, the stronger his desire to overcome it became, and that itself was a talent that was hard to come by.

'Adding this to his lineage…'

A monster that could never be stopped was about to be created, and she was witnessing it.

'I wonder if he is him?'

She asked herself once again. The possibility of the person she had been searching for all this time was Ethan.

-WRRR!

Just as she was lost in her thoughts, she suddenly felt a vibration on her watch and realized it was the time to speak now. With a calm yet authoritative demeanor, she stepped forward, redirecting the focus of the assembled trainees.

"Alright, everyone, gather around," Eleanor's voice carried through the training ground, commanding the attention of the young Hunters. The vast expanse of the practice area became a stage for honing skills, with eager eyes turning toward the instructor.

"As Hunters, it's crucial to understand that our strength goes beyond mere physical prowess. It requires a mastery of mana," Eleanor began, her gaze sweeping over the faces of the attentive trainees. "Mana is the life force that courses through every living thing. It's the wellspring of our power and the key to unlocking abilities that defy the natural order."

She stopped at that moment and looked at the cadets.

"These words are what you have been hearing all this time up to now." With that said, she waved her hand. "However, all those words are meaningless if you don't truly know how to control your mana like a true Awakened."

SWOOSH!

She extended her hand, weaving fingers through the air to conjure a small, luminescent wisp of mana. The ethereal light shimmered, captivating the trainees' attention.

"Most of you should be able to look what I had conjured with my hands...However, did you actually see it? This is the question that you need to ask yourselves."

Eleanor's eyes scanned the faces of the trainees, measuring their reactions and anticipation. The subtle glow of the mana wisp lingered, a tangible reminder of the intangible force they were dealing with.

"Seeing through mana is not just perceiving the physical manifestation of spells or conjurations. It's about understanding the essence, the energy that flows through all things," Eleanor continued, her voice carrying the weight of experience. "Mana is not merely a tool; it's a language that speaks of the interconnectedness of the world. To truly see through mana, you must go beyond the surface and delve into the currents that bind everything together."

She walked among the trainees, each step deliberate, and stopped before one young Hunter.

"What did you see?" Eleanor asked, her eyes probing. The cadet hesitated, and Eleanor nodded knowingly.

"Mana is not just a visual spectacle; it's a sensory experience. You must feel it, understand its rhythm, and let it guide your perception. The mana wisp I conjured is a fraction of the vast energy that surrounds us. To be a true Hunter, you must not only see it but feel it coursing through your very being."