Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 260

Chapter 260 Chapter 60.6 - Phantom's Land

At the time of 06.06 A.M., when life started to settle in the Phantom's Land, Ethan found himself wandering alone through the dense mist.

The fog cloaked everything in an otherworldly ambiance, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of unease lingering in the air.

'Again, this feeling…'

His footsteps echoed softly as he strolled along, the mist swirling around him like ethereal tendrils. The Phantom's Land was known for its mysterious and magical phenomena, and Ethan's assignment was to observe and document any unusual occurrences.

After the first day of collaborative observation with Lucas and Caleb, the team decided that it might be more efficient for each member to venture out alone.

'What did Caleb say again? Was it to measure the Temperature and the Humidity?'

The limited time they had in this peculiar environment urged them to collect as much data as possible, and splitting up seemed like the best approach. And, since Caleb was the best one amongst the trio in terms of theory, they decided to leave him the decisions.

He didn't want to admit it, but when it came to the theory, he was not the best. That was how he was. He didn't hate studying and was pretty much diligent, but he himself knew he lacked the inherent talent of those academics.

Though he didn't mind it, in this world where people were ruled by strength, he couldn't mind it at all.

As Ethan continued his solitary walk through the mist-shrouded landscape of the Phantom's Land, he found himself surrounded by unusual and magical sights.

Ethan's senses were on high alert as he continued his solitary walk, periodically stopping to jot down notes in his observation journal.

'Again, once again…..'

But, there was something foreign here.

The air was thick with mystical energy, and the ethereal tendrils of fog seemed to dance in response to the unseen forces that governed this realm. However, different from how he had seen previously, there was something unnatural here.

And the feeling he was getting now was a lot more disturbing than at the start.

'As if something is preying upon me.'

That was why he was armed with his spear, ready to strike. However, even after leaving his home, he had yet to encounter anything that would threaten his life.

SCREECH!

Aside from these wandering phantoms.

Ethan swiftly turned in the direction of the sound, his hand instinctively tightening around the shaft of his spear.

Through the mist, he spotted a phantom, a spectral entity with an eerie glow, closing in on him with hostile intent.

'Another phantom. Today, I have been encountering these more frequently .'

Without hesitation, Ethan shifted into a defensive stance and confronted the phantom.

SCREECH!

The screeching intensified, echoing through the mist, as the ethereal creature lunged at him. With practiced precision, Ethan parried its attacks, utilizing his spear to keep the phantom at bay.

SWOOSH!

After that, feeling a surge of mana coursing through him, Ethan seized the opportunity. With a swift motion, he coated the tip of his spear with his own mana, imbuing it with a shimmering energy.

PUFF!

The next thrust pierced through the phantom, shattering its spectral form into small, shiny pieces.

'Just as the professor informed me, this seems to be working.'

According to Eleanor's words, dealing with phantoms was easy. One just needed to apply a mana-infused attack to the shiny cores of the body.

'But, they are not dead.'

It was a temporary solution. No matter how many phantoms one killed utilizing this method, in reality, they were just disturbing their manifestation bridge, making those souls return to where they came from.

Well, in any case, he had already gotten used to this feeling, so he didn't care. It was quite exhausting to keep one's guard up all the time, but that also proved how effective this place was to be used as a training location.

As Ethan ventured deeper, he noticed an array of peculiar trees, their bark adorned with strange patterns that seemed to pulse with magical energy.

-THUMP!

Remembering the task at hand, he approached one of the unique trees, intending to collect the samples required for the observation.

Amidst the leaves and branches, Ethan recalled the small parchment Caleb had given him before they departed. It was enchanted by Caleb, utilizing his unique trait. The parchment could temporarily manifest an artifact-like effect in this magical environment, aiding Ethan in his tasks. In this aspect, Caleb was the perfect teammate for those like him who struggled to understand concepts of magic and mana engineering.

Closing his eyes, Ethan focused on the enchanted parchment supplying it with mana. A soft glow emanated from it, creating a spectral image of a tool specifically designed for collecting samples.

As the magical image materialized, Ethan reached out and found that the spectral tool behaved as if it were a tangible artifact.

'Caleb's enchantments are always impressive.'

Utilizing the spectral tool, Ethan carefully collected samples from the unique tree, noting its texture and magical resonance. The parchment's enchantment made the task efficient, allowing him to gather the necessary data without any issues.

As Ethan carefully collected samples from the unique tree, a sudden sensation of insects crawling upon his skin caused him to flinch.

-SWOOSH!

His instincts kicked in, and he immediately shifted into a combat position, ready to face a potential threat.

However, in an instant, the world around him blurred, and a strange dizziness overcame him. The mist seemed to dance in erratic patterns, and Ethan felt the ground beneath him become unsteady.

'What is happening?'

His consciousness wavered, and the mystical energies of the Phantom's Land played tricks on his senses. It was as if the very fabric of reality had been altered, and Ethan struggled to maintain his focus.

In the midst of the disorienting experience, Ethan's vision dimmed, and he felt a profound exhaustion enveloping him. It was as if the mana in this peculiar realm were draining him of strength.

'Not a-…'

With a final effort, Ethan tried to steady himself, but the force that was enveloping him had other plans. In his final moment, before losing consciousness, he was able to catch a glimpse of something materializing in the phantom form.