Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 333

Chapter 333 77.10 - Mine [Interlude]

?In the mine, two pairs of arms rose and went down constantly. Each pair of hands controls an amount of mana to mine the stones.

Lilia, who had encountered Lucas' group, was now in the same place as him, mining. This place was where some high-quality stones were gathered. Thus, only the strongest of the group could mine them.

Lilia and Lucas came to a tacit agreement, and they mined it together. The one who mined more would get more; it was akin to a competition.

"You seem to have grasped how to do it now," Lilia spoke while focusing on mining.

"….." Lucas didn't say anything.

Because Lilia was better at controlling her mana, she had a head start, making her a lot faster compared to Lucas.

Though Lucas was a high-ranking student, he was good at using swords more. That was the reason for his initial stumble. But then, he was smart, and he got his experiences from a parallel world.

It was strange, but because he had also 'experienced' another timeline, he somehow inherited the skills and abilities that were integrated into his very being at some point. And now, he was able to go on par with Lilia because of that.

As they continued, Lilia threw a casual question over her shoulder, "What happened to you and Ethan? I haven't seen you guys together recently. Did something happen?"

Lucas paused for a moment before responding, "I've been busy with something, and Ethan has been busy as well. We just didn't have time." His answer was vague, intentionally skirting around.

'Hmm….'

Lilia hummed thoughtfully, glancing over at Lucas with a scrutinizing eye. "Ethan's improvement was quite fast. It would be better for us to make him adapt to his newfound strength as much as we can."

Hearing this, Lucas' body stiffened a little. It was a small reaction, something that he immediately took control of.

Lilia was known for her perceptiveness, and her ability to read between the lines often led her to insights that others missed; thus, he needed to be careful.

Lilia, still focused on the vein of stone before her, didn't miss the slight change in Lucas's posture. Her next words, carefully chosen, were meant to probe further, perhaps to understand more or to push Lucas in a way only she knew how.

"It's impressive, really. Ethan's natural talent and the speed at which he's adapting remind me a lot of Julia. They both have this… innate ability to just understand and connect with mana on a level that few can match." Lilia paused, her tool momentarily stilling against the stone. "It's a rare gift to see such rapid progression. Not everyone has that kind of talent. Some people are bound to illuminate the world, while others are bound to stay underneath their shadow, I suppose."

The word "shadow" struck Lucas like a physical blow, reigniting the flames of an inferiority complex he had long battled with. In his mind, the word echoed, morphing into a cacophony of doubts and self-criticism.

To Lucas, "shadow" was a chasm that separated him from Ethan and Julia, as he was someone who was never able to pass through that "shadow."

Lucas forced himself to keep mining, though his movements became slightly more mechanical.

He was well aware of his own strengths, but Lilia's words, especially her comparison to Julia, brought forth the insecurities he had worked hard to keep at bay.

Ethan and Julia, both blessed with what seemed like effortless mastery and understanding of mana, represented everything Lucas knew he was not.

Attempting to mask his internal turmoil, Lucas replied, his voice steady but colder than he intended, "Yes, talent is a gift. It is undoubtedly true that Ethan is an abnormal one."

"That is right." Lilia nodded and turned. On her side, all of the high-ranked stones were mined, showing her insane talent.

"Though, he will never surpass me." And with a confident grin, he went past Lucas while slightly patting his shoulder. As she passed through, she threw a quick look at the high-ranking mana stones on Lucas' side and then extended a trail of mana there.

SWOOSH!

And then, with a smooth move, she grabbed the Magic stone, putting it into her loot. It was an act akin to show how easy this was for her to do.

As Lilia departed with a confident stride, Lucas found himself slightly trembling, her figure etching a deep imprint in his mind. fгeewёbnoѵel.cσm

The curl of her mouth, meant as a grin, morphed into something far more sinister in Lucas's perception—an insult, a degradation of his very being.

The moment Lilia's mana swept through the space, effortlessly claiming what he had worked hard to uncover, Lucas felt a coldness seeping into his very bones. It wasn't just the loss of the stone that stung; it was the ease and confidence with which Lilia operated, her abilities overshadowing his.

To Lucas, her actions spoke louder than any words could; they whispered of a superiority he feared he could never challenge despite his every effort.

"….."

In the darkness, Lucas' blue eyes were locked on the departing figure of Lilia, yet subtle darkness spread in the background.

********

As the group of three, including Ethan, Julia, and Emily, traversed through the underground caverns, they stumbled upon a formation of mid-rank mana stones shimmering in the dim light.