Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 404

Chapter 404 91.12 - Duels [2]

The crowd was abuzz with murmurs of confusion and disbelief. The abrupt end to the duel had left many spectators wondering what had transpired in that final, decisive moment. Ethan Hartley, the rising star, was on his knees, while Kellan Stormrider stood tall and proud, his greatsword piercing the ground.

"Yield," Kellan's voice echoed through the amphitheater, firm and commanding.

The crowd erupted into applause, but there was an undercurrent of confusion. Many had not fully understood what had happened in those final moments.

Kaya Hartley, seated in the VIP section with her daughter Jane, observed the scene with a critical eye. She had seen what many had missed.

"Mother, what happened? How did Brother Ethan lose so suddenly?" Jane asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.

Kaya leaned closer to her daughter, her voice calm and measured. "When Ethan utilized his Thunder-infused spear to strike Kellan, Kellan met the attack head-on with his greatsword. But he didn't just block the strike; he created a special type of shockwave field."

Jane's eyes widened in realization. "A shockwave field?"

Kaya nodded. "Yes. Most shockwaves are designed to push away or disrupt. However, Kellan reversed the propagation of the shockwave. Instead of pushing Ethan's spear away, it pulled it in. The force of the shockwave acted like a vacuum, drawing the spear toward the greatsword."

Jane's brow furrowed as she tried to visualize the mechanics. "So, when Kellan stabbed the ground with his greatsword..."

"The ground absorbed the shock from the attack," Kaya continued. "Especially for lightning, it acted as a grounding effect, nullifying all the energy at once. Kellan used the ground to dissipate the energy of Ethan's attack, rendering it harmless."

"And Brother Ethan?" Jane asked, her eyes focused on her mother.

"Ethan had directed his energy to ground himself, but when the energy was nullified so abruptly, he was momentarily left unbalanced," Kaya explained. "That's why he ended up kneeling. It was a brilliant and unconventional use of shockwaves and the environment."

Jane's expression shifted from confusion to admiration. "That's incredible. Kellan must have trained extensively to perfect that technique."

Kaya nodded, her eyes still on the arena. "Indeed. Kellan's mastery of shockwaves and his strategic use of the environment were impressive. As you can see, many talented individuals are at this academy."

They were talking as if the fight was over. And, in fact, it was supposed to be. Since it was evident that Ethan wouldn't be able to recover from this position, the energy he had spent and his posture were evidence that he had lost.

"So, you won't yield."

Kellan spoke suddenly. After all, no response was coming from Ethan, which meant the fight was yet to be over.

The crowd gasped at the spirit Ethan was showcasing, but in fact, the reason why Ethan wasn't talking was not because he refused to acknowledge that he lost. It was because his voice wasn't being transmitted to the outside. Kellan was interfering with the transmission of Ethan's voice, using his shockwaves to interrupt the sound waves at a perfect counter-propagation.

Kellan shook his head as if he didn't want what he was about to do. Inside, he was torn between his honor and the blackmail that forced his hand. He had to beat and humiliate Ethan to fulfill his end of a sinister deal.

'Sorry for doing this. But I have no other choice.' With a grim expression, Kellan coated his fists with shockwaves, enhancing their power.

SWOOSH! THUD! He stepped forward and, with a swift motion, punched Ethan in the face. The force of the blow, amplified by the shockwaves, sent Ethan sprawling across the ground.

The crowd erupted in shocked exclamations, many unable to comprehend the sudden and brutal escalation. Ethan lay on the ground, struggling to rise, but Kellan was relentless. He approached Ethan, his fists still crackling with energy.

"Yield!" Kellan demanded, but again, Ethan's voice couldn't be heard. He had already tried to yield, but Kellan's interference had silenced him.

Kellan's expression hardened further. He raised his fist and brought it down on Ethan again, the shockwaves creating a nauseating thud as they connected with Ethan's body. The brutal assault continued, each punch more forceful than the last.

"Yield!" Kellan repeated, his voice growing more desperate. He didn't want to continue, but the pressure on him was immense. He was being forced to go beyond his limits, his integrity being tested to the brink.

Ethan's body shook with each blow, but his spirit remained unbroken. He tried to muster his energy, but Kellan's relentless assault was taking its toll. The crowd's cheers had turned to horrified murmurs, the spectacle no longer one of admiration but of horror.

Jane's eyes filled with tears as she watched her cousin endure the brutal beating. "Mother, why is this happening? Why won't he stop?"

Kaya's expression was grim. She knew something was terribly wrong. "This…..There is more to this than it meets the eye."

She focused on Ethan, and then she saw his lips moving.

'He is speaking?' Then everything fell into its place.

'This kid! He is intentionally not letting him speak.'

Since shockwaves could also be used to nullify the sounds.

'You dare! To my nephew!'

Instantly, a weird pressure started being emitted from her. People all around her started having trouble breathing, let alone seeing anything.

It was as if death had descended on them. And that was normal.

Since they were facing the aura of Kaya Hartley, Three-digits-hunter, firsthand.

But then, suddenly, her eyes captured something.

'This….Hahaha….that is right. This is Ethan.'

The fact that something inside Ethan was changing.

'Haha….'

In an instant, she retracted her aura, letting other people breathe since there was no need for her to do anything else.

On the arena, as the beating continued, Ethan's resolve began to waver. He was reaching his limit, his vision blurring from the pain and fatigue. He knew he had to do something, anything, to end this.

'Why is this happening?'

Ethan thought, his mind a storm of confusion and pain. 'I was just having an honorable duel, fighting while putting everything on the line. Why is this happening to me?'