Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 429

Chapter 429 98.1 - Duels [4]

<Arcadia Hunter Academy, Saturday Morning>

The morning sun had barely begun to rise, casting a soft, golden glow over the academy grounds. Irina was already up, her mind set on one goal: finding Astron.

Today's duels were crucial, and the attention they would receive would be immense.

'This is a good chance.' She didn't want to miss the chance to watch them with Astron and hear his commentary. Since he was good at observing things, in general, he was someone whose comments were helpful to listen to.

With a determined stride, she made her way through the quiet corridors; her thoughts focused on where he might be.

'Considering that he is a training maniac, there is no way he would miss his training.' And, remembering his training routine, she figured the combat training rooms were her best bet since he would be there at this hour.

As for how she knew about his training routine.

Let's not talk about it.

The academy was still waking up, the early morning light filtering through the windows, casting long shadows. The halls were mostly empty, and rarely few students were milling about, but the majority were still in their dorms, preparing for the last day of the exams.

As she approached the training area, the sound of clashing blades and heavy breathing grew louder. Irina quickened her pace, a sense of anticipation building within her. She knew Astron well enough to predict his habits, and her intuition was telling her she was on the right track.

Sure enough, as she entered the combat training rooms, she spotted him.

TAK! TAK! TAK! Astron was in the center of the room, moving with a fluid grace that belied the intensity of his training, facing the PhantomGlide Dummy. She had seen him fighting against it before, but it was still a feast on the eye. His focus was absolute, and each movement was precise and calculated. His body glistened with sweat, his muscles taut and defined as he executed a series of complex maneuvers with his dagger.

Irina paused for a moment, watching him. There was something mesmerizing about the way he moved, a perfect blend of power and elegance. She felt a surge of pride, knowing that this was the person she cared for so deeply.

Taking a deep breath, she stepped forward, her presence immediately catching his attention. Astron stopped mid-movement, his gaze shifting to her. For a moment, they simply looked at each other, a silent understanding passing between them.

"G-good morning…."

And since that bastard was someone who had never cared about such socializations, he didn't speak, forcing her to awkwardly greet him.

The embarrassment.

It was somehow there.

Astron, true to his nature, simply looked at her with the same calm, distant expression. "What brings you here?"

Irina wasn't surprised. She knew this was how he was from the start. "I wanted to find you before the duels start," she replied, her voice steady despite the lingering embarrassment.

"Why?"

"Why do you think?"

"….." He stood there for a second, contemplating. And then, he raised and asked. "You want to watch it with me?"

"Took you long enough, you bastard."

Astron wiped the sweat from his brow with the towel in his hand.

SWOOSH!

But then, without warning, he suddenly threw the towel at Irina's face.

"Huh?" Irina caught the towel, looking at him with a mixture of surprise and annoyance. "What was that for?"

"For insulting me," Astron replied nonchalantly.

A mischievous idea flashed across Irina's mind. Smirking, she buried her nose into the towel, sniffing it dramatically. "Thanks for the treat."

Since from the moment she decided to reveal her feelings, she no longer needed to hide them when they were together alone.

She could now do things like these without any concern.

'He really smells good.'

But, well. It was also embarrassing, but so what? Astron stared at her, speechless. "You are hopeless."

Irina laughed, the sound bright and cheerful. "I'll take that as a compliment. So, are you accepting my proposal?"

Astron sighed and shook his head, but Irina noticed a small twinkle in the corner of his eye. "Fine. It is not like I am going to do anything other than training anyway."

"Hehehehe…."

Irina was really happy.

****************

The morning of the final day of the extended duel period dawned clear and bright. Despite the previous day's chaos, the academy grounds were abuzz with excitement and anticipation.

The staff had worked tirelessly through the night to ensure that everything was secure and ready for the remaining matches. The media, which had been normally viewing everything unfavorably regarding the Arcadia Hunter Academy, was also somehow persuaded.

Whether it was Headmaster Jonathan or other figures in the play was unknown, yet there was a clear change in the atmosphere of the articles regarding the academy.

Therefore, the incident was somehow covered quite well and coordinated despite the lives that were lost in the attack. The corruption of the demonic energy itself was pretty new, and before any type of cure was found, the people who were severely affected turned into complete monsters, eventually dying.

But, now, none of those news were important.

The amphitheater, now fully restored, was once again filled with students, faculty, and spectators eager to witness the culmination of the duel period.

As the crowd settled into their seats, the atmosphere was charged with a sense of renewed energy. The previous day's attack had only served to heighten the anticipation for the duels, and everyone was eager to see the academy's finest showcase their skills.

The announcer's voice rang out, clear and strong. "Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the final day of the extended duel period at Arcadia Hunter Academy! We assure you that all necessary precautions have been taken, and the remaining matches will be conducted safely and swiftly."

The crowd erupted into applause, their excitement palpable. The first few matches proceeded smoothly, each duel showcasing the incredible talents and the strengths of the students that remained.

After all, only higher-ranking students were left to duel, and the duels between them were undoubtedly the best ones out of all that had happened.

The air was filled with cheers and gasped as each contestant gave their all, striving for victory and honor.

However, there was one duel that everyone was waiting for.