Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 442

Chapter 442 101.2 - Dakota Hellen

The clock ticked closer to 6:00 A.M. as I stood in the training hall. I had used the remaining time to center myself, focusing on the upcoming examination.

Dakota returned, her stride purposeful as she approached.

She was followed by weapons, each of them flying as an assortment of weapons that gleamed under the facility's ambient light.

No matter how many times I had seen it, it was evident that most of the people who had fought out for a long time and were talented tended to master 「Telekinesis」 partially.

She laid the weapons out in a row, presenting a formidable array of choices.

Dakota gestured to the weapons. "We'll be starting with these," she announced, her voice carrying an edge of authority. "You'll demonstrate your proficiency with each, beginning with the most basic and moving to the more complex."

I nodded, my eyes scanning the selection. Swords, spears, axes, daggers, and more, each weapon represented a different style and set of skills.

As usual, they were laid out in general. This was exactly the method that would be used in the academy, so I didn't mind. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

"We'll begin with the sword," Dakota said, picking up a standard longsword and handing it to me. Its weight and balance felt in my grip.

The training dummy stood ready, its holographic eyes locked onto mine. I adjusted my stance, recalling the basics of Federal Swordplay that Eleanor had demonstrated before.

This style was designed for efficiency and adaptability, perfect for someone like me who had learned to value versatility in combat.

"Begin," Dakota commanded, her voice echoing in the spacious hall.

I stepped forward; my movements were fluid yet deliberate. My footwork followed the patterns that I had drilled into my head. I raised the sword, feeling the mana flow from my core into the blade, just as Eleanor had taught. It had been a while, but even then, the teachings were still in my mind.

And thanks to the morning training that I did, I was already accustomed to the training suit that I was wearing.

–SWOOSH! With a swift motion, I executed the first stripe, a clean diagonal slash aimed at the dummy's midsection. The sword cut through the air, leaving a faint trail of mana in its wake. The dummy parried, moving with surprising speed and accuracy.

'This hologram is no joke,' I thought, adjusting my grip.

I followed up with a series of quick, calculated stripes, each one testing the dummy's defenses.

The Federal Swordplay's efficiency shone through as I focused on maintaining a consistent flow of mana along the blade. My strikes were simple yet effective, designed to conserve energy while maximizing damage.

CLANK! The dummy responded with a counterattack, its movements mimicking those of a skilled opponent.

I sidestepped, deflecting the incoming blow with a well-timed parry.

CLANK! The clash of our blades echoed in the hall, an example of the realism of the holographic technology and how advanced it was.

But aside from that, I found out something.

'The dummies really feel a lot more organic, indeed.' The fluidity of the enemy's movements, their way of using swords, and the styles that were used clearly showed that the thing before me was close to a real person.

CLANK!

As I parried the dummy's blade, it suddenly shifted its stance. The holographic opponent lowered its blade to the right bottom side, a position I hadn't seen before.

My instincts screamed a warning, and thus, I kept my eyes open. But even that has limits.

–SWOOSH! With startling speed, the dummy dashed forward, executing a cross slash aimed at my torso. The swiftness and precision of the move were unlike any basic technique; this was a [Skill], a deliberate and powerful attack designed to catch me off guard.

–WOOSH! I quickly stepped back, trying to keep my distance and maximize my sword's length advantage. However, my footwork faltered slightly, a consequence of my habits with shorter weapons like daggers. The dummy's blade sliced through the air, grazing my side as I barely evaded the attack.

'Think, Astron. This isn't a dagger,' I reminded myself, narrowing my eyes. 'A sword is different.'

I adjusted my stance, planting my second foot at a slightly different angle to provide better stability and reach. As the dummy prepared for another strike, I formed a visualization in my head consisting of three precise 「Stripes」.

The first stripe, a diagonal slash from top left to bottom right, aimed to force the dummy into a defensive position. The second stripe, a horizontal slash, targeted its midsection to disrupt its balance. The third stripe, a vertical strike, aimed to deliver the final blow.

If executed correctly, that would end the fight In an instant.

–Eyes of Hourglass. Though I did not want to use this, it was better for me to show something more so that I could get better feedback.

Focusing on the visualization, I executed the first stripe with a swift, powerful motion. The dummy parried, but I was ready. Transitioning smoothly, I brought the blade across in a horizontal slash. The dummy's defense faltered slightly, its movements less fluid.

Seizing the moment, I unleashed the third stripe, a vertical strike with all the force and precision I could muster. The blade is connected to the holographic opponent, cutting through its form. The dummy flickered, its image breaking apart before dissipating into pixels.