Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 456

Chapter 456 103.6 - Training and Guides

I closed my eyes, focusing on my breathing and the sensation of mana pooling at the center of my being. Visualizing the virtual core as a concentrated sphere of energy, I felt the mana gather and pulse with each breath. It was a strange but invigorating sensation.

'Alright, let's see how this works,' I thought, taking a deep breath and allowing the mana to flow from the virtual core through my limbs.

Contrary to how you would think, there are no cores in this world for the Awakened to use mana. The mana itself that belongs to you is not stored in a specific place in your body. Rather, the concept is a little bit different.

It is stored everywhere across the body itself and even around you. The more strong you get, the more mana around you that you can easily influence. That is also the reason why high-ranking hunters are able to be influenced just by walking around.

'Virtual Core.'

In a way, it acted as the second brain.

I opened my eyes and took a step forward, feeling the energy spread out. My movements felt more deliberate, the flow of mana enhancing my strength and speed. It was similar to how I would enhance myself while fighting against others, but at the same time, there were some differences.

–SWOOSH!

I threw a punch, and while it wasn't perfect, I could feel the difference.

'It's about control,' I thought to myself, repeating the motion. 'It's not just about power but about channeling the energy efficiently.'

With each movement, I focused on maintaining the connection to the virtual core, ensuring the mana flowed smoothly.

I practiced basic punches and kicks, each strike becoming more fluid and powerful as I integrated the flow of mana.

The process was slow and methodical, but I could feel myself improving.

The virtual core acted as a regulator, making it easier to control the energy and direct it where I needed it most. It was a balancing act, requiring both physical and mental focus.

'I see.' As I continued, I began to understand the nuances of the technique.

'The longer you use the Virtual Core, the more mana you are going to spend.'

In a way, for the sake of directing your mana into a special place and redirecting from it, you were bound to lose your energy. And if you were to constantly do that, you would spend a lot more.

TAP! TAP! At that moment, my ears picked up a sound. She was walking slowly, possibly not to alert me, but with my senses developed, she had missed the mark.

Dakota returned, her eyes assessing my progress. "How do you feel?" she asked, her tone serious but encouraging.

"Better," I replied, feeling the burn in my muscles. "I can feel the difference. The mana flows more naturally now."

"Hmm…." She said, walking over to me. "Not bad. You have already grasped it."

It seemed she was already expecting me to understand how the core worked.

'Then it must be an easy job.' Considering this was something basic for the whole [Martial Artist] community, it made sense for it to be simplified.

"Now, we'll start incorporating this into more complex combat techniques."

With that, Dakota stood right before me, her posture relaxed but radiating a controlled power. She looked at me with a serious expression and began explaining what we would be doing next.

"How do you think martial arts were first developed?" she asked, her eyes locking onto mine.

I thought for a moment, considering the question. "Martial arts were likely developed through observation and necessity. People needed to defend themselves and started to observe the movements of nature, the way animals moved and fought."

Dakota nodded, a small smile playing on her lips. "You're correct. Humans imitated the beasts. Just like we are Awakened and able to use mana ourselves, beasts were also able to harness their mana and use magic of their own. And most importantly, they were beasts with strong bodies like weapons."

She took a step back and assumed a stance, her movements fluid and controlled. "Humans observed the powerful, efficient movements of these beasts and began to imitate them. This was the foundation of martial arts—learning from nature and adapting those lessons to our own bodies."

As she spoke, she demonstrated a series of techniques, each one flowing seamlessly into the next. Her movements were precise and powerful, embodying the principles she was describing. "We harness the energy within us, just like the beasts do, and we learn to move with the same efficiency and power."

She stopped at that moment, looking at my eyes.

"Which type of beast do you think this style originated from?"

I simulated her movements in my head, noticing the fluidity and power behind each strike. The way she moved, the grace combined with raw strength, the swift, precise attacks—it all reminded me of a predator in the wild.

"A tiger," I said after a moment. "Your movements resemble those of a tiger."

Dakota nodded, a small smile forming on her lips. "That's correct. The tiger is a symbol of strength, power, and grace. Each Martial Artist uses a different combat art, much like any other weapon. Some arts are specialized in speed, others in strength, and some in explosiveness."

She turned to look at me, her gaze intense. "For me, the style I mainly use is called [Tempest Fang]." Her eyes seemed to shimmer with energy as she continued. "It's an art-focused heavily on explosive strikes, overwhelming the enemy with a constant barrage of powerful attacks, like a tempest raging in a storm."

As she said this, she demonstrated a rapid series of strikes, each one delivered with incredible force and precision. The air seemed to crackle with energy as her movements created shockwaves.