Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 540

540 Chapter 120.6 - Infernal Nexus

As the battle raged on, Astron's eyes remained locked on the Fire Spirit, analyzing every detail of its movements. The monster towered over the team, its body a swirling combination of molten rock and fire energy, shifting with every step.

Each pulse of its core sent waves of heat through the chamber, distorting the air and making it difficult to focus. Despite this, Astron's [Perceptive Insight] filtered through the chaotic mana, providing him with a clear view of the spirit's strengths and weaknesses.

'This thing's mana level is definitely at the peak of Stage 5. Not quite Stage 6, but close enough to make this a real challenge.'

Astron could see the immense concentration of mana flowing through the Fire Spirit's core. The energy was dense, pulsing rhythmically as if it were a living heartbeat.

This wasn't just any elemental creature—it was a manifestation of pure elemental power, born from the dungeon itself. Its movements, while slow, were deliberate, and the sheer weight behind each attack was enough to cause the ground to shudder.

'Fire Spirit is a being of raw elemental energy. Its body doesn't have a skeleton to target. Instead, the molten rock and fire are holding it together. That means physical attacks will have little effect, and those solid parts… they're about as tough as Stage 6 material.'

His mind raced as he considered their options. The Fire Spirit's molten exterior was resistant to conventional strikes; Dorian's swords would find little purchase against it. Elena's ice magic was effective in creating cracks, but it wasn't enough to bring down something of this magnitude on its own.

'Even if we can chip away at the molten rock, its core is still protected. The core is its life force, and we can't destroy it. The mission's clear: subdue, not kill. That complicates things.'

He nocked another arrow, his eyes following the flow of mana within the spirit's body. The solidified parts of the Fire Spirit were where the energy was most concentrated, particularly around its legs and arms, acting as armor.

That armor was strong, but Astron could see the fluctuations of mana underneath, areas where the molten rock shifted and exposed weaknesses.

'We can't just keep hacking away at the solid parts. The material's too dense for that. And the core is too volatile—taking it out completely would kill the spirit and close the dungeon.'

The Fire Spirit roared again, raising one of its massive arms to strike. The chamber shook with the force of its movement, and Kurt braced himself, his shield absorbing the brunt of the impact. Dorian darted in, slashing at one of the spirit's legs, but his blades only caused small cracks to appear before molten rock quickly filled the gaps.

11:00

"Dorian, fall back!" Astron called, his voice sharp. "Those cracks won't hold. We need to weaken it another way."

Dorian retreated, frustration flashing in his eyes. 'Damn, this thing's tough,' he thought, his gaze shifting toward Astron. 'If he's got a plan, I hope he pulls it out soon.'

Astron's mind was already working through the possibilities. The fire energy that composed most of the spirit's form was highly unstable, but it was bound to the solidified rocks, keeping the creature's shape intact. To destabilize the spirit without destroying it would require a precise approach.

'I really did not want to rely on this, but I guess I have no choice.'

To broaden his horizons and open himself up to different strategies, Astron wanted to explore new ideas.

But that was something that would not work every time.

'And the mission's nature does not allow that.'

In the end, they needed to subdue, which limited them a lot more.

'Let's just disrupt its mana flow and call it an end.'

If possible, he wanted to get some practice against a strong monster like this using his martial arts and his recently updated stats, but for the time being, doing such a thing would be too selfish and delusional.

Astron quickly formulated a plan, one that would utilize the strengths of his team while allowing him to take the final shot. His eyes flickered to his teammates, and he began issuing orders.

"Dorian, Gareth, I need you to keep up the pressure. Hit the weak points Elena and I will expose. Lila, I need your golem on defense—block the spirit's attacks and give me a clear line of fire."

Dorian, still frustrated from his earlier attempts, nodded. 'He's got a plan, finally,' he thought. 'Let's hope this works.'

The team sprang into action as Astron's orders cut through the tension of the battlefield. Dorian moved first, darting forward with his dual swords flashing in the dim, molten-lit chamber. He aimed for the Fire Spirit's legs, targeting the spots where Astron and Elena would expose the weak points.

Astron, meanwhile, was steadying himself, his [Eyes of Hourglass] fully active. He watched the battle unfold, monitoring the flow of mana within the Fire Spirit and the precise placement of his teammates. Every movement, every crack that Dorian and Elena exposed, was adding up.

"Dorian, pull back slightly," Astron called out. "Keep your strikes light but fast—we need to keep it distracted without damaging the core."

Dorian nodded, adjusting his approach. He slashed at the creature's legs with quick, nimble strikes, keeping it off balance but ensuring not to overcommit.

"Elena," Astron continued, "focus your ice magic on the joints. We need to slow it down even more."