Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 644

Chapter 644 141.3 - Finding the Dungeon

I tightened my grip on the necklace, letting my focus narrow to the faint psions of mana within it. Traces of the Void Dragon's ancient power were entwined in its essence, subtle but distinct if one knew where to look.

This dungeon wouldn't just reveal itself—it was too well-concealed for that. Even if the Federation's detectors were scouring every inch of the city, this magic was designed to slip past passive detection.

The seal meant to protect it from intruders likely had a backdoor, a flaw however small. Seals, however strong, needed some form of escape valve—a leeway, no matter how minute, that would allow the keyholder to access the contents within.

My goal was to hone in on that sliver, to pick up on the one psion out of place. It was more than a detection effort; it was a hunt for a misplaced signature in a forest of similar noise.

I concentrated, actively pushing my own mana outward in a refined wave. My [Eyes] narrowed in, filtering out the ambient hum of the city's mana and focusing only on the specific resonance within the necklace.

I sifted through it carefully, guiding my mana to latch onto the unique, elusive thread that would reveal any disturbance—a subtle tear in the air, a whisper that would lead me closer. freёwebnovel.com

There, among the countless threads of mana, I felt it. A faint tremor, like a thread just a degree out of alignment. It was subtle, almost imperceptible, but it was there—the mana pulse of the seal, winding like a thread beneath layers of cloaking enchantments.

The pulse grew clearer as I focused, like catching the faint glint of a needle buried in shadows. I let my mana resonate with the disturbance, amplifying the slight tremor and following its direction.

Each step I took, still cloaked in shadow, narrowed down the path toward that hidden entry point, concealed so deeply within the city's fabric that it almost seemed a part of it.

'This is it,' I thought, maintaining the steady rhythm of [Shadowborne] as I descended from the rooftop. I slipped silently from ledge to ledge, shadows veiling my movements as I made my way down.

The city had no idea what was hidden within it—a layer of magic so ancient and camouflaged that even the Federation's monitoring wouldn't detect it. That was the advantage of old magic, woven from threads of power as subtle as they were powerful.

When I finally touched the ground, I checked the area around me before stepping from the alley. The signature led north, through the city's less-populated districts. As I walked, the necklace's resonance continued, guiding me.

The mana thread continued, faint but persistent, until I reached a narrow, quiet street lined with unmarked buildings. The mana pulse flickered here, the resonance from the necklace intensifying as if it had found a natural anchor point.

I stopped in my tracks, feeling the necklace's resonance intensify, each pulse now in sync with my heartbeat. Lifting my head, I let my gaze sweep over the narrow street before me, taking in every detail.

Shops lined one side of the street, their faded signs and worn facades fitting the general disuse of the area. A few streetlights dotted the walkway, casting muted halos of light over the cracked pavement.

Small trees framed each side, their branches reaching out like dark fingers against the overcast sky. The design of the pavement—subtle markings along the edges, the textures underfoot—all of it struck a chord.

And then it clicked.

This was it. The same street, the same exact scene I'd seen in that cutscene from the game, burned into my memory.

Every detail replayed in my mind: the appearance of the gate, tearing open reality as the Void Dragon emerged, its roar filling the screen and setting the Western Region's destruction into motion. It was unmistakable.

The match wasn't perfect—some details were different, no doubt due to the five-year gap from the original timeline. Shops had new signs, streetlights had been replaced or moved, and minor changes had been made to the layout of the area. But it was close enough to confirm.

'An %88 match. That is enough.'

I stepped back, taking in the narrow street where the necklace's resonance had intensified, grounding itself in the air around me like an invisible marker. Each pulse aligned with my own heartbeat, the rhythmic thrum an unmistakable signal that I'd arrived at the entry point.

But something was off. I scanned the street again, expecting security, wards, maybe even a concealed barrier—yet the street remained deserted, unguarded, almost welcoming. The faint glow of the necklace still resonated steadily, as though daring me to reach through the thin veil of reality that hid the dungeon.