Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 666

Chapter 666 147.1 - Chamber of Emberheart

"What would you have me do, Madam?"

"One day in the Chamber of Emberheart."

"Mother!" Irina's voice cut through the room, a mixture of alarm and frustration flashing in her eyes. Her objection was immediate, her voice tinged with concern that she could barely contain. "You can't seriously expect him to endure that. The Chamber isn't something just anyone can withstand. Even our family members, who have natural resistance to fire, face difficulty with its intensity." She looked to Astron, a hint of worry in her expression. "Even I... one of the most skilled of our family, struggled in that place."

The Matriarch's gaze shifted to her daughter, her expression a cold mask of authority. "Exactly, Irina. If this young man truly deserves the access and privileges you've asked of me on his behalf, then he should be capable of enduring what we endure." Her voice held a steely edge, firm and unwavering. "And if he cannot, then it will be a clear indication that his place is not beside an Emberheart."

She turned back to Astron, her gaze piercing. "The Chamber of Emberheart is not a test of simple strength or resolve-it demands resilience and adaptation. It will push you to your limits, and it does not forgive weakness."

Irina opened her mouth to protest again, but the Matriarch silenced her with a raised hand. "Irina, you yourself spoke highly of him, vouched for his capability. Do you not believe he can rise to this challenge?"

Irina hesitated, torn between her trust in Astron's resilience and the harsh reality of the trial her mother proposed. She knew the Chamber's intensity, the way its flames seemed to consume even the strongest minds. She had survived it, but it had been a grueling ordeal, a test even for those whose very blood carried the Emberheart flame.

"But....mother..."

"Do not worry. I am not stupid." The Matriarch's gaze shifted back to Astron, her expression stern yet calculating. "Since you are an outsider," she said, her voice cool and resolute, "I will not expect you to endure the Chamber as one of us would. You will be tested at the first level only. One day-no more."

Irina's eyes widened, her worry plain, but she knew better than to argue further. Her mother's decision was final, and beneath her composed exterior, Irina understood her mother's reasoning. This test was inevitable, a calculated move she had likely intended from the beginning. For the Matriarch, it was a twofold purpose: if Astron truly proved himself, she would be forced to acknowledge him, however begrudgingly. But if he failed, the experience would serve as punishment-a harsh reminder to Astron for daring to challenge her authority, and to Irina, a warning of the cost of misplaced loyalty.

Irina cast a glance at Astron, who met her gaze briefly before nodding, calm and resolved. She could see that he understood the stakes just as well, that he saw this not only as a test but as a challenge to stand on equal footing with the family she'd been born into.

The Matriarch's voice softened, though her words were as unyielding as ever. "Consider this, Mr. Natusalune, both a trial and a lesson. If you can withstand even this single day, I will grant you the access Irina has requested. If not..." Her words trailed off, the implications unmistakable.

Astron nodded once, his tone steady. "Understood. I have no intention of backing away."

A faint, cold smile appeared on her lips. "Then I suggest you prepare. You will enter the chamber in one hour.""

As the Matriarch left the dining room, her cold parting words lingering in the air, Irina's gaze immediately turned to Astron, her expression clouded with concern. Her mind raced, grappling with a mixture of frustration, worry, and self-doubt that threatened to overwhelm her composure.

'How could he possibly withstand the Chamber of Emberheart?" The Chamber was an ordeal few could endure, even those born with the Emberheart flame coursing through their veins. Irina had barely survived her own trial, and she had the inherited resilience of her family. But Astron-an outsider with no natural resistance to fire- was being expected to last a whole day within its relentless heat.

'This is madness,' she thought, bitterness pooling in her heart. She felt an intense resentment rising within her, directed first at her mother, whose calculated cruelty had led to this. Her mother's unyielding standards, her disregard for Astron's well-being-it was all a display of power, a reminder that she controlled everything, even her daughter's choices.

But her frustration didn't end there. She felt anger at Astron too, who hadn't backed down despite her warnings.

He could've backed down swallowing his pride, but instead, he'd faced her mother's challenge with that same infuriating calm. His resolve, his unshakable confidence-it. was as though he didn't even realize the risk he was taking.

And then, a deeper resentment twisted inside her, one that she turned inward. She felt a sting of self-reproach for being unable to stop her mother, for being forced to sit by and watch as he stepped into a trial she knew was meant to break him.

"Why didn't you refuse?" Her voice was low and strained as she looked at him, her eyes reflecting the depth of her worry. "Astron, this isn't just some simple test. The Chamber... it's meant to push you beyond your limits. It's unforgiving."

He held her gaze, his expression as steady as ever, though she could sense the quiet resolve behind his calm exterior. "I know," he replied simply, his tone reassuring. "But this is my choice. If I want to be taken seriously, I need to prove myself."

Irina bit her lip, feeling the weight of helplessness press down on her. "But you don't have to do this," she murmured. "This... this is my family...."

Astron's gaze softened, and he took a small step closer, his calm demeanor anchoring her even as her emotions churned. He didn't know why, but seeing her down like

this....

For some reason, he felt really uncomfortable.