Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 681

Chapter 681 151.3 - Let me see your strength

Astron's palm shot forward, cutting through the searing heat and directly toward Irina's body. His movements were decisive, his eyes locked onto her with a

determination that ignored the burns on his shoulder and leg. His singular focus on the offensive sent a clear message: he wasn't backing down.

Irina smirked, her flames burning brighter around her. "You're persistent, I'll give you that," she said, her voice steady despite the charged atmosphere. "But you should know by now-

The faint shimmer of her barrier came into view as his palm neared it.

"-this won't work," she finished confidently.

Astron's hand stopped just short of the barrier, his movements suddenly shifting. His sharp gaze flicked downward for a fraction of a second before his leg swept low in one fluid motion. The unexpected strike aimed directly at her balance point, catching her off guard.

Irina's smirk faltered slightly as she realized what he was doing. Her telekinesis was focused on compressing and bending the space around the barrier, creating an anchor that absorbed momentum from direct attacks. But that same precision also meant she couldn't shift her focus quickly enough to counter his leg sweep.

THUD!

Astron's leg connected, sweeping her feet out from under her. The sudden loss of balance caused her to stumble, the carefully compressed space of her barrier shifting awkwardly as she instinctively tried to reorient herself.

"Damn it," she muttered, catching herself just before she hit the ground by flaring her flames outward for stability. Her eyes snapped up to meet his, blazing with both irritation and grudging respect.

Astron stepped back, his stance balanced and ready. "Barriers are great for stopping direct attacks," he said calmly, "but they don't help much if you can't stay on your

feet.""

His hand was right before her face, shimmering. The exchange just now, had already made it evident.

This fight. frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓

Irina lost.

Irina let out a slow breath, her flames dimming slightly as she lowered her hands. Her gaze remained locked onto Astron's, his hand still hovering near her face, the faint shimmer of his mana a silent declaration of victory.

She straightened, brushing off the lingering heat around her shoulders, and gave a wry smile. "Alright," she said, her tone calm but edged with reluctant acceptance. "You got me,"

There was no need for useless pride-Astron had acted decisively, exploiting her weakness with precision. As much as it stung, she couldn't deny that he'd earned this

win.

Irina's thoughts turned inward, analyzing the exchange. Her barrier, while strong, had an inherent limitation: its focus. Compressing psions to bend space required pinpoint accuracy and control, but that precision also made it difficult to shift the focal point quickly. Even with her immense telekinetic proficiency, moving the barrier's focus mid-battle remained a challenge.

'It's still a new technique,' she thought, her flames flickering faintly in response to her frustration. 'I haven't had enough time to refine it-especially against someone like him.'

Her gaze softened slightly as she glanced at Astron, his stance still poised but without arrogance. She could tell he wasn't gloating; he was simply acknowledging the result of the duel. That alone eased the sting of her loss-slightly.

"You exploited the weakness perfectly," she admitted, rolling her shoulders as her mana settled. "My barrier's strong, but it's not invincible. I can't move the focal point fast enough to counter something like that. At least... not yet."

Astron lowered his hand, his expression neutral but carrying a faint glimmer of respect. "You're already miles ahead with it," he said evenly. "The technique itself is incredible. It just needs more time."

Irina tilted her head, studying him. "You figured it out mid-fight, didn't you?"

He gave a small nod. "It wasn't hard to notice the way you shifted focus. The compression is flawless, but there's a slight delay when you transition. That's the only opening-and even then, it's small."

'Small, but he exploited it perfectly,' Irina thought, her respect for his analytical skills growing despite herself. She folded her arms, the corner of her lips twitching into a faint smirk. "You're really something.... Not bad....

Astron tilted his head slightly. "Neither are you. That technique is something I'd rather not face once you perfect it."

The compliment caught her off guard, and for a moment, she didn't know how to respond. She shifted her weight, hiding her reaction behind a casual shrug. "Give me a little time, and you won't be able to exploit that opening again."

"Is that so?"

"Then, let's try again."

The faint shimmer of the arena's restorative formation activated, bathing Astron in a soft, golden glow. The burns on his body faded in an instant, his skin knitting back to its original state as if the damage had never occurred. Irina's eyes flicked to the light briefly, noting the same effect on her own residual strain, though hers had been far less significant.

The system had determined the exchange was over, and with that, it reset the field. It was one of the reasons they could keep pushing each other like this-injuries and fatigue were temporary, allowing them to test their limits without fear of long-term consequences.

Astron rolled his shoulder experimentally, flexing his fingers as if testing the restoration. "Impressive setup," he remarked, his tone calm as he glanced at the glowing formations embedded in the walls. "No wonder you're used to fighting at full

force."

Irina folded her arms, her flames flickering faintly around her. "It's convenient," she admitted, though her tone carried an edge of pride. "But don't think the system's doing all the work. You still have to handle the heat when it's on."

Astron's lips twitched faintly at her quip, his sharp eyes studying her for a moment before nodding. "Fair enough," he said. Then his stance shifted slightly, more relaxed but no less focused. "If you're ready, then so am I."

Irina raised an eyebrow, her own smirk widening. "You're not backing out of this one, huh?"

"There's no reason to," Astron replied smoothly, his voice carrying a quiet confidence. "Fighting you pushes me as much as it does you. And it's not like I need to hold back.

just because you're getting stronger."

Irina's flames flared brighter, her excitement rising at his words. There was something gratifying about hearing him acknowledge her growth, even if he said it so matter-of-factly. She let her arms drop, her stance widening slightly as she channeled her mana once more.