Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 736

Chapter 736 - 167.4 - Return to the Academy

The garden's lively energy abruptly stilled, like the moment before a storm. The chatter that had filled the air just seconds ago seemed to vanish, leaving behind an uncanny silence. The group exchanged uncertain glances, the shift in atmosphere unsettling.

"Is it just me," Julia whispered, her voice uncharacteristically quiet, "or did it just get eerily quiet?"

"It's not just you," Lilia replied, her gaze scanning the crowd. "Something's... off."

Their attention, like the rest of the students in the garden, was drawn toward a figure walking down the central path. The air around him seemed to command silence, as though even the garden itself dared not intrude on his presence.

"Who's that?" Lucas asked, his voice low but filled with curiosity.

The figure approached with an unhurried stride, his posture exuding an effortless confidence that bordered on regal. Cold, piercing purple eyes scanned the crowd, sharp and unyielding like twin amethysts. His skin was unblemished and pale, like porcelain untouched by imperfection, and his features were sharp enough to seem almost sculpted—a jawline that could cut glass and a nose that added to his aristocratic air.

The whispers began, soft and hushed, as students leaned into each other, trying to piece together the enigma before them.

"Did we have someone that handsome here?" one student murmured.

"I've never seen him before," another whispered, their tone tinged with disbelief. "He looks like he stepped out of a painting."

"Is he new?" someone else ventured, their voice trembling slightly. "No way he's been here all this time without anyone noticing."

The uniform of the Arcadia Hunter Academy fit him perfectly, tailored in a way that elevated its already prestigious design. The golden insignia on his shoulder glinted in the sunlight, and the subtle crest on his chest marked him as a student of the Hunter Department. Yet, something about the way he carried himself suggested he was more than just another cadet.

The group's collective gaze fixed on the approaching figure, their jaws slackening in disbelief. For a long moment, no one spoke, as if the very air had thickened, demanding silence.

"Wait…" Julia finally broke the spell, her voice barely above a whisper. "Is that… Astron?"

Ethan blinked, his mind struggling to reconcile the figure before them with the classmate they had known. "There's no way that's him. Right?"

But as the figure drew closer, there was no denying it. The sharp purple eyes that seemed to pierce through the very soul, the stark contrast of black hair and pale, almost radiant skin—it was unmistakably Astron. Yet, at the same time, it wasn't.

"It's him," Lilia confirmed, her voice steady but tinged with disbelief. "Those eyes… there's no mistaking them."

Lucas frowned, his arms crossed as he scrutinized Astron. "But how? He didn't look anything like this before."

"Forget looking like this," Carl added, his brow furrowing. "He didn't feel like this before either."

Indeed, the Astron they knew had been quiet and unassuming, blending into the background with a pale complexion and dark hair that, while striking, didn't draw much attention. Now, it was as though he had stepped out of an artist's imagination, his features impossibly refined and his presence exuding an ethereal, almost magnetic quality. Even the sunlight seemed to favor him, catching on his skin in a way that made it appear to glow faintly.

Julia was the first to recover, though her words did little to dispel the astonishment. "Okay, but what the hell happened to him? Did he fall into some kind of magical beauty fountain over the break? Is that a thing?"

Ethan's lips twitched into a smile despite himself. "A beauty fountain? Really, Julia?"

Julia shot him a half-hearted glare before her gaze returned to Astron, her expression growing comically exaggerated. "I mean, come on! Look at him. It's like he went from 'mysterious loner' to… I don't even know, some kind of... uh…"

"Prince of Darkness?" Lilia offered, smirking. "With those eyes, it's hard not to think of something dramatic."

"More like a celestial model," Julia muttered, still staring unabashedly. Her expression turned playful as she leaned closer to Ethan and stage-whispered, "Is it just me, or does he have this… thing now? Like, whenever you look at him, it feels weirdly… nice?"

Ethan rolled his eyes. "That's probably some sort of passive mana effect. You're not actually drooling, are you?"

Julia blinked, startled, and then wiped at her chin in mock panic. "Am I?!" When she found nothing, she grinned sheepishly. "Just kidding. But seriously, Ethan, how are you not freaking out about this?"

Lucas interjected with a thoughtful tone. "If it is a passive effect, it's one hell of a subtle one. I'd guess it's not intentional."

"Intentional or not, it's working," Julia quipped, crossing her arms. "If I didn't know any better, I'd think he's trying to show up Victor Blackthorn. Honestly, the vibe is there."

The comment drew a chuckle from Lilia. "Oh, Victor's going to love this."

Astron came to a halt a few steps behind the group, his posture straight but relaxed, his piercing purple eyes scanning the garden with quiet indifference. As usual, no one lingered too close to him. Though his transformation had clearly captivated the crowd, it was as if an invisible wall kept them from stepping any closer.

Julia leaned toward Ethan, whispering, "He's doing it again."

"Doing what?" Ethan asked, though he already knew the answer.

"That thing where he just… stands there, looking like a brooding novel protagonist," she said, gesturing subtly toward Astron. "You know, the 'I don't need friends, but you're all welcome to admire me from a distance' vibe."

Lilia smirked, her gaze flicking toward Astron. "It's not just a vibe anymore. It's practically his aura. Look at everyone—they're dying to talk to him, but they can't seem to bring themselves to move."

And she wasn't wrong. The once-bustling garden had shifted, with students unconsciously giving Astron a wide berth. Some stole glances, others whispered, but no one dared approach. It was a stark contrast to Victor Blackthorn's presence—where Victor drew people in like moths to a flame, Astron exuded an aura that kept them at bay, a subtle but undeniable edge of intimidation mixed with allure.