Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 76

Chapter 76 Chapter 18.5 - Small but not small help

Maya's demeanor shifted noticeably as she led Astron to a particular spot within the high-tech training facility. Her previously easygoing nature gave way to an aura of focused determination. It was as if a different person had emerged, a more serious and authoritative side of Maya.

"Stand here," Maya commanded, pointing to a designated spot on the training floor. "We'll start with the very basics of mana control."

Astron obeyed, positioning himself where Maya indicated. His curiosity was piqued by the sudden shift in Maya's demeanor, and he was eager to learn from her.

Maya took a deep breath, her gaze locked onto Astron. "Mana is the essence of all things supernatural. It's the energy that flows through our world, and as Hunters, we harness it to perform incredible feats. In this facility, you can see small particles of mana essence scattered everywhere." She gestured to the faint, shimmering particles that seemed to dance in the air around them.

"In normal circumstances, a mix of various mana types is present in the environment," Maya continued. "These mana particles respond to our own supernatural energy, and Hunters can manipulate them using their specialized [Skill] or through direct comprehension."

Astron nodded, absorbing her words. He watched as Maya extended her hand toward the particles, and they seemed to gravitate towards her, forming a swirling cluster around her palm.

[Skill] are pre-designed techniques that manipulate mana in specific ways," Maya demonstrated, her voice confident. "If you possess the right [Skill], you can channel mana through it and perform feats without worrying too much about the fine control. The [Skill] does the work for you."

Astron's analytical gaze was fixed on the display. He observed how the mana essence responded to Maya's control, forming patterns and shapes at her command.

Maya's hand motion shifted, and the mana essence dispersed into the air once again. "But what if someone doesn't have the appropriate [Skill]?"

Maya's lips curved into a knowing smile. "Ah, that's where true mana control comes into play. Without [Skill], Hunters need to learn how to manipulate mana directly. It's like shaping a high-tech gadget with your hands. You need to understand the nuances of different types of mana, their flow, and how they interact."

Astron's gaze sharpened further as he focused on Maya's explanation.

Maya's expression turned serious again. "No, it's not easy. It requires a deep connection to the supernatural elements, an innate sense of the mana's rhythm, and the ability to guide and shape it with precision."

Astron watched as Maya's hand extended again, this time with a different gesture. The mana essence responded, swirling around her fingers in intricate patterns.

'What a precise control.'

Astron's expression shifted into a mixture of understanding and determination as he continued to observe.

Maya glanced at Astron before continuing her explanation. "And that's not all. [Traits] like space control or specific elemental affinities give Hunters a natural edge in controlling mana. But for those without such [Traits], it's a challenging but rewarding journey."

"I see….." Astron nodded his head. He was absorbing the knowledge as he was absorbing the demonstration Maya was making.

"But, it is not every time traits are blessings." Maya continued her words. "There are certain times when developing a trait is a lot harder than simply controlling mana, or there are certain traits that make people unable to comprehend and use other types of mana as well."

Maya's words intrigued Astron. He listened intently, his analytical mind processing the information.

"For example," Maya continued, "there are [Traits] that grant individuals enhanced physical attributes – strength, speed, durability – but they may come at the cost of being unable to manipulate external mana effectively. Their bodies become a conduit for raw power, but they lack the finesse for complex magical manipulation."

Indeed, this was the case, as Astron knew a bunch of such characters with such abilities. There was a certain madman who went around the world and constantly challenged other people to make sure that he was the strongest.

"On the other hand, there are [Traits] that enable individuals to tap into specific types of mana that they wouldn't be able to use otherwise. Take healing magic or light mana, for instance. These [Traits] give unique access to mana that's generally inaccessible to most Hunters."

Astron's eyes narrowed slightly.

'That's why I couldn't use fire mana to imbue my arrows.'

This was the reason why he was unable to use the environmental mana to simply generate a fireball or imbue his arrows with natural elements like other people could do, and that was why he was having such a hard time.

"These types of traits are the ones that mostly make people have a hard time since the type of mana they are using are mostly different; they can't instinctively learn how to control their mana. I assume that was the case for you as well."

Looking at her like that, Astron easily saw why Maya was the first-ranked student. Even though all that knowledge was actually general knowledge, for Maya, it should not have been important. But she still remembered all those details, which meant her memory was exceptionally good.

Her analysis was spot on, and she did it from just one fight.

'She is quite good at observing as well.' Astron nodded his head in response.

"As expected, that red-colored mana was not a type I could use; that means it should be your trait."

Maya's lips curled into a pleased smile, knowing that she was having a chance to guide someone from the zero.

'It is as if teaching a newborn baby how to walk. It is too much fun.'

Maya couldn't help but notice how attentively Astron was listening to her. His focus never once wavered. The gloomy aura surrounding him was slightly dispersed as if he genuinely enjoyed listening to her words.

'What a weird guy you are, Junior.' She shook her head inwardly and shifted her focus back to their training, ready to guide him through the next steps.

"We'll begin with the basics of mana control," Maya started, her voice steady. "Since you're unable to sense other types of mana naturally, I'll show you how to manipulate raw mana without attributes. You will first learn how to condense your mana."

Astron watched closely as Maya's expression became focused. She extended her hand, and a faint shimmering aura began to form in her palm. It was a beginner's manifestation, lacking the refined control Maya usually displayed.

"See this?" Maya said, her voice calm as she manipulated the raw mana. "This is unattributed mana, the foundation of all magical energy. It's like the canvas before the painting."