Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 777

The Elemental Chamber hummed softly with latent energy, the crystalline walls refracting moonlight into faintly shimmering hues of silver and blue. Maya stood at the center of her reserved section, the intricate patterns etched into the floor glowing faintly as they resonated with her mana. The air around her was thick with power, yet it felt calming, a sharp contrast to the turbulence within her mind.

She exhaled slowly, her breath steady but deliberate, as she raised her hand. With a flick of her wrist, a tendril of mana coiled around her fingers, its translucent hue shifting between her natural affinity and the crimson undertones that lingered, unbidden, at its edges. The sight sent a flicker of unease through her, but she steadied her grip.

’Focus,’ she told herself, closing her eyes.

Her training today centered on refining her mental barriers—the techniques Alden had shared with her over the past two weeks. They had proven effective. The once-suffocating presence of her other self no longer loomed as heavily, the boundary between their minds more defined. Yet, even with this progress, anxiety lingered like a shadow at the edges of her thoughts.

The runes beneath her feet pulsed as she channeled her mana outward, shaping it into an intricate lattice of light and shadow. She moved with precision, weaving the strands into a controlled spiral that shimmered in the air around her. But her focus faltered as her thoughts drifted.

’She’s quieter now,’ Maya thought, her lips pressing into a thin line. The memory of her other self’s crimson eyes burned vividly in her mind, their unrelenting intensity still capable of sending shivers down her spine. ’Too quiet.’

The silence wasn’t comforting—it was unnerving. It felt like a predator waiting, watching, biding its time for her to slip. The image of her other self’s cruel smirk, the venom in her voice, echoed faintly:

"You don’t deserve someone like him."

Maya’s fingers twitched, and the lattice of mana quivered, destabilizing before fracturing into shards of light. She opened her eyes sharply, her blue gaze narrowing as she steadied her breathing. The failure was minor, but it pricked at her pride.

The Elemental Chamber continued to hum softly around Maya as she steadied her breathing, trying to refocus. The lattice of mana had dissipated, but the residue of her frustration lingered. Her fingers flexed at her sides, the faint crimson undertone in her mana still gnawing at the edges of her thoughts.

’Why does she care so much about him?’ Maya wondered, the memory of her other self’s voice echoing louder now. ’Why does it matter if he only sees me and not… her?’

The questions felt like cracks in her resolve, and for the briefest moment, she wondered if her other self’s obsession stemmed from a truth she refused to admit.

But before she could dive deeper into that unsettling thought, her smartwatch vibrated against her wrist. The unexpected sensation broke her concentration, and her gaze snapped to the glowing screen.

Amelia.

Maya frowned, her brows knitting together. Amelia never called her during training sessions unless it was important. A flicker of worry ignited in her chest as she accepted the call.

"Amelia?" she asked, her tone calm but edged with curiosity. "Is everything okay? Did something happen?"

Amelia’s voice came through immediately, breathless and tinged with urgency. "Maya! Hurry—check the school forum! Astron… something happened to him!"

Maya’s heart skipped a beat, her mind instantly sharpening as the words registered. "What do you mean?" she asked, already swiping her smartwatch to open the academy’s public forum. "What happened to Astron?"

"I don’t know all the details," Amelia said quickly. "But there’s a video—it’s bad, Maya. Just look."

Maya’s fingers moved swiftly, navigating to the trending section of the forum. At the top of the page was a headline in bold:

[Violence in the Academy]

Her breath hitched as she opened the post. A video clip began playing, and Maya’s chest tightened with each passing second.

The footage was grainy, taken from someone’s smartwatch, but the events were unmistakable. A group of students, both seniors and some from her own year, surrounded Astron in one of the academy’s open training fields. They moved with aggressive intent, their voices a cacophony of taunts and jeers as they cornered him.

Maya’s sharp eyes picked out a familiar face among the crowd—Victor, one of her classmates, someone she had sparred with on occasion. He stood at the forefront, his expression twisted with malice as he shoved Astron back with a glowing fist charged with mana.

Maya’s fingers curled into tight fists as the video continued. The unfairness of the scene sent a surge of anger coursing through her, and when Victor landed a particularly vicious strike that sent Astron stumbling, Maya closed the video abruptly, unable to watch any further.

"Where is he now?" Maya asked, her voice low but carrying an edge of steel.

"I think they took him to the infirmary," Amelia said quickly. "Maya, are you—"

"I’ll handle it," Maya interrupted, her tone firm. She ended the call without waiting for a response and turned on her heel, her steps quick and purposeful as she left the Elemental Chamber.

The cool evening air bit at her skin as she strode through the academy grounds, her thoughts a storm of fury and resolve. The sight of Astron being assaulted burned in her mind, fueling her determination.

’They’ll answer for this,’ she thought, her jaw tightening. ’Every single one of them.’

But for now, her priority was Astron. Whatever state he was in, she needed to see him—and she needed to see him now.

As she approached the infirmary, the faint glow of its lights visible in the distance, Maya’s grip on her emotions steadied. She would confront Victor and the others soon enough, but first, she needed to make sure Astron was safe.

As Maya entered the infirmary, the sterile scent of antiseptics and mana-infused salves greeted her senses. Her sharp gaze swept across the room, instantly locking onto Astron, who sat composed on one of the cots. His violet eyes flicked to her, his expression unreadable but attentive. For a fleeting moment, relief coursed through her. He appeared unharmed—or at least as much as one could be after what she’d seen.