Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 809

"Did you enjoy sitting beside her?" she asked with a whisper, her tone carrying a sharp edge masked by a thin layer of teasing.

Astron turned his head slightly, his sharp purple eyes meeting hers for just a split second before looking away again, unreadable as ever. He didn’t answer immediately, but instead, his hand moved with calm precision, gently covering hers. With a quiet but firm motion, he pulled her hand away from his arm.

Irina’s fiery gaze flicked to his face, catching the faintest twitch at the corner of his mouth. It wasn’t much—barely noticeable to anyone else—but to her, it was as good as a confession.

"Now that Irina is here," Astron said smoothly, his voice steady but carrying a subtle undertone that betrayed his unease, "let’s start."

His calm, composed tone filled the air, but Irina could sense it—this wasn’t like him. Normally, he would let others take the lead in moments like this, content to observe from the sidelines. The fact that he was stepping in now, taking charge, told her everything she needed to know.

’He’s flustered.’

Irina’s lips curled into a triumphant smirk, the heat of satisfaction spreading through her chest. ’Heh… do you see this?’ she thought smugly, her fiery gaze flicking to Sylvie.

Sylvie was watching her, her expression carefully neutral but her eyes betraying a flicker of something—curiosity? Annoyance? Irina couldn’t be sure, but she didn’t care. She straightened her posture slightly, letting her presence radiate with quiet confidence as she turned her attention back to Astron.

"Alright," Irina said, her tone smooth and composed, though the edge of victory lingered in her voice.

Astron adjusted his posture slightly, his calm demeanor returning as he looked over the group. His voice, measured and deliberate, broke the tension lingering in the air. "Let’s first talk about what this practice is about."

The others straightened in their seats, their attention sharpening. Even Irina, who had been reveling in her small victory moments earlier, shifted her focus to Astron’s words.

"As you know," Astron continued, "we’re in the middle of Team Operations and Unit Specialization. Up to now, the course has focused on two primary methods of formation and coordination, both designed to maximize the efficiency of five-member teams in combat scenarios."

He glanced briefly at the others, gauging their reactions before continuing. "The first method we’ve learned is called Kalthor’s Method, named after its creator, the tactician Sorin Kalthor. It’s a foundational formation without much flexibility."

Astron’s sharp purple eyes scanned the group, ensuring he had their full attention before continuing. "Today, we’ll focus on Kalthor’s Method," he said, his voice steady and deliberate. "It’s a foundational formation we’ve all been introduced to in class, but its nuances require consistent practice to master."

He leaned forward slightly, placing his hands on the table as he spoke. "As you know, in the course, we’ve been taught four primary roles: Striker, Defender, Support, and Tactician. However, in Kalthor’s Method, the Tactician role is deliberately excluded. This is because the formation is designed to operate as a cohesive unit without the need for constant commands or adjustments. It prioritizes simplicity and coordination."

Jasmine tilted her head, curiosity flashing in her eyes. "Why leave out the Tactician? Doesn’t every team need someone to oversee things?"

"Well, the professor mentioned that it was because when this method was developed, it was tailored for situations where quick adaptability was less critical than efficient execution." Layla chimed in explaining.

"That is right," Astron affirmed. "Kalthor’s Method emerged during a time when Awakened units were heavily skewed toward close combatants. Support roles were scarce, and most mages and healers were outliers rather than integral parts of teams. Back then, the challenge was forming functional units with limited diversity in skills."

"Hmm? Professor even mentioned this?"

Astron gave a slight nod, his expression calm and deliberate. "No," he said evenly, addressing Irina’s curious gaze. "The professor didn’t mention that part. I was just curious and decided to look into it."

Jasmine’s eyebrows lifted briefly before she chuckled, crossing her arms. "Of course, you did," she said with a grin. "Leave it to you to dig deeper than anyone else."

Astron said nothing, only giving a small nod as he raised his wrist and tapped on his smartwatch. A soft beep sounded, and a moment later, a projected screen appeared in midair above the table. It displayed a clear diagram of Kalthor’s Method, the predetermined team formation document uploaded by the academy.

"Here’s the document," Astron explained as the group leaned closer to study it. The formation was displayed with precision, showing five distinct positions: Striker at the forefront, Defender slightly behind them as the shield, Support in the rear, with two auxiliary positions flanking the formation.

"This is the layout we’re expected to fit into," Astron continued, his tone calm as he pointed to the positions on the diagram. "It’s straightforward."

Layla squinted at the display, her brows furrowed slightly as she processed the information. "So, I’m standing directly in the front?" she asked, pointing at the Defender position marked on the diagram. freewёbnoνel.com

"Yes," Astron confirmed. "Your role is to block and absorb the initial impact. You’ll be the shield the rest of the team operates around."

"Alright."

Astron’s purple eyes shifted to the diagram again as he continued. "On the rear flanks, Jasmine and I will take the position. I’ll be using daggers for this formation, focusing on quick eliminations and maintaining our perimeter. Jasmine will handle ranged threats when necessary and provide backup for Irina."

Jasmine grinned, leaning back slightly in her chair. "Got it. I’ll keep things covered." Continue reading on freewebnovel

"In the middle," Astron said, turning his attention to Irina, "you’ll act as the main damage dealer."