Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 845

The classroom was alive with a quiet sense of anticipation as the cadets settled into their seats. Unlike some of the more rigorous combat or strategy courses, Artifact Studies was a two-hour weekly course that, while not mandatory for all specializations, had drawn a surprising number of students due to its engaging nature.

At the front of the room, Professor Aldric Fenwell stood beside a long table, his sharp green eyes gleaming behind his thin-framed glasses. A variety of small artifacts were carefully arranged before him, their polished surfaces catching the light from the overhead fixtures. He was one of the academy’s more charismatic instructors—not just because of his deep knowledge of relics and enchanted items, but because of his ability to make even the most mundane theoretical topics sound fascinating.

As the final students took their seats, Fenwell clapped his hands together once, a warm smile on his face. "Alright, cadets, today’s lesson will focus on entry-level artifacts—a topic that, while seemingly basic, serves as the foundation for every hunter’s career. Understanding artifacts and their practical applications can make the difference between surviving a mission and having to be carried out of a dungeon."

That last statement earned a few chuckles from the room, though most students remained focused, eager for what was to come.

Fenwell gestured toward the table. "Now, before we dive into theory, let’s start with a fundamental question. Who can tell me what defines an artifact?"

A few hands shot up. Among them, Sylvie was the first to be called on.

"An artifact is a tool or object imbued with mana," she answered smoothly. "Unlike standard enchanted weapons, artifacts don’t require their users to channel their own mana directly—they operate using embedded runes, cores, or pre-set enchantments."

Fenwell nodded approvingly. "Excellent summary, Miss Sylvie. Artifacts serve as a bridge between raw magic and practical application, allowing even those with weaker mana control to wield powerful effects. However, this also means that users must understand the limitations and risks involved."

He picked up a small, circular metal device from the table. "Take this for example—a standard-grade kinetic bracer." He held it up so the class could see. "Designed for hunters who lack significant physical reinforcement abilities, this artifact absorbs incoming kinetic force and redistributes it into controlled bursts. It won’t make you invincible, but it will let you take a hit and return one just as hard."

The cadets murmured among themselves, some leaning forward to get a better look.

"Irina," Fenwell called out, turning to her. "If you were using this artifact in combat, what would you consider its greatest advantage?"

Irina crossed her arms, her fiery yellow eyes flicking toward the bracer. "If it works as you described, it would allow someone to trade blows without taking full damage. That’s useful for front-liners who rely on counters."

Fenwell nodded. "Exactly. A fighter could absorb the impact of a strike and retaliate before their opponent fully recovers. But—" he turned toward Ethan, who was sitting a few rows back, "—what’s the catch?"

Ethan tilted his head slightly, thoughtful. "It depends on how the stored force is released. If it builds up too much without a proper output, it could backfire or strain the wearer’s body. Overuse could also make someone reliant on it, instead of improving their own defensive skills."

"Excellent observation," Fenwell said, smiling. "Artifacts are tools—not crutches. Hunters must understand how to use them without becoming dependent on them."

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He moved on, picking up a different artifact, a small crystalline orb encased in silver filigree. "Now, here’s one I think some of you will find particularly useful. A basic mana-conversion charm. It takes in ambient mana and converts it into a purified form, allowing for smoother spellcasting. This is particularly beneficial for those with unstable mana flow."

Jasmine leaned forward, intrigued. "How much does it boost efficiency?"

"About 12-15% for beginners, though experienced casters can optimize that further."

Julia, unable to resist, smirked. "Alright, but how much does it cost?"

Fenwell chuckled. "More than you’d like, Miss Julia." That earned another round of laughter from the students.

The lesson continued with Fenwell demonstrating a few more artifacts, explaining their uses and potential drawbacks. Unlike some dry theory-heavy courses, this class kept students engaged with real-world applications and practical insights. Even Astron, who was usually quiet in discussions, seemed focused, his sharp violet eyes locked onto the artifacts as Fenwell explained their properties.

By the time the first hour passed, most of the students were fully absorbed in the lesson, taking notes and occasionally whispering excitedly about which artifacts they might one day use.

Fenwell clapped his hands again, drawing the students’ attention back to him. "Now, it’s time to put that knowledge into practice. Theory is important, but application is what truly refines a hunter’s understanding of artifacts."

He turned toward the projection panel at the front of the room and tapped a few commands onto his tablet. "Open the Artifact Profiling System app on your academy tablets."

The students quickly navigated through their interfaces, and within moments, their screens displayed an interactive catalog of each cadet’s ability distribution, represented by various parameters categorized under different rankings—A, B, C, and so on. Though labeled similarly to grading systems, these rankings weren’t absolute but rather an approximate way to visualize personal skill development. The distribution varied based on combat efficiency, mana capacity, adaptability, and unique abilities.

Fenwell continued, "These rankings do not determine your overall potential, nor are they meant to compare you directly to one another. They simply provide a general outlook on areas where artifacts could supplement or enhance your performance. Today, you will be working in pairs, analyzing your counterpart’s ability distribution and discussing potential artifact improvements that would complement their combat style."

The system automatically generated paired assignments based on combat compatibility and variation in skillsets. The names appeared one after another on the projected screen at the front of the class.