Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 967

Chapter 967 223.3 - Mage and Archer

A gleam.

High above.

From the left.

A spear of flame.

Not just any flame-concentrated, sharp-edged, burning with a white-hot intensity. But more than that-

Lilia's pupils contracted.

The mana signature wasn't pure fire. freewёbnoνel.com

Threaded through the core-spatial psions.

'-What?'

The spear shouldn't have reached her yet. She had calculated the angle, the timing, the flame speed-she should've been safe.

But this?

This was faster.

Far faster than it had any right to be.

And in that instant, she understood.

Irina hadn't just empowered her spell.

She had layered [Telekinesis] into the projectile, amplifying its speed post-cast. The spear's kinetic force wasn't elemental anymore-it was tethered to space itself.

It struck.

Not her body-Lilia's defense spells flared just in time. But the mana impact rattled through her system like a shockwave. It wasn't the damage that mattered. It was the displacement.

Her trajectory broke.

Her focus wavered.

Her stance-compromised.

And as she hit the ground, skidding across the stone, her bow scraping beside her, the simulation flickered-

[Duel Complete.]

Victory: Irina Emberheart.

Silence fell for a breath.

Lilia's hand twitched, fingers still curled around the bow's grip. Her heart beat hard in her chest, not from exhaustion, but from the sheer shift she had just experienced.

She hadn't lost because of carelessness. She hadn't misfired.

She had been outmaneuvered.

Outpaced.

And for the first time in a long time-

She smiled.

'So that's where you are now, Irina.

It was annoying.

But it was also exhilarating.

Lilia exhaled slowly, lying on the cool stone floor for a second longer, the echo of that last impact still humming in her bones. Her eyes stayed fixed on the ceiling above, but a grin tugged at the corner of her lips.

"Wow..." she muttered to herself, voice light with disbelief. "You really stepped up your game."

Footsteps approached-light, precise.

Irina stood over her now, her usual composed expression tempered by the faintest arch of a brow. "I wasn't staying idle."

Lilia reached up, gripping Irina's offered hand. She pulled herself up with a grunt and dusted off her training gear. "Same can be said for you."

Irina's lips curved slightly. "Well, I fell short before too."

"Not today," Lilia admitted with a short sigh. "You got me."

"Happens," Irina said simply, tilting her head. "Don't fret over it."

Lilia huffed, brushing back a loose strand of hair that had fallen over her face. "I want to punch your smug face right now."

Irina blinked. "This is my neutral face."

"It's smug, and you know it."

Across the room, Julia-who'd been lounging nearby with her arms folded-watched the exchange with growing amusement. Her blue eyes lit up as she strolled over, her steps casual and easy.

"Well, well," Julia said, grinning as she arrived. "That was quite the spectacle. Fireworks, aerial maneuvers, tactical footwork... Almost makes me not want to fight either of you."

Lilia narrowed her eyes. "Don't get cocky, Jules."

Julia grinned wide, hands planted on her hips as she leaned in slightly.

"Me? Cocky? Never," she said with exaggerated innocence. "I'm just stating facts. Since

I'm stronger than both of you, I'd naturally win. That's just simple math"

Lilia rolled her eyes. "You are tripping"

"By getting launched across the floor again?" Julia teased, smirking.