Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 970

Chapter 970 Chapter 224.3 - Illusions and Hammer

The moment lingered-Lucas and Carl standing across from one another, the air between them still crackling faintly with the residue of exchanged blows. The arena was quiet now, the chaos of motion stilled, both combatants steady on their feet.

Instructor Verren's voice echoed from the edge of the platform.

"Enough. Duel over."

DING.

The mana field that encompassed the platform rippled once, then dissipated, its faint glow fading into the background.

A murmur spread through the observing cadets.

Some had been cheering for flashier matches earlier-light shows, elemental storms, flying swords and flying egos.

But this?

This was different.

This fight had been raw.

Tactile.

Two close-combatants.

No gimmicks.

No crowd-pleasing theatrics.

Just blade and shield. Pressure and response. Mind against mind, foot against ground, steel against steel.

And that made it real.

Instructor Verren stepped forward, arms folded behind his back. His voice carried clearly across the field.

"This is what a duel should look like. Controlled. Clean. Calculated."

His eyes passed over the cadets watching from the benches.

"No wild flailing. No overexertion of mana. No dragging the fight out with aimless spell exchanges. Two opponents engaged at full focus, gauging each other, reading intent, adapting in real time."

He gestured to Carl. "You held your ground without overcommitting. Calculated when to absorb and when to retaliate. That is how you make the most of your frame and affinity."

Then to Lucas.

"And you-your footwork, timing, and tempo control. Near textbook application of close-range misdirection."

Lucas gave a small nod, lowering his sword fully. His heart was still elevated-not from exhaustion, but from the pulse of satisfaction that came with sharp execution.

Not perfection.

But clean.

He liked clean.

From the benches, murmurs were already spreading.

"That was... intense."

"I didn't even notice half of what they were doing until Instructor Verren pointed it

out."

"I thought Carl would dominate with the hammer, but Lucas kept slipping around him like smoke."

"Yeah, but Carl's shield work? I swear he predicted some of those fake-outs."

While other cadets were talking, Lilia crossed her arms, eyes narrowed as she watched Lucas descend from the platform.

"Middleton style, huh..." she murmured.

Irina tilted her head beside her. "He toned down the illusions partway through."

Julia, lounging nearby with a barely suppressed grin, nodded once. "Because he didn't need them."

Irina glanced toward Julia. "He did that for show?"

Julia shrugged. "He was enjoying himself. That's when he fights best."

At that moment, Carl stepped off the opposite side of the platform, sweat darkening

the collar of his uniform, but his movements steady. He offered no complaint, no praise, no theatrics.

Just a respectful nod toward Lucas from across the platform.

Lucas returned it in kind-nothing more, nothing less.

As he stepped down, he caught a faint motion from the edge of the crowd.

Astron.

Still watching. Still silent. Eyes sharp, unreadable.

Lucas didn't acknowledge him directly.

But his mind ticked.

'Let's see your duel now!'

Julia leaned back on the bench, one leg propped up casually as she watched a pair of first-years exchange clumsy swordplay down on the southern platform. It was supposed to be a match, but from where she was sitting, it looked more like a glorified dance lesson-predictable patterns, telegraphed movements, zero tension.

Her blue eyes drifted, disinterested, until they found themselves trailing back to Lucas, who was seated on the far end of the benches now, toweling the sweat from his face in silence.

She tapped a knuckle against her jaw, thoughtful.

Lucas, huh...

It wasn't like she hadn't watched him fight before. She had, many times-when they were younger, and even more recently, in academy matches. And sure, he'd always been competent. Always had potential. Their bloodline demanded at least that much.

But lately?

Something felt different.