Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 961

Chapter 961 221.1 - The Antagonist

The early morning sun filtered through the tall windows of the academy's central training hall, casting long shadows across the polished stone floor. The walls were reinforced with mana-inscribed barriers that shimmered faintly-an ever-present reminder that what happened in this space would not be gentle.

The students stood lined up in neat rows, dressed in their reinforced combat. uniforms, each with their weapon of choice either strapped across their back or summoned at their side.

This wasn't a strategy lecture.

This was a combat class.

And now that clubs were gone and the academy was tightening its rules, classes like these had become more intense... and more frequent.

At the center of the room stood Instructor Verren, a tall, broad-shouldered man with grey hair swept back and a voice that could silence a room with a single word. A seasoned warrior with years in the field, Verren had little patience for excuses-and even less for wasted potential.

His sharp eyes scanned the class as he spoke.

"Listen up."

The chatter immediately died.

"Without club activities and private training groups, you now have fewer outlets to develop your combat. That is no excuse to stagnate. From now on, these sessions will be held twice a week-and every time, you will fight."

There was no resistance. No one dared to complain.

He began calling names.

Instructor Verren's voice rang clear in the vast training hall, a blade slicing through any remaining tension.

"Today's sparring assignments have been pre-determined," he said. "These are mandatory. You will engage with full focus and intent. Controlled strikes only-but fight as if your advancement depends on it."

He glanced down at the slate in his hand.

"First match-Victor Blackthorn vs. Ethan Hartley."

The moment the names were spoken, a stillness fell across the room.

Dozens of heads turned at once.

Victor.

The name alone carried weight-undeniable weight.

Recently, he had become something of a phantom within the academy. Months ago, he had been omnipresent: top of the charts, impossible to ignore, a prodigy in every measurable sense.

But now, sightings of him were rare.

He'd been granted special permissions from the headmaster himself-an independent path, tailored to his "advanced pace."

Most students couldn't even recall the last time they'd seen him in class, let alone training.

And yet he was here now.

Victor stepped forward from the rear line, his footsteps calm, confident, and deliberate. His uniform was sharp, barely worn, like a blade kept in a scabbard too long. His golden eyes gleamed with amusement, as if he already knew how the match would go.

Ethan, on the other hand, said nothing. He simply adjusted the cuffs of his sleeves and stepped forward as well, his expression unreadable.

A tension began to coil in the air.

This wasn't just any match.

This was a clash of two very different forces:

Ethan-steady, dependable, principled.

Victor-blazing, dominant, dangerous.

Instructor Verren's voice broke the silence again.

"Second match-Astron Natusalune vs. Julia Middleton."

"Third match-Irina Emberheart vs. Lilia Thornheart."

Now that earned murmurs.

Even some of the instructors watching from the side turned their heads.

Two of the sharpest minds in the class, known for their icy precision and dominant battlefield control-pitted directly against each other.

Lilia glanced toward Irina with a cool nod.

Irina returned it without a word.

"Fourth-Lucas vs. Carl."

Lucas blinked, visibly relieved.

"Okay. Not a death sentence. I can work with that."

Carl rolled his shoulders with a smirk. "You sure about that?"

"Fifth-Jasmine vs. Mira Cross."

"Sixth-Layla vs. Tessa."

"Seventh-Eva vs. Noah."

Names continued down the list, but the attention in the room never strayed far from

Victor and Ethan.

Because the moment Victor's name had been called, it became clear to everyone-

This class was no longer just training.

This was something different.

A test. A message. A reckoning.

And now that Victor was back, all eyes were watching.

Verren's voice echoed one last time.

"Each pair-find your zone. Weapons ready. Matches begin in five minutes." freewēbnoveℓ.com

The students moved, not with chatter, but with sharpened focus.

Combat classes had always been serious.

But today?

The moment Julia heard the name-"Astron Natusalune"-her eyes lit up.

Astron gave the faintest shrug, his tone as even as ever. "Is that so?"

Julia opened her mouth to retort, but paused when she noticed the others approaching. The energy in the training hall had shifted entirely-less of a school class

now, more of a staged battleground.

Lilia was the first to step into view, her pace smooth and unhurried. Her combat gear was more tactical than flashy-practical, efficient. She said nothing, her sharp emerald eyes locking instantly with Irina's from across the space.

Irina had already been walking toward them, her long red hair tied back in a tight braid, her crimson combat jacket trimmed with mana-threaded accents that shimmered faintly under the hall's light. Her movements were measured, feline- confidence woven into every step.

The two girls paused a few feet apart, neither breaking eye contact.

"Looks like we're up," Lilia said, her tone quiet but edged.

Irina's lips curved just slightly. "Don't hold back."

"I wasn't planning to."

The tension between them crackled-precision against blazing pressure. Neither had

to say more. There was no teasing between them, no taunts or antics like Julia's-just

raw, calculated intensity.

Behind them, Lucas and Carl made their way across the room.

Lucas looked like he was trying very hard not to appear nervous, cracking his

knuckles as if to psych himself up. "Sooo... looks like we're the most reasonable pairing here," he said to Carl with a wry grin.

Carl, the group's ever-reliable tank, didn't smile. He adjusted the gauntlets on his forearms, the reinforced plates clicking into place. His usually laid-back face had hardened into something different-stern, focused.

"Don't hold back," he said simply, voice low

Lucas blinked. "You too, huh?"

"I don't care if it's a spar," Carl added. "Instructor said fight like it's real. So I will."

Lucas swallowed, then let out a breath. "Alright. Guess I'll stop trying to be friendly."

They came to a stop beside the others, the full group now gathered, an unspoken gravity forming around

them.

Astron didn't say a word. His gaze drifted slowly across each of them, stopping briefly

on Irina, then Carl, then Lilia... before returning to Julia.

Her grin hadn't faded.

"You're not nervous?" she asked him, voice light but eyes sharp.

Astron met her gaze with that same unreadable calm. "Are you?"

Julia gave a short laugh, rolling her neck. "Please. I live for this." Irina, nearby, crossed her arms. "Just don't get too distracted trying to show off."

"Says the one who's about to throw down with Lilia like it's a national event," Julia shot

back.