Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

"Tch…." Irina clicked her tongue in annoyance, unwilling to admit the less rational reason behind her choice.

"Sylvie," Irina began, her expression a mix of frustration and determination, "I know who we need to find. It's Astron. As annoying as he is, his unconventional thinking might be the key to understanding and combating this entity. Plus, he's always composed – I've never seen him panic. We need someone like that in this situation."

Sylvie raised an eyebrow, a hint of surprise in her gaze. "Ah…." It was not that she disliked it, but more of a fact that it came out randomly. "Astron?" She asked.

Irina nodded a bit begrudgingly. "Yes, really. Despite his quirks, he has a unique way of approaching problems. I've seen it before, and I believe he might have insights that could help us."

"I see…." Sylvie nodded her head, inwardly feeling a little relieved. In this academy, there were only a handful of people that she could talk to, and one of them was definitely him. So, she didn't want something to happen to him, and she had been feeling uneasy about it for a while.

"Even if you didn't say it...I was going to look after him, as well." Hearing this, Irina squinted at Sylvie a little but then didn't say anything.

"But…..How do we find him?" Sylvie asked, looking around the misty landscape from the windows, her eyes searching for any sign of Astron.

After all, since he wasn't in the bungalows and had left earlier in the day, it was going to be a challenge.

However, Irina had already considered this in her decision from the start. After all, if they were going to waste immense hours just for searching him, his value would diminish a lot in this radical situation.

Irina's frustration shifted to a thoughtful expression. She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small watch provided by the academy.

"Remember this watch? It has two compasses inside – one always points to the direction of the bungalows, and the other always points north."

"Yes, I remember," Sylvie replied. This was how she had found her way to bungalows, after all. "But, what will they do for our situation?"

Even then, she couldn't help but be skeptical. They didn't even know which direction Astron went, so how could this prove anything?

Irina nodded, acknowledging Sylvie's skepticism. "You're right; these compasses won't directly help us find Astron in this vast mist. But have you ever thought about what's underneath these compasses?"

Sylvie furrowed her brows, puzzled by Irina's question. "What's underneath? They're just compasses, aren't they?"

Irina smirked, enjoying the intrigue she was creating. She flipped the watch open, revealing the backside of the compasses. There, engraved into the metal, were intricate symbols and lines forming a detailed enchantment.

These compasses are more than just navigation tools," Irina explained, her fingers delicately tracing the engraved symbols and lines forming a detailed enchantment on the back of the compasses. "There's a hidden enchantment on the back. Watch closely."

With a determined focus, Irina activated the enchantment, causing the symbols to glow softly. She then looked around the bungalow, ensuring Sylvie observed the reaction.

"Notice how the compasses point towards another enchantment," Irina pointed out, the glow on the back of the compass subtly aligning with a point in the middle of their own bungalow. "It's not just about finding north or the bungalows; it's about revealing an enchantment in the very heart of this place."

The idea may be that the compasses would point out in the direction of the magnetic field, but in Phantom's Land, the physical features of the world also did change. So, Irina was curious about how the academy handled these compasses and found these enchantments.

Sylvie's eyes closed in realization as she followed Irina's explanation. "So, the compasses lead to an enchantment in each bungalow. But what does that have to do with finding Astron?"

Irina smirked, pleased with Sylvie catching on. "Now, imagine if I reverse the process. Instead of seeking the enchantment in our bungalow, we use the reverse. Utilizing this enchantment, we could see where Astron is. After all, he also has the same watch as us, which means his watch should be connected to this enchantment as well."

Her words made sense. Irina knew this was the most likely way that Academy would be able to trace the students inside the Phantom's Land and move effectively if something had happened to them.

Sylvie didn't know that, but the watches were also linked to another enchantment, which was a lot more complex and hard to understand. This was probably the one that was connected to the center of the town.contemporary romance

'I think they were even expecting us to understand how this worked.'

There was no way that any students would normally be able to understand normal-level magic-engineering products, but simple things like these seemed to be intentionally spread around.

Students with good theoretical knowledge and skills could reverse the process easily, which was why Irina did it.

Though, it wasn't that it mattered now.

Irina wasted no time and immediately began the process of reversing the enchantment. Her fingers moved deftly, tracing symbols and manipulating the magical energies within the watch. The soft glow from the engraved enchantment reacted to her manipulations.

'Wow…..'

Sylvie observed with a mix of awe and anticipation.

The speed movements of magic Irina performed seemed complex, yet she was determined to see if they could locate Astron using this method.

After a minute of focused effort, Irina's eyes lit up with success. The glow on the back of the compass changed, aligning with a new direction. She looked at Sylvie with a triumphant smile.

"It worked. Now we have the enchantment pointing towards Astron's location within Phantom's Land," Irina announced a sense of accomplishment in her voice. "We should move quickly. Time is of the essence, and who knows what kind of danger that guy might be in."

Just as Sylvie and Irina were about to leave the bungalow, Irina placed a gentle hand on Sylvie's shoulder, stopping her in her tracks.

"Sylvie, I think it's best if you stay here and keep an eye on Jasmine. Besides, you need to recover your mana as fast as possible. If something happens, I'll return immediately, but for now, I'll handle the situation with Astron," Irina suggested, her tone carrying a mix of concern and authority.

Sylvie looked a bit worried, torn between 'wanting to assist' and recognizing the validity of Irina's points.

However, she nodded, realizing that looking after her friend and restoring her own strength would indeed be crucial.

"Alright, Irina. Just be careful…." Sylvie replied, her eyes reflecting a mixture of trust and concern.

Irina gave her a reassuring smile before heading out into the misty landscape of Phantom's Land, determined to find Astron and unravel the mysteries that surrounded them.

*******

Irina, armed with the enchanted watch guiding her toward Astron's location, stepped out into the eerie mist of Phantom's Land.

The compass on the watch pointed her in a specific direction, and she navigated through the fog-shrouded landscape with a determined pace.

'This guy? Why is he venturing this far away?'

Considering his rank, even if Astron was quite good at combat, he shouldn't have been overestimating himself, yet he did it anyway.

'Sigh…..'

As she ventured deeper into the fog, the atmosphere grew thicker, and the fog seemed to cling to her surroundings like a tangible presence.

The strange phenomena of the Phantom's Land intensified, creating an otherworldly ambiance.

FLINCH!

Suddenly, a shiver ran down Irina's spine, and she felt a subtle shift in the air.

Before she could react, shadowy figures emerged from the mist – phantoms.

These spectral entities materialized in front of her, their eerie forms reaching out with their long arms.

SCREECH!

As they immediately lunged at her, she couldn't help but shake her head at herself.

'This is why I hate creepy places.'

It was not because of the strength of enemies but because of the tenseness of the atmosphere. The beings that didn't even have a second of right to stand before her could now dare to bear their fangs.

"Just disappear."

SWOOSH!

With a nonchalant wave of her hand, Irina unleashed a surge of intense flames. The fire danced through the air, instantly dispelling the phantoms as if they were mere illusions. The ghostly figures dissipated in the heat, leaving only the faint scent of burning mist in their wake.

Irina easily dispersed the phantoms but felt uneasy in Phantom's Land. As she moved forward through the thickening fog, she found Astron unconscious.

She crouched down beside him, finding no visible injuries but sensing that he was lost in the mysterious energies of the place.

As Irina crouched down beside Astron's unconscious form, a peculiar sensation washed over her.

Despite the eerie atmosphere and the danger they were facing, his face looked strangely peaceful and relaxed in repose. It was a stark contrast to the usual observant and sometimes annoying expression he wore when awake.

"He looks kind of... calm," Irina mumbled to herself, feeling a strange shift in her own thoughts.

For a moment, she saw Astron not as the persistent and inquisitive individual she knew but as someone vulnerable and at peace. It was as if the mist of Phantom's Land had momentarily lifted something off him.

'What am I even thinking?'

However, she quickly shook off the unusual musings, realizing that her thoughts were wandering into strange territory. Focusing on the situation at hand, she channeled her mana into her body, coating herself.

With a swift motion, she utilized her telekinetic abilities, gently lifting Astron and securing him on her back. Despite the weight, her magical prowess made carrying him seem effortless.

With Astron securely on her back, Irina activated the enchanted watch once more. The reversed compass pointed the way back to the bungalows, and immediately, she started navigating through the thickening fog.

********

CREAK!

As the door of the bungalow opened, Sylvie immediately went there to check who had come, and there she saw Irina with Astron on her back.

"Sylvie, we found him. He's unconscious, but I think he's alright," Irina announced, entering the bungalow. She gently lowered Astron onto a nearby bed, ensuring he was comfortable.

"Thank lord."

Mumbling that she followed her steps.

Sylvie looked at Astron with a hint of worry and then turned her gaze to Irina. "Irina, you look exhausted. Rest for a moment; I can keep an eye on them."

"I am fine. We can't waste much time."

Irina mumbled, drinking the water in her cup. "Have you recovered your mana enough?" Then, she asked Sylvie in a small hope. However, Sylvie's response wasn't something hopeful at all.

"No…..I am not sure why, but the mana potions I had don't seem to have recovered the specific type of energy I have been using,"

Irina's expression turned serious upon hearing Sylvie's response. It was an unexpected complication that added to the challenges they were facing.

'Her power is different from mana.'

This was something that was quite a revelation itself, but for the time being, she didn't have the time.

"That's odd. But we can't dwell on it now. We need to figure out our next move," Irina said, determined to find a solution.

As she pondered their options, an idea sparked in Irina's mind. Recalling the dreamlike state she experienced before waking up in Phantom's Land, she suggested a plan.

"Sylvie, there might be another way. I was in some kind of dream state before waking up here. If I can enter Astron's dream, maybe I can help him wake up. It's worth a shot," Irina proposed.

Sylvie's eyes widened at the suggestion. "Entering dreams? That's an advanced magical territory, Irina. Are you sure about this?"

"We don't have many options. Besides, on the way, I was thinking of ways, and I think it will work. But…."

"But?"

"You will need to use that remaining power of yours."

Sylvie hesitated, looking concerned. "Irina, I don't have much power left. How am I supposed to protect you and myself from the phantoms if I don't have any energy left?"

Irina offered a reassuring smile. "Don't worry, Sylvie. Remember the preparations we made? We bought herbs that can repel phantoms without relying on mana. You should stay in the room and use those since you will only be dealing with Jasmine's phantom if what we know is correct. I'll be back as soon as I can."

Sylvie's expression eased a bit as she recalled their earlier preparations. "Right, the herbs. But what if something happens to you in Astron's dream?"

Irina's gaze held a hint of determination. "I'll be careful. Besides, it's our best shot at waking Astron up. We can't afford to waste time. Trust me on this, Sylvie."

Sylvie nodded, accepting Irina's plan. Her eyes were filled with determination as well.

"What do I need to do, Irina?"

Irina explained the plan. "You need to pierce that black spell with your power for just a second. Create an opening, and at that moment, I'll slip my consciousness into Astron. It's a complex rank-4 spell called phantasmic transfer. Once I'm inside, I'll try to navigate through Astron's dream and wake him up. It's risky, but it's the best chance we have."

Sylvie nodded, understanding the task at hand. "I'll do my best, Irina. Just be careful in there. If something goes wrong, or if you need to come back, let me know immediately."

Irina nodded in return. "I will. Now, let's get ready. Once you create that opening, I'll initiate the transfer. We need to synchronize our actions. Ready?"

Sylvie took a deep breath, her determination shining through. "Ready."

SHINE!

And at that moment, Irina felt her consciousness swirl away…..

done.co