Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

"Shall we begin with the pairing of partners?"

The students nodded in unison since there were no downsides to the offer. Gloria Hull, with a confident stride, began pairing the members.

She would normally take into consideration various factors, creating partnerships that seemed to align with compatibility, but she didn't have any data for that for the time being. She needed to observe for a while; thus, she took a direct approach.

As Gloria assigned partners, the students observed the pairings with a mix of curiosity and excitement.

Friends found themselves dancing together, and some were matched with those they hadn't interacted with much before. The Multipurpose Hall buzzed with whispers and exchanged glances.

Though the History and Arts Club wasn't that big compared to the clubs related to combat, they still had fairly enough members. This mostly stemmed from the academy being rather crowded.

'She is pairing everyone with their closest ones.'

Realizing that was the case, Maya caught Astron's eye and attempted to subtly approach him among the shifting pairs.

'This is a good chance!'

After all, she would never miss this chance. For the past two weeks, thanks to Phantom's Land exploration and her own practical evaluations, she hasn't had many chances to interact with Astron.

However, her advance was intercepted by Amelia, who seemed determined to partner with her.

"Maya, where are you off to?" Amelia asked casually, taking Maya's arm as if to guide her. However, there was a subtle, firm grip, preventing Maya from easily slipping away.

Maya, caught off guard by Amelia's firm grip, struggled to come up with a convincing excuse. "Oh, t-that's…I just wanted to," she stammered, her attempt at nonchalance faltering. The subtle yet firm hold on her arm made it clear that Amelia wasn't inclined to let her slip away easily.

"You just wanted to?" Amelia's smile remained, but there was a distinct edge to her words. It was as if she could sense Maya's inner conflict and was determined to keep her attention elsewhere.

Before Maya could formulate any more excuses or attempt to free herself, her gaze involuntarily shifted toward Gloria Hull, who was in the process of pairing the remaining members. To her surprise, she saw Astron being paired with Sylvie.

Astron and Sylvie exchanged nods, seemingly comfortable with the arrangement. Since Astron had been training Sylvie for the past month, they had already been accustomed to their accompany to a certain extent.

However, Maya had no way of knowing that, as Astron had never mentioned it. He felt like something terrible would happen if he were to.

'Nooooo...'

The realization hit Maya like a sudden jolt. Her chance to dance with Astron had slipped away.

Gloria Hull took a little look at Maya and noticed her gaze. "Hmm~" She smiled a little, looking at the adolescent girl before her. "For our final pairing, Maya and Amelia, you'll be each other's dance partners."

Since there weren't any male students left, the last three pairs were actually girl-girl pairs. Most of the time, male students preferred joining combat-related courses, and though in the Hunter Academy, that difference wasn't as distinct as any other institutes.

Maya managed a strained smile, attempting to conceal her disappointment. 'I couldn't get him.' She inwardly thought.

"It is good that we matched, right?" Amelia said, with a smile on her own. But Maya couldn't help but feel a little resentment at the sight of Amelia looking at her like that. After all, it was her fault that she didn't end up with Astron; at least, that was what she wanted to believe.

"Yeah….." Her reply was also brief and filled with disappointment.

Gloria Hull, sensing Maya's disappointment, offered a sympathetic smile before transitioning into the practical aspects of the dance lesson. "Now, let's not dwell too much on the pairings. Dancing is about synergy, connection, and most importantly, enjoying the moment with your partner."

She kept her lecture brief, emphasizing the importance of communication through movement and expressing emotions through dance. Then, she gestured towards the designated dance floor, inviting the pairs to join her.

As the club members gathered on the dance floor, Gloria began to demonstrate the basic steps. Each movement was executed with grace and precision, showcasing her expertise in the art of dance. The members watched attentively, absorbing the fundamentals.

Amelia seemed enthusiastic, quickly catching onto the steps, while Maya, though trying to focus, couldn't help stealing glances at Astron and Sylvie. The pair moved seamlessly, their familiarity evident in every step.

A curious student raised her hand, "But Overseer Hull, how can you demonstrate a couple's dance without a partner?"

Gloria Hull responded with a confident smile as if she was expecting this question to be raised. She raised her hand, and with a subtle manipulation of pure mana, she created a small silhouette of a dancing man beside her. The ethereal figure mirrored her movements, illustrating the steps of a couple's dance.

"This is a simple visualization technique to guide you through the motions. Remember, dancing is about connection and understanding your partner's movements." She explained.

"Wow…." The students looked at her with awe, realizing what she had just displayed. Though it wasn't widely known, there was a special type of dance competition that only Awakened people could perform.

[Solo Enchanté: Mana Mirage Waltz]

This was the name of the event, as it was named after one of the ruins from the Fallen Kingdoms before the Nexus Convergence.

'I see….That is why she chose the dance. If she were to perform such an advanced dance technique, that means she is a lot more talented than I initially thought.'

Astron thought inwardly, raising Gloria's evaluation in his hand higher. Though he wasn't well-versed in dancing, he could at least appreciate the sight he was witnessing. The way Gloria was moving was so beautiful and elegant that even his picky tastes were satisfied.

"Now, let's start with some basic forms of dance," Gloria Hull announced, her movements transitioning into simple, elegant steps. The small silhouette beside her continued to mimic her, creating a visual guide for the students.

Gloria demonstrated the foundational dance postures, emphasizing the importance of maintaining a connection with the partner. She moved gracefully across the floor, her steps fluid and deliberate.

"Now, it's your turn. Don't be shy; feel the rhythm and connect with your partner," she encouraged, her gaze sweeping across the room.

*******

As the grotesque face approached Ethan, its hollow eyes fixated on him with an insatiable hunger. The tendrils held him tightly, and the oppressive force intensified, probing deeper into his mind and body.

The leader, with a sadistic grin, declared, "And now, it is time for you to be his meal!"

Ethan gritted his teeth, his struggle against the invisible restraints growing more desperate. The malevolent aura surrounding the grotesque face seemed to reach a fever pitch, ready to consume him entirely.

Just as the grotesque face loomed over Ethan, about to engulf him, a sudden brilliant light emanated from the ring on Ethan's hand.

–SCREECH!

The intense glow filled the dungeon, causing the grotesque face to let out a blood-curdling scream. The tendrils holding Ethan began to melt away, releasing him from their grip.

"What?"

Emily, locked in her own battle, glanced over at the unexpected turn of events. She watched as the grotesque face recoiled from the radiant light, its form beginning to dissolve into grotesque tendrils of darkness.

The other assailants were no different. None of them were expecting such a turn of events as they looked at the shining light.

"This is…." They didn't even have the time to be surprised.

–SWOOSH!

With newfound freedom, Ethan's hazel eyes slightly turned a vertical yellow as he seized the opportunity. In an instant, he appeared before the leader of the assailants, spear in hand. The grotesque face screamed in agony, unable to comprehend the unexpected turn of events. Even the connection that was letting it use the power of an entity outside the world was slowly being severed. The cursed artifact was slowly losing its effects and power.

Without hesitation, Ethan drove the spear through the leader's heart. The leader convulsed, his malevolent aura dissipating as the grotesque face disintegrated into nothingness.

"Burghk-!"

The leader coughed blood as the bridge of connection was severed. He no longer wielded the power of a cursed artifact.

"So….this is how my end comes….cough-!"

As he spoke his last words, Ethan twisted the spear in the masked guy's heart, ending his life.

"Leader….."

The remaining assailants, witnessing their leader's demise, faltered in their attacks, momentarily taken aback. They didn't even scream, as the aura that was being released from Ethan was too oppressive at that second.

Ethan, though liberated from the Devouring, felt a surge of unfamiliar power coursing through him, but that power disappeared after a second.

Ethan's hazel eyes, now returned to their normal state, surveyed the remaining assailants with a cold, unwavering gaze. The oppressive aura that had briefly surrounded him had dissipated, leaving behind an unsettling stillness in the dungeon.

"How many corpses did you collect to supply such an artifact?" Ethan's voice was firm, demanding answers from the masked assailants.

The assailants, momentarily silent, exchanged uneasy glances. The revelation that their leader had lost control of the cursed artifact left them on edge; however, as they realized that Ethan was no longer in the same transformed state, a smirk gradually formed on their faces.

Unveiling the truth, one of the assailants spoke with a sinister satisfaction, "We collected one human every day, sometimes sacrificing Hunters. With each life taken, the power of the Devouring grew stronger. We will even get stronger after killing you and the guy here."

Ethan, his gaze shifting to the ground and his spear, absorbed the grim reality of their actions. The dungeon had become a hunting ground, and innocent lives had been sacrificed to empower the cursed artifact.

"I see," Ethan muttered, his voice filled with a somber understanding.

As the two remaining assailants, fueled by newfound confidence, lunged toward Ethan, he calmly raised his hand and uttered words that cut through the tension like a blade. "People like you shouldn't be in this world."

In an instant, Ethan's spear became an extension of his will. With precise movements, he fended off the assailants' attacks, countering with calculated strikes. The dungeon echoed with the clash of metal, but this time, Ethan's movements were fluid and controlled.

Though he was also tired from the constant clashing, now he didn't care about any of those at all.

"People like you don't deserve an honorable death."

「Spear of Hartley. Three stabs of basic.」

Ethan's spear, the Spear of Hartley, flashed three times in rapid succession. The assailants, fueled by overconfidence, found themselves on the receiving end of Ethan's calculated strikes.

The first stab was aimed at the earth manipulator, who hastily raised a small pillar of earth to defend himself. However, the second consecutive strike defied the makeshift barricade, piercing through and finding its mark on the assailant's neck. A gurgled gasp escaped his lips as he staggered, realizing the situation.

Before the first assailant could comprehend the unfolding events, Ethan smoothly transitioned to the third stab. The spear found its mark on the chest of the remaining assailant, who recoiled from the sudden and precise assault.

Both assailants, now wounded and disoriented, struggled to maintain their footing. The dungeon echoed with the clash of metal and the pained groans of the assailants as they faced the consequences of their malevolent actions.

In a strained voice, the first assailant managed to ask, "How... How can you still move? We poisoned you!"

Ethan, undeterred, retorted with a cold resolve, "You don't deserve to know." Yet, this was a question he himself had yet to answer.

'Poison? I was poisoned?'

At that moment, Ethan realized something inside him had changed.