Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

<Arcadia Hunter Academy, Thursday, 3 P.M>

The sun had already disappeared behind the clouds, some bits of snow falling down to the ground.

The amphitheater was packed with spectators eagerly awaiting the next highly anticipated duel. The energy in the air was electric, and the crowd buzzed with excitement.

"This is going to be a showdown for the ages," a scout whispered to his friend. "The Arkwright and Middleton families are both sword legends."

"Yeah, and after Lucas's performance earlier, everyone's expecting great things from Julia," his friend replied, leaning forward in anticipation.

The announcer's voice echoed through the amphitheater, calling for attention. "Ladies and gentlemen, our next duel features Julia Middleton, ranked 61, versus Damien Arkwright, ranked 21. Contestants, please step into the arena!"

The crowd erupted into applause as Julia Middleton stepped into the arena. She was a vision of grace and determination, her white hair flowing behind her and her blue eyes focused.

She carried herself with the confidence of someone who had trained tirelessly, her posture perfect and her movements precise. In her hand, she wielded a beautifully crafted sword, a symbol of the Middleton family's legacy.

But, inwardly, things were different.

'What is this feeling?'

For the first time in her life, Julia was feeling something that she had never felt.

Pressure.

It was as if an invisible pressure and sense of getting locked down in a prison had enveloped her.

She couldn't understand. For all of her life, she had never felt the need to bother over such things.

Sword, life, everything was easy. She trained and got results. That was it.

But what she had seen at Lucas' duel….She tried to do it on her own, but she wasn't able to.

As if she wasn't enough.

This feeling….

'This is the first time.'

And she didn't know how to deal with it. It was, somehow, disturbing.

'No. Focus.'

However, she couldn't afford to think about those things right now since she was here to fight.

Opposite her, Damien Arkwright entered the arena with an air of confidence and grace. His golden hair shimmered in the sunlight, and his striking features drew the admiration of many in the crowd.

Damien was renowned not only for his looks but also for his extraordinary achievements. At the age of 13, he had defeated a full-fledged hunter, a feat that had earned him widespread fame.

He was strong. Very strong. The reason why he was ranked 21 was not because he was lacking in combat.

It was just because he rather played in an unsportsmanlike manner. In the entrance exam, he tortured other people, stepped down on weak students, and trampled on their pride.

In a way, Damien was truly a villainous guy. Someone who liked tormenting others. With Middleton's intelligence, they knew what kind of person Damien was.

What kind of acts did he partake in? They were rather vile and hard to speak of.

Yet, not everyone in the world knew.

The Arkwright Family had a lot of influence in stopping it. And it was not like they were the only ones.

The corruption ran deep.

And that was partly the reason why she had chosen him. She was planning to choose Vincent, but Lucas chose him instead.

Lucas came to their friend's group, announcing that he would be challenging Vincent right before she could, and she couldn't refute it. It would be uncharacteristic of her, and it was not like she cared too much, either.

Therefore, her next choice was Damien.

Even though that guy was quite a strong opponent, and the result wouldn't be immediately evident, it was still worth taking the risk.

Since she wanted to erase the smile on his face, reveal his true nature, and finally trample on him like he did to others.

'Yes. That is all I need to do. I don't need anything else.'

As Damien looked into Julia's eyes, he smirked and asked, "Did you sleep well yesterday?"

Julia raised her head, her expression calm. "Of course. Why wouldn't I?"

Damien's smirk widened. "I couldn't sleep. I was too excited, thinking about trampling on an insolent girl who thinks she's on the same level as me."

Julia's eyes narrowed slightly, but she remained composed. This type of wording….She would normally be the one to make such jokes.

But somehow, today, she couldn't catch it, and this scratched her pride for some reason. It was, weirdly enough, irritating.

"We'll see who's left standing, you stupid fucker."

"Oh….Foul-mouthed as usual, are we."

"At least I am not filthy from the inside like you."

"Tu-tu-tu. Everyone who speaks about the beauty of the insides is, in general, the one who is ugly."

"Fitting for someone like you."

Damien chuckled, his voice dripping with mockery. "You really believe you can match me? How amusing. I can't wait to wipe that confident look off your face."

Julia tightened her grip on her sword, her resolve hardening. She had faced many challenges before, but this was different.

"Oh my gosh, Damien is so handsome!"

"Did you see his golden hair? He looks like a prince!"

"And he's so strong! I heard he defeated a full-fledged hunter when he was just 13. Can you believe that?"

Julia's irritation grew with each word. These girls had no idea who Damien really was, the cruelty he hid behind that charming facade.

To them, he was a hero, a prince. But Julia knew the truth. She knew the darkness that lurked within him, the way he enjoyed tormenting others, and the vile acts he committed when no one was looking.

"He's going to win for sure. Julia doesn't stand a chance against him," one of the girls said with a giggle.

This was personal.

She was determined to prove herself and expose Damien for what he truly was.

The announcer's voice called out once more, signaling the start of the duel. "Are both contestants ready?"

Julia and Damien nodded, their eyes locked onto each other.

"Begin!"

Damien moved first, his sword slicing through the air with incredible speed and precision. His golden hair fluttered as he advanced with a series of swift, graceful strikes.

Julia met his attacks head-on, her own sword movements equally fluid and powerful.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

The sound of clashing swords echoed through the amphitheater, a symphony of metal and determination. Julia Middleton and Damien Arkwright were locked in a dance of steel and strategy, each movement precise and calculated.

00:47

Damien's sword glinted in the dim light as he launched a series of complex, fluid strikes, his movements almost hypnotic.

The Arkwright Sword Style was like a dance, each swing designed to confuse and mislead his opponent. He moved with the grace of a ballerina, his attacks unpredictable and difficult to read.

"Haha….You seem to be having a hard time ."

That was the essence of the Arkwright Family's sword. The two families, Middleton and the Arkwright, were like a dipole.

Suppose one was suited for the raw strength. They fought like beasts, dealing with simple but efficient movements. This sword style. It was perfect for dealing with monsters.

The other one was suited for the illusions. That was why Julia was shaken by how Lucas used such a movement.

Since that style had contradicted their own family's style.

Since the Middleton family perfectly specialized in dealing with monsters, Arkwrights specialized in fighting against humanoid opponents with minds.

Of course, that was of the essence. From some point on, every swordsman had their own interpretation of the world and their own sword.

From the start, this fight was in a disadvantageous situation for her.

Julia, however, was not easily swayed.

"Tsk."

Her movements were sharp and aggressive, a stark contrast to Damien's elegance.

Since there was a reason why she confidently challenged Damien. A specialty that differed her from any normal human.

A specialty that she had noticed when she was a child.

Her motor capabilities and neurotic system were faster than others. When others would react, she could send for different signals from the same motor neuron.

In a way, the frequency with which her body worked was bigger than others. And this gave her an innate advantage in life.

Her innate motor capabilities allowed her to react with lightning speed, her body a blur of motion.

「Sword of Middleton. Harmony.」

Even though the technique meant to be calm, she rather wielded her sword with the ferocity of a beast, each strike a testament to her raw strength and refined skill.

This was her own implementation.

CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!

Their swords met in a series of rapid collisions, sparks flying with each impact. Julia's attacks were relentless, her speed and power forcing Damien to stay on the defensive. She pushed forward with a series of powerful slashes, her blade a whirlwind of lethal intent.

「Arkwright's Grace.」

Damien countered with a graceful pirouette, his sword slicing through the air in a wide arc.

He aimed to disorient Julia, using the fluidity of his movements to mask his true intentions. But Julia's enhanced reflexes allowed her to see through his feints, her instincts guiding her blade to intercept his strikes.

"You think you can confuse me with your dance?" Julia taunted, her voice steady despite the exertion.

Damien smirked, his golden hair shimmering as he twisted away from her blade. "We'll see how long you can keep up, little girl."

Julia's eyes narrowed, her grip tightening on her sword. She knew she had to maintain her focus, to not let Damien's provocations distract her. She lunged forward with a burst of speed, her blade aiming for his midsection.

Damien sidestepped, his movements fluid and elegant, but Julia was relentless. She pressed her advantage, her attacks coming faster and harder. Her sword sliced through the air with deadly precision, forcing Damien to stay on his toes.

"Here, I thought you would be showing something, like your twin."

Suddenly, she heard Damien mumble something.

But, I guess I expected too much from you.

Before Julia could react, the world around her began to change. Her vision blurred, and the sounds of the crowd faded away. It was as if she had been transported to another realm. Countless mirrors materialized around her, each reflecting a distorted image of her opponent. The reflections multiplied, creating an endless maze of Damien's sneering visage.

Welcome to the Realm of Dreams.

Damien's voice echoed, coming from every direction. The disorienting effect was immediate. Julia spun around, trying to locate the real Damien, but it was impossible.

Each reflection moved in perfect synchronization, creating an overwhelming sense of confusion.

Not a pathetic display like that guy's, but a real illusion blade.