Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

538 Chapter 120.4 - Infernal Nexus

"That is understandable, and I'm not saying that you all should start trusting me instantly. But let's put this to the test. If it doesn't work, we can reassess. For now, let's see how we do with me calling the shots."

With the team's initial resistance fading and the logic of my proposal sinking in, I saw a shift in their attitudes. They were seasoned fighters, and they understood that flexibility was key to survival, especially in a place as dangerous as the Infernal Nexus.

"Fine by me," Dorian said, crossing his arms but with a more relaxed posture. Elena, who had been one of the more vocal opponents earlier, nodded slowly as well, her eyes thoughtful.

Kurt, who had already accepted the logic of the change, stepped forward, his voice carrying professionalism.

"You've got my support, Astron. If this strategy helps us complete the mission more efficiently, I'm all for it."

'Not bad.'

There is a reason why most of the elites on guilds are chosen by not only in terms of talent but also in terms of soft skills.

They may not be deemed as important for inexperienced people, but that is not the case when you become a hunter who has been in the industry for a while.

These are all things that one needs to possess in this industry.

Lila, who had been watching the exchange quietly, gave a small nod. "Why not try? It's not like we will lose too much. And from what we have heard, you are a quite talented hunter, so we might as well see it ourselves."

With the team's support confirmed, I felt the shift in our dynamic. While they weren't yet fully comfortable with the change, they were willing to give it a chance. That was enough for now.

"Alright," I said, stepping into the role with the calm confidence the situation demanded. "We're close to the core of the dungeon, and the challenges ahead will likely be even tougher. Stay alert, and follow my lead."

As we moved deeper into the dungeon, I scanned the surroundings, detecting the subtle fluctuations of mana that indicated the presence of more enemies. The path narrowed slightly, the walls glowing with an intense heat that made the air shimmer. I could sense the build-up of energy ahead—another wave of fire golems, similar to the Magma Golems we had just faced.

"We're approaching another group of fire golems," I informed the team quietly, my voice steady. "This time, we'll change tactics as needed. I'll direct the formations based on their movements and weaknesses."

Kurt nodded, his expression serious but trusting. "Understood. Just give the orders, and we'll follow."

As we neared the next chamber, the golems began to stir. These ones were slightly different from the previous wave—larger, with thicker armor and a more intense glow emanating from their cores.

'Still, the core of the formation will not change.' They were clearly designed to be tougher and more resilient, their molten exteriors promising a harder fight, but in the end, their being stronger is meaningless in the face of the right strategy.

"Golems ahead," I called out, my voice low but commanding. "Prepare for engagement. Gareth forms a barrier on the left; Dorian and Elena take the right flank. Lila, keep your golem centered and ready to intercept. We'll focus on their legs and joints first to limit their mobility."

The team moved swiftly, following my directions.

As the golems began their slow advance, I observed their movements carefully, analyzing the flow of mana within their bodies.

The mana cores were well-protected, but I could see the faint lines of energy running through their joints and armor—weak points that we could exploit.

"Dorian, target the joints at the knees. Elena, focus on the upper arms with freezing spells to slow their movements," I ordered. "Lila, have your golem apply pressure to their center mass to keep them from advancing too quickly."

The team executed the plan with precision. Dorian's dual swords flashed as he darted in and out of the golems' reach, striking at the knees with calculated strikes. Elena's ice magic crackled in the heated air, her spells connecting with the golems' arms and causing steam to rise as the intense cold clashed with their fiery cores.

I continued to monitor the battle, adjusting our formation as the golems responded to our attacks. Gareth's barriers shifted to block incoming strikes, while Lila's golem took the brunt of the force, holding the line and preventing the golems from pushing us back.

As I observed, I finally found it—a slight flicker in the flow of mana around the golems' cores, indicating a vulnerability.

It was faint, but it was there, just beneath the thick armor.

"Keep them occupied and maintain pressure."

With that, I nocked an arrow, coating it with fire-attributed psions to match the golems' elemental affinity. The Starpiercer Arc hummed with energy as I pulled the string back, aiming carefully at the exposed weak point.

SWOOSH!

The arrow flew true, striking the golem at the exact spot I had identified.

The piercing attribute of the bow allowed the arrow to penetrate the thick armor, embedding itself deep within the golem's core.

A moment later, the fire-attributed psions activated, causing the arrow to explode from within.

'Indeed, it is not as strong as how it would be with [Celestalith], but I can see the change thanks to the increase in my magic power.' If I were to use [Celestalith] here, the destruction would be much more severe. With the golem's mana interrupted, they would just overload themselves with the energy from inside and would just lose themselves.

The golem staggered, its molten body convulsing as the explosion disrupted the flow of energy within its core. The armor cracked, and the golem's movements became erratic, its massive form struggling to maintain stability.

"Gareth, reinforce the barriers around Lila's golem! Dorian – use the uptime."

With the first golem staggering from the internal explosion, I quickly turned my attention to the others. There was no time to waste—each golem needed to be neutralized before they could regroup and pose a greater threat.

"Elena, Kurt, Gareth—focus on the remaining golems!" I ordered, my voice sharp and precise. "Elena, use your magic to keep them off balance. Kurt, hold the line and draw their attention. Gareth, reinforce the barriers and prepare to intercept any retaliatory strikes."

As they moved into position, I nocked another arrow, my Starpiercer Arc humming with energy. I could see the faint flickers of vulnerability in the mana flows of the other golems, just as I had with the first. These weak points were our key to dismantling them quickly and efficiently.

"Lila, keep your golem on the lead target! Dorian, support Elena and hit the joints—keep them occupied while I cripple them."

The team sprang into action.

Elena unleashed a barrage of ice and fire spells, her elemental magic clashing with the heat of the golems' molten bodies. The rapid fluctuations in temperature caused cracks to form in their armor, destabilizing their movements.

"ROOOOAR!"

Kurt, with his shield raised high, taunted the golems, drawing their attacks toward him and away from the more vulnerable members of the team. Gareth's barriers shimmered around us, absorbing the immense heat and force from the golems' strikes while his magic prepared for any counterattacks.

With the others keeping the golems occupied, I focused on the task at hand. I aimed carefully, targeting the weak points I had identified in the mana flows.

One by one, I released my arrows, each one coated with fire-attributed psions to maximize the damage. The arrows struck true, embedding themselves deep within the golems' armor before detonating from within.

The first arrow hit its mark, and the golem staggered just as the first had. The explosion disrupted its core, causing it to lose control of the molten energy that powered it. The once-imposing creature began to crumble, its movements erratic and unstable.

Without missing a beat, I nocked another arrow and aimed at the next target. The piercing attribute of the bow allowed me to strike deep into the golem's core, bypassing its thick armor and causing another internal explosion.

The golem convulsed, its massive form shuddering as it struggled to maintain its structure.

Just like that, within moments, the last of the golems crumbled to the ground, its core shattered by a well-placed arrow. The battle, which had threatened to overwhelm us, was now over. The chamber fell silent once more, the oppressive heat still lingering.

The team members took a moment to catch their breath, their expressions a mix of relief and respect.

Kurt lowered his shield, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. "That was indeed well-executed." He said. "I can no longer complain."

Dorian, still catching his breath, stepped over to Kurt and clapped a hand on his shoulder, a grin spreading across his face. "Well, I guess the saying is true: 'The frog in the well doesn't know about the ocean.' I would've never expected this fight to be over so fast. You've got to admit, Kurt, we've been in the well for a while."

Kurt chuckled, shaking his head but clearly taking the comment in stride. "Alright, alright, I get it. But hey, I'm not too proud to admit when someone else's strategy works better. It's good to learn new things, even if it means stepping out of our comfort zone."

Gareth, always the practical one, nodded in agreement as he lowered his hands, the barriers around us flickering out of existence now that the threat had passed. "I'll admit, we'd have likely spent thrice as long, if not more, in this fight without Astron's quick thinking. Those golems were built to endure, but we didn't give them the chance. Efficiency is key, and we certainly nailed it this time."

Elena leaned on her staff slightly, still glowing from the magic she had used. "I agree. The way you pinpointed those weak spots saved us a lot of time and effort. I'm starting to think we've been working too hard, not smart."

"Working hard is not always the solution." I stood up and looked at the smartwatch. "While Kurt is indeed a good leader, he lacks understanding of other types of classes."

"Understanding?"

"Indeed. It's not just about knowing what they can do; it's about knowing their strengths, their limitations, and how they contribute to the overall strategy. A leader needs to think beyond their own role. They need to anticipate how the other members of the team will move, how they'll react, and how to coordinate those actions to achieve the best outcome."

Elena, still leaning on her staff, looked thoughtful. "So, you're saying that to really excel as a leader, Kurt needs to know more than just tanking. He needs to understand what it's like to be in the shoes of a mage or a swordsman—or even a ranger like you."

"Precisely."

Kurt nodded slowly, processing my words. "I've always focused on my role as a tank, thinking that if I could hold the line, that was enough. But you're right. There are times when I've misjudged a situation because I didn't fully grasp what the others were dealing with."

"Well, that is enough talk. We must move further now."

The time was ticking after all.

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