Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

The next morning brought a palpable shift in the atmosphere around Vanguard Haven. The team gathered in the guild's briefing room, their usual energy more focused, more tense. The holographic display in the center of the room glowed faintly, showing two gates marked on the map. Unlike the previous days, the number of gates scheduled was fewer—just two—but that was by design.

Astron stood at the front with Liana, listening as she laid out the day's plan.

"You've done well with the rank-5 gates," Liana began her tone professional but carrying a note of caution. "But as you know, those are all behind us now. Vanguard Haven has filled its quota, and we no longer have access to any rank-5 gates under our jurisdiction."

That was to be expected as the guild, being a B-rank one, only had 8 rank-5 gates under its authority, and all of them were now cleared with yesterday's schedule.

She tapped the screen, zooming in on the two gates marked for the day. "That means, starting today, you'll be clearing rank-6 gates. The number of gates will be fewer, but the difficulty level will be significantly higher. You'll face more complex environments, stronger monsters, and greater risks."

The team exchanged brief glances, each member understanding the gravity of what was coming. Dorian's usual cocky grin had faded into a more serious expression, while Kurt's jaw was set in determination. Elena's grip on her staff tightened slightly, and even Gareth, stoic as always, had a more focused look in his eyes.

Liana continued. "This was part of the guild's long-term plan. Once Astron had integrated fully into the team, we intended to push you toward rank-6 gates for training and greater challenges. Today, we put that plan into action."

Astron nodded slightly, already mentally preparing himself for the day ahead. While the rank-5 gates had been tough, they hadn't posed a real, life-threatening danger. Today, however, that would change.

"The first gate is called 'Frostbound Ascent,'" Liana said, bringing up an image of a jagged, icy mountain peak. "It's an ice-based dungeon with a heavily fortified environment. The monsters are primarily frost elementals and ice trolls, known for their resilience and pack coordination. The terrain will be your biggest obstacle—slippery surfaces, freezing temperatures, and limited visibility. You'll need to be cautious."

She tapped the screen again, bringing up the second gate. "The second gate is 'Howling Abyss,' a wind-based dungeon filled with aggressive, airborne creatures known as Gale Serpents. These monsters are fast and unpredictable and rely on the dungeon's intense winds to disorient their prey. You'll need to maintain your formation and ensure no one gets separated."

Dorian let out a low whistle, his expression serious. "Looks like we've got our work cut out for us today."

Kurt nodded in agreement, his brow furrowed. "We've handled worse, but these sound… different."

Liana's gaze swept over the team, her expression steady. "These are rank-6 gates. The challenge is real, and the risk is higher than anything you've faced so far. But I trust that each of you is ready. You've proven yourselves capable."

Most of the team members had at least three parameters that reached the six basepoints. That was a necessity for most Hunters, as most of the time, Hunters tended to play it safe.

Rarely would people go for the dungeons of their own level until they accumulated enough experience.

That was the reason why this team was also constantly performing in Rank-5 dungeons up to this point despite having the necessary parameters to at least face the rank-6 dungeon on paper.

The atmosphere in the room grew tense as the weight of Liana's words settled in. Dorian, usually the first to break the tension with a joke or a grin, was silent for a moment before speaking, his voice quieter than usual. "We've never been in a rank-6 dungeon before. Why are we starting now?"

Kurt's brow furrowed even deeper as he echoed Dorian's concern. "Yeah, we've trained hard, but we've always stuck to rank-5 gates, even though our stats are ready. Why the sudden jump?"

Liana's gaze swept over the team, her usual composed demeanor carrying a hint of gravity. She paused, then turned her attention to Astron before speaking.

"As you all know, today is the last day that Astron will be with you," she began, her voice calm but steady. "He'll be leaving the guild after this, returning to his duties. His presence here has accelerated your growth, both in terms of efficiency and in how you've worked together as a team."

Dorian's eyes flicked toward Astron, and Kurt's expression softened as they processed the news. None of them had expected today to be Astron's last day.

Liana continued, "With Astron on your team, you've learned things you didn't even realize you were lacking. His strategic mind, his ability to plan and execute, has raised your level. It's why the guild made the decision to push you forward. With his presence, we believe this team can handle more than it could before."

There was a moment of silence as the team absorbed this, realizing the truth in Liana's words. Even though they hadn't voiced it, each of them knew they'd grown in the short time Astron had been with them.

"And," Liana added, her eyes scanning each of them carefully, "there's another factor. The media's attention is now on you. The guild sees this as an opportunity to show what Vanguard Haven is capable of—training newer Hunters to the point where they can handle rank-6 gates. If you succeed today, not only will the guild's reputation soar, but so will your individual careers."

Elena, who had been quiet until now, glanced up, her voice soft but steady. "So, we're pushing ourselves not just for the guild, but for our futures too."

Liana nodded. "Exactly. It's a chance to prove yourselves on a larger stage. And the guild recognizes the risk you're taking. That's why I've been authorized to offer an increase in your pay, along with a bonus for completing these higher-risk dungeons."

Dorian raised an eyebrow, a small grin returning to his face. "Well, if there's a bonus involved, I guess we can't say no."

Kurt let out a breath, his tension easing slightly. "It's a challenge, but it sounds like the right step for us."

Astron remained quiet throughout, watching the team as they processed the information.

He hadn't expected to have such an impact on them, but it was clear that his presence had changed things.

Or had he?

At the end, it did not matter.

Liana gave the team a reassuring smile. "You've all grown a lot, and this is your chance to prove it. Today will be tough, but I believe you're ready. And if you succeed, you'll all be that much stronger."

The team exchanged looks, their resolve hardening. While the shift to rank-6 gates was sudden, there was a shared understanding that this was their moment to rise to the challenge—and with Astron still with them, they felt a sense of confidence they hadn't had before.

Dorian gave a final nod, his grin returning in full. "Well, I guess it's time to show everyone what we're made of."

*******

As we rode toward the first gate, the weight of the day's challenge settled over the team. The air in the vehicle was quiet but charged with a sense of focus. Kurt and Dorian were checking their gear, while Elena and Lila quietly reviewed their strategies. Everyone was mentally preparing for what was to come.

I pulled up the file provided by the analysts, skimming through the details of the monsters we'd face in the "Frostbound Ascent" gate. As expected, the frost elementals and ice trolls were strong opponents, each with their own unique abilities.

The frost elementals were highly resistant to physical attacks and could regenerate in icy environments, while the ice trolls were large, durable creatures with brute strength and pack coordination.

'Rank-6 monsters...' I thought to myself. 'They're not going to be easy to deal with, especially since I'm not using my full power.'

I knew that I had the raw ability to overpower these monsters if I pushed myself, but I had chosen to limit my use of [Celestalith]. It was a conscious decision, one that made sense given the circumstances of my current mission.

Drawing too much attention to myself—or to powers that were not well understood—proves to be dangerous in this world.

I have seen it quite a lot of times.

Because of that, I was holding back. While my stats and combat proficiency had improved significantly, I couldn't fully unleash my true potential. It left me in an interesting position. I was strong enough to challenge the monsters in the gate, but I couldn't afford to be reckless. I'd have to rely on my strategy and adaptability to compensate for the power I wasn't using.

'In a way, this is good practice,' I mused. 'It's not unlike the situation I'll face next week.'

After all, the following day, when I face that guy…..Even with [Celestalith], I will not be stronger than it.

And this gate, with its rank-6 monsters and harsh environment, would give me a chance to test myself—facing against an opponent stronger than myself.

'Not that it was ever different.'

Looking at it back, it has always been like this. Never, ever had I faced someone who was significantly weaker than myself.

'Yet, I am still here.'

That alone showed that strength was never everything in this world.

WROOM!

The vehicle hummed along the snowy road, its windows fogging slightly from the cold outside. The analysts' report went into further detail about the terrain. The freezing temperatures and slippery surfaces would limit our movement, and the limited visibility could make it easy for the ice trolls to ambush us. Coordination and timing would be crucial.

I closed the file and looked up. The rest of the team seemed ready, their earlier nervousness replaced with quiet determination. Dorian's cocky grin had softened into a more focused expression, and Kurt was double-checking his armor, making sure every piece was secured. Elena and Lila were reviewing some magical formations, quietly discussing how they would sync their spells during combat.

'They've come a long way,' I thought, observing the team. While they had some concerns earlier, they seemed to be rising to the challenge now. They had a strong foundation, and today would push them further.

The cold mountain gate, with its relentless frost elementals and brutal ice trolls, would serve as a testing ground for what I could achieve with these limits in place.

I glanced out the window as we neared the gate. The towering, icy peaks of "Frostbound Ascent" loomed ahead, shrouded in a thick blanket of snow and mist. The jagged cliffs looked treacherous, and even from this distance, I could feel the temperature drop.

The vehicle came to a slow halt, and Liana turned from the front seat. "We're here. I'll stay in contact with the base camp and monitor the situation from the outside. Stay sharp and work together. The gate's been quiet recently, but that could change the moment you step inside."

Kurt was the first to step out, his boots crunching into the snow. "Let's do this," he said, his voice steady.

Dorian followed, spinning one of his blades idly as he glanced up at the icy peaks. "Yeah, no turning back now."

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