Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

The landscape of Frostbound Ascent was as unforgiving as the analysts had described. Snow-covered cliffs rose high above us, the icy winds howling through the jagged rocks, cutting through our gear and chilling us to the bone. Each step we took left deep impressions in the snow, and the biting cold was a constant reminder of the harsh environment we were about to face.

Our team moved cautiously through the treacherous terrain, the crunch of our boots muffled by the wind. Kurt and Gareth took the lead, their massive frames cutting through the worst of the wind as they scouted for any signs of danger. Dorian followed closely, his twin blades gleaming faintly in the low light, ready for a quick draw. Elena walked beside Lila, the two of them quietly exchanging strategies on how best to combine their magic in the upcoming fight.

The analysts had made it clear: frost elementals and ice trolls would be our primary threats, and both were formidable. But my concern wasn't with the monsters themselves—it was with my ability to deliver the kind of damage the team would need from me, especially with a bow.

'My arrows might not be enough,' I thought. Even with Starpiercer's Arc, it still might fall short against creatures with such high durability and elemental resistance.

The frost elementals, in particular, were known for their resilience to physical attacks, and while I could adjust my shots to exploit their weaknesses, there was no guarantee that my arrows would pack the punch needed for a prolonged battle.

That was especially a concern since the conductive material was not simply suited for my moon mana. In a way, the power that I could display was limited just as I had mentioned. That alone made things a lot more harder.

As we moved further into the frozen landscape, I spoke up, my voice cutting through the wind. "There's something I want to bring up before we go any further."

The team slowed their pace, turning to look at me with raised eyebrows. Kurt, ever the practical one, was the first to respond. "What's on your mind?"

I met his gaze, my expression serious. "It's about my damage output with the bow. Against the frost elementals and ice trolls, my arrows might not be enough to deal significant damage. Even with Starpiercer's Arc, there's a possibility that my ranged attacks won't be as effective as we'd like."

Dorian quirked an eyebrow, a small smirk forming on his lips. "And you're telling us this now?"

Elena frowned slightly, glancing at my bow. "Why didn't you mention this earlier? We could've adjusted our plans."

I shook my head. "I didn't bring it up before because I didn't want to disrupt the team's focus. We've all been preparing for this gate, and I didn't want anyone to lose confidence or feel like they had to worry about my role."

Kurt crossed his arms, studying me carefully. "So what are you suggesting? We change the formation on the fly?"

"If necessary," I replied. "If I find that my arrows aren't doing enough damage, I might need to switch roles mid-combat. I would be more effective as a close ranged combatant."

"Right, Liana. You have also mentioned that your other primary weapon was a dagger."

"That is right."

Kurt's eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms, clearly considering the implications of my words. "So you're telling us you're proficient in close combat too? With daggers?" he asked, his tone more curious than skeptical.

I gave a short nod. "That's correct. I haven't had to use them during our previous gates because our formation has been working efficiently. As a ranger, I've been able to cover you all from a distance, and there hasn't been a need for me to switch roles. But in rank-6 gates, where the monsters are stronger and more resilient, it's possible that ranged attacks won't cut it."

Dorian tilted his head, his usual grin returning. "So, what are you saying? That you're better with daggers than with a bow?"

I paused for a moment, weighing my words. "Not exactly," I replied. "I'm proficient with both, but the real difference comes from the equipment. Serpent Fangs, the dagger that was issued to me by the guild, is more suited for close combat against stronger enemies. It has a passive ability that increases its effectiveness against tougher targets."

Elena raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "A specialized weapon, then. Why haven't you shown us your dagger skills before?"

"There was no need," I said simply. "Our current formation was functioning well, and we didn't face enemies that required me to switch roles. But now that we're in rank-6 gates, the situation might be different. The monsters here will be stronger, and the terrain could make ranged combat less effective."

Kurt nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense. If your bow isn't doing enough damage, switching to close combat could give us the edge we need. But we'll need to be prepared for that shift."

Dorian chuckled, giving me a playful nudge. "So, you've been holding out on us, huh? Guess we'll finally get to see what those daggers can do."

I didn't rise to the bait, instead keeping my tone level. "If the situation calls for it, I'll switch to daggers. But only if it benefits the team."

Lila, who had been quietly listening, chimed in. "The passive ability you mentioned—does it work in a way that boosts your damage output against stronger monsters?"

"Similar. It has a stacking corrosive ability. It lowers the defense of the enemy and also introduces paralysis."

"Paralysis. I see."

The team exchanged glances after I explained the dagger's abilities, and it was clear that they trusted me. Over the past two days, I had led them through tough fights, and we had come out stronger for it. They knew I wouldn't make a suggestion unless it was necessary.

Kurt was the first to break the silence, his tone steady. "You've earned our trust, Astron. If you think switching to close combat will give us an edge, do it. We're used to adjusting on the fly anyway."

Dorian shrugged, grinning slightly. "Hey, we've been taking your orders for the last couple of days. You've been right so far, so I'm not complaining. Do what you need to do."

Elena nodded in agreement, her staff glowing faintly in the cold light of the dungeon. "You've proven you know what you're doing, Astron. If the formation needs to change, we'll adapt."

Even Gareth, who typically kept quiet, gave a small nod. "We'll make it work. We've already seen how flexible our approach can be with you leading."

Lila, looking thoughtful, simply said, "Just give the signal if you need to change roles."

I appreciated their confidence in me and gave a slight nod. "Thank you. We'll stick to our current formation until the situation demands otherwise. If I switch to close combat, I'll give the signal, and we'll adjust accordingly."

With that, the team resumed moving through the icy terrain, our steps cautious but determined. The cold winds howled around us, and the path ahead was steep and treacherous. Frost clung to every surface, making footing precarious, but the team moved with purpose. I kept my eyes trained on the environment, scanning for any sign of movement or mana fluctuations that could indicate the presence of enemies.

It didn't take long before we encountered our first wave of monsters.

GROWL! A low growl echoed through the icy cliffs, followed by the unmistakable sound of cracking ice. From the jagged peaks above us, a group of frost elementals descended, their bodies made of swirling snow and ice. Their cold, glowing eyes locked onto us, and the temperature around us seemed to drop even further as they approached.

Behind them, I could hear the heavy footsteps of the ice trolls—massive, hulking creatures covered in thick layers of frost and ice. Their brutish forms lumbered through the narrow pass, their breath visible in the cold air as they prepared to charge.

"Frost elementals and ice trolls," I called out, my voice calm but firm. "Remember the plan. Stick to the formation for now."

Kurt and Gareth immediately moved to the front, raising their shields to brace for the incoming charge. Dorian unsheathed his twin blades, his grin replaced by a look of focused determination as he took his place at the vanguard. Elena began channeling her magic, preparing to unleash a barrage of elemental spells to counter the frost elementals. Lila's golem moved forward, acting as an additional line of defense, ready to intercept any threats.

The frost elementals moved swiftly, gliding over the icy terrain with unnatural speed. Their forms shifted and reformed as they closed in on us, and the air around them crackled with freezing energy. At the same time, the ice trolls charged forward, their massive fists raised to crush anything in their path.

"Focus on the elementals first," I ordered, drawing my bow and nocking an arrow. "Elena, hit them with fire-based spells. Gareth, keep the barriers up."

The team responded instantly, falling into the rhythm we had developed. Elena unleashed a burst of fire magic, her spells cutting through the cold air and slamming into the frost elementals. The flames caused the elementals to shudder and falter, their icy forms momentarily destabilized by the heat.

I released an arrow, aiming for the core of one of the elementals. The Starpiercer Arc hummed as the arrow struck true, piercing through the elemental's swirling body. The fire-attributed psions I had imbued into the arrow exploded on impact, shattering the elemental into shards of ice.

The ice trolls were slower but no less dangerous. Their massive fists came crashing down, but Kurt and Gareth held the line, their shields absorbing the impact. Dorian darted in and out of the trolls' reach, his blades flashing as he struck at their joints, weakening their movements.

As the battle raged on, I kept a close eye on the frost elementals, analyzing their patterns and movements.

'As expected. The arrows are not enough.'

It was not something that I could not understand. Thus, I just adapted. Even if the fire-based psions helped, but it wasn't enough to bring them down quickly.

After assessing the situation, I made a quick decision. "I'm switching to close combat," I called out, slinging the bow to my spatial bracelet and drawing the Serpent Fangs.

It was about the time when I started cutting things.

'It has been a while.'

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