Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

However, even if I were to change my position, there were things I needed to consider.

Before making the switch to close combat, I quickly assessed the team's positioning. If I moved to the front, someone needed to cover Lila, and the formation would have to adjust accordingly. "Everyone, shift the formation," I ordered, my voice steady but urgent. "Elena, take the rearguard position and cover Lila. I'll take your spot in the front. Gareth, support Kurt more closely."

There was no hesitation in their response. The team had grown accustomed to making these adjustments on the fly. Elena nodded, stepping back from her mid-range position. As a battlemage, she was versatile and could adapt to both offensive and defensive roles. She moved to cover Lila, her staff glowing with energy as she prepared to cast defensive and support spells from the rear.

With Elena falling back, I moved to take her position at the front, now just behind Kurt and Gareth. The Serpent Fangs gleamed in my hands, and I activated their corrosive ability as I charged forward, ready to take on the trolls directly.

Gareth, understanding the new dynamic, shifted closer to Kurt. His barriers flared up to absorb the ice trolls' heavy blows, providing an extra layer of defense. Meanwhile, Dorian, already engaged with the trolls, adjusted his movements to complement mine. His swift strikes kept the trolls distracted, leaving openings for me to exploit.

As I closed in on the nearest ice troll, I felt the cold bite of the environment, but the heat from the battle was enough to keep me focused.

'Three strikes, each of them has a stacking corrosive ability. And after the third strike, it introduces paralysis to the enemy. Each of the strikes has a poisonous attribute, and if struck deep enough, the dagger will corrupt the mana from inside. But, it is slow.' I thought about the information that I had gotten from Liana about the dagger.

At the same time, as my hand gripped the hilts of the Bloodthirsty Serpent Fangs, I felt a surge of energy rush through my body. There was an undeniable shift in my senses—a sharpening of reflexes, an increase in speed that felt both subtle and potent.

My movements were faster and more fluid, as if the daggers themselves were enhancing my agility. I could feel the effect of the Serpent's Reflex kicking in, heightening my awareness of the battlefield and allowing me to react with greater precision.

'This is why it's called the Bloodthirsty Serpent Fangs,' I thought, feeling the boost in speed as I darted forward, weaving between the ice trolls' massive fists.

SWOOSH! Each strike I delivered was swift, the daggers cutting deep into the troll's thick hide.

–SLASH! The first strike left a faint trace of venom that began to eat away at the troll's defenses.

–SLASH!

The second followed just as quickly, compounding the damage and weakening the creature's icy armor. I could feel the venom taking effect, softening the creature's outer layer.

–SLASH!

With the third strike, the venom reached its peak. The troll's movements slowed as the paralysis set in, its body locking up just long enough for me to exploit the weakness. The corrupted mana from the dagger spread through the troll's veins, further disrupting its natural energy flow.

As the troll's body locked up from the paralysis, I didn't waste a moment. The window was small, but it was enough. I moved swiftly, targeting the troll's legs with a precise strike aimed at its tendons.

The Bloodthirsty Serpent Fangs sliced through with ease, severing the tendons and ensuring that even when the paralysis wore off, the troll would be crippled.

–SWOOSH! Just as I finished the move, the paralysis began to fade, and the troll attempted to regain its mobility.

THUD! Its hulking frame shifted, but its legs betrayed it. The creature staggered, its weight unbalanced, and it let out a low, frustrated growl as it struggled to stand. Its massive arms flailed, but its footing was already lost.

Now was the time to strike.

With a quick dash, I leaped above the troll's head, positioning myself for the final blow. My daggers gleamed in the cold light as I aimed directly for its eyes. The first dagger pierced through the troll's left eye with a sickening squelch, and the second followed just as quickly, sinking into the right. The troll's body convulsed as the pain registered, and its roar echoed through the icy landscape.

"ROOOOAR!"

I flipped backward, landing a safe distance away, just as the troll's roar escalated into a maddened, primal scream. Blinded and in pain, the creature thrashed wildly, swinging its massive arms in every direction.

"Everyone, fall back!" I called out, my voice sharp as I moved further back. "It's going berserk—watch your distance."

The team responded instantly, retreating out of the troll's immediate reach. Kurt and Gareth reinforced their defenses, raising their shields to protect themselves from any stray blows. Elena and Lila stepped back, keeping their distance as they prepared for the troll's rampage.

The troll's blind rage was uncontrollable. It slammed its fists into the ground, sending tremors through the icy terrain, and in its frenzy, it swung wildly at everything around it. Its massive arms crashed into the remaining trolls, causing them to stumble and shift their focus from us to their rampaging ally.

Dorian, always quick on his feet, grinned as he observed the chaos. "Looks like our friend here is helping us out now."

The blinded troll, in its desperate attempt to strike anything within range, collided with one of the other trolls, knocking it off balance. The impact sent both trolls crashing into the ground, their combined weight causing cracks to form in the ice beneath them.

"Let it tire itself out," I instructed, keeping a safe distance while observing the battlefield. "Once it's done rampaging, we'll move in."

The troll's roars continued to fill the air as it flailed, but with its tendons severed and its eyes destroyed, its movements grew more erratic and less controlled. It struck another troll in the process, further weakening its allies.

The team held their ground, waiting for the berserk troll's energy to burn out. Its thrashing became slower, more labored, and as its strength finally began to wane, it collapsed to its knees, breathing heavily.

'It seems fine enough.' ******

We had been exploring the frozen depths of the Frostbound Ascent for nearly three hours. The frigid air gnawed at us, each breath coming out as a visible mist, while the cold bit into our bones despite the protective gear we wore. The relentless battles with the frost elementals and ice trolls had taken their toll, and the tension in the group was palpable.

The cold was unforgiving, making every movement feel heavier and slower. The team's nerves, already worn thin by the constant threat of attack, were beginning to harden with the fatigue and icy environment.

Elena's breaths were shallow, and I could see her rubbing her gloved hands together to keep the circulation going, her magic staff glowing faintly as she conserved her strength. Kurt kept his shield raised, but his usually firm posture had started to droop slightly.

Gareth's barriers were flickering more often now, and I could see his shoulders rise and fall heavily with exhaustion.

Dorian, despite his usual grin, wasn't immune to the cold. His movements, once fluid and sharp, had grown more measured, his dual blades striking with less vigor.

Lila, who had been keeping a low profile while supporting us with magic, was breathing heavily, her face pale from the extended use of mana and the biting cold that refused to relent.

'That is to be expected.'

Thanks to the rune, Everchanging Glyph, my body adapted to every situation that I was in. Regardless of how extreme it was, my body would change itself effectively.

'The mana consumption is quite high this time. The conditions look more severe, and it also hurts quite a bit.'

Now that I was in such extreme conditions, I started to realize why Dakota wanted me to train for these extreme conditions as well.

'Slowly, the mana consumption is getting less and less. My body is adapting, but because it is the first time such a thing is happening, it took a lot.' I scanned the icy landscape ahead, my senses picking up a subtle but distinct increase in mana fluctuations. The cold, combined with the constant pressure of the dungeon's challenges, was wearing the team down fast, and while my Everchanging Glyph was keeping me in peak condition, the others weren't so fortunate. They needed a break before pushing any further.

Spotting a vantage point—a sheltered spot beneath a large, frozen overhang—I raised my hand, signaling for the team to stop. "Let's take a break here," I said, my voice cutting through the howling wind. "We're getting closer to the boss area. You all need to rest and recover your strength."

The team exchanged glances, their brows furrowed in confusion. "The boss area?" Kurt asked, his voice carrying a mix of surprise and weariness.

I nodded. "The mana fluctuations are getting stronger and more concentrated the further we go. From what I can sense, we've got about an hour of exploration left before we reach the core of the dungeon. But pushing forward without resting will wear you out. Take this time to recover."

Elena let out a tired breath, her relief palpable as she slumped down onto a nearby rock. "An hour left… I can't believe we've been going for three hours straight."

Dorian, wiping the frost from his brow, shook his head with a tired chuckle. "I didn't think a one-rank difference would hit us this hard. Rank-6 gates are no joke."

Kurt sat down beside Elena, his shield resting against the ice, and nodded in agreement. "It's not just the monsters; it's the environment. The cold is sapping our strength, and we've been fighting non-stop. I didn't expect it to be this tough."

Gareth, who had been silently maintaining the protective barriers, let his shoulders relax as he allowed the magic to fade. "We knew it would be harder, but this… it's like everything's fighting against us—the monsters, the terrain, even the air we breathe."

Lila sat down beside Gareth, her pale face showing signs of relief. "It's exhausting just keeping up. I've been struggling to maintain my mana flow in this cold."

I stood nearby, keeping watch as the team caught their breath. "Rank-6 gates aren't just about the monsters," I said. "The environment plays a bigger role than most realize. That's why we need to be prepared for everything—including harsh conditions like this."

The team nodded, clearly grateful for the rest. They had been pushing hard, and the weight of the dungeon had become more apparent with every step. Even if it was just a one-rank difference, the impact was undeniable.

Dorian let out a sigh of relief, stretching his arms. "I don't know how you're still standing like it's nothing, Astron. You're like a damn machine."

I gave a slight nod, choosing not to reveal the full extent of my abilities. "Just trying to make sure we all make it through. Let's focus on resting now."

The team settled in, taking advantage of the respite while we prepared for the final push toward the boss.

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