Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 728 165.4 - Fine

The room was filled with a quiet warmth, the kind of comfort that came after exhaustion had been tended to.

Irina sat on the edge of the plush sofa, idly twisting a lock of her fiery hair between her fingers. The faint scent of the meal they'd shared earlier still lingered in the air-a spread of richly seasoned dishes the hotel's five-leaf rating had guaranteed.

Her injuries, though still tender, had been tended to with expert precision by the hotel's private medic. A faint warmth spread through her muscles, courtesy of the salves and potions they'd used, but the deeper exhaustion of the day remained. Astron sat in the armchair nearby, his sharp purple eyes scanning the pages of a small notebook he'd produced from his bag. His calm, focused expression had remained unchanged through their rest and recovery, a steady constant in the turbulence of the day.

Irina glanced at him, her amber eyes narrowing slightly as a thought formed in her mind. 'He's not even relaxing. Does he ever stop?"

Letting out a quiet sigh, she leaned forward, resting her elbows on her knees. "When are we going to leave?" she asked, her tone direct, though not without a tinge of weariness.

Astron's eyes flicked up from the notebook, meeting hers with that piercing intensity she'd come to expect. "Soon," he said simply, closing the notebook and setting it aside. "Are you ready?"

Irina's amber eyes narrowed with determination as she nodded, the lingering ache in her muscles overshadowed by the fiery energy building within her. "Yeah, I'm ready," she said, her tone steady but with an undercurrent of resolve. Her fingers tightened into fists, a faint flicker of flame dancing briefly along her knuckles. The memory of the attack burned in her mind, and the anger she'd suppressed during the chaos now simmered just below the surface.

Astron stood smoothly, his movements deliberate as he adjusted the strap of his bag. His sharp purple eyes flicked to her, studying her briefly before he gave a slight nod. Irina, fueled by the crackling energy of her frustration, pushed herself to her feet, her posture straight and purposeful. She glanced at him, her irritation bubbling to the forefront. "So? How are we going to find them? Do you have some secret tracker or something?"

Astron didn't reply immediately. Instead, he extended a hand toward her, his expression as calm and unreadable as ever. "Come."

Irina blinked, tilting her head slightly as she eyed his outstretched hand. "Hmm?" she muttered, caught off guard by the sudden gesture. "What are you-?"

"Just trust me," Astron said, his tone low but firm.

Still confused but curious, Irina hesitated for only a moment before placing her hand in his. His grip was steady, grounding, yet there was a subtle urgency in his actions that made her heart skip a beat. "Alright, but if this is some weird-"

Before she could finish her thought, Astron stepped closer, his free hand moving to her back as he pulled her into a firm embrace. Irina's eyes widened in surprise, her cheeks flushing as her fiery hair brushed against his coat. "Wh-What are you doing?" she stammered, her voice rising slightly in pitch.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Astron didn't answer. Instead, he turned his sharp gaze toward the window, his hold on her tightening just enough to ensure she wouldn't pull away. Irina barely had time to process what was happening before he took a step back-and then, with a sudden, fluid motion, leapt toward the open window.

"Wait-!" Irina gasped, her heart lurching as the glass gave way to the night air, the cold rush of wind engulfing them as they plunged downward. The city's glittering lights blurred around them, and for a brief, terrifying moment, all she could do was cling to him, her fiery energy flaring instinctively.

Astron's embrace remained steady, his calm presence anchoring her even as the wind roared past them. Irina's mind raced, but as the initial shock began to ebb, her voice returned. "Astron! What the hell was that?!"

"Hold on," he said simply, his voice carrying a strange calmness even amidst their rapid descent.

Before she could snap back at him, the sensation of falling abruptly shifted. A wave of mana pulsed through the air as Astron extended his hand, channeling energy into a spell.

As they fell through the cool night air, Irina felt a sudden tug, a faint strain on her body. Her amber eyes darted down, and she saw it-a thin, shimmering [Thread] of mana stretching from Astron's hand to the wall of the neighboring building. It pulsed faintly with his energy, taut and controlled, as it drew them toward their target. The tension in the thread snapped suddenly as Astron shifted his grip, swinging them upward with surprising force.

The city lights blurred around them as they arced gracefully through the air, the wind whipping past their faces. Irina's heart pounded, her fingers clutching Astron's coat tightly as the swing carried them higher. Before she could fully process the motion, their feet landed firmly on the flat surface of a nearby rooftop. The impact sent a faint tremor through her legs, but Astron remained steady, his stance as composed as ever. Irina stumbled slightly, breathing heavily as she tried to steady herself. She pushed her fiery hair out of her face, her amber eyes wide with a mix of exhilaration and disbelief. "What the hell was that?!" she gasped, her voice louder than she intended. Astron glanced at her, his expression calm and unflinching. "If we want to move without alerting people, it's better not to notify the hotel reception. There's a chance that information could be leaked."

Irina stared at him, her chest rising and falling as she caught her breath. His explanation was logical, as always, but something about his tone-or maybe the way he'd held her-felt... off. Her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer, searching for something she couldn't quite define. "That's it?" she asked, her voice quieter now, her tone carrying a hint of skepticism.

Astron didn't answer immediately, his sharp purple eyes fixed on the city skyline. "It's the most practical option," he said evenly, but Irina couldn't shake the feeling that there was more to it.

"There's another reason,' she thought, her lips pressing into a thin line. 'Something not entirely practical.' She didn't press him further, though; the moment felt too fleeting, too delicate to probe. Instead, she exhaled softly and shook her head, trying to shake off the lingering mix of emotions.

Without another word, Astron moved to the edge of the roof, glancing down at the streets below. Irina followed, her muscles still humming with residual energy from their abrupt escape. He gestured toward the next rooftop, and with a fluid leap, he cleared the gap effortlessly.

Irina inhaled sharply, then focused her mana. Flames flickered faintly around her feet as she channeled [Body Enhancement], reinforcing her strength and agility. She leapt after him, the faint glow of her flames propelling her forward. Her feet hit the next rooftop, the impact softened by her enhanced body.

They moved like this, jumping from building to building, the city spreading out beneath them like a glittering tapestry. Irina's breaths came in steady bursts as she kept pace with Astron, her enhanced body allowing her to match his movements. "This is... fun?' she realized suddenly, her lips quirking into a faint smile as she landed on another rooftop. The exhilaration of leaping over the city, the wind rushing past her, and the sight of people below moving like tiny ants-it was a thrill unlike anything she'd felt before. I've flown with my flames before, but this... this is different.' By the time they paused on another rooftop, the city stretched out endlessly before them, the lights twinkling like stars against the dark canvas of the night. Irina stood beside Astron, her chest heaving slightly but her amber eyes alight with energy. "This is insane," she muttered, though there was a spark of excitement in her tone.

Astron glanced at her, his sharp eyes catching the faint amusement in hers. "You're keeping up," he said, almost as if it surprised him.

Irina smirked, crossing her arms as she leaned against a vent. "What, you didn't think I could? I'm not some fragile little princess."

"No," Astron replied, his voice calm but with a faint edge of humor. "You're not."

For a moment, the tension of the mission seemed to ease, replaced by the quiet exhilaration of the night. Then, without a word, Astron turned his gaze back to the horizon, his focus shifting to the task ahead. Irina followed his gaze, her smirk fading into a determined expression as the weight of their mission settled back into place. "That is the place," Astron said, his voice low and steady, cutting through the stillness

of the night.

Irina blinked, her amber eyes snapping to the large structure below them. The warehouse loomed in the shadows, its rusted metal siding reflecting faint streaks of moonlight. It sat on the outskirts of the city, the surrounding area eerily quiet, as if deliberately chosen for privacy.

'Wait... already?' Irina thought, realization dawning. They had been leaping and

running across rooftops for what felt like only moments, the thrill of the journey having completely distracted her, 7 was planning to observe how he'd figure out the enemy's location! But I forgot!' She glanced at Astron, irritation mingling with surprise as her curiosity bubbled to the surface.

"Really?" she asked, her tone edged with disbelief as she gestured toward the

warehouse.

"Yes," Astron replied, his sharp purple eyes locked on the building below. His expression was unreadable, but there was an unmistakable confidence in his tone. Irina tilted her head slightly, studying the warehouse more closely. It was large and weathered, with faint signs of activity-a few crates stacked haphazardly near the entrance, a faint hum of machinery coming from within. The location felt deliberate, almost too perfect. She smirked, crossing her arms as a flicker of flame danced along her fingertips. "Then... can I go in?"

Astron turned his gaze to her, his expression calm but subtly appraising. "Are you asking, or are you telling me?"

She laughed softly, her smirk widening as she gestured toward the desolate surroundings. "Look at this place," she said, her tone dripping with confidence. "It's almost like they're inviting me in. No civilians around, no distractions... just enough

space for me to let loose."

Astron gave a faint nod, his lips twitching slightly as if in amusement. "Of course," he

said simply.

That was all the encouragement Irina needed. She took a step toward the edge of the rooftop, the faint glow of her flames illuminating her determined expression. The frustration she'd carried all day, the anger at having her plans ruined, and the thrill of their rooftop chase all coalesced into a fiery energy that burned in her chest.

Her smirk deepened as she glanced back at Astron. "Watch my back, will you?"

""

Without another word, Irina leapt from the rooftop, flames igniting around her as she descended toward the warehouse. The rush of wind whipped through her hair, but her focus remained sharp. Her feet hit the ground with a burst of fire, the force of her

landing cracking the concrete beneath her as she straightened, her flames flickering around her like a living aura.

She glanced at the warehouse door, her smirk never wavering. 'Let's see how ready

these guys really are."

Behind her, Astron watched from above, his calm gaze fixed on the scene below. The hunt was far from over, but for now, it was Irina's turn to take the lead.