Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 374 87.1 - No title but a quick spar

Being a noble is not as easy as everyone thinks. Irina had experienced this firsthand with her progress-obsessed mother.

From an early age, she learned how to use magic, how read, how write, how dance, how move elegantly, and how behave according to the noble antique.

Even though the world got more modern and the practices of the past were mostly abandoned by the general public, the high society was different.

Because they needed to uphold a certain image and the high society had its own way of operating, the Emberheart Family naturally followed those rules as well.

It was not like that would damage them or anything.

Therefore, from a young age, Irina learned how to use the sword. Even though it was evident that the heir of the Emberheart family was bound to be a mage and have a trait related to magic, she still learned how to use the sword.

It was because using a sword wasn't only related to combat, but it was also viewed as an aristocratic way of displaying elegance.

The weapon that was so widely used that it had already been deeply integrated into human culture.

Adding to her mother's obsession with Irina's success and education, Irina practiced her sword countless times at the end of the day. She was taught by many famous sword instructors how to use the sword, and she even learned some fire magic that was compatible with swords.

As a result, weirdly enough, Irina could be counted as the person with a huge amount of knowledge on swords.

Though she hated all those times that she was forced to train the weapon she never liked, at the end of the day, as a child, she could never go against the head of the family, and she could only comply with the training.

'Let's see what expression you will make when you see this.'

And now, for the first time in her life, she thought that it was good that she had learned how to use the sword.

Because she could teach this arrogant guy a lesson and see the expression he would make. After all, she had lost to him in the past, even if it was not directly stated.

Normally, she didn't interact with him in the classroom with everyone present since, at first, she didn't have any reason nor any desire to. Though the 'desire' part changed over time, with the classroom positions already being formed as the semester had started, she couldn't change her seat, neither could she change his.

Thus, at the end of the day, she couldn't interact with him as she wanted without any reason, thanks to the societal chains that bound her.

Though, now, that reason had presented itself. After all, with Eleanor personally teaching him, he had become the center of attention for a short amount of time, and people knew Irina as someone who was hotheaded and liked challenges.

Thus, it would be reasonable for Irina Emberheart and others to challenge this guy who suddenly became the center of attention.

And Irina wouldn't miss such an opportunity.

"Let's spar."

As she announced, Astron stared at the sword, then met her gaze. "Is this even allowed?" he asked, a hint of skepticism in his voice.

Irina tilted her head slightly, considering his question. "Technically, no. But since when have you ever followed the rules to the letter? Besides, no one will object if it's just a friendly spar."

"Your words can be counted as slander. I had never broken any school rules before." Astron retorted back. That guy was as annoying as he was ever, but at this point, Irina had become so used to it that she even felt comfortable with such a response.

"Then, does that mean you are planning to do so in the future?"

"I did not say such a thing."

"But, you implied it."

"Whether I implied or not depends on how you perceive. It is your problem if you want to think that way."

"Tsk. Annoying bastard."

"….."

"Anyway, since it is a friendly spar, I am sure no one will say anything. And it feels like instructor Eleanor's goal was exactly that, don't you think?"

"Friendly? I doubt it." Astron said, looking at the students whose attention was on him and her talking. There was a fierce glint in their eyes, and it seemed they wanted to know what made Eleanor personally help him.

"As friendly as it can get," Irina retorted, her eyes glinting with challenge.

"Alright," he agreed, drawing his own sword. "If that is what you want, I will entertain you a little." Though his words were flat and emotionless from the outside, Irina could see that he was somehow enthusiastic about using a sword.

'Just as they say, Sword is every man's romance.'

She thought proudly and then raised her sword.

They squared off, the air around them thick with anticipation. Students began to gather around, their whispers filling the air as they realized a duel was about to take place.

Irina's stance was impeccable, a testament to her rigorous training of before. Even if she was a mage, it was evident that she could use a sword to some extent when necessary.

Astron mirrored her, feeling the weight of the sword in his hand.

"I will limit my speed and strength to match yours."

"You don't need to."

"No. I don't want to beat you because I am a close combatant."

"You really are sure you can beat me, aren't you?"

"…." Astron shrugged his shoulders as he took his position as well.

"Ready?" she asked, her voice steady.

"Always," he replied.

SWOOSH! Irina moved first, her sword slicing through the air with precision.

It was a quick 'Stripe.' The same basic unit that all other students were supposed to practice. She was intentionally using this basic unit so that this guy wouldn't have the right to complain to her when he lost.

'Even though this is not how I had been taught, it is pretty similar to the Magic Blocks.' She thought as her sword rushed to the Astron.

CLANK!

Astron parried, their blades clashing with a resonant ring. She was fast, her movements fluid and graceful, a stark contrast to the aggression in her eyes.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! Irina launched a series of rapid strikes, each one a testament to her rigorous training. Her blade moved with a fluidity that only years of practice could achieve, each 'Stripe' executed with an incredibly swift form.

CLANK! CLANK! Astron blocked each strike, his movements less refined but equally determined. His eyes never left hers, reading her intentions, adapting to her rhythm.

'This guy….But, I won't let you.'

Irina pressed her advantage, her strikes coming faster and harder. She used the footwork and techniques she had drilled into her body, her attacks a blend of precision and power. She aimed to overwhelm Astron, to show him that her knowledge and experience with the sword were not something that he could expect.

After all, how could he, since she was a mage? Not many people knew that high-ranking families were supposed to learn how to use swords either.

CLANK! CLANK! SWOOSH! But contrary to what she expected, he somehow responded with a combination of blocks and parries, with his own strikes emerging as counterattacks.

'This is really!'

While his technique lacked the finesse of Irina's, there was an undeniable rawness to his movements, a growing understanding of the 'Stripe' and its applications.

'Did he use a sword before? But, he previously said, he didn't, and he wouldn't lie for things like this.' His strikes were experimental, formed on the spot, each one a testament to his quick learning and adaptability.

"You really are not normal," Irina acknowledged between strikes, her voice steady. "But you're still lacking."

"We'll see about that," Astron replied, his tone calm and focused.

Irina moved with a swift, elegant strike aimed at his side.

SWOOSH! Astron blocked, his blade meeting hers with a loud clash. He stepped back, using the momentum to create space, then lunged forward with a strike of his own.

CLANK! Irina parried, their blades locked for a brief moment. She could see the cold focus in his eyes, the silent challenge that he posed.

'This time, you won't.'

It fueled her own resolve, pushing her to move faster and strike harder.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! CLANK! CLANK! Their swords danced in the air, a flurry of strikes and parries that left the other students in awe. Irina's advantage was evident; her previous knowledge and experience gave her the upper hand.

Yet, Astron was closing the gap, his movements becoming more precise, his understanding of the 'Stripe' growing with each exchange.

Astron shifted his stance, his eyes narrowing as he prepared for the next attack. He struck with a powerful 'Stripe,' putting all his strength and mana into the blow.

CLANK! Irina blocked, but the force of the strike pushed her back slightly. She adjusted her grip, her eyes narrowing in determination. "Not bad," she admitted, a hint of a smile playing on her lips.

"…."

Astron pressed his advantage, launching a series of rapid strikes. His movements were still raw, but there was a growing goal in his attacks as if he was already forming a strategy.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! CLANK! Irina deflected each strike, her movements becoming more defensive as she assessed his growth.

She could see the potential in his technique, the promise of a possibly strong swordsman in the making.

'But, let's see if you can deal with this.'

Yet, Irina wasn't someone who could be neglected. After all, she also formed her own strategy.

Imagining a formation of magic in her head, she somehow tried to construct it inside her mind. Rather than using Basic Blocks, she imagined the spell with 'Stripes.'

The slashes of a sword and the trails of mana formed a technique in her head, and she visualized it in a split second.

It wasn't something that could be explained by purely logic, as it was close to intuition for her.

SWIRL! Her mana swirled as it coated the sword. Then, she raised her sword and started to implement the technique she had visualized.

SWIRL! Irina's mana swirled as it coated her sword. She raised her blade, her eyes locked on Astron, and began to implement the technique she had visualized in her mind.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! The first three 'Stripes' formed a triangle in the air, each slash precise and deliberate. These corresponded to the magic block 'Generate,' creating a stable framework of mana that hung in the air, glowing faintly.

Astron moved to counter, his blade intercepting hers with a series of quick parries.

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! He could feel the intensity of her strikes and the added complexity in her movements, but he was holding his ground.

SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH! The next three 'Stripes' connected the corners of the triangle with quick, tangent lines. These corresponded to the magic block 'Rotate,' causing the mana to swirl and shift, creating a vortex of energy around the initial structure.

Astron adjusted his stance, his eyes narrowing as he read her movements. He could sense the change in her technique, the way her mana flowed and twisted with each strike. He moved with purpose, his own blade slashing through the air to meet hers.

CLANK! CLANK! CLANK! His counters were less about pure strength and more about precision, matching her strikes with calculated deflections.

'He is good…' Irina thought, feeling the pressure of his defenses. But she was determined to see this through. She raised her sword for the final strike.

SWOOSH! The last 'Stripe' was a curved line, corresponding to the magic block 'Compress.' The mana compressed into a tight, focused blade of energy, creating a spell that resembled 'Torrent.'

Astron's eyes widened slightly as he saw the final strike coming. He moved to intercept it, his blade moving with swift precision.

CLANK! CLANK! He dealt with the first six strikes, his counters almost instinctual now, but the final, curved strike caught him off guard.

SWOOSH! The compressed mana blade hit its mark. Astron tried to deflect it, but the force of the attack was too much. The blade struck him on the side, sending him stumbling back.

The duel was over.

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