Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 464 104.5 - Everchanging Glyph

"Disciple, come at me." Standing on the mat, Dakota stood face to face with Astron, looking at him.

"We are going to spar?" Astron asked. He had started his training just one day ago, and for a usual procedure, it was not a normal thing for them to just start constantly.

"Yes," Dakota replied, but then she changed her stance. "However, we both are only going to use [Gale Stance]."

"Ah, right." Since Astron had been training only one stance, it would make sense that they would do such a thing. However, the main reason why Dakota wanted to see Astron in a spar was not to see his progress in [Gale Stance] but rather to test his new body after the changes.

'The Everchanging Glyph. I wonder how effective it is,' Dakota thought, her eyes narrowing slightly as she observed him. She was eager to see how the ancient rune had affected Astron's body.

The Everchanging Glyph was not something used lightly. It was designed to adapt the wielder's body to optimize the use of any weapon, ensuring that muscles, tendons, and bones were always in an ideal state. The glyph consumed a steady flow of mana to function, with increased consumption during combat or weapon switching.

Out of many different things that the organization had under its disposal, this rune was one of the most situational ones. Rarely would people have different types of occupations, thus requiring them to have such a chance in their bodies. And even if they did, none of them would need a drastic rune like this. It would mostly be wasted.

That was why she was curious to see its performance as well as to understand what kind of training they would need to undergo from now on.

"Begin," Dakota said, and the air between them seemed to thicken with tension.

Astron moved first, stepping into the [Gale Stance] with a fluidity that surprised even him. His body felt lighter, more balanced. He launched a quick succession of strikes, testing his speed and precision.

This was the first exercise that he was doing after the rune was engraved on him. Since he was forced to rest for the whole night, he was not allowed to wake up early and train on his own.

THUD! THUD! Dakota parried his attacks with ease, her movements smooth and controlled. She noted the increased speed and power behind Astron's strikes. The Everchanging Glyph was already showing its effects, enhancing his dexterity and agility.

'Interesting,' Dakota thought. 'The glyph is adapting his body efficiently. But how well can he maintain this under pressure?'

She decided to increase the intensity, pushing Astron to see how he would handle a more challenging opponent. Her strikes came faster and harder, forcing Astron to react quickly.

Astron felt the glyph working within him, adapting his muscles and enhancing his reflexes. He dodged and countered with surprising accuracy, his body moving in perfect harmony with the flow of mana.

On the other side, the strain of maintaining the glyph's effect was noticeable, but he pushed through it. It was a hard task even for him. While maintaining the mana flow of the [Gale Stance], he also needed to maintain his Glyph's efficiency.

Dakota was impressed by his resilience and adaptability. 'He's already integrating the glyph's benefits into his combat style. But he needs to understand its limits and the cost of maintaining it.'

For the time being, Astron's options in combat styles were just limited to one style. But Dakota knew that if he were to understand how one style worked, he would be able to adapt it to the other styles.

SWOOSH! She launched a particularly fierce combo, testing his endurance. Astron met her attacks with focus, feeling the burn in his muscles but also the thrill of the challenge. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Each strike and counterstrike honed his skills further, the glyph ensuring his body was always in peak condition.

Finally, Dakota stepped back, signaling a pause.

"Not bad," Dakota said, her tone carrying a hint of approval. "The Everchanging Glyph is enhancing your abilities, but remember, it consumes a lot of mana. You need to manage it carefully."

This was her first impression of the glyph. "Or maybe it is related to your mastery. The more you understand the rune, the more likely it is that you are going to consume less mana. I would suggest that when you are free, you should experiment with your body to increase your understanding."

She decided to shift the focus from the rune to his technical abilities. "Now, let's focus on the [Gale Stance] itself. As you know, the [Gale Stance] is designed to maximize speed and fluidity. It has three primary moves, each with a specific purpose."

Dakota began to outline the moves, reminding Astron of their importance. "We have the [High Gale], [Medium Gale], and [Low Gale]. Each one targets different areas and has its unique strategic advantages."

She continued, providing detailed feedback based on their sparring session. "During our spar, I noticed a few things. Your [High Gale] was quick and precise, but your strikes lacked follow-through. You need to commit fully to each strike to maximize its impact."

"For the [Medium Gale]," Dakota went on, "your transitions were smooth, but there was a hesitation in your movements. That hesitation can cost you in a real fight. You need to trust your instincts and the flow of mana within you."

"And finally, the [Low Gale]," Dakota said, her tone becoming serious. "Your low strikes were effective, but your stance was too rigid. Flexibility is key here; you need to stay loose and adaptable to react quickly to your opponent's movements."

"I see," Astron said after looking at his body. He imagined how he was moving in his head, and even though his imagination may not have been inaccurate, in his imagination, he had simulated his flaws.

"Now, take the [Gale Stance], and let's work on those details," Dakota instructed.

Astron assumed the [Gale Stance], his body poised and ready. Dakota moved around him, observing his posture and movements closely. She made small adjustments, correcting his form and ensuring his stance was perfect.

"Your left foot needs to be angled slightly more," she said, nudging his foot into position. "And keep your shoulders relaxed. Tension will slow you down."

As she continued to adjust his stance, Dakota explained, "These mistakes stem from the techniques you learned before as a combatant. For a normal, non-awakened human, those methods make sense. But now, as an awakened, you need to adapt and change."

She stepped back, watching as Astron made the adjustments. "Remember, your body is now enhanced by mana. You need to rely on that, not just your physical strength. Let the mana guide your movements, make them more fluid and powerful."

Astron nodded, focusing on integrating her corrections. He could feel the difference, the increased ease and efficiency in his movements. The Everchanging Glyph's effect on his body made it even more evident.

"Much better," Dakota said with approval. "Keep practicing, and these adjustments will become second nature." She said while slowly turning back. "From now on, you may see a little decrease in your sleep. Are you ready?"

But then she suddenly dropped the bomb.

"What do you mean, Master?" Astron asked, feeling a bit ominous. He was kind of predicting what was about to come.

Dakota turned back to face him, a smirk playing on her lips. "While your body is one of the best to change itself to suit the art you are using, it is not only limited to art but to every situation."

She paused, letting her words sink in. "For instance, extreme conditions."

The moment Astron heard this, he understood what she meant. A long and painful road awaited him, filled with grueling training sessions designed to push his limits and adapt his body to the harshest conditions imaginable.

Dakota's smirk widened as she saw the realization dawn on his face. "The Everchanging Glyph will help you adapt, but it won't make the process any less painful. You need to be prepared to endure and overcome."

Just as she said that there was an ominous glint in her eyes, and Astron knew what it was.

'The same eyes as those….' A memory flashed for a split second, a memory that he had buried underneath for a long time.

"001. Do you know why this number is given to you?" The man's voice was cold and emotionless as he looked down at Astron with eyes that held no empathy, only superiority.

The man continued, his tone icy. "No matter what you do, you are the first in everything, the best. Best at combat, best at thinking, best at analyzing, best at killing. You are the best in everything."

The man's gaze bore into Astron's, unyielding and merciless. "But at the same time, you are also the best at not feeling anything. You are not a human but a number because of that—a tool that can only be used by humans. And I want to see….. I want to see the monster that you are going to become…. That is why we have prepared something for you." For a split second, only a millisecond, his eyes flashed cold. The memory…. It was not something that he wished to remember.

Dakota's eyes contained the same madness that that person had. And his end was not well.

Dakota's voice pulled him back to the present. "You need to be prepared to endure and overcome."

Astron shook off the haunting memory, focusing on the present and the path ahead.

'I don't want it to end the same.' Compared to the past, he was different now. He was changing. He did not want to return to the same person that he was at that time.

"I understand, Master. I'm ready," he said, his voice steady despite the turmoil within. For the time being, he would see how things would go.

'As long as it does not harm my goal, I can endure everything.' The other person could desire whatever they wanted; he would not care. As long as it is within reasonable limits and something that would not hinder his goals or align with them, he would comply.

No matter how painful it was, as he was already accustomed to the pain long ago.

Dakota nodded, her expression firm but approving. "Good. I will be looking forward to it."