Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 451 103.1 - Training and Guides

Reina stood and gestured for me to follow her. She led me to a door at the back of the room. As she opened it, I felt a surge of mana, more concentrated and powerful than anything I had sensed before.

"Follow me," she said, her voice steady.

I followed her through the door, and as we stepped through, the environment changed drastically. The room opened up into a vast, cavernous space. The air was thick with mana, and the atmosphere felt almost electric. It was as if we had stepped into a different dimension altogether, one closer to the core of the entire realm.

The walls of the cavern were lined with intricate runes and glyphs that pulsed with a faint, otherworldly light. The ground beneath us was smooth, almost glass-like, reflecting the shimmering patterns from above. The entire place radiated power, and I could feel the energy coursing through my body.

Reina turned to face me, her eyes glinting with a mix of authority and curiosity. "What do you know about your eyes, Astron?"

I took a deep breath, steadying myself against the overwhelming presence of mana. "I know that my eyes give me heightened perception and observation abilities. They allow me to see things others can\'t and to analyze and process information at an accelerated rate. They\'ve been instrumental in my combat and investigative skills."

Reina nodded, her expression thoughtful. "That\'s a good start, but there\'s much more to it. Your eyes are not just tools for observation. They are connected to the very fabric of reality, capable of perceiving the underlying structures of mana and energy. With proper training, you can unlock abilities far beyond what you currently possess."

Her words resonated deeply, and I felt a sense of anticipation building within me. "What kind of abilities are we talking about?"

"Kind of abilities that are endlessly potential. Reina smiled slightly. "But for starters, though, we will not be focusing on the new things. We are going to train your basics."

The moment she said that I knew what she meant. From the moment that I was reawakened, or my soul merged, I was able to use [Perceptive Insight]. At first, I thought it was something that helped me observe things at a faster rate and copy those.

But then I realized there was many more things that this trait was capable of, especially how it helped me understand the concepts that were hard to understand.

However, aside from all those, there was one thing: this trait was somehow different.

\'It can evolve.\'

A trait that shows that it is a stagnant ability, yet at the same time, it is a trait that can evolve. That was basically something that was unique and was something that was against the very basic concept of the status window.

Reina\'s eyes bore into mine, her expression intense. "What do you think are the most important basics of this ability? And do you believe this ability has any downsides?"

I took a moment to gather my thoughts. "The most important basics would be understanding and control. It\'s not just about observing but about interpreting and acting on what you see. The ability to process and analyze information quickly is crucial, but so is the discipline to use that information effectively."

Reina nodded, her eyes never leaving mine. "And the downsides?"

I hesitated. "The downsides... It can be overwhelming. The constant influx of information can be distracting, even debilitating, if not managed properly. There\'s also the risk of becoming too reliant on it, potentially overlooking simpler, more intuitive ways of understanding and reacting to situations."

"Good," Reina said, her tone approving. "You\'ve grasped the fundamental aspects well. Now, let\'s delve deeper. Your ability to see and understand is just the beginning. You need to learn how to filter and prioritize the information, how to focus on what\'s essential, and block out the rest. This will be crucial in high-pressure situations where your senses could be overloaded."

She began to move, her steps fluid and deliberate, leading me to a series of concentric circles etched into the floor. Each circle was inscribed with intricate runes that pulsed with a soft, rhythmic light.

"This training ground is designed to enhance and refine your perceptive abilities. Stand in the center," she instructed.

I moved to the center of the circles, feeling the mana in the room intensified. The runes glowed brighter, and the air around me seemed to hum with energy.

"Now," Reina said, her voice steady, "focus on the runes. Use your ability to perceive their structure and their flow of mana. Tell me what you see."

I closed my eyes for a moment, centering myself. When I opened them, I let my [Perceptive Insight] take over, honing in on the runes. They were more than just symbols; they were conduits for mana, each one intricately linked to the others, creating a complex network of energy.

"The runes are connected in a lattice," I began, my voice steady. "Each one channels mana to the next, creating a continuous flow of energy. The patterns are precise and designed to maximize the efficiency of mana transfer. There are variations in the intensity of the glow, indicating different levels of mana being channeled through each rune."

Reina nodded, her expression unreadable. "Good. Now, filter out the unnecessary details. Focus on the primary flow of mana. What is its purpose?"

I narrowed my focus, blocking out the peripheral details.

For the first time, I thought of doing such a thing. During all the times that I had used [Perceptive Insight], I had never thought of doing something like filtering.

The primary flow of mana was a current running through the central runes, converging at the very center where I stood.

"It\'s a stabilizing force," I said. "The mana converges here to create a balanced, controlled environment. It ensures that the energy in this space remains stable, allowing for precise manipulation and control."

Reina\'s eyes gleamed with approval. "Excellent. You\'re beginning to understand. Now, let\'s push it further. Try to interact with the flow. See if you can influence it without disrupting the balance."

I took a deep breath, extending my senses further into the flow of mana. I focused on a single point where the currents converged, willing the energy to shift slightly.

I released my mana from my body and then controlled it as a thread to work with the flow of mana.

It was a delicate process, requiring both precision and restraint. Mana responded, but not as I had hoped. Instead of flowing smoothly with the current, it seemed to resist my influence, almost as if it were rejecting my interference.

\'What\'s going on?\' I thought, narrowing my focus even more. The mana threads I had extended wavered, struggling against the existing flow. It felt like trying to force two mismatched pieces together; the fit was wrong, and the entire structure seemed to strain under the pressure.

Reina watched closely, her eyes sharp and analytical. "You\'re forcing it," she said. "Mana is not just energy; it has its own rhythm, its own way of moving. You need to attune yourself to it, to become a part of its flow rather than an external force trying to bend it to your will."

I nodded, absorbing her words. Attuning myself to the flow of mana meant more than just seeing it; I needed to understand its essence, its natural state. I closed my eyes again, reaching out with my senses, not to control, but to harmonize.

Breathing deeply, I let go of my previous attempt and focused on the feel of the mana around me. I imagined myself as part of the flow, not separate from it. Slowly, I extended my mana again, this time not as a forceful thread but as a gentle touch, seeking to merge with the existing currents.

The resistance I had felt before began to ease. My mana started to weave into the flow, not disrupting it but complementing it. It was a subtle difference, but it made all the difference. The currents of mana accepted my presence, and I felt a sense of unity, a balanced connection.

"Better," Reina said, her voice softer now. "You\'re starting to understand. Mana is a living force, and you must work with it, not against it. This harmony is the foundation of all higher-level techniques."

I opened my eyes, seeing the runes glowing steadily. The mana flowed smoothly, and my influence is now part of the greater whole.

\'Wow…..\'

I was really impressed seeing that, but there was a question in my head.

"Now you might be wondering, why did we focus on your mana control while I had said that I would be training you for your Eye abilities?"

I nodded, my curiosity piqued. This was exactly what I had been questioning. Reina smiled, hearing my unspoken thoughts. "Good."

With a flick of her hand, something in her eyes changed. They shimmered, and an intricate logo appeared, glowing faintly with a mystical light. It was a circular emblem with a central symbol resembling an eye, representing hidden knowledge and vigilance. Surrounding the eye was an ornate pattern of intertwining lines and runes, symbolizing the interconnectedness and secrecy of the organization. The outer edge of the circle was adorned with ancient script, glowing faintly, hinting at the magical nature of the emblem. In the center of the eye, a small, glowing gemstone shimmered with changing colors, adding an element of enchantment.

The moment her eyes transformed, I felt a flux of information rushing towards me. It was overwhelming, a torrent of data that threatened to engulf my mind. Quickly, I created an anchor within my consciousness, grounding myself and preventing my thoughts from drifting apart. The experience was intense, but I managed to maintain my focus without losing myself in the process.

After a second, Reina\'s eyes closed, and the intense flow of information ceased.

She raised her index finger, and from the tip of her finger, a small thread of mana rose. It was a delicate, shimmering strand, pulsing with the same harmonious energy I had just learned to attune to.

–ẘ̸̬̓͐̃̓̇̈́̽͛͋̚̚h̴̨̨͕̘̮̞̟̜̦̲͕̜͉͛ḭ̴̎̿̇̋́̇s̴̢͉͉͉͇̦̯̓̌̏̔̾̃̋̃̈̈́̐p̷̨̛͖͎̦̥̬̺̯̌̀̈̎̀̇̐̓̐̆͝ę̴̲̱̠̼̞̲͔͎͕̼̃̃́͘͝ŗ̵̢͈̮̞̙̩̝̗̙͉̖̽̂͝͝ ̴̞̠͈̖̣͇̹̣̩̗̪̗̉̔̈́̚͜w̷̢̠̺̺̠̱̝̠͈̹͊̀̅̆̍͗̑͜h̶̢̧̳̞̖̼̲̦̍̀̾̆͆̅̓͊͂̇͋̕̚͝í̸̧̛̞̣̞̐͊̌͆̍̓̽̏̅̈́̚̚ś̷̨̝̪̥͚̞̫̯̩ͅp̴̧͙̳̜̙̈̔͂͆̅͌͠ͅe̷̡̗̗̅̉̔̎̀̇̌͘͠͝ŕ̶̨͉̒̊̽͋̌͒̕͝͠͝ ̴̨̛̛͉͈̪̼͎̲̣̥̮̼̖̞̍̾͊̄̊́̃͠ͅw̷̛̫͕̣̗͓̪̘̮̙͙͚̩̩̰̔̀͌̄͌̎̏̈̐̕h̶̢̡̟̖̼̮̮̦̲̞̳̗͐̊͂͗̈́͆̓͌́́̉̊̕̚͠į̸̡͓̲͚̙̲̝͔̲̬̍̇͘͝s̷̡̛̙͍̤͙̿́̌͌̆̔͘̕͝p̸̧̧͎͎̻̬͉̯̫̞̭͚̟͐͗́͜͠ͅe̶̢̡̘̲̳͍̪̹̘͖͚̬̱̯̜͆̃͌̇̚r̴̦̬̮̻̘͇̖̺͔̦͔̙͔̹̃̓͛͗͌͌͗̒̓̇͠͝ͅ ̸̯͇͍̹̮͕̻̩̟̣̯̫͇̈́̋̊̅̆̾̊̀͋͘̕͜͝͝

These sounds continued to come forward.

"Do you see this?" Reina asked, her voice calm and steady. "This is the mana that the organization uses to communicate around the world and to another dimension. Psions attributed by an [Authority]."

I watched the thread of mana, fascinated by its delicate beauty.

I watched the thread of mana, fascinated by its delicate beauty. It pulsed with a harmonious rhythm, almost as if it were alive.

"When you are able to influence the external mana flux, it means you will also be able to read it," Reina continued. "And reading it means deciphering it."

She let the words sink in before she elaborated, "Yes, it is another way of obtaining information, and maybe the best way to. Even the brain has a flux of mana inside it. This skill allows you to perceive the underlying structures and patterns in everything, including thoughts and emotions. The brain\'s activity, after all, is just another form of mana flow."

What she implied was clear. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

If I was able to master this technique….I would even be able to read the thoughts of other people.

"This is why we will be focusing on two things for the time being.

Filtering.

Assimilation."