Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 683 152.1 - Don't Escape

'A trap!'

Irina's flames surged outward as she blasted the incoming vial, her instincts guiding her actions faster than her reasoning could catch up. The glass shattered mid-air with a sharp crack, releasing a pressurized burst of dense, swirling gas.

The arena filled with the substance instantly, a strange pressure assaulting her eyes and lungs. Irina recoiled, coughing as the gas clouded her vision. Her mind raced, cursing her decision to act on instinct rather than taking a moment to assess the vial. In the chaos of battle, judgment was often a luxury she couldn't afford, but this time, it had cost her.

'Damn it-what is this stuff?!"

The pressure around her eyes grew unbearable for a fleeting second before her flames flared defensively, dispersing the gas slightly. But the damage was already done. Her vision blurred, her balance wavered, and for that split second, she was vulnerable. As she blinked rapidly to clear her sight, Irina felt the air shift around her-a warning that sent her instincts screaming. Her eyes snapped forward, and the first thing she saw was Astron. His figure blurred as he closed the distance in an instant, his hand already mid-motion.

His fist aimed directly at her stomach.

Irina gritted her teeth, bracing herself for the impact. Her flames surged around her body reflexively, forming a thin layer of defensive heat. Even so, she knew the force of the strike would send her reeling.

But it never came.

Astron's fist stopped just shy of her midsection, the rush of displaced air brushing against her as he held his position. His stance was firm, his expression calm but resolute, as if he'd made his point.

Irina froze, her breathing shallow as she stared at him. For a moment, the gas, the heat, and the tension of the fight seemed to fade into the background, leaving only the two of them in the silence.

"You need to watch for traps," Astron said evenly, his voice carrying a faint edge of admonishment. He didn't step back immediately, his sharp gaze meeting hers, unflinching.

"Haaaah...Haaaah..."n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om

Irina's flames flickered, the intensity around her diminishing slightly as her body relaxed involuntarily. She exhaled slowly, her mind catching up with the situation. There was no mockery in his tone, no arrogance in his stance. His words were simple, almost matter-of-fact-a reminder of her mistake.

"That was a cheap trick," she muttered, her voice hoarse from the gas. "Haaaaah...." Astron raised an eyebrow but didn't respond immediately. Instead, he slowly lowered his hand, his posture relaxing. "Cheap," he said finally, his tone calm but pointed, "but effective."

And she didn't have much to say to that.

"Haaah...." Her breathing had yet to be adjusted, after all.

The heat of the arena lingered even after their clash had stilled, the roaring crowd now a distant hum in the backdrop of Irina's labored breaths. Her body felt heavy. The adrenaline that had carried her this far was fading, leaving exhaustion in its place. Her flames, once wild and relentless, flickered weakly around her as her mana reserves dwindled.

Astron remained where he stood, his chest rising and falling in rapid succession, sweat glistening on his skin, His once-pristine clothes were torn and singed, revealing glimpses of his pale, jade-like skin beneath. He looked as tired as she felt, but his composure remained unbroken, his sharp purple eyes watching her carefully.

'I can't-'Irina's thoughts stumbled as her vision blurred. Her legs gave out beneath her, and before she could react, she was falling forward.

Warmth met her instead of the hard, unforgiving ground. Astron's hands caught her with startling gentleness, steadying her as her weight collapsed against him. His arms wrapped securely around her, one hand resting lightly against her back, the other supporting her shoulder. The firmness of his hold contrasted with the unexpected tenderness in his touch.

For a moment, she couldn't move, her head resting against his chest. The sound of his heartbeat, strong and rhythmic despite the strain, filled her ears. Her breathing slowed, syncing almost instinctively with the rise and fall of his chest.

'He's... so close.'

The realization hit her like another wave of heat. Her senses, dulled by fatigue, sharpened all at once. She felt the dampness of his sweat against her check, the faint tremor in his arms as he held her steady. His scent-lavender, familiar, and grounding -wrapped around her like a comforting haze.

'Why does he smell like this? How does anyone smell this good after all of that?"

Her gaze drifted upward, and her breath caught. His face was impossibly close, his purple eyes luminous like a night sky scattered with stars. They weren't just looking at her-they were seeing her, drawing her in with an intensity that made her heart

stutter.

"Those eyes... they're unfair'

Her gaze wandered unbidden, tracing the elegant lines of his face. His features, so refined they bordered on ethereal, were framed by strands of dark hair sticking to his damp forehead. felt her cheeks warm despite the exhaustion weighing on her

limbs.

'Even his skin,' she thought, her eyes catching on the exposed planes of his chest, pale yet flushed with exertion. It seemed to glow in the dim light of the arena, smooth and unmarred despite the battle they'd just fought. 'It's not fair. He looks like... like a painting. Like he doesn't belong here.'

Astron's voice broke through her spiraling thoughts, soft and even. "You overdid it."

She flinched slightly at the sound, her body stiffening against his. "Haaah... haaaah..." She couldn't form words, couldn't even muster the energy to push herself away.

Or rather, she did not want to use her remaining strength to push him away, but rather for something else.

Her chest heaved as she struggled to steady her breathing, the heat of their battle still lingering in the air between them. Her exhaustion weighed heavily, her limbs refusing to move. Yet, beneath the haze of fatigue, a flicker of defiance burned bright.

'I can't let him think he's won. Not like this.

Her eyes narrowed, a mischievous glint sparking to life even as she leaned against him. Astron stood motionless, supporting her without complaint, his calm composure unshaken despite the strain of their fight.

'Perfect. He doesn't see it coming."

Silently, she called upon the faint remnants of her mana, focusing what little strength she had left into a subtle burst of telekinesis. Her energy gathered near Astron's heels, a nearly imperceptible ripple in the air. The force wasn't enough to harm him-just enough to shift his balance.

Before he could react, the ground seemed to shift beneath him. His sharp eyes widened for the briefest moment as the telekinetic force swept his feet out from under him. Caught off-guard, his stance faltered, and his body tipped backward.

Irina smirked, satisfaction blooming despite her fatigue. But as gravity took hold, she realized too late that she hadn't accounted for her own precarious position. The momentum of her push carried her forward, and before she could stop herself, she

tumbled along with him.

"Ah-!"

Astron hit the ground with a muted thud, the impact cushioned by his reflexive use of mana. Irina landed unceremoniously on top of him, her hands splayed against his chest to steady herself. For a moment, neither of them moved, the silence filled only by the faint crackle of dying flames and their ragged breaths.

'Oh no.'

Her heart skipped a beat as she took in the scene-the proximity, the heat radiating from his skin, the unmistakable firmness of his chest beneath her hands. His lavender scent enveloped her, sharper now, mingling with the faint saltiness of sweat. She blinked, her gaze darting up to meet his.

Astron's face was mere inches from hers, his sharp features framed by his tousled hair.

His purple eyes, wide with surprise, locked onto hers.

For the first time, the unshakable calm that defined him seemed to falter, replaced by a

flicker of bewilderment.

"This... is bad."'

It was not good..... Really not good....

Because she felt her heart which was tired just before beating again.

THUMP! THUMP!

And much faster than she was expecting.

Her chest tightened, her breath caught somewhere between exhaustion and something else entirely. Her eyes refused to stray, locked onto Astron's face with a force she couldn't explain.

His features seemed impossibly clear, as though the chaos of the fight and the lingering exhaustion had sharpened her focus to a razor's edge. Her gaze traced the curve of his nose, the sharp line of his jaw, and the elegant angles of his cheekbones. His long, dark lashes framed those vivid, cosmos-like purple eyes, still fixed on her with an intensity that sent a shiver through her.

'Why is he like this?' she thought, the rhythm of her heartbeat deafening in her ears. 'Why does he always look... perfect?'

Her eyes betrayed her, wandering further. They lingered on the strong, defined lines of his brows, the way they knit together faintly in confusion or... something else. And then, as though drawn by some invisible pull, her gaze fell to his lips.

Soft, curved, and just slightly parted, they seemed to beckon her closer, though he hadn't moved a muscle. Her pulse quickened, and her breathing hitched, each thud of

her heart a heavy drumbeat echoing in her chest.

THUMP. THUMP. 'Stop,'her mind whispered weakly, but her body didn't listen. The heat from his skin

seemed to seep into hers, the faint scent of lavender wrapping around her like a spell.

'I shouldn't...'

Her hands trembled where they rested against his chest, her fingers brushing lightly

against the firm warmth beneath them. He hadn't said a word, hadn't moved to push her away, but his silence only made the moment heavier.

Her exhaustion blurred the lines between thought and action. Before she could stop herself, she leaned forward.

It wasn't a grand motion, more a subtle, instinctive tilt of her head. The distance

between them closed in an instant, her gaze flickering back to his lips even as her mind screamed at her to stop.

'This is insane. I shouldn't. But... I can't...'

Her lips hovered just a breath away from his, her heart pounding like a wild drum in

her chest. The world around them faded-the heat of the arena, the distant roar of the

crowd, the lingering aches of their battle-all of it melted away, leaving only the two of them in silence.

Astron's eyes widened slightly, his breath brushing against her lips as he finally spoke, his voice soft and low. "Irina..."

Her name on his lips sent a shiver down her spine, breaking the fragile stillness. Her

face flushed a deeper shade of crimson, and for a fleeting moment, she thought she

might pull away.

But she didn't.

"....Don't escape...."

Maybe these two words were said towards herself, or towards him....

It didn't matter....

She moved closer instead.