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Chapter 304 Chapter 72.1 - Moving Pieces

She readied herself for another assault, channeling her mana to enhance her speed and agility. With a renewed sense of focus, she lunged forward once more, aiming for a swift strike.

However, Astron\'s response was once again swift and precise. He deftly evaded her attack, his movements almost anticipatory. Before Sylvie could react, she felt the touch on her elbows, her arm directed to a different position.

–SWOOSH! –THUD!

Thrown to the ground once again, Sylvie grunted, her frustration mounting. Astron\'s words echoed in her mind – "Get up."

For the next ten minutes, the training ground became a relentless cycle of Sylvie attacking and Astron effortlessly countering. Each attempt, each strike met with calculated precision, resulting in Sylvie being tossed to the ground repeatedly.

Her body, fueled by determination, pushed through the pain. Each fall became a lesson, a painful reminder of the vast gap in their combat skills. Yet, Sylvie refused to yield.

–SWOOSH! –THUD! –SWOOSH! –THUD!

Her attacks became more varied, attempting kicks, feints, and grapples, but Astron\'s defense was impenetrable. He seemed to predict her every move, effortlessly nullifying her attempts.

As the ten minutes elapsed, Sylvie\'s body was covered in sweat, bruises, and aching muscles. But beneath the physical strain, a newfound resilience blossomed within her.

Astron finally called an end to the session. "That\'s enough for today."

Sylvie, breathing heavily, looked up at him. Despite the exhaustion, there was a glimmer of satisfaction in her eyes. She had faced a relentless challenge, and though she hadn\'t overcome it completely, she had persisted.

"Rest," Astron instructed, a hint of approval in his tone. "You\'ve made progress, but there\'s still much to learn."

As Sylvie nodded and headed towards a bench to catch her breath, Astron observed her with an unreadable expression.

It was a grueling training session, but perhaps it was a necessary step for Sylvie to grasp the complexities of combat and continue her journey toward mastery.

"Can you tell me why you haven\'t been able to land a hit on me?" He suddenly asked, approaching her from the side.

Sylvie, still catching her breath on the bench, looked up as Astron approached. His question caught her off guard, and she blinked, processing the inquiry.

"Why haven\'t you been able to land a hit on me?" Astron repeated, his tone neutral.

Sylvie scratched her head awkwardly, her gaze flickering between Astron and the training ground. "Uh, well, you\'re faster and stronger, right?"

Astron shook his head, a hint of amusement in his eyes. "It\'s not just about speed and strength, Sylvie." With a subtle motion, he slid up the sleeves of his training attire, revealing two bracelets on each arm. "These weighted bracelets restrict my movements. There are also two on my ankles."

Sylvie\'s eyes widened as she finally noticed the hidden accessories. A mix of realization and embarrassment washed over her. "Oh, I... I didn\'t know you were wearing those."

As she said that, she averted her gaze as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "I didn\'t consider that. I just thought you were naturally that fast and strong."

\'He had weighted bracelets on him all this time? And, I said faster, ignorantly. I must have looked like a dumb beginner.\'

She threw a quick look at him, then realized his expression didn\'t change much.

\'Well, he probably doesn\'t care.\'

"Now, what is your answer?" Astron asked once again, looking at Sylvie.

"Um….I don\'t know how, but you were able to anticipate my movements every time, right?"

"Correct."

"Then, is it because I made them obvious?"

Astron nodded approvingly at Sylvie\'s quick realization. "You catch on fast," he reiterated.

Standing up, Astron resumed his calm and composed demeanor. "In combat, it\'s crucial to mask your intentions and read your opponent. That\'s why I had conducted today\'s training like this," he explained, gesturing to the weighted bracelets. "You need to learn not only to anticipate your opponent\'s moves but also to make your actions less predictable."

Sylvie listened attentively, absorbing the wisdom Astron shared. The complexity of combat strategy unfolded before her, and she felt a renewed sense of purpose.

Turning back to her, Astron looked down at Sylvie, who was still seated on the ground. "From now on, we\'ll focus on training your ability to read your opponent. It\'s an essential skill that goes beyond just physical strength. You need to understand their intentions, anticipate their actions, and react accordingly."

\'Read their intentions, anticipate their actions, and react accordingly.\' She repeated her words inwardly as she thought. \'I can see the emotional state of others. Then, if I can develop it, maybe I can even see their thoughts?\'

She hadn\'t previously thought about her powers to be able to read the emotions of others, but after everything that happened in Phantom\'s Land, she knew she could develop herself further.

\'Irina can fight, excel in theory, and even use magic a lot better than me. She is beautiful too….\'

She didn\'t know why, but she was having an inward sense of rivalry after staying together for a while. They occasionally hung out together when Irina and Sylvie were free, and she really thought Irina was a good person and different from the initial impression she gave to others.

However, at the same time, she compared herself to her a little and was disappointed.

"Do you understand?"

Sylvie nodded, determined to grasp this new aspect of combat. "I\'ll do my best. Teach me how to read my opponent."

Astron\'s purple eyes met hers, and a flicker of approval crossed his expression. He seemed satisfied inwardly, too. "Good. Next time, we\'ll start with some exercises to sharpen your observational skills. Pay attention to your opponent\'s body language, subtle movements, and any patterns they might reveal. You can train with your friends if you wish, but don\'t take it overboard."

"Un."

"Then, I will take my leave."

As Astron turned to leave, Sylvie nodded and began gathering her things. However, just as she was about to head in the opposite direction, Astron\'s gaze shifted downward, focusing on her legs.

Feeling a bit self-conscious, Sylvie looked down at her legs and then back at Astron. "Did something matter?" she asked, a hint of curiosity in her voice.

Astron shook his head, a mysterious expression crossing his face. "Nothing. Just a minor observation."

With that, he turned away and walked off, leaving Sylvie slightly perplexed but trusting that there was a purpose behind Astron\'s scrutiny, though she had failed to notice the small dark energy oozing from the item that had far long disintegrated to her legs before. ((N1))

*******

The vibrant chatter of students filled the air in the classroom, a lively hub of discussion during the lunch break. A group of five friends gathered around a table, their excitement evident as they delved into a recent show that had captivated their attention.

"Hey, did you all catch that new show that aired last night? The one about the group with superpowers in a world without Awakened?"

"Oh yeah! The action scenes were insane! The effects were top-notch. But, did anyone else feel like the main character was a bit off?"

"Totally. I mean, at first, he seemed like this hero, but as the episode progressed, he got darker and darker. It was unexpected."

"That\'s what made it interesting, though! I love it when shows throw in a curveball. But seriously, who saw that coming? The guy turned out to be a ruthless murderer, not the hero everyone thought."

"I had my suspicions from the start. There was something about his smile, you know? Like, it felt a bit too sinister."

"Really? I was completely blindsided. I thought he was going to be the savior of the world or something. But it turns out he\'s more like their worst nightmare."

Just as they were talking amongst themselves, suddenly, one of the girls spoke.

"Yeah….But, guys, have you seen Theresa?"

They exchanged glances, realizing they hadn\'t seen Theresa since last Saturday. Concern etched across their faces, one of them asked, "Didn\'t she mention where she was going?"

The girl who had brought up Theresa\'s absence shook her head. "I tried reaching out to her, but I couldn\'t get through. No calls, no texts. It\'s like she vanished. She had never done something like this before, you know? It feels suspicious."

Concern deepened in the group as they contemplated Theresa\'s mysterious disappearance. "Maybe we should ask the school if they\'ve heard anything," someone suggested.

Just as they were pondering their next move, the door cracked open, and Instructor Eleanor entered the room.

"Good morning, Cadets."

The students talking immediately dispersed with Eleanor\'s appearance. At this point, many of the students were well aware of her temper and seriousness, and the group decided to postpone the report after the class.

–FLICK!

Eleanor, known for her exceptional mana manipulation skills, suddenly flicked her hands, and the air in the room seemed to ripple with energy.

The atmosphere became charged as small papers on her desk fluttered and levitated, then floated gracefully towards the students, landing one by one in front of each desk.

As the papers settled, Eleanor explained, "This, cadets, is going to be a part of your next practical assignment." She paused for effect, her gaze scanning the room. "I want you to write your names on these papers using only your mana."

The students exchanged puzzled glances, intrigued by the unusual assignment. Eleanor continued, "You may start now."

For the students of Arcadia Hunter Academy, where mana control had already progressed quite far, the assignment proved to be a breeze. In no more than five minutes, signatures and elegant script adorned the once-blank papers, showcasing the students\' mastery over their mana.

–FLICK!

After seeing that everyone had finished, Eleanor, with another flick of her finger, effortlessly gathered the papers, returning them to her own table.

The cadets watched in anticipation as she placed the papers into a bowl and began mixing them with a slight rotation of her hand.

"Now, pay attention, cadets. The names you wrote with your mana are going to be crucial for the next part of the assignment," Eleanor announced.

She continued, "In this next phase, each of you will pick a paper from the bowl, and the name written on that paper will be your opponent in the upcoming exam. The challenge is not only to test your individual skills but also to assess how well you adapt to different opponents. Remember, this is a crucial aspect of being a successful Hunter."

The students exchanged glances, realizing that their opponents were determined by fate, or rather, by the papers drawn from the bowl.

Eleanor, with a commanding presence, started calling out the names, beginning from the bottom ranks of the academy. Each called cadet stepped forward, apprehensively picking a paper from the bowl. With bated breath, they unfolded the papers to reveal the names written on them.

"Cadet Timothy Grey," Eleanor called, and Timothy, who had been the first to inscribe his name, hesitated for a moment before revealing his opponent. The name on the paper was Leo Sparks.

"Oh…." He was a relatively lower-rank student in the range of middle ranks, so Timothy seemed a bit more relaxed.

The calling of names continued, and the tension in the room heightened with each revelation. However, Eleanor made it clear that the cadet whose name was revealed in the paper wouldn\'t participate in picking an opponent.

"Astron Natusalune." Astron stepped up as he pushed his hands into the bowl. The name shown here was simple.

Emily Anderson.

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N1: The item Mason had given to Sylvie in Chapter 15.2.