Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 601 133.3 - Kieran

CLANK!

The sound of metal hitting the floor echoed through the room as Astron pulled a set of daggers from his spatial storage and casually spilled them onto the ground before Kieran. The gleaming blades lay in a neat array, catching the light with a faint, ethereal glow.

Kieran's brow furrowed slightly as he looked down at the daggers. His initial surprise quickly shifted to a professional curiosity, and his sharp gaze immediately began assessing the weapons before him. "What do you want me to do with these?" he asked, his tone carrying a hint of intrigue. n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

Astron met his gaze calmly, his expression as composed as ever. "Take a look at them," he said simply, giving no further instructions.

Kieran raised an eyebrow but didn't question it further. He crouched down and picked up one of the daggers, his fingers expertly running along the edge of the blade. His eyes narrowed as he turned the weapon over in his hand, examining every detail with the precision of a seasoned craftsman.

"These are... interesting," Kieran muttered, more to himself than anyone else, as he continued his inspection. He pressed his thumb lightly along the engraved runes, his eyes flickering with recognition. "Mana-infused, obviously. The enchantment on these is quite advanced. I can feel the energy flow through the metal... and these runes..."

He paused, his mind clearly racing as he pieced together the magic within the daggers. He tested the balance, flipping the dagger expertly in his hand before finally tossing it lightly into the air. The dagger seemed to almost hum with energy as if responding to his touch.

"A type of a blade that can be pulled back?" Kieran asked, his gaze now fully focused on Astron.

Astron nodded, the faintest hint of a smile tugging at his lips. "That's right. They can be retracted and returned to me after a command."

Kieran smirked, impressed. "You don't see enchantments like this every day. Whoever made these knew what they were doing, and the mana flow is impeccable—no disruption, no delays in the return mechanism. The enchantment is seamless."

He picked up another dagger, testing its weight and balance just as he had with the first. After a few moments of silent observation, he glanced back at Astron. "And I can tell you've used these a lot."

Kieran stood up, holding both daggers now, and continued his analysis aloud. "The way these work... they're built for efficiency. Fast strikes, easy recall, and perfect for someone who needs versatility in combat. It's not just the retractable feature; they were designed with precision in mind."

He tossed one of the daggers lightly toward Astron, who caught it effortlessly. Kieran's expression shifted slightly, his curiosity deepening as he added, "So, what exactly are you looking for, Astron? Do you need these enhanced, or are you planning on integrating something new into them?"

Without a word, Astron reached into his spatial storage once again, this time withdrawing a pair of sleek daggers and a finely crafted bow. He placed them on the table in front of Kieran with the same quiet composure as before.

"These as well," Astron said calmly, gesturing toward the weapons.

Kieran's eyes lit up with a spark of curiosity as he carefully picked up the daggers first. The moment his fingers touched the cold metal, his brows furrowed slightly in recognition. He ran a thumb along the blade, feeling the faint energy coursing through it. His sharp eyes caught the faint green glow that shimmered along the edges, hinting at the weapon's venomous properties.

"These are... interesting," Kieran mused aloud. "The enchantment is good. Venomous Edge, right? This will stack venom over time. Not bad." He gave a nod of approval, though his expression remained focused. "The paralysis effect after the third hit is a nice touch—perfect for taking down enemies quickly."

He tested the balance of the blades, flipping one in his hand before continuing his assessment. "And Serpent's Reflex... I can see how it would enhance agility, especially in close-quarters combat. It's a solid weapon, but..."

Kieran paused, turning the blades over in his hands before looking back at Astron with a measured gaze. "These are at most [Unique] Grade artifacts," he said matter-of-factly. "Not bad, but there's room for improvement. Whoever made these didn't push the enchantments to their full potential."

Satisfied with his analysis, he placed the daggers back down and moved on to the bow. The moment he lifted the Starpiercer Arc, Kieran's eyes gleamed with appreciation for its craftsmanship. He ran a hand along the smooth wood, tracing the runes etched into the frame, feeling the latent power within the weapon.

"Now this... this is a beauty," Kieran remarked, his tone carrying a hint of admiration. "Piercing Shot, I'm guessing? Allows the arrow to travel through multiple targets while increasing in force as it goes."

He strung the bow lightly, testing the tension with a practiced hand. "It's well-balanced and strong, and the magic is woven seamlessly into the bow. But again, like the daggers, it's only at [Unique] Grade." Kieran's voice was calm but firm, giving an honest critique. "There's definitely potential to bring these weapons up a notch if you're willing to invest the time and resources."

Astron gave a small nod, his expression unchanged. "I expected as much."

The reason why Astron revealed those weapons was just to test if this guy before him was the one from the game or not.

'And it is indeed the one from the game.'

Kieran from the game had the ability to see through the effects of the weapons thanks to his trait, and that way, he could identify what the weapons did.

His talent stemmed from the fact that, thanks to the effects of the weapons, he could fasten his experiments regarding weapons, and this played a huge role in his career as a magic engineer.

Astron's eyes flicked between the weapons laid out on the table before him, his mind already calculating the possibilities. The fact that Kieran had identified the abilities of each weapon without hesitation confirmed Astron's suspicions. This Kieran was, without a doubt, the same one from the game, possessing the unique trait that allowed him to see through the effects of artifacts and weapons alike.

'He's exactly as I expected.'

With that thought in mind, Astron decided to push the boundaries of what Kieran could do. He looked up from the weapons, his violet eyes meeting Kieran's sharp, expectant gaze.

"Can you combine their abilities?" Astron asked, his voice calm and measured.

Kieran's expression immediately shifted into a wide grin, the kind of smile that told Astron this was exactly the kind of challenge Kieran had been hoping for. "Now, that's the kind of question I like to hear," Kieran said, his tone filled with excitement. He stepped forward, picking up the daggers and the bow again, his eyes gleaming with possibility.

He spun one of the daggers in his hand before turning back to Astron, his grin widening. "Combining their abilities... it's not easy, but it's definitely possible."

Kieran's grin widened as he continued, clearly energized by the challenge. "Here's the thing," he said, his voice brimming with enthusiasm. "I can craft the throwable daggers with all these properties. Imagine it—venomous strikes, enhanced reflexes for quick reaction times, and the precision you get from a bow, all compacted into a set of throwing blades. I can even fine-tune the aerodynamics to make them faster and more efficient mid-flight."

He twirled one of the daggers in his hand again, eyes gleaming as he considered the possibilities. "The current material is decent, but if we're going all out, I'll use something stronger—higher-grade metals that can hold the enchantments better and increase durability. That way, you won't have to worry about the blades losing their edge or breaking during combat, no matter how intense the fight gets."

Kieran set the daggers and the bow back down, his excitement palpable. "And the aerodynamics? I'll refine the design to make the flight smoother, reducing drag and increasing the speed at which they return to you. The key is balance—if we get it just right, they'll fly faster, hit harder, and retain all their enchantments. It's a lot of work, but I can do it."

Astron remained calm as ever, though he felt a flicker of satisfaction at Kieran's response. This was exactly what he had hoped for—an upgrade.

The reason?

'If he can combine and can show his talent more, maybe I can even show him [Celestalith].'

He had never shown his weapon to anyone before since he did not have any need to, as well as he liked hiding his trump cards.

Kieran leaned in slightly, his grin never fading. "By the time I'm done, these daggers will be something else entirely. They'll be your go-to for both close and ranged combat, with all the power you need wrapped up in a sleek, deadly package."

Astron nodded, his mind already envisioning the potential these refined weapons would bring to his combat strategy. "I'll leave it in your hands, then," he said, his voice calm but firm. "I expect nothing less than perfection."

Kieran's grin widened even more if that was possible. "Oh, don't worry," he said, already gathering the daggers and bowing back into his hands. "You're going to get more than you bargained for."

As Kieran walked toward his workshop, the challenge set before him, Maya glanced at Astron. "It will be on me."

Just as Astron was about to respond, Maya shook her head firmly, her expression unwavering. "No, I won't take no as an answer," she said with a knowing smile, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Astron, ever composed, raised an eyebrow slightly, though he knew there was little point in trying to persuade her otherwise. Maya had made up her mind, and when she did, there was no changing it.

As Kieran walked toward his workshop, his mind already racing with ideas for the modifications, Maya turned her attention fully to Astron. "It'll be on me," she said, her voice soft but resolute.

Astron gave her a steady look, the hint of a frown tugging at his lips. He wasn't used to relying on others, especially for something as personal as his weapons, but Maya's determination was evident. She wasn't offering; she was deciding.

Astron fell silent for a moment, considering her words. He knew she meant well, and while he wasn't one to accept help easily, he respected her insistence. Finally, with a subtle nod, he relented. "All right," he said, his voice measured. "But only this time."

Maya chuckled softly, clearly pleased with his response. "You say that now," she teased lightly, "but we both know you're not getting rid of me that easily."

"Fair enough," Astron conceded, knowing well that Maya wasn't someone who could be brushed off so easily.

With the matter settled, Maya glanced toward the backroom where Kieran had disappeared, her confidence unwavering. "He's going to do great work," she said, her tone filled with certainty. "You'll see."

Astron simply nodded, though his mind briefly drifted back to the thought of his own hidden weapon, Celestalith. If Kieran proved himself capable, perhaps—just perhaps—he would consider revealing that trump card for further enhancement. But for now, he would wait and see.

"Though I am curious. How did the two of you meet?"

Still, before everything happened, Astron needed to clarify some things.