Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 638 140.2 - Concocting

"Now, the best part. The true edge these blades hold isn't just in their silence or their piercing power. No…..This is where the magic really happens."

With a swift motion of his wrist, Kieran activated the enchantment, causing the blade to emit a soft glow, with a pulsing energy tracing along its edges.

"You can change the type of poison that you want to enchant your weapon."

Kieran's eyes sparkled as he continued, his tone dropping to a hushed but excited whisper, "Here's the true edge. For most weapons that carry poison, you're limited to a single type—paralytic, venomous, maybe corrosive. But this one… this blade doesn't settle for just one." He gave the blade a final, expert twirl, then held it aloft, the edges faintly pulsing with energy.

Astron's eyes sharpened, his interest piqued as he listened.

"With this enchantment, you can change the type of poison the blade holds. Venom, paralysis, decay—you choose," Kieran said, his tone filled with pride. "I developed a unique layering process that lets you switch between poison types on command. You won't need a new blade for every situation. Just activate the enchantment, and the weapon adjusts accordingly."

To demonstrate, Kieran flicked his wrist, and the blade's glow shifted from a deep emerald to a sickly purple, indicating a change in the poison's nature. He moved it once more, and the purple hue turned a faint, smoky gray, each color representing a different toxin within the blade.

"Think of it as flexibility for the user," Kieran explained, glancing at Astron with a knowing look. "I figured someone like you, with the arsenal I've seen you carry, would put this to good use. Adaptability in a single weapon, so you're not tied down by equipment or constantly switching tools. It's all in one place."

Astron couldn't hide the glint of admiration that crossed his expression. The concept was something he'd considered in the past—having weapons tailored to match his strategic adaptability. However, he hadn't had the time, nor the resources, to fully develop it.

"You've exceeded expectations," Astron murmured, taking the blade from Kieran's hand to feel the subtle, pulsing energy coursing through it. The enchantment responded to his touch, and he could sense the ease with which he could shift its attributes—venom for a prolonged fight, paralysis for quick subduing, and even decay for disabling tougher opponents. n/ô/vel/b//jn dot c//om

Kieran smirked, his voice holding a trace of satisfaction. "I thought that might impress you," he said, crossing his arms. "It wasn't easy to make, but I knew someone like you would see the value."

Astron gave a final nod, respect evident in his gaze. "I see now that, Senior Maya's words regarding you were true."

Maya's lips curled into a playful smile as she glanced at Astron. "Did you not believe me?" she teased, her tone light but her eyes gleaming with mischief.

Astron turned to her, his expression calm but with a glint of honesty in his gaze. "It wasn't that I didn't believe you," he replied. "I just wanted to see it with my own eyes."

Maya chuckled, clearly unbothered by his response. She knew that Astron's thoroughness was just part of who he was; he always preferred to judge things for himself, especially when it came to matters that affected his safety and strategy. The satisfaction of seeing Kieran's talent acknowledged only deepened her pride.

Kieran, watching the exchange with a grin, cleared his throat and stepped forward. "Alright, so let me show you how to record poisons into the blade's enchantment," he said, holding the weapon out to Astron.

He continued, "I've already loaded a few poisons for testing—potent stuff, but I'm no poison expert, so they may not be exactly what you'd want. This is just a starting point." Kieran's fingers traced along the runes engraved on the hilt, and the blade shifted colors as he cycled through the different poison types. "Now, if you want to add your own, it's easy enough."

He flipped the blade over and pointed to a small, rune-inscribed chamber near the hilt. "This chamber here," he explained, "is where you place the poison of your choice. The enchantment will absorb it, and then you can store that type for future use. Just focus your mana while holding it, and the enchantment will learn the properties of the poison."

Kieran demonstrated, reaching for a small vial of poison he had on hand. Pouring a drop into the chamber, he activated the enchantment. The blade glowed as the new poison integrated, shifting to a faint green hue as the weapon accepted it.

"Now, that poison type is available in the rotation," he said, handing the blade back to Astron. "Just cycle through and use it as you see fit. It'll retain the poisons you store unless you overwrite them with something new."

Astron took the blade, absorbing each instruction carefully, already considering how to tailor it for different combat scenarios. Kieran's innovation and craftsmanship had surpassed his expectations, and he was quietly impressed by the attention to detail.

"Thank you, Mister Kieran," Astron said, his tone sincere, as he glanced at Maya, who looked pleased beyond words.

Kieran couldn't resist a triumphant grin as he folded his arms. "See, it's your own fault for doubting me from the start," he declared, his voice tinged with a playful boastfulness. He looked entirely satisfied, basking in the well-deserved praise for his craft.

Astron watched him calmly, his expression as steady as ever, though there was a flicker of amusement in his eyes at Kieran's enthusiasm. Just as Kieran seemed to be getting carried away, Maya laughed softly, cutting through his reverie and bringing him back to the present.

"Alright, alright," she said, her eyes shining with amusement. "We get it, Kieran—you're a genius."

Kieran chuckled, giving a little shrug as he turned to Astron, still smiling. "So, anything else you need?" he asked, a hint of pride still lingering in his tone.

Astron paused, his gaze drifting for a moment as he weighed his thoughts, inwardly considering whether he should mention the idea he'd been mulling over. The weapon in his hand was exceptional, and Kieran had more than proven his skills, but this request was... different.

After a brief silence, he decided to ask. "There is one more thing," he began, meeting Kieran's expectant gaze. "It's something I've been thinking about for a while—a problem I've been trying to solve."

Kieran raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on."

"Transportation," Astron said, the word alone carrying a sense of purpose. "I need a vehicle. Something fast, efficient, and compact—ideally something I can carry with me. I want the option to return to where I leave it without being weighed down."

Kieran's eyes widened slightly, and he stroked his chin thoughtfully, clearly fascinated by the challenge. "So, you're talking about something you can summon or assemble on the spot, something that wouldn't interfere with your mobility otherwise?"

"Exactly," Astron replied. "It needs to be reliable, but also unobtrusive."

Kieran nodded slowly, his mind clearly racing with ideas. "That's… quite the request," he admitted, though a spark of excitement was unmistakable in his expression. "But it's doable. I'd have to look into specialized materials for durability and lightness, probably something that can fold or collapse into a smaller form. And a way to remotely summon it… yes, that could work." His gaze sharpened with inspiration, and he flashed a quick grin at Astron. "I like it. Give me some time, and I'll see what I can come up with."

Maya, watching the exchange, felt a surge of excitement at the thought. She could already picture Kieran throwing himself into the project with all his skill and enthusiasm. Astron's confidence in her friend made her feel quietly proud, knowing he trusted both of them enough to share this need.

Kieran watched Astron thoughtfully, the gears in his mind already turning over the possibilities for this new project. There was something about Astron—something he couldn't quite put his finger on. For someone who kept so much hidden behind a calm exterior, Astron seemed unusually sharp, like he could grasp the nuances of a concept even before Kieran fully explained it. It was a rare trait, one that Kieran, a self-proclaimed genius, held in high regard. And the more he observed Astron, the more he felt that this wasn't someone he'd get bored talking shop with.

He cleared his throat, shifting his attention from his thoughts. "All right," he said, a spark of interest glinting in his eyes. "If I'm going to work on this, I'll need a way to contact you directly. I get the feeling I might have some questions—or ideas—that'll pop up as I go."

Astron looked at him, his expression as steady as ever. With a small nod, he produced code from his smartwatch. He handed it over to Kieran, who accepted it with his own smartwatch and then the smartwatch registered the contact.

As Kieran's smartwatch registered Astron's contact, he nodded, satisfaction clear in his expression. "Good. I'll reach out if there are any updates or, well, any sudden flashes of brilliance," he said with a smirk. He tilted his head thoughtfully, adding, "Just a heads up, though—the sum may end up a bit higher than these daggers. Working with specialized materials and adding custom summoning functions isn't exactly a bargain."

Astron opened his mouth to respond, but before he could say a word, Maya stepped in, her tone light but firm. "I'll be the one covering this. No need to worry about the cost," she declared, her smile unwavering as she glanced between the two.

Astron's gaze shifted to her, his voice calm but with a note of insistence. "Senior, I appreciate it, but there's no need for you to—"

Maya shook her head, cutting him off with a warm but unyielding expression. "I'm not taking no for an answer, Astron. This isn't up for debate." Her voice softened, though her resolve didn't waver. "You've done a lot for me. Let me handle this."

Astron sighed quietly, recognizing the look in her eyes and knowing it was pointless to argue. He gave her a slight nod of acceptance, though his gaze lingered as if silently acknowledging her support.

Kieran watched the exchange with a grin, chuckling as he crossed his arms. "Well, then, it looks like we've got everything sorted. I'll get started right away. Should be… interesting," he added with a glint of excitement.

With that, the deal was sealed, and as Astron and Maya left the shop.