Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

<HA25, Arcadia Hunter Academy>

The sun streamed through the tall windows of the classroom as the students of HA25 filed in, their chatter subdued but buzzing with curiosity about the new course. The setup of the room had changed slightly—desks were arranged in clusters rather than rows, hinting at a more interactive session.

At the front of the class stood a tall man with a commanding presence. His neatly trimmed beard and sharp features gave him a look of both wisdom and authority. He wore a tailored uniform adorned with the insignia of a high-ranking hunter, and his piercing gray eyes swept across the room, taking in each student.

As the students settled, he stepped forward, his boots clicking softly against the floor. "Good morning," he began, his deep voice resonating through the room. "My name is Professor Darius Kain, and I will be your instructor for this course: Team Operations and Unit Specialization."

He paused, letting his words settle as his gaze moved from one student to the next. "This class will introduce you to the foundational principles of working as a cohesive team. Whether you like it or not, the life of a hunter is rarely a solo endeavor. Your ability to operate within a unit can mean the difference between success and failure—or life and death."

The students exchanged glances, some intrigued, others slightly apprehensive. Professor Kain's serious tone left little room for doubt about the importance of the subject.

"This course," Kain continued, "will consist of both theoretical lessons and practical exercises. Today, we'll begin with an overview of unit specialization and team dynamics. In future sessions, we'll move into hands-on scenarios designed to simulate real-world challenges."

He gestured toward the classroom screen, which lit up with a diagram illustrating the basic roles within a hunter team: Striker, Defender, Support, and Tactician.

"A well-balanced team," Kain explained, pointing to the diagram, "is not simply a collection of strong individuals. Each member must fulfill a specific role, complementing one another to form a cohesive whole."

He tapped the screen, and examples of team formations appeared, highlighting different strategies. "Strikers focus on offense, delivering decisive blows to weaken or eliminate threats. Defenders protect the team, absorbing damage and maintaining formation. Supports provide healing, buffs, or mana management, ensuring the team can sustain prolonged engagements. And Tacticians oversee strategy, analyzing the battlefield and coordinating the team's movements."

Julia leaned over to Ethan, whispering, "Guess you're the Striker, huh? Big lightning strikes and all that."

Ethan smirked but didn't respond, keeping his focus on Kain.

Just like that, the class continued.

*****

As the class neared its end, the professor was also about to conclude.

"Each of you will naturally gravitate toward one or more roles based on your abilities, strengths, and preferences," Kain continued. "However, a hunter must also be adaptable. The battlefield is unpredictable, and you may be called upon to step outside your comfort zone."

He turned to the class, crossing his arms. "Now, this is an introductory course, so you won't be expected to master these roles overnight. But by the end of this semester, you should have a clear understanding of your primary role and how to work within a team."

The screen shifted to display footage of an experienced hunter team in action, their coordination seamless as they navigated a dangerous dungeon. The students watched in silence, the skill and synergy of the team leaving a strong impression.

As the footage ended, Kain turned back to the class. "This," he said, gesturing to the screen, "is what you should aspire to. Not just individual strength, but unity. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link."

He glanced at the clock, noting the time before addressing the class once more. "Now, for your first assignment," he said, his tone shifting slightly. "By the end of this week, I want each of you to form a team. Three to five members. Choose people you trust and can work with. This team will be your unit for the duration of this course."

The students immediately began murmuring, the prospect of forming teams sparking a mix of excitement and nervousness.

Professor Kain allowed the students a moment to absorb the significance of his assignment, the murmurs of conversation growing louder as the gravity of forming their teams began to sink in. He raised a hand, silencing the room with his commanding presence.

"Before you leave," he said, his deep voice resonating through the room, "there's something else you need to understand about this course. It is one of the most credited courses in your curriculum. A total of seven credits—three for the theoretical component and four for the practical exercises."

The weight of his statement seemed to hit the students all at once. A few exchanged wide-eyed glances, while others immediately sat up straighter, realizing just how important this course would be.

"The significance of these credits cannot be overstated," Kain continued his tone firm. "Your performance here will have a substantial impact on your overall evaluations, and the stakes are higher than some of you might be prepared for."

He gestured to the diagram of team roles still displayed on the screen. "Theoretical knowledge will account for three of these credits. Your team will work together to tackle assignments, analyze scenarios, and develop strategies based on the principles we discuss in class. Keep this in mind when selecting your teammates—this isn't just about fieldwork."

The students' murmurs grew quieter as they processed the implications. A few frowned, clearly realizing that this course would demand much more than just physical performance.

Kain's expression softened slightly, though his tone retained its weight. "The practical component, worth four credits, will involve simulations, dungeon exercises, and live-combat training. These exercises will push you to operate as a cohesive unit, and your ability to adapt to challenges will determine your success."

He straightened, his sharp gray eyes scanning the room. "Remember, this isn't just about individual achievement. A team's failure is your failure. A team's success is your success. Keep that in mind."

The room was silent now, the students fully focused on his words. Kain glanced at the clock again, noting that there were still a few minutes left in the session.

"With that," he said, stepping back slightly, "I'll conclude this lecture early. Use the extra time wisely. Begin discussing potential teammates, and remember—this assignment is due by the end of the week."

He gestured toward the door, signaling the end of class. "You are dismissed."

The students began to rise, some moving immediately into small clusters to discuss their options, while others remained seated, deep in thought. The room buzzed with quiet determination, the weight of the course's significance settling heavily on everyone.

As Ethan stood, Julia nudged him with her elbow. "Looks like we're really in it now, Zeus," she teased, her grin betraying her excitement.

"Stop with the nickname," Ethan muttered, though he couldn't help the small smile tugging at his lips.

And as the professor left the students started talking about their teams.

Teamwork has never been something that they were unaware of as the academy put the importance on the teamwork quite frequently.

As the class settled into clusters, the students buzzing with energy over forming their teams, Julia let out a dramatic groan, throwing her head back as she slumped into her chair. "Ugh, theory. Why does it always come back to theory? I thought we were training to fight, not to become scholars."

Ethan smirked, crossing his arms as he leaned casually against her desk. "You do realize that strategy is a part of fighting, right? You can't just swing your sword around and hope for the best."

Julia shot him a glare, though the effect was dulled by the exaggerated pout on her lips. "I don't hope. I calculate my swings."

Lucas, sitting nearby, chuckled, his cold blue eyes glinting with amusement. "Is that what we're calling it now? Calculating?"

"Laugh all you want, Middleton," Julia shot back, waving a hand in his direction. "At least I'm not sitting here pretending to love this boring stuff. If I wanted to do homework, I'd have gone into bookkeeping or something."

Lilia leaned in slightly, a sly smile tugging at her lips. "You could always find someone to handle the theory part for you. Partner up with a 'scholar,' and you can focus on what you love—smashing things."

Julia paused, her hand on her chin as if seriously considering the idea. "Hmm… that could be possible indeed. Find someone to do the brainwork while I do the real work."

The group burst into laughter at her earnest response. Even Irina, who had been quietly observing the conversation, let out a soft chuckle, her fiery yellow eyes glinting with amusement.

"You do realize that would make you the muscle of the team, right?" Ethan teased, raising an eyebrow.

"Damn right I'd be the muscle," Julia said proudly, sitting up straighter. "Brains are overrated anyway."

Julia's eyes darted around the room, scanning the clusters of students who were already deep in discussion about potential teams. Her sharp gaze locked onto someone sitting quietly toward the back of the classroom. Her smirk widened, a glint of determination sparking in her blue eyes.

"Oh!" she exclaimed, her voice brimming with excitement. "That could work."

Without wasting another second, she stood abruptly, her chair scraping against the floor as she moved with purpose. Her teammates exchanged curious glances, but before anyone could stop her, Julia was already halfway across the room.

The target of her attention was none other than Astron, who was seated at his desk, his calm purple eyes scanning the information on his tablet. As always, he seemed detached from the bustling energy around him, exuding his usual quiet presence.

Julia had noticed him during their recent parkour training session. Though she didn't know much about him beyond his reputation as the enigmatic loner, one thing had stood out to her: his precision. His movements had been calculated and efficient, his vision sharp, and his adaptability remarkable. She had also taken note of his versatility—dagger in one hand, bow slung over his shoulder. He was clearly someone who could fill the role of a scout, someone who could cover the gaps she wasn't interested in filling herself.

'Indeed,' Julia thought, her grin widening as she approached him. 'He's perfect.'

Astron was just beginning to stand when Julia appeared in front of him, her movement so quick and deliberate that it caught the attention of nearby students.

"Astron," Julia said, her voice carrying both confidence and urgency. "Join my team."

And as usual, she was straightforward.