Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 945 216.5 - Overachievers

"That's enough for today."

Ethan stumbled forward as the pressure relented, his arms slackening slightly, muscles aching from holding form too long. He wiped sweat from his brow with the back of his wrist and gave a tired exhale.

Astron emerged a moment later, more composed, but even his normally calm breathing held a slight hitch. His footsteps were slower, deliberate, and for once, visibly strained.

Eleanor stepped forward, hands still behind her back as her eyes swept over both of them.

"This type of training," she said, her voice steady, "is not sustainable over long periods. If you overexpose your mana veins to amplified feedback without proper pacing, you'll destabilize your internal cycles."

Ethan nodded absently, still catching his breath. "Yeah, no argument here."

Astron gave a single nod as well, saying nothing—but Eleanor could see the fine tension still in his fingers. He had been pushing. Quietly. Carefully. Just enough.

Eleanor turned without another word and began walking toward the exit of the training chamber. Her steps were measured, composed, with the faintest click of her heels against the polished floor—a sound that somehow made Ethan flinch more than the pressure chamber ever had.

Without being told, the two followed.

The door hissed open as they exited into the facility's outer corridor—cooler air greeting them like a reprieve. The walls here weren't laced with pressure enchantments, nor were the floors glowing with resonant mana. It felt… normal. Or close to it.

Ethan leaned back against the wall, hands on his knees as he took a long, controlled breath. "This place is insane," he muttered.

Astron sat down with quiet composure, pulling in long, deliberate breaths through his nose, letting the strain settle and ease out of his body.

Eleanor didn't speak at first. She gave them their moment. Let them breathe. Let the silence fill the space between instruction and correction. Only when their shoulders had eased did she speak again, voice quiet but clear.

"I reviewed your dungeon logs."

Ethan looked up, slightly wary. "And?"

"You're not bad at integrating into a team," Eleanor said simply. "Not flawless—but better than most."

That caught both of their attention. She rarely gave compliments—let alone opened with one.