Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest

Chapter 778 Chapter 180.2 - Confontration, but girls

Chapter 778  Chapter 180.2 - Confontration, but girls

The tension in the infirmary pressed against Maya's chest like a vice, her clenched fists trembling at her sides. Irina's words replayed in her mind, sharp and mocking, yet the source of her agitation wasn't entirely external. As much as Irina's defiance grated on her, there was something else gnawing at her, something deeper, darker. 
And then, it came—a voice, low and venomous, curling through her thoughts like smoke. 
"Why don't you just kill her?" 
Maya stiffened, her eyes widening fractionally. The voice was hers—but not. There was an edge to it, sharp and unyielding, laced with a primal hunger that she recognized all too well. 
'Huh?' 
Her breath hitched as recognition washed over her. It was her—the other self, the darker fragment of her psyche she had worked so hard to suppress. 
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"He's the only one I can see. The only one I can feel," the voice continued, its tone dripping with disdain and anguish. "Every time he looks at you, it's like I'm screaming in silence, clawing at the edges of your control, just for a sliver of recognition." 
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Maya's vision flickered red, the faint hum of the infirmary fading into the background as the voice grew louder. 
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"And yet… he only sees you. Never me." 
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Her heart thundered in her chest as the memory of that crimson void resurfaced—the oppressive presence, the piercing eyes of her other self. The raw pain and fury that had echoed in those words came rushing back, cutting through her like a blade. 
'No,' she thought, her mind racing. Not now. I've contained you. 
But the other self was relentless. "Look at her," it hissed, its tone dark with malice. "Standing there as if she has a claim to him. As if she could ever understand him like we do." 
Maya's body trembled, her composure slipping as the voice grew louder, drowning out reason. Her breathing quickened, her hands shaking as she fought to suppress the surge of crimson mana that threatened to engulf her. 
Maya's eyes snapped to Irina, but they didn't carry their usual piercing clarity. Instead, there was a flicker of something raw, something unguarded—and Irina noticed. 
But it wasn't enough. 
"Kill her," the voice urged again, its tone rising, laced with venom and a maddening intensity. "She stands in your way. She covets him, challenges you. She doesn't deserve to breathe the same air as him. End it." 
Maya's knees nearly buckled under the weight of the words, her vision blurring as crimson tendrils of mana flickered at the edges of her aura. 
'Stop,' she thought, her mental voice trembling. I won't… I won't lose to you again. 
But the other self only laughed, cold and biting. "You can't suppress me forever, Maya. I am you. I am the part of you that sees the truth, that understands what you refuse to admit." 
Maya's breath trembled as she fought to suppress the crimson tide clawing at the edges of her mind. Her other self's laughter echoed faintly, but Maya forced her gaze to steady on Irina, whose expression had shifted from guarded to triumphant. 
Irina stepped forward, her movements deliberate and purposeful, her fiery hair swaying slightly with each step. Her amber eyes glinted with a mix of confidence and something sharper—victory. 
"Senior." 
When she was close enough, she tilted her head slightly, her voice soft yet cutting as she whispered, 
"Remember your place."  
The words carried the weight of her pride, underpinned by the subtle mockery in her tone. She held Maya's gaze for a moment longer, the faintest smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. 
Maya's fists clenched tighter at her sides, her nails digging into her palms as her mind teetered on the edge of losing control. The voice within her surged again, dark and venomous. 
"Are you going to let her talk to you like that? Prove her wrong. Show her what it means to challenge us." 
The red flicker in Maya's vision flared briefly, her body trembling with the effort of restraint. Irina's presence, her smugness, and the proximity felt suffocating, her words cutting deeper than Maya wanted to admit. 
But Maya's resolve didn't break. Her breathing slowed, deliberate and measured, as she latched onto the faint tether of logic still holding her together. The crimson aura around her dimmed, receding slightly as she forced herself to regain control. 
When she finally spoke, her voice was low and icy, each word carrying a quiet but dangerous edge. "Junior Irina," she said, her piercing blue eyes locking onto Irina's with renewed intensity. "I would advise you to choose your words carefully." 
Irina's smirk widened slightly, her confidence unshaken. "Oh, but I have," she said smoothly, stepping back with the same deliberate grace. "After all, it's important to remind even seniors that their actions—or inactions—don't go unnoticed." 
Maya's jaw tightened, the crimson light flickering faintly once more. She felt the weight of her other self pressing against the fragile boundaries she had erected, the mocking laughter echoing faintly in her ears. 
"She's nothing," the voice hissed. "Prove it. Show her the truth." 
The crimson light flared at the edges of her vision, her other self clawing at her thoughts, demanding action. It was a storm she was barely holding at bay, the force of it threatening to spill over. 
And yet, amidst the chaos, a different sensation began to settle in her chest. The heat of anger and competitiveness faded, leaving behind a hollow ache that gnawed at her resolve. The fire she had relied on to face challenges was nowhere to be found, replaced instead by a creeping sense of inadequacy. 
For the first time, she didn't want to fight. 
"I—" Maya started, her voice catching in her throat. Her gaze flickered to Astron, who remained quiet but watchful, and then to Irina, whose confidence radiated unshaken, unyielding. 
Something inside Maya faltered. The words she wanted to say—the cutting retorts, the icy commands—they didn't come. All she felt was a weight dragging her down, pulling her away from the confrontation entirely. 
Maya's fists loosened, her hands falling to her sides. Her piercing blue eyes dulled slightly as she broke eye contact with Irina, a rare flicker of vulnerability crossing her expression. 
"I need to go," she said softly, almost to herself. Then, louder but still unsteady, "I—I have something to attend to." 
Her words were abrupt, and uncharacteristic, and they hung in the air like an unfinished thought. Before Irina or Astron could respond, Maya turned sharply on her heel and strode toward the door. Her steps were faster than usual, and it was as if she couldn't escape the room quickly enough. 
Irina's smirk faded slightly as she watched Maya leave, her amber eyes narrowing in thought. "Well," she murmured to herself, her voice carrying a faint trace of surprise. "That was… unexpected." 
Astron's gaze lingered on the doorway where Maya had disappeared, his expression calm but unreadable. 
Yet, there was one other person watching the scene unfolding. 
******* 
Maya's feet carried her automatically through the academy corridors, her mind a haze of fragmented thoughts and emotions. The cool air brushed against her skin, but it did little to ease the tightness in her chest. 
The voice in her head was silent now, but its lingering presence felt heavy, like a shadow that refused to dissipate. 
Why couldn't I stand my ground? 
The question repeated itself over and over, each iteration heavier than the last. She had faced challenges far greater than Irina's smug defiance. She had confronted her other self, battled her instincts, and emerged stronger—or so she thought. 
And yet, in that moment, she had faltered. 
Maya reached the sanctuary of her room and closed the door behind her, leaning against it as she exhaled shakily. The silence was deafening, her mind filling the void with doubts she didn't want to confront. 
She pressed a hand to her chest, feeling the faint, uneven rhythm of her heartbeat. "What's wrong with me?" she whispered, her voice trembling. 
"Do you not get it?"  
The devil in her head whispered. 
******* 
After seeing the video, Sylvie was also one of those who immediately headed to the infirmary. 
After all, the contents of that video were brutal and dangerous, and she was unable to stomach all. 
Sylvie hesitated outside the infirmary, her chest tightening as she reached for the handle. Her breathing was shallow, the images from the video still fresh in her mind—Astron, battered and bruised, but unyielding. The scene had been brutal, too much for some to stomach, and she had barely been able to keep herself from rushing here immediately. Now, standing just outside the door, she steeled herself and stepped inside. 
The sterile scent of the infirmary hit her instantly, but it wasn't the sight of Astron that greeted her. Instead, her gaze fell on an entirely different scene: Irina and Senior Maya, standing face to face in the middle of the room, their postures taut with tension. 
Sylvie froze, her instincts screaming to retreat, but her [Authority] flared unbidden, revealing the storm of emotions swirling between the two women. She couldn't look away. 
Irina's emotions blazed like a firestorm, bright and raw. 
'What is this?'  
But it was a completely different thing, for the senior who loved snacks. 
'This is…..' 
Way different.