Hunter Academy: Revenge of the Weakest novel Chapter 548

Chapter 548 123.2 - Rank-6 Gate

The landscape of Frostbound Ascent was as unforgiving as the analysts had described. Snow-covered cliffs rose high above us, the icy winds howling through the jagged rocks, cutting through our gear and chilling us to the bone. Each step we took left deep impressions in the snow, and the biting cold was a constant reminder of the harsh environment we were about to face.

Our team moved cautiously through the treacherous terrain, the crunch of our boots muffled by the wind. Kurt and Gareth took the lead, their massive frames cutting through the worst of the wind as they scouted for any signs of danger. Dorian followed closely, his twin blades gleaming faintly in the low light, ready for a quick draw. Elena walked beside Lila, the two of them quietly exchanging strategies on how best to combine their magic in the upcoming fight.

The analysts had made it clear: frost elementals and ice trolls would be our primary threats, and both were formidable. But my concern wasn't with the monsters themselves—it was with my ability to deliver the kind of damage the team would need from me, especially with a bow.

'My arrows might not be enough,' I thought. Even with Starpiercer's Arc, it still might fall short against creatures with such high durability and elemental resistance.

The frost elementals, in particular, were known for their resilience to physical attacks, and while I could adjust my shots to exploit their weaknesses, there was no guarantee that my arrows would pack the punch needed for a prolonged battle.

That was especially a concern since the conductive material was not simply suited for my moon mana. In a way, the power that I could display was limited just as I had mentioned. That alone made things a lot more harder.

As we moved further into the frozen landscape, I spoke up, my voice cutting through the wind. "There's something I want to bring up before we go any further."

The team slowed their pace, turning to look at me with raised eyebrows. Kurt, ever the practical one, was the first to respond. "What's on your mind?"

I met his gaze, my expression serious. "It's about my damage output with the bow. Against the frost elementals and ice trolls, my arrows might not be enough to deal significant damage. Even with Starpiercer's Arc, there's a possibility that my ranged attacks won't be as effective as we'd like."

Dorian quirked an eyebrow, a small smirk forming on his lips. "And you're telling us this now?"

Elena frowned slightly, glancing at my bow. "Why didn't you mention this earlier? We could've adjusted our plans."

I shook my head. "I didn't bring it up before because I didn't want to disrupt the team's focus. We've all been preparing for this gate, and I didn't want anyone to lose confidence or feel like they had to worry about my role."

Kurt crossed his arms, studying me carefully. "So what are you suggesting? We change the formation on the fly?"

"If necessary," I replied. "If I find that my arrows aren't doing enough damage, I might need to switch roles mid-combat. I would be more effective as a close ranged combatant."

"Right, Liana. You have also mentioned that your other primary weapon was a dagger."

"That is right."

Kurt's eyes narrowed as he crossed his arms, clearly considering the implications of my words. "So you're telling us you're proficient in close combat too? With daggers?" he asked, his tone more curious than skeptical.

I gave a short nod. "That's correct. I haven't had to use them during our previous gates because our formation has been working efficiently. As a ranger, I've been able to cover you all from a distance, and there hasn't been a need for me to switch roles. But in rank-6 gates, where the monsters are stronger and more resilient, it's possible that ranged attacks won't cut it."

Dorian tilted his head, his usual grin returning. "So, what are you saying? That you're better with daggers than with a bow?"

I paused for a moment, weighing my words. "Not exactly," I replied. "I'm proficient with both, but the real difference comes from the equipment. Serpent Fangs, the dagger that was issued to me by the guild, is more suited for close combat against stronger enemies. It has a passive ability that increases its effectiveness against tougher targets."

Elena raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. "A specialized weapon, then. Why haven't you shown us your dagger skills before?"

"There was no need," I said simply. "Our current formation was functioning well, and we didn't face enemies that required me to switch roles. But now that we're in rank-6 gates, the situation might be different. The monsters here will be stronger, and the terrain could make ranged combat less effective."

Kurt nodded thoughtfully. "Makes sense. If your bow isn't doing enough damage, switching to close combat could give us the edge we need. But we'll need to be prepared for that shift."

Dorian chuckled, giving me a playful nudge. "So, you've been holding out on us, huh? Guess we'll finally get to see what those daggers can do."

I didn't rise to the bait, instead keeping my tone level. "If the situation calls for it, I'll switch to daggers. But only if it benefits the team."

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