Luvi understood one fact after his experience in middle school.
Rarely would he find people like him. No, they were among the rarest and usually knew how to hide their nature in society. Making it even harder to notice them or their underhanded actions.
It was why Luvi was guarded against others, he feared those like him. It was why he rarely had any real friends.
And those he had were easy to manipulate or fool, just like Andy.
But it would seem, there are some things in which he can't change Andy's mind.
So at the end, he relented and didn't force him much.
Andy was here to earn money, lots of money for reasons Luvi knew about. And this academy was one where talent was kept above everything else. Those with talents earned free points during their test and even scholarships.
Which would make the life of an individual easier. Which is what Andy was after since the start.
He was not good at studying like Luvi, he was only good at putting in his best towards his goal, which Luvi can't understand.
So making things harder for oneself sounded odd to him. And Luvi can't complain there much.
Because at the end of the day, Andy is just a friend he stuck on to out of necessity and nothing more. And a friend is not a slave that would listen to each of its master's commands.
"If you want, I can take a temporary test to see if you qualify, you can go for an official certificate later." Daarun then explained the rules and regulations a white star hunter had to follow. Treating Andy as if he had already succeeded.
But on the other hand, Luvi was sweating internally. Wondering how things go wrong.
'With white star tag on him, others would only try to bother him at first, before not daring to touch him…'
And when they don't dare to touch Andy, they will turn toward Luvi. Which meant that Luvi was going to suffer.
And it would also be wrong to say his suffering will be caused by his plan, backfiring.
No! Instead, it would be more apt to say his plan worked so well that it changed its polarity and then affected him negatively.
Of course, he can't say any of it to Andy. The illusion of a good but an asshole friend still needs to be maintained, hence he can't force him on the surface. And from what he understood from the tone of his friend, it would be harder for Andy to change his mind.
For Andy was not alone, he had the responsibility of taking care of his family as well. A sense of responsibility that Andy, being the youngest from his family of Hunter's can never relate to.
He lived for himself and nothing else.
Even his goal of saving the world from the attack of immortals is so that he can live for longer in peace.
'Yes, why am I even wondering about it?... Everything will be over when the immortals come. This is nothing compared to their arrival.'
So Luvi chose to abandon all the thoughts concerning this matter and then he started to look forward to the reaction the school would have when they find that the weakest of the bunch has become the strongest.
Leaving Luvi to now hold the title of the weakest.
And mind you, the first year only had around nine White Star hunters in the group and not all of them were combat oriented classes or were good at combat.
So if the words of Daarun are true, Andy would be considered strong even among those white star students.
"Let's proceed with the test in front of others. It will be proof enough."
Daarun, after seeing that Andy has rested enough, nor did he have any injuries from the prior battle, led Andy and Luvi to a bigger arena in the practice hall.
The other students also followed them, unaware of what was happening. Some even ask questions.
But Andy didn't answer and Luvi chose to remain silent knowing full well that none of what they said would be believed by these students. Instead, they might be mocked instead.
So it was better to let them watch.
Of course, that was the case for Andy and Luvi. Daarun, after reaching the arena, announced. "I just found out that Student Anderson might have advanced to a white star hunter. And I would be testing him here to see if this is true."
"He is white star?Hah!!" It was absurd and hard to believe. And how can they?
A student that was well known for being at the very bottom suddenly rose to the top?
Only a fool would actually believe in these words.
So a student by the name Roshan spoke his mind with a condescending smirk on his face. "Teacher, don't go for his claims, he just used some underhanded method there and is now making the excuse of advancing." To them, it seemed that Andy was making a bizarre excuse to hide the method he used to take down Adam.
Who knows, Andy was hiding some small weapons in his hands when he 'pinched' Adam, causing the injury. And now, he was hiding that fact by putting on the facade of advancing.
But there were some who noticed a bizarre anomaly of Andy's purple nails that have grown taller than before. And the oddest part was that they didn't curl, but instead were straight and pointed like a stiletto knife.
"Its not a claim he made, it's the conclusion I came up with on my own And I am just going to confirm whether my conclusion is true or not in front of you all."
"Student Anderson, join me in the ring."
His words shut some of the students up. But Daarun's words were still hard to believe some students, who kept their antagonistic stares on Andy.
There were some who only held respect and surprise for Andy, thinking that if teacher Daarun said it, then it might be true.
Which goes to show how much respect Daarun held in the hearts of many students.
Of course, these were just normal students and not the ones actively sabotaging and messing up with Andy and Luvi.
Who knows, if not for Luvi making an enemy out of them. The situation in the field might still be different.
"Yes sir!" Andy walked into the arena, and took the CQC stance he was taught. But was reprimanded by Daarun. "This is not a war, its a test. Take a stance which would help you burst with most of your potential at once."
"Highest potential?" Andy wondered, before changing his stance with his claws out and yes, they were claws.
And not just any claws, they held rotting poison in them.
"Start!" Daarun ordered and like a beast, Andy covered the distance towards Daarun in just three steps, before clawing towards Daarun's face.
"Good!" Daarun said as he sidestepped, dodging the attack from Andy's right hand, but he felt something brushing past his stomach.
'First the head, then the stomach.' Daarun was surprised to see the speed at which Andy was using his moves. Andy's movements were looking crude, but his speed was on another level when compared to his fight with Adam.
Which went to show that Andy really didn't show much of his skills during the sparring before.
'Moves are open and he is taking his time to move. Which shows his inexperience with this moveset.'
Andy was fast, there is no denying it. But that was only true for normal students. In front of a student who is also a White star, Andy might be at a disadvantage with how much gap there is in between his attacks.
He was not used to his own attacks. Andy had to think before he can move and the thinking part was also filled with holes and lack of judgements.
Even without using his ability or mana, the physique of Daarun was on another level when compared to Andy, and taking him down won't be hard with a single slap.
But this was a test to see the limits of Andy's ability and check whether he was a grade five or not.
'Speed check, next is endurance.'
With a smile, Daarun lightly pushed Andy to the side, causing him to fall mid-moves. "From now, I will fight as well, if you fall 10 times or get damaged by me. You will fail."
Daarun announced.
For a hunter, more than speed or strength, what mattered most was the endurance and how long they can fight.
What best way to check it then force a hunter to their limits.
So Daarun put some pressure on Andy with his words. He can see how much Andy wanted to prove himself to everyone. This was his opportunity to change his life, to make others look at him in a different light.
And he won't let it go to waste because he was tired. So the aggression in his attacks increased, the little gaps that were felt by Daarun before started to get shorter.
It was as if his body was learning to move on its own. Usually it takes a high amount of practical combat training before anyone imprints the moves into their body. But Andy was learning to do it real time.
But this in truth also made it so that Andy used up his energy at a faster rate and hence got tired a lot more.
And when the time came, Daarun activated a bit of mana to increase his defense, before meeting Andy's attack head on.
"*screech."
Tired, Andy backed off, knowing it was over. His breathing was heavy, as if he would fall down any moment, while the tips of his right hand were bleeding as he had just lost two nails from his fingers.
"He penetrated the teacher's defenses?" The whole crowd was left breathless.