Chapter 78: Leo Vane [1]

Lorenzo briefly glanced at the signs as he walked past them.

This place is practically a treasure trove.

Golden Dawn Academy had accumulated weapon arts from countless sources over the years. Some had been developed by famous Masters, while others had been recovered from ancient ruins or obtained through expeditions into the Spirit Realm.

Naturally, the most powerful techniques weren’t available to everyone.

The academy imposed strict restrictions on certain weapon arts, particularly those ranked A and above.

And S-rank weapon arts were even more troublesome.

Only the top ten students could select them during their first year, and even then, their requests required approval from the relevant professor.

Fortunately, Lorenzo had ranked second.

For once, his position had proved useful.

As he approached the end of the corridor, he noticed a young woman standing beside a door with a tablet in her hands.

She appeared to be in her early twenties, with short brown hair and a neat academy uniform.

The moment she spotted Lorenzo, her expression brightened.

"Excuse me. Are you Lorenzo?"

"That’s me."

"I’m Ania, Professor Leo Vale’s assistant as well his disciple. I just sent you a message."

Lorenzo glanced at his smartwatch.

"Ah, I received it."

Ania nodded and looked him over with unconcealed curiosity.

"So, you’re the second-ranked student from the entrance examination."

"Unfortunately."

"...Unfortunately?"

"I would have preferred first place."

Ania blinked.

Then she laughed.

"Well, at least you’re honest. Professor Vale has been expecting you, so please follow me."

’Maybe I should challenge Joseph for rank 1 position?’

She turned and opened the door.

Lorenzo followed her inside.

The room was larger than he had expected. Several shooting lanes had been constructed along one side, with reinforced targets positioned at varying distances. Mana-resistant barriers separated the lanes, while a collection of firearms rested inside a locked display cabinet.

At the far end of the room stood a middle-aged man wearing a dark shirt with his sleeves rolled up, in his right hand was sniper rifle.

His black hair was streaked with gray, and his sharp eyes immediately settled on Lorenzo.

"So, you’re the student who requested Phantom Bullet."

His voice was calm, but there was an unmistakable sharpness behind it.

Lorenzo inclined his head.

"Yes, Professor. My name is Lorenzo. It’s a pleasure to meet you."

Leo Vale studied him for several seconds.

"Before I decide whether to teach you, I want to know something," Professor Vale continued. "Why Phantom Bullet?"

Lorenzo answered without hesitation.

"Because I believe it complements my existing fighting style."

"Which is?"

"Close-range combat with an axe, supported by firearms when necessary."

Professor Vale raised an eyebrow.

"You use an axe and a gun?"

"Yes."

"Interesting combination. What rank is your primary weapon art?"

Lorenzo hesitated briefly.

Then he decided to answer honestly.

"S-rank."

For the first time since their conversation began, Professor Vale’s expression changed.

"An S-rank weapon art?"

"Yes. Axe of Slaughter."

The professor stared at him.

Then he slowly rubbed his chin.

"You’re seventeen, ranked second in the entrance examination, and already possess an S-rank weapon art?"

"That’s correct."

"And now you want to learn another one?"

"That’s also correct."

Professor Vale was silent for several seconds.

Then he laughed.

"Hah! Either you’re exceptionally ambitious, or you have absolutely no idea how much work you’re getting yourself into."

Lorenzo smiled.

"Perhaps a little of both."

"At least you’re honest."

The professor stood up and walked toward the shooting lanes.

"Very well. Let’s see what you can do."

He opened a cabinet and retrieved a standard academy-issued pistol, placing it on the table.

"Show me your shooting proficiency."

Lorenzo picked up the firearm and checked it with practiced movements.

He had already developed considerable skill with guns, and the [Hitman] trait had further improved his proficiency.

After confirming that the weapon was ready, he stepped into the shooting lane.

Professor Vale gestured toward the targets.

"Ten shots. Different distances. Don’t use mana, skills, or weapon arts. I want to see your fundamentals."

Lorenzo nodded.

He raised the pistol.

’This should be easy.’

Bang! Bang! Bang!

The gunshots echoed through the room.

One after another, the bullets struck their targets.

When Lorenzo lowered the weapon, Professor Vale walked forward to inspect the results.

Ten shots.

Ten hits.

Every bullet had landed within the central scoring area, even against the targets positioned at the far end of the range.

Professor Vale studied the targets before looking back at Lorenzo.

"B+ proficiency, according to your records?"

"Yes."

"Your fundamentals are better than I expected."

Professor Vale examined the results with a thoughtful expression.

"Your shooting is good, but you rely heavily on observation and conventional aiming. That’s perfectly acceptable for ordinary firearms. However, Phantom Bullet demands something more."

He returned to the table and retrieved a small metallic disc.

"Tell me, Lorenzo. What do you think makes a bullet dangerous?"

"Penetration, velocity, and accuracy."

"Those are the obvious answers. But they’re incomplete."

The professor held up the disc.

"An ordinary bullet travels along a trajectory determined by its initial velocity, gravity, air resistance, and other physical factors. Even an exceptionally skilled marksman must account for those limitations."

He infused the disc with a faint trace of mana.

"But what happens when you introduce mana into the equation?"

Lorenzo considered the question.

"The bullet can be reinforced, increasing its speed and penetration."

"Correct. But Phantom Bullet goes further."

Professor Vale flicked the disc into the air.

It shot toward the far wall, abruptly changed direction, and struck a target that had been positioned behind a barrier.

Lorenzo’s eyes widened slightly.

’It changed trajectory in midair?’

Professor Vale smiled at his reaction.

"That’s the basic principle behind Phantom Bullet. At higher levels of mastery, the user can influence a projectile’s trajectory through mana manipulation, allowing it to strike targets from angles that would normally be impossible."

He placed the disc back on the table.

"Imagine fighting an opponent who can dodge every bullet you fire because they understand your aim. Now imagine your bullet changing direction after they’ve already committed to evading it."

Lorenzo’s expression gradually brightened.

Against weaker opponents, his existing shooting skills were already sufficient.