The Animagus: From Hunter to Monster

"It was such an honor, Miss Kira," Zaki said with a mocking tone. "…to overshadow your learning ability."

"You know, one thing Instructor Hay failed to let us know was that this tester machine not only made use of our ranks and talents, it also combined our intellectual ability to determine what our learning abilities were," Zaki paused, looking intently to both Buji and Kira to be sure they understood him. Looking satisfied with what he observed, he continued.

"Although, the latter factors I called out were just minors. The two majors were our ranks and talents since they were the factors that will determine if your test won't be terminated," he said and looked at Buji, but continued.

"Today was such a blissful day, for everyone," he said, spreading out his hands as if to embrace the element, of air. "But not until someone with an incomplete major factor stepped onto that machine. Planting that hinge of hatred in people, once again."

He recoiled his hands to rest at his back and bent towards Buji. "Were you not listening the other day when Instructor Hay had mentioned that those without talents won't be useful today? Oh my, why did I use 'those' when we have only you here?"

"Well, well, well, if I were you, I would have welcomed myself in an area where my presence was not needed," Buji attested.

"Huh," Zaki shocked for a while.

"Can you at least have a seat? Since the old students weren't here, there were enough empty seats. So, manage the one behind you. Embrace and welcome yourself, Zaki," Buji stated.

"Oh," Zaki chuckled. "I sure told you that you're becoming stronger now, unfortunately, with your mouth."

Then extending his hands towards Buji's face, he said, "Can't we…" and he was interrupted by a sudden stop of his hand, by a soft feminine hand.

"Stop being a bug in the ass. It's bad, and very bad for boys," Kira said, pushing Zaki's hand away.

"By the way…" Zaki said brushing his two hands against each other as if dusting off every particle of Kira's hand. "We shall see, Buji."

And just at that moment, Instructor Hay cleared his throat and disappointedly to the students, he said that they were all going to be getting the names of their tutors via their student group chat.

"The list has been successfully compiled by me," Instructor Hay beamed a smile to himself, his composure clearly showing his proud self.

"It will be published in your group chat. Don't worry about if you have been added to the group chat, the head boy should be on his way now to the admin's office to gather your mobile numbers. Unfailingly, you will get the other information via the chat, and your lessons will begin tomorrow," Instructor Hay explained.

"In all, have a nice day," he finally concluded, dismissing them.

But none was leaving the hall. Everyone followed the staircase that led to the dining hall, downstairs. It was lunchtime already.

---

Days flew by...

Buji only had two more weeks to prepare himself for the Dungeon raids, so there wasn't even a second to spare. Unfortunately for him, he was not guided by any lesson or any tutor. Even though, he was relentless, hiding by corners of large objects to secretly attend lessons.

He pushed his body to learn what he saw, and his mind to learn what he read. All in all, he pushed himself to the limits in an attempt to absorb as much knowledge and skills as possible in that short amount of time.

In the day, he hovered around the school like a shadow, grasping whatever his eyes saw, since he wasn't able to hear all that was said. And in the night, he practiced all that he had seen. He was his own tutor—a self-tutor.

He especially focused his attention on Combat lessons. He would have liked to engage with the Mage's lessons but he was not fit to do what they did, for now. The combat lessons ranged from comparatively simple, like the way to swing the sword and engage with fists and leg tackles to much harder techniques which required concentration of both the mind and body, to encourage swiftness in moves.

These were all he learned through poking at the combat lessons. Anyway, from the books, he came to understand that combat has some physical demands.

These demands are determined by one's level of physical fitness, which includes strength, endurance, agility, and coordination. For strength and agility, Buji is not sure if he will improve within the remaining weeks. But for the other two, he was good to go. Except that coordination required physical and mental control.

Further training and practice he was involved in included stances, movements, strikes, and defenses. Only strikes and defenses, he wasn't sure he would be good at it. He managed to practice every night with a mob stick, and due to his having much to learn, there were many sleepless nights.

Most of these lessons were, supposedly included in the school curriculums and should be treated by instructors. Although, from what he observed, instructors only brushed at the surface, of what they think will be helpful to the students during the raids. The students should figure out other things themselves.

Buji wished he was given this kind of opportunity, he would utilize it very well. Of course, learning from a textbook and learning the same thing from an Instructor were two completely different things. Plus that, the lesson was going to involve physical training and little experience.

The theory posits that learning is most effective when tailored to the individual's unique needs, learning style, and pace. But more importantly, the unique needs. In the current situation, the student's unique need is a practice in order to cement experience.

One who learned with the textbook might have the knowledge but its application will be very difficult, unlike those who have learned with constant practice and gained a little experience.

'Oh, gosh me,' Buji's thoughts cried out.

Just like that, he continued. Day after day passed, slowly turning into week, and weeks.

Before Buji even knew it, he and his team were already standing in front of a shimmering portal. An A-rank dungeon portal.

The shadow of a lone figure, deliberate in steps, came out of a blue shimmering portal. On his left hand, was a long cord affixed to a silver handle, dripping in blood.

The lone figure, finally out of the portal which closed behind, was a boy—a young boy. He was tall and lean, but his exuberance possessed a different aura.

He came to a halt just immediately the portal finished disappearing, his gaze still affixed to the ground. He jinxed his head upwards and reluctantly tilted it to his back to see that the portal was gone.

And he smiled.

Returning his gaze to the front, he flipped his cord around to wrap his body, locking itself with a click, to the handle.

His armor tightened against him to prove beyond doubt that he wasn't muscular.

His gaze revealed two amethyst pupils, enough to pierce through a person's heart if it was a dagger. His shady-brown hair looked in order, as if nothing had happened to him.

Although his light-brown skin betrayed that assumption. Yokes of blood, lay on his skin, abandoned to dry. It showed he had been in a fierce fight.

And so, a very familiar voice commanded. "Get him!"

*****

"My name is Buji, and I'm fucked."

He stared at the approaching guys, two hunters, closing the distance between them. And, returned his stare to the ground in thoughts.

Of all the unique abilities that existed, I got none. Only left with an S-rank and no talent, making me the weakest and so, powerless. I never imagined to remain the weakling, even after entering the academy.

But it happened. Life's so unfair.

Life was not difficult because I had nothing to live with, but because I was cast aside. I was isolated. I was an outcast, because I only remained 'the weakest.'

She alone stood by my side. I mean Kira, but her contribution mattered less.

Majority affected me the more. Even, until my first raid as a hunter.

Though I was weak, they assigned me a team that was going to raid a high level dungeon.

No help came to me in there. Except for a little bit of combat skill I had grasped with my effort.

Thing turned in harder, and my team left me stuck in a sanctuary room. They had pushed me into there as a bait. As the sacrifice.

And I thought it was all over. I thought I had died.

"…but how did I even get here? This stronger!"

From what I could remember, I was at the blink-of-an-eye death when a screen hovered right in front of me.

[Survival due to Inheritance]

[Congrats. You have gained the status of a "player"]

[The player upon leveling up will awaken a potent monster:

Class – Animagus | Type: Snake | Aspect: Venom]

[Do you accept?]

"Yes!"

I was not ready to die, so, I had accepted without knowing what it was all about.

As far as I could still live, I needed it.

But then, life had started hard for me.

Starting with my early days as a 'Weakling.'