Chapter 2
Chapter 2
All existing magic
I blinked in a frozen daze.
So… this really meant I had awakened?
[Trait: Magic Master (EX)]
-You can use all existing forms of magic.
That’s what it said.
There’s only one meaning to a message appearing in front of my eyes.
That I had awakened.
“Status window.”
Murmuring calmly, another set of messages cascaded down.
[Name: Kim Do-yoon]
[Level: 1]
[Stats]
Strength: 1
Stamina: 1
Agility: 1
Mana: 1
[Trait: Magic Master (EX)]
[Skills: See More]
At that moment, I narrowed my eyes.
Unlike the other messages, this section was tinted blue.
Next to Skills, the words [See More].
When I shifted my gaze there, the message unfolded downward as if it had been clicked.
[Skills (Total 459)]
Tier 1 (274)
Canaan’s Blessing / Radiant Veil / Grasp of Metal / Nemesis of Neshir / …
Tier 2 (132)
Silent Abyss / Dance of Swords / Turbulent Wave / Steel Wall / …
Tier 3 (41)
Ancient Blessing / Frenzied Storm / Monarch’s Authority / Black Smoke / …
Tier 4 (9)
Lost Soul / Sharp Lightning / Sigil of Fear / Flame of Catastrophe / …
Tier 5 (4)
Wave of Total Destruction / Temporal Rift / Fortissima / Holosphere
“What… is this…?”
After seeing the message, I let out a hollow laugh in disbelief.
No, I was asking to see my skills—who asked for every single skill listed out?
But then I couldn’t help tilting my head.
What I had confirmed in the trait description.
“Can use all existing magic.”
No way.
Those 459 spells listed in the skill window…
Were all of them usable by me?
“That’s insane.”
I muttered that as I stood up.
Even though I wasn’t a Hunter.
Having worked at the Hyeseong Guild, I knew well how Hunters—even the most exceptional ones—struggled just to obtain a single skill book.
“But the system doesn’t lie…”
Something didn’t add up.
There was only one way to confirm it.
Try using a skill myself.
I scanned the Tier 1 skills, the simplest ones.
Then my eyes lit up.
[Skill: Wind Cutter]
-Restructures mana into a sharp blade of wind to slice a target.
“This should do.”
I stretched out my hand toward the ground.
Then murmured softly.
“Wind Cutter.”
Sssshhk!
In an instant, something sharp sliced through the asphalt in a straight line.
I widened my eyes.
It worked?
“Wind Cutter.”
Sssshhk!!
Perhaps because I had used it once already.
This time, the asphalt was cut even more sharply.
A considerable drain of energy was felt from using magic, but I swallowed hard and activated another skill.
[Ice Arrow]
Chchchch!
In an instant, a frozen arrow condensed into shape.
Then, as it followed my gesture and struck the asphalt—
I had no choice but to widen my eyes.
BOOOOM!!!
“…What the—!”
Wind Cutter.
Ice Arrow.
Two completely different elemental spells I had used as a test.
Yet, as if mocking my doubts, both spells activated naturally without issue.
And so.
When I saw the frozen ground, gouged deep enough to reach a man’s waist—
I had no choice but to admit it.
“…It’s real.”
Even if not the highest Tier 5 magic that no Hunter had ever reached.
At the very least, Tier 1 magic was truly usable by me.
Back in my one-room apartment.
A shabby place, even though it wasn’t in central Seoul—explaining why the rent was only 300,000 won a month.
After taking a shower, I sat on the edge of the bed.
Then I thought.
“A mage, huh.”
Hunters are broadly divided into tankers, dealers, and utility types.
Naturally, mages fall into the dealer category.
But it isn’t that simple.
Magic has an incredibly wide range of variations.
“In reality, there are mages who act as tanks, and even famous mages who operate in utility roles.”
So what about me?
If what the system window says is true—that I can use all skills—
Then, in theory, I could fulfill every role perfectly.
A true monster mage.
“Let’s not rush.”
I calmly reviewed the Tier 1 spells one by one.
Countless attack, defense, and utility spells.
With 274 in total, it took quite some time.
Most of them were useful.
Next, Tier 2 magic: 132 skills.
About half the number, but still plenty.
Their effects were significantly stronger.
Some even seemed like combinations of several Tier 1 spells.
The same went for Tier 3, 4, and 5.
As the tier increased, the effects became stronger.
They sometimes resembled the combined effects of multiple lower-tier spells.
For example, the Tier 5 spell Holosphere…
[Skill: Holosphere (Holosphere)]
-Creates a sacred protective sphere that completely absorbs all harmful energies. The absorbed amount multiplies the caster’s abilities.
It completely absorbs all harmful energies.
Absolute defense itself.
And it even enhances the caster’s abilities based on the absorbed damage.
“Insane.”
Of course, even the highest-ranking mages today are limited to around Tier 4 at best, so there was no guarantee I could use it.
Still, one thing was certain.
“The higher the tier, the more mana it consumes.”
My current mana stat was only 1.
Considering that 1 mana point equals 10 mana…
Using a Tier 2 spell was essentially impossible.
And three Tier 1 spells would completely drain my mana.
Just like now.
[Mana: 3/10]
The mana value displayed at the top right of my vision.
Even after some time had passed since using magic, it had only recovered to 3.
I clicked my tongue.
“First, I need to increase my mana.”
After reviewing the spells, I organized my thoughts.
What mattered most to me right now was mana.
Total mana and mana regeneration.
If I secured just those two, my growth would accelerate dramatically.
[Skill: Mana Expansion]
-Increases total mana capacity by 10%.
[Skill: Mana Respire]
-Increases natural mana regeneration.
[Skill: Mana Shield]
-Covers the body with a mana shield. Damage taken is deducted from mana instead of health.
Three Tier 1 spells.
Mana Expansion to increase capacity.
Mana Respire to enhance regeneration.
Mana Shield to absorb damage.
The three core spells of a tank-type mage.
“They say just obtaining these three costs hundreds of billions…”
Ridiculously, I had obtained all skills at the moment of awakening.
So had I earned hundreds of billions?
No.
If I truly could use all these spells…
It might be something beyond monetary value altogether.
“Unbelievable.”
Next, I thought about how to increase my mana pool.
The first method was obvious: leveling up.
Each level grants 2 stat points.
If all points are invested in mana, that’s +20 mana per level.
Moreover, the mana stat also increases mana regeneration.
The second method is absorbing mana stones.
This doesn’t increase stats directly, but increases total mana capacity.
The increase depends on the grade of the mana stone.
“Which means I have to hunt.”
Hunting.
Entering gates and eliminating monsters.
Typically, up to C-rank gates are entered by a party of three Hunters of the same rank.
At that moment, someone came to mind.
Kim Do-hyeon.
A fairly solid C-rank Awakened, but someone who had been running money-making gates instead of growing, to cover medical expenses.
“If I had known, I would’ve asked him for a carry…”
Unfortunately, he had been dispatched to a gate in Seosan, Chungnam.
Suppressing my disappointment, I began searching.
I needed to register as an Awakened first.
“You’re F-rank. That’s unfortunate.”
“Thank you.”
“Still, if you’re a mage-type, you might be better off than other F-ranks. Mage dealers are usually welcomed in most parties. Stay strong.”
“Yes.”
I completed my Awakened registration at a small assessment center near Sillim-dong.
As expected from the stats all being 1.
The result was F-rank.
I received a call from Do-hyeon, who tried to comfort me.
—That’s unfortunate. I hoped you’d rank higher.
“It’s fine.”
—We’re heading into a gate soon. If you were in Seoul, we could’ve had a drink to celebrate… that’s a shame.
“Don’t say things like that. Take care of yourself. It’s a long one?”
—At least three days. For a C-rank gate, it’s quite long, but it’ll pay well.
“Good luck. Get ready properly…”
—Hyung.
He suddenly cut me off.
There was a heavy tone in his voice.
I already knew what he was about to say.
—Sorry to say this right after you awakened, but… as an F-rank Hunter, it’s honestly better for you to stay at Hyeseong Guild.
I already knew that.
F-rank essentially means “below standard.”
In other words, not even considered a proper Hunter.
‘Basically a zero.’
Still, I was grateful for his concern.
He was saying this for my sake.
Worried that I might cling to false hope, overexert myself in gates, get injured, and never recover.
“Don’t worry.”
—Hyung. Gates are far more dangerous than you think. I’ve seen many people die, and countless others become crippled.
I hesitated for a moment, considering whether to tell him about my trait and skills.
But I stopped myself.
I didn’t want to shake his resolve and cause an accident.
Instead, I spoke briefly.
“I’m not going into gates. So don’t worry.”
—That’s a good decision. There are too many people who ruined their lives by leaving good jobs for something reckless.
“Got it. Take care, and come back safely.”
After ending the call, I opened the Hunter Association app and checked nearby gates.
My current location was Sillim-dong.
Not far away, an F-rank gate had opened.
[Kobold Cave (F)]
[Current Participants: Tanker / Swordsman / Open Slot]
As expected for an F-rank gate, kobolds.
There was one remaining slot.
I immediately tapped “Join,” and the application was submitted automatically.
[Party leader (Tank) is reviewing information]
[Party leader (Tank) is sending a message]
[Party leader (Tank): If you’re a mage, what type of magic do you use?]
[Me: Offensive magic]
[Party leader (Tank): Your level and rank are low. Have you purchased potions?]
[Me: I’ve purchased five mana potions]
Five low-grade mana potions bought earlier at the assessment center.
At 500,000 won each, they were ridiculously expensive.
And considering each restores 30 mana…
It felt wasteful.
‘My total mana is only 10…’
But even a single level up would raise my mana pool to 30.
Then I could immediately benefit from the potions.
And since this was my first gate, I needed to prepare as safely as possible.
[Party leader (Tank): That should be fine]
[Party leader (Tank) has accepted your participation]
[You have joined the party]
Shortly after.
Hurrying my steps, I arrived at the gate.
Standing before me were two people: a sturdy-built man and a sharp-eyed woman.
“I’m Baek Un-seok. I’m the tank and the party leader.”
After shaking hands with the man carrying a large shield on his back, I exchanged a nod with the woman wearing a sword at her waist.
“I’m Lee Hye-na.”
She tapped the hilt of her sword lightly with her finger.
Despite her appearance, she seemed quite cheerful.
I had no equipment, so I lightly touched the five potions at my waist and said,
“My name is Kim Do-yoon. I’ll do my best to not be a burden by drinking these as needed.”
As I said, I’m extremely goal-oriented.
I had long set aside any grudge against the Hyeseong Guild.
My current goal was simple… to grow safely and see how far I could go as a Hunter.
“Please take care of me.”
But if, just if…
If the abilities I possess are truly as extraordinary as the system describes.
And if I gain the power to judge those people…
Then perhaps they would come to regret what happened yesterday.
At that time, my goal would be…
To crush those who threw me away like a dog.