Crafting the Elixir and Mastering Mana Sword

Nam Gyuil brought the Poison Knife home. Its jade-green blade glinted under the fluorescent light.

He collapsed onto the sofa, staring blankly at the ceiling.

'Kangcheol Guild Master Han Ducheol.'

Just a burst of mana infused with sheer fighting spirit had brought immense pressure. The gap between them was impossible to gauge.

'Hunters properly trained will be stronger than me. They've had years of it.'

Moreover, Han Ducheol was a veteran from when gates first appeared in the world. Training aside, his combat experience alone dwarfed Nam Gyuil's.

'Well, at least the spar gave me some gains.'

He'd realized just how strong the masters of major guilds truly were.

'There must be guild hunters who can wield Mana Sword...' Or at least reach that level.

'Anyway, no room for complacency. I've got to push harder to grow stronger.'

Nam Gyuil sat up from the sofa. Sure, the core members of major guilds were stronger, but their mana knowledge was limited. He, on the other hand, drew from the vast depths of the Akashic Records.

In short, given just a little more time, surpassing them was entirely feasible.

And there was already one surefire way to leap ahead in power.

'Elixirs.'

With the Heart of Corruption and Cobra Stone, he could craft a poison resistance elixir.

'Alright, time to make it.'

Nam Gyuil began processing the Heart of Corruption. He opened the fridge, dumped low-grade elixir into a pot, and brought it to a rolling boil. He added the heart and infused his mana into the pot.

Black sludge oozed from the heart, mixing with the ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠elixir until it turned a deep blue and vanished.

'Going well.'

He poured in more mana. This step was crucial—the black sludge caused the poisoning symptoms. Extract it all, and only the heart's tenacious vitality remained, perfect for an elixir ingredient.

About an hour of boiling later, no more black sludge emerged. It had all been neutralized by the low-grade elixir.

Nam Gyuil fished out the heart. It looked ready, but...

'Better safe than sorry. One more round.'

He grabbed a fresh pot, added more low-grade elixir, and repeated the process. Another hour passed.

'Now it's truly safe.'

He pulled out the heart and switched to the blender. In went the heart, Cobra Stone, and low-grade elixir. He hit the motor.

The result: a murky brown liquid reeking like week-old food waste.

The poison resistance elixir was complete. Ugly as sin, sure, but effective.

'Drink this, and most poisons won't touch me?'

According to Akashic Records knowledge, it even boosted internal mana.

He chugged it down. Gagging reflex hit hard, but he forced it down.

'What the hell is this taste? Even expired food would be better!!'

He endured the agony and finished it.

"Urk."

Vomit clawed at his throat, but he held it back. He crossed his legs into a meditative pose and began mana cultivation to settle his stomach and focus.

Soon, changes rippled through his body. His blood surged like a storm in his veins. Heat rose, head throbbed with a subtle ache, sweat poured, skin bruised blue.

He ignored it.

'Normal symptoms from the poison resistance elixir. They'll vanish after cultivation.'

Nam Gyuil pressed on. Gradually, the blue bruises faded from his skin. Sweat stopped. Heat and headache lifted.

"Hoo."

He exhaled deeply. Success. Poison resistance acquired.

Standing, he reinforced his body with mana. A grin tugged at his lips.

'Internal mana has increased.'

Clenching his fist felt different—power welled up fiercely. Punching forward confirmed it.

'Faster speed, greater power.'

Perfect. Now even tougher monsters were no worry.

'This strong... I should be able to learn Mana Sword now.'

He felt ready to advance. Closing his eyes, he focused his mind. A faint floating sensation blurred his consciousness, pulling him into the Akashic Records once more.

The vast library of endless bookshelves. A scene all too familiar to Nam Gyuil now.

He scanned the shelves for info on Mana Sword.

Mana Sword: Its Birth. Mana Sword Training Methods. Coating Objects with Mana.

He picked those three and pored over every page.

'Hmm.'

The core: infuse mana into an object to coat it. Not just any infusion like with the elixir—precise control to maintain it.

'Looks damn tough.'

Any material with form could hold mana, but linking it to internal mana was complex. Abstract phrasing everywhere slowed his comprehension.

Finally, he boiled it down to two sentences:

- Treat the weapon as part of your body and let mana flow into it.

- Concentration is key. Extreme focus.

Nam Gyuil pondered. Arnia's mana body reinforcement relied heavily on concentration: mana purity, focusing it into body parts for combat.

'Is all this... a step-by-step path to Mana Sword?'

That was his takeaway after the three thick tomes. He closed them.

Now he grasped the training method. Effort was all that remained.

Nam Gyuil returned to reality. He blinked his heavy eyes open, room swimming into view.

Grabbing his longsword, he focused: treat it as part of his body.

'Flow internal mana!!'

Intense mana surged as he glared at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the blade.

"Damn it!"

Mana seeped briefly into the cold metal before scattering.

'Not easy.'

It demanded ultra-fine mana control. He exhaled long, relaxing, recalling the book's words: natural, seamless. Weapon as body part.

Don't force it—let mana flow gently.

A subtle shift. Mana flowed into the sword.

He eyed the blade closely. Energy hummed. His mana enveloped it. Soon, a bluish glow shimmered.

'Success.'

Examining his Mana Sword, the blue coating flickered and vanished.

'Damn it!'

Creation worked, but maintenance didn't. 'Mana shortage?' No—if so, he'd be gasping now. He felt fine.

'Plenty of mana, but control lacking.'

Likely. Maintenance time: under a minute. Useless in real fights yet.

But progress. Train like this, and mastery would come.

'Someday, monsters immune to guns and shells will appear.'

Earth's mana scarcity kept gate monsters weak now. But as atmospheric mana rose, so would they.

Then, non-mana attacks would fail. No Mana Sword, no wounds inflicted.

'Military can't hold them back then.'

Far off, though. 'Not like an orc horde's popping up suddenly.'

That would flip Korea upside down. Orcs reinforced with mana—brutish, savage, monstrous strength. Only Mana Sword or magic pierced them.

Akashic Records monster tomes called them:

- Walking green calamities.

Good news: no signs yet. Gates spawning stronger foes gradually, but orcs were distant.

'Anyway, grind Mana Sword relentlessly.'

That was the plan.

Then—

Brring, brring. His smartphone blared.

'Who?'

Lee Chanu's name.

He answered. "Yeah? What's up?"

"Nah. Turned 'em down."

Lee Chanu assumed wrongly. Nam Gyuil chuckled. "Not scared of gates. That's not why I'm skipping guilds."

"Planning to start my own guild later."

For Nam Gyuil, needing his own force, a guild was essential.

"Not hunting? Admin?"

"You punk, go work at some company then!!"

"Why?"

"...!"

"I'll think about it later." He moved to hang up.

"What now?"

"Next time. Tired today, need rest."

"Just pig out." He hung up.

Brring. Another call. Then more from different teammates.

Silent but steadfast Hwang Ilsu. Hong Shinu, who admired him. Han Kangsu, inwardly miffed about the guild rejection.

All calling for the same reason: team hangout, boring without leader.

"These guys..."

No choice. Nam Gyuil threw on clothes and headed out.

Hunter Agency Major Park Heeryeong reviewed 01 Team's recent results.

"How many days accident-free?"

Impressive. He tossed the report onto his desk from his chair.

'How do they keep pulling this off? Nam Gyuil said no secrets.'

He drummed his desk, deep in thought. Reason to worry:

'Top brass noticing the streak.'

Hunter Agency survival rate: 37%. Guilds had near-zero casualties—stark contrast. Defense Ministry saw it as disgrace. Top criticism.

Same reason hunters hated national service.

'Boost accident-free days.' Agency's top goal.

Now, hunters faking desertion to dodge duty. "Don't wanna die."

'Deserters forming crime rings...'

Unlike upbeat 01 Team, reality was chaos. Park crossed arms.

'What's their accident-free secret?'

Nam Gyuil claimed textbook tactics, no accidents. Initially chalked to experience or luck.

'Not luck anymore.'

Seemed command improved via experience.

'But what sparked the streak? Even great command has limits.'

Then it hit: Han Kangsu. Han Ducheol's talented son.

Park grinned. 'Aha! Got it.'

'01 Team's streak: Nam Gyuil's brains, Han Kangsu's brawn.'

Wrong tree, but inevitable without real info.

'Under Nam Gyuil's orders, Han Kangsu closes gates easy.'

He nodded. 'Accident-free: genius commander meets ace soldier.'

Then—

Rrring, rrring.

"Secure comms. Seoul Hunter Agency Major Park Heeryeong."

"Ah, Captain Kang! Long time. What's the call?"

"Requesting support?"

Park ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠tsked inwardly. Sending aid to Chungcheong? What if Seoul blew up?

Manpower shortages + gate break = headache. Promotion risk.

'Blunt refusal? But we've known each other awhile.'

Kang read him:

Quadrennial hell: audit every Hunter Agency item, count precisely. Inventory on steroids. Messy counts? Brass pounced.

Gates barred free weapon carry—extra scrutiny.

Park propped his chin. "Hmm. How?"

"For real!?" Park grinned. "Deal. Sending support to Chungcheong. How many?"

"Selected, tomorrow."

Park hung up. Who to send? A smirk twitched.

'Might as well send the best...'