I Am The Anti-Mage

Chapter 168: The Importance Of Magic Items

Ji-woo decided to cut off the head of the Golem to stick his short sword into the center of the gigantic creature's Mana. He had known that the Golem lived based on the Mana flowing in its body since earlier.

The only way to kill that giant creature was to completely eliminate its Mana. And that could only get done with a unique weapon made of Nullifier. A weapon with the characteristic to absorb Mana as long as it was stuck or touched, the Diffusal Blade.

Not long after, the Dungeon Bead fell into Ji-woo's hands. He then picked up the Diffusal Blade, lying on the ground because the Golem's body had disappeared.

"Hyung, we need to get out of here quickly and find a healer. Yu-jin's injuries are pretty serious. Her stamina and Mana are at their limit too."

"Calm down. Don't make a fuss. Yu-jin is just exhausted and almost out of Mana. Here." Ji-woo replied while throwing 2 Magic Crystals and 2 Magic Stones at the two hunters. After he made the two weapons disappear.

Dong-hyun got flustered to see Magic Crystals and Magic Stones scattered before his eyes. On the other hand, Yu-jin immediately took a Magic Stone to replenish her Mana. She also kept her distance from Dong-hyun and Ji-woo to meditate in order to recover quickly.

Ji-woo explained. "Instead of spending time resting outside and looking for a healer. It's better to stay here for a while. The difference in time is 1 hour with one day. So, make the most of this time. That's because, when we get out of this dungeon, we will go straight to the next level-3 Portal Gate."

Dong-hyun nodded his head and grabbed a Mana Stone as well, wanting to refill his Mana quickly.

"Hyung, why do you think we couldn't defeat the Golem? Was it just because we weren't strong enough? Was it because we didn't have enough Mana? So, we didn't have magic spells that had massive and deadly damage. Ji-woo Hyung, please tell me what I have to do to become strong as quickly as possible."

Dong-hyun spoke while holding the Mana Stone in both hands. He sat on the ground and stole a glance at Yu-jin, who refilled her Mana while meditating to recover her stamina. It was the first time he felt completely useless. He didn't have the slightest chance to make the enemy feel threatened since he started studying under Ji-woo, and his strength increased.

Dong-hyun usually didn't feel that way because it was always Ji-woo, who always handled the fighting matters. Whether the situation was critical or not, Ji-woo would invariably solve the problem with ease. It was the same at the tier-4 Portal Gate a long time ago with a friend who invited him.

And the difference with now was that Ji-woo didn't intervene in the first place so that the two hunters could feel how difficult and dangerous a tier-3 Portal Gate was.

Luckily, Ji-woo finally intervened. If he got even a little late, Dong-hyun and Yu-jin would definitely get killed by that Golem that they couldn't hurt a bit.

Dong-hyun also understood a little why Ji-woo always said that everything that happened to them was in their hands. They were the ones who determined their own destiny. In this era of superpowers, being weak was indeed a sin.

Ji-woo sighed at Dong-hyun's muttering. He could sense the desperation of the young hunter.

"Simply put, it's because you guys aren't powerful. That's all.

"And there's no practical way to be strong. Even luck doesn't come all the time. You can't expect great power to come to you out of nowhere. You need to work for it."

Dong-hyun lowered his head and said, "Hyung, I know that. But I'm not a talented person. Even with 100 years of training, I wouldn't become as strong as you. Even becoming an S-rank hunter is still impossible for me."

Ji-woo closed his eyes briefly. He wasn't really someone in a position to say things like that. He was neither a person who had talent in learning nor a genius in combat. Basically, he was the same as Dong-hyun.

What Ji-woo currently had was nothing more than the possession of Nullifier. Luck, like a Nullifier, couldn't get predicted, let alone timed. Standing still and hoping for something uncertain was worse than trying, even though it didn't show any results.

Time and luck were not something that would wait and come to someone just because that person was hoping. Those two things would only happen in people who try to make it happen. Not for the desperate.

Ji-woo could only tell Dong-hyun to keep trying relentlessly and not to think about giving up. That was because he also had something that could make the young hunter strong in a short time, even if artificially.

"Actually, there's a solution for you. However, I don't think this is a good method. It will make you rely on something rather than your own hands. Well, when you think about it, that could also get called your own strength."

Dong-hyun instantly raised his face after hearing that and saw Ji-woo with a cheerful look, full of hope. "What is it, hyung?"

"There is no absolute power. Many ways can get taken to become strong. It was whether a natural or an unnatural way. But apart from that, there is one way that does not have such a philosophy. They are magic items.

"True or not. Magic items will always be neutral when they are made or finished. Whether it got made by evil method or not. Even when the magic items get made, it still gets considered neutral. They will only get considered bad when used for something bad anyway."

"Hyung, can you get straight to the point? You know I'm not good at things like that." Dong-hyun replied.

Ji-woo clicked his tongue. He got dumbfounded looking at Dong-hyun, that was still feeling down because he was weak a moment ago. But, now interrupting his speech halfway as usual.

"Ouch!! Why did my head get hit? Ah, right. It was for cutting you off. Right, Hyung? I'm sorry." Dong-hyun apologized while slightly bowing because he was sitting on the ground.

Ji-woo felt amused by Dong-hyun's reaction. "Alright. The point is magic armor and magic weapons. Those things can increase your strength."

Dong-hyun tilted his head. "Hyung, it's common knowledge. So long as good-quality armor and magic weapons exist. Or rather, those of the upper tier. Of course, it will make the user stronger. The problem is, lower-rank hunters won't be able to wear stuff like that."

Magic armor and magic weapons got categorized into three grades.

The first was the regular. It was usually suitable for E-rank and D-rank hunters due to the endurance in the presence of Mana.

The second was the fine quality. It was usually suitable for E-rank to A-rank hunters. In addition to their durability, these items have their own magic spells apart from the magic spells of the user.

The third was the upper tier. Items in this category were as rare as Spatial Bags. There was usually an ego with a large Mana and a form. Simply, weapons or armor in this category were animated items. Therefore, these items will choose their own users, not the other way around.

Ji-woo shook his head. "There are better armor and magic weapons than that. Items made with the Sphere. You don't need a binding, and there are no conditions for wearing it."

"Wow! Is there really such a thing? Ah, it must be expensive.

"Anyway, who said Sphere is useful, Hyung? It's just an antique that has good blending colors in it."

Ji-woo felt speechless with Dong-hyun. "We'll think about it another time. You don't seem interested in it."

"Ey, Hyung! Don't be so angry. I believe. I believe. Don't be angry."

"You seem to have forgotten what it feels like to get beaten to a pulp."

In the end, Ji-woo hit Dong-hyun on the head once again and told the young hunter to absorb the Mana from the Magic Stone quickly.

Twelve hours passed, Dong-hyun and Yu-jin finally recovered their Mana and stamina. But, Yu-jin was still not in a perfect state. It was because Mana couldn't cure fatigue.

Ji-woo crushed the Dungeon Bead. And then, they proceeded to the next Portal Gate. This time, Ji-woo decided to let Dong-hyun and Yu-jin deal with all the Portal Gate creatures except the Dungeon Owner, which he would take care of himself to save time. Moreover, one experience of being toyed with by the Dungeon Owner was enough for the two hunters.

If it happened again and again, Dong-hyun and Yu-jin would probably get traumatized by it. Furthermore, their condition decreased every time they finished with one Portal Gate.

Ji-woo managed to close five tier-3 Portal Gates at the end of the day. Even then, at the last Portal Gate, Ji-woo was the one that closed it alone because Dong-hyun and Yu-jin's fatigue had reached the limit even though their Mana was full.

Ji-woo purposely left one tier-3 Portal Gate unattended because Dong-hyun and Yu-jin could no longer continue the activities. The loot itself was 71 Magic Crystals and 34 Magic Stones. It got counted separately from what got given to the two hunters.. In addition, there were several Spheres that he had obtained.