Chapter 15
Energy Bolt.
It was a basic attack spell for Mages.
The way to use it was simple: just swing the Mage’s weapon, the staff.
When you swung the staff, mana was consumed, and an Energy Bolt was fired forward.
Whish— Whish—
“Looks like it has a cooldown.”
Sweet mumbled as he hunted a black snail in the Forest That Devours Darkness.
Just now, he had swung his staff twice to quickly hunt the black snail.
But only one Energy Bolt was fired, hitting the black snail.
“You have to aim well too.”
The shell of the black snail was harder than expected, making it difficult to inflict significant damage.
So, it was better to target the small exposed parts or the eyes.
“I’m getting the hang of it.”
Based on multiple combat experiences, Sweet organized his understanding of the Mage class.
The mana consumption of Energy Bolt was 15, and the cooldown was 1 second.
Currently, Sweet’s maximum mana was 130, and his mana regenerated at a rate of 7 per second.
“So, practically, the cooldown is about 2 seconds, huh.”
When using Energy Bolt with no mana left,
it took about 2 seconds before he could cast the next Energy Bolt.
Although the cooldown was 1 second, in specific situations, it effectively became 2 seconds.
“Still, that’s reasonable.”
The advantage of being able to hunt safely from a distance.
The fact that even those without much combat experience could learn it easily.
Considering these factors, one could say that the initial stats of the Mage were quite reasonable.
―――
[Wooden Staff]
Affinity* +5
Correction* +1
―――
[Affinity]
- Mana regeneration +1, Maximum mana +5, Magic damage +1 per stat point.
―――
“So, investing in Affinity is the answer.”
Attack Power increases physical damage, while Affinity increases magical damage.
Endurance and Agility were stats that made one tougher and faster, respectively.
“If Correction adjusts actions, then Mages don’t really need to invest in it, right?”
―――
-ㅇㅇ
-Yeah, probably not?
-Since you’re a Mage anyway, let’s just max out Affinity.
-All-in on Affinity, let’s go.
―――
Following the viewers’ opinions, Sweet allocated the stat points he had gained from his recent level-up into Affinity.
Then he fired an Energy Bolt at a passing black snail.
“Oh!”
The Energy Bolt hit the shell, but the black snail died instantly.
“This is broken!”
Sweet swung his staff every time he saw a black snail while passing by.
―――
-What’s broken about it?
-These days, the RPG meta is all about underpowered builds.
-If you were a Martial Artist, you’d be picking your nose and killing everything easily.
-Leeching, leeching, enjoying the free ride, lol.
-Oh-ho.
―――
“I want to push through the main story quickly and meet up with other people.”
Although he said Mages were the essence of fantasy, he was still curious.
He was curious about how others who chose different classes were feeling.
Especially since he was feeling good about choosing the Mage class himself.
[Level Up!]
“Let’s progress quickly.”
***
[Indie Minor Game Gallery]
The beta test had started.
A thousand chosen players had entered the world of Akare.
Those who weren’t chosen remained forcibly in ‘non-player’ mode.
They could only enjoy Akare through the broadcasts.
―――
[Title] Latest on Sweet, who called the Martial Artist OP.jpg
(A meme of him smashing a Dark Wolf’s head with a staff)
The guy who was doing fine hunting with Energy Bolt suddenly said,
“There must be a reason why the Director carries a sword.”
Then suddenly started fighting in close combat with a staff.
Like: 666
Dislike: 13
―――
[Comments 497]
Mages collectively coughing up blood, lol.
ㄴ(Get a taste of it yourselves, keke.)
ㄴSweet? Never seen him before, but he’s hilarious.
ㄴHe just exudes subtle madness.
Does that work with such low attack power?
ㄴTakes 10 hits to the head of a Dark Wolf to kill it.
ㄴIn reality, a person would die too if they got 10 direct hits to the head causing a concussion.
ㄴ(This has been a known solution since ancient times.)
―――
[Title] Live Update: Sweet’s Staff Broke Due to Zero Durability
(Image of a broken wooden staff)
(Image of Sweet wailing loudly)
This crazy guy, lol.
Like: 591
Dislike: 10
―――
[Comments 362]
Raven in the background looks super disappointed, haha.
ㄴThat’s what makes this so funny, lol.
ㄴFor real, that’s the highlight of the scene.
If he had chosen to be a Martial Artist, he would have been successful.
ㄴEven the Martial Artist purists are acknowledging him, wow.
ㄴHis intelligence does seem to match that choice.
―――
[Title] Sweet Becomes the First to Discover a Hidden Piece
While using the broken staff as a dual sword to hunt…
(Achievement unlocked meme)
He became the first in Akare to unlock an achievement.
The achievement condition was to kill 10 monsters using only physical attacks as a Mage.
The reward was +1 Attack Power, lol.
(Image of Sweet crying with joy)
He’s extremely happy, lol.
like: 485
Dislike: 6
―――
[Comments 294]
Officially recognized as a dumbass, lol.
ㄴ”Sweet, you’d be better suited as a Martial Artist than a Mage.”
ㄴEven Martial Artists would reject his intelligence.
ㄴThen let’s have him take over all the trash mobs from now on.
Wait, this game has achievements?
ㄴI didn’t know either.
ㄴEveryone here is finding out for the first time, damn.
ㄴWhat the hell was Daehyeop doing for a week?
―――
Sweet was currently in a dire situation.
The standard-issue weapon, the wooden staff, had broken.
As a result, he lost the stat bonuses it provided.
“What do I do now, guys?”
―――
-Why are you asking us?
-You’re the player here.
-We’re all just stuck watching, lol.
-Hey, you just unlocked an achievement! Celebrate with a drink.
-Mage’s normalization, achieved.
―――
Sweet was now level 9.
He had skipped through all the main story quests.
Other than the Black Phantasmal Rabbit, he wasn’t in danger from any other monsters.
And as long as he fought together with his NPC companion Raven, the battles were somewhat manageable.
“I want to hit level 10 before reaching the Capital.”
However, Raven didn’t look so good.
Due to numerous battles, he was covered in wounds and seemed utterly exhausted.
“Sweet.”
“Yes, did you call me?”
Sweet glanced at Raven cautiously.
If he weren’t such a deadweight Mage who broke his staff,
they would’ve arrived at the Capital in better shape.
It wouldn’t be surprising if Raven, in his current state, stabbed Sweet with his beloved sword right here and now.
―――
-Gasp
-So scary.
-Raven is seriously pissed.
―――
“Are you having trouble using magic?”
“Oh, yeah. My staff broke…”
Sweet answered Raven’s question honestly.
“I’m not particularly knowledgeable about magic, but I do know that Mages cast their spells through a medium.”
Sweet listened quietly, as if on trial.
“A Mage’s medium can be substituted with anything. Whether it’s swinging a staff to assist with spell casting or chanting a unique incantation of your own. Something like that.”
In other words, he could still use Energy Bolt without a wooden staff.
“If it’s chanting…”
Sweet recalled the scene he saw in the Hall of Heroes.
Should he really say this out loud?
It felt embarrassing, but there was no other way.
If he didn’t try to change, he would remain a burden.
Stretching his arm forward, opening his palm, and taking a deep breath—
“…Pierce through, Energy Bolt.”
He chanted the spell, but nothing happened.
―――
-Raven: Wow, what a fool, lol.
-Lololol.
-That’s so embarrassing.
-This is a legendary brainless moment.
―――
“It’s not working.”
Sweet looked at Raven with eyes filled with resentment.
Raven let out a small chuckle and then suggested to Sweet:
“Would you like to talk with me before we set up camp? There’s something I’d like to share with you.”
[ Main Story – Talk ]
[ Main Story – Skip Camp ]
Sweet stared at the system message that appeared in front of him, deeply contemplating his choice.
If he chose to talk now, there was a chance he might encounter the Black Phantasmal Rabbit.
After all, Daehyeop Kim had chosen to talk during his stream and ended up facing the Black Phantasmal Rabbit.
But skipping the camp would mean missing out on the story Raven had to tell.
‘I’ve already seen Daehyeop Kim’s stream, so I skipped it back then.’
It seemed like the topic would be related to ‘magic.’
Sweet thought about it for a moment and finally made his decision.
[ Main Story – Moving to Talk. ]
Whoosh-!
The campfire was lit.
Sweet sat down on a fallen log that Raven had brought over.
Raven also took a seat comfortably, maintaining a bit of distance from Sweet.
“Do you know who the greatest hero in history is?”
“Hero, Aurora.”
Raven’s eyes widened, as if he hadn’t expected Sweet to know the answer.
“You’re already aware. Then, do you know who Aurora’s teacher was?”
“No, I don’t know that much.”
Raven smiled with satisfaction at Sweet’s reply.
It seemed like Raven genuinely enjoyed sharing knowledge that others didn’t know.
“Aurora’s teacher was a great mage named Occult, who was the first to spread ‘Magic’ across the world.”
There was a time when magic was considered a mysterious phenomenon rather than a scholarly field.
During that era, magic was referred to as ‘Sorcery,’ and Occult was a combat sorcerer of that time.
As he aged and stepped down from the frontline,
Occult began to delve into the questions he had been keeping to himself.
Was sorcery something that ordinary humans couldn’t handle?
Was sorcery merely an inexplicable phenomenon without any laws or principles?
Deep down, Occult already knew the answer.
Sorcery, too, had its own laws, and if one understood those laws, even ordinary people could wield it.
This wasn’t just something Occult realized because he was a genius.
For centuries, the upper echelons of each nation had monopolized information and distorted history to ensure that only the ‘chosen ones’ could use sorcery.
There were many who had already uncovered this hidden truth.
But they all died. Or were soon to die. To ensure the truth could never be revealed to the world.
Thus, most of those who encountered the truth chose to remain silent.
Or they climbed the social ladder and received the privileges given only to the chosen ones.
“For centuries, the upper class monopolized sorcery. But Occult shattered this structure on his own.”
When Occult wiped out the upper echelons of each nation that had been rotting away the world, and spread ‘magic’ across the land,
history recorded that day as the ‘Day of Liberation,’ achieved by the hands of the great mage.
“And the person that Occult took as his disciple was none other than the Hero, Aurora.”
―――
-This conversation is more interesting than I thought.
-Sweet, don’t fall asleep.
-Is this guy seriously dozing off?
ㄴNah, he’s just half-closing his eyes.
-This guy does this every time there’s a lore dump in games.
―――
“The reason I wanted to share this story with you is simple. Even the great Aurora didn’t master magic easily in the beginning. One day, when Aurora wanted to improve her magic skills, she asked Occult this question.”
‘Master, I can’t use magic without a staff. What should I do to use magic without one?’
“Your situation is similar to Aurora’s. Back then, Aurora broke her staff while practicing magic, just like you did.”
―――
-Breaking staffs must be a standard for mages.
-So even the Director was a bit of an idiot.
-Look at his eyes widen. He found his kin, lol.
-Mage average IQ is really all over the place.
―――
“Master Occult responded to Aurora’s question like this.”
‘Aurora, why do you say you can’t use magic?’
‘Aurora, when you used magic through the staff, what did you feel?’
‘… I felt as if the mana in my body was extending out into the world through the staff.’
“Occult smiled warmly at that answer, then said.”
‘You already know the answer to what you’ve asked.’
‘The way to use magic without the help of a staff is already…’
“…within you.”
Gulp-
The sound of Sweet swallowing echoed loudly.
“Countless mages found enlightenment from these five words, breaking free from their reliance on staffs and moving on to the next realm.”
Raven added more firewood to the campfire as he continued.
“For a mage to wield magic, they need a medium. In the past, that medium was limited to staffs. But now, that’s no longer the case. A mage’s chanting, breathing, actions, movements, and imagination—anything can become the medium to channel magic.”
However, the most commonly used medium was chanting.
“Because nothing is more straightforward than chanting.”
Mages were beings who communicated with the world.
They summoned corresponding magic in exchange for mana.
After all, every magic spell was originally part of the world.
“Therefore, Sweet, your chanting itself isn’t wrong.”
The problem and the solution likely lie within yourself.
Hearing Raven’s words, Sweet opened his skill window.
―――
[ Energy Bolt ]
- The fundamental magic for mages. When used, it consumes a certain amount of mana.
- Cannot be used without a medium.
―――
“…”
Unlike Martial Artists, the basic attack of a mage was a skill.
Thus, even without awakening, mages possessed skills.
The problem was that using this Energy Bolt required a medium.
‘That’s supposed to be inside me?’
Despite listening to Raven’s story, he couldn’t grasp it.
Even the first time he used Energy Bolt…
Even after all the hunting he’d done so far…
He had never felt anything.
‘Mana in my body extending through the staff and into the world? What does that even mean?’
There was only one thing Sweet felt whenever he used magic.
His long-time nemesis—the hand tremors caused by his essential tremor.
The periodic shaking of his hands was something he’d lived with all his life.
“Get down!”
Sweet, lost in thought, turned his head at Raven’s shout.
“Huh…?”
Right in front of his face. At a distance less than a palm’s width.
The Black Rabbit, with its mouth wide open, was about to swallow Sweet’s head in one bite.
Without even having time to react, Sweet shut his eyes, not wanting to see the impending death.
“Get a hold of yourself…”
“…Raven.”
When he finally opened his eyes, the scene that unfolded was gruesome.
Clamped in the jaws of the Black Rabbit, now at a distance, was a blood-soaked arm.
Why… is that arm there?
No way, could it be…
He had already witnessed the truth.
But he didn’t want to accept it. He didn’t want to acknowledge it.
So, he lowered his head and looked at his own arms.
There was no pain. Both of his arms were still intact.
The scene he just saw wasn’t some illusion.
[ BOSS Black Phantasmal Rabbit Lv.10 ]
A swordsman who lost an arm.
A mage who couldn’t use magic.
The Black Phantasmal Rabbit grinned wickedly at them both.
[ You have entered combat with the Field Boss ‘Black Phantasmal Rabbit’ in the Forest That Devours Darkness. ]
The boss battle had begun.
—
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