Jake looked at Hyun-Woo's collapsed form, with degrading and degenerating eyes. You had this coming... well, I made sure to hit your upper cervical spine just right, he thought, bittersweet satisfaction lacing every word.
Ensuring the fire mage wouldn't remember the incident clearly, Jake let a wry smile slip before continuing.
Jake turned his focus to the open wounds, he activated Verdant Growth to clear out the last remnants of the tendrils he'd left earlier.
With Hyun-Woo's mother being a high-ranking mage, there was no room for evidence; any trace of lingering mana could mean a mountain of trouble later on.
Switching to Healing Touch, he began smoothing the bruised area of his neck and closing the wounds with careful precision. He noticed Hyun-Woo's fingers twitching from the pain, even in his unconscious state.
But Jake remained indifferent, mechanically working to restore what was damaged, one tear at a time. After a few focused minutes, his work was done.
Jake leaned in, whispering almost inaudibly, "Sleep tight, Hyun-Woo. You've still got a healing debt to settle later." He straightened up, casting one last look at the now-healed mage, knowing that he'd walked a fine line today—but the risk was worth every moment, he guessed.
He didn't rush to tell Kang Ho he was finished. Instead, he eyed the high-grade mana recovery potion, savoring the anticipation. If I don't drink it now, it might get taken back.
It wasn't every day he'd get a chance to taste one of these—especially given he didn't have an inventory system like Jin-Woo's to stash it away secretly.
Rumors on the forums had teased him about high-grade potions. Unlike the bitter, medicinal taste of low-grade potions, these were supposed to be divine, silky smooth, with a flavor to savor.
Jake gulped while unscrewing the lid and took a careful whiff. Instantly, the potent fragrance hit him, and he felt his mana gently swirling back to life, just from the aroma.
"This is insane… even the smell is addictive," he muttered, bringing the bottle closer, his eyes wide with wonder. "If this tastes even half as good as it smells…"
With a single, eager gulp, Jake tasted the potion, his eyes widening in genuine surprise. The metallic liquid coated his mouth with a silky, ethereal sweetness, cascading over his taste buds like nothing he'd tasted before.
There was no bitterness, only a perfect balance of warmth and coolness, like tasting pure energy refined to perfection. Each sip seemed to melt and spread through him, leaving behind a soft, shimmering aftertaste that lingered on his tongue.
Leaving him in a haze of bliss, a rare look of pure elation spreading across his face as he polished off the potion in a few indulgent sips.
_______________________
[ You have completely recovered your mana. ]
...
[ Due to consumption of a high-grade recovery potion, you have gained +2 Magic Power. ]
_______________________
Seeing the notification of his magic power increase, Jake nearly choked in surprise.
I'm gaining stats? In a few sips at that. He couldn't believe it. The bottle was still half-full, and with each drop, he could feel mana flooding his system, like his channels were being gently purified, each pathway of energy feeling more refined than before.
But before he could continue, a voice broke through his concentration.
Kang Ho had arrived, asking, "How's Hyun-Woo's condition?"
Jake composed himself, turning with a calm expression. "I still need to check him overall, Mr. Kang, to be sure, but I've closed up most of his injuries on his calves and feet. I just need to recover my mana before continuing."
"Finally, some good news," Kang Ho nodded with a hint of relief. "Don't worry, I'll prepare something as a token of my gratitude."
Jake's eyes brightened. "Thank you, Mr. Kang. I'll make sure to see Hyun-Woo through to full recovery." He then added, "And if needed, I can help with the other hunters as well."
Kang Ho smiled, clearly pleased with Jake's offer, but Jake's thoughts were far from selfless. This is perfect. I might level up my Healing Touch soon, he mused inwardly. For now, I should focus on increasing my mana cap. And if I keep this up…
His eyes gleamed with barely concealed ambition. My reputation will surely bloom.
As Kang Ho walked away, Jake quickly resumed activating his Basic Meditation, taking in the sensation of his mana overflowing. Despite the abundance, he felt no discomfort; the mana leaked through his enlarged mana pores, acting as a natural safety valve against mana overload.
With a sense of determination, Jake decided to take a gamble. He concentrated, subtly minimizing his mana pores, allowing him to circulate the excess energy in his body.
The goal was to rid himself of the lingering impurities from Joo-Hee's body after her death while stockpiling the overflow in his mana core nestled within his heart.
The world around him faded into a distant murmur as he meditated. What felt like hours passed, yet only mere minutes had gone by. He remained committed, the whispers of other hunters barely registering as he maintained his focus.
But then, just as he began to feel the rhythm of his circulation, a sudden cough escaped him. He discreetly pressed a handkerchief to his mouth and was shocked to find black goo staining the fabric.
The system chimed in with a notification:
_______________________
[ The host has purified the mana channels by 36%. ]
[ You have gained +4 Magic Power. ]
_______________________
Jake remained focused on Hyun-Woo's body, ensuring he appeared deeply engrossed in the healing process rather than secretly absorbing the concentrated mana from the potion.
His determination fueled him as he repeated the cycle: drinking the remaining potion, meditating, purifying his mana channels, and compressing the excess mana into his core.
With every sip, he felt the sweet, ethereal taste of the potion, revitalizing his mana like a warm embrace. Each time he meditated, he sensed the impurities melting away, replaced by a vibrant, vital energy that coursed through him. And his mana coiling tighter in his mana core.
As he continued, countless notifications flooded his mind, each one a reminder of his progress and power increase. Yet, he chose to ignore them, fully immersed in his task, focused on harnessing every ounce of potential his mana pore blessing and that potion had to offer.
_______________________
[ The host has purified the mana channels by 41%. ]
[ You have gained +2 Magic Power. ]
...
[ You have gained +1 Magic Power. ]
...
[ You have gained +3 Magic Power. ]
...
[ The host has purified the mana channels by 53%. ]
[ You have gained +2 Dexterity, +4 Magic Power. ]
...
[ You have gained enough proficiency. Basic Meditation has reached Level 5. ]
...
[ The host has purified the mana channels by 65%. ]
[ You have gained +3 Dexterity, +2 Magic Power. ]
_______________________
For the final time, Jake exhaled, feeling his body become lighter than before. Each breath he took was smoother, almost effortless, and he could now perceive mana with newfound clarity, allowing it to circulate freely within him.
What intrigued him the most was the realization that he could perform Basic Meditation even while standing; moving still posed a challenge, but this discovery felt like a breakthrough.
Jake focused on Hyun-Woo's body one last time, activating his Healing Touch as an experiment. This time, the effect was remarkable—the lingering scars on Hyun-Woo's calves began to vanish, and he noticed that the mana cost for the spell had dropped to just 20 mana per use.
His status window confirmed this improvement.
_______________________
[Sage Enlightenment System]
.
Name: Lee Joo-Hee (Jake Garcia)
Class: Sage of Eternal Leaf
Level: 3 (126/200)
HP: 190/190 | Magic: 1, 005/1, 025
.
Stats:
- Strength: 20
- Dexterity: 21
- Vitality: 19
- Magic Power: 71
- Intelligence: 33
- Wisdom: 34
.
Skills:
- Healing Touch (Skill Level 3 - 65%)
- Verdant Growth (Skill Level 5 - 21%)
- Nature's Embrace (Skill Level 4 - 68%)
- Basic Swordsmanship (Skill Level 3 - 9%)
- Basic Meditation (Skill Level 5 - 13%)
_______________________
However, a mix of satisfaction and irony washed over him. "I see," he sighed, a wry smile lingering on his lips. "So, I was just a poor character in the end. Who would've thought you could progress this much if you had millions of won?"
The idea of wealth and power in this world now seemed even more apparent—if only he had the resources (money). He glanced up at the sky, a wistful smile replacing his earlier smirk.
"Why are you such a spendthrift, like my sister, Joo-Hee?" he murmured, a touch of sadness in his voice. For a moment, it felt like Joo-Hee was up there somewhere, laughing at him, playfully apologizing as if she could hear his thoughts. Sorry, Jake, tee hee.
He shook his head, stifling a chuckle of his own. "You'd find this funny, wouldn't you?" he muttered, that fleeting feeling of warmth mingling with his thoughts of power and ambition.