I Am The Anti-Mage

Chapter 159: One Of The World Famous Guild

Dong-hyun and Yu-jin initially want to refrain from using magic spells for fear of damaging the environment. But, as time went on, they realized they wouldn't be able to touch Ji-woo at all if they didn't put all their might into it.

Yu-jin was the first to use magic with high damage expenditure. She used her bow magic weapon and fired several fiery arrows with negligible damage to make Ji-woo move from his spot. She then put the bow around her waist and flapped her palms, releasing a large, swift burst of fire at Ji-woo, who was dodging.

Dong-hyun didn't stay still either. He used the wind magic from his palms to amplify the damage output from Yu-jin's burst of flames.

The two hunters got used to magic without chanting like most S-rank hunters and above. So, the fighting style of the two of them was slightly more efficient than usual, which should take about one second to cast.

But, the big explosion didn't happen at all. That was because Ji-woo instantly annihilated the magic attack with his left hand. The massive fire seemed to be swallowed up by the earth.

Ji-woo was impressed by their fighting style, which he thought was capable enough to deal with real-life and death situations. He also felt their decision not to go all out from the start was a pretty good choice.

Meanwhile, Dong-hyun and Yu-jin could only click their tongues seeing their magic attacks damped by Ji-woo efficiently. Even though they got used to Ji-woo's abilities, their hearts still hurt every time they see their magic disappear without a trace.

Of course, that didn't discourage the two hunters. They knew it was only just getting started. They also didn't need to pretend they were taking the sparring leisurely. After all, everything was useless in front of Ji-woo if they didn't use all their strength. Including some tricks under their sleeve.

Dong-hyun nimbly moved and appeared behind Ji-woo, who was still slightly suspended in the air and was about to descend to the ground. He swung his broadsword swiftly and with all his might. He did that with the intention to kill Ji-woo because he knew, without such determination, it would be impossible to touch Ji-woo even to make a scratch on Ji-woo's body.

And again, Ji-woo smoothly ducked his head to avoid the slash. This time, he twisted his body in the air and threw a kick with his right foot, aiming for the left side of Dong-hyun's head.

Dong-hyun stammered, raising his left hand in preparation for Ji-woo's kick. He knew the attack would clearly get connected to him even if a defense was in place. But, at least, he wanted to avoid direct injuries to his body, to minimize the pressure his body would take from it.

Bang!

Dong-hyun bounced and crashed to the ground, even though he had already reduced the impact of that attack. So, the damage wasn't hurtful.

"Do you think I'll go easy on you? Dream on!"

Suddenly, Ji-woo felt fire magic aiming at his back after mocking Dong-hyun. He turned around and thinned out a few fiery arrows like he was putting out a small fire.

"If you decide to fight using a long-ranged style. At least you have a countermeasure if an enemy closes the distance easily because your location gets discovered."

Yu-jin squinted her eyes and didn't take Ji-woo's words to her head. She instead pulled her bowstring and was about to shoot another fiery arrow to keep Ji-woo busy while Dong-hyun got up from the crash.

Ji-woo smirked. "Like this." He immediately moved very quickly and closed a considerable distance with Yu-jin in no time. That caught Yu-jin off guard.

Yu-jin, startled by Ji-woo's sudden appearance, panicked in making a decision. Should she back off? Or did she have to keep shooting fire arrows even though she didn't have time?

"I told you before. Every decision in a fight must have a countermeasure."

Ji-woo still went easy on Yu-jin. Unlike Dong-hyun, who got kicked, he just pushed Yu-jin in the stomach so that the female hunter was thrown far behind her, rolling on the ground.

"Here's a piece of advice for the both of you. Keep moving even if your attacks manage to hit your opponent. This way, you'll be prepared if anything unexpected happens.

"Moreover, if your attacks don't work and you still don't move and just standstill. That would show how slow you are in making decisions."

Dong-hyun got up from the fall and started to let his main engine run, which was his mouth.

"Hyung. The theory is easy. The practice is difficult. Moreover, the opponent is you. Every attack always fails and takes us by surprise."

On the other hand, a huge fireball flew towards Ji-woo in the middle of Dong-hyun's speech.

Ji-woo brushed off the fireball with his right hand, and the magic dissipated. Just then, he found Yu-jin jumping at him with a bow and about to shoot a fiery arrow. He was impressed by Yu-jin's choice to use the bow at close range. That meant the female hunter had started to get used to adapting in battle.

The fighting style was flexible even though the weapon was the one used for long-range.

And most importantly, Yu-jin was better at expressing herself with actions. In stark contrast to Dong-hyun, who relied on his mouth at every opportunity.

Yu-jin curled her lips and released the bowstring from her tug. A fire arrow got shot within a point-blank range.

However, Ji-woo quickly shifted his head to the right and praised Yu-jin. "That's good."

Yu-jin clicked her tongue and was about to throw a kick at Ji-woo. But instead, Ji-woo grabbed her leg and threw her to Dal-soo was.

"What!? Ouch!!"

Dong-hyun screamed in pain as he endured Yu-jin's weight falling on top of him. He didn't expect that Yu-jin and Ji-woo were busy fighting each other while he was lecturing. And what was worse, he got dragged into the incident as well.

"Argh! Can we stop for a moment to take a breath? Did you not hear what I said earlier?"

Yu-jin got up from the ground and then punched Dong-hyun's head.

"Ouch!! Why did you hit my head?"

"You idiot. We're in sparring, not class debate. Your mouth is useless in combat. Otherwise, why are we learning magic spells without chanting if we have to talk too much?"

"Well, that's…," Dong-hyun felt embarrassed when Yu-jin mentioned magic spells without being cast. But, he still had the pride of not admitting his mistakes.

"But sometimes the mouth can also save us in battle!"

"Do you want to die!?" Yu-jin yelled while moving her hand, showing a motion like she was about to hit Dong-hyun again.

Dong-hyun jolted when he saw the movement. "No! No! I still want to live! So, what should I do now?" He said while covering his head with both hands.

"Keep attacking Ji-woo relentlessly. Don't let him pause for a moment. Even if you have to get beaten badly by him, you must continue your pressure. Got it!?" Yu-jin gives instructions in a whisper.

Dong-hyun swallowed his saliva. The plan sounded like a path to death. He wanted to say no firmly. But, his guts shrunk when he saw Yu-jin's piercing gaze.

"F-fine," Dong-hyun said reluctantly. He felt like crying, remembering the part where he had to keep fighting even though he had to get beaten by Ji-woo. Just thinking about it already made him feel pain in his heart, especially when it happened later. His body would probably get traumatized by it.

The two hunters then launched their attacks simultaneously, and the sparring continued for the next several hours.

In the meantime, in Nagoya, Japan. 12 S-rank hunters gathered inside a traditional house with tatami floors, sliding doors, and wooden verandas circling the home. 

"It has got confirmed by our hunters in South Korea. It is Ohara Momoka, the traitor of Japan." Said one of the S-rank hunters named Sando Akira to one more hunter in the house beside the 12 S-rank hunters, who were there.

The hunter in question was the head of the Gaijin guild, Yoh Akuma.

"What happened?"

Akira then continued his information. "Momoka was found dead on Mount Jiri. The head and body are separated. But luckily, both parts are intact."

"Good. It doesn't matter if the traitor lives or dies. What we need is her body. As long as it doesn't crumble, we'll get the secret of the group's strength."

"Should I steal it directly from the hunters there? Now Momoka's body and head are on their way to the South Korean Hunters Association."

Akuma shook his head. "No need. Our goal is the secret of the strength of the hunters in that traitor group, not a war. I will go there myself."

"Aniki, you don't have to bother going there. Just a few of us taking the traitor's corpse is enough." Said an S-rank hunter named Yagami Kaemon.

"No. Even if you 12 went there, the three South Korean guilds could match that number. If there is a dispute, you would be in a pinch. After all, they have an Apex-ranked hunter. All of you couldn't handle that."

All the S-rank hunters in the room lowered their heads. They agreed and did not raise any doubt further.

"Oh, yes. Do you have any information on who did that, Akira?" Asked Akuma about the person who killed Ohara Momoka.

"I don't have one, Aniki."

"All right then. Get ready to go.." Akuma didn't dawdle about it.