The Chosen Bullet

Boom, boom!

‘Does he have endless mana?’

Won Jong-hyo’s attacks didn’t stop.

If anything, he looked relaxed, as if he was toying with me.

“Are you done yet?”

“Just finished organizing.”

“You sorted them, right?”

“As I said before, I now fully understand your level.”

“That doesn’t sound like a compliment.”

“You’ve only just awakened, so it’s understandable. However, dimensional stones related to magic tend to be quite expensive.”

“Well, it’s magic. That’s expected.”

Through the smoke of exploding fireballs, the list Monas prepared appeared before me.

Even then, Won Jong-hyo’s attacks continued.

Dodging the flames, I quickly scanned the list.

[Lux Candle – Apprentice of the Magic Tower]

[Wi Byeok-ha – Sorcerer of the Pyro Sect]

……

“Hmm… not good enough.”

This wasn’t training.

I couldn’t pick something weak.

A poor choice would get me defeated instead.

Then—

[Elphri – Mage of the Lake. Beloved by the Lake]

“This one.”

“Elves are famous for their magic. Likely stronger than most human mages here.”

“How long can I use it?”

“Not long. It’s not power you can fully handle yet.”

“That’s fine. I just need to crush him properly.”

Won Jong-hyo.

Even during exams, he refused to acknowledge my rank.

This was the perfect chance.

“That’s a mindset I like.”

With Monas’s voice—

Power surged into me.

[The power of the dimensional stone resides within your body.]

[Elphri – Mage of the Lake]

A guardian mage of Lake Arad. None could defeat her near the lake.

Wooooong!

Magic.

A skill only those with talent in intelligence and elements could use.

Without talent, even abundant mana meant nothing.

That’s why magic users were rare.

Unlike physical types.

Magic required talent, knowledge, and resources.

And now—

That knowledge flooded into my mind.

“Finally giving up?”

Boom!

A massive flame rose before him.

Far larger than before.

As his finger pointed—

The blazing jaws lunged at me.

“This time, you’ll be bedridden for months.”

Terrifying heat.

If it hit—

Severe burns.

But I had no intention of taking it.

“Aqua Wall.”

Shhhhhh!

A surge of water erupted beneath the flames.

Steam exploded outward.

The blazing jaws collapsed.

“M-magic?”

As the steam cleared.

Won Jong-hyo stood stunned.

Around me.

Dozens of water streams swirled.

Waiting.

“My turn.”

Boom!

Before Won Jong-hyo.

A massive flaming maw opened.

His strongest spell.

Soon—

It would devour Woo-hyuk.

‘I’ve won.’

A physical-type couldn’t stop it.

Maybe only Cha Seo-yeon could.

He was certain.

Which is why—

“Aqua Wall.”

Shhhhhh!

A towering water surge rose.

“M-magic?”

He looked around.

Was someone interfering?

But—

“…What?”

Everyone else was shocked too.

“Did he just use magic?”

“Wasn’t he a physical type?”

Even Professor Kang was stunned.

“My turn.”

Boom!

The water surged forward.

Piercing through flames.

Crash!!

The fire wall collapsed.

The ground shattered.

Like cannon fire.

“Aqua Strike?! Impossible!”

“Possible.”

BOOM!!

A high-level water spell.

Comparable to his own.

“I trained for years to use that!”

That wasn’t the issue.

He wasn’t supposed to use magic.

Then—

“…No way!”

Dimensional magic.

He had never claimed to be physical.

Everyone had assumed it.

“That’s how it is, huh!”

Boom!!

Water tore through the arena.

Carefully missing him.

Like he had done to me.

“This trick—!”

“Using your ability is a trick now?”

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!!

His flames were gone.

The ground flooded.

An eye for an eye.

I didn’t even use my sword.

Only magic.

To overwhelm him.

“You arrogant—!”

Boom!

He raised his hand.

Five blazing maws formed.

Beyond his limits.

But—

Shhhhhh—

A waterfall crashed down.

Before they could even open.

They vanished.

“How’s that? Refreshing?”

Won Jong-hyo never surrendered.

But he couldn’t move either.

I looked at the professor.

He nodded.

“Jung Woo-hyuk wins. Well done.”

[Hidden Quest Complete.]

[Reward: 200,000 points.]

[Elphri’s power has faded.]

[Intelligence +10.]

[Skill acquired: Water Magic.]

[Water Magic Lv.1]

Allows use of water-based magic.

Up to 2nd circle.

Water attack +10%.

‘Nice.’

A hidden quest.

I spent 300,000 points.

But gained magic.

Worth it.

As I stepped down—

Students rushed in.

“Whoa! What was that?”

“You can use magic?!”

“Are you becoming a magic swordsman?!”

Too many questions.

I turned away.

The professor intervened.

“That’s enough. He just finished a match.”

“Oh—sorry!”

Then he looked at the arena.

“…This is a bit much.”

“Is this even student level?”

“I couldn’t do that with a pickaxe.”

The arena was destroyed.

Class couldn’t continue.

“Unfortunately, that’s all for today.”

“I’ll kill him… I’ll kill him…”

After class ended.

Professor Kang tried speaking to him.

But he wasn’t normal.

So he left him alone.

Won Jong-hyo stood soaked.

Muttering.

“Jung Woo-hyuk… bastard…”

Son of the Cat Eye Guild master.

An elite.

Trained since childhood.

Awakened early.

Taught by top mages.

Naturally.

He stood out.

Though never surpassing Cha Seo-yeon.

“I won’t let this go… no matter what…”

This humiliation—

Was his first.

Losing to someone he once looked down on.

And no matter how he thought—

He couldn’t win head-on.

Water magic.

His worst counter.

Crunch.

He bit his lip.

Then—

Ring—

He made a call.

Click.

“Hey, Jong-hyo. What’s up?”

“Hyung, you’re coming as a mentor for the gate training, right?”

“Yeah. Why, want me to take you along?”

“No. Not me.”

“…What?”

“Take someone else.”

“…Why?”

“You needed high-grade mana stones, right?”

“…Yeah. Why?”

“I’ll get them for you. Just do me one favor.”