The One Who Defies Fate: The Law of the Strong (Transcendental Murim)

As they stepped deeper into the White Citadel, a distinct atmosphere embraced the group.This was no ordinary fortress—it was a holy citadel, built atop a sanctuary.

Sacred hymns echoed through the still air,arches stretched endlessly above them,bathed in divine light streaming through stained glass.And beneath it all stood Paladins—upright and unwavering in their discipline.

Damian felt a strange sense of déjà vu.It resembled the strict doctrines of the orthodox clans in the Murim world,yet it carried a fundamentally different spirit.

Ian whistled, unable to hide her tension."Man, this place is tight. I feel like I should even breathe carefully."

Leanne closed his eyes quietly."The divine power here is strong. It feels different from magic."

Then, in the distance, they spotted Paladins in training.

The Paladins' Training Ground – A Demonstration of Divine Power

Following the path, they came upon a plazawhere Paladins trained using divine energy.

Knights in white armor drew their swords in unison.But at each blade's edge, a faint glow shimmered.

"Blades of Light…" Leanne murmured."These aren't powered by physical strength alone. They're infused with divine force."

The Paladins slashed through the air without opponents.Yet their movements were not just empty drills.When a sword swung, the very space trembled—leaving ripples in its wake.

Ian narrowed her eyes."What the—? What did they even hit?"

Leanne explained in a low voice."If a cut leaves a trace in the air,it means the blade isn't just steel—it's will, wrapped in divine power."

The Paladins displayed techniques such as Blades of Light, Divine Shields, and Blessed Strikes.Their movements weren't those of instinctive fighters.It was more like… a prayer in motion.

Damian watched in silence.Their swordplay was unlike anything in Murim.But he wasn't just interested in "power"—he wanted to understand the nature of that power.

Leanne's Power – A Sorcerer's Magic Display

At that moment, a Paladin looked at Leanne with interest."A sorcerer, are you?"

Most mages were called wizards, channeling spellcraft through study and theory.But sorcerers—they were born with magic flowing through their veins.

Leanne raised his hand gently.From his fingertips, a flame flickered to life.But it wasn't a simple fireball.The flame morphed in form, branching out into multiple streams mid-air.

The Paladins reacted with subtle surprise at the unfamiliar spell."This… is nothing like a wizard's spell."

Leanne spoke calmly."Wizards learn magic through scholarship. They often keep their distance from divine energy.""But sorcerers… we are born attuned to magic itself.""We understand the flow, not by books—but by instinct."

Some Paladins, believing divine power to be superior to magic,reacted with skepticism.

But when they witnessed the spell firsthand—their gaze shifted.

Ian's Skill – The Rogue's Unlikely Edge

A Paladin glanced at Ian and smirked."Does a rogue know how to fight?""You have no divine power… no magic."

Ian raised one brow."Ha. So you're saying I should just sit back and watch?"

With a flick of her hand—the holy trinket at the Paladin's waist vanished.

As he gasped in shock,Ian spun the item between her fingers with ease.

"Strength isn't just about brawling.Sometimes, you end the fight before it even begins."

A Paladin, intrigued, offered a light spar.

But before the match truly began—Ian had already slipped through his defenses,pressing a dagger to his throat.

Murmurs spread among the nearby Paladins."Wait… she's that skilled?""I thought she was just a thief…"

Damian's Question – Who Is the Strongest Here?

Damian had seen it all—the Paladins' divine power,Leanne's innate magic,and Ian's razor-sharp combat instincts.

Then, quietly, he spoke."Who's the strongest in this place?""I want to face them."

The air in the citadel shifted.Paladins looked on, startled.

"Is he mad?""Bold, isn't he…""But... intriguing."

Surprisingly, the Commander of the Paladins smiled.

"I understand your spirit.But divine power is not for combat alone."

Just then, a figure appeared from within the sanctum—the High Priest—a spiritual pillar among the Paladins.He did not fight, but he wielded the essence of divine power.

The High Priest's Demonstration – Damian's Revelation

The High Priest slowly raised his hand.

At that moment—

A purifying force swept through the space.Damian felt the overwhelming pressure of divine power for the first time.It wasn't magic.It wasn't inner energy.It felt as if his very existence was being subdued.

The surrounding Paladins knelt, receiving the energy in reverence.But Damian stood firm—enduring it head-on.

Gasps broke out.

"Most wouldn't even stay conscious…""Just who is this man?"

The High Priest finally lowered his hand and spoke.

"This is not power for battle.If it was power you came to see—then what you've witnessed should be enough."

Damian nodded silently.And in that moment, he understood—

Divine power wasn't just about strength in battle.It was a force that could reshape one's very being.

**

Chapter – Echoes of Divinity

Though their time within the White Citadel had been brief, it left a lasting impression.Damian had come face-to-face with the essence of the Paladins and the divine power they wielded.But the power of the gods was not merely about strength—it was about embracing a new truth:"Faith itself can become strength."

Las Vark and the other Paladins no longer regarded Damian with wary eyes.He was no mere outsider—he had withstood divine force.He carried something… something even they could not define.

Yet it was still too soon to grasp the deeper truths.As Damian's group departed, Las Vark bid them farewell with a few solemn words.

"We shall meet again someday. Until then, walk your path."

And then he added,

"What the will of the gods is for you—none can say for now.But the will of the divine often arrives… in the most unexpected ways."

Leaving the Citadel

Beyond the White Citadel, the group set out once more toward their next destination.

Ian stretched, loosening her limbs."Seriously, that divine power stuff? Total cheat code."

Leanne crossed his arms and replied,"Divine power is rooted in faith. It operates on a different principle than the magic we know."

Ian muttered, unconvinced."So if believing makes you powerful, guess I could be queen of the world."

Leanne chuckled."Not just belief—you need the power to make that belief real."

Damian walked quietly ahead, absent from their banter.His hand brushed over his sword.

What he had learned here wasn't just about divine strength.It was about the possibility that the source of power might exist in ways entirely different from what he knew.

The Voice of God

As they traveled, Damian suddenly heard a sound that pierced through his mind.

— Do you dare disturb the balance of this world?

His vision warped.The scenery twisted and bent.Something—some entity—was speaking to him.

Damian instinctively reached for his sword,but his body wouldn't move.This wasn't an attack.

— Do not defy the laws of this world.— You do not belong here.

The voice was resolute, but also… unstable.As if even the speaker wasn't fully certain of its own words.

"…Who are you?"

No answer.

Suddenly, the noise faded.The world returned to normal.Leanne and Ian were looking at him, puzzled.

Ian asked, "What's wrong? You just stopped walking."

Damian hesitated, then replied flatly,"...Nothing. Just felt a little off."

But he was sure.

That voice—it belonged to something that governed the very laws of this world.

And for some reason,it had spoken to him.

A Quiet Camp – Building Bonds

That night, they camped in a small clearing within the woods.

Ian grumbled as she lit the fire."No meat, no flavor, just water and dry bread in that citadel. Finally, real dinner."

Leanne calmly adjusted the flame using magic."The Paladins value asceticism. Not ideal for someone who lives for food."

Ian flared up."What's more important than eating?"

Damian stared at the fire and muttered,"…Strength?"

Both Ian and Leanne turned toward him.Ian sighed."Seriously, is your brain ever not thinking about fighting?"

Leanne chuckled."Try having a human thought for once."

Damian fell silent.Had he ever truly asked himself a human question?

Even here, in this foreign world,he was still searching for the reason behind his existence.

But—

Watching the two beside him quietly around the fire,he began to realize something.

For the first time, he was aware of what it meant to have companions.

Toward the Next Destination

The following morning, they resumed their journey.

Their next goal lay ahead, marked by a new clue.Leanne guided them using his ability to glimpse fate,while Ian scouted the terrain.

But as they set out—

Damian once again felt it.A strange, prickling sense—as though someone was watching them from afar.

He didn't mention it.Not yet.