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

City Start – A Threat Detected Mid-Mission

The city was alive with energy.

People bustled through their daily routines, and merchants filled the market square with ceaseless cries for business.

Damian and his companions were in the city center, checking in with the guild for new assignments.

Ian browsed the guild board and remarked,

"Huh… quite a few decent jobs this time."

Leanne nodded quietly.

"What matters is finding the one that suits us best."

Kane glanced around cautiously and suddenly muttered,

"…Don't you feel something off? Like we're being watched?"

Ian immediately stiffened. Her instincts were sharp when it came to sensing presences.

"…You're right."

She slowly turned her head and scanned the shadows near the guild entrance.

There stood a few men—silent, still—as though waiting. Watching.

Leanne followed her gaze and spoke in a low tone,

"Those people… they're watching us."

Damian sensed it too. He said curtly,

"Thieves' Guild."

Ian narrowed her eyes.

"This isn't just surveillance."

She could tell.These weren't passive observers.

They were pursuers, poised to move.

Feigning Ignorance – Luring the Trap

The group played it cool, strolling naturally out of the guild.They passed through the market and slipped into an alley, deliberately leading their tail in.

Ian whispered,

"They're definitely following us."

Kane smirked.

"Then we move first."

They entered a narrower alleyway, a deliberate bottleneck.Footsteps followed from behind—quiet, but steady.

And just as the pursuers thought,"We've got them now."

Counterattack – Ian and Kane's Strike

Ian and Kane moved in unison, lightning-quick.

They spun around and struck first—targeting the nearest gaps in the enemy formation.

Whoosh!

Ian weaved behind an enemy with fluid motion, pressing a dagger to his back.

She smiled slyly.

"You weren't exactly subtle."

Kane had already nocked an arrow.

"If you're gonna tail someone, try being a little clever."

The first wave of enemies collapsed.

But the rest didn't panic.

Instead, more hidden assailants emerged from the shadows—tightening the net.

"More than expected," Damian murmured.

Leanne raised her hand, gathering magical energy.

"Not just the Thieves' Guild… the Wizard's Guild is here too."

The Trap – Driving the Enemy into a Narrow Space

Ian made a quick judgment.

"When we're outnumbered, we fall back."

She darted further down the alley,luring the enemies along.

Kane provided cover fire from behind, loosing arrows with precision.Leanne used simple spells to hinder their movement.

But the real objective was—

A lure.

They herded the enemies to the end of a narrow alley.

There—stood rows of water barrels.

The Water Barrel Tactic – Turning the Tide

Ian signaled at the right moment.

"Now!"

She tossed one of the barrels toward the incoming foes.

The enemies flinched—instinctively reacting.

Kane swiftly released an arrow toward the barrel.But the wood was thick—it didn't burst.

In that instant—

Damian swung his blade.

Slash!

A burst of sword energy cleaved the barrel,water gushing out, drenching the alley floor.

Leanne's Lightning Magic – Turning Water into a Weapon

Leanne activated her magic,fingers crackling with arcane sparks.

Lightning Spear.

A bolt of lightning arced down—

Chain Lightning Effect!

"Aaaaghh!!""Damn it, I'm getting shocked!"

The soaked enemies were instantly engulfed in the electric surge.

The wizards tried to raise shields—too late.

BOOM!

Most of them collapsed.

Kane's Finishing Arrows – Neutralizing the Rear

A few foes tried to regroup and cast again—

But Kane, calm and steady, raised his bow.

Thwip! Thwip!

Each arrow found its mark—piercing the wrists of would-be spellcasters.

"Grrk…!"

Kane said coldly,

"I wouldn't move if I were you."

His gaze was icy.The remaining enemies froze.

Aftermath – A Message Left Behind

Damian sheathed his sword.

He felt a lingering trace of magic nearby.One of the wizards had left behind a rune.

"This is…"

Ian gritted her teeth.

"Damn it. Of course they won't let this go easily."

Leanne murmured softly,

"…It means they'll keep coming."

They knew this battle was far from over.

The real threat—was still looming.

Damian stared down at the rune.Then spoke quietly.

"They're not done with us yet."

They emptied their cups—

And prepared for the next fight.

The true war… had only just begun.

***

Chapter – How to Hunt a Beast

The wind howled across the dry plains.

Dust whipped through the air, obscuring the view.From within the swirling haze, a massive beast emerged.

Its size rivaled that of an ogre—piercing eyes, bulging muscles, and a heavy coat of dark brown fur.

But most striking of all—

It wasn't just an animal.

Ian raised her blade, muttering,

"This isn't an ordinary beast."

Leanne scanned the surroundings, her eyes narrowing.

"I can feel magical energy… It's more than a mere creature."

Then, the beast's eyes gleamed.

The air twisted violently.

And—

The beast moved.

With terrifying speed.

The Hunter's Eyes – Kane's Pursuit

Kane didn't lose sight of it.

His eyes had already begun reading its patterns.

Fast.Strong.But most of all—strategic, not instinctual.

He lifted his bow.

Whish!

The arrow flew—and missed.

The beast dodged with agility that belied its size.

Kane clenched his teeth.

"So it's not just a hunt anymore."

The creature closed in.Ian moved swiftly to intercept, syncing with Kane's positioning.

Ian – Close-quarters combat expert

Kane – Master of ranged tracking

Ian lunged toward its flank.Her dagger flashed.

But—

The beast had anticipated her movement.It twisted its body and swung its massive paw.

Thud!

Ian narrowly avoided the blow,but the sheer force behind it was staggering.

"Damn… for something that big, it's fast!"

Kane fired another arrow from behind—this time hitting the mark squarely.

And yet—

The beast didn't falter.

Turning Point – The Beast Targets Leanne

Then it shifted direction.

It had sensed the real threat:

Leanne.

The beast was drawn to magical energy.And before her spell could be completed—

It had to strike her down first.

Boom!

The giant mass hurtled forward in a straight line.

Leanne raised her hand, attempting to finish the incantation—

But they were on the plains.And the wind was wild.

"Damn it—the wind's too strong for fire magic!"

The beast's claws came crashing toward her.

In that instant—

Damian intervened.

Intervention – Damian the Reactive Tank

Damian ducked low and moved swiftly.He slipped past the beast's massive reach and circled around.

He slashed at the creature's leg—

But that alone wasn't enough.

The beast thrashed again.

That's when Leanne cast a quick wind spell,momentarily blinding the beast.

Damian didn't miss his chance.

He rode the gust—

And leapt onto the beast's back.

"Let's end this."

He raised his sword—

And drove it deep into the creature's neck.

Thunk!

The beast roared and thrashed.

But then—

Leanne unleashed her completed spell.

"Lightning Spear."

Damian's embedded sword acted as a conductor.

CRAAACK!

A bolt of lightning surged through the beast's body,coursing through muscle and nerve.

A perfect fusion of magic and steel.

And then—

The beast began to collapse.

***

Chapter : The Hunter's Trophy

The wind had stopped.The massive beast collapsed to the ground.

Ian let out a weary breath.

Rean quieted the lingering traces of her magic.

Kane silently gazed down at the fallen beast.

"This is…"

Kane knelt, brushing his hand over the creature's hide.Then, a small smile curved his lips.

"Magically resistant hide."

His gaze sharpened.This was more than just a corpse—It was a usable trophy.

Kane decides to craft new armor.

Hunter's Leather Armor

Kane carefully skinned the beast, its thick hide coming away in heavy, flexible slabs.As he bundled it up, he said simply:

"This'll be my next armor."

Ian snorted.

"Spoken like a true hunter."

Kane rolled the hide and packed it into his bag.Then, glancing at the creature's massive head, he muttered,

"Might as well take the head too."

Ian frowned.

"Really? You need that?"

Kane offered a cryptic smile.

"A trophy is a record of the hunt."

Ian's Gift – Leather Gloves

Ian ran her fingers along a leftover piece of hide, a mischievous glint in her eye.

"Hey, got any scraps for me?"

Kane glanced at her, then sliced off a clean piece of leather and tossed it over.

"Could make a nice pair of gloves."

Ian caught it with a grin.

"Oh, I like this. Free gifts are always welcome."

Kane smirked.

"I did the hunting, but you helped. Fair share."

Ian stroked the hide appreciatively.

"Perfect. I'll have it crafted into something sharp-looking."

Damian stood quietly, watching the exchange.Rean, too, smiled faintly.

This was the reward of battle—the spoils of war.

And with that, they resumed their journey.Back to the city.

Armed with new gear, and a fresh lead in hand.

But there was one thing none of them noticed.At the spot where the beast had fallen—

On the dirt swept by the wind—

A strange trace remained.

As if someone…had been watching.