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

An Unexpected Battle, A Single Mistake

On the road back to the city, Damian's party had let their guard down more than usual.They had just endured an intense fight hunting the beast and had no time to rest or recover.

Ian grumbled under her breath."We've got no healer, no tank. If we keep fighting like this, someone's gonna drop."

Kane quietly inspected his arrows."Still… we can't stop here. The scent from that beast we killed might've spread."

Rean was silent, as if sensing the flow of the forest.Then—

Swish.

A faint rupture in the air—A single javelin sliced through the wind.

Damian ducked on instinct.The spear grazed his shoulder, tearing fabric and skin.

"Shit!" Ian shouted as enemies emerged from between the trees.

Forest Raiders.The worst kind of foe—scavengers who preyed on exhausted adventurers.

"Damn it, I forgot these bastards were around," Ian cursed.

She launched herself at them with her dagger, but their numbers were greater than expected.Rean tried to cast a spell, but her mana reserves were already low from the earlier fight.

Then, the worst-case scenario.One enemy charged straight at Damian.Kane tried to shoot, but lost visual for a second.

Damian swung his sword reflexively—

"—Kh…!"

A searing pain erupted through his dominant hand.

And blood spilled.

No Healing – The Limits of Combat

Damian fought through the injury.But this time was different.

There was no healer.No tank to absorb damage.

Ian and Kane took turns pushing back the attackers, but every time Damian moved, more blood poured out.Rean clenched her teeth.

"I wish I had a healing spell… but that's not my specialty."

The enemies noticed Damian's weakened movements and began focusing their attacks.

At that moment, Ian pulled something from her pouch.

A small glass vial.Liquid glowing with faint light.

"Potion. Drink it!"

Damian hesitated for just a second.But he knew—it was the best option.

He uncorked the bottle and drank it down in one go.

The Importance of Potions – "A Tankless Party's Lifeline"

As soon as the potion took effect, the wound on Damian's hand began to close.The bleeding stopped.The pain dulled to a mere sting.

"…Stronger than I expected," he murmured.

Rean panted."We've had potions all along, but barely used them. If we hadn't this time… we'd be dead."

Kane nodded while clearing the last of the attackers."No tank. No healer. We can't afford to neglect recovery."

Damian listened quietly.

He was from the Murim—a world where strength alone defined survival.But here…

"If you show weakness, you die.""And if you can't recover… you fall."

This fight had made that painfully clear.

Aftermath – And a New Resolution

The last enemy fell.

Ian collapsed to the ground with a heavy sigh."…That was brutal."

Kane rechecked his quiver with practiced hands."We need to fix this problem."

Rean spoke evenly."We can keep fighting our way, but we must be prepared."

Damian looked down at the empty potion bottle.Until now, he had dismissed such things as "tools for the weak."But now…

"This is… essential."

He fell into quiet reflection.And resolved—

He would never make the same mistake again.

Their combat style would evolve.No tank.No healer.

But they would survive.And grow stronger.

***

Chapter : Brute Force Alone Won't Keep You Alive

Exhaustion Accumulates – Strength Is Not Infinite

After the battle ended, Damian quietly looked down at his own hands.The bleeding had stopped, but the muscle fatigue remained.

Ian flopped onto the ground with a groan."Damn it… we could've taken those guys down easily on a good day."

Leanne was breathing heavily."We've fought too many battles without rest. If we keep going like this, we'll collapse."

She clutched her arm — the strain on her mana was serious.Cain, kneeling on one knee, checked his remaining arrows.

"…Not many left," he muttered.

He had used them sparingly, like any skilled hunter would.But even careful conservation had its limits.

Damian slowly sheathed his sword and spoke in a low voice.

"These enemies were weak.But we were weakened too, and that's what made it dangerous."

In Murim, Damian had always believed that the strong remain strong, regardless of conditions.But here, in this world—

Even the strong become vulnerable when exhausted.

Potions and Strategy – Rushing Headfirst Is Not a Plan

Leanne held out a hand toward Ian."Pass me a potion."

Ian handed over a small vial."Finally admitting your mana's bottomed out?"

Leanne smirked as she uncorked it."Attack power isn't everything in a fight."

Cain rolled the last few arrows in his hand."From now on, we need to manage our resources."

"We can't afford to waste energy. Every battle has to be efficient."

Damian stood silent, listening.

He had always trusted raw strength. But now, he began to understand:

Strength must be sustained. It's not just about being powerful — it's about staying powerful.

Ian patted her legs and added,"Let's agree right now — no more charging in blindly. We need plans."

Leanne nodded."They were weak, sure. But with our stamina drained, they were a real threat."

"We need to fight smarter, not harder."

Damian closed his eyes for a moment, then opened them again."…Right. We'll fight differently from now on."

Another Fight, Another Threat?

All enemies were down.

But the real problem remained.

Ian mumbled,"Why the hell were guys like that out here in the first place?"

Leanne scanned the forest."This area's usually not crawling with bandits… Something's off."

Cain said quietly,"It's like they knew we'd be worn down… and waited."

That made everyone freeze.

Could the enemy have anticipated their exhaustion?

Damian looked at his sword.Until now, he had relied on power to solve everything.

But now he realized:

Even the weakest enemy can kill you — if they strike when you're weak.

And maybe—These weren't just mindless raiders.

Maybe they were watching, waiting…Taking advantage of the moment they looked most vulnerable.

Damian exhaled slowly.

"…The next fight won't be easy."

From now on, they would have to fight a new way.Not just as the strongest.But as those who endure.

***

Chapter : We Earned Money—Now Let's Spend It

Back to the City – A Brief Respite

After their hunt and battle, Damien's party returned to the city.The hard-fought struggle was behind them—but something else awaited now.

"Time to restock."

Damien still wasn't used to the concept.In the Murim, there were no such things as consumables.You trained your martial arts, ate, rested, and refined your qi. That was it.

But here, things were different.

▶ Mages needed magic catalysts.▶ Warriors needed tools to maintain their weapons.▶ Rogues and hunters relied on tonics and expendable gear.

These things could mean the difference between life and death in battle.

Iane crossed her arms at the city gate and said,

"You made money. Now you gotta spend it."

Lean nodded lightly.

"We've got a lot to buy. Potions, for starters."

"…Potions?" Damien murmured.

"Are they really that important?"

Kane gave him a knowing smile.

"Absolutely. In a world where you never know when death might come, a single potion could save your life."

Damien realized—he still had a lot to learn about how this world worked.

A Stroll Through the Market – Iane's Bargaining Skills

The city marketplace was bustling with energy.Vendors called out to passersby from every corner.

Potion shops

Blacksmiths selling weapons and armor

Magic stores packed with enchanted tools

Taverns and guild halls echoing with stories

Iane headed straight for a potion stall. Without missing a beat, she started negotiating.

"Isn't this potion a bit overpriced?"

"It's premium stock used by seasoned adventurers. Of course it's expensive."

"What if I become a regular? I'm buying in bulk today—cut me a deal."

With her sharp gaze and instinct for deals, Iane leaned in. The merchant let out a sigh and gave in.

"Fine. If you're serious about coming back, I can shave a little off."

Lean watched from the side with a soft smile.

"Iane really knows what she's doing. She understands the art of spending."

Damien thought to himself—In this world, "raw strength" wasn't the only path to power.Negotiation and intellect mattered just as much.

Lean's Logic – Haggling at the Magic Shop

Next, it was Lean's turn.They headed into a store that specialized in magical reagents.

She carefully inspected a vial of mana catalyst. Then asked,

"What's the base ingredient in this?"

"Essential Mana Crystals."

Lean gave a subtle smirk.

"Then this price is too high."

"Excuse me?"

"Essential Mana Crystals have been flooding the market lately. Supply's up—prices should be down. Why are you still charging this much?"

The merchant flinched. Lean didn't miss a beat.

"I'm not asking for a huge discount. Just a fair adjustment, don't you think?"

From the side, Iane chuckled.

"Wow, so that's another way to negotiate."

In the end, the merchant lowered the price—albeit reluctantly.

"Fine, but I won't go any lower."

"That's more than enough."

She handed over the coins with a satisfied nod. Iane muttered,

"I haggled with charm. You haggled with logic."

"As long as it works," Lean replied.

Damien had another realization—"Knowledge is a weapon, too."

Kane's Supply Run – The Hunter's Priorities

Kane wasn't focused on weapons.He headed straight for consumables.

He checked his arrows, traps, and survival kits.

"I need to resupply more than rearm."

"Do hunters always have to be this prepared?"

"Absolutely. Hunting isn't like fighting."

"What's the difference?"

Kane grinned.

"Fighting ends quickly. But a hunt? It can drag on for days."

"That's why I always prepare for the long haul."

Damien learned again—In this world, battle wasn't just about brute strength.It demanded strategy and foresight.

Damien's Turn – The Final Purchase

Everyone had what they needed.Now it was Damien's turn.

He hesitated.Back in the Murim, he never had to buy anything like this.He wasn't even sure what he was supposed to get.

Iane raised an eyebrow and smirked.

"Don't tell me—you have no idea what to buy?"

"…Maybe."

Lean offered gently,

"At least get some potions."

"I don't normally use things like that."

"This isn't the Murim, Damien."

He paused—then slowly reached for a few vials.

"Fine. I'll give it a try."

Iane's eyes widened.

"Oh, look at you—finally learning."

"A bit late to start, isn't it?"

"Better late than never."

Their shopping was done.It was time to head for their next destination.

But from a quiet corner of the market,a group silently watched them.

They were no ordinary merchants.They were hunters—and their prey was Damien's party.