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

Damian's Late Arrival — Standing Against the Enemy

On the other side of the city.

Damian was on his way to the inn when he sensed something unusual.

The streets were still quiet.But the air—was thick with killing intent.

He halted his steps and slowly scanned his surroundings.His instincts were not wrong.

"…These guys put some serious thought into this."

From atop a nearby building, something shifted in the shadows.

Then—Shff!A dagger sliced through the air toward him.

Damian tilted his head slightly, dodging it with ease.

And immediately—Whsst!A second strike came from his blind spot.

But his sword flashed into motion, deflecting the dagger cleanly.

"When the first ambush fails, a second follows right after.This isn't just an assassination—it's a precision operation meant to subdue."

Dark energy shimmered faintly at the edge of his blade.

And then—The rest of the enemies revealed themselves, emerging from the shadows above.

"…Of course they wouldn't rely on just the first wave."

It wasn't only the assassins who had attacked the inn.There was a second force, standing by to support the retreat and regrouping—in case the mission to secure Raean failed.

But now, someone was already there to stop them.

"Fine," Damian muttered, gripping his sword tight.

"Let's finish this here."

The One Who Slices — The Predator Moves

The enemies were fast, efficient.They weren't mere assassins—They were seasoned fighters, trained through real combat.

They weren't the type to fall to a single blow.

But that didn't mean they wouldn't fall.

Shhhrrrk!

Damian's blade tore through the air.The shadows trembled as he moved,and in the blink of an eye, one assassin was cut clean in two.

"…What?"

The others drew their blades in shock.But it was meaningless.

Shhk!

His sword moved again—another one fell.

From that moment,this was no longer a coordinated operation.

It became a massacre.

Damian moved like he knew their every step before they took it.They were fast, precise—but within the limits of human capability.

He didn't fight by those rules.

That was the difference.

That was the rule of the strong.

The New Sorceress — Her Presence

After the battle, in front of the inn

Damian brushed the blood from his coat as he finally approached the inn.

But then,he stopped.

Someone was already there.

A woman with long silver hair.She wore a gentle smile—but in her eyes, there was something deeper. Something darker.

Damian looked at her and said tersely:

"…Who are you?"

She turned her head slowly toward him.

"Looks like you've fought too."

"That's not an answer."

She chuckled softly.

"I'm… a sorceress."

Damian's eyes narrowed.

"Wizards from the Guild don't show up like this. You're… different."

She nodded calmly.

"That's right. I'm not one of them."

She slowly raised her hand,and blue mana shimmered at her fingertips.

But it wasn't purely human mana.

There was something else—something foreign mixed within it.

And Damian noticed.

"…You're a hybrid."

She smiled faintly.

"Correct."

"I'm a sorceress born of human and non-human blood."

Damian exhaled quietly.

"So… this is about the discrimination you faced?"

Her smile shifted—just slightly.

"You understand, don't you?"

"The Wizards… they believe their system is perfect."

"They define magic solely by their standards."

"So when someone like me is born?"

She lowered her hand.

"They refuse to acknowledge us."

"They barely tolerate sorcerers born with innate power—what place is there in their world for someone like me?"

Damian looked at her in silence.

"Then why are you here?"

She turned to Raean.

"You're being hunted by them too, aren't you?"

Raean opened her eyes slightly,meeting the sorceress's gaze without a word.

"I'm like you."

"We… must make a choice now."

"Will we let the Wizard Guild rule all magic?"

"Or will we stand against them?"

The Prelude to a New Conflict

Her very existencewas one of the greatest threats to the Wizard Guild.

Wizards built a systematic, academic order around magic.

Sorcerers had innate power but no organization, making them little threat.

But what if sorcerers united?

That would mean collapse for the Wizard Guild's system.

And she knew that.

And she was about to make it happen.

"Raean,"she said softly.

"Do you really think…this society will ever accept you?"

Her question was simple.But it carried immense weight.

Raean said nothing.

But something in her hearthad already begun to waver.

***

Chapter : The Seer's Choice

Raean's Dilemma — Her Proposal

Silence filled the room.

Ian remained tense,and Damian stood with his arms crossed, silently observing.

But Raean… was deep in thought.

The silver-haired sorceress—She had declared her intent to fight against the oppression and discrimination of the Wizards.And now, she wanted Raean to be part of that fight.

She spoke again, calmly.

"You already know, don't you?"

"The Wizard Guild isn't just a collective of mages.They're tied to political power.They control the order of magical society as they see fit,and those who don't comply are cast aside."

Raean nodded slowly.Her words weren't wrong.

The Wizards weren't mere scholars of magic.They had expanded their domain by aligning themselves with political influence.Sorcerers had always lived in the shadows of their rule,and the Guild made subtle but firm efforts to keep them from growing stronger.

She continued:

"It's time we stood up.Sorcerers can't live under the Wizards' control any longer."

"Don't you agree?"

Raean closed her eyes.There was nothing false in her words.

But…Was opposing the Wizards truly the only path forward?

She finally spoke.

Not Just Opposition — The Need for an Organization

"I agree with you," Raean said softly."But simply opposing them… isn't enough."

The sorceress raised an eyebrow."What do you mean?"

"The Wizard Guild isn't just an academic group.They're already entrenched in politics,controlling a vast network of magical industries and institutions."

"So if we just draw a line and challenge them—what do you think will happen?"

She paused, thinking.

But Raean answered for her.

"We'll be branded as nothing more than rebels."

Her expression faltered.

Raean continued quietly:

"The Wizard Guild holds absolute power in magical society,not just because of strength—but because they create order. They claim legitimacy."

"Which means, we must fight them using the same tools."

Her eyes narrowed.

"…And that means?"

Raean concluded.

"Let's form a sorcerer organization."

"We need to become a unified force."

She looked at him in surprise."…You want to create a group?"

Raean nodded.

"Yes.The reason the Wizard Guild dominates magical societyis because they act as a formal institution—their system holds official legitimacy."

"If we remain individuals, we're vulnerable.But if we organize—if we become a faction—we can earn public recognition,not as rebels, but as a new magical order."

She was momentarily speechless.

"…I didn't think you'd thought this far ahead."

Her Response — A Fresh Shock

Until now, she had only thought of standing against the Wizards.She believed their oppression stemmed from fear of innate power.

And so, she thought—if they fought back, they could prove their strength.

But Raean's words came from a different place altogether.

She spoke quietly.

"You've been thinking… much deeper than I expected."

"At first, I just wanted to bring you to my side.But you're right."

"This isn't just about rebellion.We need legitimacy in this society."

She sighed, then smiled faintly.

"You're right. This… is a fresh proposal."

"Then… will you come with me?"

She held out her hand.

An invitation—to stand beside her as an ally.

The One Who Sees Fate — A New Vision

Raean looked down at her hand.

And in that moment—he saw a different future.

The anxious, hunted path he had once seen vanished.

In its place—

A new organization.

Sorcerers gathered as one,forming a new axis in magical society.

Their path was far from easy.The Wizard Guild would resist them at every turn,and countless clashes would follow.

But in the end—the sorcerers would carve out real change.

Raean closed his eyes.And made his decision.

He didn't take her hand.

She blinked in surprise.

"…You're not coming with me?"

Raean replied quietly:

"I'll stay here."

"I can't go with you…But I'll support the path you choose."

She seemed a little disappointed—but then smiled, a strange smile.

"…Because of the future you saw?"

Raean nodded lightly.

She chuckled as if in understanding.

"Then… I'll see you again someday."

"By then, we'll know whether your vision came true."

Raean smiled faintly.

"Yeah. Until then."

She slowly turned away.

That was the beginning—of a new sorcerer order.

And Raean, who had seen that fate,stood silently as he watched her walk away.