Tension filled the air inside the temple.
The paladin slowly drew his sword.His armor shimmered faintly with what seemed to be divine energy,and his blade rang with a clarity that felt almost sanctified—as if it bore the authority of a god.
Ian stepped back."That light... is that divine power?"
Leanne nodded calmly."Yes. That is the Radiance of Divinity."
Damian gazed at the light.It was unlike any magic, unlike any martial energy.Something about it felt alien—off.
The paladin raised his sword and spoke."You are one who should not exist.However, if you bear a sword, at least you deserve the chance to cross blades in a just manner."
Damian slowly unsheathed his blade."Then let's see what it's like."
But Ian stepped forward."Wait, you're going to fight him alone?"
Leanne also interjected."If the three of us fight together, we can take him down easily."
Damian shook his head."Then I wouldn't truly experience divine power."
His eyes glimmered with curiosity and resolve.The enemies he had faced in the Murim had all fought under the same rules.But this... this was different.This man's strength was born of faith—not just training or cultivation.
To understand what that meant,he had to feel it with his own body.
Damian vs. Paladin – The Divine Blade and the Martial Blade
The paladin moved swiftly.His sword, infused with divine light, cleaved through the air,tracing radiant arcs.
Whang!
At the very first clash, Damian realized it.It was heavy—not in weight, but in pressure.It was as if the sword was amplifying itself.
He quickly lowered his stance and twisted his blade,but the paladin's sword came crashing down again,radiating that heavy force.
Kwaang!
The floor cracked beneath them.
Ian gasped."Is that magic?"
Leanne murmured,"No... that's a blade imbued with divine power."
Damian was experiencing it firsthand.It wasn't just raw force—this was swordsmanship touched by a god's blessing.
And so—
He spun his sword lightly and adjusted his stance.
The Martial Blade vs. the Fantastical Blade
The paladin fought with solid technique backed by divine power.He was a warrior—a knight.Every swing of his blade gathered light and weight.
But Damian was no mere warrior.He was a swordsman from the Murim—one who understood the art of technique.
Where the paladin's strikes sought to crush and overwhelm,Damian's cut with the flow,aiming for gaps.
Then—
Ssshhk!
Damian's blade sliced forward.In that brief moment when the paladin couldn't follow,his armor was scratched—just slightly.
Ian's eyes widened."Did you see that? The paladin couldn't react!"
Leanne whispered in awe,"Damian's technique isn't just fast.He's moving with the flow, disrupting even the channels of divine energy."
For the first time, the paladin was shaken.
'This man… is no ordinary swordsman.'
His blade wasn't relying on brute force.It was reading the flow—even calculating the flow of divine power itself.
Damian's sword flashed again.
Paaaak!
The paladin's blade flew from his grip.
And then—
The tip of Damian's sword stopped right at the paladin's neck.
Ian held his breath."He won…?"
Leanne nodded slowly."He won not with divine power, but with swordsmanship alone."
Respect and Recognition from the Paladin
The paladin lowered his eyes and retrieved his blade.He stared at Damian, then slowly spoke.
"...You are a fascinating existence."
He sheathed his sword and stepped back.
"I have been defeated.But you are no mere outlaw."
He placed his right hand over his chest in solemn respect."I am Lars Valk,one of the captains of the Paladin Order."
"This battle has taught me something.I still don't know why you exist in this world,but as a knight, I will honor you."
Lars locked eyes with Damian.
"If you truly seek an answer—""Come to the White Citadel."
"There, you will see with your own eyes what it truly meansfor a god to exist."
With one last glance at Damian,Lars turned and left the temple.
Damian's New Goal – The White Citadel
Damian watched Lars's back as he departed.Then he looked down at his sword.
Now he understood.Divine power was neither magic nor martial energy.
And yet—
"In the end, all power is the same."
Whether granted by a god,or forged through one's own discipline,what mattered most was the will of the one who wielded it.
A new question arose in his mind.
'Without a god, would they still be strong?'
Now, he would seek the truth of divine power for himself.To find that answer,he had to head to the White Citadel.
Ian looked over at him."So, you're really going?"
Damian replied simply,"I have to."
Leanne smiled faintly."A man who doesn't believe in gods… heading toward one."
And so, they began to move again.
***
Chapter – A Pause Along the Path
On the Road to the White Citadel – A Night Camp
It would still take time to reach the Citadel where the Paladin Order was stationed.Though the path was peaceful, Damian never let his guard down.
As dusk fell, the group made camp near a quiet stream along the forest trail.Ian gathered firewood while Leanne added warmth with a light spell.
Staring into the flickering flames, Damian spoke quietly."The fire here… feels different from when I kindle it with inner energy."
Ian chuckled."Well, that's because you don't use magic. Everything here runs on mana, remember?"
Damian continued to watch the flames.He still hadn't fully grasped the difference between this world and the Murim.
A Moment to Share Their Pasts
Ian's Story
"I never meant to become a thief."
Ian spoke calmly, her eyes fixed on the fire."I just… ended up this way while trying to protect someone."
Damian looked at her in silence.Ian went on, her gaze drifting toward the night sky.
"I was always a troublemaker in the Thieves' Guild.Didn't follow orders, didn't prey on the weak…So they kicked me out.Funny thing is—someone still took care of me."
Leanne, intrigued, asked,"And where are they now?"
Ian fell silent.Then gave a faint smile.
"They're gone."
She said no more, but the weight of her silence said enough.
Leanne's Story
Leanne moved his fingers through the air."This ability to see fate… it's more burdensome than you'd think."
Ian scoffed."Seeing fate sounds pretty useful to me."
Leanne smiled bitterly."I thought so too, once.When I was a child, people acted based on my visions.But..."
His eyes grew distant.
"The future I saw didn't come to pass.Instead, people ended up in even greater danger."
"After that, I decided not to speak of fate so lightly."
Damian listened quietly, thoughts swirling."So prophecies can be wrong…?"
Damian's Reflection
Watching the others share their stories, Damian hesitated.Who am I, really?
Seung-chan?Lee Hyeon-do?Or Damian?
He couldn't answer.
Staring into the fire, he finally spoke.
"I... still don't know who I am."
Ian shrugged."So what? Who says you need to know right now?You'll figure it out as you live."
Leanne gave Damian a thoughtful look."Then you truly don't know your fate."
Damian didn't flinch.He didn't know his fate—and perhaps, he was someone who could change it.
A Playful Duel – Damian and Ian
Ian poked the fire and said,"You know, for someone who fights with a sword so often, I've never actually seen your swordsmanship."
Damian raised an eyebrow."You've never seen it?"
Ian twirled her dagger with a grin."Why don't you show me? Let's see just how amazing you really are."
"Hmph."
Damian stood. Ian stretched and followed.
They moved to a small clearing in the woods.Leanne folded his arms and stepped back to watch.
"This should be fun."
Ian struck first, quick and nimble—a thief's movement, darting in to exploit a weakness.
But—
"Too slow."
Damian dodged easily, his sword moving with casual precision.Ian jumped back, startled.
"Hey! That's cheating!"
"Cheating?"
Damian smiled lightly.
"I'm just moving by instinct."
Ian gritted her teeth."Hmph. You asked for it."
She launched into faster attacks,but Damian parried with ease.It wasn't a duel—more like playful sparring.
Leanne watched, amused.
"This… this isn't a fight. It's play."
They kept at it until they collapsed, breathless and laughing.
Leanne's Vision – Ominous Glimpses
That night, Leanne lay quietly in his bedroll.Just before sleep claimed him, a vision flickered in his mind.
He saw—
The White Citadel in flames,Paladins fallen across the scorched ground,and Damian in the center, swinging his sword.
But something was wrong.
His eyes were empty—soulless.
He no longer looked human.
"What… is this?"
Leanne instinctively understood.
This wasn't just a possibility.If nothing changed,this future would come to pass.
But…
Could it be altered?
He opened his eyes in silence.For now, he said nothing.
Under the Stars – "We Still Have a Long Way to Go"
"Do you believe someone can become a god?"
Ian's voice broke the silence.
Leanne thought for a moment."I've never seen a god.But I've seen miracles."
Damian asked quietly,"And are those miracles truly the power of a god?"
Ian shrugged."Who knows?But I don't believe in gods."
Leanne looked up at the stars."There's a difference between a god existing and becoming one."
Damian gazed at the night sky.
To him,it always felt more natural to become a godthan to believe in one.
But…
The rules of this world were different.
And no one knewhow that difference would reshape what lay ahead.
They prepared to set out once more.There were still many steps left on their journey.