WeTried Translations
Translator/Editor: Chen
Discord: https://dsc.gg/wetried
◈ Damned Transmigration ◈
Chapter 92: Reward 2
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As Yuri had felt while watching it yesterday, the battle between Orca and Agwi had been one-sided.
Of course, it would have been another matter if Agwi had prepared specifically for a decisive battle against Orca, regardless of Agwi's caliber. But in a fight where Agwi could not use divine power and Orca bore the penalty of not being in her true body, Orca had held the upper hand from beginning to end.
To Yuri, it went beyond simply being one-sided or holding the advantage. It had felt absurd. Agwi's Blade Storm, which had kept Yuri from even properly approaching Agwi, had failed to stop Orca's lightning.
Just as Yuri had been at a severe disadvantage against Agwi, Agwi was at a severe disadvantage against Orca. Just like in the game, Orca's lightning magic was practically hell for warrior-type builds.
Dersia's lightning magic had what could almost be called guaranteed first-strike priority. No matter how high one raised speed- and evasion-related stats such as Agility, avoiding Orca's magic was not easy. Even Lee Su-hyeok's UrMumSpammer had only challenged Orca after acquiring a skill with absolute evasion.
Like most mages of that type, Orca herself had below-average durability.
But what did that matter when no one could even get close to her? Orca was a fairly orthodox mage. Her magic had enough firepower to kill an opponent before they could approach, and it was too fast to perceive.
‘It's a good thing I saw it.’
It was also a good thing he had been hit by Agwi first. Yuri had failed to kill or capture Agwi. Agwi's injuries had been severe enough to kill him, but he had escaped and might recover before coming for Yuri again someday.
Yuri had driven Sacred Flame Release into Agwi's chest at the end, so Agwi would now bear another grudge separate from the one arising in Panteleon. Yuri needed to prepare for the day they met again.
“If you insist, then I would like to receive one of your unique spells.”
The unique spell most associated with Orca was Thunder God’s Mirage, but Yuri did not intend to ask for that much.
“A unique spell?”
Orca's smile deepened on Lacey's face. She looked as though she had expected this to some extent.
“What spell do you want?”
“I don't know its name.”
The magic implemented in the game and the magic Orca wielded in reality could not be exactly the same. Rather than recklessly naming a spell, Yuri relied on what he had seen.
“The spell that kept Agwi from getting close.”
Orca's lightning had struck as though it had foreseen Agwi's movements. There might have been better offensive spells, but that was the spell Yuri wanted most right now.
If it came with intuition close to precognition, it could be applied in countless ways beyond simply striking someone with lightning. Orca and Agwi's battle had been a high-tier clash far beyond Yuri's understanding, yet the lightning energy moving through the mana that filled the space had given him plenty of inspiration.
If he acquired that spell, he could realize not only his Fist of the Rending Cloud, but also the Fist King's fist technique for pinpointing and severing a flow's pulse, the clue to which he had found during his spar with the Fist King.
“Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death.”
Orca nodded.
“You chose well. Of all the unique spells you saw yesterday, Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death will help you the most.”
“If you think it's too much, I can choose something else.”
“You say things you don't mean.”
Orca laughed softly, shaking her head as she reached inside her white gown.
“As I said earlier, this is the price of Lacey's life. I have no intention of haggling over something that does not need to be haggled over. Yuri, if Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death is what you want, I will give it to you.”
Perhaps she had expected Yuri to ask for magic from the start, because Orca took out a notebook and pen.
“So, Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death will be enough?”
“If I asked for Thunder God’s Mirage, would you give it to me?”
“What a troublesome, mischievous question.”
Orca smiled faintly as she looked at Yuri.
“I have said several times that I have no intention of bargaining over Lacey's life. If you asked for Thunder God’s Mirage, I would have no choice but to give it to you, if only to preserve my dignity.”
“I'll be satisfied with Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death.”
He had only tested the waters. Yuri did not push his greed any further. As Orca said, he could receive Thunder God’s Mirage if he wanted it, but he was not certain they would remain on friendly terms afterward.
“Would you like something else on top of Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death?”
Orca spoke as she wrote the spell formula in the notebook.
“Yuri. You will encounter many enemies in the future and face danger many times. What if you meet an enemy you cannot handle? You will not always be as lucky as you were this time. The only reason you held out was because Agwi was foolish and arrogant.”
“That's true.”
“If you could receive my help in such a situation as you did this time, you would not die in most crises.”
Orca lifted her gaze from the notebook to Yuri.
“Of course, having a Terminal inscribed does not mean you can always receive a transmission. You would need to create a vessel of at least the sixth tier, and your Soul Power would need to grow stronger.”
“I'm grateful for the offer, but I'll decline.”
“Why?”
“If I have that, I'll end up relying on you.”
If he repeatedly defeated opponents beyond his ability with Orca's support, he would fail to achieve the growth that truly mattered.
That was not the only reason. The Akashic Records Orca pursued was great and wondrous magic, but for now, it was also magic for Orca alone. What Yuri was especially wary of was that Orca had achieved artificial possession using her own soul.
Did having a Terminal not carry the risk of receiving Orca's soul someday? What if Orca forced a transmission even if Yuri refused? Would his body be taken over completely? Like the other transmigrators in this world, could Orca erase his true soul itself?
Yuri did not think Orca had any reason to do such a thing, but the mere possibility made him uncomfortable.
“If you don't want it, it can't be helped.”
Orca had offered it herself, but she did not press him further. After some time, her pen stopped moving. Orca checked the formulas in the notebook several times before nodding.
“I guarantee this in the name of Orca Dersia, Master of the Dersia Mage Tower. The formula for Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death is genuine. There are no tricks or traps.”
“I never doubted you.”
“This is the standard procedure when passing a formula to another person. The higher the tier of magic, the harder it is to learn, and failure brings backlash. Yuri, do you know the easiest way to ruin a mage?”
“I don't.”
“Make them learn a false formula. Or hide a trap within the formula.”
Orca closed the notebook as she spoke. Vwoooong...! Orca's words themselves became an incantation, making the notebook glow. Once the light faded, she handed the notebook to Yuri with a smile.
“Our meeting may have been a coincidence, but it was enjoyable.”
“I enjoyed it too.”
There were still things Orca wanted to ask Yuri. She still did not know how Yuri had hidden his inner power and concealed his realm in Rutlan.
She did not ask, though. To Orca, Yuri was an interesting subject of observation and a spark for Elena's drive and madness. He was not someone to interrogate by force.
“Don't die.”
Orca smiled as she spoke, her words carrying many meanings. The light then faded from Orca's eyes.
“Ugh... Uuugh...”
Lacey soon woke up. Clutching her throbbing head, she let out a long groan.
“Ah... seriously...! I'm definitely getting this Terminal removed...!”
Still panting, Lacey blinked several times at the notebook Yuri held. Memories that were not hers clung to her brain. Every time she recalled them, her stomach churned and she felt sick. That was why Lacey avoided Orca's unique spell formulas despite knowing them.
“Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death?”
Lacey spoke haltingly. Then she gave a short exclamation and nodded.
“So that's what you received from Orca? You chose Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death? It's an amazing spell. It works wonderfully with martial arts too. Uuurgh...”
Lacey covered her mouth before she could finish. It was the price of forcing herself to receive another transmission while yesterday's aftereffects still remained. Yuri saw her shoulders trembling and forced himself up.
“Are you all right?”
“I'm fine... Uuurgh...”
She was not fine. She had eaten nothing, but her stomach was turning over and vomit rose in her throat. Lacey hurriedly turned her wheelchair toward the bathroom, but her body could not endure it.
“Bleurgh...”
Yuri dragged his feet over and patted Lacey's back. Unable to say anything, Lacey could only empty her stomach while Yuri continued patting her back.
“...”
The door opened, and Haryeong and Estor came in. Neither could find words for the miserable sight before them, so they each did what they had to. Estor stepped into the hallway to call a servant, while Haryeong took Yuri's place and patted Lacey's back.
“Uuugh...”
After emptying everything in her stomach, Lacey slumped weakly into her wheelchair and left the room with the servants.
Yuri moved to another room.
* * *
Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death.
As Yuri had thought, the spell had plenty of potential to combine with martial arts. It was impossible with his current Soul Power to spread lightning energy through spatial mana and strike first, but he could gradually attempt to enhance the senses that preceded that phenomenon.
That was because Yuri had learned the Art of the Violet Lightning Flash. The inner power in his dantian could become lightning energy at any time. If he combined the formula of Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death with his control over lightning energy...
‘To spread lightning energy through spatial mana... I should think of it as weaving a spiderweb.’
He would weave a spiderweb of lightning energy around himself. Through it, he could sense minute movements within the space. No, beyond movement, even presence, gazes, and intent.
After reviewing the formula for Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death again and again, Yuri closed his eyes and immediately tried it.
Crackle.
The inner power spreading from his dantian became lightning energy and flowed through his energy channels. His body had not recovered enough to freely move his inner power, but the performance of Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death was too tempting to delay over something as trivial as pain.
It felt as though senses had been planted in every hair on his body. He seemed able to feel the faintest currents of air and the movements of invisible dust. That was not enough. What he needed to sense through Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death was not dust, but the flow of mana.
Every attack that threatened Yuri was born from mana, inner power, or energy. Fist of the Rending Cloud was a fist art that controlled flow, while the Fist King's fist technique Yuri wished to incorporate was one that cut through flow.
‘It's possible.’
Once he could use Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death perfectly, he would be able to read his opponent before they moved. Yuri did not rush. Slowly, he spread the lightning energy from inside his body to the outside.
‘A spiderweb...’
It felt like extending thousands, tens of thousands of invisible threads from his body. Without breaking those threads, he connected them again and again, weaving them tighter as they spread farther.
Crackle, crackle, crackle...
The more threads he spread, the more goosebumps rose across his body and the more his head throbbed. It felt as though his dantian were being scraped raw, and his chest felt tight around his heart.
‘It makes me use the Three Dantians all at once.’
As he focused fully on Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death, Yuri gradually came to understand something. Mages did not use dantians. They manifested magic by controlling the mana of this world through Soul Power.
The Three Dantians martial artists used were not entirely separate from Soul Power. If he could open, connect, and control the Three Dantians at once, then even high-tier magic would not be impossible to manifest.
‘It won't be easy, but...’
He needed to repeatedly practice the preliminary steps until he understood them. Yuri's cheek twitched into a smile. Unlike Eternal Thirst, which had been so far beyond his level that he could not even consider attempting it, Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death was not difficult to begin because he could apply what he had learned from the Art of the Violet Lightning Flash.
‘Devote myself to Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death, control the Three Dantians, and expand my Soul Power.’
Once he had the minimum required level, he would be able to begin learning Eternal Thirst as well. The thought sent such a thrill through his entire body that goosebumps rose on his skin. He had clung to that damned game because he loved this feeling of progressing exactly according to the build he had imagined.
‘This is my limit for now.’
The tightly woven spiderweb of lightning energy extended one meter around Yuri. He would need to test whether he could move immediately upon sensing something, but even this was enough to use in close combat. Drenched in cold sweat, Yuri extended his lightning energy a little farther before letting out a long breath and drawing it back in.
“Endurance is the problem.”
He had even taken an elixir, so he did not lack inner power. This was a matter of concentration and stamina, something different from inner power. To be honest, he was not yet confident he could fight naturally while maintaining this state.
“Yuri?”
Haryeong's voice came from outside the door, perhaps because she had heard him muttering.
“It is nearly time. May I come in?”
Yuri turned to look at the clock. Sure enough, less than thirty minutes remained until the time he had been told.
“Yes.”
Haryeong opened the door and came in. Seeing Yuri soaked in cold sweat, she clicked her tongue and shook her head.
“Do you plan to meet the Mabeld Family Head looking like that?”
“I wasn't planning to sweat this much.”
“What on earth were you doing to sweat so heavily?”
“I was trying out the spell Orca gave me.”
“Judging by your expression, I suppose you like the spell you received?”
“Yes.”
When Yuri grinned, Haryeong nodded with an impassive expression.
“You should. What you received also includes the price I should have received.”
“Pardon?”
Yuri could only ask in surprise.
“What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. Orca also said she would pay me the price of Lacey Yuzha's life, but I declined. Instead, I asked her to add what I should have received to your reward.”
“Why would you do that?”
“Honestly, I didn't do much in that battle, and there was nothing I wanted to ask Orca for.”
Haryeong answered in an indifferent voice as she walked toward Yuri.
“You learn both martial arts and magic well, Yuri, but I'm not like that. Learning even one martial art is difficult enough for me. Even if Orca gave me magic, I couldn't use it.”
Come to think of it, when Orca had said she would pay the price, she had mentioned having a reason not to haggle. Yuri had not thought much of it then, but Haryeong must have been the reason.
“But Orca didn't mention you, Haryeong.”
“That's because I asked her not to.”
“Then why are you telling me now?”
“Shouldn't I tell you myself so that you'll feel grateful to me? Be grateful, Yuri.”
“Th-thank you.”
Yuri answered awkwardly and bowed his head. Would he have received Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death even without Haryeong's reward being added? The question briefly crossed his mind, but it was not important.
“You're not going to turn down the Mabeld Family Head's reward too, are you?”
“Are you insane?”
Haryeong answered with a serious expression.
“I didn't accept a reward from Orca because there was nothing worth receiving from her, but the Mabeld Family Head is different. I've already decided what I want.”
“What are you going to receive?”
“A Peak-level or higher inner power cultivation method.”
The elixir had resolved her issue with inner power, but Haryeong had not completely overcome her limitations as a martial artist. She was still learning incomplete martial arts.
“The Mabeld Family has accumulated wealth comparable to the Ascard Family. It isn't a martial family, but the Mabeld Family has a powerful order of knights and many retainers. Their treasury contains many rare martial arts.”
What Haryeong wanted was one of the martial arts the Mabeld Family granted its vassals as a reward for their loyalty. Given the family's name, even the lowest-ranked martial arts in its treasury would be Peak-level techniques. Haryeong intended to choose an inner power cultivation method that suited her.
“Have you decided what you'll receive, Yuri?”
“No.”
“You have so much that you probably need very little. How nice for you.”
“It is nice.”
“I want to hit you.”
Haryeong muttered too quietly to be heard, but his senses had been heightened by Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death, so Yuri heard her as clearly as though she had spoken beside his ear.
“Wash up before meeting the Family Head. You smell like sweat.”
“Do I really?”
“Do you think you wouldn't smell after sweating that much?”
The stern response made Yuri stop talking and obediently climb down from the bed.
‘Mabeld... Mabeld...’
He had no idea what he should receive.
‘Am I going to stuff myself until I burst?’
Sealing Thunder at the Gate of Death alone had already filled him up, and he still had the Mabeld Family Head's reward coming. On top of that, there were still the Habert Mage Tower and the Sect of Earth. If things went well and he received Agwi's lost item, the bracelet that might be Gebra...
“Today, I will become a woman worth at least 3 billion.”
Haryeong's voice came from behind Yuri as he headed toward the bathroom in the room.
Footnotes:
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