Failed Possession Chapter-92

### Ch-92.

—

The battle between Orca and Agwi—Yuri had felt it even as he watched it yesterday—had been one-sided.

Of course, had Agwi prepared a decisive setup specifically to snipe Orca, it might have been different. But in the absence of such preparation—Agwi unable to use divine power, Orca fighting with the penalty of not being in her true body—the advantage had remained with Orca from beginning to end.

To Yuri, it had gone beyond merely one-sided or advantageous. It had felt almost absurd.

The Blade Storm that Yuri had barely been able to approach had failed to properly withstand Orca’s lightning.

Just as Yuri had been Agwi’s worst matchup, Agwi had been a terrible matchup against Orca. Just as in the game, Orca’s lightning magic was hell for warrior-type opponents.

Dercia’s lightning magic possessed what might as well be an almost guaranteed first-strike judgment. No matter how high one raised agility or evasion-related stats, avoiding Orca’s spells was extremely difficult. Even Lee Su-hyeok’s Padlip Immune build had only challenged Orca after securing a skill with absolute evasion judgment.

As was typical of that class of mage, Orca’s own durability was below average. But what did durability matter if one couldn’t even properly approach her? Orca was a near-orthodox mage. Her magic carried overwhelming firepower that killed before the enemy could draw close—and was so fast it was almost imperceptible.

‘It’s fortunate I saw it.’

And fortunate he had first been struck by Agwi.

They had failed to kill or capture Agwi. Though the injuries he suffered should have been fatal, Agwi had escaped. Someday, he might recover and return.

Especially since Yuri had driven Blazing Burst Fist into Agwi’s chest at the very end, creating a separate grudge beyond 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, Orca.”

Orca’s representative unique spell was Thunder God’s Descent—but Yuri did not ask for that.

“A unique spell?”

Orca, wearing Lacy’s face, smiled more deeply. It was an expression of someone who had anticipated this to some extent.

“Which one do you want?”

“I don’t know its name.”

The magic implemented in the game and Orca’s real-world magic would inevitably differ. So instead of naming it recklessly, Yuri described what he had witnessed.

“The spell that prevented Agwi from approaching.”

Orca’s lightning had struck as though it foresaw Agwi’s movements in advance.

If it were simply an attack spell, there might be stronger ones. But what Yuri desired most was that particular magic.

If it carried intuition close to foresight, it could be applied in countless ways beyond simply striking lightning.

The battle between Orca and Agwi had been a high-Rank clash far beyond Yuri’s comprehension—but the lightning weaving through the dense mana of the space had given him immense inspiration.

With that spell, he could not only elevate his *Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist*, but perhaps even realize the fist technique that severed the flow itself—a thread he had glimpsed while sparring with the Fist King.

“Gate-Sealing Thunder.”

Orca nodded.

“You chose well. Of the unique spells you saw yesterday, Gate-Sealing Thunder will benefit you the most.”

“If you think that’s excessive, I can choose something else.”

“You speak insincerely.”

Orca let out a low laugh and slipped a hand inside her white gown.

“As I said, this is the price of Lacy’s life. I have no intention of bargaining over it. Yuri—if Gate-Sealing Thunder is what you want, I shall give it to you.”

As if she had expected from the beginning that Yuri would ask for magic, she withdrew a notebook and pen.

“So. Gate-Sealing Thunder it is?”

“If I asked for Thunder God’s Descent, would you give it to me?”

“What a troublesome and mischievous question.”

Orca smiled faintly.

“I have said repeatedly that I will not bargain over Lacy’s life. If you demanded Thunder God’s Descent, I would have no choice but to grant it—for the sake of my own honor.”

“I will be satisfied with Gate-Sealing Thunder.”

He had only tested her. He did not press further.

As Orca herself implied, he might receive Thunder God’s Descent—but he could not be certain their amicable relationship would survive that.

“Is there anything else you’d like to add to it?” Orca asked as she began writing the formula.

“Yuri. You will meet many enemies. You will face danger repeatedly. What if you encounter someone you cannot handle? You cannot rely on fortune every time. You survived yesterday because Agwi was foolish and arrogant.”

“That’s true.”

“If, in such situations, you could receive my aid again, you would not easily die.”

Her gaze lifted from the notebook to Yuri.

“Of course, carving a terminal does not guarantee transmission. You would need at least a Rank 6 vessel. And your soul-force must grow.”

“I’m grateful—but I must decline.”

“Why?”

“If I take that, I’ll end up relying on you.”

If he repeatedly defeated enemies he couldn’t overcome on his own by relying on Orca’s support, he would fail to grow in the ways that mattered.

That wasn’t the only reason.

The Akashic Record Orca pursued was magnificent—but for now, it was still a magic primarily for Orca herself.

What Yuri truly guarded against was the fact that Orca had realized artificial possession using her soul.

Having a terminal meant the possibility that her soul might be transmitted into him at any time. Even if he refused—what if Orca forced the transmission?

Would that mean losing control of his body entirely? Like other possessors in this world—was it not possible to erase the original soul altogether?

He did not believe Orca had reason to do such a thing.

But the mere possibility made him uneasy.

“If you refuse, so be it.”

Though she had offered it, Orca did not press further.

After some time, her pen stopped moving.

She reviewed the formulas written in the notebook several times and nodded.

“I swear in the name of Orca Dercia, Tower Master of Dercia. This formula for Gate-Sealing Thunder is genuine. There are no tricks, no traps.”

“I never doubted you.”

“When transferring a formula, this is standard procedure. The higher the Rank, the harder it is to learn—and failure carries backlash.”

She closed the notebook.

“Yuri, do you know the easiest way to ruin a mage?”

“No.”

“To have them learn a false formula. Or to embed a trap within one.”

As she spoke, the notebook began to glow faintly.

Her very words became an incantation.

When the light faded, she handed it to Yuri with a smile.

“Though it was by chance, meeting you has been interesting.”

“It has been an honor.”

There were still things Orca wanted to ask him. She had yet to understand how he had concealed his inner power and hidden his true realm in Lutran.

But she did not ask.

To Orca, Yuri was an intriguing subject of observation—and a catalyst for Elena’s ambition and madness. Not someone to interrogate forcibly.

“Do not die.”

Orca spoke with layered meaning and smiled.

The light in her eyes dimmed.

“Ugh… ughhh…”

Moments later, Lacy came to herself. Clutching her throbbing head, she groaned.

“Ah… seriously…! I’m definitely removing that terminal…!”

Still panting, she blinked at the notebook in Yuri’s hands.

Memories that were not hers clung to her mind. Every time she tried to recall them, nausea churned. That unpleasant sensation was precisely why she refused to dwell on the unique spell she now technically knew.

“Gate-Sealing Thunder?”

She spoke haltingly. Then let out a short exclamation.

“So that’s what you chose? It’s an excellent spell. It pairs well with martial arts too—uurgh…”

She abruptly clamped a hand over her mouth.

The aftereffects of yesterday’s transmission remained—and she had forced herself through another just now.

Seeing her shoulders tremble, Yuri pushed himself upright despite the pain.

“Are you alright?”

“I’m fin—uurgh…”

She was not fine.

Though she had eaten nothing, nausea surged violently.

Lacy tried to wheel herself toward the bathroom—but her body would not obey.

“Blegh—!”

Yuri dragged himself over and patted her back.

Unable to speak, Lacy could only retch as he supported her.

“…”

Just then, the door opened and Haryeong and Estor came in.

For a moment, they were at a loss for words at the miserable scene before them—but each quickly did what needed to be done. Estor stepped out into the hallway to summon attendants, while Ha-ryeong took Yuri’s place and patted Lacy’s back.

“Ugh…”

After emptying everything in her stomach, Lacy slumped weakly into her wheelchair and left the room with the attendants.

Yuri was moved to another room.

—

—

**Gate-Sealing Thunder.**

As Yuri had expected, this spell held more than enough potential to combine with martial arts.

Spreading lightning-infused energy into the ambient mana of space and striking first was still impossible with Yuri’s current soul-force. But the heightened sensory perception that preceded that phenomenon—he could attempt that gradually.

Because he had mastered *Violet Lightning Flash Art*.

The inner power in his dantian could become lightning energy at any time. If he combined the manipulation of that lightning energy with the formula of Gate-Sealing Thunder—

‘Spreading lightning into spatial mana… I should think of it like weaving a spiderweb.’

Centered on himself, he would cast a web of lightning threads.

Through it, he could sense minute movements within space—no, beyond movement, even presence, gaze, intent.

He recited the formula of Gate-Sealing Thunder over and over, then closed his eyes and attempted it immediately.

Crackle.

Inner power spread from his dantian, transforming into lightning energy as it flowed through his meridians. His body had not yet recovered enough to move inner power freely—but mere pain was too trivial a reason to delay testing this spell.

It felt as though sensation was embedded into every strand of body hair.

He could almost perceive subtle air currents, even the movement of unseen dust.

That wasn’t enough.

Gate-Sealing Thunder wasn’t meant to sense dust—it was meant to sense the flow of mana.

Every attack that threatened him stemmed from mana, inner power, or qi.

*Rantian Flowing Cloud Fist* governed flow. The Fist King’s technique he sought to incorporate severed flow.

‘It’s possible.’

If he could fully wield Gate-Sealing Thunder, he could read an opponent even before they moved.

Without rushing, Yuri slowly extended the lightning energy within his body outward.

‘A spiderweb…’

The sensation of spreading thousands—tens of thousands—of invisible threads from his body.

Without breaking them, he connected them again and again, weaving them denser and wider.

Crackle, crackle, crackle—

The more threads he extended, the more his entire body shuddered. His head throbbed. It felt as though his dantian were being scraped raw; a dull ache spread near his heart.

‘It forces me to use all three dantians at once.’

Fully immersed in Gate-Sealing Thunder, he began to realize something.

Mages did not use dantians. They governed the world’s mana through soul-force to manifest spells.

But the three dantians of a martial artist were not wholly separate from soul-force. If one could open and connect all three, governing them simultaneously, then even high-Rank magic would not be impossible.

‘It’s not easy…’

He would have to repeat the preliminary stages until understanding took root.

Yuri’s lips twitched into a grin.

Unlike *Withered Eternal Source*, which had been so high-tier he hadn’t even dared attempt it, Gate-Sealing Thunder could be approached by applying principles from Violet Lightning Flash Art.

‘Focus on Gate-Sealing Thunder. Master the three dantians. Expand soul-force.’

Once he established the minimum threshold, even Withered Eternal Source might become accessible.

The thought sent a shiver of exhilaration through his entire body.

This sensation—developing exactly along the build he had envisioned—was what had made him obsess over that cursed game.

‘For now, this is my limit.’

The lightning web extended one meter around him.

Whether he could react instantly to what he sensed would require practice—but even this was more than enough for close combat.

Sweat poured down his body as he tried extending the web a little farther. Finally, he exhaled deeply and withdrew the lightning energy.

“Stamina is the issue.”

After consuming the Elixir, inner power was not lacking. This was a matter of concentration and vitality.

Coldly speaking, he still lacked confidence in fighting naturally while maintaining this state.

“Yuri?”

Ha-ryeong’s voice came from outside the door.

“It’s nearly time. May I come in?”

Yuri turned to look at the clock.

Indeed—less than thirty minutes remained until the appointed time.

“Yes.”

Haryeong entered.

Seeing Yuri drenched in cold sweat, she clicked her tongue and shook her head.

“Do you intend to meet the Head of House Maybeld looking like that?”

“I hadn’t intended to sweat.”

“What on earth were you doing?”

“Trying out the magic I received from Orca.”

“Judging by your expression, you’re pleased with it.”

“Yes.”

Yuri grinned.

Haryeong nodded impassively.

“You should be. What you received includes what I ought to have received as well.”

“…Pardon?”

He couldn’t help but ask.

“What does that mean?”

“Exactly what I said. Orca offered to pay Lacy Yuzuha’s life price to me as well—but I declined. Instead, I asked her to add what I should have received to you.”

“Why?”

“Frankly, I didn’t do much in that fight. And there was nothing I wished to request from Orca.”

Haryeong approached him as she spoke.

“You can learn both martial arts and magic. I cannot. It is difficult enough for me to master a single martial discipline. Even if Orca gave me magic, I could not use it.”

Now that he thought about it, when Orca had spoken of not bargaining, she had mentioned having reasons.

He hadn’t paid it much mind then.

Apparently, that reason had been Haryeong.

“But Orca didn’t mention you.”

“I asked her not to.”

“Then why tell me now?”

“Because if I say it directly, you will feel grateful to me. Be grateful, Yuri.”

“Th-thank you.”

Yuri bowed awkwardly.

Would he have received Gate-Sealing Thunder even without Haryeong’s addition? The question flickered briefly in his mind—but it wasn’t important.

“Surely you won’t refuse the Head of House Maybeld’s reward as well?”

“Have I lost my mind?”

Haryeong replied flatly.

“I declined Orca’s reward because there was nothing I wished to receive from her. But this is different. I’ve already decided what I want.”

“What?”

“An inner cultivation method above Supreme Peak.”

Though the Elixir had solved her inner power deficiency, Haryeong had not yet fully overcome her limitations as a martial artist. She was still practicing incomplete techniques.

“The Maybeld family has amassed wealth rivaling the Ascad family. They are not a martial house, but they command a powerful knight order and retainers. Their treasury contains rare martial arts.”

She intended to request one of the techniques granted to loyal retainers. Even at the lowest estimate, such techniques would be at least Supreme Peak level. She planned to choose one suited to her.

“And you, Yuri? Have you decided?”

“No.”

“You possess much already. I suppose you lack for nothing. How enviable.”

“It is nice.”

“I feel like punching you.”

She muttered softly—too soft to be heard.

But with his heightened senses from Gate-Sealing Thunder, it sounded as though she had spoken directly into his ear.

“Wash up before meeting the Head of House. You smell of sweat.”

“Do I really?”

“You sweated that much. Did you expect not to?”

Her stern retort left no room for argument.

Yuri obediently climbed out of bed.

‘Maybeld… Maybeld…’

He still had no idea what to request.

‘At this rate, won’t I explode from abundance?’

Gate-Sealing Thunder alone was overwhelming—and now the Head of House’s recompense as well. On top of that, there was still more to come: the Havert Magic Tower, the Earth Church. And if things went well—Agwi’s belongings.

Perhaps even the bracelet that might be Geburah.

“I will be at least a three-billion woman today.”

Haryeong’s voice drifted toward him as he headed into the bathroom prepared in the room.