Failed Possession Chapter-96

## Ch-96.

—

—Koo-woong.

Suddenly, his body was hurled backward.

He had no idea what had just happened. Startled, he tried to cry out—but no voice came.

“…?”

He attempted to brake and land—but it didn’t work. His body simply would not move.

‘My body?’

Yuri widened his eyes and looked ahead.

He had thought he was flying backward—but what he saw was strange. There was a sensation of floating, of distance increasing—yet his body was standing there in front of him.

‘I’m flying backward… so why am I still over there?’

The answer came quickly.

It was not his body that had been thrown back.

It was his soul.

‘What?’

That wasn’t the only strange thing.

Time seemed to have stopped.

Only his soul had separated. Yuri’s body remained frozen in place—still in the posture of fastening Geburah onto his right wrist. Haryeong was frozen in the act of adjusting her hidden weapons. Estor, who had just been draping the robe around himself, was motionless as well.

‘Out-of-body?’

Before he could make further sense of it—

Thump!

The heavy sound echoed again.

With it, his forcibly expelled soul shook violently.

Krrrrr—

A powerful suction dragged Lee Su-hyeok’s soul.

It was pulled back toward the body.

He could not move it. Could not look around. Could not open his mouth to speak.

His soul was dragged deep—into Yuri’s body.

How deep?

The shaking vision turned into complete darkness the moment he was pulled in.

Nothing could be seen.

After a stretch of that darkness—

A great light appeared.

No—fire.

A blazing, roaring inferno burned within Yuri.

He stared blankly at the flames.

They were not unfamiliar.

They were the flames he sensed whenever he operated the **Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique**. The flames he glimpsed in deep meditation.

But never had he seen them this vividly.

It was like standing before a mountain of fire.

He remembered.

When he had first learned the *Pure and True Heart Method* in Lutran, he had likened it to a shallow spring, while Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique had seemed like a great flame.

Now, that thought was visible in reality.

After leaving Lagos, he had not trained Pure and True Heart Method again. There was no need to hide from Elena and Haryeong anymore. And with a divine art like Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique, why bother with a first-rate method like Pure and True Heart Method?

Perhaps that was why—

Around the raging inferno, everything was parched.

Where once a small spring might have been, only a dried-up pond remained, twisted and cracked—beneath the flames.

‘It’s still growing.’

The flame of Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique was far larger than he had imagined.

Even now, it continued to grow.

A mountain of fire.

Yuri stood, overwhelmed, staring upward.

If it tilted even slightly, it would collapse and burn everything.

And yet—

Though it was his technique—

It did not feel like his.

‘What is this…?’

He had no idea what was happening.

—

—

 

In the game, Geburah explosively increased the essential stats of melee warriors.

Especially Strength.

Equipping Geburah alone dramatically boosted physical damage.

But it was not merely stats.

With Geburah equipped, additional magic damage was added proportional to physical attack power. With proper setup, damage could more than double.

It also granted skill-level growth bonuses.

In the game, skills capped at level 10—and raising them was not easy. Time attack records depended on how quickly one secured desired skills and optimized synergy.

Stats.

Bonus magic damage.

Skill growth correction.

Allen had said one would understand upon wearing it—but had not explained specifics.

‘I still don’t know—’

A sudden surge of heat startled him.

Yuri looked at his right arm.

In this mental realm, his spiritual body existed separately.

The visible right arm—

It looked less like Lee Su-hyeok’s—

And more like Yuri’s.

‘My soul… has assimilated?’

He remembered the mirror in the Evil God’s nightmare.

The first time he saw Yuri’s face, it felt foreign.

But at the end—

It did not.

That was not imagination.

Lee Su-hyeok had longed for it. Accepted it.

In this world, he was both Lee Su-hyeok and Yuri.

Either way—

He was “me.”

‘The bracelet…?’

On his spiritual right arm was Geburah.

The heat came from it.

The golden bracelet had turned crimson—

A ring of fire.

Tremor.

The ring snapped apart on its own.

But instead of falling—

It shot upward.

Kwarrrrr!

The scorching gale nearly reduced his soul to ash—but Yuri clung desperately to consciousness.

Strangely, that was enough to endure it.

Aaaah—

The ascending flames writhed like a living thing.

The fire coiled into the shape of a massive serpent.

Yuri stared at it blankly.

The serpent of flame flowed into the inferno of Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique.

Like oil poured on fire—

The mountain roared higher.

Sparks scattered everywhere.

An irresistible force pushed his soul away.

From afar, Yuri looked down.

The blazing domain resembled a furnace.

Within it—

The serpent stared back at him.

Crackle.

Their eyes met.

And Yuri understood Allen’s words.

The serpent was the manifested power of Geburah.

Infused now with Yuri’s Intent.

It had coiled within the furnace of Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique.

With that—

Yuri grasped control of the furnace.

—

—

 

“Yuri?”

He returned.

He staggered and collapsed to the floor.

How much time had passed?

He tried to speak—but could not.

It felt as though he had exhausted every last drop of inner power.

“Yuri? What’s wrong?”

Estor rushed over, the robe still pressed to his face.

A sharp, smoky smell filled the air.

Haryeong approached in alarm.

“Y-Yuri?!”

She could not maintain her composure.

Her eyes widened.

Then—

Whoosh!

Scarlet flames erupted, engulfing Yuri.

“W-What is this?!”

Estor swung his arm, conjuring wind.

The wind battered the flames—but they did not extinguish.

It wasn’t hot.

Within the blaze, Yuri thought that calmly.

His body felt drained—but his consciousness was razor sharp.

“Water!”

Estor shouted—but Haryeong was already moving.

She seized a large vase and hurled the water over him.

The flowers turned to ash.

The water evaporated instantly.

The flames did not die.

“I’m… fine.”

He said it anyway.

Though what was fine, he did not know.

Haryeong and Estor stood stiffly, watching.

Within the unquenchable flames, Yuri slowly moved.

Understanding flowed.

He knew what to do.

This was—

“Taming.”

He had become master of a relic.

The serpent of flame had coiled within his furnace—but that was a spiritual experience.

Now—

He had to engrave Geburah’s power into the flesh—the *Essence*.

To fuse soul and body as one.

Only then would Geburah be fully his.

“Hoo…”

Yuri sat cross-legged and closed his eyes.

Taming—or perhaps optimization.

He focused and activated Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique.

‘I am the fire that enacts heavenly punishment, the asura that eradicates evil, the apostle who corrects the principles of heaven. My hands bear sacred flame; my feet trample demons.’

Each recitation made the flames burn fiercer.

He did not panic.

He stirred his inner power.

Though he felt drained—

His dantian was intact.

But the flow—

It was no longer ordinary.

The inner power surged like a torrent through his meridians.

It became flame—

And shot upward into the middle dantian.

The furnace expanded—

No—

It connected.

It did not stop.

The flames filled the middle dantian—

Then surged higher.

The heat that engulfed his heart climbed his spine—

Toward the upper dantian.

Yuri remained focused.

‘I am the fire that enacts heavenly punishment, the asura that eradicates evil, the apostle who corrects the principles of heaven. My hands bear sacred flame; my feet trample demons.’

Next.

What comes next?

He enacts heavenly punishment.

He becomes an asura.

He corrects heaven’s principles.

His hands bear sacred flame.

His feet trample demons.

Next—

What is the heavenly punishment he enacts?

What are heaven’s principles?

How can he correct what he does not understand?

Thump.

Thump.

Thump.

He felt the force of the flames pounding against the gate of his upper dantian weakening.

‘For me… is “heaven” the Goddess of Order?’

No.

Yuri did not worship the Goddess of Order. The incantation of the **Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique**, which he had recited without question until now, grated on him. He could not fully immerse himself in it, could not add Intent to it as freely as before.

The incantation was incomplete.

With only the current verses, there was a limit to the realm he could reach. To fully open the upper dantian and step into the realm of Intent, he needed to complete the incantation. Either hear the next verses from Lorellia—

Or—

‘Myself.’

Unlike before, the fact that he now felt doubt about the incantation and yearned for what came next meant that his Intent had become completely unified with the current Evil-Quelling Heavenly Principle Technique.

He thought of the serpent of Geburah added to the inner flames.

Since even that serpent carried his Intent, it meant everything had merged.

Fwoosh…

In the end, the flames failed to open the upper dantian and receded downward.

The blaze that had engulfed his entire body subsided.

Yuri let out a long breath.

It was not his imagination—his exhale itself was hot like a gust of wind, his insides burning, and a sharp scent of char filled his nose.

“Hoo…”

He steadied his breathing and opened his eyes.

Through the murky smoke, he saw Estor and Haryeong.

Estor was holding a large basin filled with water—who knew when he had fetched it. Haryeong stood with both hands covering her eyes.

He understood why Estor held water.

But why was Haryeong covering her eyes?

She wasn’t even covering them properly. Her fingers were slightly parted.

“Why are you—”

Yuri stopped mid-sentence and looked down.

He was naked.

Completely bare.

The damned flames of Geburah had burned away all his clothes.

He hurriedly covered his groin.

“I didn’t look.”

Haryeong said.

“Though even if I had, what could I have done? Who would expect someone to suddenly burst into flames and have their clothes reduced to ash?”

“At least your hair didn’t burn.”

Estor said gravely, setting down the basin and removing his robe.

Yuri hurriedly wrapped himself in the offered robe, feeling a flicker of regret.

‘If I had worn that underwear?’

A mad thought.

He shook his head and stood.

Even that simple motion felt strange.

He paused, then slowly lifted a foot.

‘Something…’

Movement felt easy.

Light?

No—

Fast.

He had always been light and fast—but this was clearly different.

Standing still, Yuri clenched his fist and lightly thrust forward.

Bang!

The air burst as his fist shot out and returned.

‘I didn’t even use inner power.’

Was it the added stats from Geburah?

He threw a few more punches, then abruptly turned to Estor.

“Hey. Spar with me.”

“Suddenly?”

“Yeah. I’ll get dressed. You go ask Lord Alnair if we can use the knights’ training ground.”

It was abrupt—but Estor grinned.

He was not a man to refuse a duel.

“You’ll have to change rooms again.”

Haryeong lowered her hands from her eyes.

Yuri froze and looked at the ceiling.

The earlier eruption had left scorch marks overhead. The floor was the same.

“Third time.”

They had stayed at the Maybeld estate only four days—and were about to change rooms for the third time.

—

—

 

The result of the spar was Yuri’s overwhelming victory.

It was not a life-or-death match, so both held back—but even accounting for that, it was one-sided.

Without adding inner power, his body was already fast and strong.

Adding inner power on top of that made it possible to receive even Estor’s swift sword comfortably.

The greatest change lay in **Gate-Sealing Thunder**.

The one-meter radius web of lightning.

The range had not expanded—but it had become so dense there were no gaps.

And unlike before, he could respond instantly to what he sensed.

—

—

“Thank you for everything.”

That evening, at Alnair’s request, they sat together at the table.

Amidst a feast of unfamiliar dishes and flowing conversation, Yuri spoke first.

“I was wondering when you’d say it.”

Alnair replied, lazily swirling his wine.

“As of today, you have no reason to remain in this city. I realized we hadn’t shared a meal. So I arranged this.”

The merchant’s eyes curved slyly.

“I paid my due. Heavenly Thunder did as well. But Iron Fortress and the Earth Church have yet to repay you. What will you do?”

“I don’t urgently need anything. I won’t seek them out to demand repayment.”

“Leave the debt hanging? Excellent. I was present when both Iron Fortress and the Earth Church promised to repay you. This Alnair Maybeld is your guarantor. Even decades from now, they must repay you.”

“Will you still be alive then?”

“Of course. Who would dare kill me?”

Alnair snorted and sipped his wine.

“Estor told me your destination. The Eastern Red Plains? Landing at the port of Guangxi would be closest. Problem is, no airship is currently scheduled.”

“What should we do then?”

“Use a Maybeld airship. It’ll be faster and more comfortable than any merchant or passenger vessel. Eleia.”

At the sudden call, Eleia Yudel looked up mid-chew.

“Mmph?”

Alnair frowned.

“Have some decorum.”

“You called me while I’m eating. What?”

“Escort our guests.”

“Escort?”

She blinked.

“They’ll use a Maybeld airship. No other passengers—but you never know what might happen in the sky. If something does, it’s troublesome to handle. It’ll take at most fifteen days round trip to Guangxi’s port. Go with them.”

“Alright.”

She nodded, then added:

“Do I have to come back?”

“If you wish.”

“Hmm. No, I’ll return. Not planning to head back east yet.”

With that, she resumed eating.

‘Fifteen days.’

Estor had said it might take that long just to go.

Apparently Maybeld airships were superior.

—

—

 

“By the way, Yuri. Is there a woman you fancy?”

The sudden question crushed the fork and knife in Yuri’s hands.

“If not, how about my daughter?”

The servants calmly replaced the broken utensils as if accustomed.

Yuri cleared his throat.

“Weren’t you discussing that with Estor?”

“Why drag me into this?”

Estor shot him an incredulous look.

Alnair ignored it.

“If possible, I’d like ties with Orsia. But Estor refuses.”

“Apologies, but I am not yet—”

“Why? Do you have someone in mind?”

Thud.

Under the table, something kicked his shin.

Haryeong.

Without looking up, slicing a thick piece of meat, she kicked him again.

[What are you doing?]

[Say you do.]

[Why?]

[So he stops asking.]

[I can refuse on my own.]

[Do you have someone in mind?]

[…It’s a secret.]

[What secret.]

Kick.

“Ah, right. You and Heavenly Thunder’s disciple are close, aren’t you? Is it because of her?”

Alnair spoke before Yuri could answer.

“That is not the reason.”

Yuri smiled wryly.

The kicking stopped.

Haryeong’s face showed nothing unusual.

Alnair did not press further, and the banquet ended peacefully.

—

—

Back in his newly assigned room, Yuri sat at the desk.

There was one thing left to do before leaving Alderran.

“Should I have done this sooner?”

He muttered softly and picked up a pen.

But he could not move it.

Where should he begin?

—To Elena.

He wrote that much, at least.