[the constellation 'maritime war god' watches the screen anxiously.]
He wasn't the only one, but Kim Dokja knew that he had no choice but to push through his apprehension. This was going to be shown whether he wanted it or not, so at the very least, he should try to keep the tensions lower.
Yoo Joonghyuk narrowed his eyes, glancing at Kim Dokja with a frown on his face. Yeah, he knew this wasn't a great situation, but Kim Dokja was just glad that the real Yoo Joonghyuk had been safe back at Chungmuro. At the very least, their world hadn't collapsed because the protagonist regressing would have been so much worse than anything bad happening to Kim Dokja.
As the group stands hesitantly around the 4-person platform, Igneel begins to use his skill. Dokja starts to worry, wondering if someone will need to be sacrificed so the rest can survive. Thankfully, it doesn't come to that as 1,168 calls out to him from a nearby platform that can hold two people. Dokja rushes in just before the flames reach them, activating the shield and bracing for the heat. After the flames dissipate, he turns to 1,168 and asks for his identity.
The scene of the confrontation between Demon King Asmodeus and Yoo Joonghyuk… more accurately, that was a flashback scene where the 2nd turn's Yoo Joonghyuk was one-sidedly thrashed by a Demon King. I remember it because that happened to be a scene that I really liked, but on second thought, that scene doesn't appear before Chapter 50.
[the constellations of the absolute good alignment are agitated at the mention of a demon king.]
Ah, shit.
Yoo Joonghyuk's entire body went rigid, and Kim Dokja could almost feel the waves of irritation and fury radiating off of him. Grimacing, Kim Dokja shot the protagonist a pleading look.
"Joonghyuk-ah… I—"
The protagonist turned to him and shot him a scathing glare, his hands clenched into fists as he hissed, "The first scene of mine you like, and it's that!?"
Kim Dokja felt like a black hole was forming in his gut as it flipped and churned uncomfortably. He had a right to be angry—that had been when he had died. It must feel sickening for Yoo Joonghyuk to hear a man who offered to be his companion claim that he liked his fucking death scene.
The others all looked confused by how upset the protagonist was by this news, but Kim Dokja didn't want to say anything about it. Han Sooyoung just watched Kim Dokja with a blank expression, knowing exactly what scene he was referring to, and likely remembering some of the details as well.
"I'm sorry." Kim Dokja's voice was weak and shaky, the true horror of his unconscious thoughts slamming into him at once. He didn't even want to try and defend himself, and he felt like anything he could say would only make it worse.
Kim Dokja felt like he was going to be sick, finally putting that horrific beatdown into perspective with Yoo Joonghyuk being a real person who had endured that horrific torture for hours (days, maybe even weeks—Yoo Joonghyuk had been far too delirious and in too much agony to notice the passing of time) until he had finally succumbed to his wounds and died. To make it all worse, Asmodeus was a massive sadist who derived sexual pleasure from seeing others in pain. Though the Demon King had never laid a hand on Yoo Joonghyuk in that way—Kim Dokja would have absolutely raged at tls123 in the comments if he had—it was still obvious that Asmodeus had enjoyed every moment of physically hurting him.
When it had been merely words on a page, that scene had only added to the tragic backstory befitting of a protagonist—a reason for him to be angry and bitter, and to add to his allure. It was something that made his second regression even more of a mystery, and contributed to his overall aesthetic of being tall, dark, and handsome.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is horrified by this revelation.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is furiously gripping the armrests of his throne.]
"It was different before but I… I don't think I can ever read that part again," Kim Dokja muttered, not knowing how else to put any of his feelings into coherent words, as he buried his face in his hands. He wouldn't—not if it meant remembering that everything had been real for Yoo Joonghyuk.
The protagonist didn't say anything in return—not even spitting out an insult or a threat to Kim Dokja's life. Honestly, that would have been preferable at this point, because at least it would have been something. Instead, Yoo Joonghyuk fixed his gaze on the screen ahead, clenching his jaw and crossing his arms over his chest in an attempt to hide how much his hands were shaking. The air in the room was so tense that it felt like an even heavier cloud had descended over everyone, and there was nothing Kim Dokja could do to get it to dissipate.
The words describing the fight appear behind Dokja as he recalls the specific passages thanks to his attribute. He looks incredibly like the real Joonghyuk in that moment, menacing and furious while covered in shadow. With glowing eyes, Dokja draws his sword and reminds the prophet that he has [Eye of the Sage] as he remembers that the flashback is in chapter 57.
"You are an Apostle, right?" Dokja says, sword now fully drawn and pointed at the man's face in an obvious wordless threat. The man before him lets out a nervous laugh as he states that he hoped 'Joonghyuk' wouldn't have been able to tell. He reintroduces himself as both Number 1,195 and the Fifth Apostle with a slight bow.
Dokja questions if they're doing this due to the butterfly effect, and the Apostle agrees as the platform disappears. Without wasting a second, Dokja dashes away, allowing him to gain some distance from the Apostle. 1,195 replies that there were too many butterflies. As the dragon's normal attacks begin again, wreaking havoc on the slower 'prophets', Dokja recalls that they will need to find 10 platforms and survive all the attacks, meaning that there are 9 rounds left.
Dokja quickly reminds his allies of what they need to do to survive through a message before turning back to 1,195, demanding to know his motives. The Apostle tries to claim that it's in order to save Joonghyuk, but Dokja doesn't believe him. The Apostle denies this, saying that his death will mess with the prophecy. As they discuss how the plans were changed due to 'Joonghyuk's' presence, Igneel attacks once more. With their skills, they casually dodge mid-conversation.
[several constellations are impressed by the deduction of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Who cared about that? Kim Dokja was too busy feeling like the worst person in existence right now. Not even Shin Yoosung or Lee Gilyoung's insistent hugs could make everything better, no matter how hard they were trying. He appreciated the kids clinging to him in an attempt to comfort him, but when compared to his immeasurable grief at practically taking a metaphorical knife and stabbing it into Yoo Joonghyuk's soul, they could barely do anything to go against the tide of regret that was consuming him.
"In order to save him," Jung Heewon scoffed, glaring at the Apostle on screen. "What a joke."
Yoo Sangah nodded once. "What a hypocrite. If the real Yoo Joonghyuk-ssi couldn't defeat that dragon, what makes them think that they'd be able to get out of this situation even if he did choose to side with them?"
Yoo Joonghyuk continued to refuse to look at Kim Dokja as he glared at the screen. "They're idiots if they think I would ever agree to that. I would rather regress than let myself be manipulated."
Kim Dokja flinched, both at the idea of Yoo Joonghyuk regressing and the 'again' at the end of the sentence that went unspoken.
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is laughing at the dumb plan.]
At this point, new platforms begin to form and 1,195 kills a 'prophet' in a nearby two-person platform. He continues explaining that they didn't plan to join in on the plan to dispatch the lesser prophets, but came because 'Joonghyuk' was here. 1,195 confidently states that they need to hunt the dragon as [Flame of Destruction] rockets through once more.
If the difficulty wasn't enough already, a penalty appears that causes the number of platforms to decrease starting in the next round. Dokja questions the decision to hunt Igneel as he notices that three quarters of the 'prophets' have already perished, and he mentally prioritises protecting his allies for the remainder of this hellish scenario. As the Fifth Apostle speaks up about being prepared for this exact situation, Dokja notices that the man has yet to break a sweat despite the sweltering heat.
It can only be because of the
"You had no choice but to fight it!?" Lee Jihye shrieked, her eyes wide in worry. "It was one thing when ahjussi killed a T-rex in Jurassic Park, but a dragon!?"
Kim Dokja couldn't even blame her for being doubtful. Hell, he still couldn't believe that they had managed to win.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is cackling as he watches idiots burn.]
The kids trembled, and Yoo Sangah looked like she was too. Absently, Kim Dokja wondered if he had to be worried about her biting through her lip with how tense she seemed. The sheer amount of death and destruction caused by this single meeting was clearly weighing on her, even if she hadn't even been there herself.
Even though their plan hadn't been the greatest, Kim Dokja had to thank the Apostles. Without the
Dokja identifies it as a rare medicine obtained from 7th grade elementals near Gangseo, which emit an icy aura for at least 30 minutes after consumption. Dokja mentions that 1,195 couldn't possibly hope to kill the dragon alone, but the man laughs and replies that he'd never said he'd do it alone. This prompts Dokja to glance around the station and notice 4 others who are also exuding the aura from the pills. Dokja states that a few people won't change the outcome, making 1,195 say that they need 'Joonghyuk's' cooperation or all of Dokja's party members will die.
Out loud, Dokja keeps up his persona by stating that he doesn't care about what happens to them, but the Apostle says that by now, Chungmuro will have already fallen into their hands. This immediately sends Dokja into a state of alarm.
As the man describes Jihye, Pildu and Gilyoung, a cute image of Gilyoung sleeping on Pildu's thigh while Sangah and Jihye watch on with smiles on their faces is shown on-screen. 1,195 continues to threaten Dokja with the deaths of those at Chungmuro, informing him that the Apostles have already completed the 'King's Path'. Their threat angers Dokja, mainly because he can't believe that they would dare to threaten Joonghyuk, but he commends their strategic skills.
If he rejects their offer, then the attack will begin.
"What?" Yoo Sangah said weakly, stunned to the core. Though it was subtle, Kim Dokja saw Han Sooyoung flinch out of the corner of his eye.
Whipping her head over to look at the other woman, Yoo Sangah's eyes blazed with fury. "You held the station hostage!?"
"Yep," Han Sooyoung retorted with false confidence. "I thought we were dealing with the real Yoo Joonghyuk, so I figured he might at least hesitate if his allies were threatened."
"I wouldn't have," Yoo Joonghyuk said with an icy tone. No hesitation whatsoever, even now, huh?
She glanced at him, expression still blank. "The moment you rebelled, we would have known."
"Not if I killed all of them before they could notify you."
Kim Dokja knew he could have pulled it off too, if he really wanted. Yoo Joonghyuk was a monster in combat already, but he was especially dangerous with [Transmission] unlocked.
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is impressed by the confidence of the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
While the two of them had a silent yet incredibly tense and hostile staring contest, Lee Gilyoung's arms tightened around Kim Dokja's torso.
"Hyung… were you only mad that they threatened the sooty bastard?" the boy asked in a whisper, too quiet for anyone else to hear. "What about the rest of us?"
Kim Dokja swallowed down the lump in his throat as he hugged the kid back. "I… I don't want you to die, either."
Knowing the difference between a group that has a 'King' and one that doesn't prompts Dokja to ask who their 'King' is and what number renouncer they are. 1,195 says they hate to be known as a renouncer, since they're the only one who has read the entire 'revelation', and they know everything about Joonghyuk's past and future. This makes Dokja pause just before he steps onto the next platform.
What..?
Noticing that Dokja has paused, the Apostle urges him to move onto the platform. Heewon messages, asking what's going on, but Dokja tells her not to worry and not to move no matter what happens.
"Have you guys already forgotten…" Dokja states with a smile, even as nervous beads of sweat drip down his face, "about my Stigma?"
Lee Hyunsung's eyes widened. "Wait, isn't Dokja-ssi the only one who finished reading it?"
Kim Dokja just nodded, but didn't want to say anything and draw attention to himself, least of all Yoo Joonghyuk's.
Jung Heewon, on the other hand, stared directly at him, a betrayed expression on her face. "I can't believe you did this. How could you just—"
She cut herself off as she choked on a sob.
[many constellations are confused by the distress of the incarnation 'jung heewon'.]
Suddenly, Han Sooyoung turned to stare at him, her carefully held blank expression finally shattering into one of shock. "Wait, don't tell me…"
Finally, Yoo Joonghyuk turned and looked at him again, and Kim Dokja couldn't hold back the shudder that wracked his body when the protagonist's dark gaze fell onto him as well. There were so many eyes on him—incarnations and constellations alike—but right now all he could feel was Yoo Joonghyuk. It was simultaneously uncomfortable and relieving—his attention was so overwhelmingly poignant that it felt like Yoo Joonghyuk was covering Kim Dokja and hiding him away from everyone else's invasive gazes while also crushing him beneath the immeasurable weight of the entirety of his story. The protagonist's brow furrowed as he stared at Kim Dokja, a small spark of something in his eyes that might have been thinly-concealed surprise.
"Kim Dokja, you—"
[several constellations are alarmed by the actions of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Oh god.
There's another reader who finished the novel?
Dokja turns around and walks towards the dragon as the Fifth Apostle freaks out and urges him to return to the unactivated platform.
"I'm not afraid of dying," Dokja says with confidence he's digging up from somewhere deep within. "I can just start over again."
As if, don't make me laugh.
"I'm curious. What will become of you guys?" Dokja speaks steadily as Igneel readies his skill for the next attack. "Will you all, the anomalies of this turn, still exist in the next one? Or will you disappear with this world when time resets?"
He turns to glance back over his shoulder, looking smug and yet somehow gentler than Joonghyuk at the same time. "If you guys have really read the 'revelation', you would already know that answer."
Something like that could never happen.
"Ugly ahjussi?" Yoo Mia asked in a shaky voice. "If you're pretending to be my oppa, then that means…"
Yes. it was exactly what she was thinking. Kim Dokja closed his eyes and turned his head away, not wanting to bring himself to meet anyone's gaze.
"Shit," Han Sooyoung muttered as she exhaled and slumped over. "There was no way I could have planned for something this insane. You weren't fucking joking when you said you knew this psycho the best."
While that may have been a slight compliment, Kim Dokja couldn't even focus on that. His heart felt like it was beating out of his chest, and he wasn't sure which was stronger—his panicked heart rate or the sheer terror emanating from the kids clinging to him as they whimpered in fear.
"You would really go that far, Kim Dokja?" Yoo Joonghyuk asked in a tone that sounded far harsher than it likely was. Underneath the veneer of hostility, Kim Dokja could hear the faint trembles in his voice that betrayed his stunned state.
He could do it. He could bring himself to reply to the protagonist, even if his voice cracked in the middle as he tried to suppress his fear. "I would."
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is clutching her chest in anguish.]
Three of the Apostles, including the Fifth, run towards Dokja in a panic to try and bring him back into the safety of a platform. Dokja, however, just pushes off the ground to dash forward with more speed than before. As the [Flame of Destruction] sweeps towards him in a blistering wave of fire, Dokja quickly ducks under it and barely avoids getting burnt to a crisp. Keeping his gaze straight ahead, Dokja catches something just behind the dragon.
'There it is! Anguk station's flagpole!' Dokja rushes forward, reaching out with the flag as far as he can. In a valiant, last-ditch effort, he just manages to leap far enough to ram the flag into the stand. A window appears, announcing that Dokja has cleared the 'King's Path', even though his flag is still brown.
As Dokja stands, panting from both the heat and the exertion, a new pop-up appears giving him a few options of titles to choose from as a new king. Dokja, without hesitation, picks the title [King of No Killing]. As he chooses it, the Apostles' agonized screams ring out behind him as they're overcome by Igneel's flames and die in extreme pain and suffering.
The shrieks vanish into silence, and their charred bodies fall to the ground with their mouths still open in a grim image of their last moments. Dokja takes the time to remind them posthumously that they should have been more careful since they only live once.
"Ahjussi…" Shin Yoosung whimpered. "Please get out of there… please be safe…"
Lee Jihye seemed to be praying under her breath, tears beginning to gather at the corner of her eyes. Jung Heewon and Lee Hyunsung clung to each other in a way that would have gotten them teased under any other circumstances, but right now, they were the only people who they could lean on for support. Yoo Sangah was pale and all her fight seemed to have drained from her body as she could only watch in horror as the Apostles burned.
It was a horrible way to die. Han Sooyoung refused to close her eyes, and she watched on as her plans came to fruition in the worst way possible. Maybe that was her way of acknowledging their deaths, and remembering that they had existed at all. Maybe she felt like she owed them at least that much.
Kim Dokja, however, couldn't stomach it. He knew what was coming, and no amount of bracing for it would make it any better.
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is wishing she could comfort the children.]
Shit, the children. Yoo Mia hugged her brother desperately, and Yoo Joonghyuk held her steady even as he watched with a determined gaze. Kim Dokja tried his best to do the same with the two kids who had become attached to him, but he didn't know if that was helping at all.
The dragon turns to face Dokja, its mouth open and poised to spit more flames. Realizing that something's wrong, Heewon and Hyunsung scream at him to get away from there as Dokja stands still and disappears amongst the flames of Igneel's next attack. Sungkook, despite his horrified state, somehow manages to grab onto Heewon's shoulders with enough strength to keep her from running out after Dokja.
In the middle of the fire, as his body burns and fails, Dokja still somehow manages to smile amidst the messages appearing about his broken body armor. He's completely unprotected, and the only future for him is death. The crackles of the flames and the calls of despair from his allies echo throughout the room as the scene fades to white and everything is overtaken by silence.
[You have died.]
The white fades to black.
[The privilege of the 'King of No Killing' has been activated.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' watches the current events with a mournful gaze.]
"No!" Lee Jihye screamed, tears finally rolling down her cheeks. Jung Heewon sobbed loudly, clinging to Lee Hyunsung for dear life. Over and over, she muttered that she should have stopped him, not even realizing that Lee Hyunsung trembled worse with every word. The kids wailed and cried, clinging to him with everything they had, but Kim Dokja was already too far gone to offer them even a shred of comfort.
Yoo Joonghyuk whipped his head around to stare at Kim Dokja with a bewildered and frightened gaze. He looked like a ship unmoored at sea, lost and uncertain and probably having flashbacks to the times he and his previous companions had died horrible deaths, but Kim Dokja couldn't focus on it at all, no matter how much he wanted to. He tried—he really did—but not even committing the rare sight to memory of Yoo Joonghyuk's face making such an uncommon expression was enough to keep him grounded.
[several constellations express concern for the incarnations.]
It didn't work. It couldn't work.
All he could feel was the flames licking up his arms, burning and blistering and immolating until the fire was under his skin and in his bones. The searing and agonizing pain that screamed and wailed until his nerves were too burned to hurt anymore. The feeling of his throat closing and lungs gasping for air as they were filled by gases that couldn't be breathed. Sheer agony incomparable to anything else consuming his whole being as his consciousness faded into nothing but pain and not knowing how long it lasted it could have been a second it could have been an eternity until he finally, finally succumbed to oblivion.
Kim Dokja writhed and desperately ripped himself from the kids' grasp, stumbling over to an empty corner of the room—half-blinded by panic and gasping for air—before he collapsed to his knees and threw up.
[a constellation that is worried about the degradation of oriental medicine is greatly alarmed.]
"Kim Dokja!"