Even though all Kim Dokja wanted was to finally move on with his life, his chest hurt. Every breath felt like agony, and he wasn't sure if he could change it. He wasn't injured, but it felt like he was being crushed under the weight of existence nonetheless. She wasn't saying anything in the present, and it was almost laughable.
How many chances had he given her? How many times had she ignored them?
Everything hurt and Kim Dokja thought he was going crazy sitting here, waiting to see if she would decide to finally see him standing before her and actually talk to him.
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is sighing and shaking her head.]
"Don't keep it to yourself and tell me everything. Why are you stopping me?! Why have you come this far, mother?!" Dokja yells at Sookyung while her condition continues to deteriorate—more blood drips from her mouth and her eyes are unfocused. Behind him, his companions watch on in concern as Dokja's desperate screams continue to echo around the battlefield. "Anything… just tell me anything, why don't you!?"
As Dokja pleads with her to tell him one final time, his voice almost a whisper, Sookyung's eyes widen as the blurriness fades. Dokja has realized, looking into her sad eyes, that all the stories so far have been connected—that the reason she shut him out was related to the book she wrote. He knows he'll be hurt—that he might break—and that the life he had before will be ruined.
Still, he knows that the answer could be something he has already predicted; after all, the constellations have given so many hints that it would be strange for him not to know by now. Despite that, Dokja wants to hear the truth directly from his mother's mouth. Even if it changes his life or shakes the wall, it's still his story and he knows that some stories can never be understood if you miss a page.
"Sookyung-ssi, I don't think keeping your silence anymore is a wise decision," Lee Seolhwa said calmly yet sternly, turning just enough to look at her. "Dokja-ssi is trying to extend a hand in the future, and if you reject it, then any parts of the bridge between you that might be left will be burned."
It was odd hearing her speak as though the bridge between Kim Dokja and his mother hadn't already been turned to ashes long ago. Was there even anything left to rebuild? Did he even want to rebuild it?
Kim Dokja didn't know the answer to that question, but he exhaled shakily instead of thinking too much. With her condition in the future, Kim Dokja wasn't sure if she would die. If she didn't say something now, then there was the chance that it would all vanish with her. There might not be another opportunity for his future self to actually learn what secrets she was hiding.
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is advising the incarnation 'lee sookyung' to communicate with the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is feeling sympathy for the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Lee Hyunsung shifted uncomfortably as Kim Dokja's pleas began to fade. "I'm sorry that we're all hearing this again, Dokja-ssi… you deserve to have privacy for things like this."
Ah… he was always so kind, wasn't he? Kim Dokja allowed a sad smile to cross his lips as he shook his head. "It's fine. I mean, my future self is kind of yelling in front of all of you anyway, so…"
Though he appreciated the sentiment, Kim Dokja wondered if maybe this was better. After all, their meetings behind closed doors hadn't exactly gone over well the past few times, and maybe airing everything out in public would mean that something would change, even if it might not be for the better in the end.
Instead of replying, though, she just looked pained, and Kim Dokja nearly cursed under his breath. He hated this. Why couldn't she just use her words to make things more clear for once instead of muddying the waters further? She had so many of them for that thrice-damned book, so why did she never have any for him when it counted!?
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is not entertained by this staring contest.]
[several constellations are wondering if the tongue of the incarnation 'lee sookyung' was injured]
Yoo Sangah glanced nervously between Kim Dokja and her, looking uncomfortable. The frown on her face only deepened as Kim Dokja began wondering if everything was connected. She was smart, and Kim Dokja had no doubt that her mind was already racing in an attempt to figure out the reasons behind everything.
"Ahjussi, what do you mean?" Shin Yoosung wondered innocently as Kim Dokja mused that he might have already predicted the outcome. Although he could hear her suck in a breath, Kim Dokja didn't look back.
"I'm always thinking, Yoosung-ah," Kim Dokja replied dismissively. "I've thought of so many possibilities, one of them has to be right."
Kim Dokja knew that he wasn't answering her question, but he wasn't not answering either. Once, he had wondered about many things, but he had settled on a single truth—it wasn't possible. Kim Dokja had memorized the facts of that night, running them through his mind over and over again. That man had been drunk. She had been the victim, and then Kim Dokja had been the victim. There was a bottle, a knife. She had snapped, and then there was blood.
It was self-defense.
That had to be the truth. After all, she had told him so back then. To prove he had understood, Kim Dokja had read it again and again, ensuring there were no holes in the events of that night. It was perfect, foolproof—
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is narrowing his eyes suspiciously.]
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is annoyed by the drama.]
She exhaled deeply. "You're making a mistake, Dokja-yah. Some stories can't be erased once they're written."
But this story had already been written, and Kim Dokja knew that better than anyone. Nothing she said here would change that. Of course, that was if she even decided to talk at all.
However, the moment Sookyung opens her mouth to speak, a barrage of notifications about nebulae looking at his fate appear before a bolt of probability strikes Ungnyeo. As the bear roars in pain, Sookyung coughs up blood before she passes out, her eyes rolling back into her head as she falls forwards. Immediately, Dokja dashes towards her. The scene slows down as his hand is inches from reaching her before a paw smacks down between them.
Jumping back just in time, Dokja looks up at his mother's constellation, who insists that he cannot pass. As his mother's unconscious body stumbles to her feet, the bell in her hand shatters and a column of dark light shoots into the air, crackling with probability where it stretches into the clouds.
His eyes widening as he realizes what's about to happen, Dokja yells in a panic for the others not to look, instructing them to close their eyes. While he doesn't know whether Joonghyuk will be able to withstand it because of being a transcendent, Dokja knows that ordinary incarnations will collapse just from gazing upon it. The whole screen seems to shudder and distort as Joonghyuk mutters the name of what's coming. "It's an Outer God."
"Just hurry up and answer already, I want to go somewhere else with hyung," Lee Gilyoung grumbled, slumping against Kim Dokja's side.
Honestly, at this point, Kim Dokja would probably prefer that outcome than this agonizing attempt at a conversation.
Unfortunately, the second she began to open her mouth and Kim Dokja's hopes began rising from rock bottom, they were plunged even deeper with the bolt of probability that struck her constellation.
[the constellation 'founder's mother' is displeased by the current events.]
[several constellations of the korean peninsula are concerned for the constellation 'founder's mother'.]
Jung Heewon gritted her teeth. "Seriously!? The Star Stream couldn't have had worse timing if it tried!"
As always, it was an overachiever, it seemed.
Yoo Mia shuddered as she struggled and fell unconscious, clearly very damaged from the fight and the probability storm. "... Is that ahjumma gonna die?"
Kim Dokja didn't know, and it seemed that Yoo Joonghyuk didn't either. Though he stayed silent for a moment, the protagonist sighed. "She could still be saved."
Apparently, Kim Dokja's future self had the same idea, but before he could reach her, his path was blocked by her constellation. The bear paw slammed down between them and Lee Jihye shrieked in surprise, flinching and then letting out a sigh of relief as she saw that Kim Dokja was alright.
"Oi, what the fuck?" Han Sooyoung gasped as she stared at the starry ceiling in bafflement. "Are you trying to get your incarnation killed!?"
[many constellations are flabbergasted by the current events.]
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is looking nervously at the incarnations.]
Unfortunately, things just went from bad to worse. The bell shattered and Kim Dokja felt himself become so tense that he wasn't even sure he was breathing anymore. No—
"Are you insane?" Yoo Joonghyuk snarled at her, his arms locking around his sister as tightly as he could without hurting her. He looked furious, enraged, and terrified. Though his expression was fierce, Kim Dokja could clearly see just how afraid Yoo Joonghyuk was in his eyes.
Lee Jihye looked around anxiously. "Um… Master? What's going on? What did she just do?"
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is snarling at the constellation 'founder's mother'.]
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is setting down his glass in anger.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is brandishing her sword with gritted teeth.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is furious.]
Kim Dokja couldn't find the words before his future self began yelling for everyone to close their eyes, and he watched as the entire group paled. There was only one reason they had been told to do so before, and it wasn't a good one. It was impossible to notice how everyone was feeling past their sheer terror, but Kim Dokja held the kids close and hoped that someone would help salvage this horrific situation.
Still, he could hear as Han Sooyoung cursed under her breath, and Yoo Sangah whispered, "Oh god…"
On the other hand, Yoo Mia was hyperventilating—breathing irregularly fast between strangled sobs despite her brother's frantic (for him) attempts to calm her—and Kim Dokja felt like ice had been shoved into his soul as he had a horrific realization. That defenseless little girl was there with them on that battlefield too. Fuck. Fuck. No wonder the protagonist was losing it.
Kim Dokja's hands trembled. If Yoo Mia died here as a consequence of her actions, then Yoo Joonghyuk would probably kill her regardless of Kim Dokja's previous request to leave her alive. If an innocent child died because of this, Kim Dokja wasn't sure if he would even want to stop him. Right now, there was only one thing of which he was certain—if anything happened to any of his kids, Kim Dokja would never forgive her, closure be damned.
And if an Outer God was being summoned, then constellations would inevitably appear in return to counteract it. This was going to be a bloodbath because of the probability and the weight of the powerful statuses alone, and Kim Dokja wasn't even sure that he or the protagonist would be able to survive such a thing at this point.
Was this it? Were they all going to die here?
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is hoping he can fight the 'outer god' this time.]
With the dark presence looming above them, all the incarnations on the battlefield no longer attack, all looking up with horror and despair.
This is an Outer God that a great being like 'Founder's Mother' summoned by using her own shadow as the sacrifice…!
Dokja grimaces as the sky seems to shatter above them, noting that this is nothing like the situation in Peace Land because this time what's being summoned is the true body of the Outer God. From the broken hole, tentacles slither out, the mouths filled with sharp teeth gnashing as they writhe in the air. Considering what was sacrificed, Dokja estimates that one third of its body will be summoned—not even a constellation's shadow is worth its entire body.
Whirling around to face the protagonist, Dokja calls for them to stop it, but Joonghyuk states that it's too late and that this situation is far beyond their current capabilities. Although the MVP [The Fourth Wall] is able to strongly activate and defend the exhausted Dokja from the effects of seeing an Outer God—on top of the assistance from his status as a constellation—the other incarnations on the battlefield are nowhere near as lucky.
"Shit," Jung Heewon whispered, trembling slightly and leaning more onto Lee Hyunsung's sturdy shoulders.
This was probably the worst case scenario, and Kim Dokja genuinely didn't know what they could do to solve it. Was she so desperate to prevent him from moving onto the next scenario that she begged her constellation to basically enact mutually assured destruction? Or was this a decision that Founder's Mother had made on her own now that her incarnation was incapacitated?
"Do you think we'll be able to get away…?" Lee Hyunsung asked weakly, clearly struggling to stay optimistic.
[the constellation 'master of steel' is doubtful that the incarnations will be able to flee in time.]
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is feeling extremely sympathetic for the plight of the incarnations.]
Han Sooyoung's swearing increased in volume, and Kim Dokja couldn't even bring himself to move his arms from around the kids to even think of trying to keep them from hearing it.
"Everything is going to hell in a motherfucking handbasket because of that squid-looking ass of a shitstain—!"
Okay, wow, she was really going for it, wasn't she?
Lee Gilyoung practically snarled, even as his hands shook nervously. "That ugly thing should just go away!"
Kim Dokja agreed vehemently. Everything would be better if it went away, but the price had been paid, and the only thing that would be able to repel it was the power of multiple constellations.
As the narration revealed that only a third of its body would ultimately end up being summoned, Lee Jihye gasped in horror. "You mean that's not all of it!?"
"No," Yoo Joonghyuk replied tensely. "Outer Gods are much more massive than we can understand."
[many constellations are eager to interfere.]
[the constellation 'scribe of heaven' is looking at the 'outer god' in disgust.]
Fuck, the protagonist was right. At their current level, it was all that they could do to stay conscious. Even Kim Dokja was struggling, and he was horrified to think about what all the others were going through. Shin Yoosung sniffed back her tears, trying to stay as strong as she could, but Kim Dokja wished that she wouldn't.
It was okay to break down and be scared, especially in a situation like this.
Within seconds, everyone is on the ground—the stronger members of the group are barely able to stay on their knees while weaker ones like Mia have already lost consciousness. To make matters worse, several incarnations with weak constellations die on the spot. Only Dokja and Joonghyuk are left standing to defend the group as Dokja rushes to check on their companions while reassuring them that the constellations won't stay quiet due to the hostility between the two parties. After all, there's Sun Wukong, Uriel, and the slightly reliable black flame dragon…
However, Dokja can't keep a hint of a smile on his face when a tentacle is able to smack into the ground nearby without even a peep from the constellations. As fear takes over Dokja's expression, even Joonghyuk looks paler before he calmly speaks up, "...Seems like this is where this life ends."
As Dokja watches in disbelief as the tentacles wrap around Ungnyeo's shadow, the teeth from the many jaws appear to gnash happily as they lift their quarry.
No way… An Outer God descended here, and no one is coming to help us?
Upon seeing her unmoving body lying on the ground, Yoo Mia sobbed harder. "I'm not— I… I'm not dead— oppa please, I—"
Yoo Joonghyuk couldn't tell her that it would be okay, and Kim Dokja could tell that it was killing him inside. Kim Dokja was certain that if he had the choice, Yoo Joonghyuk would take his sister and flee without hesitation, getting her as far away from the situation as he humanly could.
Lee Seolhwa looked far paler than usual, staring in horror as incarnations dropped dead or struggled to cling to life merely from being in the wrong place at the wrong time.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is trembling with rage.]
[the constellation 'goryeo's first sword' is clenching his hands into fists.]
"At least we're okay, Joonghyuk-ah, but…" Kim Dokja's voice trailed off nervously, unable to hide his worry. "Please let everyone else be okay too."
Yoo Joonghyuk didn't say anything, but his expression was stormy and determined, almost as though he was hoping to set the Outer God on fire from his glare alone. If only his protagonist powers extended to something like that…
As Kim Dokja verified that everyone was alive—albeit unconscious—Yoo Sangah let out a heavy sigh. "Oh thank goodness…"
Thankfully, Kim Dokja explained that the constellations would have to interfere, and that seemed to reassure the kids at least somewhat. Despite that, Kim Dokja was genuinely concerned that he'd start losing circulation in his arms sooner or later from how tightly Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung were holding onto him.
"That's right—they can help us! Sponsor-ahjussi, Uriel-unnie… you're gonna help, right?" Lee Jihye pleaded, uncharacteristically anxious.
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is unsure if he can do much against an 'outer god' of that level.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is igniting her sword.]
Lee Gilyoung looked up with determination blazing in his eyes. "You too, monkey ahjussi!"
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is stretching before a fight.]
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is offended.]
Well, slightly reliable was probably the most accurate compliment that Kim Dokja could give.
However, Kim Dokja couldn't have expected the next message to appear in front of him.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is disappointed that he was excluded from the list.]
"Ah, well…" Kim Dokja deflected, looking away awkwardly, "I don't know enough about you to know if you'd be able to help much…"
He might be a rich enough constellation, likely fable-grade too, but that didn't mean that he'd be available or have the abilities necessary to fight off an Outer God. With a modifier like 'Secretive Plotter', Kim Dokja wasn't sure he'd have a combat-oriented skill set at all.
However, Kim Dokja couldn't worry about that right now. No, there were far more concerning things to stress over.
"What…?" Jung Heewon gasped. "Why isn't anyone showing up to help?"
[many constellations are flabbergasted.]
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is demanding to know what is going on.]
Kim Dokja froze as soon as Yoo Joonghyuk muttered that this was it for this life. It couldn't be the end of this regression, they weren't even close to that promised ending… and yet, there wasn't anything Kim Dokja could do to stop it. Fuck.
"I-is it trying to eat that constellation?" Shin Yoosung asked in a trembling voice, her eyes wide and anxious.
Shit.
Finally, a barrage of notifications arrive, explaining that the three nebulae—Olympus, Papyrus, and Vedas, the same ones that read his fate—are acting like tyrants and are strong-arming the situation. Dokja's gaze hardens as he understands what happened.
I see… All of this happened because of me.
He grits his teeth in anger as the nebulae once again try to force him to take on one of their fables, making Dokja's silent fury stronger as he mentally states that this is why he can never like these constellations.
Carnival of Lightning, Thunder Guide, and Master of Typhoon Wolf. They're all fables that involve murdering your family members.
As Dokja staggers to his feet, Joonghyuk can be seen checking on his sister in the background.
'If I were to succeed those, I would be able to borrow the probability of the nebulae and defeat the Outer God. And,' Dokja thinks as he looks over his shoulder at the woman being lifted by the tentacle along with the shadow, 'my mother would die here.'
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is snarling at the nebulae.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is glaring intently at the nebulae.]
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is threatening the nebulae with hellish reckoning.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is aghast by the actions of the nebulae.]
"So they're trying to make sure Dokja-ssi has no help unless he joins one of them…?" Lee Hyunsung gasped, looking horrified by the mere thought of it.
Shit, that was exactly what was going on. Hah… they had really figured out a way to back him into a corner.
Han Sooyoung glared at the screen. "That fucker isn't worth all this trouble, no matter how strong he is!"
Despite the insult, Kim Dokja had to agree. However, he knew that this was a matter of pride above anything else. They were insulted that he hadn't chosen anyone. If he had picked one, even if it was a different nebula's story, then he wouldn't have trampled on their pride and made them look like fools.
"Hyung is never going to listen to you!" Lee Gilyoung snarled, seemingly way less intimidated than he should be. For a moment, Kim Dokja had to wonder, was the kid actually trembling all this time because he was afraid, or was he shaking for some other reason?
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is sighing in disappointment.]
"All of those stories…" Yoo Sangah gasped. "They couldn't be…"
Ah crap.
Lee Jihye's eyes went wide. "Wait, are they saying that ahjussi has to kill his mom to stop this!?"
Unfortunately, that would be the only way to stop the Outer God from being summoned further. By killing her, then the constellation's shadow would die as well. Though he didn't like that option, Kim Dokja wasn't stupid enough to think that he could completely rule it out as a possibility either.
He didn't want to succeed any stories or fall under the control of a nebula, but if he absolutely had to kill her, then Kim Dokja was sure that Yoo Joonghyuk wouldn't hesitate to go for a killing blow on his behalf. The only thing preventing him from doing so already was Kim Dokja's request, and it would be easy enough to rescind that, but…
Kim Dokja didn't want to do that, not unless he had exhausted literally every other option. He still had to hear the truth in her own words, after all.
[many constellations are curious about what choice the incarnation 'kim dokja' will make.]
Looking back at Joonghyuk, Dokja can tell from his gaze alone that the man wants to know what he's going to do. Standing tall, Dokja reminds him of the nebula they created together, and that he called it Kim Dokja's Company—a name that gets an immediate complaint from the other man. Though he frowns, Joonghyuk moves close to Dokja while drawing his sword, firmly stating that he'll name their nebula himself.
Dokja smiles at the thought that Joonghyuk is joking around. However, he can't help but feel strangely relieved—he can feel the energy of Joonghyuk's transcendence at his side, and it reassures him despite the fact that the other man has long surpassed him. For an instant, he wonders if it's because the two of them are standing side-by-side for the first time since the scenarios began. Pointing his sword towards the stars in the sky, Dokja declares that he won't submit to his fate, and that he will be the one to decide how his own story goes.
As he does so, a close-up of his determined face is shown, and the stars in his eyes seem to twinkle with an unknown light.
"Kim Dokja," Yoo Joonghyuk said firmly as he shot a glance in Kim Dokja's direction. "You are going to fight."
It wasn't a question, just a statement. It was like the protagonist already knew his actions before Kim Dokja did, and was speaking it into existence. Maybe he actually was.
"Yeah, we'll at least try," Kim Dokja replied. He was a bit surprised that he invoked their nebula that still wasn't completely created, but it was admittedly a bit amusing to see Yoo Joonghyuk look so disgruntled over the name he had come up with on the spot.
Han Sooyoung rolled her eyes. "I agree, the name is ass."
Not like her earlier suggestion was any better, though.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is declaring that his nebula is cooler.]
Though she was still trembling, seeing her brother check on her in the future seemed to have soothed Yoo Mia somewhat. Peeking out from Yoo Joonghyuk's protective embrace, she shot a weak scowl in Kim Dokja's direction. "My oppa will choose a better name. Yours is lame, ahjussi."
Whatever, they didn't have to worry about it until the nebula was officially registered anyway.
A moment later, Yoo Joonghyuk scoffed at Kim Dokja's fleeting thought. "I am not joking, Kim Dokja."
… right.
Still, Kim Dokja agreed with his future self—it was weird fighting like this with Yoo Joonghyuk at his side, and yet it was… nice. Despite the horrific circumstances, Kim Dokja felt almost warm and fuzzy at the realization that he wasn't scared of the protagonist's strength or worried about any kind of retaliation. Right now, they were teaming up against a stronger foe, and it wasn't a situation where they had started off at odds either.
This time, they were fighting together from the beginning to the end. It wasn't something that Kim Dokja could have ever imagined, and he was sure that his younger self would have a heart attack if he heard that this happened. Actually, no—his younger self would probably have killed to get to be in his shoes.
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is toasting to the declaration of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is nodding approvingly.]
"Hell yeah!" Jung Heewon cheered with a wide grin. "Don't go down without a fight!"
Kim Dokja knew that he wouldn't dare give up, not with so much on the line.
Yoo Joonghyuk would not die here. Everyone in his group wouldn't die here either, and this would merely be a stumble on their road to the ending that he desired.
It didn't matter if he had to defy the stars themselves; Kim Dokja wasn't about to let something like fate control him now.