[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is tempted to try fighting the 'devourer of dreams' to compare strength.]
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is snickering.]
Though Kim Dokja was feeling more and more confident about this plan, there was still the issue of actually getting close enough to pull it off. With [Electrification] or [Way of the Wind], he had a chance, but whether he had enough mana or if his body would hold out long enough to do that was another story.
Right now, all Kim Dokja could do was let out a slow breath and hope that he'd be successful.
As the 'Devourer of Dreams' howls in pain, its tentacles whip around, destroying distant mountains and the ground below alike. Below its hulking form, Dokja lies face-down and passed out. A sharp call from Jungyeong to pull himself together sends him sputtering awake as he tries to pull himself off the ground with his shaking and pained body. It feels like he's gone through a blender, and after swinging the sword, Dokja had lost consciousness for a moment.
Jungyeong informs Dokja that he couldn't inflict a deep wound in a regretful tone. Dokja, however, sees it differently as he tells the constellation that he succeeded in what Dokja needed.
To think this is the power of a historical-grade constellation… He cleaved through seven tentacles and inflicted a wound on its true body deep enough for me to enter.
The view spins past the twisting tentacles and the bleeding stumps to come to a small gash on the Outer God's body. Dokja struggles, clawing at the ground as he knows he needs to get into the wound before it closes, but can't understand why his legs won't move no matter how hard he tries to get up and run.
"Oh shit," Jung Heewon muttered with a grimace as the Outer God began throwing a tantrum and destroying things. Considering the amount of debris being thrown everywhere, Kim Dokja really hoped that any of the inevitable casualties wouldn't be someone who was actually important to him.
"Ahjussi!" Shin Yoosung yelped, her eyes wide in fear, as they finally noticed Kim Dokja lying on the ground with his eyes closed. His entire body felt cold and numb, and he knew he sucked in a sharp breath at the sight. Was he dead again, right after promising the kids that he wouldn't die?
He had seen his own corpse before—many more times than the average person, in fact—but it never got any easier.
His only consolation was that he hadn't seen any 'you have died' notifications.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is greatly concerned for the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is urging the incarnation 'kim dokja' to wake up.]
The others all looked equally nervous—though Han Sooyoung was cursing him out for his stupidity under her breath in at least 13 different ways—but it was Yoo Joonghyuk's reaction that really caught Kim Dokja's attention. He was staring at the screen, blank-faced and silent, but his eyes shook nevertheless. His hands were clenched so tightly that his knuckles were white, and Kim Dokja wasn't sure he was breathing.
"You have to get up, hyung," Lee Gilyoung breathed, shaking as he did. "You have to get up."
When Cheok Jungyeong managed to get him to open his eyes, it seemed like everyone collectively sighed in relief.
Yoo Sangah's shoulders slumped as she placed a hand on her chest. "Oh thank goodness…"
"You're still in bad shape, even though you're conscious now," Lee Seolhwa reminded him gently, and Kim Dokja nodded. He was aware that it wasn't going to be good, but it could certainly be worse. He wasn't dead, so he hadn't failed yet.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is glad that the incarnation 'kim dokja' is okay.]
[several constellations are applauding the constellation 'goryeo's first sword' for the damage to the 'outer god'.]
"That's not enough, is it?" Lee Jihye asked nervously, biting her lip a bit. "He said it's not a deep wound, so…"
Kim Dokja shook his head. "The Devourer of Dreams works a bit differently to what you're thinking. So long as it's big enough for me to pass through, then it'll be fine for the plan."
Lee Hyunsung nodded, looking pensive. "And, considering its size, a wound that looks small is probably actually deceptively big if we put Dokja-ssi next to it."
Precisely, and Kim Dokja was relieved to see that it was exactly as he had suspected. Cheok Jungyeong was truly terrifyingly competent.
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is wondering why the incarnation 'kim dokja' is not standing up.]
Well sorry that his brain was probably completely fried after the constellation totally overloaded him. At least he was still functional enough to know that he had to get to the wound…
However, as he continued to claw at the ground and wonder why his legs weren't moving, Kim Dokja began to have a sinking feeling that something wasn't right here.
"Well fuck, do you think he could have gotten paralyzed from that somehow?" Han Sooyoung asked Lee Seolhwa as she glanced over in the woman's direction.
Lee Seolhwa hummed thoughtfully for a moment. "Considering that he was in the air as he attacked, but then suddenly lost consciousness, there's a possibility that he fell and sustained some kind of spinal injury. There are other possibilities, of course, but considering the height of the fall and the fact that we don't know how he landed, it's hard to say."
Kim Dokja cringed. It would be just his luck to get something like that now when he specifically wanted to live and be as unscathed as possible, and when he'd need his mobility to get close to the Outer God.
[a few constellations are discussing the current events amongst themselves.]
[the constellation 'guam divine doctor' is hoping for more information about the injury.]
"It likely isn't from the fall," Yoo Joonghyuk said suddenly in a gruff voice. "Kim Dokja's stamina is high enough that he shouldn't be overly injured from that alone."
In other words, there was a chance that he was in shock and not fully functional yet, or the horrifying possibility that Outer God had managed to graze him just enough to cause some damage. Shit.
A glance over his shoulder reveals the truth—his legs have been severed at the knees. While the nebulae begin to mock him and 'Queen of the Darkest Spring' looks on with sorrow, Dokja angrily laments his situation. Since he can't use [Electrification], the only way he'd get there in time, his clawing becomes deeper and more desperate as he notices the wound start to close.
"Kim Dokja."
Dokja's gaze shoots to the staggering and bloody protagonist as the man's somehow steady voice reaches his ears. Reaching down, Joonghyuk grabs him by the front of his shirt and tosses Dokja over his shoulder.
With surprise in his eyes, Dokja doesn't even have a chance to speak before Joonghyuk begins to dash into the air using [Air Steps], weaving around the mouths and tentacles as he does. Despite the effortlessness with which he lifted Dokja, it's obvious that Joonghyuk is almost at his limit, but he refuses to give up. With a final step into the air, Joonghyuk comes to a stop in front of the wound that Jungyeong inflicted.
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is gasping in horror.]
[some constellations are laughing to themselves.]
Fuck. Fuck.
Lee Hyunsung looked extremely queasy and disturbed, and Kim Dokja completely understood why. Not only was this horrifying, but it brought back memories that they'd both rather suppress. While Lee Hyunsung had never been dispatched to the front lines and had likely only seen stuff like this in training videos or when seeing those who had returned, Kim Dokja had been there.
While they weren't actively at war, there was still danger everywhere. God, the fucking landmines… even so many years after the armistice, there were still unmarked minefields everywhere.
Kim Dokja remembered the smell of gunpowder, and the sound of screaming before a heavy thud. He remembered freezing and carefully backtracking, stepping only exactly where he had stepped before. He remembered hoping that whoever in his unit had been unlucky enough to step on one would be okay for long enough for help to arrive.
He remembered—
"Hey, ahjussi, are you okay?"
Snapping out of his memories, hands shaking and face pale, Kim Dokja's gaze darted over to Yoo Mia as she stared at him in concern.
"Yeah," he muttered, trying to force a smile. "Yeah, I'm okay."
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is reminding the incarnations that honesty is a virtue.]
Okay, fine, Kim Dokja wasn't okay, and he noticed Lee Hyunsung was looking in his direction with a very obviously worried expression on his face. Honestly, Kim Dokja was just grateful that Lee Hyunsung had never been told to go to the front lines, and that he had spent his time elsewhere. As for Yoo Joonghyuk… Kim Dokja couldn't even remember if he had even done military service before the apocalypse.
Considering his age, he should have enlisted and finished serving already, but there had never been any mention of it in his brief backstory. Kim Dokja was confident that tls123 wouldn't have simply glossed over something like that, especially since it was a way for the protagonist to bond with Lee Hyunsung. Strange. Though, as he looked over at Yoo Mia sitting in her brother's lap, Kim Dokja couldn't help but wonder if he had delayed it to the latest possible year—this one, to be exact—so he wouldn't leave her alone while she was younger.
Either way, Kim Dokja had bigger problems on his hands right now.
Shin Yoosung shuddered and clung to him a bit tighter, sniffling back tears. "But… if ahjussi is that hurt, how is he gonna get there in time?"
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is shaking his head with a sigh.]
Fuck, he couldn't even use [Electrification] with no legs and barely any mana. Even [Way of the Wind] likely wouldn't be fast or mana-efficient enough to work. The situation was going from bad to worse, and Kim Dokja had to wonder if he had just thrown away their one chance of winning.
The second he heard that familiar deep voice calling his name, though, Kim Dokja instantly relaxed before he had even realized it.
"Master!" Lee Jihye cheered, but her excitement dropped off her face the second Yoo Joonghyuk appeared on screen, looking pretty exhausted and injured.
"Oh fuck, even the protagonist can look roughed up sometimes too," Han Sooyoung muttered with a grimace. Clearly, even she understood that the rest of them likely wouldn't have stood a chance.
As Yoo Joonghyuk wordlessly reached for Kim Dokja, though, Jung Heewon glanced over at him with a concerned expression on her face. "Wait, what are you doing?"
"Carrying him," the protagonist deadpanned in reply, as though it should have been obvious. Well, it kind of was, and Kim Dokja tried to ignore the way the stress made his heart rate increase as he got effortlessly lifted by a single hand. That amount of strength wasn't fair, dammit!
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is disappointed that the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk' is not carrying his companion properly.]
… and just what did she mean by that?
Yoo Sangah looked slightly amused at Uriel's message and sent a small smile up at the ceiling. "If you're thinking what I suspect you are, it wouldn't be possible under the current circumstances anyway. Dokja-ssi is um… missing his knees, after all…"
Wait, was Uriel expecting Yoo Joonghyuk to princess carry him!?
Yeah, that would never happen. No way in hell. The only person Yoo Joonghyuk would carry like that was probably his sister.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is thinking that the incarnation 'kim dokja' would be too light for his liking.]
Kim Dokja sputtered at that message, trying to ignore the embarrassment rising. Of course he'd weigh less than usual! He was missing half of his fucking legs!
"Wait, is Joonghyuk-ssi trying to get him there?" Lee Seolhwa asked as the protagonist used his skills to take off into the air, dodging the flailing tentacles of the Outer God while still only carrying Kim Dokja with a single hand.
Yoo Mia let out a tense exhale, but looked determined. "It's gonna be okay, ahjussi. My oppa never gives up."
Well, there were certainly times when he had given up in TWSA, but those times were less about giving up on a fight and more about giving up on life overall. At the very least, the protagonist was extremely fast, and they were able to get up to the wound before it had healed much at all.
Having reached this level, Dokja watches as the protagonist finally breaks, shaking heavily and panting as sweat drips down his brow. His voice slightly hoarse, he asks if all he has to do is toss Dokja into the cut. Dokja asks if he can do it, but Joonghyuk doesn't answer.
Despite the lack of time, Joonghyuk hesitates, holding Dokja by his collar. After a moment, he speaks once more. "... Don't tell me we're going to have to hold another funeral."
Dokja smiles because of the question and reminds Joonghyuk that it doesn't matter if he dies since he'll resurrect soon even if that happens. However, as the wind blows around them, Joonghyuk looks at him with a serious expression and states that's not what he meant. With a breathy laugh, Dokja asks if Joonghyuk remembers the second scenario. The protagonist's eyes widen as their appearances from the bridge briefly overlap with their matching positions now.
"Joonghyuk-ah…" Kim Dokja said shakily, his eyes wide as he watched the man finally show weakness. It was goddamn impressive that he had remained as strong as possible—even after fighting her and then immediately getting sucked into a fight where he was playing decoy against an Outer God—and Kim Dokja's mouth felt a little dry at the sight. Even though Yoo Joonghyuk was exhausted, his determination wasn't diminishing at all.
Trying to lighten the mood, Kim Dokja took a deep breath and forced a smile onto his face. "Well, at least it's not my neck this time, right?"
Jung Heewon coughed behind her hand, but Kim Dokja didn't trust that grin on her face. And also the fact that it sounded like she had almost muttered something about him being disappointed.
Huh!? He wasn't… he wasn't disappointed!
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is telling the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk' to throw him and leave.]
Honestly, Kim Dokja wouldn't be surprised if he did that, considering his temperament. However, Yoo Joonghyuk instead decided to clarify the plan.
"Come on, sooty bastard, stop wasting time," Lee Gilyoung muttered under his breath while glaring at the screen. Despite his words, he was clutching onto Kim Dokja's sleeve like that would somehow prevent him from slipping away.
The silence was a bit unnerving, though. Why was he hesitating so much? It didn't make any sense for Yoo Joonghyuk—who hated being inefficient—to wait this long to do something unless he was trying to muster the energy to be able to throw a full-grown man despite being exhausted.
To Kim Dokja's surprise, the protagonist instead made a comment about holding a funeral. Kim Dokja's heart skipped a beat, too shocked by that to really process it.
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is grinning over the rim of his glass.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is sobbing.]
Without thinking, Kim Dokja muttered, "So just don't plan one?"
"Oh my god, why is he such a fucking idiot?" Han Sooyoung groaned with a long-suffering sigh. "Some reader you are, this isn't even goddamn subtext at this point!"
"Dokja-ssi…" Yoo Sangah sighed, shaking her head.
Lee Seolhwa just patted Yoo Sangah on the shoulder. "I feel bad for Joonghyuk-ssi."
What the hell were they even talking about?
Lee Jihye sniffed as she wiped her eyes. "Ahjussi, come on! Master is saying that he doesn't want you to die, not that he thinks funeral planning is a waste of time!"
[the constellation 'bald leader of the peasant's army' is nodding in agreement with the incarnation 'lee jihye'.]
As he was about to retort that it couldn't be what was going on, Yoo Joonghyuk himself rebutted his point about resurrecting. Wait, fuck, could she actually be right? What the hell?
Kim Dokja didn't know what to think, but it felt like his entire body was heating up. Shit, he couldn't be getting a fever or something, right? This was ridiculous.
He just… he just had to stop thinking about this. It wasn't helpful right now—in fact, it might be extremely counterproductive if they wanted him to live past the next scenario—so Kim Dokja couldn't think about it. He had to push it aside, ignore it, and pretend that it didn't matter to him. He'd never be able to do what had to be done otherwise.
[many constellations are surprised by the reminder of the second scenario.]
"Ah yes," Han Sooyoung drawled, "the foreplay choking."
What the fuck, Han Sooyoung!?
Sure, this situation was very reminiscent of that time on the bridge, but that didn't mean that it was implying anything like that! Kim Dokja wanted to protest but he had the sinking feeling that anything he could say would just make the situation worse.
But what did make it worse in his eyes was the fact that not only was Yoo Joonghyuk staying silent, but he was also glancing away from the screen suspiciously with oddly red ears.
It couldn't be. No.
He was seeing things. It was getting hot in here. Maybe the fever was contagious, Kim Dokja didn't fucking know.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is displeased by the current events.]
As Joonghyuk's eyes shake at the reminder, Dokja remembers that back then, Joonghyuk had been a cold-blooded regressor who would use whatever means necessary to get results. Despite the fact that no one would have expected it at the time, Dokja has no choice but to admit that the two of them are actually companions even though it was something he didn't want to admit. He had thought that something like going through the scenarios with Joonghyuk was impossible. However, because they're companions, Dokja knows that he can say what needs to be said because this is the way that suits them best.
With a cocky grin, Dokja addresses him. "Let me go already and get lost, you damned son of a bitch."
Joonghyuk's eyes soften as he throws Dokja—with consent this time!—as hard as he can down into the wound. This time everything is the opposite of back then—the screen goes into slow motion as rousing music picks up and Joonghyuk's expression shows that he's certain Dokja won't die. Though Dokja doesn't hear him speak, he can tell through the man's actions that Joonghyuk's putting his trust in him. Just as Dokja is about to reply, though, a tentacle barely misses him and blocks his view of the protagonist.
"Are you going to recreate the bridge scene, ahjussi?" Shin Yoosung wondered, glancing up at him, and Kim Dokja inhaled deeply before nodding.
"It's the most likely option, really," he admitted. Like a mini stage transformation, just for them.
Looking at it now, Yoo Joonghyuk really did seem different. Back then, though he had been disappointed at the thought that Kim Dokja had died in the ichthyosaur's stomach, it had only been because he was dismayed at losing a source of information as valuable as a 'prophet'. This time… he seemed genuinely worried, and Kim Dokja didn't know how to feel about that.
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is glad to see that the incarnation 'kim dokja' is no longer lying to himself.]
Well, that just wasn't true, but at least his future self was coming to terms with this one thing. Yoo Joonghyuk had already forced him to admit to their companionship here, but it was strange watching himself have the same realization on his own terms.
Yoo Mia huffed, crossing her arms. "Ugh, finally. Why are you so slow sometimes, ahjussi?"
All Kim Dokja could do was shrug. Was there any way that he could truly answer that when his future self didn't have the same insight and reassurance that his current self did?
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is smiling at the trust between the companions.]
"It was only impossible when this world was just a novel," Yoo Joonghyuk said firmly, glancing over at Kim Dokja. Strangely enough, his ears were still reddened, and Kim Dokja had to look away.
He supposed that was true, but at least he knew the protagonist better than anyone else in the world. Because of that, Kim Dokja knew exactly which words to say to get Yoo Joonghyuk to trust that he'd be alright.
As his future self repeated his words from that day, Lee Hyunsung's eyes widened in bafflement. "Huh? Dokja-ssi, that is… I mean, you're not going to reassure him you'll be okay, or say that you'll see him later…?"
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is muttering that the incarnation 'kim dokja' is terrible at goodbyes.]
Kim Dokja couldn't help but laugh. "Ah, but I am saying that. I came back safe and sound last time, didn't I?"
Well, as much as he could be after that experience, at least.
Jung Heewon raised a brow. "The way the two of you communicate is so weird, you know that right?"
Did it really matter if it worked, though?
[a few constellations are giggling as they remember the events of that day.]
[a constellation who likes to change genders is smiling mirthfully.]
Ah fuck, he hadn't wanted them to remember that…
Whatever.
Kim Dokja was too busy staring in awe at the rare softness in Yoo Joonghyuk's gaze—normally only reserved for the likes of Yoo Mia and Lee Jihye, on occasion—that was directed at him for some reason. A reason that he refused to think about.
All he could do was allow himself to smile as Yoo Joonghyuk followed through and tossed him as hard as he could. It was strange seeing that kind of absolute confidence on Yoo Joonghyuk's face, but it was… pleasant. Even though the sound of Lee Jihye's emotional sobbing interrupting the moment was significantly less so.
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is offering a handkerchief to the incarnation 'lee jihye'.]
"Noooo," Lee Jihye moaned as Kim Dokja was cut off from replying. "Damn Outer God and its moment-ruining bullshit…"
Kim Dokja just sighed and hung his head. Trying to keep the kids from swearing too much was a lost cause, wasn't it?
Just as Dokja's hand hits the wound, realizing how dangerous touching the Outer God is and that he'd be unconscious or dead if he wasn't a constellation, Jungyeong apologizes for not being able to join him inside. Power instantly drains from Dokja's body, but he doesn't let it bother him because he expected it. Then, Dokja is absorbed into the healing wound in a few still frames before a wide shot of the Outer God in the stormy sky appears once more.
Shin Yoosung shuddered as Kim Dokja finally touched the Outer God. "It's that dangerous…?"
It was extremely dangerous, and Kim Dokja was well aware of how much of a risk this was. At the very least, once he made it inside, he'd be fine.
[the constellation 'goryeo's first sword' is frowning at the current events.]
"Don't feel bad," Kim Dokja told him, "you've been a great help so far, but I can handle it from here on my own."
Lee Seolhwa shook her head as Kim Dokja was quickly absorbed into the wound. "I know things work differently now, but that just seems wrong no matter how I think about it."
Admittedly, it was pretty strange, but everything about the Outer Gods was strange.
"Will you be alright without your power, though?" Yoo Sangah fretted, frowning at him.
Kim Dokja nodded. "Don't worry. I promise it'll work out."
Yoo Joonghyuk had done it with no information or prior knowledge that he'd be alright, and Kim Dokja was going into this with the knowledge that Yoo Joonghyuk had gained at that time. So long as something didn't go horrifically wrong, then everything would be fine.
[many constellations are curious to see what the inside of an 'outer god' looks like.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is wishing the incarnation 'kim dokja' luck.]