Chapter Text
Darkness.
All he could see was darkness.
It didn't matter if his eye were open or not, its not like the view changes.
The feeling of his limbs were gone. He couldn't breath nor did he need to. It was like nothing existed here.
His own existent felt like it was fading. Fading away into nothingness like everything around him.
Where was he even? And how did this happened?
Was this the abyss? Was he drenched in void? This pure blackness wasn't really reassuring him anything, now was it?
How could he get out of here?
'Is there anyone here?' He tried to say something but his voice couldn't come out of his non existence throat.
...
He found himself thinking.
Perhaps this is his final destination. That this was the end he had longed for. That after the scenarios there was nothing.
...
How long time had passed. An hour? A day? A week? Or did time simple not exist here?
...
How he longed for something to happened.
...
Then,
a voice was heard from the distance. It seems like it is talking to him.
[You aren't ready.]
He had heard that voice many times before. And the speech pattern was easily recognized.
[It is still to early for you to reach beyond that wall.]
Why was he even here. And what was he even talking about. What nonsense did he want to put into his mind this time?
[You existence hasn't reached the requirements, you are still just a puppet, puppet of the most ancient dream.]
Why was he always called that. Is it because all incarnations are puppets of the constellations. And this 'the most ancient dream' haven't even shown himself, so why? Why was he a puppet of something that they aren't even sure exists.
'It's the nonsense about a puppet again. What does it even mean?'
He couldn't open his mouth. So he resorted to the next best thing. Hoping that the other him could understand his thoughts.
[You haven't even figured that out yet? Oh puppet of 'the most ancient dream'.]
'...'
'Where am I?'
[Definitely not a place you can escape on your own.]
'Then what?'
[I'll give you an offer. I'll return you to the beginning.]
'Would that even be any different from dying! Do you want me to through hell again like you did. Why would I wan't to regress again?'
[No, I'm not talking about regression, instead how about you start this specific round from the beginning. Instead of branching of the another to another worldline.]
{Are you telling me that I can get another regression with Kim Dokja?}
'A time-jump? Are you really capable of something like that?'
[Haven't I sent Kim Dokja to another worldline before, why would this be any different. I'm not giving you a stigma, it is a one way trip and failure would result in you dying. Succeeding in this 'trip' is the only way for you to break out.]
'And why should I accept your offer?'
[You really haven't realized the situation you are in right now. But I guess it should have been expected out of the 3rd regression turn.]
'Then, what do you mean with 'break out'?'
[You wouldn't understand even if I told you]
'If I accept your offer will this timeline disappear?'
[Not particularly.]
'Then I guess there is no other choice.'
With those final thoughts the space around him began distorting. A last sound echoed through his mind.
[Learn about someone's existence and in return learn would learn about yours.]
At the time he couldn't clearly understand the sentence that was left behind for him. Was this some sort of final advise that would help him gain enlightenment?
Then his conscious left him.
----
...
Waking up in the sickeningly familiar subway, Yoo Jonghyuk repeats to himself that yet another round has failed. That he failed to protect yet again. He just wants to close his eyes and wake up from this terrible dream.
He almost considers breaking down the door to the car door in front of him to check if Kim Dokja really is there. This has been the biggest nightmare for the regressor. Not knowing if he will be able to meet Kim Dokja again.
Kim Dokja has always been this singularity in his 3rd round. Not appearing in the previous ones. This is also one of the questions he has always wondered about.
{Why did he appear in the 3rd round?}
He has wondered this for a long time yet, he never really found a good answer. His first thought had been that he had died in first scenario though that couldn't be the answer. The Kim Dokja he knew wasn't that weak. But he couldn't just have materialized into existence one day, could he?
His train of thought quickly came to a stop as an announcement from the speaker could be heard.
[Announcement to all passengers!]
[Everyone run away!]
Energy began to circulate in the air, sparks appearing around it. The clock making its last 'tick' sound before turning to 07:00 pm.
Notifications began appearing in the air, this in itself showed that this is no longer the reality we know.
[The free service of planetary system 8612 has been terminated.]
[The main scenario starts now]
The Dokkaebi appeared. The white furry creature with two golden horns on its head. One could say it was cute the first second they saw it. But he always found it disgusting. The dokkaebi starts speaking but Yoo Jonghyuk didn't listen. He already knows all the words that would come out of that disgusting creatures mouth.
The other passengers were already in full panic mode. Letting out screams as their heads were blown up. The numbers of passengers quickly decreasing before his eyes. Blood splattered everywhere even though the real slaughter has yet to begin.
[@BI-7623channel is open]
[The constellation have entered]
Then as aspected the first scenario arrives.
[The main scenario has arrived]
+
[Main Senario #1 - Proof of Value]
Category: Main
Difficulty: F
Clear Conditions: Kill one or more living things.
Time Limit: 30 minutes
Compensation: 300 coins
Failure: Death
+
{This stupid scenario again.}
{How annoying.}
This scenario was an easy task for the regressor as he apprehends the terrorist in the corner, pinning him to the floor. Taking out a knife from one of the terrorist pockets and stabs it into his throat trying to minimize the blood on his clothes.
[You have achieved the 'First Kill' achievement.]
[100 coins have been earned as additional compensation.]
Another swift motion with the knife and a nearby head falls to the ground.
[You have killed a living thing.]
[100 coins have been earned as additional compensation.]
Is 100 coins the worth of a human being? Of course not.
But this has nothing to do with the compensation. Nor does it have to do with the punishment of failure.
These were just walking pieces meat he had already killed numerous times. They had never made it out of this subway car alive before. None of these humans were better than garbage on the streets. If he didn't kill them right now they would just start killing each other instead.
Blood sprayed across the windows. People's shouts started to quiet down as they realized the situation they were in. But it was already too late. {They were already dead in my eyes. }
A self-made bomb was set of at the opposite side of at the other side the car causing a loud explosion. It would have proven difficult if it wasn't the 3rd regression turn.
{Wait.}
{3rd regression turn.}
{Not 4th?}
The regressor's memories slowly started to recover.
{What was he doing here again?}
{I was with Kim Dokja when I was grabbed from behind and swallowed up whole. Then in the darkness I heard Secretive plotters voice. I accepted his offer to go to the beginning of the 3rd turn. Then would this be counted as the 3rd regression turn or the 4th?}
{No, that doesn't matter right now. }
Is Kim Dokja in the car in front of him? If he remembers correctly he was in the same car as Lee Hyungsung and Kim Namwoon. Though Kim Namwoon would soon be killed by Kim Dokja.
Kim Namwoon dying wasn't something he cared for. He might have been useful in the first couple regressions but he was no longer necessary for his progress.
{Since the first scenario is already over I should meet up with Kim Dokja again. He might not remember the 'me' from this regression but he still knew me better than anyone else.}
The Dokkaebi appeared one more to inform him about the sponsor selection. Only to let out a surprised gasp.
[You, you have already chosen a sponsor? This shouldn't be possible. And the sponsor isn't even the channel? How could this be?]
"Shut up"
[Such a arrogant and insolent incarnation. I'll overlook your rude behavior this time since you seem to be popular with the constellations. But I'll warn you not to get too cocky only because you have the attention of a few constellations.]
The Dokkaebi left as quickly as it appeared. And now that he was alone it was time to get going.
Prying open the door before him by kicking it a few times. The door falls forward to reveal the empty car. A few limbs could be seen on the ground along with blood covering the walls and floor. The bodies from the passengers were already gone somewhere.
{Seems like the next scenario has already started.}
Rushing out of the car by the open door on the side, he quickly makes way along the bridge that was going to soon collapse.
A new scenario enters his vision.
+
[Second Scenario - Escape]
Category: Sub
Difficulty: D
Clear Conditions: Cross the broken bridge and enter Oksu Station.
Time Limit: 20 minutes
Compensation: 200 coins
Failure: ???
+
{Seems like someone knows that the bridge can't be crossed without exiting early. It was like this last time too.}
A bit further ahead he could spot the demonic people. The ones who died i the train came back from the dead. The headless monsters were no different from the passengers he killed earlier. Beating them up with his bare fists was no problem.
His already bloodstained cloths became even greasier as he punched through the toughest parts of the demonic beings. Destroying the heart is the only way to get them out of the way for good. He wouldn't want anyone interrupting his talk with Kim Dokja.
Kim Dokja's black messy hair could barely be seen through the hoard of monsters. Soon they would reunite again. Of course, as long as Kim Dokja didn't get defeated first. But he would never let that happened.
...
Finishing of the last of the demonic people, Yoo Jonghyuk finds himself standing face to face with his companion in life and death. An ordinary man he once was. The plain face with a traumatic backstory one has seen many times before. There wasn't anything really special with the man yet the things he accomplished was impossible feats. Gaining the attention from the entirety of Star Stream. An entity who has risen from ordinary office worker to that of the most powerful of gods.
The man lacks talent and technique, yet carries his whole team through scenario after scenario. But how? One might ask. A question he himself hates the most but still can't help but ask.
Who are you? What are you? These question can't help but repeated themselves over and over again. Question Kim Dokja himself can't truly answer. The questions themselves holds multiple answer yet nothing can satisfy the curiosity in the air.
A reader. A Dokja. Kim Dokja is a reader. He finds himself repeating. Someone who loves stories unconditionally. Who always reads to the end.
...
Yoo Jonghyuk reaches out with one hand and grabs the neck of Kim Dokja. To keep him here. This rat bastard always runs away from him. He easily avoids the hard questions by changing the subject. A heart to heart talk is always impossible with him. But the same thing could be said to him. This is the way their comradeship works. Misunderstanding pile up after one and another. And their only way of talking is with their fist or more correctly with their swords.
Taking a few steps forward. Hanging Kim Dokja's body over the edge of the bridge. Normally one would be scared, right? Yet, he has that smirk on his face like he already knows everything thats going to happened. Did Kim Dokja read his status? Perhaps he should have checked it by now. Judging by his expression he can tell it is the same as in the 3rd round before. Transmission wouldn't necessary work since this isn't the usual regression.
"Name."
"What?"
"What is your name?"
He isn't asking because he doesn't know but because he did the same thing when they first met. He wants to smirk as he looks at the small Kim Dokja in his hands. He didn't nearly have as much muscles as he has later on. This is more of the real 'Kim Dokja' he doesn't know. He had seen the library. He had seen how weak and pathetic of a man he really is. There is no fooling him this time around.
"Kim Dokja."
"A strange name."
"I've heard that a lot."
"Kim Dokja." He mumbles to himself. This strange name is so familiar in his mouth. He had used this name many times before. To call of to this being in front of him. Just saying the name felt like convening all your thoughts to the other person. It wasn't necessary to say anything else. Kim Dokja always knew what he meant.
He could go on and ask how he survived like last time. Though what would change if he did. Like any other regression, repeating the same steps would only lead to the same demise. He wouldn't have brought up regression in the first meeting with anyone. Or that used to be the case. Kim Dokja would surely understand without needing to be given a long explanation.
Choosing his words carefully, Yoo Jonghyuk finally decides to open his mouth.
"It's been awhile, Kim Dokja."