Waking up
Kdj pov:
I watch as Yoo Joonghyuk reaches the dokkabei king once again only to slay him with such ease one might think he was fighting a kid. I watch from my dream state as he runs up to the final wall. The wall which he couldn't cross. The wall which I'm hiding behind. He will simply move forward and become the Outer God Monarch known as Secretive Plotter and with the help of his companions from his 999th round he will hunt down The Oldest Dream of the past and save him. And I will wake up and I will be on the subway once again. With no one around, no final destination and an endless state of dreaming.
⸢Kim Dokja understood the feeling of jealousy the Secretive Plotter had towards Yoo Joonghyuk for he is feeling the same emotion⸥
Why. Why! WHY! Tears stream down my face as I watch as Yoo Joonghyuk beats the wall over and over again.
[Yo u shou ld n't be t he on e com pl a in g]
[Y ou br ou ght it u pon y our se lf]
"Shut up!" I shouted at the one thing that has been with me on this horrifying journey. The Fourth Wall. I shouted till my lungs felt like they had collapsed and, although it has been the one thing that kept me mostly sane, I wished for its disappearance. I don't need someone to point out my choices again. I wish to see everyone again. My lovely kids Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung. I wish to see how Biyoo is doing. I want to read Han Sooyoung's novel again, to taste that damn protagonist's cooking once more, to train with Jung Heewon and see how her relationship with Lee Hyunsung develops. I wish to see Lee Jihye's graduation, watch as Lee Seolhwa saves countless lives. I wish that I could be where my 49% is.
As Yoo Joonghyuk fails to pass the wall and goes to become the Outer God Monarch: Secretive Plotter, I feel myself waking. The world fades around me once more and I wake up on the subway. But it isn't the subway I was expecting.
There are people here. I look around and realise I'm in my old work clothes. It's been so so long since I've even thought about work since the Apocalypse began. I open my phone to see the message from tls123 about 'Ways of Survival' becoming a paid series. That damn Dokkaebi King and Hansooyoung writing this novel so I could live. Why? Why for someone like me would they sacrifice themselves to disappear or become a mere skill.
"Dokja-ssi, what are you reading?"
A familiar face with brown hair past her shoulders. Yoo Sangah: the Moonlight Empress. Tears threatened to flow down my face as memories suddenly rushed in from my 49%. Memories of the nebula living a happy life but planning to save me regardless.
Holding my tears back, I smile at her. "Just a fantasy novel ... Like Lord of The Rings"
"I like Lord of The Rings. The movies were good."
"Yeah they were" I say as I look around and notice the other familiar faces. Lee Gilyoung, Lee Hyunsung and even that brat Kim Namwoon. Maybe I'll save him this time. This story felt incomplete otherwise.
6:55pm
5 minutes before it starts. Most of the people here will die, and honestly, I couldn't care less. They were not important to me. If they knew me from before the scenarios, I was simply the son of a murderer. I just wish to save those close to me.
"Dokja-ssi? You look concerned. Is there anything I can do to help?"
"It's nothing. But if something happens, I will come to you for help so in return, you can also rely on me," I say in hopes she would listen. I need her to survive.
7:00pm The beginning of the Apocalypse. The start of the worst and best time of my life. The end of my time alone in this world.
The train stops and chaos ensues.
"What happened?"
"Probably some suicidal maniac disrupting everyones lives. Don't worry, the train crew will start things up again soon"
[The free service of planetary system 8612 has been terminated.]
[The main scenario has started.]
Just on time that damn bastard shows up. A creature barely large enough to fit in one arm with horns out of its head, eyes darker than the abyss with an iris stained blood red with teeth that put sharks to shame. A creature that has saved me as much as it has damned me. The dokkaebi that made the story possible - Bihyung.
[Can you hear me? Finally a language pack that works on the first try.]
Hearing the familiar Korean language, half the carriage visibly relaxed.
"Mum is that a cartoon?"
"Are they filming something here without notice?"
"If so that is some impressive prop work."
Everyone is in denial right now. Of course I can't blame them. Had I also dropped the novel that Han Sooyoung made for me, I would be in utter shock. Now that I think about it, I wonder how that lemon loving goblin is doing right now. Oh right, the current Han Sooyoung would forget that she made Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World and that she 'plagiarized' it for her own web novel. But nonetheless that story has become reality and I have to deal with it as soon as possible.
"Hey hurry up with the production. I have somewhere to be in 30 minutes and I have no intentions of being late!" A man approaching the dokkaebi who looks like your everyday office worker. "Honestly they should have put up a notice about this inconvenience bef-" he couldn't finish his sentence before his head exploded in a fountain of blood.
[This is not fiction]
Panic filled the carriage along with terror, anguish and utter disgust.
[This is reality]
The body hits the floor in front of (presumably) a girl and her mother. The girl passes out in terror. I feel bad for her. She has no chance of survival now even if I wished to save her. Simply killing something with her hand will just count as my kill and I just used the girl like a tool. That is the truth cruelty of the Star Stream
[So try and survive]
"Someone contact the police!"
"There's no service!"
"I can't contact my captain"
This scene, how nostalgic it was. It doesn't matter that I've witnessed a similar start to the scenarios over 1000 times, this time I can help rather tha watching from the sidelines. "Stay here" I say to Yoo Sangah who has been gripping my arm since the start of the chaos.
"Dokja-ssi?"
i walk up to Bihyung and reply with a calm face and simply ask "So tell us then, how do we survive." I ask such a question despite knowing the answer, seeing a certain white-haired brat smirk at me. Should I actually kill him again? Then again he was the character most similar to me as I read TWSA which is why I hated him so much. But I can have this be a way of saving myself in a world where there were none like me. Lets just hope this bastard doesn't diassapoint.
[I'm glad you asked, bold one!]
And with that the small screen appears.
[Constellations have entered]
[The main scenario has arrived!]
[Main Scenario #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
[Now provide me with an interesting story everyone! I have other places to be]
And with that the little creature leaves through the ceiling. Soon someone recovers from shock quicker than anyone else and approaches an old lady. The man in question is none other than the psychopathic teenager with a love life sadder than mine. Kim Namwoon.
Before he could touch the old woman though, I stopped him and grabbed his hand. He turns to glare at me with obvious murderous intent. Of course this is the start of the scenarios and I am shaken by his glare as my strength is negligible, but after a second or so I finally hear the message I've been waiting for.
[The exclusive skill 'Fouth Wall' has activate]
['Fourth Wall' has offset some of your mental shock]
There it is. The dokkaebi king of the 1863rd regression with Han Sooyoung's avatar. The one that gave me the revisions of TWSA. The one that even gave me a glimpse of my own past. However, a series of messages appeared which I definitely didn't expect.
[Star Stream is confused about your existence]
[Your understanding of the world has increased drastically]
[Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint stage 1 has been set as a passive]
My existence? Don't tell me. It still recognises me as the Oldest Dream despite the fact I remember waking up? Before continuing that train of thought, words started to pour out of Kim Namwoon.
⸢This damn ajussi. Who does he think he is? He looks weak as hell. I could 100% beat him.⸥
Now this is a surprise. I couldn't use Omniscient Reader's viewpoint before on anyone other than Yoo Joonghyuk because I lacked the "understanding" of the character. I suppose after my time as the Oldest Dream, I understood the world and characters a lot more especially after well over 20,000 years.
Just as my thoughts came to a conclusion, the white haired teenager swung at me. "The hell do you think you're doing old man?! Trying to be some hero or some shit?"
"No not at all. I merely wish to save your image. You seem strong but I don't wish to be seen walking around with such a psychopath."
"What bullshit are you spreading? If I kill this elderly now, I'll survive and get rewards right?"
"Well you are not wrong."
⸢This damn ajussi is so annoying.⸥
"So why did you stop me?"
Instead of answering him straight away, I tighten my grip and pull him closer to me as I whisper in his ear, "Because it's too inefficient."
As his eyes widen, I let go of his arm and tell him to stay still as I look at the other side of the carriage where a tall muscular man is calming everyone down - Lee Hyunsung, the strongest shield of Kim Dokja's Company. I approach the side of the carriage he was at but walk straight by as people look at me in terror, probably because I stood up to the dokkaebi with such a calm face. Ignoring all their stares and whispers, I approach a boy next to a headless female body, his aunt.
I stare at the boy for a while as I try not to break down in front of him and apologise. To stop myself from promising him to go to the ocean with him and get some fried chicken together. After composing myself I crouch down and reach his hand, "Hey there little one, may I borrow this."
His hands trembled as he raised his net towards me and I smile at him and gives one of the grasshoppers back to him. "Hold it tight ok." After a short nod, he holds the grasshopper tight without killing it as I read the words following out of him.
⸢This hyung seems trustworthy enough. Hopefully he will treat me better than this aunt of mine.⸥
Lee Gilyoung, I, Kim Dokja, solemnly swear to make sure you survive to the end so we may go to the ocean together. I promise I will be there to see you in high school this time. I swear to see you graduate and get the job you want. However, until then, I hope you will help me clear these wretched scenarios. I wish for you to be more social to those around your age, especially after the apocalypse. You can't rely on us adults forever.
I turned around and faced the crowded carriage and spoke with absolute confidence. "There is no need for a massacre to occur here today. If you calmed down for a second, then you would realise the clear condition is to kill a 'living thing' not specifically a human. Fortunately there were some grasshoppers on this bus,"At these words everyone visibly relaxed as they realised the truth, "unfortunately, there is a limited supply."
[Some constillations are curious about you and your plan]
This ensued chaos once again as I just watched from afar and smiled. Yes, this apocalyptic life was better suited for me. As if to add salt to the wound, a passanger screemed as they stared at their phone. Gunshots could be heard from it and a small wimper came from their mouth "T-th-the PRIME MINISTER IS DEAD!!" With this unexpected outragous statement they just received, panic was in full suit.
⸢What do I do? What do I do?⸥
⸢This is a dream. This is a dream.⸥
⸢Mommy? Mommy?! MOMMY!!⸥
Their thoughts flowed out of them like a story just waiting to be read. Along with the news of the prime minister's death, a dokkaebi appeared and a 10 minute timer appeared. It's all happening as it did. Is this how Yoo Joonghyuk felt every time he woke up? Looking at the chaos my smile widened and people came up to me as they remembered I had the key to survival. I looked at those practically reaching for the grasshoppers in my hand dead in the eye and without a word, threw the grasshoppers in the middle of the crowd. Everyone turns to me in terror before running to try and capture the grasshoppers that were now running loose around the carriage as I shout, "GOOD LUCK!" with the largest grin on my face as possible.
[Many constellations are amused by your actions]
[500 coins have been sponsored]
There were 5 grasshoppers in total including Lee Gilyoung so there were only 4 opportunities to live. Without leaving one for myself, only 5 other people leave this carriage alive as I already knew that the eggs counted as living beings. As the timer counted down, people started getting more desperate and I see Lee Gilyoung look guiltily at the carcass of the dead grasshopper in his hands as his presumed aunt yells at the poor child. As I scan the crowd further, and as the timer decreases, I crush the eggs before I forget. Yes, I will make sure this becomes an interesting story.
...
[You have killed a living thing.]
[100 coins have been earned as additional compensation.]
[You have killed a living thing.]
[100 coins have been earned as additional compensation.]
...
The messages I have been waiting for as the timer reached the final minute, there was still one grasshopper running loose. The scene of multiple grown adults fighting each other for a mere insect was extremely amusing, especially as it landed directly into that kid's hands. With 30 seconds to spare, Kim Namwoon crushes the insect without a second thought. Everyone else falls into despair as Bihyung appears and exclaims [TIME IS UP!] and in doing so, everyone but 6 people's heads exploded in a fountain of blood.
This was the second beginning of my new life, and I am going to make sure I don't waste a second of it.
An author's awakening
Hsy pov:
"Argh my head." I open my eyes to stare at the plain white ceiling of my bedroom. Wait, why am I here? The last thing I remembered was Yoo Joonghyuk telling me he remembers the events of the 0th turn. Stressed out over Kim Dokja being an avatar, I went to sleep so I could plan something in the morning only to wake up in this lonely house once more.
Getting out of my bed, I went to look outside my window and, despite just waking up, saw the sun setting. Obviously the me of this day slept earlier in the day as I was laying in bed rather than passed out by my desk where I used to write web novels to publish. Now that I think about it, I haven't published a novel for years, even after the scenarios ended.
Suddenly many scenes rushed into my head that was clearly from my point of view, however, I have never experienced such events. A tall advanced building even in the middle of the scenarios, teaming up with Yoo Joonghyuk to kill him, Kim Dokja randomly appearing in the worldline in the 95th scenario, going back in time to see that sucidal maniac still being suicidal before the scenarios and waking up every night for a decade to write that shitty story for that rat bastard. There was no doubt about it, it was the memories and experiences of my avatar that ended up in the 1863rd worldline. And with that, undeniable proof that I, Han Sooyoung, am tls123 and spent a decade writing a story to keep that bastard alive but as a consequence, ended up creating the Star Stream which was fated to ruin this world. All for that one reader...
It was then that the sky suddenly darkened, as if night swept over the land in the blink of an eye. This feeling of unease is familiar. Of course it was, it was how I felt at 7:00pm that day. The day the world crumbled. The first day of the story that belongs to Kim Dokja's Company. The day where I thought I could rule the world just because I knew a bit more than everyone else. Everyone else but him.
The sole reader of an abandoned novel. A novel that allowed him to survive. That allowed him to survive both before and during the destruction of this world. He won't remember me now. Not as the author of his beloved novel nor as the plagiarist who blatantly copied the story dedicated to him nor as a companion that fought by him to the end of the scenarios. He would forget all about that, right now, we are strangers to each other and I have to act that way.
But I didn't want to. I want to smack him in the head next time I see him to make sure he stops killing himself. To make sure he lives to see the ending he worked so hard to achieve for us. To make sure he is with us at the end ... in full. I want to have an argument with him just for the sake of arguing. I want to talk to him about the idiotic protagonist of this world. Yet I can't, for we are strangers ... and it may be better that way.
If Kim Dokja never met me, if he never got close to me, then maybe the nebula didn't have to disband. There wouldn't be any conflict between them, no secret identity, no feeling of betrayal. If we never met then he wouldn't have had a back up to rely on when he died, then maybe he wouldn't have died so carelessly. If we never got close then the group would have finished the scenarios regardless and would be content with 49% of Kim Dokja, living their lives in ignorance. As the saying goes, "Ignorance is bliss". Maybe it would just be better if I didn't participate at all.
But those were all maybes. If I didn't exist, who knows how this story would progress. This time I will try and help Kim Dokja as much as possible, obviously he will owe me after all of this.
7:00pm
[The free service of planetary system 8612 has been terminated.]
[The main scenario has started.]
The message I've been waiting for. The start of the apocalypse. The world I created with my own hands. All for the sake of that one reader.
"Ha, heh, hehe" I've really gone insane now. 1 person I valued over the entire safety of the world. Millions if not billions died because of me, all for 1 person. 1 person who wanted to die. Yet out of 8 billion people in the world, I kept him alive. And not for one second do I regret doing so.
Presumably after seeing the message, my so-called 'bodyguard' burst into my room to ensure my safety. Unfortunately for him, I knew what was happening, even before I somehow regressed. Grabbing the scissors from my nearby stationery desk, I walked up to him with it behind my back. I know how this story began, and I wish to change how it ends.
Being in a fairly remote area means I'm not personally disturbed by that creature (Bihyung I think its name is) and only got the broadcast to the city in the sky. The video showed a highschool girl killing her best friend with her own two hands, Lee Jihye. Looks like she can't escape from the horrid fate I made her go through ... 1863 times. Looks like I have some apologising to do, but I can't reveal that I made them this way. However, I still plan on treating them better than I used to, all of them, all of my creations. Maybe not the damn protagonist though.
Finally I heard a sound and saw the message window I was waiting for.
[Constellations have entered]
[The main scenario has arrived!]
[Main Scenario #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
Whilst my bodyguard was looking at his message confused, I took advantage of this and shoved the pair of scissors into his fleshy neck. The results were instant as I received some coins and watched the fountain of blood I have created at my feet. Along with the message confirming my kill, however, there was an unexpected message presented to me.
[Star Stream is confused about your existence]
[Fable, 'Predictive Plagirasim' has been born]
[Fable, 'Predictive Plagiarism' has begun its storytelling]
Suddenly my head was filled with my own voice over a hundred times, talking about how things may develop. How did I even get this? I haven't even checked my attribute window yet and haven't even made the 'mistake' of creating an avatar with too many memories. So how? And my existence? Does it know I'm its creator? No, it shouldn't.
Turning off 'Predictive Plagiarism' to focus on my own mind, I sat down and tried something. After being in the 'Fourth Wall', remembering the time when I was working with it (the previous dokkaebi king) and even remembering my avatar making a psudeo-wall, I got started on making my own 'Fourth Wall'. Slowly bits of Fable around me gathered around me and started building up a wall from the ground up, however, not even reaching 1 foot of height and my mind was screaming and body aching. Even with the almost unbearable pain I pushed through, I can't let Kim Dokja be the only special one in this world. The only reason I even thought of doing this is due to another unexpected message that appeared before me:
[You have gained the potential to 'Write', 'Overwrite' and 'Plagiarise' skills]
[Doing so will take a massive amount of will power and mental energy]
[Your understanding of the skill 'Fourth Wall' is rising]
[You don't have the understanding to 'Plagiarise' the exclusive skill 'Fourth Wall', 'Writing' a different ability]
[Skill 'Inspiration' achieved]
I was like a god in a mortal body, I could change this world as long as I had the understanding and mental strength to do so. Making, or should I say 'Writing', my own wall was the best solution I came up with to have a slight mental barrier to help me with future tasks. Though I don't expect it to be omnipotent and even as the author of this world, I am not omniscient. Only the reader of this world is omniscient. Maybe I could use that rat for information which helps me with growing as well as giving me an excuse to be near him most, if not all of the time. But I shouldn't get carried away or else I'll lose all my progress.
After what felt like hours and having my mind pound with a body that I can barely feel, the wall is almost complete. Remembering the shape of the hole this wall fits in, the properties it contains, the person it helped, I gathered the bits of Fable nearby and forced it into the last bit to complete the wall. Finally my body relaxed and I fell to the floor with my eyes almost shutting. Before they close I hear the sound indicating a new message as well as the damn dokkaebi explaining the sponsor selection process. Not caring about the constellations that are interested in me, I look at the message I have been waiting for.
[Writing complete, exclusive skill 'False Wall' gained]
[A new feat has been achieved in the Star Stream]
[Fable, 'World's Author' has started its narration]
['False Wall' has offset some of your mental shock]
With the final message, my body relaxed as I stared at the man I just killed. He has been with me more than my parents yet I killed him with hesitation ... or remorse. I don't feel the pang of guilt I should. Rather I felt myself smiling as I drifted off into rest once more before I can live again with that reader of mine once more. And in this story, I'm making sure he lives, even if I die.
Because this story is just for that one reader...
Meeting the protagonist
Kdj pov:
After the absolute massacre I like to call, 'The penalty of the first scenario', I looked around at the remaining survivors: Lee Gilyoung, Lee Hyunsung, Kim Namwoon, Yoo Sangah, and unfortunately, Han Myungoh. He does become useful and less of a pain to be around later in the scenarios but he just makes these earlier scenarios way more annoying and tedious than they have to be! And for some reason, everyone seems to be impressed by my act and started to act as if I was their leader. Technically I was but that was another life. I'm not their leader yet.
"Oi Han Myungoh."
"Have some respect for your department head you contract worker!"
After hearing this, Yoo Sangah looked like she was about to kill him for real but I raised a hand to stop her. Taken aback she stepped back as I glared at my former boss. Receiving my glare he stumbled back and cried out frantically.
"Yo-You stop with this blatant dis-disrespect! After the world reverts to normal, when these dokkaebis are taken care of by authorities, I will be your s-superior once again! Stop with such arrogance and get on your kn-knees and beg for forgiveness and then m-maybe I'll consider forgetting this ever happened!"
Despite his frantic shouts of empty threats, his voice faltered to such a degree, one might need a translator to understand him. Unfortunately for him I can see right through him now that Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint is now available for everyone. His hands were shaking ever so slightly, his eyes scouting over the place - looking at anything but my eyes which continued to pierce through him and his legs trembled.
⸢This arrogant man! Does he really think that the military won't be able to handle a threat like this? Get those blasted eyes off of me.⸥
[Many Constellations are frowning at Incarnation 'Han Myungoh' for being arrogant]
[Many Constellations are showing hostility towards Incarnation 'Han Myungoh']
"Shut up Han Myungoh. The power system of the world you loved so dear will soon flip on its head. So I suggest you stop your little act of fake superiority," along with this retort I punched him across the face.
"Dokja-ssi!"
"This grasshopper man seems to know what's up."
[Many constellations are shocked by your actions]
[The constellations 'Secretive Plotter' is wondering how much knowledge you have]
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is satisfied with your judgement]
[500 coins have been sponsored]
I was annoyed; Not only was this capitalistic geezer thinking of useless things, seems like the constellations have finally started sending messages. I acted without thinking and started some unnecessary conflict. It doesn't matter anyways as this annoying manchild would receive no offers of sponsorship from Constellations at all. And once again I will have to reject the 4 that followed me and my nebula to the end. Wait ... Kim Namwoon's sponsor was the chuunibyou 15 year-old dragon, so does that mean he won't offer me to be his incarnation? And what about Han Sooyoung? She will never gain the interest of Abyssal Balck Flame Dragon so by keeping this chuuni brat alive, I screwed up Han Sooyoung's future.
Oh, dear. Well she doesn't have to know that. It's not like she would have known in the first place. As if on cue, Bihyung appeared and announced the Sponsor Selection event.
"Hyung, should I accept this offer?"
"Dokja-ssi, what should we do?"
"Oi grasshopper man, what do we do?"
Oi why did they all ask me like I'm some omniscient God or something? Well... but that's beside the point. There are other more reliable people here, Lee Hyunsung or heaven forbid Bihyung. I mean he literally said that a sponsor would grant you more power in this world. And we sure need that power. Before answering them I read the Fables that flowed around them to read their minds.
⸢Nebula Olympus? Like Mount Olympus of Ancient Greek Mythology?⸥
⸢'Lord of The Abyss' sounds powerful!⸥
⸢What sort of name is 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon'?⸥
⸢'Master of Steel' sounds so strong!⸥
Smiling satisfied, I looked back at my selection screen. Of course 3 of the 4 originals are there as i expected as that cringy dragon has taken an interest in Kim Namwoon like in the original.
[Sponsor Selection]
-Please select your sponsor
-Your chosen sponsor will be your strong supporter.
1. Demon-like Judge of Fire
2. Secretive Plotter
3. Prisoner of the Golden Headband.
Looking at my choices, I spoke up. "If you were offered a sponsor, take it. As it says, your chosen sponsor will be a strong supporter throughout this tragedy." I look at the names once more slightly guilitly knowing I would reject them, however, they all helped me along the journey of Kim Dokja's Company to the very end. 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' evenetually becomes Jung Heewon's sponsor as she grows rapidly to become the 'Judge of the Apocalypse', 'Secretive Plotter', a name that didn't appear in the original novel and I now know as Yoo Junghyuk of the original novel and finally 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' who, with the help of a reincarnated Yoo Sangah, became 'The Most Ancient Liberator' and adopts me to become one with him. Originally 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' would become Han Sooyoung's sponsor and aid us through her, but now he has his original incarnation who can help us this time. Hopefully.
I looked up to see everyone selecting their sponsor, reading (what I presumed to be) an unfair contract or just moving their body to see if they gained power. Seems like they really trusted my word 100% in this world. Even Han Myungoh seems to have gotten a sponor. Oh right! 'Lame Trickster'! Of course I would forget about him, he was utterly useless and, as his name suggests, unbelievably lame. He doesn't even show up in name at all after Han Myungoh's disappearance! Well now isn't the time to care about such a lame constellations as I have these three to worry about.
[Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is curious on who you will choose]
[Constellation 'Prisoner of The Golden Headband' is waiting for your choice]
[Constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' urges you to choose quickly]
[There is one minute left to complete Sponsor Selection]
Not only was I getting pressuring messages from those three but I was also running out of time.
"Dokja-ssi, did you not get an offer?"
"I did, 3 actually. However I already know who I'm choosing."
[Constellation 'Sectretive Plotter' is interested in your plan]
[The constellations have sponsored 500 coins]
Yoo Sangah and Lee Gilyoung look at me impressed at the fact I received multiple offers while Han Myungoh had envy coloured across his entire face. I watched the scene before me as my future companions curiously watch me wondering who I will choose to sponsor me in this world. I smirked as I watched the time go down and opened my mouth as if I was about to make an announcement, "The constellation I choose to sponsor me shall be ..."
[Sponsor Selcetion has ended]
"No one." The eyes of those around me widened and asked me to repeat myself as they couldn't believe their ears. Of course they would doubt me, I hypocritically told them to take any offer they had received and I went ahead and refused multiple offers. "I will have no constellation sponsor me at this moment."
[Some constellations are greatly affected by your choice]
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is disappointed in you.]
[She will persistently monitor your justice in the future.]
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is interested in your choice.]
[200 coins have been sponsored.]
[The constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' is interested in your choice.]
"Wait ahjussi, what do you mean 'at this moment'? Are you saying there is another opportunity for you to get a sponsor?"
Huh, would you look at that. Lee Hyunsung deducted something correctly off of the wording of my statement. Smirking I responded honestly, "Yes actually. I'm surprised you figured that out. Your body makes you look like you focused more on your muscles than your studies and you said you were a soldier correct?"
[The constellations are shocked at your knowledge of the Second Sponsor Selection]
Oh I know a lot more about this world than I did in my first round. More hidden secrets not even TWSA described.
"Ah yes I am a soldier. Lee Hyunsung." He reached out his hand to me in a formal manner and I grabbed it and shook it firmly. "Kim Dokja."
"Pleasure to meet you. Actually how about we all introduce ourselves so we can go as a group rather than solo. It is safer that way"
"Ok, I'm Yoo Sangah, a former office worker at Minosoft and Kim Doka and I were colleagues!"
"Kim Namwoon, student but who cares about that stuff now. Just know that I will be the most powerful out of all of us."
"Lee Gilyoung and this is actually the first time in the city so I hope to rely on you."
"As you know, I'm Kim Dokja and as my name suggests, I'm both an only child and a reader."
"Han Myungoh, the head of these ungrateful workers."
"Former head."
"WHATEVER!"
After this little exchange, everyone seemed to be in a lighter mood and let out a slight laugh. This light atmosphere didn't last long though as Bihyung entered the carriage once again.
[Now that you know each other to an extent, it's time to progress with the story]
Shit. I forgot that Bihyung was just a regular dokkaebi at the beginning. And after the adrenaline of the First Scenario wore off, fatigue rushed over my entire state of being. Curse my low stats.
"What is it that you want from us?"
[Like I said before the First Scenarion, an interesting story]
I raised my hand to stop Lee Hyunsung from doing anything to Bihyung as we needed to get out. Fast. "Dokja-ssi?"
"We need to get out, now." Ignoring the confused look of the people I saved, I invested my coins into my stats to prepare myself for the beating I was about to receive.
[2,700 coins have been invested into 'stamina'.]
[Stamina Lv. 1 - Stamina Lv. 10]
[Your stamina level has increased dramatically!]
[The durability of your body has greatly increased!]
Ramming myself into the door over and over again but I did absolutely nothing. Before I could damage myself further, Lee Hyunsung and Yoo Sangah held me back. "Well then at least help me open the door!"
"Why are you in such a hurry to escape?"
"Everyone in Seoul would have received the First Scenario and I don't think the person in the neighbouring carriage was lucky enough to find grasshoppers as well." Realising what I was saying, Yoo Sangah and Lee Hyunsung let go of me. "Lee Hyunsung, you seem the strongest of us here, try and open the door."
"Sir, yes sir."
I never told him to refer to me like that... oh well, some habits seem to die hard and for a military loving monster such as Lee Hunsung, this would be one of his hardest habits to overcome. I watched as he struggled to open the door in despiration. "Lee Hyunsung-ssi. Use a skill!"
"H-huh?"
"You should've checked it when you opened the attributes window. Lee Hyunsung is a soldier so there must be a skill you can use in this situation."
"Well...I have one but how do I use it―"
"Just think about using the skill."
"...Will that work?"
"It will. I did it earlier."
Using the same excuse as I did in my first meeting with Lee Hyunsung, I got him to use his stigma he got from his sponsor 'Great Mountain Push'. I watched on as his armed swelled to inhumane sizes and putting all of his strength into opening the door, he finally pried it open wide enough to get us out. Without hesitation we all rushed out the train onto the bridge as we looked below into the river and seeing horrific monsters - itchysaurs. My stomach did a backfilp as I looked at them as I will inevitably end up inside one of them in a bit because of a little cocky bastard.
As soo as everyone got out of the train, Lee Hyunsung picked up Lee Gilyoung and carried him on his back. Then we collectively recieved the same message in the sky.
[The second scenario has arrived!]
[Second Scenario – Escape]
Category: Sub
Difficulty: E
Clear Conditions: Cross the broken bridge and enter Oksu Station.
Time Limit: 20 minutes.
Compensation: 200 coins.
Failure: ???
[Huh, you humans really are lucky]
"Dokja-ssi, isn't it strange? It say broken bridge yet-"
"Don't worry and just run."
Everything was going just as it did before and we all rushed across the bridge. It was then that the monsters in the Han River started moving and crushing the bridge under its weight. Kim Namwoon being the cocky bastard he is, used the power of Abyssal Balck Flame Dragon to get across the collapsing bridge before anyone else leaving us behind, however, he did stop at the end and seemed to wait for us.
As the dust settled and the scenery around really did seem like the end of the world, the drivers who died in the First Scenario got out of their cars and acted like zombies as they approched us. Demonic humans. Lee Hyunsung managed to fend off a group of them. However, not even a soldier like him could fend off that many at a time and just when the situation started to look grim, the message I was waiting for appeared.
[Someone has received the favour of a constellation.]
[The constellation's scenario 'Deus Ex Machina' has been activated.]
Along with the voice, a brilliant bridge made of light was created among the remnants of the broken Dongho Bridge. Then a message floated in front of me.
[Deus Ex Machina – Even Bridge]
Description: A bridge of light made by a constellation. Only an 'even' number of people can cross the bridge. The bridge will disappear as soon as an 'odd' number of people tries to cross it.
Olympus finally intervened to protect their prescious incarnation. I really want to kill those bastards again, especially Zues and Poseidon. I looked around and saw that Han Myungoh already grabbed the light-headed Yoo Sangah and carried her across the bridge as Lee Hyunsung looked at me before looking at the bridge. "Go. I'll be fine." And with that he crossed the bridge with Lee Gilyoung on his back as I watched them with a smile.
Now that I am the only person on this side of the bridge, all the demonic humans started to surround me as I try my hardest to kick and punch them away. Despite leveling my stamina to Lv.10, I got exausted fast especially considering I'm used to my Lv.200 stats. But now was not the time to complain as I heard heavy foosteps coming fromt he train. There he was, the 'real' protagonist of this story. Yoo Jonghyuk.
Looking at me with his signature cold glare, he asked "Who are you?" Without even looking, he sliced the head off of a demonic human behind him. Now that Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint is now always active, I can freely read his thoughts.
⸢Where is Lee Hyunsung and Kim Namwoon?⸥
⸢This guy has never appeared in previous turns.⸥
⸢Annomalies like him must be eliminated.⸥
"I'm just a reader." After my statement, Yoo Jonghyuk activated Sage's Eyes as his eye glowed gold. He was trying to look at my information again. His greatest detection skill.
[The exclusive skill, 'Fourth Wall' is activated!]
[Fourth Wall has detected the use of the detection skill Sage's Eyes!]
Sparks flew in the air and Yoo Jonghyuk's body staggered.
⸢...Kuk, what?⸥
Yoo Jonghyuk covered his right eye and watched me with confusion.
[The exclusive skill Fourth Wall has blocked Sage's Eyes!]
But I already knew it wouldn't work. Just as expected, this large musclehead grabbed my neck and hung me over the edge.
"Name."
"That's not the proper way to ask now is it?"
To be fair that did deserve the punch to the stomach I received. I was expecting more from him but nothing came. I looked up to see him still holding onto his head like something happened to him. The Fables that flowed out of him didn't form sentences, but rather a scene. A scene I was familiar with. It was Yoo Jonghyuk in front of the Final Wall. The final scene I saw as the Oldest Dream.
⸢This guy seems to have a wall as well.⸥
⸢But how do I have this memory, I've never experienced such a thing.⸥
⸢Yet this is undeniably my perspective.⸥
Sighing I answered his previous question, "Kim Dokja"
"An unusual name."
"I get that often"
"What is your connection to a wall?"
His eyes demanded an answer, yet I was hesitant to tell him. However, this isn't necessarily the worst outcome. This can become my bargining chip to the Final scenario with him rather than only the 46th scenario against Anna Croft. Smirking I look at him and said, "I know how to get past that wall, so if you wish to get past that wall, you will need me."
"What if I just try and force the information out of you?"
"We both know you can't do that."
"..."
His silence was warmly welcomed by me. Seems like this time he was more willing to talk things through rather than beat me up. Though he will defintely drop my to 'prove my worth' again. Tch, annoying sunfish bastard.
"If you wish to become my companion, you must prove yourself worth it."
There it is. The moment I've been waiting for. Before he could tell me what he expected from me, I looked at him dead in the eyes aa if to challenge him "Drop me you son of a bitch." And with that, I was falling into the stomach of an itchysaur with the last thing I see before blacking out is that bastard's face.
Meeting the writer
Kdj pov:
For the past week, everything has been occurring exactly how it did before; the deal with Bihyung, the slaying of the itchysaur, the saving of Jung Heewon, Yoo Joonghyuk already leaving for the 3rd scenario and now Han Myungoh slaying the dark keeper after the procrovation from the dokkaebi. I was contemplating on whether to warn him this time around but thought against it. Sure he is now cursed but it isn't a curse of death, rather he is cursed to have a child which will be used as one of Asmodeus' incarnation bodies. Plus further connections in the demon realm will never be a bad thing, especially if I consider going through the same route.
Now with some higher stats and my weapon to the end - Unbreakable Faith, we head back to Geumho station to face Cheon Inho's group once again. I would also have to deal with the complaints of that cocky white haired bastard. I ordered Kim Namwoon to stay behind and be in charge of the food distribution and chaos. Of course I couldn't avoid the mass amounts of complaints from his rebellious mouth but that broken dam was promptly sealed the second I glared at him with a smile many used to call creepy in my first life of this apocalypse. I must say, his thoughts get weirder and weirder as of late.
⸢Ahjussi is back! How did he survive that fall?⸥
⸢He definetely fell. Is he some sort of hidden agent with secret skills that can overcome anything?!⸥
When I first arrived at the station after the bridge.
⸢Ahjussi is so cool! His way with words is so inspirational, it makes me want to cry!⸥
When I stood up to Cheon Inho's 'Incite' skill.
⸢Kehehehe. It has seemed that master has given me an important role as the gaurd of this place.⸥
⸢DO NOT WORRY MASTER, I SHALL FUFILL YOUR DESIRES TO MY BEST ABILITY!⸥
... and when I left him in charge. The only reason why he didn't come is that his fire would burn everyone in the tunnel to a crisp if he stops concentration even for a second. Of course Abyssal Black Flame Dragon has strong fire skills good for large groups, Kim Namwoon currently lacks the stamina, magic power and mental fortitude to maintain such powerful flames. This allowed for me to follow my first life without extra variables which may cause major disruption.
"Ok ok shut up!"
"Ehk. YOU CAN'T COMMAND ME GRASSHOPPER MAN!"
⸢He's so cool when he comands me!!⸥
This kid is really something else. Wait now that I think about it, he is acting a lot like Lee Jihye. Like alot... he might be more like Lee Jihye than Lee Jihye. I suppose this is why even his 999th self chased after her for over 40,000 years. Seriously this kid needs to get his head examined. Yet somehow he was the most relatable charvter to me in TWSA ... well no point dwelling on that now.
"Anyways how is the situation?"
"Kehehe, food has been distributed to those who paid and some people let down their guard and died because they couldn't pay the fee for the scenario."
"Well it is their fault, the dokkaebi was not quiet at all when he applied the scenario to us. How is Cheon Inho's group? What have they been up to?"
"Dokja-ssi, how could you feel nothing to the dead because of the scenario?"
"Well there is nothing I can do about it. Even if I were here, they are at fault for failing to adapt to the situation. The old world is gone now Yoo Sangah. Reputation doesn't matter here, if you aren't strong, you won't survive. Even with a bad reputation, people will still listen to you if you are strong. Now, Kim Namwoon, Cheon Inho. Report. Now."
"YES, SIR" he isn't even hiding it at this point.
After hearing the report I could gather what the situation was like quite quickly. Cheon Inho sent another group of people to the surface to 'gather' food since he was in clear opposition to our current method and place of power over food right now. Though it did seem he gave up after realising no one else would join his group to aid him. You're so obvious Cheon Inho. So incredibly obvious it is a wonder how people have yet to call you out for it. Well there is the factor of his control here. The 5 forms of power: legitmate power - power over people because they believe in your decisions; coercive power - power over people by manipulating them or threatening them; reward power - power over others in promise of a reward; referent power - power over others because they look up to you; and expert power - power over others because of high skill level and intelegence. Those were the 5 bases of power before the scenarios usually found in politicians or the monarchy; and these bases could not be more true in the scenarios right now.
Our group rivals Cheon Inho's group in power. While they have coersive power, it's the worst base of power for the long term. However, we have power as well, reward, expert and slight legitimate and referent. We fill what Cheon Inho could not, so naturally he would feel threatened by us. It is about time, things were getting a bit repetitive with food bargaining and coin transfer.
I watched as Cheon Inho approached us, at least a dozen men armed with weapons followed suit. He tried his best with his 'incite' stigma to get the bystanders to join him, however, I couldn't let him do that. I can beat Cheon Inho any day of the week this time, for I have covered another base of power, the 6th lesser known base, informational. Cheon Inho has no idea how this fight will go, no idea how bad the massacre would be and no idea what I'm thinking. But I know all of that, as well as his thoughts.
⸢I can just out number them.⸥
⸢Just corner them.⸥
⸢Just kill them.⸥
"Cheon Inho, what's with the gathering"
"Heh. Don't feign ignorance. You know damn well our goal."
"And what may that be?"
"To get rid of you monopolizing bastards! Everyone don't you see that they are making profit out of your lives! If we get rid of them then life will get better""
⸢[Stigma 'Incite Lv.2' has activated]⸥
I looked at the Fable that flowed out of him with a smirk on my face. "I see. You wish to paint us as the villains here."
"Of course! You need to be put up for judgement"
"SHUT UP YOU LITTLE SHITS"
"KIM NAMWOON! THERE IS A CHILD HERE!"
"Sorry ma'am..."
"Well then let us let the crowd decide themselves shall we," having walked up to Cheon Inho, I could just invest all my coins into strength right now and one right hook is all it will take. But where is the fun in that. "And no skills."
He looked at me in shock, well of course he would, some random guy challenged him AND knew his stigma. Grinding his teeth together, he finally spoke up, "LET US GET RID OF THESE CAPATALISTIC PIGS!" He really couldn't keep his word. I watched as the Fable flowed out before jabbing his pressure point. I haven't gotten the pressure point skill yet but I could faintly remember where they were, so I just jabbed the pressure point where the Fable of his stigma flowed out of, his throat. After a stab at his throat, not only did he collapse on the floor on the edge of consciousness, the Fable of his stigma wavered before disappearing.
"It seems that you have lost your power over these people. Cheon Inho, how much longer are you going to lie to the people who rely on you?"
"Wh-what are you on about?"
"Dokja-ssi, mayb-"
"Not now Heewon-ssi, him and his men must be judged."
[Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is wondering about your plan]
[Many constellations wish to see the events of this confrontation]
Hear it is, the moment I've been waiting for. Obtaining the shield of Kim Dokja's Company is a relatively simple task, but now I shall obtain his counterpart. His partner in crime if you will. The sword to his shield. The sword in question stood right by my side as I listed the horrendous list of wrong doings of Cheon Inho. Murder, theft, manipulation, bribery and much much more. Looking over to the sword which will stand by my side with her shield to accompany her, I saw the Fables flowing out of her and it seems that she is about to evolve into the Judge of Evil.
⸢These bastards. I will kill you!⸥
All she needs now is the final push. The final push for her to get her revenge. A character that suffered enough because of my recklessness, I shall let you relax a bit more this turn.
[The constellations of the Absolute Good system have defined Cheon Inho as 'wicked'.]
The final straw. And with that, the limbs of Cheon Inho's group started flying all over the place, blood splattering everywhere. Soon what was a messy dirty broken down tunnel had become a battlefield, and she was at the centre of it.
[All evolution conditions of the attribute 'Crouching Figure' have been met.]
The attribute of character 'Jung Heewon' is blossoming.]
A dazzling brilliance was rising from her body. I nodded. It was now time.
[The attribute of 'Jung Heewon' has blossomed to 'Judge of Destruction (Hero).]
A judge to wipe out evil. The best of the three 'judge' attributes woke up from a crouching figure.
[You have contributed greatly to the attribute of 'Crouching Figure!']
[The character 'Jung Heewon' won't hesitate to be your sword in the future.]
And now, the sword and shield have been obtained. After the initial shock and confusion, everyone else in the group started fighting, including Lee Gilyoung. Wait, except Han Myungoh. Isn't this the time he ran away as well? Well we won't see him for quite some time and by then, he would have changed.
The battlefield got fericer and fiercer, Kim Namwoon trying his hardest not to burn allies, Yoo Sangah using Arachne's webs, Lee Gilyoung getting nearby insects to block their vision and Lee Hyunsung covering for Jung Heewon's blind spots. Their movements worked so well together, that one might have assumed they have been together since the dawn of time. This cooperation is a sight I missed for a long time after watching Yoo Joonghyuk's solo regressions as his companions died.
[The character 'Jung Heewon' has activated the exclusive skill 'Judgment Time.']
[The Absolute Good constellations have agreed to the use of this skill.]
['Judgment Time' has been activated.]
And with the release of such a bloody aura, the battle was won in less than 5 minutes. As we stood in the middle of a blood painted scernery, we all looked at each other, before laughing and falling down in exhaustion. Kim Namwoon was the only one to actually pass out. The guy probably exhausted all his mental power in focusing not to hit us. The damn brat might not be so bad after all.
[Well well well, now was that an interesting story or what!]
Suddenly the mood dampens significantly.
"What the hell do you want?!"
[Calm down girl. You may have an important sponsor backing you up, but that doesn't protect you from a probability storm]
"So what is it that you want then?"
[Jeez, ok ok. Impatient much]
This little goblin. Was Bihyung always this annoying? The same Bihyung that sacrificed himself in the Final Scenario for us? After crossing the rails, we receive the message.
[The second main scenario is enabled.]
[Main Scenario #1 – Meeting]
Category: Main
Difficulty: E
Clear Conditions: Cross the tunnel and meet the survivors in the first main base.
Time Limit: None
Compensation: 500 coins
Failure: ???
[The main base is Chungmuro Station]
We headed there ASAP (Lee Hyunsung offering to carry the unconscious Kim Namwoon) but I forgot about this bit. Nearing our destination, we encountered 'that'.
[A new sub scenario has arrived!]
Indeed, as soon as I thought about it.
"Everybody step back."
[Sub Scenario – Welcome Prison]
Category: Sub
Difficulty: D~F
Clear Conditions: Escape from Welcome Prison within the time limit.
Time Limit: 1 hour
Compensation: 300 coins
Failure: ???
[Sub scenario – Welcome Prison has begun!]
The worst thing that could happen right now. For I, like Yoo Joonghyuk, have experienced this horrid world before. And with those experiences, came worse trauma than before. The time when Lee Gilyoung and Lee Jihye almost killed me, the time I almost became an outer god if it weren't for Shin Yoosoung, the time when I was exiled into the demon realms and many many more experieces I wish to forget.
Maybe this is how Yoo Joonghyuk felt every time he got here. Every time. All 1863 times. And I just watched.
But now wasn't the time for that, now I have to put faith that this special 'skill' of mine can protect me.
"Welcome prision? What is that?"
"Keep your mind straight everyone. Focus."
Before I even finished my sentence, a heavy fog descended upon us and blocked our vision. The world around me distorted and the scenery changed.
⸢Dokja⸥
Mother. Out of all my experiences, this is still my worst. The day my world got turned upside down. However, this time, I know the truth. The hard, cold, ugly truth my mum hid from me. The truth that I killed my father that day.
Knowing that made this experience so much worse. I stared as I looked at my mum just standing over my father's body. I looked at it after gathering my courage.
⸢Rememeber, this was out of self-defence ok?⸥
I've killed many before. Many many bodies died at my hands. I painted a tunnel red with blood. Yet I look upon my first victim, and my stomach contents threaten to come out. Cletching both my stomach and mouth, I fall on my knees until the message I've been waiting for finally arrives.
[Exclusive skill 'Fourth Wall' is strongly activated]
[Some of your mental shock has been offset]
The scene before me changed once more back to the tunnel before Chungmuro Station. "Everyone calm down and take in deep breaths," however, like before, I was slightly late. Everyone has already been trapped in the madness of their own mind.
"S-Soldier Lee Hyunsung. Did you hear wrong?"
"I was wrong. I was wrong Mother!"
"T-This dog bastard!"
This is bad. Luckily Kim Namwoon is still unconscious, he was the most dangerous if he were to lose his mind. His fire is the most powerful weapon we have even against Unbreakable Faith. If he were to go as mad as Jung Heewon is right now, we had no chance of survival. Speaking of Jung Heewon, she was waving her sword around as her eyes started glowing red. Bad sign that she was activating 'Demon Slayer'. Much like with Cheon Inho, I hit her pressure point at the back of the neck as close as possible as I could remember and she passed out. Luckily it doesn't take much to get Lee Hyunsung, Lee Gilyoung and Yoo Sangah to come to their senses as we head to Chungmuro once more.
Lee Hyunsung very suspiciously offered to carry Jung Heewon rather enthusiastically as Kim Namwoon woke up with the entire situation having to be explained to him. And as expected, once we arrived in Chungmuro Station, a girl in a school uniform approached us. The same girl who was broadcast killing her friend and the girl who will be undefeated in naval combat. Lee Jihye.
However, the figure that caught my eye wasn't the high school girl with a sword, no, it was a short woman off in the distance with a mask. And despite the distance between us, I recognised the black hair styled in a bob cut. The posture she held as she looked upon us. The purple hoodie she loved so much. What the hell is Han Sooyoung doing here?
Meeting the reader
Hsy pov:
I seriously underestimated how painful magic power depletion is; my head is pounding louder than a rock concert. Might have to focus on stamina and magic power this time, didn't really care for magic power until I got sponsored by that weird teenage dragon. Thinking about that dragon, shouldn't he have sent me a message by now? Once I woke up it was already past the Sponsor Selection but after being rejected by that rat bastard, he was interested in me. Yet no messages from him appear before me. Wait ... did Kim Dokja choose the dragon? No stop, think about it logically.
[Fable, 'Predictive Plagiarism' has begun its storytelling]
⸢ABFD did originally offer sponsorship to Kim Dokja.⸥
⸢If he isn't interested in us, could he already have an incarnation?⸥
⸢That squid can't have chosen him right? He should know that he wasn't the right choice.⸥
Tch, forgot how chaotic my own mind is. I listened to them all, trying to put the pieces together, when suddenly I became dizzy. The world started spinning, my legs shaked, eyes wandered and voices silenced.
[Exclusive skill, 'False Wall' is strongly activated]
[Exclusive skill, 'False Wall' has offset your mental shock]
So this is what Kim Dokja had. Heh, this ain't too bad.
[Ki m Do kj a wa sn' t th e o rig in al inc a rn at ion]
[Th ink pro per ly]
[Us e ou r ne w m emo ri es]
My skill ... can talk?? What the hell?! And why does it talk like that? Did Kim Dokja have this as well?
[Ye s he d id]
It ... just read my mind. I must be going mad. But Kim Dokja was the oringal one that chuuni wanted to sponsor. And what 'new memories' is this wall talking about? Once again my head started aching as it flooded with memories once more. Of course, as tls123, the original incarnation of that dragon is none other than a fellow teenage chunni to the dragon. Kim Namwoon. But, why would he be alive? What changed squidward's mind to save him?
[H e re all y is a g ood pe rs on]
"Who are you?"
[Y ou]
THAT DOESN'T HELP! Wait, it is a version of me that a) knows Kim Namwoon is sponsored by ABFD in TWSA, b) thinks Mr. Suicidal is a good person and c) appeared after I knew I was tls123. The pieces finally connected.
[Fin al ly]
This skill is me from the 1863rd regression, in other words, the true tls123 and author that kept Kim Dokja alive.
"How are you a skill?"
[I ma d e up m os t of th e Fab le s yo u use d to cr af t th is ski ll]
Suddenly everything made sense. It was still the start of the Scenarios, yet I gathered enough Fables to craft a complex skill such as the Final Wall piece. Fables which layed in my subconsciousness, Fables which reached the end of Scenarios and saved Kim Dokja. The Fables of the 1863rd regression. However, it doesn't explain how it knows so much about Kim Dokja and his 'Fourth Wall'.
[He hel pe d m e sav e Ki m Do kja]
Who? After rummaging through my newfound memories, I noticed a middle aged man in a fedora. Once again, my exhausted mind was set to work as 'False Wall' has been disabled now. I ignored the Scenarios outside, this information is more important to me. If I get any clue that Kim Dokja still remembers anything, this would be the best way to alert him that I also remember and hopefully, he can rely on me this time.
After what felt like an hour, a single title was brought up. Dokkaebi King. The 'Fourth Wall' is the Dokkaebi King of the 1863rd turn. I got the information I wanted, however, this information was costly. I was once again on the verge of passing out as I drained my magic power maintaining 'Predictive Plagiarism'. But now wasn't the time to stay still, I've stayed still too long and needed to get to the 3rd Scenario. And hopefully, meet the person I've sacrificed so much for.
Running out of the house, I needed a weapon. ASAP. I grabbed two kitchen knives and stepped over the chef's body.. I held both knives in my hand as I tried to get used to them, one longer than most knives (around 30 cm) with a thin blade (probably a fillet knife) and the other a thicker but shorter knife (most likely a standard kitchen knife). Once the knives felt natural to wield, slashing the air, stabbing nearby objects and swapping between my hands, I rushed to the fridge. I needed food, I didn't realise until I entered the kitchen, but I'm starving.
How long have I been passed out for anyways? Opening up my phone, I get the expected no signal message, but what shocked me was the date. I'VE BEEN PASSED OUT FOR 2 DAYS. Overusing magic power really is something I can't overlook. I have to be careful this time, if I were to pass out in battle, then I won't get a chance again. I don't know what conditions made me 'regress' but I can't assume that it works like Yoo Joonghyuk. I scoffed my face with the cooked leftovers in the fridge (they would go bad in a few days anyways) and stockpilled enough canned food and snacks for at least a week. Then I tried to access my attribute window. I tried again and again for half an hour with no success. Then it hit me like a truck, Kim Dokja couldn't see his attribute window because of the 'Fourth Wall' and now I copied it to make the 'False Wall', I suffer the same consequence.
It was at this moment I realised I was covered head to toe in blood. Crimson red blood. The reason I hadn't noticed it until now was that it was mostly dry, though the pungent smell remained. I went into my closet to get a change of clothes, simple joggers for easy mobility, loose top because it is more comfortable and my favourite purple hoodie which I have like 10 of. After I changed, I left the house and swiftly opened my bag of food to take out a lemon candy and popped it in my mouth. The sourness hit me almost instantly, yet it brought a sense of nostalgia. It reminded me of my time with Kim Dokja, and how I tried to get a reaction out of him. Looking back on it, why did I do something so embarrassing? I should have known that Kim Dokja doesn't see me that way at all, yet I tried. As I recalled these moments of my life, I felt the heat rise in my cheeks. But I shook it off. I need to gather the Apostles once more.
After a few days of travelling and gathering the Apsotles once more, we once again received the piece of meteorite like before, however, this time, I planned on dealing with it myself. I still need time to prepare to get the strength to handle it, but for now, we have a concrete plan. In these few days, the kitchen knives felt natural in my hands as I wielded them almost effortlessly, slaying any grade 9 monsters coming my way. I've also gained the mask I used as the 1st Apostle but it brought back bad memories, so I simply covered up the ominous '1' on it and put it on. My stats have been leveled up now with a focus on magic power and stamina and I am currently in the 4th Scenario as I survived the green room Scenario.
If I remember correctly, Kim Dokja comes from Chungmuro Station (the one with Yoo Joonghyuk) and that station should still be in the 3rd Scenario. I decided to travel to Chungmuro Station to pay these two dying bastards a visit. Also because I could probably get a better weapon in the cinema dungeon - these knives have seen better days. It's not too far from where I am, so if I have no disruptions, I should arrive later today or early tomorrow.
Alas, nothing can go smoothly in this broken world. Before me stands a guy I haven't met in my previous turn, yet I couldn't forget him. That piercing glare he sent me whenever I got praised, the spiky black hair he tries to keep perfect to appeal to others and the wretched smile he had whenever he watched someone fall. Jin Kyung-Il. And true to his name, he wishes for respect and superiority. He couldn't stand that someone was better at anything than him. Especially when it came to his specialty, writing. Any lesson which required creative writing, he was number 1. Untoppable. The best of the best. That was until I transferred into his school. He was no longer an untoppable prodigy. No longer the top of the best. For it took 1 test, 1 story, 1 piece of writing for him to be dethroned by none other than yours truly. And all that followed was an onslaught of bottled up, uncontrallable fury and envy. Fury redder than blood, envy greener than all the plants of the world. All to be aimed at me.
"Well, well. Who do we have here?" His mouth twisted into his horrendous smile. Teeth whiter than snow. Disgusting. Such a fake image, fit for a fake writer.
"It's been a while four eyes."
"It sure has unwanted child. What happened to the hair you always put in a bun?"
"None of your business." In the short exchange we just had, I can still feel the rage that boiled within and the envy that swirled around him. It was crystal clear that this isn't going to end peacefully.
And it certainly didn't. He grabbed the bat from his back and swung full force at me. His strength was clearly at least Lvl 12, he was good at everything before so it made sense. 1 hit from that bat and even with my Lvl 13 stamina, it would have been lights out for me. Luckily I also have agility at Lvl 11 and dodged his attack with ease.
"Not too bad for someone who slept in class"
"Shut up. We both know you want me dead, so get on with it." I took my knives out of the pocket in my hoodie, the long fillet knife on my left, and the larger kitchen knife on my right. His eyes gleamed with a storng desire. A desire that could only be fufilled because the world has fallen to chaos. The desire to see me breathe my last. He smiled wider than before, his false 'perfect' features shining out further. I'd be damned if I got bested by this guy.
He stood up straight, pushed his glasses up his face and repositioned his hands on the bat, ready to swing. Despite his obvious advantage at close range, I rushed in, closing the distance between us in a mere second. He may have the better natural stats that me, but I have something far more valuable than anything he has. Experience. He swung his bat at maximum force at me but i simply redirected it with the fillet knife, leaving him open. Taking this opportunity, I tried to deliver a fatal stab to his face, however, he was more agile than I thought and moved his face slightly. It wasn't enough to avoid the attack but it was enough to make it non-lethal. Now a deep cut runs along his left cheek bone all the way to his bloody ear and his broken glasses now on the floor.
Rage consumed him and suddenly, the bat changed form. The once wooden bat, effective for causing blunt force trauma, is now in the shape of a spear. Seems his sponsor is some weaponsmith to have such a strange yet powerful stigma.
[Constellation 'Forger of all instruments bronze and steel' has revealed its modifier]
[Your understanding of the skill 'Malleable Weapons' has increased]
Seems like I was right, however, it isn't a name I recognised, it wasn't a character I wrote. But now wasn't the time to worry about pointless things like that, right now, Jin Kyung-Il has a spear pointed directly at me. Though I do wish to see more of his stigma to try and get more understanding off of it. Then I will be able to copy it. He tries to poke me with it, to which I simply hit away with the fillet knife. It is evident that he has no experience with such a weapon before; he handles it incorrectly, he doesn't even out the weight distribution and he doesn't even swing it properly. Against such an inexperienced opponent, finishing him would be swift work. And that was exactly what I set out to do. I ran up to him to get out of his optimum range (not that he could utilise it anyways) and thrust the larger knife into his hand. With his balance offset, I jumped up, kicked off his body and planted both knives into his shoulder blades. However, before he died, I had some questions.
"How did you survive the 1st Scenario?"
"I knew it would happen." At this my eyes widened. Is he one of the people who tried to read TWSA but inevitably dropped it?
"What? How?!"
"You of course." My heart rate quickened. Does he know? How? "That novel you wrote. It started exactly like this." He knows. How he knows is a mystery to me but I remained silent. "SSSSSS-grade Infinite Regressor. I must say, you get less and less creative with titles." I let out a sigh of relief, of course, my original novel started almost exactly like it did in TWSA which led Kim Dokja to believe I plagiarised it. I finished questioning Jin Kung-Il and yanked my knives out of his shoulders. He screamed and squirmed in pain, and to add salt to the wound, I kicked him in all guys weak point, the balls. He lets out a pained grunt as I try to test something.
[Exclusive skill, 'Plagiarise' has been activated]
[Skills in Plagiarise potential]
'Malleable Weapons (Understanding 25)' 'Fourth Wall (Understanding ???)'
"Select Malleable Weapons."
[Gather the required Fables to construct 'Malleable Weapons']
At this point I gathered the Fables the easiest way possible, from the original owner. The dead body of Jin Kyung-Il lied by my feet as I gathered the Fables to flow out of him and into my core. It was a much simpler skill than 'Fourth Wall' so it is much quicker and the mental drain that occurred last time doesn't occur this time. I guided the Fables into what resembled a sphere before my until I see the message appear.
[Plagiarism complete]
[Malleable Weapons Lvl.5 gained]
[Constellation, 'Forger of all instruments bronze and steel' is furious]
[Constellation, 'Forger of all instruments bronze and steel' says that Eden will guarantee your downfall]
So his sponsor was the weaponsmith of Eden. What was his name again? Tubal-Cain. Well no need to care about him right now, large nebulas like Eden can't get involved without risking large amounts of probability right now. At this moment, I must reach Kim Dokja and try out my new skill.
[Malleable Weapons Lvl. 5]
[You can run your magic power through your weapon to change its form (Passive)]
A simple yet very versatile skill. But I made a mental note to check it out later, now I rushed to Chumgmuro Station. I reached a nearby ledge, the ledge I came on before with a couple other Apostles in the original turn to win over Yoo Joonghyuk. Awful memories they are. Some of my biggest regrets. Yet here I am, scouting the same Station, just this time for a different suicidal bastard.
That's when I saw him. He was once again surrounded by others, Lee Gilyoung (bug boy), Yoo Sangah (Olympus spy), Lee Hyunsung (soldier), Jung Heewon (sacry judge) and someone I didn't and did expect at the same time, Kim Namwoon (should be dead). And in the centre of them all is that bastard. Waist too thin to be a man. Body so frail, one blow would be the end. Yet his face isn't the same as before. His face used to be nothing to write home about, rather it used to be something to make fun of, but now, his facial features seem to gleam in the everlasting darkness. His smile pure and true. His skin fair and smooth. And his eyes met mine, and in that moment I am thankful for the mask, as I look upon the person I longed to see. The person who was separated from me far too many time.
My sole reader, Kim Dokja.
Chungmuro Station
Kdj pov:
I stared at her figure for what felt like hours. Looking at her, I felt my mind go blank with thought. Why was she here? Is she still the First Apostle? Well of course she would be, I never had influence over that in the first place. So that answers the mask, but is that her or an avatar? No way she comes to this place knowing someone as dangerous as Yoo Joonghyuk is here. I was thinking so much that my mind felt empty, as if my thoughts flowed out of me and I was reading them rather than having them clutter my mind.
"Dokja-ssi?"
Yoo Sangah snapped me out of my daze. Right, currently I have to clear the Third Scenario first. Without doing so, neither me nor Han Sooyoung can go to the other (in Han Sooyoung's case to Yoo Joonghyuk). "Sorry Sangah, just thinking if an old friend is alright." I tried to smile but she easily saw through it, however, I need to use this lie to get Han Sooyoung on our side easier than before.
"You must be worried for them, Dokja-ssi." NEVER IN A MILLION LIVES. That brat can look out for herself, plus why would I ever care for such a child … but I need to keep acting to make it believable when we meet later.
"Of course. I have no doubt they have cleared the First Scenario at least but I'm worried about how they are doing now. She wasn't the type to go out."
"She? I didn't expect this old man to have a girlfriend!"
"SHUT UP KIM NAMWOON! It's not like that either." Seriously, what is wrong with this white-haired bastard? First I suddenly became his master, then he accused me of having a girlfriend (LIKE HE CAN TALK AS WELL, HE CHASED AFTER THE GIRL IN FRONT OF HIM FOR OVER 40,000 YEARS AND STILL COULDN'T GET TO DATE HER) and most of all, got surprised I even got a friend that is a female. Stupid teenager.
"YES SIR!"
"What a weird group." Lee Jihye said as she observed our interactions. It was at this point, everyone got reminded of her presence. She stood there in front of us with her hair in a high ponytail, still in her school uniform and a sword in hand resting on her shoulder.
⸢She looks like she could kill me. Hot.⸥
Seriously, what is wrong with this guy?
"Ah sorry about them." Luckily, Jung Heewon was the first to approach her and considering the similarities between them, one could mistake them for sisters. "We were told the Third Scenario takes place here?"
"Ah right. Of course, let me show you around while I tell you about it. The name's Lee Jihye and before you ask, yes I am the girl that was broadcasted." With that confession, the mood was brought down drastically, however, the tour must go on. She showed us the different green rooms like they were before and then led us to Gong Pildu's territory. This greedy man was still the same as ever, what can you expect from one of the original 10 Evils. "Be careful around them, they can and will kill you without hesitation if you trespass." After receiving the warning from Lee Jihye, Kim Namwoon and Lee Gilyoung hid behind me. I understand Lee Gilyoung, but Kim Namwoon?
⸢K-kill?⸥
Did this teenager forget he almost killed an elderly woman on the train? How can a person change so quickly? Enough about him, I approached Lee Jihye and asked her about something I already knew the answer to, "Have you seen a man called Yoo Joonghyuk here?"
"What do you want from Master?"
"Oh I just want to meet up with him, we did have a promise." With that, Lee Jihye eyed me suspiciously.
⸢What would master see in such a pathetic man?⸥
Ouch. I had no time to ponder over Lee Jihye's hurtful thoughts as, just on time, Yoo Joonghyuk appeared.
"Master! This weird guy claims he has a promise with you." Lee Jihye said as she ran to the buff man's side.
"Yo, Joonghyuk!" I shouted across the station waving my hands. As soon as he saw me, his eyes visibly widened. "You didn't wait for me."
⸢How is this guy still alive?⸥
⸢Any normal person wouldn't have survived being dropped inside an ichthyosaur.⸥
⸢So how?⸥
"Believe me now?"
⸢This guy. He is hiding a lot more than I thought.⸥
⸢Unnecessary variables must be eliminated.⸥
Unbelievable. This guy really does only think with his muscles. I waited until he slightly unsheathed his sword to avoid unnecessary suspicion before faking a panicked expression. "Woah, woah, woah. Hold on buddy."
However, before I could complete a proper sentence, the entire group stood between us with their arms covering me as if to protect me from a terrorist. I mean they kind of are.
"I WON'T LET YOU TOUCH AHJUSSI!"
"You won't hurt Dokja-ssi with us in the way."
"You'll have to get through us first."
"Master! What are you doing, they aren't bad people!"
Yoo Joonghyuk just looked at the situation that had unfolded in front of him. "Tch."
⸢How the hell has this guy persuaded Lee Hyunsung AND Kim Namwoon to join him⸥
⸢He is suspicious.⸥
⸢It's as if he knows way more than he lets on⸥
This guy is getting dangerously close to the truth. I need to distract him. "You still need me for my wall, remember? You saw the vision too right?"
⸢How does he know.⸥
⸢He has seen the vision as well?⸥
⸢Whatever the case may be, he seems to valuable to lose now⸥
"Just don't get in my way." And with that he turned away from us.
"Master! Wait up!" Of course Lee Jihye followed him as he walked away.
With the danger out of sight, the entire group let out a heavy sigh. Seems like they were all nervous about that confrontation. However, the problems have only just begun as we realised we were now on Gong Pildu's land. Turrets popped out of the ground and were pointed directly at us in the centre of this mess.
"Well, well, well. Look at these youngsters not knowing how to respect others' property." A voice was heard behind the wall of bodyguards, and as it drew closer and closer, a rather plump man showed up drinking cans of beer. "Seems like you need to be taught a lesson."
I could feel the blood vessels in my head threatening to burst in anger, however, now wasn;t the right time to deal with this fatty. "I deeply apologise, we did not realise we crossed the border by accident, I hope you could let this incident pass this once."
⸢Hm, this youngling sure knows how to flow with his words.⸥
"Fine, but trespass again and my turrets will fire automatically."
With that, the group stumbled away and left the large Green Room. Looks like we'll have to find another one. It'll be harder this time, we have a larger group (well by 1 person but an increase is an increase nonetheless) so we need more spaces. Like before, I asked the others to look around despite knowing there wasn't any as I hid in the corner and read the novel Han Sooyoung gave me, her sole reader.
This proceed like before, Bihyung approaches me and asks about the 'blank' notebook, everyone returned with the expected results of no free space, my very suicide-sounding plan and the results of said 'suicide' plan. As expected Yoo Joonghyuk was there and took Lee Gilyoung and I used the [Spectre Stone] again to become a 'ghost' and relive my traumatic past as well as having Anna Croft notice me (unfortunately).
The next day everyone woke up on the station platform rather than the tunnel and Lee Gilyoung ran up to me with tears streaming down his eyes. "AHJUSSI. DON'T DO THAT AGAIN! I THOUGHT YOU DIED!" Sorry Gilyoung, but you might have to feel this way a couple more times before we can reach the end. I didn't say any of this, however, and I asked Lee Jihye about Yoo Joonghuk's whereabouts even though I already knew.
"Master? I don't know. Said something about a dungeon around here. Been going there the past 6 days, only appearing just before the monsters appear."
After 'finding out' where Yoo Joonghyuk is, I gathered everyone in the group and set out to the Cinema Dungeon with the original group - me, Jung Heewon, Lee Jihye and Lee Gilyoung. This left Yoo Sangah in charge as before, with Lee Hyunsung and my self-proclaimed disciple, Kim Namwoon. Is this how Yoo Joonghyuk felt when Lee Jihye became his disciple? Anyways, enough about that, as expected, Yoo Joonghyuk cleared most of the films on the different floors despite it being his '3rd' round. We made our way up the floors, clearing the same films with the same results and Lee Gilyoung taming Titano. Damn, this is only the second time I've experienced this yet it felt … stale. I could never do this again, much less 1864 times.
Everything was going according to plan, we would reach the Cinema Master and I unfortunately will have to fight Yoo Joonghyuk again. Thankfully I can use his regression depression against him again, though it will be harder to trigger it compared to his 1863rd round. Thankfully he did get married and had a child with Lee Seolhwa but that might cause another misunderstanding with Lee Jihye again. I will not go through that torture again.
However, once we reached the final floor, before going into the Cinema Master's room, we found Yoo Joonghyuk, stood their, staring daggers into the door infront of him.
"Master!"
Yoo Joonghyuk turns his head around to face us, the daggers still ever present in his glare.
⸢How did they find his place?⸥
"What are you doing here?"
"I wish to ask you the same thing, why are you just standing in front of the entrance to what is clearly the boss of this dungeon?" It doesn't make sense. Yoo Joonghyuk, strongest incarnation ever, hesitating. The muscle head that only thinks with his sword not charging head first into conflict? What is going on?
"..."
He stayed silent but I watched as the Fables flowed out of him like they did before. Instead of showing his thoughts in words, it showed a scene again. The scene of him being controlled by the Cinema Master in the 8th regression, the discovery of the green rooms in the 5th regression and the suicide escape plan he used in the 12th regression. All moments I have lived before, both as the reader of his journey, and the catalyst that started that journey. But how does he know this? As far as he is aware, this is still his 3rd regression. He shouldn't have these memories.
"I had a vision is all." And he talks to us? What happened to the Yoo Joonghyuk from before. It's as if he's a new person altogether. "A vision of my downfall if I went alone."
"But Master is so strong, how can you have a downfall so early on?"
"..."
"Well you're not alone now, whatever you saw won't happen, we just go in and kill him as quickly as possible."
"..."
So now you decide to stay quiet huh? Well the Cinema Master is easy to defeat if you have a strong mental barrier, unfortunately, the current Yoo Joonghyuk lacks that but I have the 'Fourth Wall' in my possesion, stronger than any mental barrier. After a few minutes of silence, Yoo Joonghyuk walks towards the entrance of the fight, seems like this bastard has finally got his courage back.
We were greeted with a large open space with an old man situated at the very centre of it, clearly the Cinema Master. I pulled out Unbreakable Faith as I stored the twin daggers of Artemis and Apollo in my bag as well as putting on the body armor that I got as rewards before arriving here, hopefully I won't have to use it this time. Lee Gilyoung hold Mjolar and Lee Jihye and Jung Heewon pull out their respective swords. Of course everyone also has something to bring for the others back at the station, Lee Jihye has brass knuckles for Kim Namwoon, Jung Heewon has a shield for Lee Hyunsung and Lee Gilyoung has a stamina increasing braclet for Yoo Sangah.
With all the preperations over and done with, everyone charges directly at the old man (except for Lee Gilyoung staying at the back and gathering information), both women swung their swords together forming an X shaped attack zone to which the old man simply ducks under only to be met with a feirce uppercut from Yoo Joonghyuk. The old man was caught off guard and doesn't seem to be able to cast his puppetry skill yet, so I joined the barrage of attacks. The attack seemed successful, however, it seems my strategising needs some work. Why did I think it was a good idea for 4 swordsmen (or swordswomen) to attack a person with a mind control skill? There was the occasional clash between our own swords as we all aim to strike him down and slowly our co-ordination starts to deteriorate and the Cinema Master regains his stance.
He looked at me in the eyes, presumably to take over my mind, but I have something much more powerful than a mental barrier.
[Exclusive skill, 'Fourth Wall' makes you immune to mind control]
After his failed attempt, he stumbled backwards, rabbing onto his head. He looked at me with shock plaster across his face.
⸢How is that possible?⸥
However, such a defeated expression didn't last long as it started twisting into a disgusting smile. Shit. The battle came to a standstill as everyone watched as Yoo Joonghyuk swings his sword aimlessly. I got too careless, looks like this body armor came in handy after all.
I prepared for the fight against Yoo Joonghyuk as I ordered the two women to focus on the Cinema Master and for Lee Gilyoung to wait out of range for a bit. Even after I raised all my stats with the elixirs from the dungeon, the fight against Yoo Joonghyuk is still as hard as ever. "Lee Gilyoung, now!" And with that cue, the large insect name Titano fell through the ceiling and pinned down Yoo Jonghyuk. Surprisingly, the Cinema Master could easily put up with the combined swordsmanship of Lee Jihye and Jung Heewon but it was evident they were all getting tired. "Step back." With that command, both ladies dropped back as I rushed forwards and sliced the surprised head clean off its neck. And I know the Cinema Master loses his control over someone agter he dies, but it never hurts to be sure, so I used my enhanced strength and wacked Yoo Joonghyuk clean on the jaw and his eyes were swift to close.
After such an eventful fight, we had no time to rest. Lee Jihye, wanting to stay with her master, gave the bronze knuckles to Jung Heewon to pass onto Kim Namwoon. The rest of us rushed back to the station to see everything was how it should be and met up with the other three from the group. After exchanging items and information (Kim Namwoon was a bit too excited when he found out Lee Jihye got the brass knuckles for him and Lee Hyunsung had a red tint across his cheeks as Jung Heewon gave the shield over), I carried out the same exact plan as before - destroy the large Green Room, piss off Gong Pildu, cause absolute chaos for where there is chaos - order is swiftly born - and made a deal with Gong Pildu's sponsor. Everything was executed perfectly, not a single unexpected bump along the way, and with that, we cleared the Third Scenario and we can now leave Chungmuro Station.
"You look happy Dokja-ssi."
"Of course, I need to check up on a friend after all."
Battle of 'Prophets'
Kdj pov:
As soon as the Fourth Scenario got announced, I almost bolted straight out of the station. Almost. Yoo Sangah grabbed my arm, almost as if she sensed me trying to flee, but curiosity is getting the better of me. I need to know what Han Sooyoung was doing here. I looked over at Yoo Sangah, her smile sending shivers down my spine, before I glanced back at the ledge I first spotted Han Sooyoung. Of course she wasn't there, why would she stay in the same place for 2 days when she also has to complete the Fourth Scenario as well, like before, Chungmuro Station was the last station to join the battle, so we have to fight harder than the others.
"Where do you think you are going, Kim Dokja?"
"Ha, ha, Sangah?"
"After destroying the station and almost killing everyone here, you plan on running away and leaving them to fend for themselves? What a cruel person you are Kim Dokja."
⸢For once I'm not the one getting shouted at.⸥
Shut up you white haired teen.
"Wait, wait, wait! I didn't mean it like that! Promise! I was just worried about my friend I mentioned previously."
"YOU MEAN YOUR GIRLFRIEND!"
"SHUT UP KIM NAMWOON! I TOLD YOU IT'S NOT LIKE THAT!"
"Sure, sure."
"..."
"Ah, Sangah! Sorry about that. Obviously I would want to meet up with her, I know she's alive, I saw her briefly. I'll introduce her as soon as I can, she'll be a great help! I know it!"
"..."
"Sangah?"
"And the people?"
At this point I started sweating slightly. I've been flailing my hands as I tried to justify myself (and that stupid chunni had to but in, seriously she isn't my girlfriend! Unfortunately she doesn't even know who I am) and I probably looked like a mad man. Honestly I forgot about the people, but if I want to find out what that shortie was doing, then I need to regain Yoo Sangah's trust back. "But wouldn't they be in better hands with someone more capable and caring? Not to mention strong. You said you got a sponsor right? No doubt they are strong! Plus, recruiting more people won't be such a bad idea, no?"
As soon as I mentioned her sponsor, she visibly flinched. Of course she would, she's sworn to secrecy, those cunning Olympus bastards. Using someone just to spy on someone else. Luckily Yoo Sangah lost most of her connections to Olympusgt; after they became too invested in me. After hearing my indirect compliments, Yoo Sanagh turned her head so I couldn't see her face, no doubt she's flustered, and accepted to take over whilst Yoo Joonghyuk is still out cold (did I hit him too hard? ... Nah, I definitely didn't hit him hard enough) and I will complete the Fourth Scenario and expand the group.
With consisting of me, Lee Hyunsung, Lee Gilyoung and Jung Heewon (Lee Jihye stayed for her master and Kim Namwoon insisted on staying saying that he can help the people out as if it wasn't obvious he is head over heels for Lee Jihye) we rushed out the station. I planned on completing the Fourth Scenario as I did before, but a pressing matter appeared. However, before I could address said pressing matter, the predicted group of 'Prophets' appeared before us.
Honestly I can't tell if I'm glad to see them or pissed out of my mind. On the one hand, this will lead me closer to find out about Han Sooyoung, on the other hand, they are the worst people to associate with considering this Yoo Joonghyuk seems to have more information than before for reasons unbeknownst to me and if he finds out about TWSA earlier than before … well then not many would live to tell the tale. And if he finds out I lied to him about being a prophet again, I doubt even the entire Star Stream can protect me from a wrath so dark and overbearing. Wait … did I even claim to be a prophet this round? Our conversations have been very different this round, mainly due to my new knowledge and Yoo Joonghyuk's 'visions', so that means I can get on his better side when the time inevitably comes, for I have no idea if the 'Scribe of Heaven' knows of my previous time or not. Whatever the case, true transparency this early on is just suicide … wait, didn't I technically do that before … several times at that, well I will make sure this time is different. Hopefully…
Enough thinking about the future, if I don't deal with these guys properly, then trouble will ensue, but if I ignore them, then my chances to meet Han Sooyoung will be close to zero. At least until she comes looking for Yoo Joonghyuk herself. How frustratingly annoying this situation is. Damned if I do, damned if I don't. Do I wish to see Han Sooyoung now but risk facing an angered Yoo Joonghyuk or do I wish to stay on Yoo Joonghyuk's 'People not to kill list' as much as possible while having the risk of never seeing Han Sooyoung again. The person that waited 50 years for my arrival in another world, the person that lived another life waiting for me and the person that spent another 13 years of her life just to make sure I live, even if it meant the death of many many worlds populated with trillions upon trillions of species. A person I have yet to thank for anything they have done for me (and as much as I don't want to admit it, the list would be the size of a novel chapter).
"Who are you?"
They are taking the lead once more, of course they would, they think they are superior just because they read a few chapters, how did I even think like that before. Of course in a world as expansive as TWSA there will be things omitted in the source material, but I was too arrogant at the time to realise this, and that led to several problems that I dragged others into. But it's different now. I don't know how I'm, nor why I am here but for once, I got given a second chance from someone. And now I have to make a decision, a decision to determine my fate within the Star Stream, Yoo Joonghyuk or Han Sooyoung. But I already knew who I would choose, I knew it deep down. They are calling for me, just like before. The person that led me through life by showing me a story for me, her sole reader. My dedicated author, Han Sooyoung.
"The 12th Apostle." Not exactly a lie but it isn't technically the truth. Of course at my declaration, the Readers' eyes widened significantly. Whether I declared this or declared 'I'm Yoo Joonghyuk' like I did before, the people before me got filled with a sense of inferiority. Of course they would, They realise that I know much more than them, and they believe I have connections to the other 11, people who have been wrecking everywhere they go.
"Sir, how do we know he is telling the truth? He may be bluffing just to stab us in the back later!"
"Yeah! Sir, the 12 Apostles are known to hide their faces, I doubt one would just show up unprompted!"
"But why would he lie about such a thing?"
I stood there with the rest of my party, frowns of confusion painted across their faces. I reassured them as the 'Prophets' argued over the validity of my statement. For a solid 10 minutes, this went on, voices being raised, arguments being shouted across the group and most of all, their Fables leaking out for me to read them, their inner thoughts. And all of them had one thing in common, as they came out of their incarnation, the Fables trembled. The mere thought of my true lie having a small possibility of being true scares them. All of them. They are shaken to their very core. I suppose it would be a great time to use that to my benefit before they calm down. So naturally I spoke up.
"What is there that I can do to prove I am who I say I am? Would an ordinary person know what I even mean by '12 Apostles'? Would a person who just happened to be alive at the wrong time in the wrong place be with someone from your 'Book of Revelations'? As you can see, the large man before you is indeed the 'Steel Sword' Lee Hyunsung!"
My statement has caused further confusion and murmuring in my party and the 'Prophets' respectively. Obviously Lee Hyunsung stood behind me confused as if I was trying to explain quantum physics to a 5-year-old. And I can't say I blame him, the dude is currently surrounded by people that seem to know him while he doesn't recognize a single face within the huddle of people. After simple reassurance (with some blunt praise he is so weak to), he calmed down and just followed my lead. And with my last declaration, the Prophets seemed to trust me as well and took us to their station where things panned out as before, more or less the same. Obviously some outcomes were a bit different, such as the questionable looks I received wherever I went and people avoiding me rather than crowding me (the benefits of being a protagonist just isn't for me) but all in all, things proceeded as expected.
Finally it came to the time I was dreading, but a necessary step for the general population of Seoul so leading up to this point, I changed little to nothing. So now is the time for my first death. Going with the group with the meteorite shard in the undercover 'Apostle's' hand, I was on high alert. And the time had come for the dragon to be released.
[Well, well, well. Such an interesting development indeed.]
Tch. About time you showed your movement Bihyung. Like usual, Bihyung gave us the bounty scenario and we needed rooms to survive this monstrosity of a massacre.
"This wasn't supposed to happen!"
"We were told the meteorite gives us power to rival Yoo Joonghyuk!"
"How foolish."
Now this was unexpected. One of the three undercover 'Apostles' stepped up and confronted the one that led us here.
"Do you really think there was a way to rival Yoo Joonghyuk this early on in the Scenarios? Do you truly believe that because you know more than the average person, you are untouchable? That no one can outwit you? And you, why do you lie about your identity?"
So he was suspicious of me from the start. I mean I did claim to be part of his little group of readers. But I can't back down now. "What do you mean?"
"12th Apostle? Really? Couldn't think of a better excuse?"
"Then explain how I know of TWSA or how I have Lee Hyunsung with me."
[Several constellations are complaining about the filtering]
"Simple. You are a reader like the others, but you are certainly not one of us. As for Lee Hyunsung, you got lucky. If you were a true Apostle, you would have brought over Kim Namwoon and Lee Jihye as well."
"HOW DO YOU KNOW THOSE TWO?!"
"Calm down Hyunsung-ssi. You will find out in due time."
At this point, the other two 'Apostles' came up and stood behind him, clearly he was the superior one among them, while Lee Hunsung, Lee Gilyoung and Jung Heewon got ready to fight behind me. At this point, a fight almost seems inevitable, and with the dragon still present, nothing good can come out of this.
"If you are so confident about my identity, explain how I would know about the existence of 'Apostles'?"
"You heard the term thrown around before meeting these unfortunate souls."
"We met just after our station finished the Third Scenario."
"Then tell me something only an Apostle would know."
At this, the dragon lifted its head, awakened from its slumber and let out a mighty roar. All but me and the Apostle had their ears covered and I took this opportunity to answer him. "THE 50TH CHAPTER OF TWSA ENDS WITH YOO JONNGHYUK KILLING HIMSELF IN THE CINEMA DUNGEON ON HIS 8TH ROUND!"
With this his eyes widened and the dragon's roar stopped. It was approaching us and everyone was frantically attacking it. Luckily this frantic attacking has enraged the dragon to these poor 'Prophets' and we continued our conversation.
"Hyung, what did you shout to that weird man?"
"Nothing to be worried about Gilyoung. So you believe me now?"
"Kehehehe. KEHEHEHEHE. KEHEHEHEHEHEHEHE! HOW AMUSING INDEED!"
[Constellations of the Evil system have taken a liking towards incarnation 'Jun Muyong']
This guy is mad! Seems like being an 'Apostle' is much more serious than I first thought. These were the type of people Han Sooyoung hired? And why are they acting so differently? Even with the dragon coming, I need more information from this guy. I ordered my party to attack and he seemed to want to have a private conversation with me as Jun Muyong sent his two buddies to fight as well.
"You must be on her side right?"
"Excuse me?"
"That self centred brat. The one exiled from the group of 'Apostles'."
An exiled Apostle? How? Why? Who? Can it be her? No it can't? Can it? Questions filled my head like hornets. Even trying to read this guy's Fable was impossible due to the sheer amount flowing out of him. And again, why are they acting so differently?
"Who is the she you are referring to?"
"Don't act dumb. To fill the requirements of an Apostle yet you haven't been notified of within the group means she has kept you hidden away from us. The one who started the group in the first place. The 'First Apostle'."
My eyes felt like they were about to pop out of their sockets and my brain had thought flowing more violently than a waterfall. It was her. The one I was looking for. My Author. Han Sooyoung.
"Judging by your reaction, you don't seem to know what happened. WELL LET ME FILL YOU IN! A woman in a purple hoodie and bob cut came looking for the twelve of us that have reached the 50th chapter of TWSA."
A perfect description of Han Sooyoung.
"After banding us together, I thought she wanted to capitalise on our knowledge and conquer Seoul. BUT NOOOO! She tells us to 'stay on the low' as if we were puppies. She then goes to your station! Probably to see Yoo Joonghuk and she used the excuse of 'scouting for others like us'. It was during this trip that I, the 'Third Apostle', took charge and we unanimously decided to exile her due to her passiveness and the 'Second Apostle' had yet to be found, until now. Once she returned from her venture out, she claimed there was no one with signs of being an 'Apostle' and we broke the news to her. Where she is now is a mystery to us all."
She protected me… again. It was probably unintentional as she doesn't yet know me but I once again owed her my life. With the upcoming dragon's breath, I unfortunately have to share a room with Jun Muyong but I had no idea why I did what I did next.
With his back turned to me as he talked to his comrades, I pulled unbreakable faith from my waist and without blinking twice, sliced him along his hips cleanly in two. As the fire cleared out, everyone saw me standing on top of his body which was now sliced in two. At this sight, the world froze. Not a single person moved as they stared at me. Not the 'Prophets'. Not the remaining 'Apostles'. Not even Bihyung. The world stopped and stared. But they didn't. They didn't question my intentions. They didn't hesitate for a second. In a blink of an eye, they were standing before me. And due to their frozen state of shock, many died including one of the remaining 'Prophets'.
[Constellations of the Evil system are laughing in amusement]
[Constellation of the Good system are satisfied with your judgement]
The constellations are entertained, but they don't matter right now. We have to do something about the living flamethrower over here. Most people have recovered from their shock by now and have started shouting orders to the others. It was a chaotic view indeed, but in order to kill it, there is something I must do. Die. There is no other way for our current party to kill this with our current power and the only way for me to gain extra power is to experience '1st person point of view' again, and to do that I need to activate 'Omniscient reader's viewpoint stage 3' and to do that, I must die. So like before, I order everyone to circle the dragon and attack as we do so we avoid attacks, and for everyone to stay behind me.
[Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is wondering what your plan is]
[Constellation 'Demon-Like Judge of Fire' is worried about your safety]
My sight is flooded with indirect messages from constellations, but once more they didn't matter. I need to get this over and done with to progress with this story. I can't give up just yet. So as the dragon raised its mouth for a second blast, I shoved everyone into the nearest room and rushed towards the large creature. I took the flag out of my bag and prepared myself for my first death. The screams of terror. The messages of shock. The mighty roar. All was the same. So I waited for it. The feeling of my skin being burnt off. The feeling of my muscles tearing at the force of its roar. The feeling of my bones charing as they were exposed to the great fire.
I waited for my death. Yet it didn't come. The screams of terror silenced themselves in awe. The messages of shock have increased in quantity. The mighty roar was now a quiet whimper. And my death did not come. With my flag stabbed into its leg, I looked up and an unexpected sight blessed my eyes. There she was. Her purple hoodie now black with soot. Her moles under her eyes now visible with no mask. Her knives thrown into the dragon's mouth and in the body of the remaining 'Apostle'. I never realised how much I've missed her until I met her this close. She looked like a warrior, a soldier, a commander. Someone who could save many, but saved me. That is who she was, Han Sooyoung.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IDIOT!"
Damn, I see she was as short tempered as always. To her shouting, I involuntarily flinched like I was being scolded by a family member. "I-I h-had a plan! Honest!"
"A PLAN TO DIE!"
"..."
"Dokja-ssi, do you know this woman?"
"Ah yes, Heewon, Hyunsung, Gilyoung, this shortie over here is the friend I was talking about." After telling them this, their faces relaxed but Han Sooyoung looked at me both angrily and confused. I returned a look of 'I'll explain it later' and she seemed to have understood as she also relaxed.
"Who the hell are you calling a shortie you suicidal maniac?"
"Sorry, what else would you like to be called? Mole hill?"
"NO! USE MY NAME YOU RAT! HAN SOOYOUNG! DO I HAVE TO SPELL IT OUT FOR YOU?!"
"I AM NOT A RAT, I AM THE DEDICATED KIM DOKJA! HOW DARE YOU!"
A sense of nostalgia filled me as we continued our bickering. Fortunately we also got to exchange actual names so she won't call me a stalker if I called her by name accidentally. But we still had a dragon to deal with. Han Sooyoung also realised this as we stopped out bickering and focused on the beast before us. Her knives from earlier dealt a large amount of damage to its mouth so it probably can't use it any more but that has left her barehanded. Wait … don't I have a pair of knives in my bag? I reached into my bag and located the twin daggers I got from the cinema dungeon, one from Apollo (the god of the sun) and one from Artemis (the goddess of the moon). Although they were described as twin daggers, they are completely different in shape which reflected the twin gods themselves. Despite being known for wielding bows, Artemis being a hunter would naturally have a dagger to wield as would Apollo as a medic. Artemis' blade was wider and double sided like a traditional European dagger and Apollo's dagger was slightly longer than the other. I called out for Han Sooyoung and gave her the two daggers and her eyes lit up with excitement. Seems like she really wants to fight.
We were working together like we fought for years. When she moves in, I protect her sides and move back; when I move in, she covers my blind spots and rotates out. The others helped as well, Lee Hyunsung came in and hit the dragon with all his might leaving it in a daze; Jung Heewon and the other prophets contributed to damaging the body of this beast and Lee Gilyoung was using the nearby insects to restrict its movement. In about 15 minutes, the dragon's head lowered, its eyes shut and the bounty was cleared. We won. And I didn't even die this time.
"Oi, madman. We need to talk."
Just as Han Sooyoung was dragging me away, I felt the fatigue set in. The adrenaline had run out and I passed out in her arms. And I woke up back at Chungmuro Station, but not in my body. It seems it triggered even though I didn't die.
[Exclusive skill 'Omniscient reader's viewpoint stage 3' has been activated]
[Activating '1st person viewpoint']
The bloody protagonist has finally awakened and the state of Chungmuro station was just as I had expected. It was chaos. And the ones causing it, three people in masks numbered, '4', '6', '7' and '8'. But that leaves 3 'Apostles' missing. 3 with the dragon, 4 at Chungmuro and including me and Han Sooyoung that only makes up 9. So where are the other three? That doesn't matter now though as I watched Yoo Joonghyuk slaughter the 'Apostles' until nothing remained of them. Just their pathetic masks used to hide their identities.
⸢"Who is Kim Dokja?"⸥
⸢"I-I-I d-don't k-know sir."⸥
⸢"Tch."⸥
And with that, the last head of the 'Apostles' fell. It seems that Yoo Joonghyuk is curious about me, so I have to tread carefully here. Even in '1st person viewpoint' I can still read their Fables.
⸢[Just what are you Kim Dokja?]⸥
⸢[You seem to know something about this turn. More information than I could have]⸥
Just as I was about to answer Yoo Joonghyuk out of reflex, I felt my consciousness waking and found myself being stared at by my author. Seems like I can't avoid this interaction can I?
Sooyoung's betrayal to the Apostles
Hsy pov:
I looked upon the group before me. All of them are safe for now. Yoo Joonghyuk and Kim Dokja have their meetup and my original hypothesis was correct, the suicidal bastard decided to save the chuunibyou that I have created. Tch, you made me lose my sponsor you bloody idiot! Well I wasn't planning on picking him this time once more for choosing a sponsor, you are choosing your limitations. Very few incarnations live to surpass their sponsors like Lee Jihye so in order to get strong enough to save that rat, I must have as few limitations as possible.
Yoo Joonghyuk has turned away from the main group and Kim Namwoon has clearly fallen for the poor teenage swordswoman. Why did I write him the way I did? I decided it was best to make use of the fact that I was ahead of them in the Scenarios and went to train. I seriously needed better weapons. Despite the fact I stole Jin Kyung-Il's 'Malleable Weapons' skill, the material or the standard kitchen knife is becoming less and less effective against the creatures of this world. But they should suffice until the Fifth Scenario.
I traversed around gathering equipment that can help me and maybe the other 'Apostles' in the next few Scenarios. I was still positioned as the 'First Apostle' despite the fact that I am technically the second and the leader of the group of misfits. It was changes like these that I hope don't alter the events of the Star Stream. It was a gamble for sure but I wasn't typically known for caring. I was a gacha game addict before the Scenarios… enough said.
As I travelled across Seoul, increasing my strength, darkening my flag and avoiding any form of confrontation, I came across something that caught my eyes. A glowing yellow pod that was other-worldly. I mean, of course it was for it held one of the Returnees tasked to 'Aid' us after their planet, Chronos, had fallen. Parasite Queen Antinus. She was set to betray her task and try to destroy this world by possessing the 'Immortal Doctor' Lee Seolhwa only to get defeated by Yoo Joonghyuk several times in the novel or by Kim Dokja in this round. But now was a golden opportunity. She was defenceless. Even if she didn't fall in one blow, she will lay resting until the 'Absolute Throne' has claimed a rightful owner.
[5,000 coins have been invested into 'Agility']
[Agility Lv. 4 Agility Lv. 12]
[Your agility has increased drastically!]
[You feel light on your feet]
[Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is interested in your plan]
Both knives in hand and a stationary target, this should be done swiftly and efficiently. I spent most of my coins to level up my agility and I only have 2,100 left. Hopefully this kill will reward me generously. I approached the incubator with caution laced in my steps and raised my knives. The tip practically touched the defenceless queen's throat. And with one swift slash, it cut.
I was satisfied with my job and turned to head back to the other 'Apostles' to break the news to them. Yet no reward came. No message either. And most worryingly …
[Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is concerned for your safety]
was that message from the Outer God Monarch that I created. I turned around, expecting the broken down body of the Parasite Queen, but was met with the site of the yellow blob rising and building a body as its eyes opened with a golden flash and a twisted smile not unlike that of Jin Kyung-Il.
"HYAHAHAHAHA! FREEDOM AT LAST!"
Nothing could have prepared me for my own creation. It was terrifying. A beast that caused me to freeze in my tracks. It got used to its new body and that's when it noticed me.
"You. Are you the one who attacked me in my slumber?"
I couldn't answer. I was shaken to the core. A plan. I have to have a plan. What would Kim Dokja do?
"Y-yes."
I unconsciously answered it and its grin widened. It saw my terrified state and it planned to make use of that.
"I see. You have released me from my prison. SO I SHALL BESTOW UPON YOU THE HONOUR OF BEING MY FIRST HOST!"
At this it lunged towards me, its intent was evident in its actions.
"YOU SHALL HELP ME TAKE DOWN THE SPECIES THAT DESTROYED MY WORLD!"
"NEVER IN A MILLION YEARS!"
After gathering my courage, I slashed the area in front of me, slicing through the mass of flesh that made up Anitus. This caused some evident damage but it started to regenerate. Luckily the rate of which is slow due to her awakening being premature and only just recently. But I couldn't continue with the fight in my current state. Especially not against a guide.
"Ow. That hurt y'know."
It rose once more as if it had never been cut as I raised my knives, arms shaking.
"Well if you're not going to be cooperative, I have no use for you."
Claws started growing out of its hands and purple poison dipped out of her. Tch, if I can't defeat her, I will never be strong enough to save Kim Dokja from the cruel fate the Star Stream has set out for him. I placed the two knives against one another and tested out my stolen skill.
['Malleable Weapons' Lv. 3 activated]
The two knives were now glowing and started to flow like a liquid around my hands depending on what I thought. I let it glide along my hands as I prepared to get it into the most ideal weapon for this fight. The two blades started moving into one blob and started to take the shape of the weapon I wished for. Blunt edged - the sharper the blade, the less effective it was against another blob, light - due to being a shut in, I don't have the strongest of natural stats and I don't have enough coins to upgrade my strength and easy to use - wasn't really know for using weapons last round.
With the conditions set, the illuminated mass came together and as the light dimmed down, the weapon fit comfortably in my hands. A metal bat. Seems like I can't change the material of my weapon just yet. Hopefully that's something I can change with 'Overwrite' but I don't have the Fables for that just yet.
Anitus seemed to recover from its shock and stared at the 'new' weapon in my hand.
"Hyahaha. Do you really think that changing weapons is enough to kill me?!"
I didn't respond to its taunts, rather I prepared my next step. So I stood there, bat in hand and staring down at the parasite in front of me.
"Are you cowering out? Well that doesn't affect me, you're my prey after all!"
And with that. It lunged at me. Claws out. Laced with poison. So I swung. Using my momentum, the bat moved with my twisted body. I felt our two attacks clash, its claws sliding off of my bat and my bat hitting its body. Its body splattered everywhere as the momentum continued to spin me around and my back turned away from the scene. Then I felt something sharp. I looked down to see three talons covered in purple sticking out of my chest.
"HYAHAHAHAHA! YOUR LOSS!"
I turned around to see the wicked smile of the parasite queen. So this is defeat huh. The feeling of losing feeling. The warmth of feeling the cold. The few seconds before it ends seem endless and I feel my body thump the ground and my conscience leaves me.
[Constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is disappointed in you.]
[Constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' feels an unknown sense of sorrow.]
[You have died.]
In the darkness there was one message that shone in front of me. Then another.
[The privilege of the King of No Killing is activated.]
So this is what that damn squid saw every time. How interesting. And that damn dragon was feeling sad? For me?
[Exclusive skill, 'False Wall' has been activated]
[Some of your shock has been offset]
I no longer feel the pounding headache that has been bothering me since I entered the endless darkness present before me. But I had something to do if my plan to defeat Anitus would come to fruition.
[Your understanding of the attribute 'Poison' has drastically increased.]
Time to put my new understanding to good use. I never wrote any unique skills for Anitus other than possession which won't be good for me so 'Plagiarise' would be useless and I lack enough Fables for 'Overwrite'. So that left me with 'Write', time to get creative once again. I brought out the few Fables I earned in the first few Scenarios, Hero grade 'First Apostle', ??? grade 'World's Author' and finally 'King of No Killing'. With the Fables now flowing around me, I started to write. The Fables were a blurry stream of mass, I could tell they contained words yet I couldn't read them. Nonetheless, it shouldn't affect my creation. I brought out the 'Poison' attribute and the purple mixed with the black, joining and started to radiate a faint blue. My final tool to end Anitus.
[Writing complete, skill 'Poison flow' gained]
[Poison flow Lv. 3]
[Grade - C]
[User can produce poison from any connected object or person of varying strength and has gained complete resistance to the attribute 'Poison'. Strength and control must be trained.]
Perfect. Truly perfect if I do say so myself. Then the moment I was waiting for finally arrived. Let's surprise a little cocky parasite shall we?
[The delayed privilege of the King of No Killing has reappeared.]
[Your body is resurrected from death.]
[The recreation of your flesh has begun.]
[The benefits of the King of No Killing have been completed.]
[100 karma points have been consumed.]
[The wastes of your flesh have been completely removed and the performance of your body has increased.]
[Physique and magic power has increased by 1 each.]
[Current karma points: 0/100]
[Fill up the points for your next resurrection.]
[One karma point will be obtained every time you save someone's life.]
Like a bad presentation transition, my vision is met with the green ground. The place of my death. I still hear that damn bitch's laugh in the background. Let's see who's laughing now huh. I raised myself off the ground and stared at my killer unscathed. The only evidence of harm upon me was the holes in my purple hoodie, luckily I own 2 more back at the base. Anitus must've heard me as it stared directly at me, shock evident in its body.
"H-How? You d-died! I saw y-your body fall. HOW ARE YOU STILL STANDING?!"
As much as I enjoyed the look of terror that the parasite gave me, I need to finish this quickly. I picked up the bat that was by my side and prepared to swing. Sensing my unwillingness to talk, Anitus got her claws out once more laced with noticeably less poison now. We lunged at each other once again and this time I controlled my body with the agility I paid for. Dodging its claws with ease, I swung at its head, knocking it clean off. I reverted the bat back to its original blades and stuck it into the head and body of the traitorous guide. Then I delivered the finishing blow.
[Skill 'Poison flow' has been activated]
The poison seeped out of the blades' edge and entered the dying creature.
"NO! NOOOO! SPARE ME! SPARE ME I BEG! I SWEAR I'LL GUIDE YOU. YOU'RE MAKING A MISTAKE HERE!"
I turned deaf towards its begs, the poison explored the internals of the crying creature. It was … beautiful. Its yellow flesh turned purple and its screams fell on deaf ears. A feeling of euphoria spread through me. So the apocalypse makes me feel like this aye? I must seem like a monster. But at least now Lee Seolhwa is free from control and will remain as the 'Immortal Doctor' this time.
[You have complete an improbable feat]
[5,000 coins have been sponsored]
[Legendary Fable 'One Who Killed Their Guide' obtained]
[Many constellations are shocked at your accomplishment]
[Constellations of the Evil System grin at your sadism]
[Constellations of the Good System are pleased with your judgement]
I received many indirect messages but none concern me in the slightest for I needed to venture forth to save my precious reader. I decided to head back to the base of 'Apostles' and hopefully they haven't done anything stupid in my absence. The journey back was a tedious one to say the least; multiple no names with flags challenged me only to be knocked out in one swift blow. Damn I hated this king restriction, but I kept it because I could sense an ominous aura in the area, as if shit was about to go down. Luckily, defeating Anitus has somehow restored me the necessary 100 karma points for another revival. It seems like it was more of a killer than I thought but feels like such an ass pull. If this were a novel, then this would 100% be the biggest plot hole.
Ignoring the convenience of my situation, I arrived at my desired location before I put my damaged mask back on. It fell during my encounter with the Parasite Queen and probably got damaged along the way so now half of my face is exposed, though in my opinion, I look fabulous like I always do. An elevated, secluded building located at the outskirts of Seoul. That was where I decided to locate the base of the other 10 'Apostles' of course with the last one being absent. I was about to enter before I felt a cool breeze against my chest, I forgot that my hoodie got destroyed in my little scruffle. So I decided to change quickly from my hidden supply of purple hoodies nearby as well as popping a lemon sweet into my mouth.
Then I entered the building, well technically it is a construction since it was incomplete but it was mainly complete so it's a building in my eyes, and headed straight to the basement to meet with my 'Apostles'.
"Hello hello fellow 'Apostles.'" For some reason, despite claiming to be the 'First Apostle', every pair of eyes stared at me with red hatred.
"Well, well, well. If it isn't Miss Passive herself." A scrawny man stood in front of the rest and approached me. "Aren't you a little too contemptuous with your situation?"
"What are you talking about?"
"You have gathered those who know most about this world, the beginnings, the ins and outs of the start, the fate of the party that lies ahead, yet you wish to stay on the low. When you could be monopolising your information to gain a greater lead! Maybe even ahead of an early regression Yoo Joonghyuk!" He reminded me of the ideals that this group followed in my previous round, how revolting.
"And why do you think you can achieve that?"
"Isn't it obvious, because we know much more than any one in Seoul! We could clear the Fifth Scenario by ourselves if we wanted to!" Eyes of madness. That is what I was met with. Eyes of pure madness. The same eyes that I used to wear. The same eyes I used to see the world in. The same eyes I bore before that fateful encounter.
So with a stoic face and eyes of sharper daggers than my own, I replied, "And what makes you think that?"
"Huh?"
"You've gone deaf as well as batshit crazy? I asked what makes you think that? First, how do you know whether or not Yoo Jonnghyuk is in his early regression?"
"I-I…"
"Second, you are only the 'Third Apostle', what makes you think you are qualified enough?"
"Th-that's because …!"
"Lastly, you don't even know who the 'Second Apostle' is. As far as you are concerned, I am the 'First', you are the 'Third' and we still haven't recruited the 'Second'. So how do you know whether their ideology would match with yours? There's a lot of information you don't know because we read at least 20 chapters more than you. So combined, you are powerless against us."
The silent room fell ever silent still. The other 'Apostles' looked at me with assumed awe and horror. I looked at them all one by one. Masks labelled, '3', '4', '5', '7', '8', '9' and '10', three of them currently absent. Or so I thought.
"Well then, let's change that shall we?" And with a twisted smile, I felt a prick. More than a prick, a stab. More than a stab, a thrust. A prick, a stab and a thrust. I felt all three at once. I turned to look at the 'absent' 'Apostles' with their weapons penetrating my stomach. '5's' needle laced with poison (ineffective now but they don't know that), '11's' European sword and '12's' Japanese naginata. "Let's remove one of these 'variables' of yours shall we?" And my vision goes dark.
Time for that bullshit plot point to come into play now.
[You have died]
[The privilege of the King of No Killing is activated.]
[Exclusive skill, 'False Wall' has been activated]
[Some of your shock has been offset]
Back in this dismal abyss, this time I unfortunately didn't have a plan. But I do know that if I were to stop them now, I have some sacrifices to make. And sacrifices I did make. As much fun as this was, it is time to become a Null King. I cleared my mind and prepared for battle and this time (maybe due to the lack of activity) the resurrection came a lot sooner.
[The delayed privilege of the King of No Killing has reappeared.]
[Your body is resurrected from death.]
[The recreation of your flesh has begun.]
[The benefits of the King of No Killing have been completed.]
[100 karma points have been consumed.]
[The wastes of your flesh have been completely removed and the performance of your body has increased.]
[Physique and magic power has increased by 1 each.]
[An improbable feat has occurred]
[Fable, 'One Who Rose Twice In A Day' has begun its storytelling]
And I open my eyes to '12' tugging at my flag, too naive. I grabbed my knives and shoved it deep into their ankles. I would've stopped to enjoy their screaming, but I need to get moving. Now. Making use of the sheer confusion in the room, I laced my knives with poison and stabbed '12' once more as well as '5' and '10' on my way out. A quarter of the 'Apostles' are now dead with 2 more being exiled.
[You have gone against the restrictions of 'King of No Killing']
[Priviallage removed]
[Title changed to 'Null King']
[H ow hea rt les s]
"Shut up. We both know you would do the same for him."
[.. .]
"Exactly, now I HAVE TO CHANGE HOODIE AGAIN! THIS IS MY LAST ONE!!"
So with my frustration manifesting in an aura around me, I stormed off and put on my last remaining hoodie. Well now I had nothing to do. I only really had a plan for the Fifth Scenario where I would be almost forced to team with him. The reason I regressed I suppose. Now all of that has been thrown out of the window now that I am a 'Null King'. Wait, I gained quite a few Fables in the past 24 hours alone. Let's see if I can use my last mysterious skill that I never wrote into this world. 'Overwrite'.
Once I found an even more secluded area, away from the other 'Apostles' I closed my eyes and concentrated. Much like with 'Write' and 'Plagiarise', I felt the Fables flow around me.
[Hero grade Fable 'First Apostle' has begun its storytelling]
[??? grade Fable 'World's Author' has begun its storytelling]
Familiar Fables.
[Hero grade Fable 'One Who Rose Twice In A Day' has begun its storytelling]
[Fable 'Null King' has begun its storytelling]
New Fables. They all flowed around me in one ominous cloud of illegible text. Each told a story. Each belonged to me.
[Exclusive skill, 'Overwrite' has been activated]
[Select an aspect to 'Overwrite']
[ 1. Skills
2. Fables
3. Attributes (Insufficient Fables)
4. Weapon (Insufficient Fables)
5. Body (Insufficient Fables) ]
Heh, the illusion of choice. One of the twisted themes core to the novel of this world. My novel. The novel with one reader. And that reader needs to be protected. So I must do what I must in order to protect this idiot from the eternal doom he has set himself.
[You have selected to 'Overwrite' Fables]
[Select a Fable to 'Overwrite']
This seems a little too broken. Oh well, not like I'm going to complain. The more power I own, the better chance I have to protect him.
[You have selected Fable 'Null King']
The cloud of Fables around me split into two and one of the clouds rose in front of me and presented itself, awaiting its change. Once more, I felt the Fable follow my will as I forced my ideas onto it. My ideals. My ultimate wish. Once more, I felt my magic power deplete as the black cloud was now laced with blue. Once more, I pushed through with the thought of one suicidal maniac roaming my head.
[Fable 'Null King' successfully 'Overwritten']
[Fable 'Null King' has converted to 'Control King']
[Privilege of 'Control King':
- Greater control over attributes
- Easier to persuade or control others with a weaker mental state than you
- Greater natural 'Agility' and 'Stamina' (5 lvs) ]
[Drawbacks of 'Control King':
- Others are naturally distrustful towards you
- More effort is required to maintain relationships
- If you break a close relationship, you will become a 'Null King']
[Constellations of the Star Stream are greatly shocked at your achievements]
[Hero Fable 'One Who Rose Twice In A Day' has evolved into Legendary Fable 'Three Times Fallen, Three Times Risen']
[You have achieved an impossible feat]
[Legendary Fable 'Rising Of A Fallen King' has been achieved]
Not bad, not bad. Definitely could have been better but I was never one to be trustworthy in my original run so not much would have changed. I would've added more improvements with less consequences but it seems the better the change, the more Fable is required. Suddenly, the toll from using 'Overwrite' washed over me like a tsunami. My body fell to the floor out of fatigue and my vision went black. I seriously need better magic power.
As my sight went dark, I reflected upon the events so far, Anitus is dead, three 'Apostles' are dead and I just earned 2 of the 5 Legendary grade Fables to become a constellation… wait would ???-grade count towards that? Nonetheless, I have a deadly feeling that things may not be as smooth as I thought it would be just because this is my second life.
Once I awoke, my vision was blue with messages. Messages of concern, appraisal or sponsor. Speaking of sponsors, I looked at my coin count.
[Coins owned: 128,935]
HOLY SHIT I'M RICH! But it is almost the time for the Battle of Kings, so saving it right now would probably be best. Now without much of a purpose, I started wandering around the city with a lemon candy in my mouth but for some reason, I had a suspicion that I was forgetting something major. I just couldn't pinpoint what it was. That was until I realised I subconsciously walked into Chungmuro Station and was surrounded by men in suits seemingly being led by one brunette woman. Yoo Sangah. Of course to her side was the lap dog Kim Namwoon but I was mostly worried about the woman in front of me who was staring daggers into me. I shouldn't be able to enter here yet, right?
"State your reason for coming here."
Yep, that's Yoo Sangah, Commanding yet gentle. "Heh, if I knew this area was open, I would've been elsewhere."
"Why is that?"
"That means he is out there."
"Your lover perhaps?"
"PFFFT" I never spat out a piece of candy harder than I did just now. It would be classified as a lethal projectile pre-apocalypse. "HELL NO! I WOULD NEVER DATE THAT GUY!"
My response was met with blank stares from everyone nearby (and a poorly hidden snicker from the white haired brat) like I was insane. "O-Ok. Seems you feel strongly about this topic." THEY ARE 100% GETTING THE WRONG IDEA. But now wasn't the time to correct them as I need to make sure that the rat is still alive, after all, I did sort of take his whole gimmick of dying and being reborn.
"Whatever. I promise I mean no harm, I will leave now and won't harm anyone on my way out." Without waiting for a response, I dashed out. Sometimes having a smaller frame isn't such a bad thing. I could hear the absolute chaos I brought to the station for poor Yoo Sangah to deal with. But it's not for me to deal with so I don't care.
I went straight to where I assumed they would be, the base for the 'Prophets'. Without being spotted by anyone (another advantage of having a smaller frame) I saw no one present. How frustrating. Seems like the other 'Apostles' have gained a lead on me. After confirming their absence, I rushed to the only place they could be now, the fight with the Dragon. One that I previously orchestrated but now people who are dear to me have to suffer from extreme loss during this fight, especially if I'm too late.
And I almost was.
There he was. Kim Dokja lunged at the Dragon and aimed to stab its foot. In a hurry, I did what I could and threw my knived as hard as I could towards the mouth of the massive reptile. One successfully hit it and prevented its breath attack (only after it released a small puff in which I got hit by) and the other missed and hit a 'Prophet' square in the chest (I would later be informed that it was one of the other 'Apostles').
I looked down at the former salaryman under mean as his eyes were shut, expecting the heat of death, yet it never arrived. I seriously had to shout at him to get it through his thick skull, "WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IDIOT!" He visibly flinched and responded weakly with "I-I h-had a plan! Honest!"
After a few quips and lashes at each other, in which we exchanged names and I was introduced as his 'friend', we turned our attention back to the giant lizard and he provided me with the daggers of Artemis and Apollo as I was previously unarmed in order to save him. We fought together with synergy not even we could achieve together in the previous round. The entire group consisted of me, my reader, his son, a big bear and the bear's crush and we won with ease. I approached my dedicated reader after the fight, "Oi madman. We need to talk." What did he mean by his 'friend'? Did something change in the past of this round where we know each other? Before he could even hear my onslaught of questions, he passed out.
The entire group rushed towards him so I slightly pushed everyone away from him as I used all my current strength to lift his unconscious body as everyone stared at me with distrust. Oh the consequences of 'Control King'. "Don't worry, he had fainting spells before, I know how to treat them."
"Are you really Kim Dokja's friend?" Whatever this crazy bastard's plan is, he is relying on me not to fuck it up.
"Yes. I'll take care of him. Plus, I need to talk to him in private after he wakes up." After some reluctance to leave Kim Dokja out of their sight after his little stunt, especially with a stranger none of them knew, they let me pass. I found an area nearby still in the vision of everyone else so they trust me a bit more but out of earshot so they won't be able to hear us.
I propped him against a wall before making sure no one is looking as they check up on each other and I give him a quick slap. Nothing. For a few seconds before he started stirring once more and I crouched down and stared right at him as his eyes opened.
He was not escaping this.
:):
