Prologue of the 4th regression (1)
-ock knock knock.
The Oldest Dream blinked his eyes, woken up by a sound from the subway train door.
However, it wasn't possible for anyone else other than him to be here.
Thinking that he imagined it, the Oldest Dream closed his eyes, ready to drift back to sleep once again.
Knock knock knock.
As a knock resounded throughout the room once again, the Oldest Dream frowned and confirmed that he hadn't imagined it. He mumbled sleepily:
"…Am I hallucinating now…?"
The Fourth Wall answered him.
[Som eon e is th ere.]
What?
Click.
Because he could think about this further, the door opened.
The Oldest Dream's eyes widened as he crossed the gaze of a human for the first time since thousands of years.
It was a young woman with brown hair, brown eyes and ordinary facial features.
"Who are you?"
The woman blinked upon seeing the cute black-haired and black-eyed child wearing clothes too large for him. When she heard him, she seemed to regain her senses and murmured something incomprehensible.
"(Hmm, wait, huh…)"
She snapped her fingers and asked:
"I'm sorry, what did you just say?"
The Oldest Dream repeated:
"Who are you?"
She smiled gently.
"My name is… Xin Jian."
The Oldest Dream stared at the woman's face. Even though she was smiling, the girl's eyes were lifeless and a tinge of sadness appeared in her voice as she said her name.
Her name was the only thing Mr. Fool had left her before she came to this world a few years ago.
The Oldest Dream lowered his eyes and his long eyelashes fluttered as he also smiled sadly.
"I see. My name is Kim Dokja. Do you want to read stories together?"
He didn't ask her why she came to this unreachable place, and Xin Jian also naturally sat down next to him and nodded.
"Okay."
—1st MC: Xin Jian
***
A crimson-haired man was leaning on the wall of the subway. His reddish brown eyes lazily scanned the people around him as he thought about what to do once he arrived home.
Would his childhood friend be waiting at the orphanage?
She should have picked up a book and sat down in a corner as usual, all alone.
Since she had become his friend, his thoughts were only filled with her, it was the only way for him to avoid thinking of the past.
"Heuh-euh…!"
"Uwaaaaah!"
The crimson-haired man frowned as people began to panic around him.
The lights in the subway went away the next second. The train came to a sudden emergency stop, and the surroundings rapidly filled up with darkness.
Cale had an ominous foreboding.
And as the clock's needle pointed to 7 p.m…
Tick.
The crimson-haired man opened his eyes.
It felt like the world was stopping.
[The free service of planetary system 8612 has been terminated.]
[The main scenario has started.]
Everything would change.
A fluffy creature with two small horns and wearing a small straw mat floated in the air. With his good memory, he remembered reading about it when he was looking up information on monsters as Kim Rok Soo: it was a dokkaebi.
10 years after Cale arrived in that world, it was the beginning of the apocalypse.
[Welcome, everyone. Nice to meet you.]
Meanwhile, an idea appeared in Cale's mind as his expression grew increasingly serious.
[It's getting tiring to make the same introduction over and over again, but… Anyway, this situation isn't a movie shoot nor is it a terror inciden… Ng?]
That unknown existence floating in the air observed the situation within the train and broke out into a wide smile.
[What's this? Hahahaha! Dear Constellations, please take a look over here! The scenarios haven't even begun yet, but something entertaining is already underway!]
'Constellations?'
The Dokkaebi spoke in a languid but cruel tone of voice and laughed.
[I'm already beginning to look forward to this particular car. I pray that you'll all show us an entertaining tale.]
He had to find her.
[Main Scenario has arrived.]
+
Type: Main
Difficulty: F
Clear condition: Please kill one or more lifeforms.
Time limit: 30 minutes
Reward: 300 Coins
Failure: Death
+
Was she safe now? Could she survive this scenario?
Cale thought about his childhood friend from the orphanage that he had met during the 10 years he was here.
What if he lost her as well?
He had the feeling that she would have remained calm even in this absurd situation.
He had to find her and check that she was safe.
For the first time since he had arrived in this world, Cale felt his ancient powers, but he still couldn't hear their voices. Well, for now, he shouldn't use them. It would be a bad idea to reveal his cards so early in the game.
His gaze headed to the terrorist who had been about to set off a bomb.
…But before finding her, he had to survive this scenario.
"…Scenario? What is that?"
The passengers of the car no. 3707 began murmuring after receiving their very first scenario.
At the same time, from the next cabin, sounds of an explosion were heard.
Desperate struggles taking place in other locations were then broadcast on the panels in the air —of the scenario where if you didn't kill, you'd be killed instead.
"A g-game… t-this is a game!" The terrorist Choi Han-Gyu was shouting out. "Hahahaha!!"
Shouldn't a terrorist be a sinful person anyway?
The crimson-haired man coldly stared at him before a smile gradually formed on his face. If Raon were here, he would have surely said, 'Human! You're smiling like that again!'
…But Raon was dead anyway.
Everyone, each and every one of his friends—no, his family, and even himself, had been killed by the hunters 10 years ago.
The crimson-haired man approached the terrorist.
He should hurry back to the orphanage, his childhood friend, Xin Jian, was surely waiting for him. He also had an inkling that this place wasn't the only one affected by these strange 'scenarios'.
With a smile that didn't reach his eyes, Cale patted the terrorist's shoulder.
He had already found his stepping stone to help him survive the scenario.
As a trash, it wasn't a big deal if he killed someone to survive, it wasn't the first time he had done it anyway.
After all, living was the best, right?
From the flying train, next to the Oldest Dream, Xin Jian stared down at Cale.
—2nd MC: Kim Rok Soo
***
A long time ago:
"Kim Dokja." Yoo Jonghyuk rose from the stone wall and watched Kim Dokja.
By his side, Lee Seolhwa was exhausted. Many emotions crossed Yoo Jonghyuk's eyes as he identified him as the demon king.
"Don't make such an expression. You can't change what has already happened. Don't you already know?"
Yoo Jonghyuk wiped his bloody lips and murmured, "It should've been me who died here."
He had already accepted that he would have to kill Kim Dokja.
Yoo Jonghyuk rushed towards him with the Heaven Shaking Sword. He didn't say anything but his despair was conveyed every time the blade cut Kim Dokja.
[The remaining capture time is 4 minutes.]
"Let's end it now, Yoo Jonghyuk. Bring 'that' out."
Yoo Jonghyuk's heart shook.
"I don't know what you mean."
"Don't play around. I know you didn't use it on purpose."
He raised his gaze and stared into Kim Dokja's eyes.
"…If I use this, you can't be resurrected."
"That's why you are going to use it. It would be difficult if I came back again as a demon king."
"…"
Yoo Jonghyuk's thoughts froze for a brief moment.
What? That fool, did he really have a death wish?
He was angry.
"What if the scenario ends up being ruined? You should stop thinking about it." Kim Dokja added.
Yoo Jonghyuk glared at him without speaking.
「 Do you have an idea? 」
Kim Dokja just laughed at his question. Yoo Jonghyuk hesitated before eventually pulling out a sword.
Yoo Jonghyuk spoke in a somber voice, "I hoped the moment where I had to use this would never come."
Kim Dokja continued in a relaxed tone.
"Me too. However, now is the time."
Yoo Jonghyuk watched the messages appearing in front of Kim Dokja.
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' feels despair.]
[The constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' is sighing deeply.]
[The constellation 'Queen of the Darkest Spring' is holding her breath.]
Yoo Jonghyuk opened his mouth, trying to avoid the moment he would use his sword to end that strange man's life. "…To be honest, there is no certainty in this. The duration of Giant Body Transformation is over and I'm not confident in my current attack power."
"Don't worry about it."
He looked into Kim Dokja's eyes.
Would he really die in vain? Did he have a plan?
"Thank you for everything."
If he regressed, would he still get to see him again?
[The remaining capture time is 3 minutes.]
The party members were running.
Lee Hyunsung, Jung Heewon, Shin Yoosung, Lee Gilyoung, Yoo Sangah, Gong Pildu, Lee Jihye…
They cried, screamed or were filled with deep anger. Everyone was coming towards Kim Dokja. He saw them and laughed.
「 Incarnation Kim Dokja will be killed by the person he loves most. 」
Kim Dokja had forgotten. All prophecies couldn't be interpreted literally. In this Star Stream, people were stories.
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is looking at you.]
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is looking at you.]
[The constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' is looking at you.]
[The constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' is looking at you.]
[The constellation 'Maritime War God' is looking at you.]
As the gazes of countless stars in the sky poured towards Kim Dokja, a story was running towards him.
"Ahhhhhh!"
Parents, friends and lovers were all stories.
[The remaining capture time is 2 minutes.]
This wasn't the Ways of Survival he knew but—It was a story more wonderful than Ways of Survival.
[A constellation of a small planet is looking at you.]
[All the constellations on the Korean Peninsula are looking at you.]
It was his story. He laughed as Yoo Jonghyuk's sword pierced his heart.
[Your fate has been realized.]
His body slowly sank down and Yoo Jonghyuk held onto him. "Kim Dokja."
"It was a really great story. Isn't that right?"
Yoo Jonghyuk stared down at him silently. Kim Dokja couldn't find any words and just watched. It was as if he had always been meant to do this.
[The effect of the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds has destroyed all remaining extra lives.]
[You can no longer resurrect.]
Kim Dokja finally looked up at the sky. The clusters of nebulae were in the centre of the night sky. Vedas, Olympus, Papyrus…
Then the sky blinked.
[The constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' doesn't wish for your death.]
The stars shone brightly as if in response to his will.
[The constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' doesn't wish for your death.]
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' doesn't wish for your death.]
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' doesn't wish for your death.]
Kim Dokja looked at the sky and laughed.
"Let's meet again, Yoo Jonghyuk."
The power of the demon king disappeared and at the same time, strength drained from him.
[The main scenario has ended.]
[Seoul Dome has been freed.]
A small black hole appeared in the air behind him. His body was slowly being sucked into it. His legs, his torso, his arms… they turned into powder and were slowly being sucked in.
"Kim Dokja! No! Kim Dokja!"
At the last moment, Yoo Jonghyuk tightly held him by the neck. However, it was already too late.
Would Kim Dokja die now? Would he die as well? Was all he said only lies until now?
That fool did all this until now only to sacrifice himself?
Yoo Jonghyuk couldn't believe it. He couldn't accept it.
Would he also appear in the next timeline?
Yoo Jonghyuk wasn't sure, so he held onto him, as if that could change anything.
Kim Dokja was disappearing, and Yoo Jonghyuk could see the desperate messages appearing in front of the other man.
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' doesn't wish for your death!]
In the distant night sky, one star desperately blinked at him.
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' doesn't wish for your death!]
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire'…]
The stars in the night sky went out one by one and Incarnation Kim Dokja's story finally ended.
[The constellations of the absolute good system have withdrawn the mark of 'evil' from you.]
[Your incarnation body has completely been destroyed.]
[You have failed the scenario.]
[You have been expelled from the scenario.]
[The Star Stream will announce your modifier.]
In front of Yoo Jonghyuk, the last message destined to Kim Dokja appeared.
[Your modifier is the 'Demon King of Salvation'.]
Yoo Jonghyuk never saw Kim Dokja again after that.
…The Oldest Dream woke up.
In the train, not long before Xin Jian came, the Oldest Dream dreamed of another timeline.
He laughed bitterly while reminiscing about the past.
That sunfish had looked so desperate for once, was this really the same man who had thrown him off a bridge while smiling?
He smiled softly and stared at the present timeline.
Then, he drifted off to sleep again…
(Source: ORV chapter 518 and 188)