[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is preparing another bottle of wine.]
Kim Dokja sat anxiously with the kids next to him as he waited to see how Kyrgios would take that kind of declaration. It definitely wasn't something he would have been expecting, and there was always the chance that he'd take it as an insult.
"Ahjussi, if you trained under him, would you get stronger than that guy?" Shin Yoosung asked in a whisper, glancing over at Yoo Joonghyuk for a moment.
Kim Dokja almost wanted to laugh. Him, get stronger than the protagonist in only a couple of weeks? There was absolutely no chance of that, especially considering the fact that Yoo Joonghyuk had studied for years under a teacher who was likely around the same power level as Kyrgios.
When he shook his head, she looked slightly disappointed as she sighed.
As Dokja watches Kyrgios float above him in the sky, he notices sparks of probability crackling around the small man and guesses that it must be because he killed the two members of the Wind Shadow Squadron.
Since he wasn't summoned for the sake of the scenario, he'll be under immense probability constraints, even if they're incomparable to the ones limiting the constellations up in the heavens.
"The Third Star should be demanding fables of discipleship from you right about now, or am I wrong?" Dokja asks him, causing Kyrgios' eyes to widen in surprise as Dokja once again asks to be his disciple and promises to defeat the disasters.
Looking at the messages from the constellations, Kyrgios assesses the strange group keeping a watch on Dokja before confirming that he's not allowed to interfere as it would open a window for other constellations to do the same.
The White Storm of Paradox, Kyrgios Rodgraim. After leaving and overcoming countless trials, he returned to his homeland, but he was unable to save it as the price for becoming too powerful.
"He only killed two people, and he's already getting a probability storm!?" Jung Heewon gasped, seeming almost offended on Kyrgios' behalf.
Yoo Sangah paled slightly. "Even if his restrictions aren't as bad as the ones on the constellations, it's terrifying to see how strict it is already."
[several constellations are baffled by the probability constraints imposed on the returnee 'kyrgios rodgraim'.]
Thankfully, the man didn't seem to be completely opposed to the idea of training him, even if he was hesitant. The fact that Kim Dokja was being followed by several high-ranking constellations didn't quite put him on edge, but Kyrgios was definitely intrigued in his own way.
Lee Hyunsung blinked in surprise at Kyrgios' next words. "So instead of summoning an Outer God, does that mean that the constellations would be allowed to do more to balance out his power?"
[the constellation 'master of steel' is confirming the thoughts of his incarnation.]
Lee Seolhwa sighed and looked down as she laced her fingers together in her lap. "That's an awful price for his power."
The truth of the matter was, while Kyrgios wasn't necessarily the strongest person in the Murim world, he vastly exceeded the limits of Peace Land. It was a level of power that he never could have attained if he had stayed and lived in his homeland for his entire life. While at one point it had likely seemed like the freedom he had so desperately searched for, now it was a shackle forcing him to sit and watch as his world died.
Kim Dokja honestly didn't know if Kyrgios was planning to leave again right before the end, or if he planned to die with his world. He had never appeared elsewhere in the novel following this scenario, after all.
He exerts heavy pressure once more, his enraged gaze piercing Dokja as he states that it doesn't mean he will take him as a disciple since he doesn't accept outsiders, and Dokja lacks the qualifications to carry on his legacy.
As Dokja reaches for a stick on the ground to prove his qualifications, he mentally grumbles that Joonghyuk might have been accepted in a heartbeat.
There's a hidden skill I purchased immediately upon the second scenario's conclusion.
Kygios' eyes widen once more in shock as Dokja infuses [White Star Weapon Aura] into the stick, causing it to glow with a brilliant white light.
[White Star Weapon Aura] is Kyrgios Rodgraim's signature technique.
Dokja kneels and holds his hands together with the stick still glowing in his grasp as he greets Kyrgios as the master of the White Storm School.
"Ah, shit, that's a hurdle you won't be able to pass," Han Sooyoung sighed. "We might as well just pack it up and leave since he can't help us."
Kim Dokja didn't even fight the grin that crossed his face right then and there.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is curious about the expression on the face of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
"Actually, I've been planning ahead this whole time, you know," Kim Dokja said confidently. "I do have the qualifications he's looking for."
Of course, it did hurt a bit to hear his own grumbling about the protagonist halo, albeit in different words. Yoo Joonghyuk just scoffed, shooting him a dry look.
"I would not beg to study under him," he said firmly, sounding almost offended as he crossed his arms over his chest. "I already had a teacher who taught me well."
Well, that was a fair point. His teacher was equally powerful, and it might honestly just hurt his combat skill a bit (though probably not as much as it would for literally anyone else who didn't have protagonist powers) if he tried to combine two contrasting sword styles.
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is tearing out his hair in shock.]
"That's amazing, hyung!" Lee Gilyoung cheered, grinning reverently up at Kim Dokja. "You've really been planning for this ever since the start!"
"Fuck, you searched that up the first time you used the dokkaebi bag, didn't you?" Han Sooyoung gasped as she realized just what was going on. "You were totally scoping out how much it would cost you."
She was absolutely correct, but he didn't exactly want to give her that kind of satisfaction. Right now, the only satisfaction he wanted was his own as he watched a long-running plan finally come to fruition.
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is giggling behind her hand.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is applauding the incarnation 'kim dokja' for a well-thought-out plan.]
The screen fades to white before Dokja is seen scrolling through his cellphone on a section of TWSA about Kyrgios. Notably, it mentions that Kyrgios went to the First Murim world, that he killed every member of an evil cult who was taller than him, and that he once cut off the genitals of a drunkard who made fun of his height. The very last line is cut off, but it declares that his most legendary tale was that of how he befriended the 'Breaking the Sky Sword'.
He finally looks up when Sooyoung asks about how his phone got smaller with him and Dokja responds that since it was in the subspace coat when it shrank, it got smaller too. She then tuts and says that he gets all the good things. She then turns to look in the same direction as Asuka to remark that she never knew that the strongest individual of the 'First Murim' was someone from 'Peace Land'. Dokja replies that the strongest was never decided, but that he's certainly a candidate. She then sighs and states that it's a relief that Kyrgios accepted him as a disciple while Asuka's gaze looks a bit stunned as she stares at the character that she created sitting on a rock in the distance.
Kyrgios made his decision after two hours had passed.
"Oh, is this what TWSA said about him?" Yoo Sangah wondered as the text began to appear on the screen, line by line. Of course, as it proceeded, her expression grew more and more grim as her complexion paled.
Lee Jihye on the other hand, was gasping in awe. "Oh my god, he sounds so awesome!"
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is very excited to see the returnee 'kyrgios rodgraim' for real.]
Lee Seolhwa covered her mouth with a hand in surprise when the novel described Kyrgios' impromptu surgical procedure by sword. "Oh, well, that is… um…"
[the constellation 'guam divine doctor' is aghast by the actions of the returnee 'kyrgios rodgraim'.]
However, when the final line of the passage appeared, Yoo Joonghyuk flinched enough for his sister to wrinkle her nose and look up at him curiously. "Oppa, is everything okay?"
"It's nothing," Yoo Joonghyuk replied a bit too quickly for it to actually be nothing. Kim Dokja knew exactly what it was, and in all honesty, he had been surprised to see the name of Yoo Joonghyuk's teacher mentioned here of all places. Perhaps, in another world, the two of them could have met while he was still training with her.
Actually, maybe it was a good thing that they had never met. Kim Dokja was almost certain that Yoo Joonghyuk and Kyrgios would have hated each other specifically because they were too similar. Either that, or they would get along frighteningly well. Kim Dokja wasn't sure which option would be worse, if he was being honest.
[several constellations are complaining that the coat is too convenient.]
Sucks to be them.
"Wait, if the strongest was never decided in this murim place, who were the other candidates?" Jung Heewon wondered curiously, looking over to see if either Kim Dokja or Yoo Joonghyuk had the answer.
"My teacher would have been another candidate," Yoo Joonghyuk said suddenly, to Kim Dokja's surprise. He hadn't expected the protagonist to offer any further information about her, considering what had happened in his last round.
Jung Heewon seemed to accept that, and nodded. "Makes sense. You're strong as hell already, so your teacher has to be basically a monster."
Well, that wasn't incorrect, especially considering the fact that she wasn't entirely human. Still, Kim Dokja had to groan when the screen revealed just how long Kyrgios had spent deliberating about whether to accept Kim Dokja as a student or not.
"Two hours!?" Lee Gilyoung hissed. "What was he even thinking about to take that long?"
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is also confused by the actions of the returnee 'kyrgios rodgraim'.]
[constellations who value taking their time on important decisions believe that is a wise choice.]
Kygrios lands in front of Dokja and speaks in his normal voice as says that he's surprised that a disciple of the White Storm School still existed after he left. Only a moment later, the man declares that he'll take Dokja on as a disciple. Dokja looks absolutely exhausted as he remembers that he waited two hours for three sentences.
Sooyoung then asks if Dokja will be able to finish what he needs to do in the time limit he set for himself—two weeks—as she looks pointedly at the weights clasped around his wrists.
The first day of training.
Kyrgios drops wrist and leg braces made of cold iron, an ore unique to Peace Land, in front of Dokja and tells him to put them on. As Dokja inspects them, they snap onto his wrists, pull them to the ground with a resounding thud, and force him down to his knees as Kyrgios tells him that they're the lightest ones he has.
He then draws his sword and stabs straight ahead, almost blindingly quickly, before telling Dokja to repeat this movement a million times. As Dokja confirms this statement, in complete disbelief since it's just a basic stabbing motion, Kyrgios side eyes him and tells him that everything starts from the fundamentals—a concept that comes from following the mindset that everything in the universe comes from a single 'point'. Dokja, clearly not understanding in the least, pretends he does.
"Um, does he assume that you studied in the First Murim under someone else?" Yoo Sangah wondered awkwardly, and Kim Dokja had to nod.
He smiled back at her. "Maybe it's a bit of innocent deception, but that doesn't change the fact that I have this skill."
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is snorting at the dishonesty of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
"Three sentences," Lee Jihye stated flatly, looking completely dumbfounded. "Did he spend most of that time daydreaming or something?"
Honestly, while it was unlikely, he absolutely could have been and no one would have ever known the difference.
When Han Sooyoung pointed out that he only had two weeks, Kim Dokja clicked his tongue. That might not be enough time to get what he needed, but he'd certainly try his best.
Then, the training began, and Kim Dokja felt his soul begin to wither away in real time.
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is cheering for the training montage.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is snickering at the dismay of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
"Oh my fucking god," Han Sooyoung wheezed, "those are the lightest ones!?"
Yoo Sangah's mouth dropped open slightly in shock. "Dokja-ssi has a pretty high strength stat too…"
[a few constellations are admiring the waist of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Kim Dokja felt his cheeks flush in embarrassment upon seeing himself look so pathetic. Wearing those heavy cuffs and then stabbing a million times!? Was Kyrgios insane!?
"There's no way," he gasped, looking utterly horrified. "And what the heck is he even talking about!?"
In true protagonist fashion, Yoo Joonghyuk seemed to be nodding along as though he understood everything immediately—the lucky bastard, born with talent. He also looked remarkably unfazed by the utterly insane training regimen, but that could be chalked up to his own inhuman-level of training. He literally didn't know any other way to train, which made Kim Dokja dread that promised training session after this hidden scenario was done.
At the very least, Jung Heewon, Lee Jihye, and Lee Hyunsung all seemed to be equally confused, so it wasn't that he was just stupid or something.
[constellations who like philosophy are pondering the idea of the returnee 'kyrgios rodgraim'.]
The second day.
As Dokja repeatedly stabs the air, they discuss the meaning of what it means to be truly small, and Kygrios states that—from the perspective of the universe—all beings are smaller than a speck of dust. Following that logic, it's wrong to call small people 'small', as humans are equally small in that worldview. After all, to be small is to be closer to the true nature of the universe, and to better understand its essence. Dokja deadpans and thinks that it sounds like Kyrgios is making excuses to rationalize his own 'smallness'. When Dokja asks what this all has to do with stabbing, Kyrgios laments that this is why people shouldn't be born big, and tells him to get back to stabbing.
The third day
As Dokja continues to stab the air, looking very tired and done with everything, Kyrgios angrily and impatiently tells him that—as a weakling—he should at least attempt to put some effort in.
The fifth day.
"Why weren't you born as an insect instead? Even cockroaches would learn it better than you would," Kyrgios snaps as he harshly criticizes Dokja while the other man continues to stab the air. When Dokja snarks back that he'd rather that cockroach be his master, Kyrgios asks if he wants to die.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is agreeing with the words of the returnee 'kyrgios rodgraim'.]
"I don't like thinking about that," Shin Yoosung admitted, curling up a bit and hugging her knees to her chest. "Especially because now we know that the universe is much more scary than before."
Kim Dokja's smile softened and he ruffled her hair. "You don't need to think too hard about it, and it's reasonable to be scared. As my future self said, he's probably just making all of this up to compensate for his height."
The girl giggled and nodded, looking the tiniest bit more reassured than before.
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is smiling'.]
Lee Gilyoung, on the other hand, huffed. "You're right, hyung. That has nothing to do with stabbing."
It really didn't, and that's what made it so baffling. Why was Kyrgios bothering to say all of this to him instead of just… critiquing his form, or something. For someone with such a bad temper, Kim Dokja had honestly expected him to be more like Yoo Joonghyuk and focus on aspects like footwork, grip, and other practical skills.
Instead, he was oddly talkative, and Kim Dokja wasn't sure what to make of it. As the days ticked on, and the insults only grew more frequent, he had to shoot a tired glance in the direction of Jung Heewon and Han Sooyoung, who were snickering to themselves.
[a constellation who likes swords is emphasizing the importance of even simple moves.]
That was all well and good, but to compare him to a cockroach!?
"Oh that's not fair," Kim Dokja grumbled, scowling at the screen.
Lee Gilyoung nodded vehemently next to him. "Yeah! Cockroaches don't even have hands, so they can't hold a sword. Hyung is obviously better than a cockroach at stabbing things, even though cockroaches are cool too."
… Gilyoung-ah, that wasn't the point.
"No, no, he's onto something," Jung Heewon managed to say between her snickers. "They're practically unkillable, and so are you."
Well, technically, Kim Dokja was still extremely killable. He just happened to have a way to get better afterwards.
[a few constellations are wondering about the logistics of learning from a cockroach.]
Okay, Kim Dokja didn't even want to know what that was about. The constellations were as baffling as always, it seemed.
And today, it's been two weeks…
Kyrgios looks down at Dokja, his delicate features illuminated by the sun shining behind him, and remarks that it's baffling that Dokja was able to learn the [White Star Weapon Aura] at all. Dokja responds that he diligently read a hidden tome and that it just 'came to him'.
It's not exactly a lie since I've diligently read TWSA.
Kyrgios' eyes narrow with a hint of worry as he states that Dokja would be shredded to pieces immediately with his fragile body, his tone softer than usual. When Dokja points out his peculiar and violent way of showing concern, Kyrgios just huffs and looks away—mimicking the typical tsundere pose—as he states that he's just worried that Dokja will disgrace the honor of the White Storm School.
As Dokja's understanding of the other man increases due to him accurately noting that Kyrgios is actually concerned for him, Dokja looks up to the sky and remarks that he'll die training before getting to actually do any fighting. Kyrgios retorts with some metaphors that eventually has him declaring that the sun is also just a speck of dust compared to the universe.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is sighing despondently.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is wishing that the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk' would appear soon to help the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Hey, he could endure a few weeks of training without the protagonist there to whip him into shape. Despite that, at least Yoo Joonghyuk might say something a bit more constructive if he were around…
Still, it was humiliating to hear Han Sooyoung suddenly burst into laughter again. "Your lack of talent strikes again!"
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is sighing and pinching the bridge of his nose.]
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is laughing at the misfortune of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Was he going to have to rely on bought or borrowed skills for the rest of the apocalypse? Clearly he wasn't making any progress at actually learning anything.
Yoo Joonghyuk's lips pursed slightly as Kyrgios continued speaking and criticizing Kim Dokja's body. He really didn't want to hear the protagonist's opinion on how he needed to build more muscle or eat a balanced diet right now; he simply didn't have the time for either of that.
"He's a tsundere," Lee Jihye whispered gleefully when Kyrgios turned away with a huff. "Oh my god, this changes everything."
Did it? All it meant was that he sucked at admitting that he actually cared.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is greatly distressed by the words of the incarnation 'lee jihye'.]
"Dokja-ssi… what will you do if you can't learn it?" Lee Seolhwa wondered nervously, and Kim Dokja clenched his jaw a bit. He had a gut feeling that he knew what he was doing, but if he happened to be wrong and was actually trying to learn it properly… then he just might be screwed.
"I just won't be able to rely on it as a tool, that's all," Kim Dokja sighed. He really hoped that he was right.
"Many people have died on top of this little speck of dust so far," Dokja muses wistfully, staring up at the sky. "Then are their lives also nothing but specks of dust in the perspective of the universe?"
Kyrgios looks down sadly before stating that he hasn't taken on a disciple for a long time. As they discuss the harsh training as a reason why that would be the case—with Dokja even joking that they would have run away because of it—the scene pans over the two women, where Asuka is sitting properly in a kneeling pose while watching them and Sooyoung is sprawled out while yawning, her sharp canines on full view.
"They were all too weak, every one of them," Kyrgios states, his tone both sad and disappointed.
Everyone in the White Storm School died from being swept up in the bloodbath of the 'First Murim' except for the smallest superhuman in this world, Kyrgios Rodgraim.
[a few constellations are tired of being confused by the philosophical talk.]
[constellations who like philosophy are respectfully disagreeing with the other constellations.]
"In the end, he still chose to take you on, so that means you were worthy enough in his eyes," Yoo Sangah said gently, and that was something that Kim Dokja probably needed to hear by that point.
Even though his training was hellish, and though the two women were stuck hanging around without much to do while he was busy training, it still felt nice to be recognized in some way.
Yoo Mia stayed silent for a moment as Kyrgios lamented his past disciples, before finally speaking up. "He really misses them, doesn't he?"
Of course he did. He had spent time with them—training together, eating together, and laughing together. Maybe back then he had been a bit more friendly, too. Kim Dokja didn't know for sure, but for once, he wasn't sure if he wanted to know either. It would feel like he was prying too much if he asked anything further.
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is praying for the fallen disciples of the returnee 'kyrgios rodgraim'.]
Kyrgios reiterates that all big people are too weak, so Dokja must work harder since the scenarios will only become more difficult than what they're currently experiencing. Dokja brings up the fact that people still died without scenarios for even more insignificant reasons, calling those times harder for him since the world was so much more unfair back then. Lifting his arm and brushing his hand against the weight on his wrist, Dokja states that it was like shackles that tied him down no matter how hard he tried to escape them.
"... So, what I want to say is…" Dokja turns to gaze up at Kyrgios with a small, confident smile, "don't worry, I won't die."
As the sun sets in front of them, Kyrgios sighs with a slightly softer expression before calling Dokja a strange one. Dokja just replies that he gets that one a lot, even agreeing with the strange half of that statement, before Kyrgios changes the subject to make Dokja do 82,000 more stabs.
"He's worried for you too, ahjussi," Yoo Mia told him seriously. "You'd better not die on him."
"I'll do my best not to," Kim Dokja told her seriously, hoping that she would understand just how sincere he was being.
Still, the silence that followed his future self's words about how the time before the apocalypse was harder for him than now was incredibly awkward. Once, they might have thought that was merely exaggeration, but now… now, they knew everything, and they knew it was true.
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is saddened for the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Kim Dokja could tell that she was looking at him again, now that she was somewhat relevant to the narrative. He didn't want to look back at her, or to think about her role in everything because it would just make him angry and frustrated again.
Still, there was the one secret that Kim Dokja kept as close to his chest as he could. Yoo Sangah knew that he had once been suicidal, but she didn't know the true extent of it, or what he had done. No one here knew that he had once tried to fly away from everything, to leave it all behind as mere memories that would eventually vanish with the wind.
Not even she knew about that, since his visits had gotten more sporadic following the release of the book anyway. Even when he had finally returned and started talking about TWSA, it wasn't like their interactions had changed much—it was still just Kim Dokja trying to fill the silence in any way he could, and her acting as though he wasn't even there.
"You can't make those kinds of promises," Yoo Joonghyuk muttered gruffly, but Kim Dokja could hear that he was almost choking back emotion as he said that.
"That doesn't mean I can't try to keep them," Kim Dokja whispered back. He had something to live for now, even if Yoo Joonghyuk hadn't fully realized that it was him. They stared into each other's eyes for a moment as Yoo Joonghyuk seemed to search for something in his gaze. Kim Dokja wasn't sure if he had found anything at all before he nodded once and turned away, back to paying attention to the screen.
[many constellations are agreeing that the incarnation 'kim dokja' is strange.]
[a few constellations are feeling pity for the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Later that night, after Kyrgios has left, Dokja tells the girls that it's time for them to make a run for it. This makes them both look at him in confusion as Sooyoung points out that he still sucked at the technique he was trying to learn earlier. Dokja replies that he's finished stealing it and, to their surprise, he shows off his new [Bookmark] slot and coats himself in white lightning. The sheer brightness of the lightning crackling around his body turns Dokja's hair white, and his eyes seem to be the same icy blue as Kyrgios' as he smiles confidently at both of the women.
"Huh?" Han Sooyoung said suddenly, extremely confused by the sudden time skip. "Why the fuck are we leaving?"
Ah, right. The two-week time limit.
Kim Dokja grimaced. "I don't think he'd let me leave if I asked, so we're going to have to run and hope he doesn't find us."
[several constellations think that this is a stupid idea.]
Well, maybe not so stupid.
"Sooyoung-ssi is right; you still don't know the skill," Lee Hyunsung muttered awkwardly, seemingly apologizing for the criticism with his gaze alone.
Then, Kim Dokja's grin grew on his face. "That doesn't matter. I've just spent the past two weeks getting to know him, after all."
Yoo Joonghyuk's expression darkened. "Kim Dokja…"
Oh, he was probably furious. That wasn't good, and Kim Dokja instantly went into damage control mode.
"Joonghyuk-ah, I really can't learn it normally in two weeks," Kim Dokja protested, hoping that he could talk the protagonist down from a rage. "I'm not you, so I have to use whatever methods I can."
Jung Heewon shot a teasing grin their way. "Honestly, if you expected Dokja-ssi to learn it on his own, then that's on you for not knowing him very well."
Kim Dokja was not expecting the sheer level of venom in the glare that the protagonist shot at Jung Heewon only a second later. Was he really so pissed off that she was making fun of him for assuming that Kim Dokja would actually learn something normally?
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is gasping in affront at the words of her incarnation.]
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is snickering in amusement.]
Despite the mess happening over where Yoo Joonghyuk was still glowering enough that there was basically a threatening aura all around him, Kim Dokja let out a sigh of relief as his future self demonstrated Kyrgios' famed skill, allowing himself to crackle with the power of lightning itself. It looked far more impressive than he had expected it to, and he wasn't displeased with it aesthetically whatsoever.
"Well, now that I have it, we can meet back up with everyone else," Kim Dokja said cheerfully as he clapped his hands once.
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is hoping that everything is okay with the rest of the incarnations.]
Well, the soldiers of Peace Land aside, they had over half of the Korean group to defend Veronica Castle. They'd be fine; most of the Japanese incarnations were no match for them, and they had been instructed to abandon the castle and run if Izumi's group showed up. So, unless something had gone horrifically wrong, then there was nothing to worry about.
Or, at least, Kim Dokja desperately hoped that would be the case.