[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is tearing his hair out in anticipation.]
Yoo Joonghyuk seemed to be very unimpressed with him, considering the glare that was currently digging into the side of his head, but when wasn't he? Kim Dokja wasn't going to worry about that for now—the protagonist would understand why this was necessary sooner or later.
Knowing that this could either go perfectly or very badly, Kim Dokja took a deep breath as he readied himself for what would happen next. At least the kids were next to him and he could offer what meagre comfort he was capable of, but he hoped that he'd be able to reassure them that everything was going according to plan.
Sooyoung crouches down beside Dokja, remarking that his looks aren't actually half-bad. She starts to poke his face, murmuring that she stabbed him since he asked, but tries to stop herself from feeling worried. After all, he doesn't even have an avatar that he can use to avoid death, and she stops to muse about that for a moment, seemingly wondering something that she doesn't voice.
Like a startled cat, she jumps slightly when a loud boom erupts from the arena. Sooyoung turns, gazing over as the dokkaebi hype up the announcement of the final three, all while the chaotic battle continues to rage inside the sealed dome.
As Nirvana and Joonghyuk clash in a flurry of arms and sword strikes, many constellations feel excited and nervous about the reveal, including several of Dokja's main supporters. Suddenly, a throb of pain erupts in Joonghyuk's arm, causing him to wince and tremble as he feels the side effects of [Gigantification].
"Not half bad, huh?" Kim Dokja said, raising a brow in Han Sooyoung's direction. Was she joking, or was her taste that awful? After seeing what he looked like to others, Kim Dokja was seriously doubting her judgement if she thought that wasn't too bad.
Han Sooyoung rolled her eyes. "Yeah, death just suits you so well, you fucking asshole."
Yeah, that was about what he had expected.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is scoffing and looking away.]
"Ahjumma, what are you talking about?" Yoo Mia asked, sounding extremely confused. "Ahjussi clearly doesn't have that skill, so what's there to wonder about?"
Unfortunately, Han Sooyoung looked as confused as she did. However, she frowned and clicked her tongue a moment later, as though disagreeing with her future self on something. Had she realized what her future self was thinking? She couldn't be imagining that he could ever have the [Avatar] skill, right?
Then, before anyone could press her into elaborating, something exploded in the dome and Lee Hyunsung flinched before calming down. "I hope that Joonghyuk-ssi is okay…"
Yeah, the battle wasn't stacked in his favour already, but so long as he thought about Kim Dokja even once, he'd have some kind of backup. All he could do was hope that Nirvana reminded him of Kim Dokja somewhere during the fight, or else he might have chosen the slow and agonizing death for nothing.
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is concerned by the reaction of the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
[the constellation 'guam divine doctor' is narrowing his eyes at the side effects of the skill 'gigantification'.]
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes narrowed and he seemed to almost be criticizing himself in his mind. He knew his own limits better than anyone else, and if he had just hit them, then that wouldn't be a good thing. Kim Dokja knew that the protagonist had gone all out from the beginning in an attempt to end the fight as quickly as possible, but it was getting too drawn out for him.
If something didn't change soon, then Nirvana would win.
"Until all your stats have reached three digits, never use this skill," a woman's voice says, instructing Joonghyuk, as her shadowed figure appears in a flashback. As he faces Nirvana's barrage of arms, he remarks that even though his master said that, he must pour everything out in this fight as he heads towards uncertainty. In a blast of power, he aims all the mana he can muster in a strike meant for splitting the sky. In his head, he can hear the words of his master yet again.
"Splitting the Sky is an explosion. Don't hide yourself—expand, blossom, flood. Don't allow the heavens to be above you."
As he strikes, Joonghyuk remembers the Breaking the Sky Sword Saint, who fought and died alone against an alliance of returnees in his 2nd regression. He remembers the thick sky from that time that he couldn't break. However, Joonghyuk knows that Nirvana is not that sky, and that they aren't as strong as his teacher. Because of that, Joonghyuk allows himself to be confident that he can kill them.
The warping giant arm slashes through the arms and the mandalas spawning them, forcing Nirvana to spit up blood as they're forced further back. Rushing towards the reincarnator, Joonghyuk guesses that Nirvana must have succeeded a close combat skill because of their wariness concerning Dokja.
The second a woman's voice began speaking, Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes widened dramatically and then began to shake. Her voice was booming and powerful, and her tone allowed no room for argument. Judging by the way that the protagonist had been paralyzed just by hearing her, not even taking her words into consideration, Kim Dokja knew that the woman speaking must have been his teacher.
"Damn, you're going against your own teacher's advice for this?" Jung Heewon wondered, letting out a sigh. "I guess that just proves that Nirvana is that strong of an opponent."
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is frowning slightly.]
[a constellation who likes swords is curious about the master of the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
"Joonghyuk-ssi…" Yoo Sangah said quietly as he remembered his teacher. His grief was palpable, but he was more than well aware of how to use his grief as fuel to force himself to keep walking forwards. Kim Dokja couldn't even say anything, too mesmerized by the internal conflict that Yoo Joonghyuk rarely showed on the outside.
For a moment, he wondered how the screen was showing the protagonist's thoughts too, but he brushed it aside. It was in his head all the time anyway, somehow, so it wasn't too much of a stretch that it had managed to get into his companion's as well.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is cackling with glee.]
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is intrigued by the words of the 'breaking the sky sword saint'.]
Lee Seolhwa smiled softly. "She sounds like a wonderful person, and an even better teacher. I'm sure she wouldn't have blamed you for anything that happened there, Joonghyuk-ssi."
After a moment of hesitation, Yoo Joonghyuk nodded. He didn't seem inclined to speak, and no one wanted to force him to. This was a moment that was for him and him alone, even if he was taking comfort from his sister being safe within his grasp. He'd process everything that had happened in his last regression, and he'd use it to keep getting stronger in the future.
The sheer amount of confidence that was welling up inside of the protagonist just from realizing that he could win made Kim Dokja smile. This was the Yoo Joonghyuk that he had cheered for for over a decade. This was the Yoo Joonghyuk whose story he loved so much. It was a story of grieving, of loss, and of depression just as much as it was a story of triumph, of growth, and of surpassing one's limits.
"Get them!" Lee Gilyoung yelled suddenly, catching both Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk off guard. Apparently the boy's hatred of Nirvana outweighed his weird rivalry with Yoo Joonghyuk, but that was definitely a good thing.
Lee Jihye nodded eagerly. "Yeah! Come on, Master, you can do this! They're not gonna be able to beat you up close!"
[many constellations are cheering on the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
Suddenly, Nirvana smiles and Joonghyuk's eyes widen as his [Advanced Mental Barrier] reaches its limit. His eyes shake as he realizes that although he has [Thought Vaccine], a skill that is intended to counter Nirvana's [Thought Infection] and [Eternal Nightmare], his defenses are still being torn down.
As dozens of golden, glowing hands reach out to caress him, Joonghyuk has a sudden realization—Nirvana is still physically weaker than they were in his past life, and he wonders if the reincarnator didn't actually succeed a close combat skill. Despite Dokja's presence as a notable variable, Joonghyuk was Nirvana's target from the beginning. Falling to the ground, Joonghyuk realizes that the skill Nirvana chose to succeed is actually [108 Afflictions].
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is cursing under his breath.]
Fuck.
All the cheering stopped instantly, replaced by an eerie and anxious silence as Yoo Joonghyuk's [Advanced Mental Barrier] caved. Even though he had a skill specifically intended to counter Nirvana, even that could only last so long against a constant barrage of skills.
"No… not again…" Yoo Mia whimpered, curling up into a ball in her brother's lap.
Shin Yoosung tugged on Kim Dokja's sleeve pleadingly. "Ahjussi, you have to do something!"
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is agreeing with the incarnation 'shin yoosung'.]
"I can't do anything unless he thinks of me," Kim Dokja replied in a defeated tone. He was in place, ready to lend his assistance, but nothing could actually happen if Yoo Joonghyuk didn't think of him for one reason or another. God dammit, had he not told the protagonist to think of him if he was in trouble? Or was he just too focused to even remember?
He felt numb as he watched the protagonist realize that, contrary to what both of them had thought, Nirvana had chosen to double down on the mental attacks rather than compensate for their lack of physical strength. Instantly, a cold feeling invaded his soul. He should have thought of that. He should have realized that Nirvana would hone in on Yoo Joonghyuk's weakness. Nirvana didn't use common sense or think like any normal person, so—
"Kim Dokja, you're thinking too much," Yoo Joonghyuk said suddenly, snapping him out of the spiral of thoughts that he had been sliding down all-too easily. Like he was summoned, Kim Dokja's gaze immediately met the protagonist's, and he finally allowed himself to breathe again.
"But, Joonghyuk-ah, I should have warned—"
"I should have thought of it." Yoo Joonghyuk's tone was firm and it shut down Kim Dokja's ability to think. "You are not fighting. It is not your responsibility."
He couldn't say anything to that, and all he could do was nod slightly and look down at the floor. At least… at least this scenario meant that Yoo Joonghyuk would be prepared for if this happened again in their future.
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is spitting at the incarnation 'nirvana moebius'.]
"Well, shit," Han Sooyoung said, summing up their thoughts in two words.
Yoo Sangah frowned at the screen and shot a worried look at both Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk. "So, instead of trying to counter Dokja-ssi by physically overpowering him, Nirvana decided to only target Joonghyuk-ssi…"
"Maybe I should have just volunteered to fight instead," Kim Dokja groaned. "At least then, they wouldn't be able to keep doing this to Joonghyuk-ie…"
She sighed, and her gaze was prickling into his back. However, contrary to expectations, she actually spoke up. "Dokja-yah, you know that nothing else would have drawn them out, and by broadcasting it, you couldn't change any details."
He knew that. He did, but—
"I still don't have to like it," he admitted. His tongue felt heavy in his mouth, and a part of him was shaking at having to respond directly to her like that without [The Fourth Wall] to keep him at a distance. Still, another part of him felt liberated, like he had finally started coaxing back some of his own power so she couldn't hold it over him.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is groaning that he wants to go back to the fight already.]
Right now, he couldn't focus on anything other than what was happening on the screen. [108 Afflictions] was an incredibly dangerous skill, especially for Yoo Joonghyuk. All Kim Dokja could hope was that he'd be able to intervene sooner rather than later.
Behind Nirvana's menacingly smiling form, countless strings of beads formed from glowing threads appear as they joyfully declare that only they can understand him. Joonghyuk's mental barrier completely collapses as Nirvana gleefully demands that the regressor become one with them. Thinking of how far he's come, Joonghyuk's face just looks ashen and his eyes turn into dark pools of despair as all his senses start to run wild.
Fragments of agony pierce his mind, and Joonghyuk knows that if he dies to this skill, he won't be able to guarantee his next regression. Out of desperation, he uses all his fading willpower to raise the blade of his sword to his neck, ready to regress before the situation passes the point of no return.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is vehemently disagreeing with the statement of the incarnation 'nirvana moebius'.]
"Ugh, they're so fucking creepy," Jung Heewon muttered as she shuddered and narrowed her eyes at the protagonist on the screen. "C'mon… get the hell out of there…"
He wouldn't be able to do that. Right now, under that skill's influence, he was basically paralyzed. Yoo Joonghyuk wouldn't be able to escape something like that on his own.
Deep down, Kim Dokja wanted to reach out to him and offer him the same comfort that Yoo Joonghyuk had given him earlier, but the man was already preoccupied with his sister. Kim Dokja didn't know that there was anything he could do that could help in the first place, so he did his best to dismiss the thought. Right now, the best thing that he could do was hope that his future self would be able to interfere somehow.
Yoo Joonghyuk's hands clenched into fists, and his back was so straight that it made Kim Dokja almost feel ashamed of his own abysmal posture. However, even though he was holding onto his sister like she was the only thing capable of grounding him even slightly, the protagonist's eyes were glued to the screen.
Honestly, Kim Dokja wasn't even sure he was breathing.
[many constellations are alarmed by the actions of the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' has dropped his glass in shock.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is distraught.]
"No…" Kim Dokja pleaded under his breath, his eyes going wide as he watched Yoo Joonghyuk raise his sword to his own neck. His voice was gradually getting more and more frantic with every word. "Stop… please stop…"
He couldn't— he wouldn't—
Kim Dokja's mind was a mess, and his entire head felt like it was plunged into a bucket of cold water. Everything he heard was garbled and distorted, and he could barely focus on anything other than the glint of the metal as it approached Yoo Joonghyuk's skin.
If Yoo Joonghyuk died, then…
Was everything over? Just like that?
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is closing his eyes mournfully.]
"Yoo Joonghyuk, get a grip. I'm telling you not to delude yourself into thinking that things will improve if you keep repeating everything. Who knows, you might be able to do better in the next regression, but that could also not be the case." Dokja's phantom voice echoes in his mind all of a sudden, causing Joonghyuk to snap to attention in his mental realm as several ghostly Nirvanas cling to him, their hands grasping his chest, arms, and neck.
"This turn you're planning to abandon might be the only turn where you'll be able to see the end of the world as a 'human'." For some reason, Joonghyuk can't help but remember those words, and although his mind is in a terrible state, he has a single thought in his head. 'Kim Dokja.'
As his vision starts to dim, Dokja's phantom form materializes in front of him as the Nirvana's cling to him harder. As their eyes meet, the world seems to melt away for Joonghyuk as a soft light seems to emanate from the man standing in front of him like a guiding star. As a smile graces Dokja's lips, his full face visible to the other man, he says, "You idiot, you finally thought of it. Take a break for a bit."
Despite his reluctance, Joonghyuk feels relieved by the voice in his head, and he easily closes his eyes to rest.
Kim Dokja couldn't process anything for a second, even when his own voice began speaking in Yoo Joonghyuk's head. He was too lost in a sea of uncertainty, unmoored and standing on a sinking ship that would be dragged down to the bottom if Yoo Joonghyuk died here.
"Dokja-ssi," Lee Hyunsung said hurriedly, and he could only barely pay attention to what the other man was saying. "Dokja-ssi, if he's remembering what you said, then he's thinking of you!"
He was… what?
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is letting out a sigh of relief.]
Suddenly, Lee Hyunsung's words seemed to make sense, and Kim Dokja's eyes widened as he realized what that meant. He'd be able to help. He'd be able to help—
Even as Nirvana was essentially dragging Yoo Joonghyuk down into his own mind, those words that Kim Dokja had said on the rooftop had really gotten through to him. He was elated and confused and relieved all at once. It was strange—being able to see a distinct change that he had caused in his favourite character. However, if those words were powerful enough to keep him from regressing, then everything was worth it.
Kim Dokja couldn't hide the sheer relief that filled him the moment the protagonist thought his name, allowing him to finally activate his skill. His shoulders slumped like he was a puppet whose strings had been cut, and he wasn't crying even as he buried his face in the kids' hair. It wasn't over. Yoo Joonghyuk would live, no matter what.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is sobbing tears of joy at this beautiful display of companionship.]
Kim Dokja's vision was blurry as he looked up at the screen again, seeing himself appear in front of Yoo Joonghyuk. Considering the circumstances, the entire scene seemed oddly soft.
"Y'know what, I'm not even going to make fun of you for this one," Han Sooyoung sighed. "Shit, I thought we were all about to implode."
Kim Dokja didn't know what she was talking about, and he didn't particularly care either. Right now, he was too busy tracing Yoo Joonghyuk's features on the screen, completely unused to seeing him look this disarmed. His expression was softer somehow, gentler, and it was probably just the relief that was making Kim Dokja feel weird.
"Just let hyung fight now, you sooty bastard," Lee Gilyoung sniffled, wiping his face with his sleeve. He had been worried too, despite everything. Shin Yoosung was much the same, but Yoo Mia was full-on sobbing into her brother's coat. She was overwhelmed and she was just a kid. Seeing her brother do something like that had broken her, and she wouldn't be okay until this fight was over.
[the constellation 'bald leader of the peasant's army' is wiping the sweat from his brow.]
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is shaking.]
Yoo Joonghyuk let out a sigh, and though he didn't seem to have the words, he looked over at Kim Dokja with a strange expression. Kim Dokja wasn't entirely sure of all the feelings he was trying to convey, but at the very least, it probably meant 'thank you'.
With a small, trembling smile, Kim Dokja nodded back. No words were exchanged, but they didn't need any either.
Back in the physical realm, Joonghyuk's eyes drift closed as well. Not even a second later, they snap open once more and 'Joonghyuk' glares with galaxies briefly flashing in his eyes as [First Person Main Character POV] activates.
Seeing 'Joonghyuk' stand up, seemingly unaffected, Nirvana watches in shock as they wonder how he could have possibly broken free from the skill. Clenching his right hand, Dokja marvels for a moment at the physique of the protagonist's body and the feel of the 'real' [First Person Main Character POV], even remarking that he could never be strong like this.
The overflowing power and the strength of these muscles feel great.
With a slight smile, Dokja feels confident while thinking that Sooyoung must have done her job properly for him to be able to possess Joonghyuk.
According to my estimations, the remaining time until my life completely ends is about five minutes.
The screen briefly switches to show Sooyoung pulling up Dokja's cheek with a finger to create a weird smile on his face. It then rushes back to Nirvana as they send another wave of [108 Afflictions] towards 'Joonghyuk', which the boss [The Fourth Wall] obliterates like paper.
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is crossing his fingers eagerly.]
"Kick their butt, ahjussi," Shin Yoosung muttered, "even if you have to use the sooty bastard's body to do it."
He'd do what he had to do. Everyone's survival was riding on this, after all.
"I know that this isn't really the time, but it's so weird seeing Master like this," Lee Jihye admitted with a weird expression on her face. "Like, his face is Master's, but everything else is all wrong!"
Huh? That came out of nowhere…?
Yoo Sangah nodded, allowing a small smile onto her face. "Ah, what Jihye-ga is saying is that it's very strange seeing Joonghyuk-ssi with Dokja-ssi's mannerisms. It wasn't as obvious when you were in Hyunsung-ssi's body due to the circumstances, but it's very obvious here."
Was it really that obvious?
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is amused by the current events.]
[a few constellations think that this scene looks wrong.]
"Yeah, now that I look at it, Dokja-ssi isn't frowning either. I don't think I've ever seen that guy's face make this expression before," Jung Heewon remarked with a tinge of amusement.
Well, whatever. Kim Dokja sighed, "That's not important right now. I only have so much time to finish this fight."
"And yet you still waste time thinking about the bastard's muscles," Han Sooyoung scoffed. "You sure have your fucking priorities in order."
Of course he did. He needed to know what he was working with, after all.
[a constellation who likes handsome men is admiring the muscles of the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk'.]
Yoo Joonghyuk seemed to look a bit better than before, but that wasn't a surprise. Even though he was the protagonist, he probably still liked having his strength complimented, especially because of how much work it took to get it in the first place.
[several constellations are doubting that the fight can be ended within five minutes]
Thankfully, [The Fourth Wall] carried over and protected him, even in this situation. Because of that, Nirvana wouldn't be able to send them both under. He could win this, if he played his cards right. With his strategies and mental immunity, and Yoo Joonghyuk's absolutely impossible strength, then there were very few ways he could lose.
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is cheering at the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is snickering at the actions of the incarnation 'han sooyoung'.]
He just wished that Han Sooyoung would leave his corpse alone, though. Wasn't he already suffering enough?
"This feeling is… Who are you?" Nirvana asks, hints of fear creeping into their gaze. Rather than answering, 'Joonghyuk' disappears from the reincarnator's vision, only reappearing as a fist makes direct contact with their face. As always, the hit is done in a beautiful display of slow motion before it speeds up again as Nirvana goes flying into the barrier, letting out a strangled yelp.
The reincarnator lies on the ground, trembling as blood drips from their lips, while they struggle to pull themselves up. Looking down at them, Dokja remarks how funny it is that they've become clueless to what 'death' is after experiencing it so many times.
Death is what it is because it only happens once.
As he states this, an image appears of an incarnation burying an ally, their dog tags clacking in the wind as they rest on the dead's sword.
Walking closer to the now standing reincarnator, Dokja continues to hammer in how hypocritical their creed is since the present is only important because there is nothing after death and by continuing to live despite that, Nirvana doesn't know what either death or the present truly are, causing Nirvana to stumble backwards at his approach. As Nirvana asks how he knows about them, Dokja bitch slaps them while stating that he knows all of Nirvana's reasoning very well.
The kids cheered as Kim Dokja punched Nirvana, and even Yoo Mia seemed to be recovering somewhat. The beatdown was probably cathartic for her, and after everything, she had to know that Kim Dokja would never let her brother die that easily.
"That was a decent punch, Dokja-ssi!" Lee Hyunsung complimented him eagerly. Decent. He had thought it was pretty good…
[several constellations are laughing at the incarnation 'nirvana moebius'.]
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyebrow twitched, however. He sighed, and a frown crossed his lips. "Even in my body, your form is still horrible."
Ah shit.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is feeling exasperated.]
Before the protagonist could once again threaten him into agreeing to yet another training session, Lee Seolhwa nodded along with Kim Dokja's words on the screen.
"You can't value life until you know the consequences of death, so you can never live if you never fear death."
She was absolutely right, and there was no point in focusing on living in the moment if you never had to worry about what would come after. Even though he could resurrect, that didn't mean that he didn't understand it either—rather, he understood it far too well, and he had for a long time.
As Kim Dokja continued to advance, catching the reincarnator off guard, Lee Jihye began cheering. It seemed that with a single idea, he had managed to start turning the tides, and everyone was feeling far more hopeful than before. Now it looked like he could actually win this.
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is agreeing with the words of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Glaring, despite the one sided beating, Nirvana calls Dokja a foolish sentient being whose actions are useless as Joonghyuk will die even if Dokja kills them, and that no one can stop the tragedies from repeating. With a triumphant smile as Dokja halts his attack, Nirvana declares that they'll reincarnate and Joonghyuk will regress, and finally, they'll become one in the end.
At this timely moment, Joonghyuk is announced as the third strongest, causing the crowd to erupt into quiet murmurs as Nirvana stares wide-eyed at the notification panel between them in disbelief.
"Yoo Joonghyuk will never experience the 'next regression'. No matter what happens, Yoo Joonghyuk will live. The one that'll die is either you or me," Dokja declares, causing Nirvana to slap his hand away and declare themselves as the strongest incarnation, especially compared to a mere mortal like Dokja.
"Sure, he'll die eventually," Jung Heewon admitted with a shrug, "but I don't think Dokja-ssi will let that happen anytime soon."
That was absolutely correct. If Kim Dokja had his say, then the protagonist wouldn't die this time around until he was old and grey. And, all going well, he'd have long been freed from his stigma by then.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is scoffing at the words of the incarnation 'nirvana moebius'.]
"My oppa will never do that," Yoo Mia hissed through her still-flowing tears. "Ahjussi is gonna make sure he doesn't regress anymore so… so we can all go on vacation later."
"I will," Kim Dokja confirmed, trying to sound as confident as he could. It would be a long and arduous path, but he had already pledged himself to it. It didn't matter what it took to accomplish that goal, but he'd pay whatever the price ended up being.
[many constellations are gossipping amongst themselves.]
[the constellation 'lady of the sleeping brocade' is shocked that the incarnation 'yoo joonghyuk' is only third.]
Her gaze was once more on him, and it felt far more judgemental than before. Kim Dokja didn't know why this was bothering her at all. It's not like she had anything more than old and brittle connections to him anymore; why should she care what he had to do to accomplish his goals? Yoo Joonghyuk's survival was more important than his own life, and Kim Dokja would declare that without hesitation.
"I understand why they're so confident, but we all know that they're not the strongest," Yoo Sangah sighed, but she looked somewhat pleased—likely because the one who had made her suffer for a solid week was about to get the truth slapped into their face.
Once again, taking the piss out of them and their words, the next notification appears. Everyone watches in shock at the revelation that Nirvana is only ranked second, which is extremely worrying considering why this fight is happening in the first place. Still lost in disbelief, Nirvana trembles from rage.
"Nirvana, you said that you wanted to live in the 'present', right?" Dokja asks in a calm tone. The reincarnator looks up, stumbling further back as terror wracks their entire being as they realize that the one in front of them truly is the strongest. Dokja looks them dead in the eyes with a level gaze, only made more intimidating by the protagonist's features and deep voice like that of a reaper's whisper, as he finishes his declaration. "I will teach you what 'death' is."
"Eat shit!" Han Sooyoung cackled at the expression on Nirvana's face. Kim Dokja didn't know why she looked so smug when she was only ranked fourth. Shouldn't he be the smug one here?
[the constellation 'master of steel' is worried about the response of the incarnation 'nirvana moebius'.]
It didn't matter how angry they were, not anymore. With that alone, they had been knocked off-kilter, and it would be hard to get back on track. Kim Dokja couldn't help but let a sly grin creep across his lips.
"Ahjussi, why are you smiling like that…?" Shin Yoosung asked hesitantly, and Kim Dokja patted her head quickly.
His voice was maybe a bit too smug as he said, "My specialty is pissing people off with my words, right? Think I can bait them into making a fatal mistake?"
[a few constellations are confident in the ability of the incarnation 'kim dokja' to be irritating.]
Why, thank you.
"Ahjussi, I think that's the coolest you'll ever get," Lee Jihye told him bluntly, and Kim Dokja honestly couldn't even argue with that. No one was cooler than Yoo Joonghyuk, after all.
Despite that, even as he leaned in and threatened Nirvana, it felt… weird. Speaking in Yoo Joonghyuk's voice sounded wrong, somehow. It was intimidating, as always, but it wasn't right. Normally, a tone like that would have sent a shiver down his spine from fear, but maybe because it was his own words instead, there was no effect? Maybe, for the purpose of testing it later, he should ask Yoo Joonghyuk to repeat that line and see if he was somehow just immune after fully possessing the man.
Whatever, that wasn't important. What mattered now was beating the shit out of Nirvana, and ending this damned scenario.
[many constellations are eagerly looking forward to what the incarnation 'kim dokja' will do next.]