"It's impossible for us two." "Argh, why not? You've been fine so far all alone, right? But this time, it'd be two of us, you know?" Rather than replying, Yoo Joonghyuk quietly looked at his own hand. A transparent ring was swirling around above that very hand. [Stigma, 'Regression' is evolving.] The countless regression turns he lived through were writhing within that ring. "You have no idea what it means to 'regress'," said Yoo Joonghyuk, as he slowly distorted the ring within his palm. "You don't know what happens every time I go through the regression." Stories grasped tightly within his fist howled out in agony. Sentences were exploding like insect eggs. Those were screams of the ones that repeatedly died many times throughout his life. "There is no such thing as the perfect regression, just like how there can be no Story without sacrifices. If I regress again this time…" More than likely, he'd lose someone again. The world would sink into yet another tragedy. The world about to be created in order to save Kim Dokja could be destroyed without managing to save anyone, instead. Han Sooyoung replied. "I know that. Also…"
She shifted her gaze over to the Complex's entrance and continued on. Since when was it? Several lengthy shadows were drawing closer to them under the cold wintery light. "Those people also know it, too."
Chapter 527: Epilogue 2 - Not found anywhere, II Han Sooyoung explained the plan in clear, concise words. One, in order to rescue Kim Dokja, they had to cross the [Final Wall]. Two, to cross the [Final Wall], they needed a total of five [fragments]. Three, the only remaining fragment in this world-line was [The Fourth Wall] Kim Dokja's Avatar possessed. Four, to acquire the other four fragments, they were to perform 'group regression' and cross over to another worldline. The companions stared at each other with slightly dazed expressions after hearing that very concise plan.
The first one to ask was Lee Jihye. "…Will that even be possible?" "This guy said it is, so I'm sure it will be," replied Han Sooyoung. After receiving her gaze, Yoo Joonghyuk nodded his head. "It's possible. However, my Stigma hasn't finished evolving yet, so it might take a little while longer. We needed time to prepare ourselves, anyway." "…Hold on. This 'regression' you speak of, Master, just what is the principle behind it?" "When I activate the regression, we will all return to the past, to the starting point of the scenarios." "Then, what about our own world?" "A brand new world-line separate from this one will be created. If you want to count the regression number, then… It'll be the 1865th turn." The 1865th world-line. It was such a gob-smacking number that the companions could only blink their eyes in stupefaction. "So, you're saying we should give it another shot over there." As if she had already expected something like this before coming here, Jung Heewon's expression as she said those words was filled with sheer determination. However, not everyone held the same view as her. "According to my knowledge, your 'regression' this time had been a little special, wasn't it?" Yoo Sangah was the one saying these words. "I read about 'regressions' inside Dokja-
ssi's library so I know a few things about it, as well. All of your regressions until now had been based on the worldview of the 'Ways of Survival'. However, this regression turn was a little bit special, wasn't it." Other companions seemed to have finally realized, at least a little bit, what she was talking about. The current 'world-line' was different from Yoo Joonghyuk's past regressions. It was the world-line brought to life by Yoo Joonghyuk's desire to see the 'end'. A portion of [The Fourth Wall] caved in, and that resulted in a world where reality and fiction combined into one. Its proof was that this regression turn featured some people who weren't characters from the 'Ways of Survival'. "Can all of us really go back together? Can you assure us that'll be the case?" If Yoo Joonghyuk's 'regression' activated with the 'Ways of Survival' as its operational criteria, then several of the companions, such as Yoo Sangah and Lee Gilyoung, couldn't accompany him. Yoo Joonghyuk slowly blinked his eyes and replied. "Regression will activate with the world-line that I am currently in as its operational criteria." "That means this 'Dokja-ssi' can travel with us, too." Yoo Sangah pointed to Kim Dokja lying on the hospital bed behind them. The reason why this world's Kim Dokja was dying had to do with the power of the system weakening gradually. However, if they could take this Kim Dokja with them through [Group
Regression], then he'd go under <Star Stream>'s system once more. Yoo Joonghyuk lightly nodded his head. "…Probably." "Well, it's settled, then. Anyone not agreeing to it, raise your hands." Shin Yoosung cautiously raised her hand at Han Sooyoung's cocky tone of voice indicating that she didn't think anyone would oppose the decision. "Argh, what do you think you are doing?" Han Sooyoung asked back. "…I'm not sure if this is the right thing to do. Didn't ahjussi want Joonghyuk ahjussi to stop regressing?" "That idiot never really cared about what we wanted, anyway. Even steven, I say." "If Joonghyuk ahjussi regresses, scenarios will begin in the world again. Lots of people will die. And they'll be thrown into tragedies again. Constellations will use people as their toys… And many won't even get to clear the first scenario." Shin Yoosung was right. Perhaps, one could argue that she was the Incarnation who understood 'Kim Dokja's' thoughts better than anyone among the companions. And for sure, he probably didn't want to create such misery. However, Han Sooyoung's thoughts were different. "And so, you think 'misery' won't happen if we don't regress?" "Excuse me?"
Han Sooyoung sighed lightly and looked up at the empty air. "Hey, you. Just for how long are you going to sit back and spectate?" At the end of that question, a ball of fine hair suddenly popped up in the air. [Bah-aht?] Han Sooyoung tutted unhappily in the direction of Biyoo employing the innocent-looking puppy-eyes tactic. "You and that thing again." That prompted Yoo Joonghyuk to say something. "Biyoo." Biyoo dry-coughed a bit before opening her mouth. [Whether you regress or not, other world-lines will continue to be destroyed.] Biyoo's fluent Korean caused Shin Yoosung's jaw to drop. She already knew that the small Dokkaebi could speak. But this would be the first time since the subway that they got to converse at length. "…How do you know that?" [Because I'm the 'Dokkaebi King' now, that's why.] After going 'Ahem!', Biyoo then pounded her chest with that small arm of hers. Not only was she not a Dokkaebi affiliated with the Bureau, but she also happened to be one that inherited the Dokkaebi King's <Star Stream> in full, too. The only reason why the <Star Stream>'s influence persisted at all was because of her, and at the same time, its
gradual disappearance was the result of no Dokkaebis other than Biyoo currently existing. [You may not be aware of this, but world-lines are being born every minute and every second.] "…Every minute and second?" [That's right. Whenever an existence in a world makes a decision on something, a brand new world-line will be born. Every time you flipped that coin, Yoosung-ah, a new worldline was born and got destroyed.] The world-lines were basically like a tree's branches that got divided whenever choices were made, Biyoo explained. [The 'regression' is simply a special method of choosing 'world-lines', that's all. It's like, you're returning to the point in time when the choice was made to start a new branch.] It was a head-trip of a revelation. "In that case, just how many worlds, until now…" Biyoo opened her mouth again as if she had already read the vast, boundless despair of the gathered companions. […Only Father would know that.] 'Father'. There could only ever be one person that Biyoo would refer to as her 'father' in all of the world-lines. The Constellation responsible for establishing <Kim Dokja's Company>. And the existence that ended up becoming this universe's 'Oldest Dream'.
[You can only change one world-line out of all the countless others out there.] The companions earnestly started cooking up their plan on the following day. Project <Capture the Squid>. Han Sooyoung came up with that title. "What was the standard of 'lifeform' as accepted by <Star Stream>, again?" Since they all decided to 'regress' once more, they had to come up with a truly perfect plan. The companions often discussed the methods to thoroughly and completely conquer the scenarios, and the one topic their opinions seemed to clash far more than any other was the 'first scenario'. "What about germs? Germs are also lifeforms, aren't they? If you spray hydrochloric acid on a hand, wouldn't you get, like, ten thousand Coins?" "If such a thing was accepted, then a person doing nothing should've survived, too. Our bodies kill germs in real-time, you know." "Some people survived without doing anything, though." "We can't afford to let fate decide for us. We definitely need to kill something."
"I killed a grasshopper to survive back then. And I heard Dokja hyung even resorted to breaking grasshopper eggs to earn Coins." Han Sooyoung quietly listening to the various opinions began jotting them down on the memo. "So, then. Insect eggs are counted as lifeforms in <Star Stream>'s standards." "Why don't the germs count, though?" "I think it has something to do with you actually being able to perceive the taking of life. Should we ask Biyoo about it?" Even the 'Team Anna' featuring Selena Kim and Iris was added to the mix, and the strategy meeting became even livelier than before. "This route is the best one to take during here." "…No, hang on. This one's better. According to my [Predictive Plagiarism]…" Kim Dokja didn't exist in the next regression turn waiting for them. However, that didn't mean they knew nothing, either. Yoo Joonghyuk was in possession of the 1863rd turn's memories he got from the 'Secretive Plotter', and… Han Sooyoung possessed the [Predictive Plagiarism]. And Yoo Sangah had read the records within [The Fourth Wall]'s library. ⸢And finally, they were the only beings that managed to go beyond the [Final Wall].⸥
Han Sooyoung was able to breathe again after the first meeting came to an end. It had been only a week; according to Yoo Joonghyuk, the 'group regression' would only be available in a month's time from now. The companions sometimes argued with each other over the methods of clearing scenarios. "The ⸢Greatest Sacrificial Lamb⸥. You gotta definitely…" "Did you forget that Dokja-ssi died back then? If you do it this way…" They hated the scenario more than anyone out there. Even then, even as they discussed it at length, the companions seemed excited about something, somehow. Why was this? They regained their reality by barely surviving past the scenarios, yet how could they be so jovial when discussing a plan to return to the 'scenarios'? ⸢Reality didn't refer to a specific 'place'.⸥ Maybe this was because all of them couldn't forget about a certain someone. Maybe, they just couldn't forget the time they spent together with that certain someone to survive the horrifying tragedy. "I still remember everything about the [Cinema Dungeon]. Dokja-ssi did this here…" The locations where each of the companions joined the group might have been different. The time they remembered, and the 'Kim Dokja' they remembered, were also different.
Despite all that, just like how Yoo Joonghyuk's numerous regression turns eventually gathered to become 'one person', it was a similar story for Kim Dokja, as well. "The [Absolute Throne]. According to Dokja hyung's words…" Parts of Kim Dokja different people liked gathered to become one Kim Dokja. And… "…I miss it back then." …And Kim Dokja's parts gathered in that manner caused the companions to start loving the other parts still unfamiliar to them. Han Sooyoung slowly turned her head and her eyes caught the figure of Yoo Joonghyuk sitting in a lotus position. Golden rings were looping around his entire body as he trained hard in order to evolve his Stigma. Han Sooyoung wordlessly observed him for a while, before asking a question. "Hey. I was curious about something." "I'm concentrating, so stop bothering me." "You told me earlier that you recalled the memories from the 0th turn, didn't you?" One of the golden rings went out of the loop. As faint sparks danced around him, Yoo Joonghyuk cracked open his eyelids just a little. Han Sooyoung grinned and asked again. "What exactly did you remember?" He hesitated for a long time before replying. "Kim Dokja was there."
"Wha? Seriously?" "That's why I became certain. Certain that Kim Dokja was still alive as the 'Oldest Dream'." "What was he doing there, anyway?" "I can't remember everything, but…" Yoo Joonghyuk scowled heavily and while looking at his [Black Heavenly Demon Sword], spoke in a seething tone of voice. "I know for certain that he hit me in the back of my head." I opened my eyes while sensing the clunking, noisy vibration of the subway train. ⸢I t's ok to sl eep mo re Kim Dok ja⸥ "I've slept enough." I stretched my heavy-feeling limbs, and sensed the vitality return slowly to the rest of my body. Most of the powers I spent watching the 0th turn had been recovered. The right arm I sacrificed in order to facilitate Yoo Joonghyuk's regression had almost fully regrown by now, too. But for some reason, it felt as if my whole body was lighter than before. Should I say that my body size had shrunken overall? ⸢Yoo Joonghyuk began his second life.⸥ Yoo Joonghyuk as he lived through the first turn was now reflected on the display panel.
I recalled his figure as he was leaving the 0th turn. Even though he had reached the most ideal conclusion that I could think of, he still chose to regress. To find out the reason why he was born into this world. To find the cause behind his existence in this reality. "The Fourth Wall." ⸢Ng⸥ "If every creature was born because someone had 'read' them… You think there is an existence reading about me somewhere, too?" [The Fourth Wall] didn't reply. Maybe, even it also had no clue about this topic. I began imagining the 'other reader' observing me from somewhere. However, it was harder than I thought. Just like how it was with the first 'Oldest Dream', a god could very well be a helpless, powerless creature. It could even be someone that I recognised, too. Maybe it was one of the <Kim Dokja's Company>'s members? Could it be that I existed in this place because they were imagining about me? ⸢Wan na l o o k?⸥ I shifted my gaze towards the screen displaying Yoo Joonghyuk's 1st turn. "Maybe later. I still have lots of other world-lines to look at, after all."
It was around then that the subway's speed began decreasing gradually. [The train will be flying over the outskirts of the dream.] A portion of the screens was switched off, and the panoramic view of the universe was shown outside the windows, instead. Even before I could ask, [The Fourth Wall] spoke first. ⸢Uni ver se's ou ts kir ts, bor der zo nes of oth er dim en sio ns⸥ Faint rays of light could be spied within the universe's pitchblack night skies. For sure, this seemed quite different from the <Star Stream>'s universe. Because this particular universe was shaped like a warped tree. "…What's over there? Are there universes different than mine?" ⸢'Star Stream' is j u s t one of ma ny wo rldv iews in the gr eater uni ver se⸥ [Currently, the train is flying past the outskirts of 'Tree of Illusion'.] [Currently, the train is passing through the Dark Dimension's time axis.] The Tree of Illusion. That seemed like the name of the tree over there. …Was I mistaken, though? I thought I heard that name before somewhere.
"Can we go there?" ⸢Too dan ger ous so bet ter not⸥ "Is there a 'Oldest Dream' over there, too?" ⸢Th ere is but dif fer ent n a m e⸥ Numerous roots extending well below, stems created out of countless souls, and way above them all, branches assimilated into the night sky. The roots and branches circled around the vast distance of the universe to connect with each other, and something resembling a massive eye was in the middle – a lone eye, illuminating the universe with boiling, licking flames. The moment my gaze met that eye's, I was overcome with this inexplicable chill. [A problem has occurred in the system!] The subway's speed rapidly fell along with the loud clunking noise. Lights within the train flickered and died without warning, and a metallic screech reverberated within. This was almost the same as back when the first scenario was issued. Loud ringing exploded in my ears, soon followed by a bizarre machine-like grinding noise next. Something was approaching the window of the subway. ⸢Kim Dok ja dan ger⸥ And then, I saw a single ray of light. ⸢Oth er di men sion's ab so lu te be ing⸥ At the end of that ray of light was a single blade. This light sliced past the Dark Stratum and flew straight in, seemingly splitting the entirety of the universe in the process. I clearly witnessed what that technique was.
That was 'Thrust'. KWA-BOOOM!! I was thrown ungainly to the floor as the explosion went off. I reflexively awakened my Stories and hurriedly raised my head, only to discover the sword that had already broken past the train's entrance. It was a sword with a blade darker than the darkness itself. And a naked man was standing there glaring at me, his hand gripping that very sword. "You bastard, are you the <<Big Brother>>?"
Chapter 528: Epilogue 2 - Not found anywhere, III I could only stare at the buck-naked man in sheer stupefaction. This situation was proving to be really difficult to comprehend. "I asked you whether you are the <<Big Brother>> or not." "…No, hang on a minute. I'm the one with questions here. Just who are you? And what is this <<Big Brother>>?" "It seems that you are not the <<Big Brother>>. But, how did you break past the Time Fall and enter here? Besides, what is this train? A subway… Is this yet another type of Tower of Nightmares? How does it even operate?" This guy, words were obviously not getting through to him.
To think, he'd damage someone else's train and barge inside, only to start yapping on and on about his own stuff. I activated the [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint] right away. And then, bore witness to a message I had never seen before. [Applicable individual is a 'Character' from a worldview you are not familiar with.] …A 'Character' from a worldview I wasn't familiar with? Almost at the same time, bright light suddenly shone out from the naked man's eyes. [Someone is activating a power not registered with the system!] Circular disks were vigorously spinning above his retinas. [An existence of another dimension is spying on your true nature!] [Warning! This power cannot be fully blocked by 'The Fourth Wall'!] …Wha? Tsu-chuchuchut! Along with the sparks going wild in front of my eyes, all the Stories within me exploded forth as if to resist the opposition's power. The ones that reacted most viscerally were… [Stigma 'Regression's' essence is writhing.] [Story, 'Hell of Eternity', is baring its fangs!]
In an instant, a portion of subway's interior transformed into the view of the hellish landscape Yoo Joonghyuk had lived through. The naked man looked at the world submerged in crimson hue and formed a stunned expression. "This 'inherent world' is… Could it be, you're a regressor?" …Inherent world? I was about to throw a tackle, saying that that sounded like what Kim Namwoon might say. But then, the man's black sword suddenly began quivering with hatred. "You are a bastard that turned his back on reality. So, die." Just as the chilling light permeating within his blade edge moved towards me… [The train is re-entering its normal tracks.] [The authority of the 'Oldest Dream' is activating!] [The system is ejecting the foreign matter found within!] Along with the 'Shu-wuwuk!' noise, the man pointing his sword at me was rapidly sucked out towards the exit. "You dare!" However, he stabbed his sword into the exit and held on, resolutely enduring the train's acceleration. It was right at that moment that my body was transferred to another section of the subway. [Emergency combat system is activating!]
[A portion of the subway used in the ejection will be discarded.] I looked back to discover the tail section of the train that naked man was clinging onto had separated from the rest and was now drifting away into the universe. And the furious man began dashing in my direction next. That figure of the man, with the muscles in his entire body ballooning up, gave me this sense of inexplicable terror. "Hurry up! That bastard is coming after us!" ⸢Don t wo rry that g uy ca n't es cap e fr om the ti me a x is⸥ That man chased after the subway at a frightening turn of speed, but was unable to climb aboard again. It was as if a transparent wall existed between him and the train. He continued to diligently run on the train tracks, but from a certain moment on, he stopped his pounding steps and glared quietly in this direction. Only after that dude's figure had grown very far away was I able to breathe a sigh of relief. "…Just what was that?" ⸢But ch er of Mo nar chs Jae hwan⸥ …Butcher of Monarchs?? ⸢A mon ster that tra ined for sev eral bil lion ye ars in the ti me ax is⸥ I momentarily doubted my own hearing. "How many years did you say?"
⸢I al so don t kn ow exa ctly he exi sted be fore I was cre ated⸥ That guy was older than [The Fourth Wall]? I was getting goosebumps just from the mere idea of that incredible length of time. Could a human being endure billions of years without going insane? …No, hang on a second. He didn't seem quite right in his head, actually. "Why was he trapped in there for billions of years, though?" ⸢To des troy the sy stem of the uni ver se he bel ongs to⸥ "We are not going to run into him again, are we?" Maybe [The Fourth Wall] was too tired, as there was no reply. It must've been busy fixing the damaged train. I dusted my coat, the one where the sword belonging to a crazy bastard named Jae-Hwan had brushed past a moment earlier. Now that was truly a gob-smacking Thrust, alright. No Constellation or Transcendent I've met so far would be able to perform such a powerful stabbing attack. Would billions of years leave a human in that wretched state? The restoration of the system must've been completed, as Stories from world-lines reappeared one by one on the train's windows. Yoo Joonghyuk from the 1st turn shooting a terrifying glare at the heavens was among them. I quietly glared back at him for a little while, but suddenly grew scared of something. "The Fourth Wall."
⸢Wh at⸥ "…How old is Yoo Joonghyuk now?" "We depart in a week's time." Finally, Yoo Joonghyuk's Stigma finished its evolution. People who agreed to participate in the Project <Capture the Squid> began preparing for their departure. "Aileen-ssi, Bok-Sun-ssi, Yeong-Ran-ssi. We'll leave the Complex in your care." "I see. So you decided to go as well." Lee Sookyung smiled faintly as people bade them goodbye. "Yes." However, not everyone decided to travel with them. "We can't go." A portion of 'Team Anna', including 'Anna Croft' herself, chose to remain in this world-line. "The system is gradually weakening, and this world is the closest to the conclusion that I'd been thinking of. That's why we'll remain in this world. However, there is someone who wishes to travel with you among our team, so… if it's not too much trouble, can you accept her, please?" Anna Croft asked. The sole person from Team Anna joining the <Capture the Squid> was none other than 'Selena Kim'. She smiled
awkwardly and briefly explained that there was a debt she had to repay Kim Dokja no matter what. Han Sooyoung confirmed for the last time. "Is there anyone else? Is this everyone from the Industrial Complex?" Rather unexpectedly, the person who hesitantly raised his hand was Han Myungoh. "What's this, ahjussi? You're obviously going, right?" "I've raised my hand to tell you that I can't go." "…What?" She knew that the original relationship between Han Myungoh and Kim Dokja wasn't very amicable. However, she figured that, as they experienced the scenarios together, they would've gotten a bit friendlier, but this… "I can't go." Only after hearing those words did Han Sooyoung realize that he was holding the hand of a young girl. ⸢In this regression turn, there were some people they simply couldn't travel with.⸥ Han Sooyoung quietly looked into the girl's face. Outwardly, she seemed to be in her teens, but her mental age probably hadn't even reached five yet. Children who were born after the scenarios began couldn't accompany them during the regression. Because this child at least didn't exist back at the beginning. Han Sooyoung shifted her gaze over to Han Myungoh's aged face, before opening her mouth. "Got it. Ahjussi, you can
stay." "I'll leave Dokja-ssi in your hands." "You worry about yourself first. And since you're going to stay behind, take care of the Complex's matters, too. You will run into a shortage of manpower after we leave. If I catch you playing video games in some dark corner somewhere, I'm gonna jump across the world-lines and kick your ass, got that?" It was then multiple vehicles rushed in from the distance. Waves of crowd jumped out of their black sedans and hurriedly crashed in like the incoming tide. "Representative Han Sooyoung-nim! Please grant us an interview!" Han Sooyoung frowned deeply. "Is it true that you're planning a mass regression along with the Regressor?" The display panel in the plaza was broadcasting her face in real-time. The unmistakable letters 'LIVE' were stuck on the corner of the broadcast, too. Her mask was already being shown to the rest of the country without her consent. "We know that Representative Kim Dokja-nim places importance on the current reality above all else. In that case, why did you make that kind of a decision?" "What will happen to this world-line? Are you saying you'll abandon this world?" Han Sooyoung chuckled bitterly at these reporters attacking her as if she was the history's worst betrayer or some such.
"Abandoning this world? Are we really? You think we own this world or something?" "Representative-nim, you have a duty to this wor…" "Does this world still need us, anyway? When the scenarios are over and done with?" Right in that moment, the expressions on the reporters transformed. Their camera lenses shone brightly as if they caught the scent of a scoop, and began capturing Han Sooyoung's face even closer. She confirmed her visage on the display panel and continued on. "What will change if we stay here? You lot will simply come up with weird laws to try and control us. You think we don't know about Donghoon doing his absolute best to block the legislation from being passed in the National Assembly? You people don't need us any more. No, you fear us, instead." "However, we don't know when the scenarios will begin again! What if Dokkaebis reappear in the world…!" Han Sooyoung grinned refreshingly. Since things had come down to this, she figured that this was for the better. "Did you mean someone like her, right?" Something resembling a huge hot-air balloon was floating in the location she was looking at. Reporters realizing the identity of that mysterious thing all screamed out in sheer terror. [I am Biyoo, the Dokkaebi King of this world-line.] She sounded so forceful, as if the scenarios were starting again, reminding them of the starting point of the terror that brought forth the destruction of this world.
Biyoo began chuckling as if she knew all about their fears. [Those that were born will eventually be destroyed. However, this planet will be fine. As long as there is no nuclear warfare, it'll last for tens of thousands of years without a problem. Well, you'll still have to occasionally dodge a few wayward asteroids that might come flying in your way, though.] Having heard what the Dokkaebi was saying, the eyes of the reporters all went round from stupefaction. Unfortunately, the real thing hadn't been said yet. [Your main scenario has indeed ended. However… I still have the authority to issue sub-scenarios.] The complexions of the reporters grew deathly pale from the term 'sub-scenario'. "R-run away! That Dokkaebi, it's going to-!" And then, a message popped up before their eyes. [A ne■w sub scen■ario has arr■ived!] The message window wasn't clear, perhaps due to the collapse of the Bureau. Even then, it wasn't hard to read its contents. [You aren't forced to participate in this scenario. Only those who wish to will be accepted, and only the qualified volunteers will go through the careful screening.] [Applicable sub-scenario is for voluntary participation.] [Because <Star Stream> has been destroyed, I don't have any rewards to give you. However, if you help out <Kim
Dokja's Company>…] Biyoo was smiling as if she was satisfied by her own appearance as seen in the display panel. [At the very least, you'll get to relive those moments you've always regretted about.] And another week passed by since then. [Sub scenario, 'Capture the Squid', has a new volunteer.] The people who managed to survive until the end of the scenarios. These people who had lost something precious to them had been gathering in Seoul one by one. Yoo Joonghyuk stared at the incoming waves of people and frowned deeply. "…There are too many. This might get a little difficult." "We gotta take as many as we can. That's the only way to save lots of people." There seemed to be over five hundred volunteers even at a casual glance. The members of <Kim Dokja's Company> carefully interviewed them and through the analysis of the regression turn, they identified those with reasons for disqualification. Yoo Joonghyuk and Han Sooyoung then specially focused on training them, and had them familiarised with all the necessary skills.
And, after a concerted effort to filter them out over and over again, the total number of remaining volunteers dwindled down to one hundred. These one hundred were everyone they could bring along from this world-line. "…Can we truly go back to the past?" The one asking that question was Julius, the possessor of the attribute 'Judge of Three Generations'. He was ranked 52nd in the 'top 100 strongest humans', his nickname was 'Judge of Wrath'. He had to lose all of his family, his friends, and companions back in his country, and had been living on with grief and anger aimed at the world. He wasn't the only one, however. The faces of Japan's Asuka Ren, and even China's Fei Hu and India's Ranvir Khan, could be seen among the crowd. The strongest Incarnations that managed to survive the scenarios had all gathered here. Julius shouted out. "Please tell us the truth! We have said nothing and endured your training regime until now, didn't we?! Is it true that we can go back to the past?" "No, it's a lie," replied Yoo Joonghyuk. "What do you… in that case, why did you even gather us…" "What you're about to go back to isn't the 'past'. No, it's simply a different world-line. No matter what you do, humans can never go back to their past." "I didn't come here to listen to that obvious…!"
"What has happened will never change. People you loved are already all dead." His level tone of voice shut down the mouths of the others. "They won't remember you. They won't recall their own demise, nor will they remember the time they spent with you. Every time you speak to them, you will gradually come to realize that the time you lived together can never be yours again." Deep pain was pervading in each and every word he spoke. These words were from the only man among them who had lived on while remembering the disappeared world-lines. "You shall become even more lonely, and in the end, you will end up all alone. No one will be able to understand your pain. And rather than understanding your pain, the world will start calling you a regressor and curse you for stealing someone else's future, instead. None of you will belong to anywhere, and slowly wither away while still alive." This was the curse of the regression. "Even then, will you still choose to regress?" And this was also the final test to become a regressor. People who came here to become exactly that began exchanging glances. Some were scared off by the intimidation and stepped back, while some others, those that had been steeling themselves to what's to come, started taking deep breaths. And then, someone slowly stepped forward. It was Asuka Ren, the Japanese who fought together with <Kim Dokja's Company> back in the [Peace Land]. Also,
someone who lost more companions than anyone here. "I know that no matter what I do, it still won't bring back all those that I've lost. However, if I regress…" She gripped her katana tightly, raised her head, and spoke up. "At a bare minimum, I might be able to save that world-line." And then, people began standing next to her one by one. "I don't care if my pain is meaningless. Even if everything was an illusion." "Just once, if I could save them just once…!" This was their determination. Some were captured by their own passion, while some were mired in sorrow. And every one of them was longing for their past. Yoo Joonghyuk knew the truth. ⸢They will all grow to regret this moment.⸥ He could've said something. He could've told them what his companions from repeated regressions have told him. ⸢"Captain. You must live in the present. Don't get lost in the events of the past."⸥ ⸢"They are all just delusions, that's all."⸥ His dead companions from the previous regression turns were saying those during this turn. Every time he heard them, Yoo Joonghyuk quietly polished his sword and endured. None of them could understand.
They couldn't understand that there was someone in this world who could never live in the present. "Please, take us with you, Supreme King." And that was why the regressor Yoo Joonghyuk understood the people standing before his eyes. The past was the only present they could choose, and no one had the right to tell them they were wrong. No, well, maybe a certain guy would be compelled to say that they were wrong. ⸢"Don't ever think that, just by discarding this turn, your next one will be better. Because just maybe, the regression turn you wish to abandon could very well be the 'one single turn' where you get to see the end of this world as a 'human being'.⸥ Yoo Joonghyuk slowly closed his eyes. Could the current him reply to what Kim Dokja had said back then? He wasn't sure. However, he was certain of one thing. ⸢There was someone in this world who would go as far as to abandon his 'humanity' to see a certain story.⸥ Yoo Joonghyuk stood up from his spot and raised his voice. "We are heading out. Call on the Constellations."
Chapter 529: Epilogue 2 - Not found anywhere, IV Lee Sookyung was standing before the darkest star. "Will you go with us?" [Constellation, 'Queen of the Darkest Spring', is slowly opening her eyes.] The location Persephone rested in wasn't the Underworld. That was because the passageway to her home had disappeared after <Star Stream> collapsed. She was currently staying in the special guest room in the Industrial Complex. She stayed there, staring at the night sky every day – as if to comprehend the most ancient Stories. [The fact that I'm still alive, it must mean that my ■■ isn't in this place, at the very least.]
She slowly turned her head, her eyes still radiating some warmth. Warmth, left behind by a certain someone. Lee Sookyung knew whose Story that was. [Story, 'Promise of the Darkest Night', is continuing on with its storytelling.] It was from the King of the Underworld, who swore to be by her side until the end of the world. And like he promised, he died instead of Persephone at the end of the world. [Let us go. We must save that child.] Jung Heewon knocked on a worn-down door of the Complex's special guest room. "Is anyone home?" She turned the doorknob, and the door opened without resistance. What greeted her immediately afterwards a holographic figurine. ⸢⸢Kim Dokja, escaping from the water dragon!⸥⸥ It was the figurine of Kim Dokja during his escape from the water dragon. Not only that, but the line he uttered during the event also floated up below the hologram, as well. ⸢"Alright, then. Time to go outside."⸥ Jung Heewon stared at that bizarre 3D sculpture with a slightly dumbfounded face. That wasn't the only figurine, though.
⸢⸢Kim Dokja, destroying the Absolute Throne!⸥⸥ ⸢⸢Kim Dokja, liberating the Demon Realm!⸥⸥ "…Not even Yoosung or Gilyoung's rooms look like this." As if she came to sightsee, Jung Heewon studied each and every figurine. As she followed the lines of these action figures arranged by the year and the scenario number, she abruptly recalled their past. Uriel must've been looking at Kim Dokja during all of these moments. Among these was a rear tentacle from a squid, seemingly a part of a 'special limited edition' collection. ⸢⸢Kim Dokja the Squid's last tentacle (made by Yangsan)⸥⸥ She looked at this thing with puzzled eyes, before reaching out to it. But, just as her hand touched the glass display case, a true voice could be heard. [If you carelessly touch that, Uriel's going to get really mad.] How long had it been? An Archangel with a rather wane complexion was sitting by the table near the display case. No, wait – not many would actually recognise her as an Archangel these days. A woman who silently flipped the pages of a book, not even bothering to look even though she was the one who started the conversation. Jung Heewon quietly stared at this woman's long eyelashes before asking her. "Gabriel. Do you know where Uriel is?" [Constellation, 'Lily Blooming in Aquarius', is revealing her presence.]
The power of a Story spread out like ripples from her entire figure. Perhaps this was the Archangel displaying her last vestige of pride. [Oh, the last Incarnation of Eden.] Gabriel closed the book gently, her eyes gleaming brightly. It seemed that she had already figured out why Jung Heewon came to visit. [I've crossed world-lines before. And it was truly a dizzying experience, indeed. But what all of you are trying to do here exceeds that. You won't make it out alive.] "Is that how Eden jinxes others?" [This is your reality. You must not run away from it. You can't seriously be considering undoing this ending you earned by finally bringing down the <Star Stream>, now are you?] The 'reality'. The weight of that word pressed down slightly on Jung Heewon's chest. Rather than replying, though, she looked around at the room's décor again, instead. The bunk bed shared by Uriel and Gabriel was located on the corner. And the word <EDEN> was stuck above it like a poster. ⸢The Nebula 'Eden' was finished. No one could deny that truth.⸥ "What makes one's reality isn't the environment nor the location." Even though Eden was finished, someone still chose to call this very room her Eden. Because Archangels were still here. ⸢Even if there were only two.⸥ "It's a cool-looking Eden, though."
Jung Heewon turned around to find Gabriel looking at her with trembling eyes. "Can you tell me where Uriel is?" […Behind you.] Jung Heewon looked back and sure enough, Uriel was there. She must've been coming back from her junk food shopping trip, because her small figure was holding large bundles filled with all sorts of snacks. Her emerald-hued eyes were opened wide as if she was quite startled at the moment. Jung Heewon stared at her Constellation sponsor for a long while. The brilliant light of an Archangel couldn't almost be felt from Uriel. Her wings, that used to be on her back, had long disappeared. Even her clothes had changed. Instead of her favourite black dress, she was kitted out in a grey hoodie and a pair of track pants. [Hui, Heewon-ah.] Jung Heewon knew better than anyone why Uriel ended up looking like that. "Uriel." ⸢Wouldn't Uriel be happier if she remained here, honestly speaking?⸥ Uriel the Archangel had carried out the scenarios far, far longer than herself. In that case, was it the right thing to do, dragging her back into the depths of hell one more time?
Rather than opening her mouth, though, Jung Heewon squeezed her fist tightly. When she did, a faint lick of flame rose up from there. The [Hellfire]. The purest flames in this world, given to her by her Constellation sponsor. The moment that flame was lit up, the ever-so-slightly dim darkness of the room was illuminated by yet another sculpture emitting the exact same flame. Jung Heewon turned her head towards it without thinking too much, and saw a figurine sporting the same face as hers. It wasn't only 'Kim Dokjas' in this room, as it turned out. As if she was under a trance, Jung Heewon approached the glass display case and looked inside. There she was, wielding the [Judge's Sword] and firing pure-white [Hellfire]. ⸢⸢My one and only Incarnation⸥⸥ Jung Heewon worked hard to suppress the emotions powerfully welling up inside and spoke. "Uriel." [Heewon-ah.] The moment she heard that warm, gentle voice, Jung Heewon realized something. Her Constellation sponsor already knew everything. "Please, cheer me on as I live that life one more time." She slowly turned her head and saw Uriel smiling sorrowfully. As if to ask whether this would be alright or not. And towards such Uriel, Jung Heewon knelt down. "Please, become my Constellation sponsor one more time."
"Where did that idiot Black Flame Dragon disappear to? Flame Dragon~!" "General-nim! Where are you, my general-nim??" Those voices came from Han Sooyoung and Lee Jihye, currently searching for their Constellations. And in the middle of the chaotic sea of people, Yoo Joonghyuk was looking at his young sister next to him. She had this huge pout on her face, probably angry at something. He sighed deeply. "You'll be safer by remaining here." "…" "This world will soon stabilise. And this world will…" "But, you aren't going to be here, oppa." This would be Yoo Mia's first time not using honorifics. Yoo Joonghyuk was about to reply to that, but changed what he wanted to say at the last second. "We will return." "When?" "After we get through to the end of the other world-line, and after we rescue Kim Dokja." "And when will that be?" Yoo Joonghyuk couldn't answer. "It'll be too dangerous. I can't take you there."
"Liar." A faint trace of the transcendental aura leaked out from Yoo Mia's figure. That was unmistakably the Status of a Transcendent. Rather surprisingly, Yoo Mia had awakened the first stage of the Transcendent after training only for the past few months. She was the youngest Transcendent in history, which was truly a shocking level of talent. "If you were going to say that now, why didn't you stop me from training? I received the same training as Gilyoung oppa and Yoosung eonni, didn't I?" "…" "Please be honest with me, oppa." Yoo Joonghyuk looked into the girl's eyes that showed not a hint of wavering, and slowly closed his. They came up with a plan, so that no one would be lost. And it was far more foolproof and perfect than any other. However, variables always had a way of rearing their heads without warning. And Yoo Mia, she could potentially fall into danger. Yoo Joonghyuk lowered his gaze, got down on his knees slightly, and looked straight at Yoo Mia. "…I'd like you to come with us." That… was the reply she wanted to hear. Her small hand patted him on the head. "…As soon as you regress, our companions will rush to fetch you."
"You'd all have died without me during the 'Capture the Flag' battles, anyway." After saying that, Yoo Mia opened her mouth wide. Yoo Joonghyuk peered deep inside her mouth, and was about to say something with a deep frown on his face. But then… "Hey! We found them all!" Han Sooyoung performing a deadly headlock on the Black Flame Dragon was walking over there while waving her hand. And behind her, Lee Jihye clinging onto the arms of the Maritime War God and Goryeo's number one swordsman could be seen. Yoo Joonghyuk frowned at them instead. "And where is the monkey?" Han Sooyoung wordlessly pointed with her chin. [Constellation, 'Most Ancient Liberator', is currently acting self-important.] Yoo Joonghyuk narrowed his eyes and looked up in the air. The smirking Great Sage was floating up there. "When did you arrive?" [Aren't your preparations just too slow? If my maknae dies because of your tardiness, I'm going to rip you apart limb from limb where you stand.] It seemed that, even though his Status had fallen and <Star Stream> was destroyed, a Myth-grade wasn't called a 'myth' for no reason. Only the Great Sage was capable of emitting such vigour even when the 'system' had long disappeared.
Yoo Joonghyuk replied tersely. "If you get in my way, I will not hesitate to cut you down." The Great Sage smiled, his pearly-white teeth in full display. [Why don't we end that unfinished battle of ours during the next turn? Let's find out if you can get anywhere remotely close to the 'Secretive Plotter'…] "Okay, okay, sure thing. Is everyone finished with their preparations?" Han Sooyoung's voice caused tense expressions to form on the faces of the waiting Incarnations. All the members of <Kim Dokja's Company> participating in this regression trip gathered around. Yoo Sangah, Jung Heewon, Lee Hyunsung, Shin Yoosung, Lee Gilyoung, Lee Jihye, Lee Seolhwa, and Jang Hayoung. In addition, even Lee Sookyung and Selena Kim, too. The Industrial Complex's residents came out to bade them goodbye. "Supreme King, please remember what I told you." "Fei Hu, the future of the continent rests on your shoulders." "Ranvir Khan--" And among the crowd, a small Dokkaebi was floating in the air. "Biyoo." Shin Yoosung reached out even without realizing it. Biyoo, staying back along with the rest of the residents, carried a vaguely sorrowful expression.
⸢Biyoo couldn't go with them.⸥ Just like how it was with Han Myungoh's daughter, Biyoo too was an existence born after the world's destruction had begun. She couldn't become the 'storyteller' during the path they were about to walk on. Biyoo spoke as if to console the companions. [Don't be too sad. Whichever world-line you end up, I'll always cheer you on. I'm the 'Dokkaebi King', you know. If I train a little bit harder, and if I uncover more of the inheritances the Wennys left behind, I should be able to cross the world-lines, too. In that case, we should be able to meet up again.] "We'll wait for you. Even if it's tens of thousands of years later." Biyoo cried out "Baat!". And firecrackers went off all over the Industrial Complex like big-scale fireworks. "We are heading out." [Stigma, 'Group Regression Lv.1', is activating!] Finally, Yoo Joonghyuk commenced the regression. The moment his Stigma activated, the figures of Yoo Joonghyuk and his companions were dyed in the shower of resplendent light. It was then. "You stinking bastards!! You didn't even come to fetch me…!!" Gong Pildu ran in from the distance and shouted angrily, before jumping into the shower of light belonging to the regressing party. Kwa-kwakwakwakwakwa-!!
The world began breaking down. The companions held each other's hands tightly and stared at the disappearing world. Biyoo's bright smile was distorting away. Could they meet again? Pain akin to their souls shattering into tiny little pieces followed soon after. Shin Yoosung clenched her teeth tightly. ⸢Yoo Joonghyuk always had to endure these moments all by himself.⸥ Fortunately, he wasn't alone this time. Shin Yoosung soon realized that she was travelling in the distant galaxy. The background was getting further away from her at a speed too fast to see. And different <Star Streams> from other world-lines could be seen, as well. The Outer Gods, abandoned inside the ashes of those stories were calling out to the companions. 【Aaaaaaah】 【Overhereoverhereoverhereoverhere】 Han Sooyoung gripped Shin Yoosung's hand even tighter and raised her voice. "Keep your wits about you if you don't want to get sucked in there." Shin Yoosung repeatedly looked back to the Outer Gods growing further away from her. Kim Dokja saved 'Outer Gods' during the last regression turn. He gave names to these forgotten stories. Even then, this universe was still filled with so many other forgotten ones.
Han Sooyoung spoke again. "We're not Kim Dokja. We can't save all those worlds." Not just Shin Yoosung, but the other companions knew that. ⸢The current 'them' were in too much of a hurry to save a single world before their eyes.⸥ …But, someday. ⸢Stories that couldn't see the end were all flowing towards somewhere.⸥ The Outer Gods in the distance all changed back to the beautiful galaxies. Every tragedy looked so captivating when viewed from afar. Han Sooyoung shouted out. "Hey! Was this thing supposed to take this long? Are you sure we're on the right tr…" It was right then that they were slammed by the thunderous noise of a book being ripped apart. Riiiiiiip-!! [World-line has detected the activation of the 'Group Regression'!] [<Star Stream> is pointing out the Probability of the applicable Stigma!] [Applicable Stigma is a power that exceeds the limit of the Probability!] Something had gone wrong here. Tsu-chuchuchuchut!
Just as Han Sooyoung was about to shout something out, the view out front was swallowed up by the darkness and it simply vanished. And when she opened her eyes again, she found herself abandoned in a plain resembling a blindinglywhite snowfield. "…What the hell?! Where am I??" Her companions were nowhere to be seen. The only one she could see was Yoo Joonghyuk carrying a stupid expression on his face. "…The world-lines got entangled," said Yoo Joonghyuk. "What dogshit are you talking about?! Didn't we make all the right preparations??" Yoo Joonghyuk closed his eyes and began sensing something, before opening his mouth again. "We did prepare accordingly. And as for the rest of our companions… It seems that they reached the 1865th turn safely. Only we ended up here." "And where is 'here'?" "…Most likely, we're entrapped in the gap between the world-lines." Han Sooyoung surveyed her surroundings once more. Several massive, pitch-black structures were floating up here and there within this snow-white field. "Wait for a moment. I shall gather more Stories and reactivate the Stigma," said Yoo Joonghyuk. "How long will that take? Hurry up, will ya? If we get there too late, our plan or whatever will go down the drain!"
Yoo Joonghyuk seemed to be in deep concentration already, as he didn't bother to reply. Han Sooyoung abruptly got up from her spot and extended her hand towards the nearest structure. When she did, something akin to jet-black graphite particles stained her hand. "What the heck is…" And right next moment, the overall shape of the structure was drawn out inside her mind. ⸢ㅁ⸥ She was sure of it. This structure, it was shaped like this. And as for that other structure just beyond her… ⸢ㅓ⸥ Slowly, so very slowly, a creeping chill ran down her spine. She began reading the structures one by one. And each one soon became a single phrase. ⸢The Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint⸥
Chapter 530: Epilogue 2 - Not found anywhere, V The Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint. Han Sooyoung narrowed her eyes after seeing that phrase. "…Isn't that the name of Kim Dokja's skill?" Why would such a thing be engraved in the gap between the world-lines? The words continued on. ⸢This was inevitable, I thought. And the reason why I accepted mother's actions also had to be this, as well.⸥ ⸢The reason why I inexplicably started writing an essay…⸥ ⸢The reason why I had to become a son of a murderer…⸥ These words were moving towards a certain direction at a constant speed. These sentences were fluently stretching
from the past towards the future. It was then, Han Sooyoung came to realize something. The 'regression' was an act of branching out to a new worldline from a 'certain point onwards' while going backwards in the current world-line. So, what would happen if they get stuck in this type of gap while going back in the world-line? If that's what really happened, then this point in time where such sentences could be read must be… "Hey, Yoo Joonghyuk! This…!" When she looked back, she realized that Yoo Joonghyuk too was looking at 'something else'. Boom, ka-booom-! The snowfield rumbled. Someone was pounding on the gap of the world-lines they were stuck in. ⸢"Spit her out! I said, spit her out, now!!"⸥ ⸢Kim Dokja was crying.⸥ This situation, could it be…? ⸢I began crazily pounding on the wall.⸥ ⸢I was overcome with goosebumps. To think that everything would become stories. To think, every action we took and every word we spoke would become scenarios and morph into sentences above the wall.⸥ ⸢"Shut up! This is how I feel!"⸥
She couldn't see his face. But, Han Sooyoung could tell just by reading these sentences. Kim Dokja was responsible for these words – Kim Dokja was fighting somewhere, within the past of the 3rd turn of the 'Ways of Survival'. ⸢Kim Dokja wanted to know. What should he do? What should he do to break this wall down? Could this be the price for reading the 'Ways of Survival'? Did my own reality become a novel because I read that novel?⸥ When Han Sooyoung read those sentences, she became sure of it. "This is back then during the [Dark Castle]," said Han Sooyoung. "…The Dark Castle?" "This event happened right after Kim Dokja fought against the 'Devourer of Dreams'. He told me about it some time ago. He got trapped inside his own skill, and…" Just before they reached the final scenario, Han Sooyoung got a chance to talk to Kim Dokja for the entire night. It was to discuss their plan moving forward, but also to talk about the matters of the past, as well. They thought that some stuff they didn't manage to resolve could potentially serve as clues for the future. – Now that I think about it, something did feel off back then. Someone called out to me, but… If it weren't for that voice, I might have ended up in some serious trouble in that place. "Hey, Kim Dokja!!" "Han Sooyoung, stop wasting your time. This is nothing more than recorded history."