[many constellations are excited to see what the incarnation 'kim dokja' will do.]
He was nervous too, but he was suppressing it as best as he could. With any luck, whoever he was able to tag along with would give him a good opportunity to observe the battle and figure out a solution to their current (less-than-desirable) situation.
Narration begins once again, but unlike before, it's no longer in Dokja's voice.
A companion? How could someone like him say that? How could Yoo Joonghyuk, of all people, call someone his companion? However, if he really meant what he said… If it's really possible for the Yoo Joonghyuk of this regression, then…
The disaster walks forwards, past the tied up protagonist as the narration plays. By the end, the 41st Yoosung wonders if just maybe, she could also—
Before her thought can finish, some incarnations attack her, causing the disaster to easily rip them apart beneath her claws. Blood splatters everywhere, seemingly even on the screen itself.
How vulgar.
… Huh?
"Wait, why is she talking instead of hyung?" Lee Gilyoung wondered, frowning intently. "I don't want to hear the disaster."
Maybe it was because Kim Dokja was temporarily erased from the narrative? Maybe the person he was possessing was far away, and he wasn't even on the island anymore. Then, with Yoo Joonghyuk restrained, maybe this was the only way for all of the important events to be shown in the meantime. That would make sense, wouldn't it?
Shin Yoosung glanced up from where she was curled into Yoo Sangah's side and glared tearfully at the screen. She was frustrated and angry, and Kim Dokja understood why. The poor girl was struggling to process what the version of her from the 41st round was doing, and she was blaming herself for things that had never been her fault in the first place.
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is confused by the thoughts of the 'disaster of floods'.]
Yoo Mia frowned, eyes red and puffy from her quiet crying as well. "Does she just want my oppa to call her a companion too?"
It seemed like that was the case, so Kim Dokja nodded. Her desperate need to be recognized tugged at Kim Dokja's heartstrings, and he sympathized with her. Though this Yoo Joonghyuk wasn't the one she had followed for so long, his words still meant a lot to her. No one else would have been able to affect her to this extent, after all.
Shin Yoosung flinched violently when the disaster began ripping up the other incarnations, letting out a broken sob. She was struggling so much, and there was nothing Kim Dokja could do to help her.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is excited for the bloodshed.]
Suddenly, a girl's voice asks where she thinks she's going, causing the disaster to turn just as Jihye attacks her for beating up Joonghyuk. Jihye's eyes blaze with fury as she dashes forward, but after a moment of shock, the disaster lets out an eerie smile as she sounds somewhat nostalgic.
"Jihye-unnie."
The scene cuts to several moments later, where Jihye has been driven to her knees, panting and covered in blood. As she looks down upon the teenager, the disaster remarks that they're on a river, and that naval warfare is Jihye's specialty, but that a captain's place is on the ship. Though she summoned her [Ghost Fleet], the ichthyosaur 'King Masswood' called by the disaster has frozen every single ship—and any incarnations unlucky enough to be in the way—solid.
Jihye grits her teeth and tells the disaster to cut the bullshit, confused by the honorific since the disaster looks older than her. The disaster steps forward and grasps Jihye's chin in her hand as she speaks in a cruel and pity-filled voice.
"Poor you. Unnie, you still have no idea how you'll be used by Yoo Joonghyuk, and then abandoned in the end."
Jung Heewon sucked in a breath, stiffening up as Lee Jihye appeared on the screen. Kim Dokja had to worry as well—he knew that the disaster wouldn't go easy on her, even if she had fond memories of the Lee Jihye of the 41st regression.
"It's okay!" Lee Jihye exclaimed with a grin, flexing her arm confidently as she smiled at Shin Yoosung. "Your unnie will teach her a lesson."
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is hoping that his incarnation is correct.]
Lee Jihye's smile faltered as soon as the scene changed, and she saw herself beaten down. It was a massive blow to her confidence, but Kim Dokja knew that she shouldn't let it get to her too much. The Disaster of Floods was a massive challenge, even for Yoo Joonghyuk, and there was no shame in being unable to beat her in a 1v1.
"Unnie!" Shin Yoosung shrieked as more tears rolled down her cheeks. "No… leave her alone! Stop it!"
It was hard to listen to, but seeing Lee Jihye get completely shut down like that—especially on a river where she should be at her strongest—was painful. If her ships were frozen solid, it wouldn't matter how much firepower she had, and unfortunately that meant that their distance support was completely gone in a moment. There wouldn't be any bombardment from the [Ghost Fleet] to back them up or cover a retreat.
When the disaster started speaking to her in a pitying tone, Lee Jihye narrowed her eyes dangerously. "It's okay, Master in our world would never do that. She's just projecting."
[several constellations are anxiously watching the current events.]
[the constellation 'defense master' is praying for the safety of the incarnation 'lee jihye'.]
Jihye slashes her sword in front of her, causing the disaster to retreat momentarily as she continues to claim that Jihye—who just wanted the protagonist's approval more than anything else—will die during a naval battle.
"And do you know what Yoo Joonghyuk said after he lost you forever?" The disaster asks in a frighteningly calm tone as she stares directly at Jihye with a cold gaze. "'Naval battles will be slightly more inconvenient from now on'."
Jihye pauses in shock, even though she's finally back on her feet. Before she can react, though, the disaster leaps forward to attack while speaking in a sickly sweet voice.
"But don't worry, unnie; that won't happen in this round. I'll give you a painless death."
The disaster's hand reaches for Jihye at an unforeseen speed, grasping her face and slamming her harshly into the ground.
"Like hell we'll let that happen," Jung Heewon hissed, her eyes blazing with fury. "We have a vacation to look forward to, right?"
Shin Yoosung's eyes glistened with tears as she rubbed them away, nodding wordlessly. Kim Dokja had to agree—having something to hold on to, even if it was just a hypothetical post-scenarios vacation, was at least something they could keep living for. After all, he knew better than anyone else how important that 'something' could be.
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is nervous.]
Lee Jihye glanced anxiously over at Yoo Joonghyuk, and he returned her look impassively.
"Master, you wouldn't say that, right?"
Yoo Joonghyuk scoffed, crossing his arms. "I don't know what I was thinking in that regression, but I am not that man. You are my student, and I will not simply let you die."
Kim Dokja resisted the urge to fanboy a bit. God, the protagonist was so goddamn cool! This was why he had cheered for Yoo Joonghyuk all those years. He was a leader in such an effortless way, and even simple things were enough to motivate his companions to do their best. In most regressions, he was magnetic, drawing people to him like a moth to a flame. Though the protagonist wasn't the most outspoken or charismatic at times, there was no denying his strength or everyone's trust in him.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is wiping a tear from her eye.]
Still, Kim Dokja couldn't help but tense up when the disaster finally went on the offensive. He had partially expected her to do this, but the statement about giving Lee Jihye a painless death… that hurt more than Kim Dokja expected.
"You're not gonna die, unnie," Yoo Mia muttered, clutching onto her brother's sleeve with a white-knuckled grip. "It's gonna be okay. It has to be."
"Shit," Han Sooyoung cursed as soon as Lee Jihye was slammed into the ground, and everyone held their breaths. Lee Jihye didn't move, even as the disaster got up and left, and Shin Yoosung shattered.
"Unnie! No!" she sobbed, gasping in breaths whenever she could. "I'm sorry! I'm sorry, unnie, I—"
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is watching the current events tensely.]
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is feeling numb.]
Yoo Joonghyuk was frozen, staring at the screen in shock, and Kim Dokja felt a part of him die as well. Jung Heewon gritted her teeth, and Yoo Mia buried her face into her brother's coat, sobbing. Kim Dokja couldn't even focus on anyone else, only holding onto Lee Gilyoung a bit tighter as his world wavered around him.
No… Not Jihye. Unlike Kim Dokja, she couldn't—
Kim Dokja found himself staring straight ahead as one thought overtook his mind. The ending he wanted, the one he was so desperately reaching for… was it already a lost cause?
Lee Jihye breathed shakily, staring at the screen in disbelief, before taking a deep breath and moving over to hug Shin Yoosung. Though the girl squirmed and cried, trying to escape, Lee Jihye only held her closer.
"No matter what happens to me there, it's not you, okay? You didn't do this."
Shin Yoosung pushed at the older girl's chest, shaking her head. "I did! I hurt you, I killed you! Please be mad at me, unnie, I'm a bad person, please—"
"We'll change it," Lee Jihye promised her, doing her best to avoid sobbing despite the tears beginning to fall down her cheeks. "It doesn't matter what happens here because we're gonna change it, and then we'll all go on vacation. I promise."
She was just supposed to be a teenager. Lee Jihye wasn't supposed to be this mature, but somehow, she was forcing herself to be for Shin Yoosung's sake. Kim Dokja was so incredibly proud of her, but he was also sad for her. She shouldn't have to do this.
Yoo Sangah looked like she was about to cry too, and it was all she could do to keep supporting the two girls as they cried together. Kim Dokja clenched his hands into fists, feeling both helpless and even more dedicated to finding a better way to solve this than ever before.
At the shore, Hyunsung cracks the ice with a fist, allowing the trapped incarnations to escape the waters below. The disaster then walks forward towards him, stating that he's a trustworthy shield who saved her over and over again. Though he's confused, Hyunsung asks firmly if she knows him. She doesn't say anything for a moment, but looks at him with the same complicated expression that she gave Jihye.
Suddenly, the Tier 5 Monster, Heavy Metal Kong, appears behind her, immediately putting the lieutenant on guard. As he blocks the strike from the massive metallic gorilla, the disaster continues speaking. "Looks like you haven't changed, Hyunsung-oppa. You're Yoo Joonghyuk's obedient army dog."
As Hyunsung struggles to defend against its blow before counter-attacking with his stigma and defeating the monster, the disaster tells him that he died protecting Joonghyuk from a dragon's breath which reduced him to ashes. Appearing behind him, she smiles.
"Do you know what Yoo Joonghyuk said after that? 'I lost a convenient shield, it's a shame'."
Lee Hyunsung's eyes widened in shock for a moment, but they quickly turned into determination.
"I'm not the Lee Hyunsung she knew either," he declared, sending a reassuring smile in Shin Yoosung's direction. "She's wrong about all of us."
That… was true. The disaster was assuming that everyone followed Yoo Joonghyuk, as usual, but that wasn't the truth. While Lee Jihye still followed him loyally, that didn't mean that everyone did. In fact, Lee Hyunsung was much more loyal to Kim Dokja in this round.
[the constellation 'master of steel' is confident in his incarnation.]
"Thank you," Lee Hyunsung said with a gentle smile. Even though his future self was fighting against a monster that he'd never seen before, he was still somehow staying positive.
Jung Heewon struggled to put a smile on her face, but she somehow managed it. "I believe in you, Hyunsung-ssi."
Just like that, he turned back into the sunny, excitable golden retriever that they all knew he was inside. Kim Dokja could swear that he could see the tail wagging behind the man as he positively beamed at Jung Heewon. It was funny that a single sentence from her was enough to cause that much of a change in him.
[several constellations are smiling slyly at the incarnation 'jung heewon'.]
Lee Jihye kept holding onto Shin Yoosung as the disaster kept talking, and Jung Heewon faltered at the mention of a dragon. Hell, even Kim Dokja's stomach roiled—knowing full well how awful of a death that was—but that hadn't happened here. It was merely words on a page—a story written in another chapter, and something that would never come to pass in this one. Their Lee Hyunsung would survive if Kim Dokja had any say in it.
As Hyunsung gives her a concerned look, the disaster's narration speaks in a vindicated tone.
That's right, you should find out what it's like, too. To feel all the pain I went through, and see all the things I saw…!
The scene changes to her flashback—an image of a teenage Yoosung pierced by thorns as Joonghyuk walks away with his trusty spear in his hand. The colours are dark and muted, and Joonghyuk doesn't turn back to look at her even once.
Hyunsung cuts in suddenly, declaring that he has no idea what she's talking about, since he doesn't follow Joonghyuk. When she's confused by that, Hyunsung clarifies that he follows Dokja instead. The disaster just pauses, completely shocked as words struggle to leave her lips.
Something's not right.
With an angry expression, she fiercely punches Hyunsung in the stomach and sends him flying as he coughs blood.
This regression isn't like the rest.
"Oh fuck that," Han Sooyoung griped, "so what if you suffered? How the fuck does that justify doing this?"
Lee Seolhwa looked down sadly. "This may be the only form of control she can grasp in her own two hands."
That… made sense actually. Stuck in another world, doomed to be killed, the Shin Yoosung of the 41st regression knew what her fate was. She was angry, she was scared, and she was just a child forced to grow up too soon.
[many constellations pity the 'disaster of floods'.]
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is looking sadly at the incarnation 'shin yoosung'.]
Her flashback was hard to watch, and Kim Dokja noticed that Yoo Joonghyuk looked caught off guard by his own actions. He hadn't gotten that jaded until over 20 regressions in, so seeing himself act in that way must have been a shock to him. Contrary to expectations, the Yoo Joonghyuk of the third regression, even after being betrayed by Anna Croft, still valued his companions.
"That's right!" Lee Hyunsung exclaimed, shooting Kim Dokja a bright smile. "I follow Dokja-ssi."
That was odd to think about, really. Kim Dokja had never considered himself a leader—the furthest thing from it, really—but it didn't feel awful to hear that from him.
"Thank you, Hyunsung-ssi," Kim Dokja replied, a small smile on his lips.
Unfortunately, the Disaster of Floods didn't care for emotional moments, and punched Lee Hyunsung only a moment later. Fuck, that was some internal damage at the very least, considering that Lee Seolhwa's face got almost as pale as her hair at the sight.
"Hyunsung!" Jung Heewon yelled, grabbing onto his arm tightly. "Shit. Shit."
Fuck, not him too. Lee Hyunsung was the tank, so he had a high Stamina stat. Maybe that would mean he'd survive? Kim Dokja didn't know, and he hated that he didn't. Even if he was severely injured, they had Lee Seolhwa, and being injured was better than being dead.
Everything was falling apart and Kim Dokja couldn't even do anything. They couldn't let this happen in their future. They couldn't just lose two of their group members like that. They didn't deserve to have their lives cut short, and Shin Yoosung didn't deserve this mental anguish, either.
[the constellation 'master of steel' is anxiously watching the current events.]
Thankfully, Lee Jihye was still doing everything she could to keep Shin Yoosung calmer than she would be otherwise. Still, she could only do so much. As it was, the girl was now repeatedly apologizing to Lee Hyunsung, who looked lost and unsure about how he should comfort her.
"Hyung, is she gonna be okay?" Lee Gilyoung wondered, his entire expression screaming anxiousness.
Kim Dokja didn't know. Something like this… he knew it would haunt Shin Yoosung. She wouldn't care about technicalities, and all she would be able to see was herself doing these things. He knew that her nightmares would be filled by blood staining her hands, and the faces of people she trusted.
Shin Yoosung wouldn't be okay for a while. Still, he patted Lee Gilyoung's head and lied through his teeth.
"She'll be okay, Gilyoung-ah."
Now feeling lost and uncertain, she wonders who Dokja is as Jiwon and Sangkyung—who have finally caught up to assist—attack with their groups. Though they try to overwhelm her with sheer numbers, the disaster doesn't pay them any mind at all.
All these people should have been either dead or following Yoo Joonghyuk by now. Who on earth are they taking orders from right now? What happened to the Absolute Throne?
As many people charge at her, the disaster stands still and activates a shield which blocks all the incoming arrows and swords. While they're dismayed that their attacks aren't working, the incarnations don't have time to regroup before beasts controlled by the disaster begin to rampage and attack while she's still protected.
Suddenly, frost breath freezes the ground all the way up to the edge of the shield, causing the disaster to look up and see Queen Mirabad. Naturally, as the Beast Lord, she's confused as to why it's attacking her.
"You're the 'me' from the future, aren't you?" A young girl's voice calls from atop the ichthyosaur, causing the disaster to look at her incredulously. Then, looking completely enraged, the girl roars, "DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH AHJUSSI!"
"Oh thank goodness, we have backup," Yoo Sangah sighed in relief, slumping forward slightly.
[the constellation 'lady of the sleeping brocade' is glad to be of assistance.]
[the constellation 'one-eyed maitreya' is proud of his incarnation.]
The backup would give them a few moments to breathe and regroup, even if their forces weren't in top shape. Kim Dokja hoped that Lee Hyunsung had been sturdy enough to survive that last strike, since it seemed weaker than it could have been, but he couldn't be certain. If he was still alive, then all he could hope for was that the lieutenant would be able to get to Lee Seolhwa fast enough to get back into fighting shape.
"The Absolute Throne is fucking gone," Han Sooyoung grumbled, frowning at the disaster on the screen. "Bet she didn't expect that."
Well, of course not. Even if Yoo Joonghyuk hadn't taken the throne in the 41st regression, she would never have thought that could happen sooner.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is narrowing his eyes.]
"Ice?" Kim Dokja wondered, frowning slightly. Where was that coming from?
Suddenly, his eyes widened. Was that—
"Hey, that's you!" Yoo Mia exclaimed, pointing up at the screen. "And you brought the really big monster!"
Shin Yoosung looked up, eyes still red and damp, but they seemed to have a spark of life return to them. She was speechless, trembling and clinging to Lee Jihye now as Yoo Sangah gently rubbed her back.
Kim Dokja glanced down at her, reaching out carefully. Though she flinched a bit, she didn't prevent him from patting her head. His smile softened, and he ran his fingers through her hair in the way he wished someone would have done for him back when he was younger.
"See?" Kim Dokja said quietly. "You're here to help now. You wouldn't hurt us."
Though her eyes watered once more, Shin Yoosung nodded and wiped away her tears with a sleeve.
"I'm gonna kick her butt."
Even Yoo Joonghyuk seemed to get a fonder look in his eyes as Lee Jihye hugged the younger girl a bit tighter.
"That's right!" she laughed. "You're gonna kick her butt so hard!"
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is cheering for the incarnation 'shin yoosung'.]