[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is looking worriedly at the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire'.]
"Dokja-ssi," Lee Seolhwa wondered hesitantly, "does becoming the Demon King in this scenario automatically designate you as 'evil'?"
Well, this had never happened in the novel, so he couldn't be absolutely certain of it or anything, but Kim Dokja was quite confident in his hunch.
"All Demon Kings are 'evil'. I don't see why a substitute one would be any different," he muttered in reply and pretended not to see the flash of despair that crossed Jung Heewon's face. It was going to be difficult, but this was something that still had to be done.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is refusing to listen.]
"Back then, you asked me to become your companion." Heewon's eyes glow red as she raises her sword, as though she has been waiting. "Is this something you should be asking from someone you call a 'companion', Dokja-ssi?"
Rushing forward, she demands to know what sort of companions must kill each other for survival. Dokja doesn't answer her question, but he tells them instead to prepare for the second phase of the fight as his body unconsciously prepares another attack. Seeing it coming, Youngran rushes in front of the other women, using the Eight Gates Formation to defend them with smoke by absorbing the demonic energy, before falling to her knees and being tended to by Seolhwa. Still, she looks up at Dokja and tells him that his mother will be sad, but before the smoke completely clouds his vision, Dokja just replies that she already knows.
Kim Dokja let out a sigh as he processed Jung Heewon's question, and he was certain that she'd be staring at him if he turned to look. If he were to be honest, he was surprised that this was a question at all.
If she was Fated to die like he was, wouldn't she also want to go at the hands of someone she trusted implicitly? Who else could he trust with such a task other than his companions?
(In the back of his mind, Kim Dokja felt distinctly uncomfortable as he subconsciously realized just how similar his thought process was to his mother's. He didn't want to think about it.)
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is curious about the answer of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
He couldn't say what he had been thinking, so all Kim Dokja said was, "I'm sorry, Heewon-ssi."
"Stop apologizing, dammit. At this rate, I'm going to start wondering if you actually mean it or not," Jung Heewon sighed deeply. "We also got too comfortable."
Lee Hyunsung nodded forlornly and reached over to hold onto Jung Heewon's hand. "Yeah… this is the apocalypse, after all."
"We should have expected something like this to happen sooner or later," Han Sooyoung pointed out. "The Star Stream is a cosmic Twitch feed run by sadists, and we just happen to be today's designated punching bags."
Lee Jihye looked over nervously. "Wait, ahjumma, do you mean that there would eventually be another scenario where we're forced to fight each other?"
"Yep," Han Sooyoung stated matter-of-factly before casting a side-eyed glance over in the protagonist's direction.
Kim Dokja knew that Yoo Joonghyuk hadn't missed it either, and he was fully aware that they were all thinking of the same scenario from his last regression. Though he gritted his teeth, Yoo Joonghyuk stayed silent. Still, Kim Dokja could tell that he was both seething from rage at the reminder and more determined than ever to get past it this time.
[some constellations are laughing.]
[several constellations are urging the incarnations to hurry up and get to the good part.]
At the very least, Kim Dokja felt relieved to see that Cho Youngran was doing her job and absorbing as much of the demonic energy as she could. Though he was only in the second phase, it would give his allies a bit of a much-needed advantage right at the beginning. They'd have to take any opportunities they could.
"I still don't like that ahjumma, but at least she protected the noonas," Lee Gilyoung muttered, clearly feeling dispirited. The entire situation must have been getting to him, and Kim Dokja supposed that the reality of what was happening was truly setting in now.
Yoo Sangah smiled weakly and turned to Lee Seolhwa as her future self began treating Cho Youngran. "I'm glad that we can rely on you for medical assistance, Seolhwa-ssi. It's very reassuring to know that you have our backs."
Lee Seolhwa just smiled softly in return, tilting her head slightly in acknowledgement.
[the constellation 'guam divine doctor' is feeling pride for his incarnation.]
Kim Dokja didn't know what to think the moment that Cho Youngran brought up his mother, but just like his future self, he was certain that she had realized the outcome of this scenario long before anyone else had. Still, it was strange to think about her being sad, of all things. In Kim Dokja's memories, she had been many things—exhausted, regretful, cold, terrified, and more—but he couldn't remember ever truly hearing her cry.
Honestly, he didn't know if he wanted her to be sad at all because of what it would mean. It would be irrefutable proof that she cared even half as much as she claimed she did, and it would be proof that she had been lying when she said that she trusted his decision. If his mother truly trusted him to do what needed to be done, then she'd know that he'd come back sooner or later.
There was no use wasting tears on someone who would never truly be dead in the first place.
Suddenly, his mother's voice cut through his thoughts. "Youngran is reliable. You were… right… to recruit her."
Kim Dokja blinked in shock as he felt like all the oxygen had been sucked out of his lungs. She sounded almost as confident and unfazed as always, but he could still pick apart the underlying layer of uncertainty.
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is raising a brow at the incarnation 'lee sookyung'.]
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is interested in this turn of events.]
Had his mother just… said something that wasn't a criticism? Had she finally treated him like an adult and not the child that he hadn't been for a long time?
Kim Dokja's tongue felt like lead in his mouth and he couldn't bring himself to answer. All he could do was nod and hope that it would be enough.
Unable to see the others, Dokja just looks forward calmly as a sword pierces through the smoke. Dodging the blade without looking, Dokja tells Heewon that it's because she's a trusted companion that he's fine with putting his life in her hands, a statement that angers her as tears begin to fall from her eyes.
As their swords repeatedly clash, he tells Heewon that she must get serious and attack with the knowledge that he'll resurrect later. This leads Heewon to finally set her sword alight and take advantage of Dokja's moment of distraction from bracing against the flames to activate [Hour of Judgement]. Swearing, Heewon declares that she hates the name of the skill.
However, despite most constellations of the Absolute Good alignment agreeing to use the skill, one vehemently opposes, forcing its cancellation. Although Heewon is shocked, Dokja looks up to the sky and calls out one name, since it's obvious who had opposed. "Demon-Like Judge of Fire."
In an indirect message, Uriel covers her ears to avoid hearing him, so Dokja calls her by her name instead of her modifier, filling the air with sparks in response.
Yoo Mia yelped in surprise the second that the sword suddenly appeared through the smoke, and her brother instantly wrapped his arms around her. Even though they were trying to kill Kim Dokja, she still seemed to breathe a sigh of relief when he dodged the strike.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is cheering excitedly.]
"Ahjussi, maybe you shouldn't have said anything," Shin Yoosung whispered quietly, "Heewon-unnie probably didn't want you to say that."
Kim Dokja was fully aware of that, but it was still something that had to be said. He couldn't afford her holding back when they were on this kind of time limit.
Seeing herself finally begin activating her stigma and skill, Jung Heewon cursed under her breath. "I knew it would come to this, but I really hate it you know."
Kim Dokja was fully aware of that, but they had no better way to deal a massive amount of damage with Yoo Joonghyuk still out of commission.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is horrified.]
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is refusing to accept this development.]
Right. That was another issue, Kim Dokja supposed.
Sure enough, Uriel rejected the skill's activation, and the scales that had been forming behind Jung Heewon stilled. That was the downfall of a skill that worked on unanimous agreement rather than majority rules.
"Uriel, it'll be fine," Kim Dokja tried to reassure her, even though he suspected that it wouldn't work. She was stubborn, and she clearly cared about his well being. Unfortunately, he couldn't afford to indulge her this time.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is insisting that it will hurt.]
Yes, he knew that. It was supposed to.
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is asking for the incarnation 'kim dokja' to find another way.]
[the constellation 'scribe of heaven' is looking at the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire'.]
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is wishing to comfort the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire'.]
Ah, so Uriel wouldn't want to be easily convinced in either the present or the future, apparently. Regardless of her feelings, she would need to give in eventually. If Kim Dokja didn't manage to convince her, then he had faith that Metatron would. As a constellation of the Absolute Good alignment, she couldn't continue to veto judgment against a being that was 'evil' without the action raising some alarms.
For her sake and his, Kim Dokja hoped that she would understand sooner rather than later.
The angel is shown to be collapsed on the ground before her screen, covering her ears with her hands as her whole body shakes from the the force of her stilted sobs. Hearing her name being called, she looks up with reddened and tear-filled eyes. On the screen, Dokja urges her to allow the skill's activation for the sake of her own incarnation. When she shakes her head again, disagreeing since doing that would result in Dokja's death, her muffled sobs grow as the tears fall at a faster rate.
In the throne room, Dokja thinks that it would be good if all constellations were like her, and feels bad that he has to hurt her. Still, Dokja calmly reminds Uriel that this is just a story, and that she's seen many other people die already. As Heewon dodges attacks while Uriel keeps protesting and expressing her despair through indirect messages, he continues to speak. "You must do what is right. Only then will this story be completed."
At his words, Uriel's eyes widen. Finally allowing the activation of the skill, the angel buries her face in her hands, no longer suppressing her cries and agonizing screams of sorrow which meld into the clanking noise of the scale tipping.
"Oh, Uriel…" Jung Heewon whispered sympathetically, clearly very affected by her sponsor's anguish. The angel was distraught and struggling to keep it together, especially considering what she had just been asked to do.
[the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon' is scoffing at the weak will of the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire'.]
[the constellation 'lily blooming in aquarius' is threatening the constellation 'abyssal black flame dragon'.]
"I understand why she doesn't want to activate it, but Dokja-ssi is right," Yoo Sangah sighed as she looked down at the floor sadly.
Uriel shouldn't prioritize him over her own incarnation, especially now that he was classified as a Demon King. Not only could Jung Heewon and everyone else end up dead if they couldn't manage to defeat him in time, but also Uriel could end up in a lot of trouble for trying to assist someone considered 'evil'. Right now, his death was necessary to save her incarnation, and that was all she should be focusing on.
As Kim Dokja mused that Uriel was a good constellation and that he wished others would be more like her, Yoo Joonghyuk seemed somewhat conflicted for a moment. Perhaps he was withdrawing some of his hatred for constellations from Uriel specifically.
[some constellations feel bad for the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire'.]
[the constellations of the absolute good alignment are disapproving of the actions of the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire'.]
Kim Dokja nodded along with his future self. "It's just a story, just like all the others. Remember, I've been planning a way to escape my death, so you have to worry even less."
In response, Kim Dokja had to forcibly close several rapid-fire indirects from the angel that were almost incoherent due to her current state. She really wasn't taking this well at all, but she'd have to back down eventually, especially with the other Absolute Good constellations watching her closely right now.
"Kim Dokja is right," Yoo Joonghyuk grit out after a moment, looking like he was hating every second of that admission. "Do what needs to be done."
[the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire' is feeling intense despair.]
Suddenly, her messages went quiet as soon as her future self finally gave in and allowed the skill to activate. Lee Jihye sniffled loudly and Lee Hyunsung looked close to tears too, but Jung Heewon's entire posture slumped as she closed her eyes. Maybe she had been hoping that it would fail in the end, despite knowing that her skill would be needed.
[the constellation 'queen of the darkest spring' is looking at the constellation 'demon-like judge of fire'.]
Jung Heewon's true power is most effective when the powers of the 'Judge of Evil' are added to the fires of [Hell Flames Blaze]. And now that I've become the 'Demon King', I'm the ideal target for her skill to deal maximum damage.
With the activation conditions met, Heewon's eyes blaze brighter alongside the flames that resemble white wings bracketing her as she rushes towards Dokja. Supported by Youngran, Heewon lands a clean slice on Dokja's chest, creating a shockwave which rocks the tower itself.
Coughing blood as he stumbles back a few steps from the searing pain that spreads through his body, Dokja ignores the happy nebulae to take note of not only his physical condition—his skin cracking from the high temperatures and the myriad of cuts lacing his body—but also the remaining time they have to complete the scenario.
"You're so cool, noona," Lee Gilyoung said as he wiped his eyes with his sleeve, trying to hide any tears that may have begun gathering at the corners of his eyes. Kim Dokja wholeheartedly agreed—Jung Heewon was cool.
[the constellation 'prisoner of the golden headband' is tearing out his hair from stress.]
"Well, that imagery is pretty damn good too," Han Sooyoung admitted as Jung Heewon began to charge towards Kim Dokja with her sword set ablaze, and he had to agree.
With Uriel's power blazing and leaving trails of flame licking the ground behind her, it really did look as though Jung Heewon was being propelled by fiery wings. The incarnation of an archangel was facing off against a Demon King, almost like a mini reenactment of those wars of old. Even though the situation was a regrettable one, Kim Dokja hoped that Uriel was proud of what she was accomplishing.
The second that Jung Heewon landed a clean blow on him, Shin Yoosung clung to his arm as though she was afraid that he'd suddenly vanish. Kim Dokja knew that he wouldn't go down so easily, but he understood why she was so worried. That flame was meant to purge evil, after all.
[the constellation 'scribe of heaven' is nodding in approval at the actions of the incarnation 'jung heewon'.]
"I can't watch this," Lee Hyunsung whispered, turning to rest his forehead on Jung Heewon's shoulder. She looked down at him with an expression that looked almost like shock mixed with betrayal, and Kim Dokja was also wondering what was wrong.
"Hyunsung-ssi…? You know I don't want to…"
"I know you don't want to do this Heewon-ssi, I know," Lee Hyunsung told her as he grabbed onto her hand tightly, "it's just… Dokja-ssi and the fire…"
Jung Heewon suddenly stiffened and her eyes went wide. The fire…
Oh.
Kim Dokja's heart rate instantly sped up, knowing exactly what was bothering Lee Hyunsung so much. This scenario had really messed with their sense of time, but before they had been dragged to this place, it hadn't been that long since the dragon incident. Maybe Lee Hyunsung was reliving it too—the smell of burning flesh, the white-hot flames, and Kim Dokja who had no choice but to let himself be consumed. He wasn't killed this time, but it didn't make too much of a difference, not when those memories were invading his mind now too.
"I won't die so easily," Kim Dokja managed to choke out, past the nausea brewing in his gut from the thought of it.
Though Lee Hyunsung didn't respond, Lee Seolhwa carefully examined his state as he took note of how he was doing. She looked rather sad, and Kim Dokja figured that he wasn't supposed to overhear when she whispered under her breath. "Maybe it would have been kinder if Dokja-ssi didn't have to endure all of this."
[the constellation 'secretive plotter' is grimacing at the physical condition of the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
As the flames that destroy evil burn away at his flesh and wounds, Dokja internally remarks that he probably would have fainted if it wasn't for [The Fourth Wall] dulling his sense of pain. Nervously, Heewon asks what's going on with his body, and Dokja admits that the damage is insufficient.
Although he's getting injured at a faster rate than before, even Heewon's participation won't be enough to take him down before the time limit. Internally, he wonders if it's because he was judged to be a fable-grade constellation
Taking flight once more, Dokja looks down at his companions, focusing on Yoosung who has grabbed Gilyoung's arm and is leading him through the chaos and rubble.
[the constellation 'god of wine and ecstasy' is pitying the incarnation 'kim dokja'.]
Lee Jihye clenched her hand into a fist, even as it trembled. "That's gotta hurt so much, ahjussi…"
Ah, well, if even [The Fourth Wall] was barely keeping him conscious, then it was probably agonizing at best. The idea of an evil-purging fire continuing to burn in his wounds until it eventually consumed him whole wasn't pleasant in the least, but Kim Dokja could at least rest assured that his death wouldn't be caused by that kind of searing agony.
Yoo Mia let out a pitiful cry and clung to her brother. "Oppa… you have to get up… I know you don't want to do it, but ahjussi is just going to have to suffer more if you take too long…"
Kim Dokja felt like he couldn't do anything but hold his breath as Yoo Joonghyuk let out a shuddering exhale. The protagonist knew what needed to be done just as much as he did, but it was different hearing it coming from his sister's mouth like that.
[the constellation 'maritime war god' is frowning sadly.]
[several constellations are hoping that the death of the incarnation 'kim dokja' will be painful.]
Now that Kim Dokja had realized that even Jung Heewon wouldn't be able to do enough to take him down, their options were getting limited. Yoo Joonghyuk would have to rejoin the fight sooner or later, but Kim Dokja grimaced as he remembered just how hard he had flung the protagonist into the wall in their tussle over the jade.
"I might not be able to fight," Yoo Joonghyuk admitted quietly. "I was injured earlier."
At that, Lee Seolhwa looked at him with a determined expression. "Leave that to me, Joonghyuk-ssi. In these circumstances, I think we all know that you're the only one strong enough to fight Dokja-ssi on mostly equal footing right now."
Yoo Joonghyuk glanced back at her and inclined his head slightly in agreement before returning his attention to Yoo Mia, attempting to comfort her in whatever little ways he could. With any luck, he would be back in the fight soon enough.
They had one other card they could play first, but it was one that Kim Dokja really didn't want to have to use.
[a constellation who likes children is gasping in horror.]
[many constellations are looking at the children with pity.]
"Hyung, no," Lee Gilyoung gasped, looking up at Kim Dokja with wide and vulnerable eyes. "You can't."
"Ahjussi, please!" Shin Yoosung pleaded, burying her face into the robe as she sobbed.
Fuck, he'd have no choice but to force the kids into it too, wouldn't he? Kim Dokja gathered them in his arms and held them close, even as he regretted that it had come to this. They were good fighters in their own right, but they were still just children forced to grow up too soon.