The air felt wrong.
Not because of a scenario.
Not because of a constellation.
But because two people had reached the same conclusion—
And chose opposite answers.
Yoo Joonghyuk stood at the edge of the rooftop.
Back turned.
Silent.
Kim Dokja already knew.
"…You're going to say it."
Yoo Joonghyuk didn't move.
"…Stop using him."
No hesitation.
No anger.
Just certainty.
Kim Dokja sighed.
"…You think I don't know what I'm doing?"
"I know exactly what you're doing."
Yoo Joonghyuk turned.
Eyes sharp.
"You found something the Star Stream can't control."
A step forward.
"And now you're turning it into a weapon."
Silence.
"…Yes."
No denial.
"You'll regret it."
Kim Dokja laughed softly.
"…That's rich, coming from you."
Yoo Joonghyuk's gaze didn't waver.
"I kill threats before they grow."
"And I use them before they destroy everything."
A beat.
"…That's the difference between us."
"Hey!"
Both of them froze.
Ethan stood at the stair entrance.
Smiling.
Holding two cans of soda.
"I brought drinks!"
The tension didn't reach him.
Or maybe—
He just didn't understand it.
Yoo Joonghyuk looked at Ethan.
Then back at Dokja.
"…He trusts you."
"I know."
"…And you're lying to him."
Kim Dokja didn't answer.
Because it was true.
Yoo Joonghyuk drew his sword.
Slowly.
Deliberately.
"I'll end this before it gets worse."
Ethan blinked.
"Huh?"
Kim Dokja stepped forward instantly.
"No."
Steel met silence.
"…Move."
"I won't."
Yoo Joonghyuk moved first.
Fast.
Decisive.
His blade cut through the space between them
A killing strike.
Kim Dokja barely blocked.
The impact sent him sliding back.
"…You're serious."
"I always am."
«[Probability is being consumed.]»
Kim Dokja activated everything he had.
Skills.
Attributes.
Stories.
Yoo Joonghyuk did the same.
But there was a difference.
Yoo Joonghyuk wasn't holding back.
"You're weaker than me."
"I know."
"Then why stand in my way?"
Kim Dokja steadied himself.
"…Because you're wrong."
Yoo Joonghyuk attacked again.
Faster.
Stronger.
Relentless.
"You think you can control him?"
Clash.
"No."
"You think he'll stay the same?"
Clash.
"No."
"Then why—?!"
Kim Dokja shouted.
"Because he's the only one who can break this world!"
Silence.
Even Yoo Joonghyuk paused.
For a moment.
Kim Dokja's voice lowered.
"…You've seen it."
"…This world doesn't change."
"No matter how many times you regress."
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes flickered.
"…Don't talk like you understand."
"I do understand."
A step forward.
"…And he's the only chance we have."
Yoo Joonghyuk's voice turned cold.
"…No."
"He's the end."
Another step.
"If something can break the system…"
"…It can break everything."
Including—
Them.
Yoo Joonghyuk raised his sword.
This time—
To kill.
"I won't let that happen."
Kim Dokja didn't move.
Didn't dodge.
Didn't defend.
"…Then you'll have to go through me."
"Wait!"
The sword stopped.
Barely.
A hand held it.
Not physically.
But conceptually.
Ethan stood between them.
Confused.
"…Why are you fighting?"
No one answered.
Because there was no simple answer.
Ethan looked at Yoo Joonghyuk.
"…You want to kill me?"
"…Yes."
No hesitation.
Then Ethan looked at Dokja.
"…You're using me?"
Silence.
That was the answer.
Ethan's smile faded.
Just a little.
"…I thought we were fixing things."
Kim Dokja stepped forward.
"We are."
"…By breaking others?"
No response.
The air changed.
Subtly.
Dangerously.
Not anger.
Not rage.
But something worse.
Doubt.
"…Magic shouldn't feel like this."
Ethan whispered.
Yoo Joonghyuk lowered his sword.
"…You see?"
Kim Dokja didn't look away.
"…Not yet."
But for the first time—
He wasn't sure.
They stood there.
Three people.
Three different truths.
Yoo Joonghyuk:
Kill the threat.
Kim Dokja:
Use the anomaly.
Ethan:
Fix the world.
And none of them—
Were compatible.
«[The story has diverged significantly.]
[Probability is unstable.]
[An irreversible choice is approaching.]»
Kim Dokja looked at Ethan.
For the first time—
Not as a weapon.
But as something fragile.
"…What have I done?"