Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

My face was dripped in sweat as I walked home in the suns burning heat.

It had been an exhausting day at school and now all I wanted to do was reside in the sheets of my bed.

I burst through the door of my house, unbearable silence echoing through it, I guess I was alone like always.

I felt myself relax as I gathered my things to go out, not bothering to get changed, I’d be back soon anyways.

I quickly ran to catch the train and sat on the cold, hard, plastic seat, just in time before it departed.

My phone buzzed as a reminder popped up on my phone...

‘read novel’

I scrolled through the endless pages of stories until I found the one my heart desired.

‘Omniscient reader's viewpoint’

I clicked on the chapter and read until the carriage came to an abrupt stop.

A luminous, cerulean blue light surrounded the subway.

It was silent, not a single sound could be heard throughout the train.

My heart pounded in my chest uncontrollably as I watched the people around me disappear one by one.

what was happening..?

I felt my hands begin to shake like prey caught by predator. And then, I came to the horrid realisation I was the only one left in the deserted train carriage.

…

I blinked once, then again and found myself in a train alike the one I had just been in, but this time it felt eerily different.

I looked at my surroundings around me.

There was a woman with a kind looking face, with fair brown hair down to the end of her back, she was dressed in a caramel coloured suit, which suited her composure well.

There was a man a bit further away from me who reminded me of a certain character from my novel, he had a brown buzz cut and was built like a tank with his evident body strength.

This was getting too nostalgic..

There was a boy with a tub of bugs, then a teenager with fluffy, silver hair wearing a green high school uniform.

And the strangest one.. next to me there was a man, whose appearance was overly average. He wore a plain white shirt with a blue tie, a dark grey blazer and had satchel bag in his lap. As he stared endlessly into his phone, his face changing into one of confusion.

This was all so strange.

Suddenly I heard a conversation I recognised from somewhere, where from..?

"Are you going home from work?" The woman with brown hair asked.

"Yes. What about you Sangah-ssi?"

Oh my god..!

This was either a blessing or a dream.

I realised at that moment that the overcrowded train, the people here, the guy next to me, they were all apart of my novel about a man who's life completely changed after his world and his novel's merged, resulting in things called scenarios and constellations..

If this was what I thought it was I needed to prepare myself.

I abruptly stood up and walked over to the boy with the tub of crickets, scowling a bit at their appearance, I hate bugs.

"Hi there, I'm so sorry if I'm being rude but could I borrow a bug..?"

He stared back at me with a confused face.

"Why.?”

“I just love them, I think their so pretty” I smiled, trying to seem as sane as possible.

He must've thought I was crazy.

I sat back down with the cricket closed within my hands, making sounds every few seconds.

It was odd, in this universe there was another cricket in the box, waiting, as if it was fated to be killed by me.

Then, nearly on queue, a white fluffy creature appeared in the train, floating in the air.

It had tiny yellow horns sticking out of its head and was wearing nothing but a black robe (or a rag).

This must be the dokkaebi, Bihyung.

Scared faces emerged within the carriage.

He spoke the same words he did at the start of the novel and so the scenarios had begun.

Just what had I gotten myself into?

[Main Scenario #1 - Proof of Value]

Category: Main

Difficulty: F

Clear Conditions: Kill one or more creatures.

Time limit: 30 minutes

Compensation: 300 coins

Failure: death

+

A few nervous voices spoke

"We have to..kill someone..?"

"This must be a prank or something.."

Almost immediately I squished the tiny creature in my hand.. I felt sorry for it, however it was better than killing another human.

[You have achieved the 'First Kill' achievement!]

[100 coins have been earned as additional compensation]

Lee Hyunsung stood up, trying to console the crowd, he explained situation from the armies point of view to the other people in the carriage, but nevertheless his information would be useless in the moments to come.

The dokkaebi appeared again.

"It's already been 25 minutes.. you humans are truly imbeciles" he sighed

It seemed he liked watching suffering, although most dokkaebis did.

"This is what'll happen in the next five minutes if nothing occurs.."

As I anticipated, a giant screen appeared in front of me, it pictured a classroom filled with faces of absolute terror.

These were the high school girls of Daepong, one of the poor many that were victim to the horrible scenario.

The screaming started as the message to say that time had run out came into view.

Heads started to explode, splattering red blood across the room. One by one, all the girls other than one were annihilated.

She was stood strangling a dead body that had once been her friend. It was Lee Jihye, the survivors face fading away as the screen turned off.

[#Bay23515 channel. Daepong Girls' High School, Year 2 Class B survivor: Lee Jihye.]

My heart hurt for her, despite reading about it previously, it was tenfold more horrifying and heartbreaking in real life.

Yoo Joonghyuk was probably on a killing spree as we speak in the carriage in front.

I watched around me, Kim Namwoon walked over to an innocent looking elderly woman.. as he started to beat her up unsympathetically.

I could do nothing but watch, I knew this was part of the novel still my heart ached at the scene in front of my eyes..

The poor lady flailed about as Kim Namwoon beat her.

Han Myungoh stepped forward to say something that I couldn't care to listen to.

"We have to choose a person to die" Namwoon said with an eery grin on his face.

"A new world requires new laws"

Several people rushed towards the old lady and schoolboy, a primitive look in their eyes.

They kicked at the old lady, her body collapsed on the ground, curled up like a child.

All of sudden an explosion shook the train.
Smoke engulfing the right corner of the carriage.

Kim Dokja stood up

"Everyone stop. You can't live if you kill the old lady"

His voice stood out in the silence, as expected of a protagonist.

"Let's say you kill the lady, what next?"

The curiosity spread throughout the carriage.

"Her death will be recognised for what the dokkaebi calls the first murder and some time will be bought, then what?"

"If what the dokkaebi says is true, you each have to kill one thing, who will you kill after the woman? Will you kill the person next to you?"

The situation was only getting worse as people's minds spiralled at the thought of killing another living, breathing person, the past primal urge to kill dissipating in brief seconds.

Kim Namwoon spoke "Haha, what are you all worried about? Then kill him next! Cowards.
Don't worry about your turn in advance! The odds are equal!"

"There is no need to gamble like that. There is a way for you to survive without becoming a killer.." Dokja replied.

A few civilians muttered under their breath's.

"Have you forgotten, the conditions weren't to 'kill a person'” He continued.

I already knew what he meant, unlike many others, however the problem was just how many could live.

"Insects, the insects!!" somebody in the crowd shouted as they pointed at the young child next to Kim Dokja, who had already passed his box of bugs to the man next to him.

"That's right, insects."

Many people began to beg and insult Dokja, seeing as he currently was in charge of who had to live and who was to die.

He was like a merciless god.

"Would you like one? Then catch them!"

I watched as the carriage submerged into a state of absolute chaos, everyone searched frantically for an insect or attempted to kill another.

I saw the look on Kim Dokja's face, he was utterly confused.

[KIM DOKJA POV]

Why didn't I get the achievement?

Had someone been killed and i hadn't noticed?

Confused blurred my mind into fragments

A girl with brown hair down to her shoulders,  wearing a light blue school uniform, stood away from the frantic crowd.

She definitely was the person who got the achievement yet she was never mentioned in the original novel of TWSA..

who could she be..?

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Chapter Text

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

[KIM DOKJA POV]

The girl stood in the carriage was staring at me eagerly as if waiting for something to happen..

The people in the carriage were looking frantically about, trying to find something or somebody to kill. Their primitive eyes glared at each other.

Kim Namwoon suddenly spoke to me

"Hey, why did you do that? Couldn't you have just given them the insects?"

I saw Kim Namwoon stand up, raising his body. Cautiously I responded to the boy, who was stretching in an overly relaxed way.

"There are 12 people here"

"And there was 3 insects left"

He frowned for a bit before smirking violently.

"So you threw it..?"

"Yes" I replied in a dull tone

"Don't make me laugh.." he said

"A person with common sense wouldn't do that.. be honest you just wanted to see the bloodshed..!"

[ANNIES POV]

Just 10 metres away from me stood Kim Namwoon and a plain looking man, Kim Dokja..

A window appeared before my eyes, I looked at it eagerly.

[Character Information]

[Name: Kim Namwoon

Age: 19

Constellation Support: None(Two constellations are currently showing interest in this person)

Private Attribute: Chuunibyou (General)

Exclusive Skills: Unusual Adaptability Lv.3, Knife Fighting Lv.1, Blackening Lv.1

Overall Stats: Stamina Lv.3, Strength Lv.4, Agility Lv.6, Magic Power Lv.4

Overall Rating: A chuunibyou who was blackened by a special occasion. It is recommended that you don't get involved with him.]

Of course he was a chunni what could I expect.. I had completely forgotten considering how many times he was mentioned in ORV..

Suddenly a fight arose between the two men. One, who was a regular office worker and the other, a rather strange looking high school student.

A dark aura surrounded them as Kim Namwoons whole body was devoured in it.

This was his skill [Blackening Lv.1].

I watched as Kim Dokja activated [Omniscient Readers Viewpoint Lv.1], then as he managed to dodge every blow Namwoon threw.

I looked at the clock.. 2 minutes left...

..1 minute and 30 seconds

I heard a yelp from Dokja as a knife impaled his shoulder.

I continued to watch them as Dokja upgraded his stamina and as Namwoon struck his rock solid body..nothing happened.

55..,54..,53..

He struck again and yet not a single cut formed on Kim Dokjas body.

30..,29..,28

I watched as Namwoon pleaded with Dokja for the last 28 seconds of his life.

[The given time has run out]

Sounds of heads exploding echoed inside the train.

[Paid settlement will begin]

It sounded like a firework show, people's heads splattered blood all over the nearly empty carriage.

[You have killed 1 living thing]

[Kill History: One grasshopper]

The words lied heavy on my shoulders, I would have to kill people in the near future and it scared me.

The thought of it drove me into a dark abyss of fear and confusion.

The train began to move suddenly, transporting me back to reality.

I looked out the blooded window as I saw with widened eyes the state of Seoul.

Smoke emitted from skyscrapers and dust filled the air. The light of fires devastated the streets and the city looked like something from a horrible, gory nightmare.

Han river was red with the blood of the innocent people of Seoul.. the words from fiction had become a reality.

[Main Scenario #1 Proof of Value has ended.]

[300 coins have been acquired as a basic clearance reward.]

[100 coins have been reduced for the channel usage fee.]

Kim Dokjas eyes gleamed with a hint of fear and belonging as he believed he was the only one to know the end of this treacherous world.

The only ones left in the carriage were Yoo Sangah, Lee Hyunsung, Lee Gilyoung, Han Myungoh, Kim Dokja and Myself..

I watched as monsters resembling giant snakes, tore apart a crashed fighter jet which had been half submerged into the red river of blood.

The snake like creatures couldn't hurt us yet since we were protected by scenarios.

I looked at Han River once again, a monster staring back at me.

The 'Ichthyosaur' was something a normal person could call a 'sea serpent' or if you were Kim Dokja, a 'Grade 7 monster'.

The presence of it made the people in the carriage shriek in terror.

[KIM DOKJA POV]

A notification popped up on the blue screen in front of my eyes.

[Survivors from the 3434 Train to Bulgwang,
Carriage 3807: Kim Dokja, Lee Hyunsung, Yoo
Sangah, Han Myungoh, Lee Gilyoung and Annie Saint. A total of 6 survivors]

Annie Saint.. she was the girl with curly hair who stared at me so eagerly only minutes earlier.

I needed to talk to her.. I had a feeling she'd be useful for upcoming scenarios..

I snapped back into reality after daydreaming for a while.

We needed to get off the train immediately before that crazy bastard, in the carriage in front, Yoo Joonghyuk kills us all mercilessly.

[ANNIES POV]

It was nearly time.

In less than a minute we would choose our 'Constellation Sponsor'.

I wonder who'd sponsor me considering I didn't actually do anything other than stare at Kim Dokja for a few minutes and ask a kid for a bug, which made me look like a crazy person..

The carriage was oddly silent after the massacre

"Dokja-ssi.. two choices just appeared in front of me.." Yoo Sangah said nervously

"Same for me!" I said confidently hoping they'd finally realise my presence.

Yoo Sangah smiled at me lovingly, at least I could offer her some comfort I thought.

[Sponsor Selection]

-Please select your sponsor

-Your chosen sponsor will be your strong supporter.

1. READER OF A THOUSAND WORDS
2. LOVE SPIRIT OF THE FOREST
3. LAST SURVIVOR OF HELL
4. DEMON LIKE JUDGE OF FIRE

Four wasn't a bad number since I had been especially boring so far.

However this wouldn't help my choice since none were mentioned in the entirety of the novel other than Demon like judge of fire (Also called Archangel Uriel)..

[1 minute till sponsor selection ends]

[sponsor selection has ended]

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Chapter Text

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

I had no idea who to pick.

Since the 'Demon Like Judge of Fire' Uriel was the only one I knew it felt right to pick her, but then again something deep within me was telling me I shouldnt.

Or rather I couldn't because before I even realised it, time had run out..

[the given time for the scenario has run out]

I let out a deep sigh of frustration.

[a few constellations are confused with your decision]

"Dokja-ssi who did you pick?" Yoo Sangah asked in excitement.

Then, with a blank face, he turned to her and said bluntly "No one”

Kim Dokja, the main character in my novel was most definitely thinking about a certain protagonist in his own.

[KIM DOKJA POV]

As much as I really didn’t want to meet Yoo Joonghyuk, I did want to at least see him.

He is supposed to be, as well as a crazy, murderous 3rd round regressor, an unbelievably handsome man..

[ANNIE POV]

"Kim Dokja" I said bluntly as I watched him get swept away into a world of daydreams and fantasies.

"Ah..yes?" Dokja replied

"What do we do now?"

The man cleared his throat and spoke confidently "We need to run”

Everyone's faces other than myself and Kim Dokja's were completely and utterly shocked.

"W-What do you mean..?" Han Myungoh spoke pitifully.

"You heard the Dokkaebi, no? There's a crazy bastard in the carriage in front, therefore we need to go before he kills all of us”

Yoo Sangah looked up in anticipation.

"If that's the case we better go" I heard the iron door make a deafening bang.. most probably created by the man who was most dangerous in the earliest scenarios.

"Let’s go, like now!”I shrieked

Even I didn't want to go face to face with that guy, the man who was in his 3rd round, lost all sense of sympathy and empathy after the horrific results of the 2nd.

"Quickly find a way to break the doors!!" Dokja yelled.

If I remembered correctly in the novel they escaped with the help of his stigma "Wait!! Lee Hyunsung-ssi use a skill!!"..

"How?!" He replied in a hurried voice.

"Just think about using it!" I screamed in frustration.

All of a sudden Lee Hyunsung pushed the door with incredible strength, despite reading about it he was undeniably strong even in the beginning of ORV..

"You can do it Hyunsung!!"

[your bond with 'Lee Hyunsung' has grown stronger]

[your understanding of the character 'Lee Hyunsung' has increased]

"Come on get off!!" Dokja yelled

He passed Gilyoung to Lee Hyunsung, then as soon as we stepped foot off the train carriage the second scenario had started..

[Second Scenario - Escape]

Category: Sub

Difficulty: E

Clear Conditions: Cross the broken bridge and enter Oksu Station.

Time Limit: 20 minutes

Compensation: 200 coins

Failure: ???

+

"Dokja-ssi, it's strange it says the 'broken bridge' but the bridge is still.."

He interrupted her suddenly "Don't worry about it and just run, quickly!!"

[YOO JOONGHYUK POV]

Yoo Joonghyuk was met by an unexpectedly empty carriage, other than the bodies with their heads blown off.

A vein popped as he saw Kim Namwoon's body, headless on the blooded floor in front of him.

Whoever had killed his Companion would pay with their life..

[ANNIES POV]

"OH FUCK!!!" I screamed as I looked behind me struggling to run, a familiar man who was considerably taller than myself and Dokja was stepping off the massacred train..

Then at the best possible timing, the situation got even worse, the once perfect bridge was now crumbling under our feet.. the sea serpent lurking below waiting for a feast.

he was getting closer.

"Shit!" I thought.

I quickly realised, just as we were finally near the end of the bridge, only an even number of people could cross the river.

Lee Gilyoung had been dropped by Hyunsung and had ran ahead therefore making us an uneven group number if you didn't count the guy currently set on murdering us..

I could see beads of sweat begin to form on Han Myungoh's rather unappealing face.

Someone had to die in the end.

I heard Kim Dokja kick away a familiar looking boy, without a head.?

Oh right..

In the novel I had read the Grade 9 zombies appeared as they were crossing the bridge, leading Kim Dokja, the main lead, to meet Yoo Joonghyuk..

I felt as another grabbed my leg viciously. We needed to run before he came.

"Let go now! Let go!!" Yoo Sangah suddenly screamed as she was picked up by Myungoh, who only minutes ago was a limping mess and was now running astonishingly fast towards the other side.

Some of the zombies had fallen off the breaking bridge, into the mouth of the ichthyosaurs, inevitably becoming fish food.

Kim Dokja had already activated his skill 'Bookmark' on Kim Namwoon. Fear swallowed my senses as a figure, more commonly known as Yoo Joonghyuk, was sweeping away hoards of zombies while walking towards us.

As he continued to stride through the crowd to me and the innocent looking office worker his face came into view.

I could only guess what Kim Dokja was thinking, however I had seen Yoo Joonghyuk's handsome face a number of times, considering how enormously popular ORV was back home.

I looked over to my right, hoping for a gaze of reassurance from the man, but to my dismay he was stood gaping at his beloved protagonist, who was walking towards us him at an alarmingly fast rate.

I saw the mixed look of attraction and curiosity on Dokja's red face.

[KIM DOKJAS POV]

And then, in front of me, was a man.

His face sculpted, perfectly symmetrical; his dark fluffy hair sweeping nonchalantly in front of his black eyes. The protagonist, who was blessed with good looks, was huge compared to my frame and the girl's next to me. His toned muscles clearly visible beneath his dark black coat. I was drawn in by his eyes, dark like hurricanes.

"You, who are you?" He asked cooly.

[The exclusive skill, Character List is activated]

[There is too much information about this person. Character List is converted to Summary List]

[Character Summary]

Name: Yoo Joonghyuk

Attribute: Regressor (3rd turn)(Myth), Pro Gamer (Rare)

Exclusive Skills: Sage's Eyes Lv.8, Hand to Hand Combat Lv.8, Weapons Training Lv.8,
Mental Barrier Lv.5, Crowd Control Lv.5, Reasoning Lv.5, Lie detection Lv.4....

....

The list of exclusive skills was endless, before I could even look at the rest a calloused hand gripped on my neck.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Chapter Text

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

[KIM DOKJAS POV]

"You, who are you?" Joonghyuk asked fiercely.

My precious protagonist, strangling me with his inhumanly veiny, muscular hands. Staring at me with an expression I couldn't exactly decipher.

Was this a dream or another nightmare.?

[ANNIES POV]

I felt my body shake as I saw Kim Dokja suddenly dangling over the breaking bridge like a rag doll. Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes glaring daggers at him all the same.

"You, how the hell are you alive?" The man choking Dokja said.

There was no doubt that this man was the one and only Yoo Joonghyuk, a 3rd time regressor who suffered a breathtaking amount of trauma and suffering.

"Kim Dokja.. I am Kim Dokja.."

I blinked and then heard the sound of flesh hitting flesh.

The taller man looked up at the other with an unreadable expression "Such a solid body.. you already know how to use coins?"

Another fist hit Dokja's stomach as I could only watch as if I was stuck in place, glued to the floor.

Another fist, this time louder.

"Stop the unnecessary answers. Only speak if I tell to you, ok?"

I couldn't stand it anymore with this guy.. "Just shut up already!!"

Both men looked at me. One with a worried expression painted on his face the other staring into me like I had just said something so stupid it wasn't true.

"Can't you just talk to each other instead of choking and punching him like an arrogant asshole?" I sighed.

"And who are you.." Joonghyuk hissed.

"A bystander to your horrendous attempts to speak to him like a normal person"

He glared at me with his dark eyes as he placed Dokja on the ground.

"Pro gamer, Yoo Joonghyuk. If you wouldn't mind I'd like us to have a conversation without you being an idiot, please.." Dokja exclaimed.

[the character Yoo Joonghyuk is curious about you and incarnation 'Kim Dokja']

"How do you know me..?"

Before Dokja could speak i asked "Your a famous guy of course we'd know you, what I want to know is why'd you attack him" I pointed at the skinny man next to me "for no reason?".

[The conditions for exclusive skill 'Omnipotent Reader' stage 1 have been reached!]

[do you want to activate the exclusive skill?]

I might as well.. perhaps it would be similar to Dokja's skill considering the name..

{YOO JOONGHYUK: these people.. they're not prophets... are they?}

{YOO JOONGHYUK: only Lee Hyunsung and Kim Namwoon should've survived.. not whoever these people are..}

{YOO JOONGHYUK: And who the hell is this guy.. why is he so slim.?}

I felt my face turn cherry red. I wasn't snooping in his thoughts.. right? This was completely different from the Joonghyuk I knew from ORV..

{YOO JOONGHYUK: i need to find information about them.. and if anything seems wrong..kill}

{YOO JOONGHYUK: especially that girl, there's something about her I can't explain..}

{YOO JOONGHYUK: And that man, he's so skinny.. I bet I could wrap my hands around his waist and still touch my fingers..}

I was definitely snooping but it was entertaining all the same.. he was so ooc..

[KIM DOKJAS POV]

[the conditions for exclusive skill 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' stage 2 have been reached!]

[Do you want to activate the exclusive skill?]

Suddenly Yoo Joonghyuk's thoughts ran through my head like a river.

{YOO JOONGHYUK: only Lee Hyunsung and Kim Namwoon should've survived.. not whoever these people are..}

{YOO JOONGHYUK: And who the hell is this guy.. why is he so slim.?}

My face flushed a deep red as I stepped back, my heart suddenly leaping out of my chest like a bungee jumper.

My protagonist calling me slim..?

I couldn't bear the thought of it without tweaking out.. I could die right here and now and I'd still be happy.

A huge grin was making its appearance across my face as I struggled to hold back my giggles. Then again he couldn't possibly think I'm slim..

{YOO JOONGHYUK: he's so skinny.. I bet I could wrap my hands around his waist and still touch my fingers..}

I take back what I said. I turned off my skill after listening to Yoo Joonghyuk's ludicrous thoughts, I couldn't take it anymore. My face felt like it was melting, I was like a human Popsicle..

[ANNIES POV]

I smiled a bit seeing Kim Dokja's face, this was rather strange considering they'd only met about 20 minutes ago..

"Dokja-ssi your face is super red..!" I chuckled.

"No it's not..!" he practically squealed.

Yoo Joonghyuk, who was completely oblivious to what was going on, just let out a deep sigh.

The tall man glared at us "We are running out of time.. if you do not move I will kill you both.."

At that, me and Dokja began run hurriedly.

Only 5 minutes till the scenario was over.. would we make it..?

1:25..1.15...1.00

I could see Yoo Sangah and the others beyond the barrier..

50...45....30

My feet swept abruptly in front of me as I was first to enter the barrier..

Kim Dokja was trailing far behind, while Yoo Joonghyuk was a few metres away. As the large man looked behind him to see Dokja running mindlessly towards the exit, he abruptly stopped and hurriedly went to him and... swung him over him shoulder..?

12..11...10

Joonghyuk, only metres away, was fighting against time.

5..4...3

Only a few metres to go as the bridge crumpled beneath the man's feet.

2....1

.....

[the given time for this scenario has run out]

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Chapter Text

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

[the given time for this scenario has ended]

Yoo Joonghyuk and Dokja on his shoulders, only meters away, fell down into the mouth of the Ichthyosaurs below.

[KIM DOKJAS POV]

[You have failed to clear this scenario]

[Paid settlement will begin]

[100 coins have been reduced for the channel usage fee]

Me and the man holding me slid down the throat of the sea creature, eventually landing on a soft ground of stomach lining. Yoo Joonghyuk, his hand still on my ass, just stood there bewildered as his grip tightened.

"You.. you did this to us!" He accused.

I replied with a sigh "you didn't have to come back for me you know.."

It was unbearably silent other than the occasional rumbling inside the stomach of the ichthyosaurs.

Joonghyuk, still holding me and my ass, just stood there completely oblivious to my face, which had turned an unsettling shade of red.

"Please put me down.." I mumbled.

At this, his eyes hinted emotions I'd never expect from him, he swiftly swung me out of his grasp and onto soft ground.

If I was right, I believed we only had a short time before stomach acid came rushing like a raging river and burned us to death.

[Oh my..how very sad it is both of you are here.. just when it got interesting..!]

The sound came from behind me but I already could tell who it was..

"Dokkaebi..?"

[Yes that's right your especially calm considering who I am]

"I already knew you'd come.."

[So have you been waiting for me I see?]

Yoo Joonghyuk pierced at us with eyes narrowed as I dared to speak on..

"Of course I have been" I replied nonchalantly,
"Are you taking my coins?"

[Coins?]

"For me failing the scenario"

[Not your life?]

"The scenario never said anything about death"

[No wonder you attracted the constellations attention, you are quite clever..]

[If you can pay me.. 5100 coins.. you get to live, that is the amount for this sub scenario!]

I looked glumly at the amount of coins I had collected.

[Coins Possessed: 5,100 C]

For fucks sake.. he must've been messing with me..

"Why so many..?" I smirked nervously.

[If you can't pay I guess you'll die]

"Kill me then"

The Dokkaebi looked at me, its face plastered with frustration.

[..What..?]

"Kill me.. unless you can't.." I grinned.

[...]

"You can't kill me?"

Yoo Joonghyuk, still shooting me vicious glances, looked completely oblivious to our conversation.. it was probably filtered out for him and most constellations.

"Low-grade dokkaebi, Bihyung. Do you enjoy being a streamer?"

Confusion and fear. That was what the dokkaebi felt at that moment, where he was his weakest.

[my name.. how did you..?]

[how does a human know of.. this?]

"Close the channel, we need to talk.."

[#BI-7623 channel is closed]

[Now tell me what you want.. how does a normal human know about the Star Stream..?]

"I can't tell you that..however i can help you"

"Bihyung, do you want to become the 'king of the dokkaebi's?"

[What-]

"Sign a contract with me and I will make it happen"

....

[YOO JOONGHYUKS POV]

Not once in my past regressions had I ended up in the stomach of the ichthyosaurs.. with this man no less..

I could feel a vein pop on my neck as I watched the dokkaebi and the man speak words that, for some reason, I could not hear.

After a while the two stopped talking and the Dokkaebi disappeared leaving us in darkness.

[KIM DOKJAS POV]

"What did you do?" He asked sternly.

"We made a deal.. I also bought 4 mucus and thorns.."

The taller man looked at me with a look I couldn't make out. "What kind of deal?"

"Just a deal, it's none of your business anyway"

His gaze on me hardened.

"Here" I threw him 2 of each of the items I bought.

"Quickly now, we could be burned alive any second"

{several days later}

My body was covered in mucus, my shirt fully see through. Me and Joonghyuk had taken in turns holding each other since we only had so many thorns, it had took a while to convince him to do so..

It would only be a matter of time before the ichthyosaurs was dead, its once warm body had begun to run cold.

I couldn't remember the last time I had eaten.. my arms and legs felt numb and sore. I clung onto Joonghyuk in a monkey hug as he clasped onto the thorn stuck in the wall of flesh.

"Are you ok.. do you want to swap?" I asked sheepishly, he had been holding onto the thorn for hours now.

The man looked down at me sternly "No im fine"

...

[ANNIES POV]

I genuinely contemplated killing Han Myungoh..

As soon as we all crossed the bridge, other than the missing two, he ran away like a dog with its tail inbetween its legs.

It had been days since Dokja and Joonghyuk had been thrown off the bridge, into the mouth of the ichthyosaurs.

Because the protagonists had been 'eaten' Yoo Sangah, Lee Hyunsung, me and Lee Gilyoung had been completely oblivious on what to do other than gather food and water to keep us alive.

"Is Dokja-ssi really dead..?" Sangah said her face representing one of sadness and guilt.

"No they'll be fine.. we should be seeing them soon" I said, it had already been 4 days so they should be here soon enough.

As if on queue, 2 men, Dokja and Joonghyuk and another.. were walking towards us from far away. The taller of the two men leaning on Dokja for support while an unconscious woman layed on his back.

"Hey guys, what took you so long, did you enjoy your time together!" I smirked.

"Shut up.." a rather angry Joonghyuk hissed.

"Dokja-ssi!! Also who's that?" Sangah exclaimed.

Joonghyuk's eyes narrowed at her excitement.

"Hello Sangah..!"

I nearly giggled at Yoo Joonghyuk's face at that moment. "So what do we do now?" I asked.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Chapter Text

"So what do we do now?" I asked.

Before anyone could say anything, a group of men suddenly intruded.

"Everyone, out of the way!"

Men started to surround Dokja, carrying various weapons. As I looked at them, I realised a familiar face was among them.

"Y-You..!"

Han Myungoh stared at Dokja, gaping in awe as if he'd seen a dead man. He, due to his unfortunate good luck, had joined their group.

"Get him out of here!! He shouldn't be here..!"

The others in his group could only laugh.
"Han Hyung, everyone should get along so stop shouting!"

Then another man came towards us, slim and sleazy looking, Cheon Inho.

"Nice to meet you, whats your name?" He asked Dokja.

"Kim Dokja.."

"Dokja-ssi, I am Cheon Inho"

Yoo Joonghyuk, who had been silently observing, glared at the man viciously.

Inho grinned at this eerily..

"Everyone, gather together! We have a new group member!" He said as he pointed his hands to Dokja.

All the people started to surround us, looking us up and down like ravaging animals.

Several voices appeared from within the crowd.

"He's brought us food!"

Hungry eyes layed on Dokja.

Cheon Inho replied "He is a good person, he has delivered us this food!"

Joonghyuk glared at him even more viciously now. Dokja was being made to look like a saviour of the people, eyes of mothers and children were glued to him as if he was a god.

"Welcome to Geumho Station, Kim Dokja..!"

Inho practically leapt forward at Dokja, laughing and shaking his hands vigorously.

.....

[YOO JOONGHYUK POV]

I could feel a burning rage within me, that two faced man, Cheon Inho, was shaking Dokja's, my companion's, hands...

I could clearly see his sinister intentions, I could kill him in an instant. 

He had been shaking Kim Dokja's hands for far too long, so long that I could feel my heart burning in the urge to throw my fist, or any sharp object, at him.

Suddenly I felt a hand grab on my arm.

A small girl poked my arm gently and shifted her head towards the underway of the stairs. She walked away from the crowd as i followed.

"What is it?" I asked sternly.

"Listen here, I know you may be merciless and stuff, but let Kim Dokja sort this out for once instead of throwing your fists at every bastard you meet..if you do you could seriously mess this up.."

This woman, just who did she think she was? I would kill her if she continues with this nonsense..

"And don't get angry at me either or else I'll tell Kim Dokja"

For some reason I couldn't bear the thought of that, and so I decided to see what would happen with Kim Dokja's control over the group.

[ANNIES POV]

Holy fuck, that was scary as shit.

I could practically hear the thoughts of who does she think she is and I will kill her this second even without my skill..

We walked back in silence to the group.

"Hi Annie! Where'd you go?" Yoo Sangah asked, I could still sense her undying grudge against Joonghyuk for threatening Dokja on their first encounter.

"We just had a talk about something, no worries"

I could see a slight expression of jealousy on Kim Dokja's face, which disappeared the next moment.

"I need to leave, you there come with me" Joonghyuk suddenly said.

Was he talking about me?

"What, why?" I asked him evidently confused.

"To find a friend", he must've been talking about Lee Jihye..

"I'll come then, I'm sure you guys will be fine without us!"

...

A blooded highschool building appeared in the distance. The poisonous gas had disappeared and the city was now breathable.

As we got closer to the school, a pair of eyes layed on us from behind a window.

"I think that's her.." I mumbled.

"What?" Joonghyuk asked.

"Nothing!"

The halls of the school were eerily empty other than the rotting, headless corpses which emitted a horrid stench.

"What are going to do?" I asked, in the novel it had never mentioned how Joonghyuk had spoken Lee Jihye on their first meeting..

"I'll Talk to her, while you stay out here."

I nodded silently, anything that he had said to her needed to said by him, no one else, or the whole plot could change.

After about half an hour the pair came out, Jihye's eyes puffy from all her crying.

I couldn't help but feel sorry for her, she was so young and had been through so much. I put my arm around her in a half-embrace.

"It's ok we're here now.."

She shifted into my arms, her face in my chest, now wet with tears.

We stood there for a few moments, Yoo Joonghyuk quietly waiting for us.

"Come on now, don't worry, your safe.." I whispered gently as I stroked her head in a motherly kind of manner.

"I'm sorry.." the girl said to me, her eyes teary.

"It's ok, let's go we have so many people to meet"

...

The upper world was in ruin, there was ash and debree everywhere, buildings were destroyed or had strange creatures within them. Nowhere was safe.

"Where are we going now?" Jihye asked nervously.

"To Geumho station, and to Kim Dokja.." the man said as a slight smile appeared on his fierce face.

Jihye suddenly spoke "Is he your boyfriend?"

I began to laugh uncontrollably as Joonghyuk flinched slightly at her words.

"Don't be a fool.." he grumbled at her.

"I'm sure he will be in time!" I said, which caused me to get death stared by Joonghyuk.

...

[a day later]

"Joonghyuk, Annie..!" Kim Dokja said in surprise.

We had been overly quick on our journey considering how far we had been, on our way we had tested Jihye as much as we could in battle before reaching Geumho Station.

"Hello Kim Dokja.." he said with a small smile on his stern face.

It was early in the morning, Jung Heewon had finally woken up and was in a fuming rage after hearing from Kim Dokja about how the mainstream group had took more than half of his food.

"Why'd you sell your food Dokja-ssi?"

"Weren't you going to weaken the power of the group by promoting transactions?" Jung Heewon added.

"That was my intent, I wanted people to move voluntarily.."

At this Heewon yelled in anger "Then why sell them food? The situation won't change!"

"It has changed, I got coins" he replied in a cool tone.

"Can we trust him Sangah-ssi..?"

"Kim Dokja is one of the most tactical and loyal people I know, so believe me when I say we can trust him.." I said my voice raised in confidence.

Yoo Joonghyuk beside me simply nodded, "Kim Dokja is.." he mumbled.

"Huh, what was that Joonghyuk?" He smirked at the taller man next to me.

"Dokja-ssi did you atleast leave enough food for yourself?" Heewon interrupted.

"I sold it"

Heewon's mouth gaped in disbelief. Lee Gilyoung poked at Dokja's cheek, offering him a biscuit.

He simply declined and placed it the young boys mouth.

"I'm ok, you eat it instead."

Yoo Joonghyuk rummaged through his pockets for something and eventually ended up grabbing a handful of various snacks.

"Eat, don't be a fool and starve.." he said as he passed his handful of food to Dokja.

"Enough with your flirting, anyway we need to eat all of our food before the end of today.."

"Why?" Sangah asked.

"I was about to say to do so!" Dokja added.

"If you guys say so I guess I'll do it, what do you think Master?" Jihye asked Joonghyuk.

He nodded in reply.

...

Lunch time came and a major announcement took place in Geumho station, Cheon Inho stood on a podium in front of crowds of people.

"We will limit the food ration from today. The allocation is three biscuits per person and-"

Uproar in the station interrupted him.

'Three biscuits? How can we live on that?"

"This is ridiculous even the scouts get more!"

"Why don't we get as much as them!"

Cheon Inho, despite the criticism, stood there with a nonchalant expression on his smug face.

His eyes layed on Kim Dokja.

"Actually there is a way to get food without being a scout! Should I tell?"

...

Chapter Text

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

"Actually there is a way to get food without being a scout! Should I tell?" Cheon Inho said slyly as he stared at Dokja.

[Character 'Cheon Inho' has activated the 'Incite Lv.2' skill]

"You see Kim Dokja told me yesterday, that in this new world, you need to prove your worth in exchange for food and power. Isn't that right Kim Dokja-ssi?"

At that moment the crowd of people turned their attention to Dokja, their eyes filled with resentment.

People begun to gather in front of the podium, bargaining with coins for food.

"I-I will buy it with coins..! How much do I pay" One voice said.

"200 coins"

"But I don't have that many!"

"Then go away"

200 coins for a single piece of food, it was ridiculous.

"This is crazy..!" I said to Heewon who was stood next to me, speechless.

"Yeah.. by the way, Dokja-ssi how are you so calm?" Sangah asked the officer worker.

"I'm familiar with these situations since I read a lot of novels.." he mumbled.

"Huh? Does that make sense.. wait, where are you going?"

Dokja descended from the platform, not replying to her. Heewon tried to follow but was beaten by Yoo Joonghyuk's determined intentions.

Before Joonghyuk could step off the platform, he was interrupted.

"Joonghyuk-ah, don't follow me, it's okay" Dokja said to the tall man next to me.

"No I will come, Kim Dokja.." the man grumbled.

"Ok.." Dokja responded, turning a pretty shade of pink, as he stepped away.

"I'll come too!!" I said as I ran after them.

I watched as the two men walked out and into the tunnel, eventually leaving everyone behind, turning into blobs in the distance.

...

We carried along the railway tracks to Yaksu Station. We were submerged in a deep darkness and yet I could imagine the scene inside, the air smelt like bloodshed.

"We are going inside aren't we?" I asked. "Nearly everyone is dead.."

...

I climbed back onto the cold platform, we had been gone for awhile now. Meanwhile Joonghyuk had lifted Dokja by the waist and onto the platform, causing him to go crimson in the face.

"Dokja-ssi, do you have a fever you've gone bright red!" I asked smugly.

At this he turned even redder.

"You fool, are you ill?" Joonghyuk added completely oblivious to his actions.

"Both of you, shut up!" He yelled in retaliation.

I watched as we walked around, the line for food was exceedingly long. Not long after that, I saw a few young women from the marginalized group sneak into the back of a tarp.

Cheon Inho had said 'Anything' could be exchanged for food however the girls who just had entered hadn't had anything with them.

"This is disgusting, I can't watch this anymore, Dokja-ssi I'm going to do something.."

"What are you going to do?" He asked calmly.

"Im going to stop it, this is ridiculous.."

"If you stop them now they'll starve, anyway you can't prevent it now, it'll be even worse at night"

He had a point, I couldn't remember exactly but I'm sure he had said something along those lines in the novel.

"I still need to try, if I can't do it I'll try again and then again..!"

Dokja sighed "If you want to stop it you need to destroy the root of the problem".

"I'll try Dokja-ssi"

Before he could reply a Dokkaebi appeared in the station.

However it wasn't Bihyung, but a charcoal black version of him.

[H-How are you all? Haven't you been free for a while?]

People began to panick at the sight of the dokkaebi since nothing good ever happened when a dokkaebi is involved.

The black dokkaebi was unusually nervous.

[M-My friend who was originally in charge of this channel is undergoing disciplinary action.. s-so I am responsible for the scenario..]

"W-What do you want from us..!" A few timid voices spoke.

[D-Dont be..uh.. angry! I came for you guys]

"For us? Then give us some food!" The crowd answered angrily.

[A-Aha.. if you want food..]

Moments after his words, his hand moved fiercely. Which, seconds after, followed with several announcements.

[A scenario penalty has been added]

[From now on, food stockpiling is limited]

[All existing stockpiled food has disappeared]

I could only see as people's faces turned to terror and anguish as the food they worked so hard to get their hands on was destroyed within a moment.

Yoo Joonghyuk pulled Kim Dokja closer to him as Cheon Inho glared at them with confused eyes.

At the time I had forgotten, however I had already figured out, this dokkaebi was especially cruel to humans.

Messages followed my new found opinion.

[A scenario penalty has been added]

[The 'survival cost' clause has been added]

[From now on, 100 coins will be deducted every night for the 'survival cost'. If you cannot pay the 'survival cost', you will die]

[The 'survival cost' penalty will be maintained until the second scenario has been cleared]

I heard Kim Dokja chuckle next to me. I sighed heavily, this was exhausting..

"Kim Dokja, why are you laughing?" Joonghyuk asked sternly glaring at the smaller man next to him.

"No reason Joonghyuk-ah!" Dokja nervously chuckled.

"You two stop flirting, I know you expected this to happen Dokja-ssi but what do we do now?" I asked.

"There's nothing we can do for now.." he shrugged.

People in the station were panicking, scrambling around for help and begging anyone with high power to help them.

The higher power referring to Cheon Inho, who had announced an emergency notice.

"Listen up everyone! We will no longer distribute food to people who do not participate as scouts"

The other members in our party had been especially quiet until now. Lee Hyunsung anxiously asked us "What now Dokja-ssi?"

"We need to go and get food" he answered.

"So we become scouts? Even if we go above ground we will probably die.." I asked.

The man I spoke to turned his head to the dark tunnel headed to Yaksu Station.

In this new world, despite humans being pushed to the bottom of the food chain, it didn't necessarily mean we had to be prey.

"Wait a minute.. don't tell me?" Sangah asked looking rather disturbed.

"That's right, we'll hunt monsters."

At this Yoo Joonghyuk's mouth creased ever slightly in the corners.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Chapter Text

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

"That's right, we'll hunt monsters."

...

"Huh?! Well what?"

"Hunt monsters, for food!" He responded.

"That's not a bad plan actually.." I mumbled.

...

My life had been bearable to say the least, I had always felt like a shell of a human I was supposed to be, I was never smart enough or strong enough, and yet I had so many who had loved me and put their trust in me.

I looked all around me, the faces of people I once knew, unidentifiable in my memory.

A man tall, with eyes that could pierce you right through, the rest of his face was blurred.

A group of friends.

The shape of a woman.

She was stood in the distance.

Her face was disorienting, however i knew her to be my mother, i had been in this world so long i had forgotten the faces of my parents, friends and anyone i had previously known..

I could only stand there, shook to my core as she crept towards me, placing her cold hand on my cheek.

The woman wept in front of me, her eerily unseen face spouting tears from her hidden eyes.

Cold sweat drenched me, dripping down my face. My mother(?) sobbed at my feet the room around me became darker, closing in on me.

I blinked, and then her face turned up at me, glaring at me with a sinister expression.

And then i woke up.

My heart beat uncontrollably in my chest, reacting to my overwhelming feelings of dread and fear.

"Are you ok Annie? You're sweating like crazy and look a little pale.." Heewon asked me, her warm hand placed on my cheek gently.

"I..I-uh.. am fine!" I gasped out, as I stood up swiftly.

Two men looked down at me.

"Don't be sick and become a liability" Joonghyuk said as he sharpened his sword.

"He's right, if you feel unwell just tell us!" Dokja, who was leant against the wall beside Yoo Joonghyuk, added.

"Thank you.. anyway don't we need to get going soon..?" I said.

"We have to wait, Inho insists on us being supervised by someone.." Heewon rolled her eyes.

Han Myungoh walked towards us with a nervous smile cracked on his face.

"Why are you here?" Sangah asked the man.

"I-I am going with you, if you don't mind.." he mumbled.

"I do mind actually, but we'll let you come along anyway.." I sighed.

Lee Hyunsung had a worried look on his face as our group walked down the tunnel.

It was dark, I could only see a few metres in front of me.

Suddenly a message appeared in front of us.

[A new sub scenario has arrived]

+

[Second Scenario - Food Acquisition]

Category: Sub

Difficulty: E

Clear Conditions: Directly hunt the monsters that can be used as food and cook them.

Time Limit: None

Compensation: 500 coins

Failure: ???

+

The darkness of the tunnel suddenly faded away as Dokja turned his flashlight on.

Lee Gilyoung suddenly looked around for a while before sitting on the tunnel floor, then reaching his hand out to something.

"S-Shit what is that..!" Han Myungoh yelped.

The cockroach layed in Lee Gilyoung's hand obediently for a few seconds before jumping off and walking into the darkness.

"My attribute is Insect Collecter.." the boy said.

He had the unique ability to communicate with insects through his 'Diverse Communication' skill.

"He said we are safe for 100 steps forward.."

...

[you have entered a dangerous area]

"I-Its dangerous Y-Yoo Sangah-ssi, if you need to y-you can hold my hand.." Han Myungoh squirmed.

"You're more afraid than she is..!" I chuckled.

We continued walking through the humid tunnel.

"Kim Dokja, look ahead.." Yoo Joonghyuk said as he glared at the ground towards him.

There was a few ground rats, lifeless on the ground. Not as many as from the novel of course, where Yoo Joonghyuk had massacred
the tunnels on his way to the next station.

"Ugh it stinks.." I muttered.

"Dokja-ssi can we use this for food?"

"I don't think so since the scenario mentioned hunting.." Dokja replied.

This was strange. If Yoo Joonghyuk had been with us, who could've done this?

I instinctively reached down to touch one of the mauled bodies.

[The conditions for exclusive skill 'Omnipotent Reader' stage 2 have been reached!]

[do you want to activate the skill?]

I clicked yes on the blue screen before me.

A scene from my surroundings played in my head.

There was a cloaked figure, in black, slaughtering the rats mercilessly in my mind.

They turned to face me, as if they knew I was there, their face dark under the hood of their blooded robe.

The vision then ended abruptly leaving me once again in the damp air of the tunnel.

"What did you just do Annie?" Dokja asked me.

"I think I accidentally activated my skill?"

"I saw a replay of what happened to the rats.. there was a hooded figure but I couldn't see their face.."

The office worker spoke quietly under his breath "Could they have been one of the prophets..?"

"What was that Kim Dokja?" Yoo Joonghyuk glared at the man next to him.

Dokja just smiled and shrugged as the group continued to watch the two bicker like an old married couple.

"What are we supposed to hunt with though?" Sangah asked nervously.

"We use the bones for weapons.." I said as Dokja began to cut the cartilage off the bones and handed them to Jung Heewon.

"You need to grind it a bit more for it to be useful.."

She nodded excitedly, then began picking up the surrounding rocks and grinded at the bone.

"Thanks Dokja-ssi!!" She beamed at him.

Lee Hyunsung watched the scene in envy while Yoo Joonghyuk was stood next to Dokja, staring at him in a kind of pitiful way.

"Do you want one?" I asked the man who was intently looking at Jung Heewon and her blade.

Lee Hyunsung nodded as I passed him a bone.

Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk sat down together with the group and began to make spears and daggers out of bone.

...

[you have succeeded in acquiring weapons by yourself]

[A very small number of constellations are interested in the primitive nature of humanity]

[The constellations have sponsored you 100 coins]

"Wow, I didn't think we'd get coins for this kinda stuff.."

"When it's possible try and leave enough coins for the survival cost and invest the rest in your strength, stamina and agility. Otherwise it'll be difficult to survive" Kim Dokja told the group.

Suddenly a message appeared in front of me.

[The sub scenario - Food Acquisition has begun!]

The ground rats crawled out from the ground below us.

"What's your plan Dokja-ssi?" Yoo Sangah asked the man who had his weapon in hand ready to fight.

"I don't have one, just try to survive.."

"Ok let's try it then, everybody, please live!" Jung Heewon exclaimed, her eyes gleaming with anticipation.

Yoo Joonghyuk sighed.

"Then let's go"

As we took the first few steps forward, into the ground rat's territory, the battle began.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

Chapter Text

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･

The battle had begun.

It wasn't exactly as depicted in the novel, since they had 2 protagonists among them.

However, despite the fact there was one too many ground rats compared to the novel, the group massacred the lot.

The main helpers had been Yoo Joonghyuk, Kim Dokja, Jung Heewon, Lee Hyunsung, Lee Jihye and partly myself.

"That was amazing!" I exclaimed feeling proud of our performance.

"It was, Master and ahjussi were amazing!" Lee Jihye said to which Kim Dokja glared at her.

"I'm not so old you have to call me ahjussi.." he pouted.

"Anyway shouldn't we cook the food?" I said excitedly, I couldn't wait to eat..

"How do we cook.. that?" Yoo Sangah asked me.

The group looked over to the blooded pile of dead rats as Yoo Sangah pointed at them.

"Egh.."

Suddenly a ground rat appeared from behind us, bigger than the rest, we must've forgotten it..

"There's still one left!" Jihye shouted.

The ground rat swooped across the floor at a staggering speed and leapt towards the sleazy looking man closest to it.

"S-Save me!!" Han Myungoh screamed as it dragged him away.

This wouldn't have been a problem other than the fact that the bastard, in a hope of escape, had grasped onto Yoo Sangah's leg and dragged her with him into a dark hole, which disappeared the next moment.

[the constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' resents this frustrating person]

"That..stupid!" Heewon burst out.

Lee Hyunsung looked up with a sad face "I'm sorry I was too late.."

At this Dokja tapped his shoulder gently, Yoo Joonghyuk looked at the two, probably in jealousy disguised in that emotionless face of his.

"Don't worry, no one could've done anything.." he sighed.

"Should we chase after them?" I asked.

"No, it's no use.." Dokja replied, looking at the floor, which had previously been the hole the two had been dragged into, before it sealed again.

"What can we do anyway their both gone now.."

Suddenly Kim Dokja grabbed his phone out of his pocket.

[KIM DOKJAS POV]

I pulled my phone out of my pocket briskly, there was only 5% battery left.

[Your reading speed has increased due to the effect of the exclusive attribute]

I looked at the file sent to me by an unknown person before reading it.

..The 'Edge of Darkness' is the habitat of the ground rats and is a type of subspace emitted from the 'Dark Root'. The ground rats that breathe in black ether instead of oxygen don't grow naturally unless they are near the 'Edge of Darkness'..

That's right, this was the entrance to the 'Edge of Darkness'.

Yoo Joonghyuk leaned over my shoulder to which I quickly turned.

"What are you doing Kim Dokja?" He asked me, his low voice which echoed in the tunnel.

"Nothing!" I replied, to which his eyebrow raised ever slightly.

I shoved my phone back in my pocket.

"Dokja-ssi..?" Lee Hyunsung looked at me with a frustrated look on his face.

"We will go.." I replied to the man.

"It's too dangerous to enter with too many people, Lee Hyunsung-ssi, Lee Jihye and Jung Heewon-ssi will wait here at the boundary. If something happens I'll give you a signal.."

"You're not taking Gilyoung, are you?" Lee Jihye asked.

"His ability will be helpful in finding them" Dokja replied.

"Don't worry I'll protect him" I told the girl reassuringly.

"Don't exert yourself Heewon, you're still recovering from the poisonous fog.." I told the woman.

Her breathing was uneven, she wasn't completely healed yet..

[ANNIES POV]

We left the three and entered a hole, which was more like a vertical slope.

Me and Joonghyuk walked behind Kim Dokja and Lee Gilyoung, who guided us with a flashlight.

They were talking about something I couldn't quite hear over the dripping of water and the sounds of footsteps.

Lee Gilyoung suddenly spoke louder, making it audible for both me and Yoo Joonghyuk.

"Hyung, are you a god?"

"..What?" Kim Dokja looked taken aback.

"Or the main character..?"

Infact he was, despite not realising it, Kim Dokja was the strongest person in this world created from a novel.

"I'm not a main character, I envy them though.."

"But you still know something about this world?" The small boy carrying the flashlight answered.

Kim Dokja contemplated for a moment before replying "That's right".

"Once we clear all the scenarios, can I make a wish..?"

"Wish?" The man looked confused.

Lee Gilyoung had thought of his dead mother in that moment.

"There's a reward at the end of my story, right.?"

His breath trembled in the darkness.

"Yes there is.." Kim Dokja told him, probably lieing.

"What are you two talking about?" The tall man beside me asked, his version of their conversation has most likely been filtered out to avoid his suspicion.

"Nothing important.."

Lee Gilyoung looked up at the frowning man, "Hyung, we are nearly there.."

The black ether surrounding us had shrunk rapidly as we walked, it was evident that the Dark Root was nearby.

[A few constellations are holding their breaths]

I could hear the ground rats scurry somewhere in the ground.

The flashlight turned off.

There was a glow in the darkness, a tattered box layed beyond it.

[The sub scenario has been updated]

[You have entered the 'Ground Rat's Treasure Trove']

I could hear two voices from within the cave.

"This is all because of you!" Han Myungoh yelled in a childish manner.

"All because of me? What do you mean!"

There were two people in the dim light, tied tightly by branches that had arose from the ground.

"Don't go yet.." Dokja whispered.

After a few minutes of waiting, the office worker threw a thorn with swiftness and precision, which ending up scaring Han Myungoh.

"Uwak!! What was that?!" He squealed.

[The constellation 'Prisoner of The Golden Headband' is pleased.]

"Dokja-ssi!!" Yoo Sangah called out.

An eery sound echoed in the cave abruptly.

I suddenly remembered what was happening.

"Joonghyuk-ah! Don't look!"

It was too late.

The darkness was split apart by the thorn, then it came.

['Dark keeper' could appear]

[The sub scenario has been updated!]

[Sub scenario 'Kill the Guard' has begun!]

The ground rats suddenly fell to the floor, as if crushed by gravity or an overwhelming power.

A dark figure emerged in the dimly lit cave.

It was a tentacled monster, reminiscent of a god of death.

The man next to me shuddered and began trembling.

"Joonghyuk-ah, quickly!!" I said before dragging him away.

Lee Gilyoung was already struggling the mental lash back from the insects, dead from the 'Dark Keepers' aura, as it was.

"Whats happened?!" Kim Dokja yelled across to me, who had Yoo Joonghyuk leaning on my shoulder as I carried the man away.

"Don't mind us, I'll be back soon!" I replied.

I dragged him to a nearby corner.

"We'll be back okay, don't worry Dokja-ssi will understand.."

Of course, Yoo Joonghyuk had suffered immense mental trauma from his 2nd round, when Asmodeus cursed him and later tortured and killed him after he was used by Anna Croft, it was a brutal round which led to his untrust in others and his severe depression.

The grade 7 demon type species, Dark Keeper, this demon was a follower of Asmodeus.

I looked back at the man, who sat there trembling, as I ran.

I had been gone for too long, Kim Dokja was holding 'Broken Faith' a part of a sword which had broken.

[How are you going to fight with that!]

The Dokkaebi laughed, it had also appeared while I had been with the protagonist.

All in a moment, the blade was enhanced by an intriguing white light.

This was the start of a battle.

°❀⋆.ೃ࿔*:･