Ch 444: Ep. 83 - Dokja's Incarnation, VI

After he was freed from the seal, the Great Sage Heaven's Equal became more like a Yaksha.

This power that, never mind the highest-ranked Narrative-grade Constellations, even the Myth-grade Constellations had no choice but to pay attention to.

Sun Wukong's clones multiplied through the Body Outside Body spell to number in the hundreds, nay, into thousands, and began dealing with the Nebula's great army. Thunderbolts shooting out from their fists obliterated a group of Historical-grade Constellations in one go, and a dozen or so Narrative-grade stars crashed to the ground below after getting struck by the Ruyi Bang.

The entirety of the Tongtian River couldn't handle his power and began crying out.

Kwa-aaaaaah!!

This was the might of Sun Wukong, the one who had completed the conclusion of the grand epic, the 'Journey to the West'.

Tsu-chuchuchuchut!

Sparks exploded non-stop on our body. We were inside the 'Journey to the West', the location of his Story no less, yet the <Star Stream> was still suppressing his powers. The disjointed Probability was returning in full to the Sun Wukongs as well as myself, and thanks to that, I thought I might lose my mind here.

'Looks like maknae is finding it hard to handle'.

'Let him leave'.

My body grew out of the main one like a sprout and began crashing down to the earth below.

I wretched uncontrollably and by the time I regained my wits, I found myself sagging on top of a piece of floating debris on the Tongtian River.

I could see Sun Wukong that I used to be a part of only a moment ago busy engaging the <Emperor>'s Constellations in a bitter warfare up in the sky.

"Ahjussi!"

A voice came to me from somewhere. And soon enough, two humanoids crashed into me. One fairly large, and one fairly small.

I raised my upper body with great difficulty and saw Shin Yoosung and Biyoo clinging onto me.

While crying her eyes out, the former was hugging my arm dirtied by the blood and flesh of various Yogoes. I wiped my hands caked in blood on my coat and carefully hugged her.

Even though [The Fourth Wall] existed, the incoming rush of emotions couldn't be restrained.

I was back.

I had managed to come back again.

"Dokja-ssi."

I raised my head to find Yoo Sangah in her white robe standing nearby.

She had reincarnated into the Incarnation Body of Tang Sanzang. Even though her body was now different, her appearance was the same Yoo Sangah that I remembered.

I smiled weakly at her. "You came back."

"I've seen all the things you've done while I was away, Dokja-ssi."

My shoulders flinched just a bit before I knew it. I wondered if she'd scold me, but to my relief, she simply smiled benevolently.

"It must've been hard for you."

Before I could say something in reply, though, she continued on.

"However, please stay that way for a little while longer."

Huh?

Just as I was about to open my mouth, Yoo Sangah gently reached out and placed something on my head.

My jaw went slack from this unbelievable event.

"Hmm, so, what should I do with you now?"

Seeing Yoo Sangah pressing her finger to my forehead and wagging it around a bit, I was overcome with this slight sense of terror. I was well acquainted with the pain from the headband already.

I quickly opened my mouth. "I-I know that I made a few mistakes. I do. However… Can, can I tell you in detail about them a little later? Right now…"

"Right now, that side should take priority, I know."

I nodded my head.

We looked up at the sky where the [Great Hole] was still whirling around. And in the middle of the hole, at the two Yoo Joonghyuks currently locked in a bitter battle.

Yoo Joonghyuk [999] wielding the [Black Heavenly Demon Sword] dashed into the air while scattering the Status of a Transcendent.

At the end of his travel awaited the king of all Yoo Joonghyuks.

The oldest Yoo Joonghyuk in the universe.

He was Yoo Joonghyuk who broke past the 1863rd regression turn and witnessed his own Conclusion.

'■■'.

The end that came around to all living creatures just once.

The 999th regression turn was quite different from the others.

The majority of people would never understand what it meant for a single person to live a thousand lives. However, [999] did just that, and he knew that he'd get to live just as many lives in the future. And that was why, he…

⸢"…At least for this turn, I shall live for all of you."⸥

He sacrificed himself for his companions during the 999th turn.

⸢"Captain, just forget about me! I'm telling you, leave me behind and go!!"⸥

During the 38th scenario, he lost his left arm trying to rescue Lee Jihye.

⸢"Joonghyuk-ssi! No!! Joonghyuk-ssi!!"⸥

During the 55th scenario, he lost his right leg for Lee Hyunsung's sake.

⸢"But, but why did you, for someone like me…"⸥

And during the 74th scenario, he sacrificed both of his eyes to awaken Shin Yoosung.

⸢"It's because all of you also did that for me. That is all."⸥

Whether this was him trying to atone for his past lives, or an odd, unlikely whim resulting from the thousandth stab at life, he couldn't tell.

Except that, Yoo Joonghyuk of the 999th regression turn earnestly lived his life like that. For the first time ever, he gave up on the idea of wanting to see the 'Conclusion'. What he wished for instead, was…

⸢"I wish for all of you to see the end of this world."⸥

Didn't matter even if he didn't make it, he just wanted one person at the very least to see the end of this <Star Stream>.

Yoo Joonghyuk of the 999th turn sacrificed his memories and soul for that purpose. He didn't hesitate to form the 'Other World Pledge' if that allowed his companions to grow stronger.

And at the end of the road where he sacrificed his everything…

⸢"Captain, we're almost at the Final Scenario."⸥

A small miracle happened.

⸢"Just a little bit more, a bit more and we're there! Joonghyuk-ssi!!"⸥

He couldn't even walk with his own power anymore. He no longer possessed hands to swing a sword, he didn't have eyes to look at the world anymore, and couldn't use any of his skills after his bloodstreams all went haywire.

But as the reward for his sacrifice, his companions managed to get near the Final Scenario.

⸢"Please wake up! Please. Please!!"⸥

In the end, though, he didn't get to see the conclusion to all the scenarios. The 'Other World Pledge' had taken away his life on the verge of the Final Scenario, that was why.

The 'Secretive Plotter' stared at such [999] and spoke up. 【Yoo Joonghyuk from the 999th regression turn. I respect the life you led. Excluding me, you were the only one who managed to get near the 'Conclusion'.】

From the body of the 'Secretive Plotter', shouts directed at [999] coming from other Yoo Joonghyuks flooded out.

– Are you being serious?

– Do you really wish to fight the Great Plotter?

– You need to wake up, [999]!

"If you are really me, then you should know that you can't persuade me."

Perhaps he read something from such a [999], the Plotter's attitude suddenly changed.

Jet-black smoke rose up and began creating the outer skin of the 'Secretive Plotter'. A certain man's outer appearance slowly materialised within the smoke.

The loneliest king in this universe, the white coat-wearing Yoo Joonghyuk from the 1863rd turn now stood there.

*

At the end of those words, the 'Secretive Plotter' discarded the coat he was wearing. The white coat flew away with the wind and landed on the surface of Tongtian.

Pitch-black darkness seemed to wrap around his shoulders, and before long, a black coat was now covering him. It was the same coat that stayed with him through to the 1863rd turn.

The [Splitting the Sky Sword] in his hands began emitting ominous aura.

And at the same time, the figures of two Yoo Joonghyuks vanished in the air.

Kwa-kwakwakwakwakwa!!

Countless friction noises arising from two swords clashing alerted others to the unfolding fierce battle. The vicious collision of two Statuses caused sparks to explode endlessly and dyed the sky pure blue.

This sudden eruption of the violent clash prompted the eyes of the audience, focused on the Great Sage's struggles until then, to shift away.

That also included Yoo Joonghyuk, standing on the surface of Tongtian and looking up at the ferocious battle between the 999th turn and the 1863rd turn.

His clenched fists trembled as his muscles tightened. Both of them would prove to be a difficult opponent for the current him. If he continued to diligently acquire more 'lives', then he might have reached that lofty height.

Yoo Joonghyuk kept his eyes wide open and fixed his gaze. As if he wanted to absorb everything about [999] and the 'Secretive Plotter', he read their Stories over and over again.

The Story depicting the truly unfathomable hellish landscape – the 'Yoo Joonghyuk' who had walked half of that hellish nightmare, and another 'Yoo Joonghyuk' who had actually witnessed the end of that hell, were clashing against each other.

Two [Breaking the Sky Swordsmanship]'s drew long arcs in the air like shooting stars. One was from the [Splitting the Sky Sword], while the other was the [Black Heavenly Demon Sword]. Two swords burned brightly like a pair of supernovas.

During the 999th turn, Lee Jihye inherited his [Splitting the Sky Sword].

The 'Secretive Plotter' used the [Breaking the Sky Meteor Strike] (破天流星決), piercing through [999]'s entire body.

"…I'm sure that's the case. However."

For a moment there, the Plotter's eyes quaked.

It was 'Instant Kill'.

"At least, I can show you the history that I lived through."

It was Lee Jihye's technique.

The [Black Heavenly Demon Sword] was deflected away in the nick of time, but it now smoothly drew the arc belonging to [Kendo] next.

Tsu-chuchuchut!

The eyes of [999] now flickered with the lights of [Demon Slaying].

The life Lee Jihye lived during the 999th turn was now unfolding from [999]'s hands. The kick as sturdy as Lee Hyunsung's. The Claw Technique as ferocious as Lee Seolhwa's. Shin Yoosung's natural perceptiveness, and even Kim Namwoon's excellent battle sense, too.

Histories that [999] experienced through his body, began telling their stories now.

In this very moment, [999] wasn't alone.

Techniques from the companions he had saved were being recreated through his flesh.

And so, as Lee Seolhwa's [Thousand Spirits Poison] took aim at the Plotter's heart…

Just like always, [999] was left alone.

Confronted by the unfathomable life lived by one individual, the lives of his companions all crumbled away.

*

"You speak as if it's someone else's business, Great Plotter." [999] staggered unsteadily, yet he continued to speak. "We have failed. We failed to save a single one of our companions, and witnessed the end by ourselves. Was that really the end we wanted to see?"

"This universe is different."

The 'Secretive Plotter' spoke coldly as his figure moved.

"Great Plotter, you already understand this, don't you? Within that closed-off universe of the oh-so-great 'original storyline', it was impossible to see the story we wanted to. And that was why you…"

For the first time there, the 'Secretive Plotter' faltered slightly. But that lasted only for a moment.

He lightly wielded the [Splitting the Sky Sword] which pierced into [999]'s body.

The stabbing [Splitting the Sky Sword] began sucking out [999]'s memories. Their ego that had been split apart was now being reclaimed.

"Yoo Joonghyuk, take hold of the sword!"

A sorrowful voice reverberated throughout the Tongtian. And at the place where that voice reached stood Yoo Joonghyuk, who was neither [999] nor the Secretive Plotter.

He was looking up with a confused expression but then, looked back down to the two items resting on top of the debris floating on the river.

⸢"I wish to live."⸥

⸢"If I have a chance, just like the world that I saw…"⸥

Pain assaulted him in his head. Unknown memories brushed past his mind.

"You need to remember who you really are!"

As if he was under a spell, Yoo Joonghyuk grasped the [Black Heavenly Demon Sword]. It felt so natural in his hand, as if it had been his since a long time ago. And he picked the coat up from the debris as well. It was white, the colour he disliked.

– You are not the 3rd turn Yoo Joonghyuk.

That day, [999] told him that.

– Haven't you ever wondered why something felt off? Even if Kim Dokja was here, does you of the mere '3rd turn' developing this fast make sense to you?

As he fell deeper into this familiar sense of deja vu, he slowly put the white coat on. It fit him like a glove, as if he had worn it before.

– Do not try to bullshit me. I'm 3rd turn. I…

It'd be a lie if he had never thought about it at least once before.

Was he really the '3rd turn' Yoo Joonghyuk?

– …And even if I'm not the '3rd turn', all I can remember are the memories of up to the 3rd turn, anyway.

Yoo Joonghyuk slowly raised his head and looked up at the sky.

The slowly-vanishing [999] was looking back at him.

– Don't you have companions now?

The face that he had not seen once, even with a mirror.

– Companions, that remember your life far better than yourself?

The Plotter's [Splitting the Sky Sword] moved. The jet-black Status capable of rending even the universe itself took aim at him, and in that moment, Yoo Joonghyuk recalled someone.

And then…

As if a Sponsor had descended, the power of a familiar star incarnated into him.

⸢Let's go.⸥

And the story began.