After a brief moment of respite, the next segment of the story began and they were once again thrown back into the chaos of the sub scenario.
".. ja!"
Amidst the smoke and rubble scattered across the bridge, Dokja slowly manages to get to his knees, a hand on his head. His ears are ringing and his vision still isn't clear, but he's alive.
"Dok…! …you …kay?"
Remembering where he is, Dokja sees with widened eyes that the middle section of the bridge is gone, and he's on the wrong side. Myungoh and Sangah aren't too far away from him, and they're leaning on each other as they stumble over, calling his name.
'The bridge has collapsed,' he thinks, looking at where the bridge used to be with a grimace. 'I'd known something like this might happen, but I hadn't expected Myungoh and Sangah to survive. Gilyoung and Hyunsung made it to safety in one piece.'
A loud announcement cuts through the air. [Someone has received the blessing of a constellation.]
In a flash, the bridge is reconstructed by a shining golden light.
[The constellation's blessing has activated Deus Ex Machina in this scenario.]
The Deus Ex Machina, the bridge of even numbers, can only be crossed by an even number of people at a time, and will collapse if an odd number of people attempt to cross it.
Sangah stutters and frowns as she looks at Dokja helplessly. "Dokja, in my head… this thing… uh, suddenly…"
It was her constellation that used the Deus Ex Machina, a power that allowed them to directly intervene in the scenario at a great cost. Dokja is stunned by this revelation, knowing that even in the novel, this kind of direct intervention was rare.
Did Sangah's constellation sponsor intervene in order to save her?
[Several constellations are shocked.]
[The constellation 'Prisoner of the Golden Headband' is tearing out his hair in excitement.]
Even now, four scenarios in, seeing the Deus Ex Machina was a huge surprise. Yoo Sangah looked somewhat flustered and embarrassed at the attention, her face going red. She was lucky—her sponsor must really care about her.
"So that's how that happened," Yoo Joonghyuk muttered under his breath, shooting Yoo Sangah a suspicious glance, which Kim Dokja immediately noticed. Did he know something about her that Kim Dokja didn't? Had he used [Eye of the Sage] to see her attributes page?
'What kind of constellation could be supporting her?' He wonders as he attempts to activate his character profile skill; however, it fails.
[This person's profile cannot be browsed using 'Character Profile'.]
[This character does not have a registered 'Character Profile'.]
Frantically, he wonders why he can't see her profile with his skill—maybe her constellation is blocking it, or perhaps she has a mental barrier skill? It doesn't seem likely, but he's thrown out of his thoughts when Sangah yells his name again.
"Dokja! Behind you!"
He turns just in time to see a fist flying at his face. Barely managing to throw himself out of the way, Dokja sees the zombie that attacked him rush past. This isn't the time to be lost in thought. Quickly, he manages to categorize his opponent using his knowledge of TWSA.
Tier 9 Humanoid Demon
A mutant species infected by the black ether. Once normal humans, humanoid demons are no different from zombies, but they can be quite dangerous if their host happens to be someone who was powerful.
Unfortunately, this humanoid demon happens to be in the vessel of the 'Delusional Demon' himself, of all people. Namwoon's eyes glow as he snarls, covered in blood, and launches himself towards Dokja again.
[The exclusive skill 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint' has activated.]
Unfortunately, it also fails.
[This character does not possess a consciousness. Deactivated 'Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint'.]
"Be careful, ahjussi," Lee Jihye said, once again paying more attention to the segment playing on screen than the real, breathing Kim Dokja sitting near her.
Well, in her defense, she hadn't met him until a while later, so she wouldn't have any way of knowing if he had been injured at this point.
Han Sooyoung shot him a quick glance. "That's a sucky drawback for a skill to have."
Sure, [Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint] was still a very strong skill in its own right, but it definitely had its limits. Kim Dokja just shrugged. He worked with what he had.
Shin Yoosung seemed to be more nervous, especially after he had barely escaped his first fight with Namwoon relatively unscathed. Gently, he patted her back.
'Damn it,' Dokja swears to himself as he brings his arms up to block a powerful strike aimed at his face. 'I had a feeling it wouldn't work!'
Their only option is to get across the bridge of even numbers, but there are three survivors still on this side of the bridge. One of them has to stay behind and die.
Frantically, Dokja glances over his shoulder and calls out to Sangah. "Sangah, get—"
To his shock, Myungoh has already picked her up and tossed her over his shoulder like she's a sack of potatoes. She's kicking and struggling and trying to get him to let her go, but he has an iron grip around her legs.
"Let go of me! Let go!" She screams. "Dokja! Dokja!"
Myungoh doesn't even look sorry when he takes off running, just afraid. One of his legs drags behind him, but somehow he's as fast as a professional sprinter. Horrified and pissed off, Dokja comes to the realization that the manager is leaving him behind.
[The constellation 'Secretive Plotter' is impressed by your foolishness.]
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is touched by your selflessness.]
[You have been gifted 100 coins.]
Yoo Sangah buried her face in her hands. "Dokja-ssi, I am so sorry."
"Why are you apologizing?" Jung Heewon asked her with an odd look on her face. "The asshole basically just kidnapped you."
He really didn't blame her for that at all. "Sangah-ssi, it's okay, I promise."
[The constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' laughs at the misfortune of incarnation 'Kim Dokja'.]
Lee Hyunsung practically drooped. "I would have come back for all of you if I could, but…"
They all knew there was nothing more that could have been done. They had all survived, in varying degrees of health, and that was all they could have asked for.
Frantically, Dokja tries to activate his character profile skill on Myungoh, but just like with Sangah, his profile can't be browsed.
Dokja grimaces. 'If I'm not mistaken, that stigma, 'One-legged Swift Foot', belongs to the constellation Limping Trickster.'
That constellation does not bestow its incarnations with the mental barrier stigma, and since there's no way Han Myungoh could have that kind of skill, the reason my skill didn't work on Sangah and Myungoh was that…
Dokja laughs to himself. How stupid of him, he should have realized this earlier.
It's because they're not characters that appear in TWSA.
Yoo Joonghyuk's eyes narrowed, likely realizing that he could see the stats of some people who Kim Dokja couldn't through his [Eye of the Sage]. Still, as annoying as this downside was, at the very least it allowed Kim Dokja to separate 'characters' from 'non-characters' very easily.
Briefly, Kim Dokja considered trying to negotiate with the regressor to share information once they got out of here. He knew that his [Character Profile] likely provided him with more detailed information, so there could potentially be some benefit to trading what they knew.
"I just want to know," Jung Heewon cut in, glancing around at the group, "how many of us are not 'characters'?"
Some members of the group seemed anxious at her question, but he could tell by their eyes that they still wanted to find out, deep down.
"I can tell you right now, I'm not a character," Han Sooyoung replied quickly. She didn't even glance at Kim Dokja for confirmation, confident in her answer.
She was right, of course, but considering what had happened to the other prophets once they had reached the end of their future knowledge… would that be true forever?
The others all looked at Kim Dokja curiously, since Han Sooyoung didn't want to say anything else. He sighed.
"Out of our group, it's just me, Sangah-ssi, and Gilyoungie."
Jung Heewon had a confused frown on her face, likely remembering their conversation in the theatre dungeon about how he didn't know her future. She had probably assumed that it meant she wasn't a character either, unfortunately. Lee Jihye shifted uncomfortably, but still tried shooting Kim Dokja a weak smile. Shin Yoosung's grip faltered slightly, but it was clear that she wasn't sure if she should be counting herself in their group or not, for the purposes of his answer.
Lee Gilyoung just smiled and held onto him tighter, though. "That just means that hyung still saved me even though you didn't know anything about me."
Well, yes, but—
[Many constellations are concerned.]
Well, considering they were also characters of TWSA, maybe they had a reason to be.
[The eyes of the constellation 'Secretive Plotter' glint curiously.]
Well, except for maybe this one. Kim Dokja wracked his brain and nearly encyclopedic memory of all things TWSA, but he still couldn't remember a single mention of a character named Secretive Plotter. He'd even gone back through and double checked the text file once or twice to be sure.
His brow furrowed as he scrutinized the indirect message. He had other theories, of course, but now he couldn't get the nagging thought out of his mind.
Could it be possible that this constellation also, somehow, wasn't a character?
His thoughts are cut off by Namwoon roaring at him, veins protruding from his skin. Many other humanoid demons rush forward alongside him, trying to overwhelm Dokja with numbers, and Dokja finds himself struggling to keep up. He thinks frantically even as he punches, kicks, and trips his foes, knowing that he can't cross the bridge alone. Would grabbing a demon to cross with him work? No, probably not. There are only fifteen minutes left until the end of the scenario, and the pressure is on.
[Wow, you're doing pretty well,] the dokkaebi calls, amused. [Okay! Is there any constellation who wishes to bless this poor incarnation?]
He waits a moment, eyes glimmering as Dokja fights desperately against the overwhelming horde of humanoid demons still approaching him.
[Oh my, nobody? How unfortunate.]
Sangah and Myungoh have reached Oksu station and reunited with Gilyoung and Hyunsung, at least.
Dokja knows that his body can't handle much more of this fight. His back is against the wall—metaphorically, at least. In reality, he's pushed up against the edge of the bridge, with only a drop and a monster-filled river behind him.
'I might actually die this time,' he thinks. 'Damn it, if only I had just one combat skill, it wouldn't be this hard.'
As if summoned, a blue glow appears above his head in the shape of a book.
[The exclusive skill 'Bookmark' has activated.]
Huh? Bookmark?
"Your skills really went all in on the literature theme, didn't they?" Han Sooyoung remarked with an amused glance in Kim Dokja's direction.
That was true, but it wasn't like he had a choice in the matter. Still, it fit him really well, so he wasn't complaining either.
The pages of the holographic book flutter as it opens, and several screens appear in front of Dokja in quick succession.
[Activating 'Character Bookmarks'.]
[Available Bookmark slots: 3]
[Loading the list of Bookmarks that can be activated.]
Finally, the skill finishes loading.
[]
Delusional Demon Kim Namwoon (understanding 25)
Steel Blade Lee Hyunsung (understanding 35)
Empty slot
I've read over 3000 episodes of TWSA, but I've never read about this skill anywhere. I still understood instinctively how it worked.
"Activate bookmark number one."
As the enemies approach, the pages flutter once more and Dokja's head is filled with scenes of his interactions with Namwoon.
[Activating Bookmark number one.]
[The activation time has been shortened due to the low level of the 'Bookmark' skill. Activation time: 1 minute]
Instantly, an ominous purple aura surrounds Dokja, exactly like the one Namwoon had in the subway.
[Your understanding of the character is low, so the character's skills were only partially activated.]
[Activating 'Grimdark Awakening lvl. 1'.]
Flicking out the knife he filched from Namwoon's corpse, Dokja readies himself to fight against its reanimation. Behind him, a hologram of Namwoon appears in the purple aura, and it's almost like Dokja's body is being puppeted by his recreation. Without hesitation, Dokja steps forward and slices into the humanoid demon's neck with one, smooth movement.
Namwoon's body groans as it falls back to the ground, somehow managing to form words.
"I… don't… want to die…"
Dokja just watches on with a stern expression, eyes cold.
[Your understanding of the character 'Kim Namwoon' has increased.]
[Deactivated Bookmark number one.]
Lee Jihye frowned slightly before glancing at the others. "Is it weird that I feel kinda bad for him even though he was a bit of a psycho?"
If the Kim Namwoon of TWSA had heard her say that, he probably would have lost his mind. The only thing almost as legendary as his chuuni tendencies was his eternal unrequited crush on Lee Jihye that somehow persisted throughout every single regression. Honestly, it was probably the most consistent thing in the novel other than Yoo Joonghyuk's sunfishiness.
Jung Heewon sighed briefly. "I don't think so; in the end, he just wanted to live as much as the rest of us, even if he made bad decisions before that."
[The constellation 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon' says that the decisions were great.]
Yeah, of course he'd think so.
Lee Hyunsung nodded in agreement with Jung Heewon, but then looked over at Kim Dokja. "Dokja-ssi, your skill is really interesting. It lets you copy other people's skills, right?"
"That's right," Kim Dokja confirmed, hoping that the man wouldn't take it too badly.
[Several constellations wonder about the probability of the 'Bookmark' skill.]
Lee Hyunsung looked thoughtful. "Have you ever used mine?"
"Yes," Kim Dokja admitted, allowing a small smile to cross his face, "and it probably saved my life. Thank you, Hyunsung-ssi."
Lee Hyunsung's smile grew then, like he was relieved to know that he was still able to protect others, even if he wasn't physically there.
There are ten minutes left of the scenario, and Dokja watches all the other enemies with a resigned smile on his face. He's exhausted already, but his heart speeds up in anticipation.
"He's late," Dokja says to himself in frustrated amusement, "but he should be showing up any moment now."
Further down the bridge, there's another explosion that throws the humanoid demons in the vicinity into the air. They turn their attention away from the easy prey, necks cracking and groans escaping their atrophied throats, wanting to attack the more interesting target.
A mysterious man strides through the crowd with confidence, enemies falling easily at his feet. Upon seeing him, a shaky grin makes its way onto Dokja's face.
"There he is."
And so, the protagonist himself enters the stage.
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is screaming.]
"Oppa, you look really cool," Yoo Mia whispered to her brother, grinning at him. "All the monsters are dying so easily."
Well, what did she expect? It was Yoo Joonghyuk himself, after all.
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is excited for the meeting between the fated companions.]
The fated what now?
[The constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is greatly anticipating the reaction of incarnation 'Kim Dokja' to incarnation 'Yoo Joonghyuk'.]
[The constellation 'Lily Blooming in Aquarius' is pleading for constellation 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' to stop screaming.]
What the heck was even happening in Eden?