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[ the solar seems like the hot hangout place today, apparently!
xie lian has been exploring a bit on his own, but he pokes his head into the solar looking for something, and finds kim dokja, instead! san lang, a ferret on his shoulder, hops off rather suddenly and goes trotting over to see if he's reading a book or anything. how very nosy. ]
Oh - San Lang ah! [ xie lian's voice comes a second later, hurrying after his energetic daemon. ] Sorry, sorry...
xie lian has been exploring a bit on his own, but he pokes his head into the solar looking for something, and finds kim dokja, instead! san lang, a ferret on his shoulder, hops off rather suddenly and goes trotting over to see if he's reading a book or anything. how very nosy. ]
Oh - San Lang ah! [ xie lian's voice comes a second later, hurrying after his energetic daemon. ] Sorry, sorry...
[ San Lang will indeed find Kim Dokja reading! A book in his hand that he's mostly focused on, and the only indication he notices the little ferret coming their way is when a certain black hognose snake peeks from around Dokja's neck and flicks her tongue in the other daemon's direction.
However, the reader peeks afterwards at their new company and offers a polite smile. ] Hello, Xie Lian. It's alright. Doing some more exploring today?
However, the reader peeks afterwards at their new company and offers a polite smile. ] Hello, Xie Lian. It's alright. Doing some more exploring today?
I am, yes! San Lang. [ this little scold is clearly not meant too much; his daemon chitters and clambers up xie lian's arm again as he bows his head in greeting. ] I keep finding myself drawn back to this place, though.
May I ask what you're reading...?
May I ask what you're reading...?
When one is in a search for knowledge... [ Well, books are normally the first place they would look, right? Jin starts to slither down along his arm, coiling around his hand as if to inspect the book herself. ]
Nothing so far. [ With a turn of the book, it's got some ??? language going despite the clear fine text. ] I've been looking through the books here to see if there's something I can understand but. No luck so far.
[ There is a few books on the table nearest, showing he's gone through a few as he claims. He passes Xie Lian another look until he moves to set the book down. Jin takes that opportunity to slither onto the table and settle herself on the pile of books. ] Find anything interesting yourself?
Nothing so far. [ With a turn of the book, it's got some ??? language going despite the clear fine text. ] I've been looking through the books here to see if there's something I can understand but. No luck so far.
[ There is a few books on the table nearest, showing he's gone through a few as he claims. He passes Xie Lian another look until he moves to set the book down. Jin takes that opportunity to slither onto the table and settle herself on the pile of books. ] Find anything interesting yourself?
[ oh, interesting. he looks at the unreadable book cover for a moment, and then goes to the shelves, letting san lang hop off of his shoulder again and sit on the table to look at the books that kim dokja pulled out - after a moment, he returns with a different one. the inside of the book has that same ??? language, but, there is a clearly readable title - "KRANKAZ" ]
Only this, when I explored this place a bit earlier with Miss Susato. I thought it was odd, since the inside was much like the ones you have, but... [ the title!! he gestures. ] I'm not sure what a 'krankaz' is, but I suppose if it's readable, it must be at least a little relevant. Any ideas...?
Only this, when I explored this place a bit earlier with Miss Susato. I thought it was odd, since the inside was much like the ones you have, but... [ the title!! he gestures. ] I'm not sure what a 'krankaz' is, but I suppose if it's readable, it must be at least a little relevant. Any ideas...?
Oh. [ Well, he definitely has his undivided attention. Perking with interest and leaning over to look at the title more. For what reason would this be readable, whereas everything else is not? Hmmm, he crosses his arms, head tilting with thought. Even Jin seems to be concentrating pretty hard on the book. ]
It could possibly be the name of the city. If you want to make something readable by all, it would likely be a name to call this place, wouldn't you think so?
It could possibly be the name of the city. If you want to make something readable by all, it would likely be a name to call this place, wouldn't you think so?
Krankaz...
[ he repeats the name, nodding along - xie lian is happy to offer him the book if he wants it, holding it out to be read. ]
A theory that makes sense. ...it is strange, isn't it, though - do you think perhaps whoever is above the Watchers is the one casting whatever illusion that appears on the text? [ and that, really, makes sense too.
kind of. xie lian's nose wrinkles. ] ...what is the point of that, though? Are we not supposed to learn about these places that we inhabit? [ this is not very justice of you, unknown omnipotent being! ] I suppose by exploration, but even then, I should like to know how their civilization was before it sank, not just after...
[ he repeats the name, nodding along - xie lian is happy to offer him the book if he wants it, holding it out to be read. ]
A theory that makes sense. ...it is strange, isn't it, though - do you think perhaps whoever is above the Watchers is the one casting whatever illusion that appears on the text? [ and that, really, makes sense too.
kind of. xie lian's nose wrinkles. ] ...what is the point of that, though? Are we not supposed to learn about these places that we inhabit? [ this is not very justice of you, unknown omnipotent being! ] I suppose by exploration, but even then, I should like to know how their civilization was before it sank, not just after...
[ And take it he shall! And as Xie Lian says, it's full of ??? language, but the title is definitely readable. ]
It's a possibility. Given they're fully capable of hiding evidence, a body, and any obvious destruction from us- I wouldn't say it is impossible for the one in charge to be hiding information from us for now. Can't have us learning things too quickly, right?
[ Gingerly, he closes the book and sets it back. ] Hmmm, they probably have some kind of plan for us. Maybe the kind of information we'd find in the text would distract us from what we need to know? I'm sure the Watchers would let us know if they both had an idea and were capable of speaking it. [ Maybe. ]
It's a possibility. Given they're fully capable of hiding evidence, a body, and any obvious destruction from us- I wouldn't say it is impossible for the one in charge to be hiding information from us for now. Can't have us learning things too quickly, right?
[ Gingerly, he closes the book and sets it back. ] Hmmm, they probably have some kind of plan for us. Maybe the kind of information we'd find in the text would distract us from what we need to know? I'm sure the Watchers would let us know if they both had an idea and were capable of speaking it. [ Maybe. ]
Mm. I suppose so...
[ it does make sense, at least!!! but also. xie lian does not like it!!!! ] And they do want the Watchers to be hiding who they really are from us, too.
...I suppose I don't understand why, though. Are we not supposed to be helping with some sort of conflict? Wouldn't it be good, for us to learn as much about these places and how they're connected as possible? I do think you're right, but... how frustrating.
[ how is he supposed to live laugh love in these conditions ]
[ it does make sense, at least!!! but also. xie lian does not like it!!!! ] And they do want the Watchers to be hiding who they really are from us, too.
...I suppose I don't understand why, though. Are we not supposed to be helping with some sort of conflict? Wouldn't it be good, for us to learn as much about these places and how they're connected as possible? I do think you're right, but... how frustrating.
[ how is he supposed to live laugh love in these conditions ]
Let's see...
[ Dokja takes a moment to consider his words, closing his eyes and when he speaks again it's with thought. ]
What if the conflict involves these places? There could be a deeper underlying meaning to them, that we can only get from exploring. A story that isn't very obvious to the eye. Sometimes, you just have to keep reading to get an answer.
If we were just handed everything on the platter... it wouldn't make for a good story.
[ ... ]
Of course, I don't know what's exactly going through the one in charge's head, so in the end it could just be how they want to play the game. It wouldn't be the first time I came across higher beings that seek the life of others for their entertainment.
[ Dokja takes a moment to consider his words, closing his eyes and when he speaks again it's with thought. ]
What if the conflict involves these places? There could be a deeper underlying meaning to them, that we can only get from exploring. A story that isn't very obvious to the eye. Sometimes, you just have to keep reading to get an answer.
If we were just handed everything on the platter... it wouldn't make for a good story.
[ ... ]
Of course, I don't know what's exactly going through the one in charge's head, so in the end it could just be how they want to play the game. It wouldn't be the first time I came across higher beings that seek the life of others for their entertainment.
[ it's time for memshare shenanigans! in which, we'll dive quickly into because Dokja catches sight of Xie Lian just as he steps on a glass shard, enlightening him to one particular memory... | and a song for your music needs. ]
- - - - -
[ When you awake to your senses, it's filled with nothing but pain. Your body has been torn apart again and again- enough to cause your mind to break down. Despite this shock, your body was still alive. Your party members were shocked by your miserable appearance but they shouldn't stop. It is not meant to be for you to live. You stare at your loyal and dependable companions, exhausted and tired. Forced to fight you despite not wanting to, pressured to by your words and encouragement. Each of them filled with despair, that they would have to strike you down just to live. However, it had to be this way. If not you- then who else? It was better that it was you that was in this position. ]
Con... tinue.
[ If they didn't do it now, there wouldn’t be another chance.
[A few constellations have noticed your sacrifice.]
[Many constellations are amazed by your will.]
However, if there was one person you could rely on to finish the job, it was him.
"Kim Dokja." Yoo Jonghyuk had risen from the stone wall and was watching you.
You almost laugh at the expression he makes. He can't change what has already happened, and he knows that. Because it's Yoo Joonghyuk, he has already accepted that he would have to kill you. That's what you think even as you can see that he believes it should be him in this spot and not you.
When Yoo Joonghyuk rushes to you, every hit with his blade against your body makes you feel weaker and weaker. He doesn't say anything but his despair is conveyed every time the blade cuts you. You know this isn't enough. You know it and he knows it. You usher him to use the proper blade- he hesitates with a response, gaze hard as he stares at you.
"...If I use this, you can't b̶̗̬̹̲̌̓́̿̈́́́̆é̵̢̢̢͔̰͎̖̬̰͉̺̳̦͚̈́͆̍̽͑͠ ̶̳̂̉̇͗͑r̶̥̤̠̜͎̜̦̳̉͐̀̐̏̽̒̇̑̊̂͋̾͘̚͜e̷̢̧̯̫͖̟̜͍̮̙͔̺͛͗͒̔̃̋̎́͝ͅs̶̨̞̙̲͎̙̻̞̠̘̾͆͒̌̋̚̚̕ṵ̵͚̺̞̝̟̠͎̳͍͎̊͜r̶̨͓͕͊̂̉͛̌r̵̺͖̄̔͛̆̊̇͌̔̐͋͌̓̂͝ę̴̳͇̹̻̼̰̏̏̽̌̽̒͜ͅc̵̜̾̚ţ̷̠̭̜̱̉̔̑̎͝ẹ̵̅̾͂̃͋̈́͛͒͋͑͗͝͠͝d̶̮̅͐̀͂̾͘."
Yoo Joonghyuk thinks too much and you know this. You know he's worried about the scenario being ruined, however now was the time to use that blade. It had to be done if they hoped to win. Text appears on the screen beside you in that moment.
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ feels despair.]
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is sighing deeply.]
[The constellation ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’ is holding her breath.]
Yes... you're aware that by that blade, all of your chances of coming back may be gone. This could be your final farewell.
The party members were running. They cried, screamed or were filled with deep anger. Everyone was coming towards you. Your vision gradually diminishes and all the characters became the landscape. You saw them and laughed.
「 Incarnation Kim Dokja will be killed by the person he loves most. 」
You had forgotten. All prophecies couldn't be interpreted literally. In this Star Stream, people were stories.
[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is looking at you.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is looking at you.]
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is looking at you.]
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ is looking at you.]
[The constellation ‘Maritime War God’ is looking at you.]
As the gazes of countless stars in the sky poured towards you, a story was running towards you. Parents, friends and lovers were all stories. This wasn’t the Ways of Survival you knew but— It was a story more wonderful than Ways of Survival.
[A constellation of a small planet is looking at you.]
[All the constellations on the Korean Peninsula are looking at you.]
It was your story. You laughed as Yoo Jonghyuk's sword pierced your heart.
[ Your fate has been realized. ]
Your body slowly sinks down and you can feel Yoo Jonghyuk hold onto you. “Kim Dokja.” You choke a bit on blood, spilling from your lips as your peer at the man with a smile. ]
It was a really great story. İ̵̧̢̢̧̠̟̜̰̯͇̈́̆̓͑͐s̸̖̬̐̾͌̂̒̚n̵̢̨̡̯̝̭̯̲̳͛̀̓̓̍̎̓͘̚͜'̷̡̫̝͇̖̎͗̀ţ̴̧̭̙̮̬̣̺̰̤͙͐̀̂̊͌̾̉̓̇̌͜͝͝͝ ̸̛̘͉̻͍̬͌̓̾̊̅͛̇t̷̡̛̗̦̲̝͍̝̲͙͉̼̖̯̻̱̒̍̓͂̔̄̏́͗͘͠h̴̨̘̆͜a̷̛̦̹͇̻͎̞̺̪̥̾̾́̊́̀͑͂̂͝ṫ̷͉͐̃ ̵̘̿̀̀̄̓͒̍͜ṟ̶͍̼̲͎̳̞̈̇̈̒̉̾̄̅̍͐̿̈́̑̉͝į̴̮̗̜̠̥͓͈͒̊́͌̚͝͝͝g̷̢̣̘͔͈͙͚̖̬͈͋̓̌̾͐͊͐͐͑͝ͅḧ̸̨̨̛̺̙̙̳̼̤̣͕̣̝̲́̽̏̋͒̐͜͝t̸̨̛̠͖̞̲̺̩̦͔̖͙͉̞̝͈̊̂̎̈̒̀̈́͒͒͐͊͠?̷͉̬̲̬͎̇̎͂̀͊̓͠
[ Yoo Jonghyuk stares down at you silently. You couldn’t find any words and just watched. It was as if you had always been meant to do this. That's what you believe.
[The effect of the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds has destroyed all remaining extra lives.]
[You can no longer resurrect.]
You finally look up at the sky. The clusters of nebulae were in the center of the night sky. Vedas, Olympus, Papyrus... You would never forget what they had done. Then the sky blinked.
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ doesn’t wish for your death.]
The stars shone brightly as if in response to your will.
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ doesn’t wish for your death.]
[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ doesn’t wish for your death.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ doesn’t wish for your death.]
You look at the sky and laugh. Due to these guys, you hated the constellations but you couldn't hate the story. ]
Let’s meet again, Ȳ̶̪̟̣̹̱͉̩̻̬̾̉͜͝ͅò̶̧͚̺͎̤̮͓͉͈̳̈́̉̌͐̆͑̔͋͋͐̅̈́̕͜ô̵̱͕͈͇̗͔̬̭̤̯̿͠ ̶̯͈̩͎̗̪̇͗͝J̸̛͎̼͓̟̘͊͌͋̅̌̀̓ǫ̵̡̖̽͒̒͑͛̾̕͝ơ̷̡̢̪͍̭̲̠̹͔̜̈́̇̀̃̽̍̇̕n̸̨̡̢̗͍̘̺̪̳̭͕̖͚̘̏ģ̷̡͕̟̟͇̹̠̻̝͂̓͊̅́̀͆̏̈́̀͠͝h̶̨͔̻͈̮̤̰̰̱̹̖̘͎̮͙̅̓̈͗̑̉̄͌̎̍̿͛͆͒͠ỳ̶̼̬̮̹́̓͒̋̒̊̀̕͜ͅu̴̧͕͈̬̭̤̩̿͆́̚͜k̵͎͚͙̙̙̯̮̝͙̭̜̣̱̟̾̅̍̊̐͆̂̄̀̏̐̉̈̕̚͜.̵̧̘̼͖̘͖̖͙̍̇̾̾̈́̚
[ The power of the demon king disappeared and at the same time, strength drained from you. A small black hole appeared in the air behind you. Your body was slowly being sucked into it. Your legs, your torso, your arms... it's a strange sensation as they turned into powder and were slowly being sucked in.
"̸̢̧͎̭͚̞̥̲̗̻̮̎̀̈́̓͋̓͌́͘̚ͅK̶̢̡̢̨͈͕͔͖̘̲͉̱̏͂̈̓̑ȋ̷̢̺͉͎͇͈̖̜̱̗̺͒̕m̷̧͔̯̮̅̊̿̅͆͗ ̴̢̡̧̨̹̗̖̥̘͙̟͇͌͑̓̎̔̃̓̆͒̈͂̄͐͌̎ͅD̷̨̛̻̱̲̼͈̺̤̬̞͚̘͋͝o̷̡̬͇̲̬͙̲̼̹͉̘͋͗̊̆̿͒̀͊͗̅̂͘͜͝ķ̸̧̭̼̪̭̘͔̥̣̩̰͕̪͈̍͛̀̾̾̔̍̈̿j̴̟̤̞̞̘̻̄̍̏̓̾͗͑́́̇̆̕á̵̢̡̛͙̞͈͚̬̪̣͑͊̓̌͛̽͐͗̓͠!̷̡̻͖̬̖̰̻͓̭͎̲̠̬̳̉͗̈́̔̊̿͐̌͗̈́͜ ̸̜̥̖̻͎́̅̔̓̌̈́̃̊̈͂̊̚͝N̶̻̖͉̞͔̮̭͖͉̘̜͙̖̯͌̓̒̀ȯ̸͎̗̝̳̳͗̓̿̆͐̏̉̔̐̇̃͜͜!̴̠͓̤̘̹́̈́̆̀͘͠ ̶̡̤̖͎̔̉͐͐̃́̓̈͒̋̕̚Ḱ̷͔̰́̒̌̌̕ì̷̢̢͉̳̯̠̯̱͙̍̓̒̊̈̚͜͜͝m̴̻̥̎̄͛̄̌́̍̋̅͊͛̓͘͠ ̴͓̯̀͜Ḑ̷̦̖͙̝͖̃̏o̴̯͓̫̙͍͇̗̣͛͘ͅk̷̛̼̼͕̿̇̅͑̉̉̅̐̓̚͠͝j̴̧̧̛͈̭̹͔̯͙͖̘͖́̆͗͛̾̂̀̓̾̾͝a̸̡͚͈͖͖͕̲̯͓̜̫̲̞̮̔̂́̿̅̉́̃̒͒̑̓̅!̵̡̛̱̦̫̳͗̈̓̀̆̃͘͜ͅ"̴̧̛͚͉̪̫̼̳͎̗̤̈́͊̒͘͠
At the last moment, he tightly held you by the neck. However, it was already too late.
Your vision turns black and you are sucked into an empty void. ]
- - - - -
[ When you awake to your senses, it's filled with nothing but pain. Your body has been torn apart again and again- enough to cause your mind to break down. Despite this shock, your body was still alive. Your party members were shocked by your miserable appearance but they shouldn't stop. It is not meant to be for you to live. You stare at your loyal and dependable companions, exhausted and tired. Forced to fight you despite not wanting to, pressured to by your words and encouragement. Each of them filled with despair, that they would have to strike you down just to live. However, it had to be this way. If not you- then who else? It was better that it was you that was in this position. ]
Con... tinue.
[ If they didn't do it now, there wouldn’t be another chance.
[A few constellations have noticed your sacrifice.]
[Many constellations are amazed by your will.]
However, if there was one person you could rely on to finish the job, it was him.
"Kim Dokja." Yoo Jonghyuk had risen from the stone wall and was watching you.
You almost laugh at the expression he makes. He can't change what has already happened, and he knows that. Because it's Yoo Joonghyuk, he has already accepted that he would have to kill you. That's what you think even as you can see that he believes it should be him in this spot and not you.
When Yoo Joonghyuk rushes to you, every hit with his blade against your body makes you feel weaker and weaker. He doesn't say anything but his despair is conveyed every time the blade cuts you. You know this isn't enough. You know it and he knows it. You usher him to use the proper blade- he hesitates with a response, gaze hard as he stares at you.
"...If I use this, you can't b̶̗̬̹̲̌̓́̿̈́́́̆é̵̢̢̢͔̰͎̖̬̰͉̺̳̦͚̈́͆̍̽͑͠ ̶̳̂̉̇͗͑r̶̥̤̠̜͎̜̦̳̉͐̀̐̏̽̒̇̑̊̂͋̾͘̚͜e̷̢̧̯̫͖̟̜͍̮̙͔̺͛͗͒̔̃̋̎́͝ͅs̶̨̞̙̲͎̙̻̞̠̘̾͆͒̌̋̚̚̕ṵ̵͚̺̞̝̟̠͎̳͍͎̊͜r̶̨͓͕͊̂̉͛̌r̵̺͖̄̔͛̆̊̇͌̔̐͋͌̓̂͝ę̴̳͇̹̻̼̰̏̏̽̌̽̒͜ͅc̵̜̾̚ţ̷̠̭̜̱̉̔̑̎͝ẹ̵̅̾͂̃͋̈́͛͒͋͑͗͝͠͝d̶̮̅͐̀͂̾͘."
Yoo Joonghyuk thinks too much and you know this. You know he's worried about the scenario being ruined, however now was the time to use that blade. It had to be done if they hoped to win. Text appears on the screen beside you in that moment.
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ feels despair.]
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is sighing deeply.]
[The constellation ‘Queen of the Darkest Spring’ is holding her breath.]
Yes... you're aware that by that blade, all of your chances of coming back may be gone. This could be your final farewell.
The party members were running. They cried, screamed or were filled with deep anger. Everyone was coming towards you. Your vision gradually diminishes and all the characters became the landscape. You saw them and laughed.
You had forgotten. All prophecies couldn't be interpreted literally. In this Star Stream, people were stories.
[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ is looking at you.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ is looking at you.]
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ is looking at you.]
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ is looking at you.]
[The constellation ‘Maritime War God’ is looking at you.]
As the gazes of countless stars in the sky poured towards you, a story was running towards you. Parents, friends and lovers were all stories. This wasn’t the Ways of Survival you knew but— It was a story more wonderful than Ways of Survival.
[A constellation of a small planet is looking at you.]
[All the constellations on the Korean Peninsula are looking at you.]
It was your story. You laughed as Yoo Jonghyuk's sword pierced your heart.
Your body slowly sinks down and you can feel Yoo Jonghyuk hold onto you. “Kim Dokja.” You choke a bit on blood, spilling from your lips as your peer at the man with a smile. ]
It was a really great story. İ̵̧̢̢̧̠̟̜̰̯͇̈́̆̓͑͐s̸̖̬̐̾͌̂̒̚n̵̢̨̡̯̝̭̯̲̳͛̀̓̓̍̎̓͘̚͜'̷̡̫̝͇̖̎͗̀ţ̴̧̭̙̮̬̣̺̰̤͙͐̀̂̊͌̾̉̓̇̌͜͝͝͝ ̸̛̘͉̻͍̬͌̓̾̊̅͛̇t̷̡̛̗̦̲̝͍̝̲͙͉̼̖̯̻̱̒̍̓͂̔̄̏́͗͘͠h̴̨̘̆͜a̷̛̦̹͇̻͎̞̺̪̥̾̾́̊́̀͑͂̂͝ṫ̷͉͐̃ ̵̘̿̀̀̄̓͒̍͜ṟ̶͍̼̲͎̳̞̈̇̈̒̉̾̄̅̍͐̿̈́̑̉͝į̴̮̗̜̠̥͓͈͒̊́͌̚͝͝͝g̷̢̣̘͔͈͙͚̖̬͈͋̓̌̾͐͊͐͐͑͝ͅḧ̸̨̨̛̺̙̙̳̼̤̣͕̣̝̲́̽̏̋͒̐͜͝t̸̨̛̠͖̞̲̺̩̦͔̖͙͉̞̝͈̊̂̎̈̒̀̈́͒͒͐͊͠?̷͉̬̲̬͎̇̎͂̀͊̓͠
[ Yoo Jonghyuk stares down at you silently. You couldn’t find any words and just watched. It was as if you had always been meant to do this. That's what you believe.
[The effect of the Heavenly Sword of Gathering Clouds has destroyed all remaining extra lives.]
[You can no longer resurrect.]
You finally look up at the sky. The clusters of nebulae were in the center of the night sky. Vedas, Olympus, Papyrus... You would never forget what they had done. Then the sky blinked.
[The constellation ‘Prisoner of the Golden Headband’ doesn’t wish for your death.]
The stars shone brightly as if in response to your will.
[The constellation ‘Abyssal Black Flame Dragon’ doesn’t wish for your death.]
[The constellation ‘Secretive Plotter’ doesn’t wish for your death.]
[The constellation ‘Demon-like Judge of Fire’ doesn’t wish for your death.]
You look at the sky and laugh. Due to these guys, you hated the constellations but you couldn't hate the story. ]
Let’s meet again, Ȳ̶̪̟̣̹̱͉̩̻̬̾̉͜͝ͅò̶̧͚̺͎̤̮͓͉͈̳̈́̉̌͐̆͑̔͋͋͐̅̈́̕͜ô̵̱͕͈͇̗͔̬̭̤̯̿͠ ̶̯͈̩͎̗̪̇͗͝J̸̛͎̼͓̟̘͊͌͋̅̌̀̓ǫ̵̡̖̽͒̒͑͛̾̕͝ơ̷̡̢̪͍̭̲̠̹͔̜̈́̇̀̃̽̍̇̕n̸̨̡̢̗͍̘̺̪̳̭͕̖͚̘̏ģ̷̡͕̟̟͇̹̠̻̝͂̓͊̅́̀͆̏̈́̀͠͝h̶̨͔̻͈̮̤̰̰̱̹̖̘͎̮͙̅̓̈͗̑̉̄͌̎̍̿͛͆͒͠ỳ̶̼̬̮̹́̓͒̋̒̊̀̕͜ͅu̴̧͕͈̬̭̤̩̿͆́̚͜k̵͎͚͙̙̙̯̮̝͙̭̜̣̱̟̾̅̍̊̐͆̂̄̀̏̐̉̈̕̚͜.̵̧̘̼͖̘͖̖͙̍̇̾̾̈́̚
[ The power of the demon king disappeared and at the same time, strength drained from you. A small black hole appeared in the air behind you. Your body was slowly being sucked into it. Your legs, your torso, your arms... it's a strange sensation as they turned into powder and were slowly being sucked in.
"̸̢̧͎̭͚̞̥̲̗̻̮̎̀̈́̓͋̓͌́͘̚ͅK̶̢̡̢̨͈͕͔͖̘̲͉̱̏͂̈̓̑ȋ̷̢̺͉͎͇͈̖̜̱̗̺͒̕m̷̧͔̯̮̅̊̿̅͆͗ ̴̢̡̧̨̹̗̖̥̘͙̟͇͌͑̓̎̔̃̓̆͒̈͂̄͐͌̎ͅD̷̨̛̻̱̲̼͈̺̤̬̞͚̘͋͝o̷̡̬͇̲̬͙̲̼̹͉̘͋͗̊̆̿͒̀͊͗̅̂͘͜͝ķ̸̧̭̼̪̭̘͔̥̣̩̰͕̪͈̍͛̀̾̾̔̍̈̿j̴̟̤̞̞̘̻̄̍̏̓̾͗͑́́̇̆̕á̵̢̡̛͙̞͈͚̬̪̣͑͊̓̌͛̽͐͗̓͠!̷̡̻͖̬̖̰̻͓̭͎̲̠̬̳̉͗̈́̔̊̿͐̌͗̈́͜ ̸̜̥̖̻͎́̅̔̓̌̈́̃̊̈͂̊̚͝N̶̻̖͉̞͔̮̭͖͉̘̜͙̖̯͌̓̒̀ȯ̸͎̗̝̳̳͗̓̿̆͐̏̉̔̐̇̃͜͜!̴̠͓̤̘̹́̈́̆̀͘͠ ̶̡̤̖͎̔̉͐͐̃́̓̈͒̋̕̚Ḱ̷͔̰́̒̌̌̕ì̷̢̢͉̳̯̠̯̱͙̍̓̒̊̈̚͜͜͝m̴̻̥̎̄͛̄̌́̍̋̅͊͛̓͘͠ ̴͓̯̀͜Ḑ̷̦̖͙̝͖̃̏o̴̯͓̫̙͍͇̗̣͛͘ͅk̷̛̼̼͕̿̇̅͑̉̉̅̐̓̚͠͝j̴̧̧̛͈̭̹͔̯͙͖̘͖́̆͗͛̾̂̀̓̾̾͝a̸̡͚͈͖͖͕̲̯͓̜̫̲̞̮̔̂́̿̅̉́̃̒͒̑̓̅!̵̡̛̱̦̫̳͗̈̓̀̆̃͘͜ͅ"̴̧̛͚͉̪̫̼̳͎̗̤̈́͊̒͘͠
At the last moment, he tightly held you by the neck. However, it was already too late.
Your vision turns black and you are sucked into an empty void. ]
[ xie lian is no stranger to the pain of death.
it is not that he has died, really - he should have, but he can't, so the pain itself isn't unfamiliar.
but what happens after is new. the miserable comrades joonghyuk - seeing him through kim dokja's eyes, feeling his realization, his laugh - the way his face as kim dokja's pulls up into a smile, as the life starts to leave his body. and this about constellations, too, feels familiar but unfamiliar all at once, like the heavens of his own realm, like the voice of the heavenly emperor, doesn't wish for you death --
he takes a deep breath like a gasp as the memory ends, surprised, and touches his own chest, curling his hand in the front of his silks, stumbling a little where he stands. ]
I -
[ it takes him a moment to recenter himself, and xie lian forces himself to exhale. ]
... Kim Dokja...
it is not that he has died, really - he should have, but he can't, so the pain itself isn't unfamiliar.
but what happens after is new. the miserable comrades joonghyuk - seeing him through kim dokja's eyes, feeling his realization, his laugh - the way his face as kim dokja's pulls up into a smile, as the life starts to leave his body. and this about constellations, too, feels familiar but unfamiliar all at once, like the heavens of his own realm, like the voice of the heavenly emperor, doesn't wish for you death --
he takes a deep breath like a gasp as the memory ends, surprised, and touches his own chest, curling his hand in the front of his silks, stumbling a little where he stands. ]
I -
[ it takes him a moment to recenter himself, and xie lian forces himself to exhale. ]
... Kim Dokja...
[ That feeling of horns atop his head, the weight of wings on his back, the sword... piercing right through his chest as he sunk into his companion-
it's all gone now. A hand is on his chest to confirm he's still intact, not having fallen away into pieces. His right arm is in a sling and that's a reminder of the present and not the memory of his past.
He hears his name and for a moment he doesn't answer. It doesn't register. After a pause, he finally looks over to the man and he smiles, but it's not really there. ]
Xie Lian. [ He glances off to the side, as though still seeing that memory still on display. ] ...It's a good story. My companions did well to defeat the rise of the 73rd demon king.
[ A hum of thought. ] I gained my modifier after that. "Demon King of Salvation."
it's all gone now. A hand is on his chest to confirm he's still intact, not having fallen away into pieces. His right arm is in a sling and that's a reminder of the present and not the memory of his past.
He hears his name and for a moment he doesn't answer. It doesn't register. After a pause, he finally looks over to the man and he smiles, but it's not really there. ]
Xie Lian. [ He glances off to the side, as though still seeing that memory still on display. ] ...It's a good story. My companions did well to defeat the rise of the 73rd demon king.
[ A hum of thought. ] I gained my modifier after that. "Demon King of Salvation."
[ xie lian's hand is on his own chest as kim dokja talks - mostly because he's still feeling it, too. under his hand is a similar scar, from a sword that pierced his chest, though from someone with far less love.
he lets the silence fall between them even longer after kim dokja does speak, especially when the title comes. of salvation... ]
... You revived as he does, even still? After you...
[ after the context of that memory, where it seemed his death was rather final? it seems like xie lian may have already had a peek into yoo joonghyuk's memories, so, at least some of this feels familiar, but his heart aches for kim dokja.
...for the both of them, really. ]
he lets the silence fall between them even longer after kim dokja does speak, especially when the title comes. of salvation... ]
... You revived as he does, even still? After you...
[ after the context of that memory, where it seemed his death was rather final? it seems like xie lian may have already had a peek into yoo joonghyuk's memories, so, at least some of this feels familiar, but his heart aches for kim dokja.
...for the both of them, really. ]
It may have felt like a final end, but I was able to live after that. ...Well, my Incarnation body was destroyed, that's for certain. There was no saving that. But I was able to ascend as a Constellation.
[ Which is, of course, to say he is technically not human. It's not knowledge he's gone to flaunt about. Probably wouldn't have felt the need to. However, it's probably information that can be gained by a memory at some point at this rate, so there's no point in not mentioning it now.
He glances back over, showing a reassuring smile. ]
There's no need to look at me like that. I'm fine now. I'm right here, alive and well as you can see.
[ It had been a shock to deal with the impending fate. Looming over him for some time, waiting for the moment it would happen and... when it did, it was like a dawning realization. At least after that, he didn't need to await yet another fate coming after him. ]
[ Which is, of course, to say he is technically not human. It's not knowledge he's gone to flaunt about. Probably wouldn't have felt the need to. However, it's probably information that can be gained by a memory at some point at this rate, so there's no point in not mentioning it now.
He glances back over, showing a reassuring smile. ]
There's no need to look at me like that. I'm fine now. I'm right here, alive and well as you can see.
[ It had been a shock to deal with the impending fate. Looming over him for some time, waiting for the moment it would happen and... when it did, it was like a dawning realization. At least after that, he didn't need to await yet another fate coming after him. ]
[ this memory comes in flashes.
the first is only a few seconds long - a sword fight against a ominous creature, spiritual energy sparking through your veins like wildfire. you fend the creature of yi nian bridge off with aplomb and grace - there are no words, just the sound of swords clashing together, the grace of your blade moving through the water underneath your feet, as you destroy a wrath level demon like it's nothing. you move to save others, to help your beloved xian le again and again, and when the demon falls, defeated, there's a crack of lightning and an earthquake, the heavens rumble as you make your ascension, the crown prince who pleased the gods now become a god himself.
and then, the memory seems to fade with that bright light.
...and as the music begins, you are running, for the grand martial hall.
your feet pound against the golden pavement of the heavens, and palaces go by you in a blur. you can feel spiritual energy that leaks off of you in waves - you are the young god taizi dianxia, the crown prince who pleased the gods, flower in one hand, sword in the other, the central martial god, and today, you are running in desperation.
you slam open the doors of the emperor's heavenly palace, interrupting what looks to be an important meeting. a handsome, older man with dark hair wearing a headdress looks up at you from his throne - jun wu, the heavenly emperor, who looks across at you with mild curiosity, and his usual fondness. this man is almost a father to you. maybe that's why you are fine speaking out of turn. (maybe it's because you are always fine speaking out of turn, when you're impassioned enough.) ]
My lord-- [ you say, bluntly, completely interrupting everything, ignoring any of the customs of the older gods in front of you. ] I'm descending to the mortal realm.
[ the heavenly emperor blinks mildly at you as the entire meeting comes to a stop. you could hear a pin drop. after a moment, the heavenly emperor closes his mouth, and speaks, his voice gentle. "Xianle... I am aware of what's happening, but you must remain calm."
you shake your head. ] My lord, I didn't come to request permission. I came to inform. My people - [ and you love your people, more than just as your devotees, you love every single one of them as fiercely as they have ever loved you, with every fiber of your body, and their despair overwhelms you ] -are currently sunken in the depths of hell, so please forgive me if I cannot remain calm.
[ plague. war. drought. destruction. everything in xian le is falling apart by the moment. you cannot just stand by.
the heavenly emperor sighs. "The universe has its own rhythm. Do you not realize that if you descend to appear before mortals, it will be a violation of heavenly law?"
something about that just lights a fire in your heart. the law? the law your people are dying, are suffering, and you're up here doing paperwork? you won't. you won't, you won't. you refuse, and you cry - ] IF IT'S A VIOLATION, THEN SO BE IT!
[ you are barely seventeen years old, and you have just defied the heavenly emperor.
shock ripples through the crowd, and murmuring starts, but you ignore them, your eyes only for the heavenly emperor, as you bend to bow. your heartbeat sings with spiritual energy. with pride. with determination, that floods your core. ]
Pray my lord let me go this once; just give me a little time. Since the fighting has started, casualties are unavoidable, but if I could stop this and reduce the number of dead, minimize the conflict, then after the fighting ends I will for sure return willingly to repent, and have my lord sentence me as see fit. Whether I shall be sealed under a mountain for a hundred years, a thousand years, a hundred thousand years--I WILL NOT REGRET!
[ you shout the final word of your sentence - adrenaline courses through you. you remain bowed low out of respect, and take a step back, but you do not turn. determined, fists clenched at your sides, ready to do everything for xian le. for them, for them, for them.
"Xianle!"
the emperor's voice rings out. you pause, mid step, and hear him sigh. "You can't save everyone."
and that is where you're wrong, you think, fiercely. the tiny fire in your heart blazes into a wildfire, now.
you stand up to your full height, seventeen year old prince turned god about to be prince, again, and lock eyes with the emperor. ]
Whether I can, I won't know until I've tried. Even if the heavens say I must die, if that sword doesn't pierce my heart and nail me dead on the ground, then I am still alive, and till my last breath, I will struggle to the end!
[ and in the end, you do not turn away from him. you still kowtow, to the emperor, because he is the person you respect most in the entire world.
but you walk straight out of that door facing him, and when the black shackle of being banished wraps around your neck, you don't look back.
you're going to save your people. you refuse to let the laws of godhood - stupid, stupid laws - be the reason that a single person suffers. not on your watch. not on your life. you will do anything for the people of xian le.
you will not let them fall. you became a god to help them, and become a god is what keeps you from them. the laws of the heavens are confining. frustrating. cruel.
so you throw it away.
you will not simply watch as your world falls apart.
you're going home. ]
the first is only a few seconds long - a sword fight against a ominous creature, spiritual energy sparking through your veins like wildfire. you fend the creature of yi nian bridge off with aplomb and grace - there are no words, just the sound of swords clashing together, the grace of your blade moving through the water underneath your feet, as you destroy a wrath level demon like it's nothing. you move to save others, to help your beloved xian le again and again, and when the demon falls, defeated, there's a crack of lightning and an earthquake, the heavens rumble as you make your ascension, the crown prince who pleased the gods now become a god himself.
and then, the memory seems to fade with that bright light.
...and as the music begins, you are running, for the grand martial hall.
your feet pound against the golden pavement of the heavens, and palaces go by you in a blur. you can feel spiritual energy that leaks off of you in waves - you are the young god taizi dianxia, the crown prince who pleased the gods, flower in one hand, sword in the other, the central martial god, and today, you are running in desperation.
you slam open the doors of the emperor's heavenly palace, interrupting what looks to be an important meeting. a handsome, older man with dark hair wearing a headdress looks up at you from his throne - jun wu, the heavenly emperor, who looks across at you with mild curiosity, and his usual fondness. this man is almost a father to you. maybe that's why you are fine speaking out of turn. (maybe it's because you are always fine speaking out of turn, when you're impassioned enough.) ]
My lord-- [ you say, bluntly, completely interrupting everything, ignoring any of the customs of the older gods in front of you. ] I'm descending to the mortal realm.
[ the heavenly emperor blinks mildly at you as the entire meeting comes to a stop. you could hear a pin drop. after a moment, the heavenly emperor closes his mouth, and speaks, his voice gentle. "Xianle... I am aware of what's happening, but you must remain calm."
you shake your head. ] My lord, I didn't come to request permission. I came to inform. My people - [ and you love your people, more than just as your devotees, you love every single one of them as fiercely as they have ever loved you, with every fiber of your body, and their despair overwhelms you ] -are currently sunken in the depths of hell, so please forgive me if I cannot remain calm.
[ plague. war. drought. destruction. everything in xian le is falling apart by the moment. you cannot just stand by.
the heavenly emperor sighs. "The universe has its own rhythm. Do you not realize that if you descend to appear before mortals, it will be a violation of heavenly law?"
something about that just lights a fire in your heart. the law? the law your people are dying, are suffering, and you're up here doing paperwork? you won't. you won't, you won't. you refuse, and you cry - ] IF IT'S A VIOLATION, THEN SO BE IT!
[ you are barely seventeen years old, and you have just defied the heavenly emperor.
shock ripples through the crowd, and murmuring starts, but you ignore them, your eyes only for the heavenly emperor, as you bend to bow. your heartbeat sings with spiritual energy. with pride. with determination, that floods your core. ]
Pray my lord let me go this once; just give me a little time. Since the fighting has started, casualties are unavoidable, but if I could stop this and reduce the number of dead, minimize the conflict, then after the fighting ends I will for sure return willingly to repent, and have my lord sentence me as see fit. Whether I shall be sealed under a mountain for a hundred years, a thousand years, a hundred thousand years--I WILL NOT REGRET!
[ you shout the final word of your sentence - adrenaline courses through you. you remain bowed low out of respect, and take a step back, but you do not turn. determined, fists clenched at your sides, ready to do everything for xian le. for them, for them, for them.
"Xianle!"
the emperor's voice rings out. you pause, mid step, and hear him sigh. "You can't save everyone."
and that is where you're wrong, you think, fiercely. the tiny fire in your heart blazes into a wildfire, now.
you stand up to your full height, seventeen year old prince turned god about to be prince, again, and lock eyes with the emperor. ]
Whether I can, I won't know until I've tried. Even if the heavens say I must die, if that sword doesn't pierce my heart and nail me dead on the ground, then I am still alive, and till my last breath, I will struggle to the end!
[ and in the end, you do not turn away from him. you still kowtow, to the emperor, because he is the person you respect most in the entire world.
but you walk straight out of that door facing him, and when the black shackle of being banished wraps around your neck, you don't look back.
you're going to save your people. you refuse to let the laws of godhood - stupid, stupid laws - be the reason that a single person suffers. not on your watch. not on your life. you will do anything for the people of xian le.
you will not let them fall. you became a god to help them, and become a god is what keeps you from them. the laws of the heavens are confining. frustrating. cruel.
so you throw it away.
you will not simply watch as your world falls apart.
you're going home. ]
[ literally me earlier. ]
[ It takes a moment to recover from the memory, a hand rubbing absentmindedly at his own neck while he returns to the present. Returns to now. A memory, he reminds himself. A story that is not his own but... intriguing nevertheless. He wonders, how will that story go? ]
...You're one of a kind, Xie Lian.
[ It sounds like a compliment at least. Curious, gaze ever-observant but peers at the other man as if in a new, different light. ]
[ It takes a moment to recover from the memory, a hand rubbing absentmindedly at his own neck while he returns to the present. Returns to now. A memory, he reminds himself. A story that is not his own but... intriguing nevertheless. He wonders, how will that story go? ]
...You're one of a kind, Xie Lian.
[ It sounds like a compliment at least. Curious, gaze ever-observant but peers at the other man as if in a new, different light. ]
[ imagine i was like "i'm gonna speedrun and get great cr with zetsu" and then immediately died
this isn't the first time xie lian has shared this memory, so - to see it again stirs up a complicated host of feelings. some bitter, some nostalgic, and some sad in between. absently, he reaches up, fingers playing with the bandages he typically wears around his neck. ]
...In this case, perhaps, I am not. It seems we both ascended, Kim Dokja...
[ he just chose to go down. ]
this isn't the first time xie lian has shared this memory, so - to see it again stirs up a complicated host of feelings. some bitter, some nostalgic, and some sad in between. absently, he reaches up, fingers playing with the bandages he typically wears around his neck. ]
...In this case, perhaps, I am not. It seems we both ascended, Kim Dokja...
[ he just chose to go down. ]
[ honestly, i was prepared for it.
There was definitely some nostalgia in his own memory, it could be saddening- were it his companions, they would be. But Dokja knew he was the only one that could have taken up that role. Nobody else. He couldn't risk losing them. So, he wasn't sad with the results, despite the pain. The sacrifice. ]
One way or another, mm? And now, here we are.
[ with ~ m u r d e r~ ]
There was definitely some nostalgia in his own memory, it could be saddening- were it his companions, they would be. But Dokja knew he was the only one that could have taken up that role. Nobody else. He couldn't risk losing them. So, he wasn't sad with the results, despite the pain. The sacrifice. ]
One way or another, mm? And now, here we are.
[ with ~ m u r d e r~ ]
[ they really, truly are same hat
well! xie lian ends up smiling a little, and rubs the back of his neck. ]
Here we are, indeed. It's strange, isn't it...? This place's talk of gods is so very different than the realm that I live in, but...so many of the concepts are the same.
[ ascending for certain acts, and the like.
the smile grows, though. ] ... I don't know how to explain it, but - I'm quite glad to find someone who understands, at least a little! It's a form of camaraderie, no?
well! xie lian ends up smiling a little, and rubs the back of his neck. ]
Here we are, indeed. It's strange, isn't it...? This place's talk of gods is so very different than the realm that I live in, but...so many of the concepts are the same.
[ ascending for certain acts, and the like.
the smile grows, though. ] ... I don't know how to explain it, but - I'm quite glad to find someone who understands, at least a little! It's a form of camaraderie, no?
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