Chapter Text
Yoo Joognhyuk’s consciousness felt like it was being molded like putty, stretching and bending in the darkness. He couldn’t tell how long this went on. The last thing he remembered was slaughtering the Constellations and running for the <Final Ark>. The fear Yoo Joonghyuk felt as he looked up at that… thing in the sky would never leave him.
Suddenly, a bright light filled his vision and he found himself standing in the middle of a field. There was a storm raging above and he could feel the Constellation’s rage tingling on his skin like little lightning bolts.
Yoo Joonghyuk activated [Sage’s Eye] and peered into the distance. A gold sheen covered his field of view and the burning auras of Asgard’s final constellations could be seen in the distance. There could only be one person that would evoke the rage of the Nebula to such a degree.
He ran. The [Black Heavenly Demon Sword] was pulled from its sheath and immediately shoved into the chest of the closest Constellation. Before they noticed his presence, he struck again and again, slaughtering indiscriminately, a bomb going off in the middle of the crowd.
His feet quickly carried him to the front of the crowd, leaving carnage in his wake, and he could see the man that provoked such enemies standing with his sword drawn. Blue electricity quickly crackled across the white coat and disappeared, and Yoo Joonghyuk instinctively understood — Kim Dokja had a death wish.
[Story, ‘Life and Death Companions’ is crying out.]
Midday Tryst opened.
— Keep running, Kim Dokja.
In the calm moments between Yoo Joognhyuk’s continuing onslaught, he caught the wry smile plastered on Kim Dokja’s face.
— Hey, don't you throw me to the river this time, you bastard.
Yoo Joognhyuk pulled his sword out of an unrecognizable constellation and grunted. It was just like that fool to crack jokes when the might of Odin was pressing down on the atmosphere like a heavy blanket.
They ran.
The [Even-Numbered Bridge] held their weight, but unfortunately, the Constellations weren’t afraid to follow. Han Sooyoung was shouting from the other side of the bridge but Yoo Joonghyuk couldn’t quite make out her words.
There was a prickling sensation rippling across his back and he risked a look backwards. From the sky, Odin was aiming the mighty Gungnir at Kim Dokja’s back and his crimson eye swirled in rage. Panic surged and the winds around them continued to impede their progress.
Yoo Joognhyuk activated [Sage’s Eye] again and could immediately sense when Odin drew back his arm. He activated [Giant Body Transformation] in his right arm and, before it could manifest fully, grabbed hold of Kim Dokja’s collars. The strength of the Giant’s rippled through his muscles and Yoo Joonghyuk powerfully threw Kim Dokja forward, but also stepped onto the latter's back – and they began scything past the storm as if he was surfing the waves.
In the next second, the Gungnir thrown by Odin caused a massive explosion along with a blinding wall of light. Beyond the stunned Constellations, Yoo Joognhyuk and Kim Dokja were sucked into the exit portal.
Beneath his feet, Kim Dokja groaned and he could feel a slight shake reverberating through his body. Shock and physical exertion caused him to mumble incoherently and roll his head around on the ground.
After a moment, the man seemed to have gained his wits because his groans immediately became a complaint.
“I told you not to throw me!!”
Annoyance flared in Yoo Joonghyuk’s temple, causing a vein to thrum. In petty annoyance, he wiped his boots on Kim Dokja’s back before stepping off. If it hadn’t been for Yoo Joonghyuk, Kim Dokja would be in an unmarked grave under <Asgard>’s worldview.
Han Sooyoung quickly approached us. Judging from her expression, she must've been planning to give Kim Dokja an earful. Whether it was a fortunate thing or not, Anna Croft opened her mouth first.
"I had no idea you'd utilize the Stage Transformation in that manner. Honestly, I'm somewhat impressed, Demon King of Salvation."
Han Sooyoung shifted her glare to Anna next. "Didn't you see all this through your [Precognition]?"
"I did see people crossing the bridge, but I had no idea that it'd be that kind of a bridge."
"What a complete rip-off you are.”
From the corner of his eye, Yoo Joognhyuk saw Kim Dokja scanning the corridor. What was he looking for?
Anna Croft closed her eyes for a bit before opening her mouth. "It seems that everyone has scattered in different passageways. Fortunately, no one has lost their lives yet."
The same vein from before hummed in Yoo Joognhyuk’s temple. This woman must be here because of Kim Dokja’s plan, but Yoo Joonghyuk didn’t like it. Anna Croft was a snake. He would have to keep an eye on her.
Instead of voicing his annoyance, he said "Our companions seem to be safe too.”
Kim Dokja nodded.
[Influences of other myths will be weaker in the applicable location.]
[Nebula, <Kim Dokja's Company>'s connection is being established again!]
Now that they were outside <Asgard>'s worldview, Yoo Joognhyuk could feel the stories of their Nebula squirming throughout the <Final Arc>. They had been separated but everyone seemed to be safe for now.
[Story, 'Demon King of Salvation', is letting its existence known!]
Panic rose like bile in Yoo Joonghyuk’s throat. What was this idiot doing, announcing his presence like that?!
Boooom!!
Meanwhile, a chain of explosions rocked out from <Asgard>'s door they had closed shut behind them. Some people were trying to open the door and come out. It was obvious who they were.
Kim Dokja spoke. “Let's continue moving.”