Chapter Text
It had been a fairly simple scenario. Compared to what Eden was capable of, the scenario they issued was rather lenient. Kim Dokja figured Uriel had something to do with that. The instructions were straightforward, and everybody was handling themselves just fine.
The setting sun painted the sky in various hues of amber and vermillion. The clouds in the sky seemed as though they were dabbed on by a skilled artist’s brush. Shivering slightly, Kim Dokja drew his coat closer around him; it wasn’t cold at all, but it was as if the aura of the creature before him was a vacuum that sucked in all the light and warmth this doomed world had to offer.
Kim Dokja paused, glancing at Lee Gilyoung battling the ghastly beast who seemed to be made of shadows. With its dark, ebony fur and dim eyes, the creature lunged at Lee Gilyoung, all but snarling as it angled its fangs to pierce the boy’s jugular. But the tawny-haired boy leapt onto the beast’s head before sprinting off, all the while calling forth his faithful warrior.
With a roar (that was dampened by a transparent dome that all the others also found themselves trapped in), Lee Gilyoung made a slashing motion that was instantly replicated by his dear insect king, Titano. The beast dissipated into mere particles, unable to endure after being inflicted with countless merciless strikes by the boy, and sunk to the ground as if being absorbed by the earth itself.
Feeling slightly relieved, Kim Dokja averted his gaze as he once again opened the message window.
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[Bounty Scenario – Defeat The Imitations]
Category: Sub
Difficulty: B
Clear Conditions: The constellations of Eden are displeased with the actions of Kim Dokja and demand Kim Dokja’s Company to repent by suppressing the imitations of the Abyssal Beast.
Time Limit: 30 minutes
Compensation: 60 000 coins, the story ‘Killer of the Abyss’
Failure: Temporary transformation into the Abyssal Beast
* All physical contact with the imitations will lead to instant failure.
* Both the duration and level of transformation is dependent on one’s mental stability.
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Kim Dokja certainly didn't look down on the rewards. Coins were always a pleasure to get, but the story was what Kim Dokja fixated on. ‘Killer of the Abyss’. It was a story that granted the shareholder an advantage over beings of chaos. It would certainly be useful against Outer Gods, Kim Dokja thought. But that’s not my main concern right now.
Kim Dokja glanced at the distant figure.
The Abyssal Beast. A terrifying creature, really, yet Kim Dokja strangely felt empathetic to it. Kim Dokja recalled the story of the Abyssal Beast from the Ways of Survival and how he had commented that the poor beast deserved better. The author had obliged, writing a rather sweet ending to its story that Kim Dokja oftentimes found himself feeling envious of.
「 The Abyssal Beast was a creature harbouring the power of chaos. It was neither good nor bad. With an inky coat and indiscernible features, the creature was bound to be seen as something horrific. 」
( Judging others based on their appearance seems to be common between sentient beings, Kim Dokja had thought as he absentmindedly toyed at the bandaid on his knee, huddled, nay, tucked into an abandoned alcove, during lunch.)
「 At first, the creature became a social pariah, its parents refusing to recognise the freakish existence as one of their own; it left the creature bereft of love and compassion.
With nowhere to go, the disheartened kitten-like furball turned its head up high and sought refuge amongst the angels. Alas, they all but laughed at the pitiful creature, stating that such an impure being was not allowed in the sanctity of Eden.
The little beast’s eyes shook, but it steeled itself before beginning its journey to the opposing side of Eden. After a long, arduous journey, the creature turned to the demons and reiterated what it had already told the heavens. To the beast’s utter consternation, he was treated in the same, vitriolic manner.
With doleful eyes, the Abyssal Beast pondered why it even bothered to go on. Suddenly, a being that was both devilish and divine reached out to it — a first for the beast. Warm, the beast thought as the tall man stroked its head. He picked the kitten up gently, ivory wings unfurling from the man’s back, as he set his chin on top of its furry little head.
“You remind me of myself, little one. I do not wish for a similar fate upon you.” The man paused, eyelids falling shut.
“Allow me to care for you as no one did me,” the man murmured, then flapped his wings once before bringing the lonely creature home. 」
Kim Dokja’s fighting spirit significantly waned as he gazed into the imitation’s eyes, truly taking the creature in for the first time. Those deep, black orbs widened infinitesimally before narrowing, the pupils contracting into slits as it bared its teeth. As if afraid of displaying weakness to an obvious adversary. As if afraid of showing vulnerability to another living being. Kim Dokja understood, better than most.
Looking back at the rest, Kim Dokja saw that the majority of them had slain their imitations. They were all still trapped in their individual domes as everyone had to conclude their part in the scenario to be set free (whether they won or not). He spotted Han Sooyoung crying out to Shin Yoosung — something along the lines of “don't touch those fuzzy little shits! ” — as Shin Yoosung barely missed the swipe of claws directed at her shoulders, but her voice was slightly muffled by her dome.
Turning back to his imitation, Kim Dokja once again gazed into the beast’s eyes as they drew him in, each eye an endless abyss in of itself. But Kim Dokja steadily held the beast’s gaze, taking long, unhurried strides towards the creature. At this point, he didn't know what he was doing; his body moved on autopilot.
He now stood barely a metre from the beast. Tilting his head slightly, Kim Dokja balled his right hand into a fist and slowly brought it closer to the imitation’s head.
[The Fourth Wall is shaking.]
The creature had not moved a single limb, as if frozen, suspended in time. Its eyes shook slightly as Kim Dokja hovered his fist in front of the beast’s eyes, just a little over its nose. Before Kim Dokja could awaken from his dazed state and realise just exactly what he was doing, the beast fluttered its eyes shut and leaned forward.
[The Fourth Wall is shaking violently!]
“KIM DOKJA—!” A thundering yell pierced through the battlefield before gradually fading into the background, like white noise.
[The Fourth Wall is urging you to…]
Time slowed to a crawl. Kim Dokja’s eyes widened considerably before softening. Ah, he thought as the creature nuzzled its head on his fist in an unexpected show of cuteness, I see. He began to pet its head as it quietly purred. Kim Dokja retracted his hand to itch the beast’s ears. Just as he began pulling away, the beast emitted an indignant sound, chasing after his hand and once again planting its forehead flat against the palm of his hand.
How terribly clingy. How was this adorable furred creature deemed a monster?
Lost in the moment, Kim Dokja forgot the situation he was in. Then he remembered.
Kim Dokja paid no mind to the frantic shouts of his companions nor the dokkaebi’s words regarding the conclusion of the scenario. His attention was solely on the oversized cat that was slowly scattering away, like dandelion seeds dispersing into the air due to a strong gust of wind.
Its eyes held the same look that Shin Yoosung and Lee Gilyoung often gave him; a look of adoration.
[The Fourth Wall is in a very thin state.]
He desperately reached out to the disappearing abyss but to no avail. Silently, Kim Dokja sank to the ground on his knees, a distraught look passing over his features.
His companions had finally caught up to him after being freed from their domes. Having witnessed the entire ordeal, they were all dreading what was to happen to their favourite star. A few hands shook him around while some resorted to calling out his name, but it was as if Kim Dokja was in another world (like all the times Kim Dokja was so engrossed in a story that he failed to hear his mother's calls for supper, or his father’s violent, drunken shouts).
In his vulnerable state, he failed to take notice of the major changes happening to his body.