"This is bad!" Jeong Hui-Won said, panting as she cut down yet another shadow soldier. "It's not that they're too strong, but they keep regenerating. And now there are hundreds of them. This is impossible."
Han Soo-Young, standing beside her, gave a frustrated sigh. "The easiest way to stop them is to take out their master" she said, pointing her sword toward Sung Jinwoo. "But somehow I doubt 'easy' is the right word here. Just how strong is this guy?"
Kim Dokja, watching the battlefield with a sharp gaze, interrupted. "There's a better plan."
Han Soo-Young glanced at him with a raised eyebrow. "You always do have a plan, don't you? Go on then, Kim Dokja. Enlighten us."
Without another word, Kim Dokja called out, "Biyoo, come out."
With a soft, chiming sound, a small, cotton-like creature appeared in the air. "Ba-aht!" Biyoo exclaimed joyfully. "I missed you, Ahjussi!"
Kim Dokja gave a rare, brief smile. "Do it now."
A pulse of light radiated from Biyoo, and suddenly, the air crackled with energy as if reality itself had been torn apart from where a screen has appeared.
[A channel has been opened.]
[Many constellations have joined the channel.]
In an instant, a torrent of curious viewers surged into the channel, their numbers swelling as if they had been anticipating this moment. The atmosphere crackled with curiosity and confusion, as each constellation sensed the sudden resurgence of the Star Stream's power. It was as if a long-dormant force had awakened, drawing them in like moths to a flame, eager to uncover the situation behind this sudden change.
[The number of viewers is exceeding the highest number of viewers recorded.]
[The Star Stream is regaining its power.]
[The constellation, 'Demon-like Judge of Fire' is happy to see the Demon King of Salvation awakened]
[The constellation, 'Most Ancient Liberator' is shocked and pulls his hair.]
[The constellation, 'Abyssal Black Flame Dragon', is confused.]
Jeong Hui-Won's eyes widened as she took in the sudden shift in the atmosphere. "The Star Stream? But how are there so many viewers? The final scenario wiped out a lot of constellations."
Kim Dokja's expression darkened, a hint of amusement playing at the edges of his lips. "It's because there are new viewers now—viewers from that man's world."
[The majority of constellations from Nebula, 'Rulers', are observing you.]
"New viewers?" Jeong Hui-Won asked, blinking in surprise. "Are they enemies?"
Kim Dokja's smile faded as he glanced toward Sung Jinwoo, who was watching the screens with a mix of confusion and unease. "Who knows?" he murmured.
*
Sung Jinwoo abruptly stepped back from his clash with Yoo Jung-Hyeok, his attention pulled away as a flurry of indirect messages appeared before him. His momentary distraction allowed another set of his shadow generals, Tusk, Iron, & Tank, to surge forward, engaging Jung-Hyeok in his place. The battlefield continued to roar with chaos, but Jinwoo's focus was now elsewhere, his gaze fixed on the sudden influx of notifications.
Sung Jinwoo's eyes flickered with recognition as he stared at the messages. "What is this? The system? I thought I broke free from it," he muttered, his voice low and dangerous. "No… this is something else entirely."
Suddenly, more messages flooded the channel and sent indirect messages to Sung Jinwoo.
[The Constellation, 'Wielder of Divine Power', is displeased by your actions.]
[The Constellation, 'Keeper of Balance', is urging you to stop.]
[The Constellation, 'Angel of Light', is expressing disapproval.]
Sung Jinwoo's hands clenched into fists, his aura spiking dangerously. "You constellations… Rulers…" His voice shook with fury. "You want me to stop? You don't understand! The people important to me are frozen in time, repeating the same actions every day as if they're trapped in some cruel loop. And you want me to care about this world?!" His rage exploded in a wave of dark energy. "I don't care if this world gets destroyed!"
[Many constellations from the nebula, 'Rulers', are unhappy with your defiance.]
The sky above them rippled, and from out of nowhere, portals began to tear open. Dozens, then hundreds of Yogoes spilled out, their monstrous forms filling the battlefield. Then, from an even larger portal, massive giants from the underworld emerged, shaking the earth with their every step.
Jeong Hui-Won stared in disbelief. "He can summon this many allies? This is turning into a full-blown war!" She turned to Kim Dokja with a smirk. "So, your highness, what's our next move? Give us an order."
"Stop calling me that," Kim Dokja muttered, his brow furrowed as he tried to keep track of the chaos unfolding around them.
Just then, a voice called out from above. "Ahjussi, we're here too!"
Kim Dokja looked up to see Shin Yoo-Sung riding a dragon, with Yi Gil-Yeong beside her. And on the back of a giant, flying turtle ship, the rest of Kim Dokja's Company stood aboard, ready to jump into the fray.
Kim Dokja shook his head. "No. You don't need to get involved. This is all my fault. I understand now." he closed his eyes then "but it doesn't mean I won't fight. I must protect this world"
Meanwhile, Sung Jinwoo's shadows clashed with the summoned Yogoes and giants. His shadow officers, Bellion, Igris, and Beru, charged forward, engaging Kim Dokja's Company. As the battlefield turned into a frenzy of battle, Sung Jinwoo's eyes glowed with unrelenting determination.
"I'll end this now," Sung Jinwoo growled, gathering his aura for a final, devastating strike aimed directly at Kim Dokja.
But just before he could unleash his power, a message appeared, freezing Sung Jinwoo in his tracks.
[The Constellation, 'Brightest Fragment of Brilliant Light', is smiling with amusement.]
Sung Jinwoo's bloodlust surged uncontrollably for a moment, his eyes wide with shock. "That message…"
Kim Dokja, sensing the sudden shift in Sung Jinwoo's demeanor, braced himself. "What just happened?"
For a moment, the battlefield was silent, the tension hanging thick in the air.
Then, to everyone's surprise, Sung Jinwoo let out a deep, resigned sigh. His aura dimmed, the murderous intent that had been radiating from him vanishing in an instant.
"I… give up," Sung Jinwoo said quietly, closing his eyes. The power he had been gathering dissipated. "I sincerely apologize for my actions. Can you forgive me and stop this?"
[The Constellation, 'Demon King of Salvation', is agreeing with your decision.]
The shadows began to retreat, melting back into Sung Jinwoo's form. The Yogoes and giants slowly vanished, returning to their respective realms through the portals from which they had come.
Kim Dokja watched in silence as the battlefield gradually returned to calm. The war had ended as quickly as it had begun.
----
Hours later, inside a cozy room, Kim Dokja's companions were gathered around him, their voices filled with joy and laughter as they celebrated his return.
Jeong Hui-Won raised a cup in the air, her eyes bright with relief. "I can't believe it, Dokja-ssi! You're really back. We thought you'd sleep forever!"
Han Soo-Young smirked, crossing her arms. "You took your time, Dokja. You love making us wait, don't you?"
Kim Dokja chuckled softly, shaking his head. "I didn't mean to. It seems I have a habit of worrying you all."
"Well, we're just glad you're back," Yi Hyeon-Seong said, his deep voice rumbling with emotion. "It wasn't the same without you."
Shin Yoo-Sung, with Yi Gil-Yeong by her side, smiled brightly. "We missed you, Ahjussi! You won't leave us again, right?"
Dokja looked at them all, his heart heavy with gratitude. "No, I won't. Not again."
The room filled with more laughter as Yi Gil-Yeong, riding the excitement, shouted, "We should have a feast to celebrate!"
"That's the best idea I've heard all day!" Jung Hui-Won agreed, her voice full of energy.
Sung Jinwoo, however, sat alone in the corner, lost in thought. He watched the others with a faraway look, his mind drifting to the frozen world he had left behind.
Han Soo-Young approached him with a smirk. "Why are you sulking over here like some brooding hero? You look like a cockroach hiding in the corner."
Sung Jinwoo's expression didn't change. "I don't have time for this" he said coldly. "My world is still in chaos. Finish what you need to do, and let's talk."
Han Soo-Young raised an eyebrow. "Sure, whatever you say. But if you keep moping around, someone's going to mistake you for one of your shadows."
Sung Jinwoo didn't respond, lost in thought, his mind trapped in the endless cycle of his frozen world.
Every day, the same scene played out, not in his memory, but in reality—time looping over and over again. His wife, Cha Hae-In, stood before him, her words always the same.
"I'm glad you came back after years of disappearing. But I think you're a little late. I realized… it's not going to work between us."
The loneliness weighed heavily on him. No matter what he did, nothing changed. Every day, he watched the same conversation unfold, like a recording stuck on repeat.
"You never told me why you kept leaving us," she said, her voice filled with the same hurt. He wanted to explain, to give her the answers she deserved. But even though the world was frozen, the pain of seeing this scene every day never dulled.
"We're done," Cha Hae-In said, her words cutting deep, just as they had the day before, and the day before that.
Jinwoo knew this wasn't really her fault. Her memories had been erased long ago, after the Cup of Reincarnation rewound time, giving her and the others a chance to live better lives, free from the burdens of their past. She no longer remembered the sacrifices or the truth of his identity.
But now, something else entirely had frozen time—trapping everyone in a lifeless routine, repeating the same motions, the same words, endlessly. And Jinwoo was the only one left aware of the loop, helplessly watching the people he loved stuck in a world where time had stopped.
End of Chapter 2: Shadows of War, Stars of Fate