#YOU PROBABLY FREAKED HIM OUT DOKJA

[pttucker]

"Yoo Joonghyuk, defend me." "What?" I immediately closed my eyes and focused. I had become quite familiar with it after all the practice while sleeping. There was the feeling of my body sinking to the ground and darkness was everywhere. I felt a shallow sleep and immediately used Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint.

NO HESITATION WHATSOEVER

They're in the middle of nowhere, literally surrounded by potential enemies, and Dokja doesn't even blink before leaving himself completely vulnerable, trusting Joonghyuk to watch over him while he totally zones out.

Talk about relationship growth.

[relto]

ay the comic lied to me i didnt realize that junghyeok puts his hands all over dokjas exposed insides in a desperate attempt to stop the bleeding

[orvdiscrepancies]

Discrepancy #21

Dokja is more assertive in the web novel.

In the Webtoon, he tries to calm Sangah down by making an allegory to the video game that their company is working on. He tells her to think about it like they’re in a game and that they just need to figure out the rules.

[ORV Webtoon, Episode 3]

It’s nice of him to do and it’s great that he’s using something she’s at least sort of familiar with in order to calm her down.

In the novel however…

[ORV Novel, Chapter 4]

He’s a lot more assertive. It could be a bit of a translation error now that I think about it, but again, I don’t treat things like translation errors. I treat it as if that’s what was originally written.

So in the novel, he just tells Sangah that this is basically a game and that she needs to only listen to him.

Let’s think about this from Sangah’s point of view.

You’re in the HR department, being harassed by the guys at work. Your bike was stolen so you have to take the subway. While on the subway, you see probably one of the only male coworkers you have that isn’t an asshole. Then all of a sudden, the subway stops and this weird dokkaebi has you all hostage and has killed a few of your fellow passengers in cold blood. You find out that one of the assholes that harasses you is on this subway too and the police aren’t answering. Now you’re kinda freaking out and that coworker that is usually quiet and you just had a nice conversation with is strangely level headed. Would you prefer:

A) the Webtoon where he calms you down by taking an unfamiliar situation and at least trying to make it familiar as a way of distraction.

Or B) the novel where you are being told that this is all a game and you have to listen to him, no questions asked.

Personally, I’d prefer the Webtoon approach. It makes it seem more like a team effort to survive and does a better job at calming Sangah down. The novel makes it seem like Dokja is going to survive and Sangah will too, but only if she listens to him.

And yeah, I get it. Dokja does know what’s going on and he has a general idea of how to survive, but Sangah doesn’t know that. All she knows is that she could be the next to die and there’s nothing she can do about it.

Both approaches work. She calms down and listens to him. But I think the Webtoon has a more tactful approach. The novel is just really assertive.

Which, in a panic situation, that can work. It just depends on the individual. Personally, if I was Sangah and the guy that I think of as my only decent male coworker starts sternly telling me I have to do everything he says or die, I’d start bawling. But maybe that’s what Sangah needed. Who the hell knows.

[gffa]

You start Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint with an intriguing concept. A webnovel about “Three Ways To Survive in the Apocalypse” that this shy nerd has been reading for 10 years and is the only one who has been reading it, is ending, and he’s kind of sad about it, because he’s loved it for so long, he’s tried recommending it others, but got shut down because nobody believed he wasn’t the author trying to promote himself, so he just gave up, he doesn’t really have goals in life, he doesn’t interact well with others, he’s socially awkward and quiet, he defines himself as having a “reader’s life”, someone who just observes the story, but then suddenly THE EVENTS OF THE NOVEL ARE REAL. The apocalypse is happening around him and everyone is freaking the fuck out and he is as well, like, what in the actual fuck, but he knows a few things to expect because he’s read all 3k+ chapters of the webnovel and you can see him start to piece things together when monsters are suddenly attacking and they’re being forced to kill each other and he manages to find a way out, with as little bloodshed as he can. You understand the shape of this 550 chapter story, you understand that it’s like ten novels worth of story, you understand that Kim Dokja is going to slowly become the protagonist of the story, even though the story already has a protagonist and you can feel his presence looming over the story and terrifying DKJ, they can’t meet yet, he’d be crushed by this guy, it’d ruin everything. But WHOOPS he does meet the protagonist of the story and gets hung out by his neck over the crumbling edge of a broken bridge and he has to scramble to desperately lie to the protagonist because he can’t reveal how he got his knowledge of the events that are unfolding around him or even let on that he’s aware of the protagonist’s story. He gets himself thrown off the side into a sea-monster’s mouth and told to survive if he really is worth saving and you understand the shape of this story.  You see the early events that will shape Kim Dokja into becoming his own protagonist, getting him slowly out of the “reader” role.  He uses his knowledge of the apocalypse to obtain the special magical items he needs and avoid pitfalls that would have hindered him later and makes deals that will benefit him the entire way.  You see the shape of the story unfolding. You go through a brief timeskip, he’s gotten stronger, he’s used his knowledge to become faster and more powerful than most around him.  You see him join a group of other survivors and have to go fight a bunch of monsters, including a major Tier 7 Demon, which he defeats with forewarned knowledge, and he is steadily growing UNHINGED while he does it, like this boy isn’t so much off his rocker as he is using it for kindling, he just casually slices up the Tier 7 Demon, but, h-hey, aren’t you going to finish it off? everyone else asks.

All right, you understand he’s kind of a little more unhinged a little sooner than you were expecting, but it’s not that--

..........uh oh, you think. Turns out, because Demons are subordinates of Demon Kings, if you kill one, you get cursed to witness something truly horrible, and, sure enough, cowardly rich business man type steps in to steal the kill and oh shit okay--

And you realize, ohhhhhh, oh shit KDJ probably did this on purpose, knowing business man would steal the kill, because the start of this sub-arc had him saying that he wasn’t as nice as he appeared and he wasn’t just here to save people, and also you realize he maybe wanted to punish that guy for the shit he’d pulled on someone KDJ liked and-- And then, after all this shit goes down, KDJ is just like:

And you realize he’s already there, he’s already this unhinged and dangerous and scheming, he still thinks of himself as a “reader”, but he’s weaponizing that position and you have NO idea what kind of batshit antics he’s going to pull out of his ass next and-- And you realize YOU ARE ONLY ON CHAPTER 22 AND YOU WONDER WHAT IN THE UNHOLY FUCK IS GOING TO BE IN THE OTHER 530 CHAPTERS IF WE’RE ALREADY THIS FAR ALONG. Anyway, please read Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint with me, it’s completely out of its mind in the best way, and you can start with the webtoon, it’s super pretty and the translation is very smooth, and come yell, “WHAT THE FUCK??” at every new batshit event this story is throwing at me.

[sunmaylight]

Omniscient Reader’s Viewpoint AU 

Random scenario idea

[The scenario has arrived!]

+

[Sub Scenario: Age Swap]

Category: Sub

Difficulty: C

Clear Conditions: Experience a day in someone else’s shoes. Swap ages with someone else. Those that have experienced youth will experience it again while those that have yet to experience adulthood will have a taste of it.

Time Limit: A Day

Compensation: ???

Failure: Stuck in that age for a week.

+

A different description I made of the scenario.

Description: The oldest experiences a day in the youngest’s shoes and the youngest experiences a day in the oldest’s shoes. Those that are above a certain age swap ages with the age of someone younger than them.

---

I’ve seen a few age swap fics of just KDJ, but none with the rest of KimCom. This was also created from the idea that YSA wore cute outfits when she was younger because of her parents and it evolved into thinking on what the other adults would wear if they were kids as well. But that didn’t go as plan and it became this instead.

---

As for the ages, I was thinking of having all of the adults around Kim Dokja’s age (KDJ, YJH, HSY, YSA, JHW, LHS, & LSH) swap ages with the kids (LGY, SYS, YM) and vice versa. Then LJY and JHY (Jang Hayoung) swap ages with Gong Pildu and vice versa.

When everyone swaps ages they keep their memories and their clothes adjust to their new sizes. But any weapon stays the same length (so you can have people questioning why a tiny YJH is wielding a sword that is taller than him).

LGY, SYS, and YM are having a blast. Enjoying the fact that they are now taller than most of the others. LJH & JHY do not like this because now they have back pain. GPD is happy to be relieved of his back pain.

YSA, JHW, LHS, and LSH are low key freaking out/complimenting how adorable each other looks. They decide to take pictures to commemorate this adorable development. YSA even makes sure everyone gets an animal-themed headband. Everyone.

HYS and KDJ share a knowing look that this is the only time where they can see how all of the adult novel characters looked like when they were younger. When the adults are talking about their childhoods, no one sees the small flinches HSY and KDJ do when novel characters talk about their childhoods.

LGY and SYS compete with each other on who gets to have KDJ ride on their shoulders first. KDJ points out that even at this age he is too old to ride on anyone’s shoulders. The two don’t answer KDJ, but they both know that even though KDJ is (probably) too old, he is small enough for it to work.

YM is already walking around with YJH on her shoulders. YJH is gripping his sister’s hair like a lifeline because he is afraid that he will fall with how fast YM is going.

Biyoo/Biyu comes out and cuddles up to KDJ. But it looks more like KDJ is cuddling Biyoo since Biyoo went to her bigger fluffy form.

The Constellations watching find all of the interactions to be adorable. 

[Constellations that care/love children sponsors 5000 coins]

[Constellations that are reminded of their families sponsors 5000 coins]

Twitter Post.

[pttucker]

I suddenly couldn't remember the regression turn number I lived in. I unknowingly looked behind me, but the only things remaining there were Yoo Joonghyuk's past regression turns. ⸢And what remains at the end, will be the desire to see the 'next story'.⸥ I looked down at my hands, now much smaller. What was waiting for me at the end of this long, long journey? ⸢Kim Dokja recalled the 'Oldest Dream' he saw during the Final Scenario.⸥ Would I eventually become the 'Oldest Dream' I saw back then? Would I lose all of my memories and become a giant mass of unconsciousness that dreamt of an infinite universe?

Wibbly wobbly, timey wimey???

Wait, so the Fourth Wall says that it is the destiny of Oldest Dream to watch all of these regressions, and in turn Dokja doing that seems to be turning him into the little kid we first saw, to the point that eventually all that will be left is "the desire to see the next story."

So is just the mere act of doing his "job" causing it or is it because Dokja keeps putting too much of himself into each turn, resulting in Probability slowly causing him to deteriorate???

I mean, either way will result in the same outcome and due to all the weird time stuff either way could be considered his "destiny" since he was apparently always meant to end up as little kid Dokja???

I mean, I guess little Dokja had to come from somewhere...

Oh man, but Dokja saying he doesn't want to end up like that and getting so freaked out over the fact that he's forgetting his precious companions. 😭 His companions that he assumes are still living happy lives. Oh if only he knew, but now he doesn't even remember which worldline to look at even if he wanted to!

And the way he clutches his smartphone out of habit since his novels, one novel in particular, have always protected him when he was scared and he's so scared right now. 😭😭😭

ORV is really out here saying "no happy ending for you!"

[pttucker]

Fei Hu glared at the uninvited guest Han Sooyoung with unhappy eyes. Jung Heewon alternated her gaze between him and Kim Dokja on her back and a nice idea suddenly popped up in her head. "My liege!" As if she was re-enacting the 'Flag Contest', she quickly embraced Kim Dokja and shouted out in an impassioned voice. "My liege, are you alright??" His pale Incarnation Body sagged limply in her arms and shook around a little. "Oh, my king!" Everyone was now looking at her. Lee Jihye's jaw dropped slightly, while Han Sooyoung looked dumbfounded. As for Fei Hu… "Ah…" He looked as if he understood everything now. "I see, Incarnation Jung Heewon. So, that's how it was…" His gaze shifted from Jung Heewon, Han Sooyoung and to Lee Jihye, before eventually landing on Kim Dokja's face next. He sneakily bit his lip. Like a tragic extra feeling envious of the chosen protagonist, he slowly lowered his head and turned around to leave.

Heewon!

...Well that's one use for an annoying, passed out squid man who tried to sacrifice himself again.

(AND WHO JUST GOT HIMSELF KIDNAPPED! AGAIN! BY THE SAME FREAKING GUY! ARE YOU KIDDING ME RIGHT NOW? KIM DOKJA!!!)

Ahhhhhh and the narration calling Dokja the chosen protagonist!!!! And this other guy is just some tragic extra. COULD WE BE ANY MORE META?

Oh man and the way Sooyoung just shoves Fei Hu all "get tf outta my way where is Kim Dokja?" 😂

And Uriel is over there about to be all "catch these hands" and restart an entire war. 😂 How dare you flirt with her precious Heewon! She will kill you.

Wait until Dokja gets back and flirt with him instead. You're a pretty boy so Uriel will probably forgive you.

...Though Sooyoung may not...

And Joonghyuk... well... Joonghyuk seems like maybe he needs a nap right about now.

And Hyunsung is a sword.

[pttucker]

The Breaking the Sky Sword Saint watched Yoo Joonghyuk walk away and asked him. "Are you planning to go alone?" "I've always been alone, Master." "But, that path is the one already tread by the other party." His Master's words caused Yoo Joonghyuk's figure to flinch. In the next moment, a voice came out from beyond the walls of the training hall. "Hey Yoo Joonghyuk, where are you?? We gotta get going, now!" With the blinding light behind them, the members of < Kim Dokja's Company > opened the door and rushed inside the dojo. Shin Yoosung, Lee Gilyoung, Lee Jihye, and Han Sooyoung… It was unknown since when they got ready to leave, but regardless, everyone from the Nebula was here. The Breaking the Sky Sword Saint spoke again. "They are precisely your Story now, Joonghyuk-ah." Something that the 'Secretive Plotter' did not possess. Yoo Joonghyuk dazedly looked back at his Master, and she addressed him again. "You don't have to fight alone in this regression turn."

Joonghyuk doesn't have to be alone anymore. 😭

Dokja doesn't have to be alone anymore. 😭

This whole novel is really just “Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk acquire themselves a found family” and nothing has made me happier.

Or perhaps it's more accurate to say “all of Kim Dokja’s Company acquire themselves a found family” considering we’ve learned that several of the others also didn’t exactly live perfect lives before the scenarios.

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint, AKA THE POWER OF LOVE AND FRIENDSHIP!

Oh man, and Breaking the Sky Sword Saint pointing out that it’s Joonghyuk’s stories that will make him stronger than Secretive Plotter, and that he needs to find his own path to Transcendence, not try to copy someone who's already walked down that long, lonely road.

(And as we've learned, Secretive Plotter would probably much rather have Joonghyuk's stories filled with loving companions who are still here than his own where all he has left are his own living memories...)

And, whether he believes he’s alone or not, the hard truth is that every Giant Story and almost every smaller story Joonghyuk has has involved at least one of these people. He's not been alone for a very long time in this round. Kim Dokja saw to that.

Oh maaaan but Dokja is going after that final Giant Story and they are going after that final Giant Story and Dokja made a vow of existence that he won’t contact them…

Ughhhh is he gonna have to disguise himself and are they gonna end up fighting? Is this Squid Fight Part II?

Or is this Dokja’s lucky loophole? Technically he didn’t contact them if they just happen to bump into each other in the same place...

Oh man but they’re gonna be ABSOLUTELY FURIOUS if they do find him. They’ve been stressing about him and Joonghyuk has been having freaking nightmares and all three of the of the people Dokja asked to help him are just wallowing in guilt and self-hatred because they failed his first and only request to save him and oh would you look at that it’s Dokja just out and about doing Dokja things with a tiny shoulder Joonghyuk.

They’re gonna kill him.

Just straight up murder the man on the spot.

[pttucker]

"…I want to meet that idiot." Almost immediately after saying it, Han Sooyoung couldn't believe what she had done. Why did she blurt that out, of all things? ⸢"Because you are also there."⸥ ⸢"I believe in 'you' of the 3rd turn."⸥ She wasn't sure what this frustration in her heart meant. Just that, meeting that guy again might help her understand what she felt so frustrated about, or so she thought. The Dokkaebi King tilted his head. [When you say that idiot, you���] Han Sooyoung pointed to the panels with her chin. The Dokkaebi King jumped up in shock and roared out. [Are you freaking blind or something?? That great one is no longer an existence the likes of me can ever meet.] "I don't care if it's a version of him from another world-line. I also don't care even if he's a version who hasn't seen the end yet, too." Kim Dokja couldn't be seen anymore within the panels. "I want to meet that idiot one more time."

1863rd Sooyoung managed to get to the end of the scenarios too and the only thing she wants for a reward is to see that stupid squid one more time. 😭💖

Oh man, and he didn't even spend that much time with her??? Kim Dokja, everywhere you go you manage to make such an impression on people.

I mean, I guess she's also getting information from her other half but still...both Sooyoungs wanting nothing more than to see Kim Dokja again, if only for one more time. 😭💖

Also, this makes me wonder if all of the "pieces" of the characters are going to join back together. Because the main party has regressed with 49% Dokja (and could be considered to be back in the original TWSA timeline in the 1865th turn???), 51% Dokja is slowly making his way through the main TWSA story turn by turn (probably screwing things up as he goes) and now 1863rd Sooyoung (whether she's the original or the avatar) is heading off to the pre-TWSA world where it all began.

And it really does seem like it's confirmed that 51% Dokja is slowly turning into the original Oldest Dream that we saw as a little kid. He's not only getting smaller and slowly forgetting things, the Dokkaebi King also goes out of his way to say that there's "only one of him in this universe."

That actually makes me wonder about the status of 49% and what exactly he's considered to be in the grand scheme of things. I mean, he has Fourth Wall and everything. So technically the Dokkaebi King is wrong, there are two in this universe...unless he's still only considered "one" since they're just halves of the same person.

Also, veeery interesting that the final revised version of TWSA seems to be about Sooyoung and not Joonghyuk. It actually makes me wonder what was in the version that Dokja never read, the one that he's been holding onto all this time that just suddenly morphed into the "final revised version" right when he clicked on it.

[pttucker]

By the time I opened my eyes, I ended up freaking out by what I saw. [999] spoke to me as I stared dumbfoundedly at the mirror, my eyes blinking non-stop. – It's done. Holy moly. This might not be enough to slap Yoo Joonghyuk's cheek silly, but still… It should be enough to make me ponder whether I should slap him or not, at least. I rubbed my new statuesque face and muttered to myself. "…Can't I keep this face forever?" – If you do, you'll be struck by the storm of Probability's aftermath.

First off, kind of weird that he'd be struck by Probability just for wearing a new face??? Especially when he's worn one before? Unless finally this face actually does appear handsome to those around him when it should be blurry? In which case, why does him not appearing blurry mean so much to the Star Stream that it would literally be affected by Probability?

I mean, my theory is that it's because he's a reader from outside the story and thus the people inside the story can't know what he actually looks like since how can characters in a book ever see the person reading the book?

Secondly, YOU DON'T NEED TO KEEP IT DOKJA YOUR ORIGINAL FACE IS PERFECTLY FINE!

I swear if this novel doesn't end on everyone seeing his real face and telling him what a handsome guy he is I'm gonna riot. RIOT I SAY!

LOOK AT WHAT ALL OF YOU HAVE DONE TO THIS POOR MAN! YOU'VE GIVEN HIM ANXIETY ABOUT HIS LOOKS AND MADE HIM THINK HE'S SO UGLY HE HAS TO PERMANENTLY HIDE HIS REAL FACE!!!