#orv chapter 516

[lafresnaya]

what if I reached through the page of my kindle and strangled him

[gaytwirights]

One of my friends got spoiled for the ending of orv by one of her classmates. And it isn't even a proper spoiling where she now knows the ending. It's literally just for the big plot twists. The marvel movie version of orv if you will. I think I might actually hate someone in real life more than I hate myself

[chaoticfandomthot]

The shift to third person dokja...

Edit bcuz it was still in my queue when i read that bit;

NOOOOOOOO FUCKKKKKK

[65bananba]

looking back at ch 188 and just. This is Where It Starts Going Downhill. in 188 he thinks about how great the story is and im like. oh no. oh no He's Dooming Himself for the Story to Continue. ohhh fuck.

[hunxi-after-hours]

Hello! I love your ORV posting. I do have an embarrassing question; can I ask how heartbreaking the ending is? I've tried reading it a large number of times, but have had trouble getting past the chapters in the 300s; I'll reread it up til that point over and over again, but can't continue. Not because I don't enjoy it, but because I get so swept away by the emotions, and all the characters go through is agonizing. I know it's not real! But my heart aches all the same, in a way I've never experienced this with a novel before, and I feel like a child LOL (It's also extremely funny-frustrating because I realize how thematic this is to the story itself). I'm not worried about the characters Kim Dokja is fighting for, but given the patterns in the story and how it seems to be told, I'm too afraid to keep going. I know I could just look it up, but at the same time, I don't want to spoil all the mysteries; just if my heart can rest easy. TLDR, if it's not too spoilery, is there any light for kim dokja in the ending? or is it a tragedy through & through?

(If this is a dumb question, please feel free to ignore this)

oh boy anon, I've been sitting on this ask for a hot second because it's hard to answer! so I will attempt to talk around it in a way that will hopefully (?) avoid spoilers

as I see it, the nature of orv's ending (broadly writ) is additionally complicated by the fact that there are approximately four(ish) endings:

1) the ending at chapter 516

2 + 3) the ending(s) at chapter 551

4?) the side stories

the ending at chapter 516

this is probably what many people would characterize as BE, but I'd personally compare it to the ending of my love, my life, 《琅琊榜》 Nirvana in Fire, in that the ending may be "sad" (broad air quotes to vague-ify whatever "sad" entails) but it feels earned. it feels right. it feels like the logical conclusion of what the entire book was building up to. some may consider it a tragedy, but it's not a hollow, meaningless tragedy — it feels correct. this is the note that the novel officially ends on, but is then over(?)written by the existence of—

the ending(s) at chapter 551

Kim Dokja's Company looks at the ending of ch. 516 and says "aw hell no" and sets out to rewrite that ending. after 35 chapters of epilogue, we've unlocked an OE — an open ending, that concludes the moment before the HE/BE ambiguity will be resolved. schrodinger's ending, except you, the reader, get to choose what you believe — and I do think the epilogues are written beautifully to get you here (they implicate the reader in a wonderful and deeply empathetic way). and from what I've seen, the vast majority of the fandom chooses to take the offered HE option and run with it; everyone lives happily ever after together in a big house, a million domestic post-canon fics will attest. this is the closest, I'd say, that would come answering your question of whether Kim Dokja has light in his future with an emphatic, loving "yes"

(I also think it's worth mentioning that the epilogues add a lot to the story; they fill in narrative lacunae and tie up loose threads that aren't answered in the original 516 chapters, so I don't consider the epilogues as "separate" or "extra." the epilogues aren't a fix-it tacked onto the end of the narrative; they serve and enrich the narrative in a way that would actively reduce the luster of the story if lost)

the side story

a few years down the line, Sing-shong have returned to the text to tie up "a few more loose ends." the side story is currently being serialized, and more or less picks up from where chapter 551 left off. this necessarily chooses among your OE options as detailed above; whether the side story will end happily, or with "light for Kim Dokja," currently remains to be seen as it is still ongoing. I've fallen off the bandwagon and have been meaning to catch up, but from what I've read so far I think the side story is an interesting and worthwhile addition to the text. Sing-shong continue to innovate and develop upon the worldbuilding and narrative they have already created, and we have met a new cast of characters that have rapidly become as dear to us as the old (the old cast of characters are also here, don't worry). if I were a betting person, I would say that the side story is headed in a more-or-less HE direction; the side story is currently engaging with and complicating themes of (self-)identity and (self-)worth through the many lenses of Kim Dokja, and while it remains to be seen how it resolves, I am tentatively optimistic that it will, if nothing else, be satisfying

TL;DR the ending(s) of ORV can be variously construed as HE, BE, or OE, and the elements of tragedy woven into the narrative and characters are inherent to the text. however, no tragedy is meaningless in ORV, and all of the endings feel earned

[thepizzamanisaneva]

ORV HAS 551 CHAPTERS?!

516 if you don't count the epilogue, but that's still way more than I was expecting.

[tveckling]

what’s orv??

Hey Nonny! Orv stands for Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint. It's a Korean webnovel that's also being published as a webtoon. The official English versions of both mediums can be found at Webnovels and at Webtoons (think they both have websites, but they for sure have apps lol that's what I'm using).

As for what orv is about, it's..... man. Kinda hard to say. It's about stories, and love that both dooms and saves. I have honestly never read a story that's dragged me along and touched me quite like orv did.

The basic premise is: Kim Dokja is a normal 28 yo salaryman whose only hobby is reading, and he's obsessed with a webnovel he's been following for 13 years, Three Ways to Survive an Apocalypse. On the day orv begins the very last chapter of WoS is supposed to be uploaded, but what kdj finds is a personal email with the file of the whole story. Then, the apocalypse starts, exactly like WoS.

It might seem like a typical power fantasy, normal guy finds himself in his favorite story and gets to be the main character and save the world kinda. But it's so so so much more. Nothing is quite what it seems or what you think it is. During the 516 chapters you will face one hell of a rollercoaster, and the last 100 or so chapters......... will destroy you. Then build you back up again with desperate love and hope and determination. There is tons and tons badassness, absolutely amazing characters of all genders (for real, the female cast is both large and wonderful), found family, no explicit romance among the main trio (but sweet fucking god the two main guys are SO GAY FOR EACH OTHER HOLY SHIT, I WILL SCREAM FOREVER).

This is the most accurate experience of reading orv I've seen:

[princess-of-purple-prose]

[ID copied from alt:

Fanart of the first chapter of ORV, just before the First Scenario starts. A drawing of a dimly lit subway car full of people. Kim Dokja stands, holding onto a hanging train handle. He holds his phone in his other hand, staring intently at it. Yoo Sangah is behind him, leaning over to talk, looking awkward but smiling. Lee Gilyoung and his aunt are seated further behind Kim Dokja and Yoo Sangah. Beside the subway doors and further ahead, Lee Hyunsung sits and is engaged in conversation with someone slightly offscreen. He is smiling. Kim Namwoon is much closer to the camera, in the bottom right, looking irritated. The sign that should list the train's destination is blurred, but reads: "MAIN SCENARIO #1: PROOF OF VALUE". At the bottom of the image, the text "[There are three ways to survive in a ruined world. Now, I have forgotten a few, but one thing is certain.]"

Fanart of chapter 516 of ORV. Another subway is pictured, with Kim Dokja standing in front of the car's doors with a smile and his hands in his pockets. Through the door's windows, Yoo Joonghyuk and Han Sooyoung are visible, arguing about something. Directly behind Kim Dokja through the door, the other Kim Dokja, 49%, is with Yoo Joonghyuk and Han Sooyoung. He has a hand on Joonghyuk's shoulder, the other one held out as if gesturing at something. Both Kim Dokja's have a mild glitching effect. Through the train car's window to the right, the other members of Kimcom are seen talking and laughing. Lee Gilyoung and Shin Yoosung walk with and look up at Yoo Sangah, while Lee Hyunsung and Jung Heewon trail behind. To the right, the text "that would be my salvation. from the beginning till the end, i was always the one being saved. so, this was my small bit of atonement for their sakes. [and everyone lived happily ever after.]" End ID]

you who are reading this will survive

[immortal-tale]

If there's a moment filled with glee, then the next would tear you apart. I was almost convinced that this didn't happen but, I guess that is what we call 'naivete'.

-------------------------------------------------------

⸢The train’s doors were opening up.⸥

Yu Sang-Ah holding the children’s hands lightly hopped off to the station’s platform with a soft “Eusha!” She looked back and saw that both Yi Hyeon-Seong and Jeong Hui-Won had also lightly hopped past the safety line on the ground.

“What are you doing, not getting off?”

That left only three people behind.

“Kim Dok-Ja.”

It was unknown who among Han Su-Yeong and Yu Jung-Hyeok called that name out first. The former asked with a questioning pair of eyes.

“We are getting off together, right?”

[Someone has activated ‘Lie Detection Lv… ‘]

That prompted Kim Dok-Ja to smirk softly.

“Of course. We should.”

[‘Lie Detection’ has confirmed ‘Kim Dok-Ja’s’ words as truth.]

“Let’s go.”

Kim Dok-Ja took a step forward and lightly slapped the backs of the other two. That caused the two to stagger forward, as well. 

[lolo-chi]

I’ve never been more broken by a story in my life, I just read chapter 516 of orv and everything hurts so much I am not okay, this. hurts.

[s4pphoiduser]

i... i finished orv... haha ahaha... my eyes are bloodshot from all the crying... ahahah

[by-9158]

KIM DOKJA YOU FUCKING STUPID S T U P I D BASTARD I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU NO WHAT THE FUCK WHY. AAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[ladyaquila]

GUYS WHO DIDN'T FINISH ORV NOVEL. TURN AWAY AND GO ON WITH YOU LIFES

.

So after finishing, well the better wording is: getting emotionally wrecked by chapter 516. I took a little break yk to get some breather went out etc. Came back and started reading epilogue. Every chapter is a stab in my heart. Salt in my fresh wounds.

[readoksood]

I'm soo trautised after reading ORV's 516 chapter. This KDJ...

[melodiaemfrp]

Haha hey heres the other ORV canonpoint update of the box! Chance here, updating Kim Dokja to Chapter 516: Episode 99. i'll be sending in a full app amendment for monday regarding changed powers and items, but this'll do for now. you can reach me as always, in the scribe server or on twitter @/chanceinous. fun pain times ahead!

Hi, ORV liker!

Kim Dokja's canon point has been updated for you. I don't know what this means, but I assume I've just officially handed you a bat, so have fun swinging it!

- SCRIBE DEVOTO

[ot3]

Reading the ORV testimonial tag is so funny and also so pleasing aaah. Thank you for getting so many people into it. I finished it in may?june???? of last year and I spent 4+ days blanking out staring at nothing and thinking about, mostly Kim Dokja, everyone and everything. When I finished it, it was 1am : thankfully my sib was in their room so I just went and finished crying as they hugged me (did that at chapter 525 before too but at least it was daytime).

Ever since I have peak brain rot and I try to rope my friends into at least reading the webtoon (sib is reading it and they're liking it so far :D). I never tried to analyze the impact it did on my brain outside of "obliterated my existence" and "I think constantly about different parts of it" so that's definitely impactful.

Also I've got to praise the ability of : there are so many iconic moments in those 516 first chapters and yet my brain is *fixated* on the Epilogue because it manages to top it all and leave you in a before/after Epilogue state. The webtoon is a godsent making me focus on earlier good events because otherwise I would keep being like "gosh can't wait for you to reach the 516+ point" @ my sib. And wow this is a very scattered post, have a good day !

THE ORV EPILOGUES REALLY HIT LIKE NOTHING ELSE..... when i was reading it my friends said that in many ways orv was a 500 chapter prologue for the 50 chapter epilogue which is the real story. and i was like 'that can not possibly be true' and then i read the epilogues and i was like 'oh my god jesus fucking christ'

im glad oyu got your siblings here in the trenches with you watching other people get into orv is so fun. i love letting kim dokja scramble my brain matter !