ORV- [Not a character]

Ch. 18-Beyond the concept of companions

"Is it even possible to take it down then? Shouldn't it have a major weakness if it doesn't have a penalty?" 

"This is where guides become useful. Aren't you going to ask about the skill that I've been learning?" 

"You call that learning? Didn't you fail completely in learning it though? How could that even help you if you don't know it?" 

"There is a solution to that. With my skill-" 

"Ha, I'm surprised you even have any skills with your talents. Is that skill a stigma from your sponsor perhaps?" 

"No, I don't have a sponsor." 

"...You don't have a sponsor? Aren't there many constellations after you? What have you been doing all this time?" 

"You don't have a sponsor either." 

"It is different." 

"As you said, we all have our own reasons and the reason why we haven't chosen a sponsor is also different. So why don't we focus on what is right in front of us? 

Just as Kim Dokja said. A different group of people was in front of the trio. Enemies that are part of the poisoner's group. Yoo Jonghyuk hadn't thought twice about attacking even though there was a rain of poisonous arrows flying through the sky. The number of coins that you got from killing others was small in comparison to some scenario rewards but when it was stacked up in masses then it was worth it. 

Of course, there could have been another reason for killing them other than gathering coins. A possible reason could have been for survival or to stop the disaster. 

Well, what mattered was that there was once again blood on Yoo Jonghyuk's sword. 

Yoo Jonghyuk's sword techniques were always powerful and concurring. The sword dance dominates and breaks the sky. Splitting and crushing. Yoo Jonghyuk showed overwhelming power in the face of any battle. 

Red Phoenix Shunpo. Yoo Jonghyuk twists the space itself and his movements are beyond that of simply running. Beyond the concept of space, that is the kind of shunpo Yoo Jonghyuk uses. 

His sword cries out as it is pushed to its limits while Yoo Jonghyuk's movements are minimal. To excerpt such power Yoo Jonghyuk has pushed past the psychical power of his own body and takedown stars. Transcendence is when you go beyond the limits of the body that you were born in. Yoo Jonghyuk had achieved that multiple times before but as of now, he isn't nearly there yet. 

Still, Yoo Jonghyuk isn't an existence to be underestimated. 

Even so, Kim Dokja can't see himself falling behind. He might lack talent, control, and technique, and is more than weaker with basic survival instincts. But he still trusts his skills, knowledge, and coins. Kim Dokja has what Yoo Jonghyuk lacks and Yoo Jonghyuk has what Kim Dokja lacks. There is a reason why they are companions beyond the concepts of companions. 

Even so, the enemies numbers are many times more than the trio, and since they can't afford to drag it out much longer the trio- 

But before that, the survivor comes running from behind the enemies and Yoo Jonghyuk recognizes what is happening. 

Threads of silk form dozens of thin webs under the incoming arrows. Arranged neatly enough that no arrow advanced through the silky web built in the sky, it is clear who is behind it. Or at least it is clear for Yoo Jonghyuk and Kim Dokja, Han Sooyoung is lagging behind as always. 

"Yoo Sangah-ssi?" 

Kim Dokja calls out to the woman flying above. She moved beautifully through the air like a dance. Kim Dokja questioned what had happened in such a short time while they weren't together. 

Yoo Jonghyuk gives Kim Dokja a blunt answer to his thoughts.

-She grew because you weren't around. 

-It was because I pushed her in the beginning. 

Kim Dokja didn't want to admit his lack of help and chose to ignore the fact. He turned towards Yoo Sangah who safely made it to the ground beside the trio.

"Yoo Sangah-ssi, this way." 

Because of Yoo Jonghyuk's advice to go back to a high-rise building the group of four members moved away from the enemies while they were distracted by the avatars made by Han Sooyoung. 

"Dokja-ssi is everyone okay?"

Yoo Sangah was the first to speak after they came to the secure building.

"Safe and secure as one can get. Are you fine as well?" 

"Yes, I'm also fine.

Then the atmosphere became stiff. Yoo Jonghyuk still hadn't said anything as always, Han Sooyoung felt that she wasn't in the place to speak because of past battles and Kim Dokja hadn't had a friend since birth so his social skills were next to zero. 

"That... um." 

Kim Dokja didn't know what he should even ask in this situation. Yoo Sangah was the only one between the group of four who actually have had friends before the start of the apocalypse. Because of this, she recognized the atmosphere gave an unknown smile before speaking. 

"You must have been through a lot Dokja-ssi." 

Then the short story began. 

...

 Yoo Jonghyuk looked at the scenario notification that was in front of him.

+

[Sub Scenario – Disaster Prevention]

Category: Sub

Difficulty: S-

Clear Conditions: Unknown powers in Gangdong-gu are trying to hatch one of the disasters. Defeat them and stop the incoming 'disaster.'

Time Limit: 2 hours

Compensation: 22,000 coins

Failure: Early emergence of the Disaster of Questions.

+

It was the same scenario he had gotten before. The scenario that was bound to fail. Even so, it wasn't bad in the end. The gain of killing the Disaster of Questions later was much more rewarding than just 22,000 coins. 

Should he just leave it to Kim Dokja and watch him helplessly struggle with Disaster of Questions for a while? Standby and watch. It wasn't something Yoo Jonghyuk usually does but Kim Dokja was the only one who could currently fight against Lee Seolhwa controlled by the fallen guide. There was also Han Sooyoung but Yoo Jonghyuk doubted her willingness to cooperate. 

The Thousand Spirits Poison. A deadly poison even he couldn't resist. He had succumbed to the power of the poison before and became incapable to fight for days. If Kim Dokja could deal with the fallen guide then Yoo Jonghyuk could help with the Disaster of Questions. 

It was a really hard choice to make. Kim Dokja currently processes the abilities necessary for fighting the enemy but is lacking in control and technique. It would have been much easier if he could've gotten it instead. But the easy way was never the answer for him or Kim Dokja. 

Yoo Jonghyuk looked down from the building where he was standing. Kim Dokja was down there fighting to save his past teammate. Kim Dokja wielded the sword without hesitation. A powerful start relic he obtained too early to be considered fair. The sword showcased the faith of the owner and that faith was never-ending. 

The sword that glowed white pierced past Lee Seolhwa's group members. They were never a match for Kim Dokja in the first place. His skills might be lacking but he had enough of everything else to make up for it. There is a reason why he was called the strongest incarnation before he became a constellation. 

Yoo Jonghyuk's eyes were always on Kim Dokja. It felt nostalgic as he watched from above. He might be watching from above right now but soon Kim Dokja would be the one in the sky and when that time came, Yoo Jonghyuk would go beyond the limits of a human to be by Kim Dokja's side. 

To be by Kim Dokja's side as his life and death companion. That was what Yoo Jonghyuk wanted more than anything in this world.