Chapter Text
There were many things on Jisoo's mind, even when he recklessly stumbled through the rock-strewn path. His feet and hands hurt, swollen and red from the countless falls he had on his short journey. More than that, his chest ached.
It was a different kind of sensation and something he hadn't felt before. It wasn't as if something was tearing him apart, limb by limb, again. No, he wasn't hurt—but it felt like torture. The further he was from Junhui and Harin, who were just in sight yet out of reach, the more agonizing it was.
If he had to put it into words, it was as if he were alone in the middle of the ocean, trying to stay afloat. His arms were flailing around, persevering through the unforgiving waves and winds. No matter how much he fought, he sank, deeper and deeper. The more he tried to surface, the more he descended, as if shackled by the ankles.
Ding!
You have successfully completed your last task, Father Knows Best.
You have completed your mission and fulfilled {HONG JISOO}’s wish: Find the baby daddy…?
You have 1 more mission until your objective is complete.
[SYSTEM 1230], thank you for your hard work!
Multiple screens surrounded him, flashing before his eyes, almost as if they were taunting him. He already knew. He understood it now. So why won't they stop?
Ding!
[SYSTEM 1230], would you like to continue as {HONG JISOO}?
"I know… I know!"
Ding!
Apologies, [SYSTEM 1230]. It appears that you are unable to select 'YES'.
He couldn't breathe, exhausted and overwhelmed by his emotions. He made requests to The Interface and received its cooperation; he knew he received a penalty, yet he let it sit in the back of his mind like it was child's play.
Ding!
The Interface granted your wish at the cost of a penalty, [SYSTEM 1230]. The penalty was applied when you agreed to the arrangement.
Fool. He was a foolish idiot.
Ding!
[SYSTEM 1230], you have been assigned a new mission!
NAME: {JOSHUA, THE WRATH}
GENDER: Male
AGE: 701
ALLIES: {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {VERNON, THE GREED}
ENEMIES: {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {MINGYU, THE HUMILITY}, {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}
OBJECTIVE: Kill the murderer.
Well, he couldn't blame it all on The Interface; he was the one who accepted without checking. He never chose to stay before, so surely it would be the same now; it could barely be considered a penalty if he just left as he intended. But he didn't. That was his foolishness that was going to cost the tears of the people he promised.
Jisoo clutched his chest and yelled with all the strength left in him. "Haririn!"
"Papa!"
Junhui held onto their daughter, rocking her gently as she enjoyed a snack. He turned around at the noise, bewildered at the sight. "H-Hyung?!"
Harin looked in horror. She was placed on the ground and left on her own as Junhui ran over, frantically reaching out for Jisoo.
Ding!
[SYSTEM 1230], you have accepted the mission!
You are now {JOSHUA, THE WRATH}.
You are the bearer of WRATH.
Your overall rank is THIRD.
You will now be transported to THE EQUILIBRIUM—TIMELINE 9.
An assistant will be sent to help you. Please be on the lookout.
[SYSTEM 1230], good luck!
"Hyung! What's wrong? Why are you—"
Thump!
The final pain shot through his knees as he landed on the rough ground. It stung like hell. It hurt even more when he realized he no longer had control of his body. He couldn't keep his eyes open anymore, not even a second longer, so that he could see the consequence of his decision.
•••
Joshua was unconscious—he had to be, it was just how he started every mission. It was just strange this time; he didn't lie on the ground somewhere, ready to wake up and rise. For some reason, he was standing upright. His legs were straight, and his forehead rested against a hard and textured wall.
His chest, all the way down to his feet, was wet, drenched with something warm. Although he barely moved, he could feel the viscous substance stick between the gaps of his fingers and toes. It was a strangely familiar sensation to someone like him, so he knew all too well what situation he was in right now. Of course, he couldn't ignore the soreness around his bare chest as well.
At first, he thought it was the aftermath of his intense emotions. After all, it had only been mere seconds since he was forcibly ripped from the last timeline, right in front of his lover and child. However, he was experienced enough to know the difference between internal turmoil and a puncture wound. Though at this point, they both felt almost the same.
Slowly, his eyes fluttered open to the brilliant light that surrounded him. It was bright, accompanied by the crackles of fire all around, presumably torches and candles. He could only guess, as he couldn't move his body—not when it was impaled to the gilded structure of the room by a spear.
The blade itself was stuck deep into the wall, so firmly that it was difficult to move, based on what his eyes could see. Instead, he grabbed the shaft that protruded out of his chest, soaked with his ever-flowing blood. It was a miracle that he hadn't passed out or, worse, died again from hemorrhage.
He couldn't tell exactly what the material was, but it was heavy and golden, different from the wooden spears he had seen before. The only way he'd be able to free himself was to slide out of the weapon itself, since there was no way he could break something of this quality.
Crack!
Or not.
The shaft broke, though not in the way he expected; only the part he gripped onto snapped off. Now, there was the blade which was stuck to the wall, the shaft that was still lodged in his body, and a small piece within his hand.
Now that he thought about it, he wasn't hunched over in agony or fatigue, although his body was hot, and nausea brewed in the pits of his stomach. His vision was somewhat blurry and often shook, though not from the tears that had carried over from his last mission. Yet somehow, he felt even better than when he was in the body of someone who was chronically ill, even with the large puncture wound that continued to bleed.
Joshua glanced around the large, round room that was reminiscent of an arena. Above were stands and displays of weaponry, from wooden swords to polearms to bows. The ground he stood on was made of some smooth, marble-like material, unfit for what seemed like a fighting ring.
"Why aren't you showing yourself?"
Ding!
Apologies, [SYSTEM 1230].
The empty hall was abruptly filled with echoes of a painfully dry and drawn-out laughter.
"So you do have a conscience." His words were curt and cold, void of any emotion as he stared at the screen blankly. He would've loved to scream and wreak havoc for what The Interface had just done, but he simply had no energy left. Even if he used the remainder of his strength to curse and cry, there was no use anyway. He couldn't go back. It was over, and it was his fault.
"Show me the information screen."
Ding!
[SYSTEM 1230] Host Screen
NAME: {JOSHUA, THE WRATH}
GENDER: Male
AGE: 701
ALIGNMENT: WRATH
OBJECTIVE: Kill the murderer.
TASKS: N/A
ALLIES: {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {VERNON, THE GREED}
ENEMIES: {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {MINGYU, THE HUMILITY}, {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}
RANK: 4
LIKES: Duels, attention, {NOAH, THE PATIENCE}
DISLIKES: Hall of Regulation, monotony, silence
His eyes squinted. He was so engrossed in the final moments of his last mission that he didn't look at the screens at all, so this was a first for him. It seemed that his missions became stranger the more he completed them; the concept of sins and virtues was completely beyond him. It had been years since he heard of those words, let alone expected to become one of them.
Suddenly, his lips curled in the corners before he burst into laughter. He just had to let it out. The concept of sins and virtues was completely beyond him. It had been years since he heard of those things, let alone become one of them. It was almost hilarious how the fable-like forces were real, and they were random men.
There were many things he had yet to process, both old and new, but this wasn't the time. He couldn't think, even if he wanted to, when an eerie tune echoed around him. In fact, he noticed it ever since he gained consciousness in this body, although he couldn't identify the source as it seemed to surround him at perfect volume.
It was like a siren, loud, continuous, and constantly wailing. The only difference, and quite scarily so, was that it was a voice—a woman gently humming. If he had to imagine a sound to signify the end of the world, it would be something like this.
Joshua turned his head and walked away with the spear still lodged inside him. The moment he reached the grand door and pulled on the handle, it came off its hinges. There were a few people outside who were quite antsy and already seemed preoccupied with something else, so much so that they missed the actively bleeding and wounded man nearby. Though once they noticed him, they quickly bowed—as if it was customary—before they shrieked.
"So it's him, isn't it?"
Their screams and stares didn't move him in the slightest. Rather than that, he was more focused on their attire. It was simple yet elegant and sultry, full of long fabrics draped around their bodies. Their heads, necks, and arms were adorned with countless pieces of jewelry, and even their shoes were made of the same golden metal. He was dressed similarly as well. It was just hard to tell under all the blood and torn fabric.
"It can't be! He'd be dead if so!"
After he caused a great commotion, he continued his obnoxiously loud stroll as the end of the spear dragged along the floor. Their frantic yells fell on his deaf ears as he brushed past. There was no destination in mind. Well, he didn't know anything about this world—not yet anyway. The more still he stood, the farther his mind would wander, so he moved.
"Was it another duel…?"
Joshua trod with heavy steps. He passed through corridors and halls, sometimes even outside, depending on where the doors led him. It was like a maze. Yet no matter where he was, the concerned passersby never approached him. If anything, they avoided him, blatantly stepping away as he approached their direction.
Clang!
He glanced at the round orb that ricocheted off the pillar nearby, landing right next to his feet. It wasn't only him who stopped in his tracks. The people nearby also quieted down and lowered their heads, just like they did to him a moment ago. Only this time, they didn't rise and went down even further once the light footsteps hurried closer.
Suddenly, a hand gripped his shoulder and forcibly turned him around.
Ding!
NAME: {MINGYU, THE HUMILITY}
GENDER: Male
AGE: 528
STATUS: Enemy
RELATIONSHIP: Unknown
ALIGNMENT: HUMILITY
RANK: 9
LIKES: {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}
DISLIKES: {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}, {LOCKED}
FAVORABILITY: —
Mingyu heaved and gasped for breath. He even used Joshua as a prop to balance himself and regain his composure. It was obvious that he had run for a while by the state of his clothes and hair, yet his presence was only detected when he threw that glass ball.
His eyes squinted as he glanced down. There were no words to describe his sight, and he could only sigh in response. Strangely, he was even more shocked after a few moments of silence.
Suddenly, he held out his right hand to the air, and a small light emanated from his fingertips.
Joshua scoffed. He wasn't sure if it was the effects of the wound or whatever was happening in front of him, but he felt his body weaken. His legs gave in, and he stumbled forward.
"Silence the knell!" Mingyu exclaimed. "Wrath… is alive."
•••
The next time he reawakened, he was different. His body was no longer injured or pained, and for the first time in a long while, everything was fine. A movement didn't hurt, a cough didn't mean blood, and a cry didn't take away his health.
Joshua lay flat on the marble platform. His hands were placed on top of each other and on his chest, and a thick fabric covered him from the chest down. If he hadn't known better, he would've thought he was in a coffin, ready to be lowered. Maybe it'd be better that way.
"Host!"
Unfortunately, his pretend-death was cut short as he sat up and pushed whatever was on his chest before he suffocated for real. He couldn't even verbally react once his eyes settled on the tall lioness, resting her heavy paws on one of his thighs.
"Hey! I'm your assistant, Mi Goreng!"
There was an uncomfortably long silence and a battle of gazes between them.
"Are you serious?" Joshua covered his face and turned away, holding up his other hand to block the animal's face so he couldn't laugh at it.
"Look, it was the last thing I ate before I died, okay?" It finally jumped off and relieved him of the intense weight. Instead, it bit on his sleeve and tugged him, probably forgetting that it had sharp teeth and just tore the fabric away instead. "Come on! You've been unconscious for so long already!"
Joshua obliged and slid off the strange bed he was on. He glanced around the round-shaped space; it was like a bedroom he would've decorated in his dreams, where he had unlimited money and design freedom. Everything was brilliantly gold and almost blinded him, especially the weaponry nearby. They were displayed on small podiums, where they hovered up and down and slowly spun. There must've been at least five different types of swords on there.
Then, he spotted a long mirror and caught a glimpse of his new body. He almost got whiplash at the difference from his last mission; he was full of muscle, toned, and buff. There were scars and scratches all over, with the most noticeable on his stomach, of course.
His hair was still long, though the style was strange. The length reached the back of his knees with the next layers at his hips, then chest—it looked almost like a jellyfish. He even thought that he sported red hair when he first opened his eyes. However, it was just the result of his blood; his hair was almost white with a cool, golden shine. Safe to say, he was hot. Well, he always was.
"Where am I?"
Mi Goreng—what a stupid name—tilted its head. "What do you mean, Host? This is your room! Didn't you see it in your memories already?"
Joshua shook his head. He hadn't seen anything. Hell, he barely even saw The Interface. However, the memories should've come on their own, like they always had. Major ones would be experienced again, while minor ones would just appear in his head—yet there were none of either. Right now, it was as if he were a blank slate, with nothing but a character sheet to go by.
His eyes moved to the screen in the far distance, tucked away behind a tall, potted plant. After a prolonged gaze, it eventually shifted closer.
Ding!
Your psychological health is affecting the distribution of memories, [SYSTEM 1230].
"Haa… haha! Ha—haha!"
"H-Host! What's gotten into you?"
He wiped the single tear from his cheek and smiled. It was his widest grin to date, but he didn't look happy in the slightest. Instead, he just looked like a madman. "I wonder whose fault that is."
Ding!
Apologies, [SYSTEM 1230]. The Interface only acted according to the penalty.
It was true, he knew that. He was the one who made the deal with The Interface and accepted the conditions without a second thought, but he couldn't help how he felt. It was unfair. It was cruel. It was his mistake. Even now, he couldn't help but wonder what happened when he left—when his body died in the middle of that busy street, witnessed by his poor child for the second time. The only thing that eased his mind was the fact that she wasn't alone this time.
What a fool. If he had stayed as he was, as the impassive system that worked day in and day out, he could've saved himself so many heartbreaks. He was so close to his goal, but now, he wasn't even sure if he wanted it anymore.
"Host?" Mi Goreng repeated. Wow. Way to ruin the immersion, Mi Goreng. "Are you okay? Please don't pass out again! Who knows when you'll wake up next?"
Joshua shook his head. "I won't. How did you even get here?"
The lioness turned and looked at the open window. He walked closer and looked out, just to realize that he resided in a tower, way above ground level. Sure, a lioness jumped up into his room.
Whoosh!
A gust of wind blew his hair back, entangled in his arms, and flowing gently.
The view was foggy, and he could see what seemed like the end of the land he was on, almost as if he were on a floating cloud. It was such a beautiful sight that he had forgotten about Mi Goreng's ludicrous claim of entry and instead leaned against the wall to admire the outside. His enjoyment was short-lived, however, as an iridescent light suddenly blinded his vision.
He was yanked away from the window and dragged all the way across the room by a white mist around his stomach, until he hit what he thought was the door.
Joshua blinked slowly. "It's you again."