my attempt at orv history

[regression]

overview

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint is a webnovel about the one single reader, Kim Dokja, of... Another webnovel Three Ways to Survive in a Ruined World (aka Ways of Survival). In Ways of Survival, a normal and modern Earth became the next stage of entertainment for Constellations, important and popular figures of history, myths, and media that have transcended as stars in the sky. The plights and ambitions of humans were displayed for the whole galaxy to watch with a streaming service called Dokkaebi Channels which were managed by Dokkaebis themselves, the storytellers that gave scenarios to humans to follow. Many of these scenarios were gruesome and encouraged humans to trample over others to survive and grow stronger however possible, then the consequence of failure was very often death or destruction. Earth was not the only one subjected to this cruel voyeurism; every planet in the galaxy fell victim to the system. This system and "will of the universe" that sold stories of tragedy and hope like a commodity is called the < Star Stream > and it later merged with Kim Dokja's world.

Yoo Joonghyuk is the original protagonist of Ways of Survival. He was once a professional eSports player with a younger sister, but when the < Star Stream > took Earth he became a Regressor, a person that could return to a single point of time and start over after death. Joonghyuk would have regressed 1863 times by the end of the original webnovel. His perceived only goal was to save Earth by destroying the < Star Stream > and every Constellation with it. However, with each attempt, he slowly lost his humanity to the strain of witnessing boundless tragedies, suffering countless betrayals, and losing many he held dear across 1864 lifetimes.

When Dokja's world merged with Ways of Survival, Joonghyuk would only be on his 3rd regression (4th life) which was where the first chapter of Ways of Survival began. It wasn't the complete truth. The Joonghyuk that Dokja met was actually the 1864th regression (1865th life), one regression beyond the character in Ways of Survival, but he suffered from severe amnesia after splitting himself into two and regressing with only a portion of his memories. Eventually, Yoo Joonghyuk did peel that layer of his identity in his journey with Dokja and friends to take down the < Star Stream >, including that he was a character in a webnovel. We later also discovered that Yoo Joonghyuk's mystery sponsor, ???, was the Most Ancient Dream. The Most Ancient Dream was what kept the multiple worlds moving forward and it was also the single reader, Kim Dokja.

The timeline is the following: Kim Dokja exists > Kim Dokja is sent to the 1863rd world-line to kill Joonghyuk (1863) as part of the outer god pact > one half of Joonghyuk (1863) regresses into the Joonghyuk (3/1864) Kim Dokja knows > the Most Ancient Dream (kid dokja) abandons his role > Kim Dokja takes over that role > Kim Dokja watches the world-lines, specifically the 0 Regression > Joonghyuk (0) leads a good and happy life thanks to Dokja and asks to meet him, even making Dokja his sponsor > Joonghyuk (0) takes on the journey of regressing 1864 times to meet Dokja and find the answers to his questions > Joonghyuk regresses 1863 times > Joonghyuk (1863) splits in the altered timeline Dokja tampers with and regresses > Joonghyuk (3/1864) is the one we know today.

Omniscient Reader's Viewpoint is a novel that cycles in a loop, attempting to reach the epilogue that breaks the unending cycle.

story (i'm sorry)

Since Dokja believed this was the 3rd round (and it might as well be if Joonghyuk had amnesia), he tried to ally with Joonghyuk who still retained his humanity. Unfortunately, Joonghyuk was extremely suspicious of others, especially anyone claiming to be a prophet due to past slights, and Dokja who knew the original novel took the brunt of it. It was a rocky start for both of them, but eventually Joonghyuk called Dokja his companion after resolving several scenarios:

█ War of Kings where they waged war against each other and other "kings,"
█ Four Disasters where they either prevented or subdued disasters,
█ Abandoned World where they save Peaceland, a different world with very small people, from other Incarnations (scenario participant, usually human) and Orochi,
█ and the Strongest Sacrifice where they fought Nirvana and their cult while juggling the choice to kill the strongest Incarnation or sacrifice half of Seoul's population.

He even joined Dokja's nebula, the < Kim Dokja Company >, among other allies both new and old.

Yoo Joonghyuk was well aware of how different this regression was from the last and, at dire times, considered abandoning it due to the number of variables that could get in the way. What stopped him was Dokja's words about not seeing this round as a failure. All of Joonghyuk's allies from the previous regression and his sister were still live in this world, so he shouldn't give up. These words stuck with him, pushing him and the < Kim Dokja company > through the scenarios. He witnessed the scenarios come to conclusions in ways he never expected—this was a round where none of his allies needed to be sacrificed. Except for one. Kim Dokja continued to sacrifice his life so the rest of < Kim Dokja Company > didn't have to.

Since this novel is quite long, I will list the later arcs and their objectives simplified. There are a lot more details that are important to the plot, but... Uwoh.

█ Dark Castle - a castle erected in Seoul and bore monsters that infected other humans, turning them into monsters as well. To clear and advance to the next scenario, they must kill the sitting Demon King in the last level. When there was no Demon King to be found, one of them (Kim Dokja despite everyone disapproving) stepped up, the whole group killed the Demon King with a heavy heart.
█ Demon King Selection - the 73rd Demon Realm, distant from planet Earth, was where Dokja took refuge after his Incarnation body died in Dark Castle. The goal here was to return to the main scenario by clearing sub-scenarios. Joonghyuk arrived in the same realm with Uriel's guidance after clearing personal trials, supposedly picking up items and skills though he also came to pick up Dokja. Eventually, the Demon King Selection became part of the main scenario and the group reunited to fight Constellations for the title of the 73rd Demon King.
█ Dokja was rescued by the Secretive Plotter from the outer god that tried to consume the 73rd Demon Realm. They created a pact where Dokja was sent to kill Joonghyuk of a different world, the world of 1863rd Regression Joonghyuk who became everyone's enemy. Dokja desperately looked for another way, but Joonghyuk saw the story of Dokja's world-line where his allies were happy and he didn't need to be the evil. With this new hope, Joonghyuk split into two and regressed to the 1864th regression round.
█ Proof of the Stars - Incarnations were paired up with a magical item, a star, in the center of the room. To win, one must either acquire the star or leave it be. If one were to take the star, they would gain the title of a traitor and be able to either take their allies' fables or have complete control over how they die. Kim Dokja and Yoo Joonghyuk were paired and Joonghyuk had the intention to take the star so that Dokja would never do anything reckless like dying again. They fought and eventually Joonghyuk settled. They won the scenario without taking the star.
█ Context of the Constellations; Gigantomachia - Recreate the battle of Gigantomachia, except Kim Dokja and company incited a full-blown rebellion in the giants to push back against the story. They won against < Olympus > and were rewarded with a fruit that can save one of their dying comrades (Sangah or Sookyoung).
█ Right before they head to Reincarnation Island, the destination of the next scenario, Joonghyuk left the < Kim Dokja Company > to temporarily ally with Metatron, leader of < Eden >. Metatron convinced Joonghyuk to side with good in exchange for a relevant revelation about his origin: the records of a different world-line.
█ Saints and Demons War - a war between < Eden > and Demon Kings. < Kim Dokja Company > participated in attempts to mediate because the fall of either or both good and evil would lead to the Apocalypse - the End. Unfortunately, there were Demon Kings and Constellations that wished to see the ruined End and jeopardized any negotiations between < Eden > and the Demon Kings, triggering the ritual that selected the Apocalypse Dragon that would end the world in only three tail flicks. As a joined front with every single nebula, Constellations and Incarnations alike tried to neutralize the tail flicks. On the very last destructive tail flick, Dokja called for the outer god that looked to consume everything to combat the Apocalypse dragon. Being in the middle of the clash, he hung on by a thin thread while Yoo Joonghyuk, Han Sooyoung, and Jung Heewon came to rescue him. Only Joonghyuk reached him, but Dokja was whisked away by Secretive Plotter... that Joonghyuk obviously fought and lost because he had an identity crisis and wanted to save his friend.
█ Secretive Plotter rescued Dokja again from the Saints and Demons War, revealing their identity to be the original Ways of Survival 1863rd Yoo Joonghyuk that turned into an outer god as part of his conclusion. To return to his friends, Dokja had to increase the outer gods' reputation in the < Star Stream >.
█ Journey to the West Reenactment - while the < Kim Dokja Company > was merely doing this reenactment to gain more power to fill the Final Scenario's prerequisites, Dokja anonymously joined to raise the visibility and reputation of outer gods as a deal with Secretive Plotter. The company fought < Emperor >, then Dokja and Joonghyuk fight the Secretive Plotter..... Yes, Joonghyuk was mad he didn't win the first time against himself.
█ The Final Scenario - They first must vanquish the outer gods that threatened the world. Once the four outer gods have been subdued, they finally entered the Final Scenario where they decided the fate of this world and the next. They were given a choice to enter the ark and be gods of the next world or perish with their world.

Dokja chose to stay with this world and fight the will of the < Star Stream > that wanted them to move on. Joonghyuk and the rest of the company battled their enemies outside the ark, then in the ark, until they finally reach the Dokkaebi King. With the Dokkaebi's fall and the conclusion of the story met, the < Star Stream > dissipated and time stopped. They were guided to take a train to meet the Most Ancient Dream who lived beyond the Last Wall, then return home where time continued to move forward.

Dokja used the skill Avatar, the same skill Sooyoung and Joonghyuk (1863) used, so he could fill in the Most Ancient Dream's seat but also let his friends live their lives with him (the avatar). With Dokja trapped beyond the Last Wall, Yoo Joonghyuk was left with the rest of the company to settle with the illusion of a happy ending. Of course, they didn't settle. Yoo Joonghyuk and the rest of < Kim Dokja Company > dreamed of a way to save their comrade and friend. The only answer is to regress for the 1865th time, except this time they'll go as a group.