Levelling Up the Fallen God

The Starting Point of the Second Life (1)

I often find myself having unrealistic dreams. The content of these dreams is always the same: I keep falling continuously from the empty sky.

As the clouds swiftly glide by within my field of vision, I often ponder how long the descent will last. No matter how much time passed, I catch no glimpse of land or sea. The vast sky surrounds me with nothing but pure white clouds above and below.

I have no idea what awaits me at the end of this fall or what events have led to this plunge. When I awaken, the fragments of the dream become incredibly hazy. I wonder how much longer this strange dream, which has followed me since childhood, will persist.

***

“Please tidy up your desk by the end of the day”

Just three months into his new job, a notice of dismissal arrived. If he were an ordinary office worker, those words alone would have caused his heart to sink. He might have clung desperately to his superior, seeking an explanation.

However…

“Oh, I see.”

Hyeseong’s response to the dismissal was a simple nod. On the contrary, his face remained composed, revealing no trace of surprise. It was as if he had known all along that this would be the outcome.

“It’s not just leaving work, but it’s leaving the company altogether, right?”

“…”

As the door to the manager’s office swung open, silence engulfed the entire office space. Not even the usual sounds of typing could be heard.

Although everyone’s gaze was fixed on their own monitors, their attention was completely drawn to Hyeseong’s footsteps. Feelings of sympathy, jealousy, envy, and superiority swirled in their minds. He had finally decided to leave, unable to adapt to the company’s atmosphere.

Did he have another place to go, allowing him to resign without any regrets? Did he have a backer waiting for him somewhere else? Or perhaps he came from a wealthy family…

However, contrary to everyone’s expectations, Hyeseong had no backup plans in mind. The only place where he could immediately earn some money was through part-time jobs. Apart from his older sister, who was a regular office worker, he had no other family support.

Nonetheless, there were two reasons for his decision to leave the company. Firstly, he didn’t feel much of a sense of crisis about quitting, and secondly, he had come to realize that he wouldn’t be able to survive in that company anyway.

Abiding by unspoken rules, constantly watching his superiors, and engaging in subtle power struggles among colleagues—such tasks were virtually impossible for him, especially given his difficulty in communicating with others.

Inside the bus on his way back home, Hyeseong placed a hand on his chest. Surprisingly, his heart felt entirely at ease. He had briefly wondered if it was okay to leave the manager’s office in that manner, but the sense of crisis melted away like snow as he gathered his belongings.

Accepting the dismissal calmly was not the result of an emotionally charged action; rather, it was because he couldn’t feel any emotions at all.

“Should I have endured a little longer?”

He knew he wasn’t normal. He had been aware since childhood that he was different from others. The first time he realized it wasn’t just “being different,” but rather “being strange,” was in middle school when his divorced parents abandoned him and his sister, disappearing from their lives.

While those around him expressed pity and sympathy, he didn’t feel any particular emotions even at that time. Some claimed that he had changed dramatically due to a severe shock, but that was wrong. He had been the same before that incident.

“I must be the strange one, after all.”

Yes, this was a form of mental illness—a condition where he couldn’t contain emotions beyond a certain capacity within himself.

Happiness, fear, dread, boredom, curiosity—any kind of emotion would naturally vanish once it exceeded a certain threshold. Only a subtle tremor was allowed, but he couldn’t experience emotions strong enough to make his heart pound.

Hyeseong had never burst into laughter or shed tears in his entire life. Therefore, adapting to a company where he had to be mindful of others was impossible for him. Even quitting without a plan failed to evoke any sense of crisis within him.

Would it be different if he won the lottery or witnessed someone’s death right in front of him? But he hardly ever experienced such extraordinary events, so his daily life was simply a monotonous routine.

That night, Hyeseong decided to honestly tell his sister about what had happened during the day. With a seven-year age gap, his sister was the only person with whom he could truly open up.

“I’ve got something to tell you.”

“Yeah? Don’t tell me it’s another one of your dreams falling from the sky?!”

His sister had a peculiar fascination with his strange dreams. She would often inquire if there were any changes or developments in his dreams.

Does she actually believe that dreams are connected to mental illness? I fail to see the correlation.

“No, this time it’s something different.”

Hyeseong proceeded to recount the recent events. His sister’s reaction seemed indifferent.

“Oh, so you quit your job?”

“I got fired.”

Hyeseong mumbled his words slightly, cautious not to let himself feel too sorry, as guilt was also an emotion that could vanish entirely the moment it crossed a certain threshold. Maintaining a calm state of mind was crucial.

“So, for now, I’m thinking of taking up some part-time jobs.”

Upon hearing Hyeseong’s response, instead of reproaching him, his sister offered a faint smile and comforted him.

“Don’t lose heart. You haven’t yet unleashed your ‘true’ potential, you know?”

“Don’t tease me.”

Hyeseong furrowed his brow at his sister’s exaggerated gesture. He felt it would be preferable to hear sharp words rather than such sarcasm. It tended to put him in a foul mood. However, that irritation dissipated as quickly as it arose. At times, such symptoms proved rather convenient.

“I’m being serious. This world is too dull for you. What could make your heart race? It’s only natural that you can’t feel any inspiration.”

“…”

“But I still believe in you. The day will come when you’ll demonstrate your true abilities.”

“When will that day come? When?”

“Well, let’s imagine that suddenly this world turns into a living hell and everyone has to do whatever it takes to survive. You wouldn’t just sit around, would you? That’s when your true worth will be revealed!”

“Don’t be ridiculous again.”

Hyeseong clicked his tongue while cooking in the kitchen. He and his sister were complete opposites when it came to having a mind full of dream-like fantasies, and he wondered how they could possibly be siblings.

“Anyway, since you quit your job, you’ll be free from tomorrow, right?”

“No, I should at least do some part-time work until I find another job.”

“You should take a few months off. No, just a few weeks!”

“Why?”

“Because… Well, do this sister of yours a favor, will you?”

With a strange smile, his sister fiddled with her smartphone and soon a message arrived on Hyeseong’s phone.

Sky_Islands_Test.apk

“What’s this? Sky Islands…?”

“Yeah, it’s our company’s latest game that we developed. I hope you can play it first and give me your feedback.”

“Is it really okay for me to do that? Instead of leaving it to me, you could recruit testers or ask someone from the company.”

Contrary to Hyeseong’s nonchalant reaction, it was his sister who responded more fervently.

“Who else can provide an objective judgment like you? Besides, it’s my first project as the lead planner!”

“Is that so?”

Hyeseong glanced at his sister’s expression. Observing her somewhat crestfallen face, as if she didn’t expect him to know, it didn’t seem like she was lying. If it had been someone else’s request, he wouldn’t have been bothered, but…

“Would it be helpful if I test it?”

“Yes, definitely!”

“Well then, fine.”

Hyeseong cleared a space on the dining table as the game began installing on his smartphone. It was his sister’s request, so he would comply. However, for the time being, he prioritized having a meal.

“Do you really have to do part-time work? You can just play games at home, right?”

Due to his sister’s unconvincing persuasion, Hyeseong failed to notice the mysterious blue aura emanating from the smartphone.

Little did he know that it would be the last time he would ever see his sister’s face.

***

“Sorry, Hyeseong, looks like I won’t be able to come home for a few weeks! Take good care of yourself, eat properly on your own, and be sure to contact me as soon as the testing is over.”

Hyeseong nodded anxiously upon reading the message. He thought, could his sister’s company be an even worse “black company” than the one that fired him?

I’ve heard before that during the release of a new game, employees would be worked overnight, but to be kept away from home for several weeks… Being the lead planner, perhaps she’s even busier than the rest.

Regardless of the circumstances, Hyeseong diligently fulfilled his sister’s request, juggling between working at a convenience store and playing the game.

“It’s kind of fun in its own way.”

The file his sister had sent turned out to be a typical mobile game. The setting was a sky filled with numerous floating islands. The main objective of the game was to become the captain of a flying ship and ascend to higher islands. The ultimate goal was to reach the “Top Island,” where all wishes would come true.

Although the concept of progressing towards higher places was similar to many generic “tower climbing” games, the story that made up the game was surprisingly well-crafted, despite being generic.

Hyeseong quickly found himself immersed in the intricate and vast world.

Was it an illusion? It feels like the threshold for my emotions fading away is slightly higher when playing this game. It was as if it were a real world, with a tangible sense of a virtual world flickering before my eyes.

And so, weeks passed. Hyeseong spent several nights staying up to complete his first playthrough. He had reached the Top Island, the place where everything would be granted.

[You have reached the top of the sky!]

[Ending not implemented…]

Unfortunately, the ending story had not been implemented as it hadn’t been officially released.

[Death Count: 1053]

[Episode Completion Rate: 11%]

After completing the first test play, the settlement window naturally appeared.

“Hmm? Is the completion rate really this low?”

Considering the gameplay statistics, does that mean I’ve only glimpsed a very small part of the game’s world?

It’s not like I skipped the story out of laziness. I sometimes even played with time acceleration using test version cheats. Just how much did they expand the world?

“Should I quickly give the early part another try?”

Hyeseong’s finger slowly moved towards the ‘Restart’ button. With a completion rate that low, he couldn’t justify testing the game. Above all, he felt a fluttering sensation in his chest when he was engrossed in Sky Islands.

Yes, as if he were dreaming. He wanted to confirm whether that sensation was real or just an illusion.

“…”

Ding!

After the opening screen ended, the character customization window appeared.

Players could set their default character, who would become their avatar throughout the game. This setting couldn’t be changed unless starting the game from the beginning, and as the game progressed, the character would develop infinite characteristics and skills.

Hyeseong, who had chosen an ordinary character for the first playthrough, planned to keep resetting until something slightly unusual appeared. And then, it happened.

“Huh? What’s going on?”

A question mark appeared above Hyeseong’s head. No matter how much he touched the arrows, the character model wouldn’t change. The screen that needed to be passed kept automatically returning to its original state.

“Is it a glitch…?”

Hyeseong stared at his smartphone intently.

A dignified man in traditional attire sat on a throne in the center of the screen. With one leg crossed and a regal presence in his orphaned figure, he exuded the aura of a ruler.

The moment Hyeseong saw that man, an inexplicable tremor ran through his chest.

“What is this..?”

He placed his hand on his chest, feeling a trembling sensation he had never experienced before. As if possessed, he immediately examined the information of that character.

Name: Phinence Bledian

Unique Trait: [Iron Monarch] [Grade: S]

[The monarch who remains unswayed by emotions. Dignity is embedded in the tone and gestures.]

[The Iron Monarch sees through the essence of the world.]

[To unleash the abilities, one must maintain composure of the mind.]

[The possessed unique trait is S-Class.]

Well, at least it’s different from the character I chose in the first playthrough, and it doesn’t overlap in concept.

But honestly, I don’t understand what it means to see through the essence of the world. Is it about appraising items? Or having the ability to see through others’ information screens? Or perhaps uncovering hidden elements within the game?

“Stay calm, me.”

As Hyeseong continued reading the explanation, he let out a short laugh.

Isn’t maintaining composure in any situation an undesired skill of my own?

Suddenly, he felt a bit regretful that this was just a mobile game. In reality, he would have made great use of the Iron Monarch’s abilities more than anyone else.

“It doesn’t look bad.”

Actually, there’s no need to dwell too much on any ability. The S-Class trait I saw in my first playthrough was quite rare, like counting on one’s fingers. Having the trait from the start must be a privilege of the test version. So there’s no need to choose a different character.

“Alright, I’ll go with this for the second playthrough.”

Eyes that see through the essence of the world.

For a faster and more effective test play, there was no better trait than this. So he decided to choose the Iron Monarch, Phinence Bledian.

“Phew, for now, let’s take a rest.”

After finishing the character selection, he stretched and laid down on the bed. The clock on his smartphone indicated 4 a.m.

Is my sister already asleep by now? Or is she pulling an all-nighter, nearing the project deadline?

Suddenly, his sister’s request to contact her as soon as he finished the first playthrough came to mind.

“It’s late. I’d better sleep now and call her in the morning.”

Hyeseong, who was about to send a message to his sister, eventually put down his phone.

There’s no point in sending it late at night. She won’t be able to see it, and if the message sound wakes her up, it will only cause problems.

As he let go of his phone, fatigue overwhelmed his entire body.

Click.

After double-checking the alarm settings, Hyeseong fell into a deep sleep. Little did he know that it would be his last night in the real world.