Levelling Up the Fallen God

Half of the Survivors (1)

By simply staying still, Hyeseong’s bubbling emotions were instantly washed away. His affliction that had hindered his interpersonal relationships in modern society, proved to be the most powerful weapon in this world.

Having calmed the unrest, he first assessed the situation.

Is this what I’ve become now?

As he lowered his gaze, he noticed a few more details.

The clothes he had been wearing during his part-time job at the convenience store had mysteriously vanished. Instead, he found himself donned in an old-fashioned robe that seemed more fitting for the medieval era. The fabric was remarkably smooth, far superior to any shoddy cosplay outfit.

Hyeseong immediately recognized the owner of the attire. It was the character he had created earlier that morning for his second playthrough—Phinence Bledian, the Iron Monarch.

As soon as he consciously thought of the “status window,” holographic text unfurled before him.

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 Monarch sees through the essence of the world.]

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

A feeling of unease prompted Hyeseong to gently touch his face, realizing that his appearance had changed. Judging by the heightened perspective, it seemed his height had also undergone a transformation.

He was now Phinence Bledian, a crew member traversing the sea of dimensions. He could ascertain that all traces of Kim Hyeseong, who had lived on Earth, had completely vanished.

“….”

The initial bewilderment of having completely transformed into a different being faded quickly. Fear, anxiety, and confusion dissipated, leaving only an understanding of the situation in his mind.

Hyeseong turned his attention to the deck and surveyed his surroundings. He realized he wasn’t the sole person aboard the ship.

“What’s this… Is there a hidden camera?!”

There were still clueless individuals unable to grasp the situation.

“Huh, huh… ugh….”

Ordinary people who were now trembling and completely consumed by panic.

“Where have you brought me? If you don’t explain immediately, you will face my wrath!”

Even an old man donning fantastical attire.

Around ten people were murmuring, oblivious to the abrupt turn of events.

“Am I dead…?”

“If so, is this heaven?”

“These commoners… How dare you disregard my words?! You shall taste the heat to come to your senses!”

Although the words spoken by the people around him were in an unfamiliar language, they all seemed to understand one another without difficulty.

“This must be the common language of this world,” murmured Hyeseong, or rather Phinence, under his breath. The words that escaped his lips were not in Korean either.

Dimensions Sea—in the setting of Sky Islands, it was portrayed as the starting point and destination of all dimensions. Since there were undoubtedly people who had traversed from other dimensions, not from Earth, language integration was necessary.

There are some real characters here who seem to have “escaped” from reality. Like that man who’s wearing the outfit of a beefed-up mercenary and that grumpy old man who looks like a wizard. Maybe they’re just cosplaying?

“Huh? Why isn’t my magic working…?” an expression of bewilderment crossed the old man’s face as he swirled his staff through the air.

Hyeseong could vaguely sense his sentiments. It was only natural that his powers from his original world wouldn’t function here. The reason was quite straightforward.

Phinence Bledian [The Iron Monarch]

[Strength 1] [Agility 1] [Endurance 1] [Magic Power 1]

Upon crossing over to Sky Islands, the four fundamental attributes became fixed for everyone, regardless of their origin. This meant that a martial artist, a hero, or a great wizard from their respective worlds would all start anew from the same baseline.

“What’s happening? My magic isn’t working…”

“Shh, keep it down. You’re being too loud.”

“What did you say? How dare you, a lowly mercenary!”

As the wizard mumbled to himself, the nearby mercenary retorted, initiating an unexpected dispute between the two people who clearly did not hail from Earth.

“That’s right. To us, who have already died, it doesn’t matter if you’re a king or a noble.”

“Died?”

“You seem oblivious, but this is Helheim!” A disheveled young man in leather armor shouted, waving his arms. “It’s the place where you’ll be judged and sent to Valhalla or hell, based on the sins you’ve accumulated in life. From what I can tell, it seems you’ll be headed for the latter!”

“Argh, what…?!”

Ding!

[The trial is about to begin! Prepare for battle!]

“Look at this! The sacred trial to open the gate of Valhalla is about to start!”

As soon as the message appeared, the young mercenary began murmuring words while clasping his hands together. It resembled a ritual reminiscent of making the sign of the cross in Christianity.

However, Phinence was well aware that the forthcoming events had little to do with sanctity. To survive, there was only one thing necessary—mercilessly trampling over others.

“We’re going in soon…!”

Wooooooooossh!

The massive ship, blaring its horn, began to approach the shimmering distortion amidst the sky. It was one of the countless “rifts” scattered across this world’s skies. None knew what lay within until they ventured inside themselves.

In this manner, the ship was drawn into the rift, disappearing from the sky, carrying ten individuals on board.

***

[You have entered a dimensional rift!]

Phinence quietly surveyed his surroundings, taking in the vast plain that stretched out before him in place of the vanished ship. He and the other nine people now stood together on this empty expanse.

The concept of a dimensional rift was that it represented the aftermath of a collapsed dimension. If things remained the same, this plain must have been a peaceful realm before its destruction. Almost like how Earth used to be.

[Tutorial: First Battle!]

[As you navigate through the skies, you will inevitably encounter a rift. A rift is, in essence, the remnants of a dimension that has collapsed! No one knows if precious treasures are hidden inside or if powerful enemies lie in wait.]

[This time, luck is not on your side! Your ship has collided with a horde of vicious goblins within the rift! Good luck…you’ll need it.]

[Victory Condition 1: Be the last survivor]

[Victory Condition 2: Annihilate all enemies!]

Crackle! Crackle!

As the stage commenced, around thirty goblins swarmed in from all directions. Fleeting memories from Phinence’s first playthrough flooded his mind as he observed the goblins encircling their group.

“Just as I expected.”

He had retried the tutorial battle multiple times, trying to fulfill one of the two victory conditions. Though it seemed like players had a choice, the reality was far from it.

“The second condition is a trap.”

Goblins—known as the weakest creatures in RPG games, with the stature of young children—seemed like green devils to the players who had just arrived in this world. Modern humans who had never experienced real combat and never felt the weight of a proper weapon, were no match for these creatures who had firsthand killing experience.

Even though there were some from other worlds here with special abilities, they couldn’t tap into their original powers. It was nearly impossible for a group of ten ragtags to defeat thirty goblins.

“The first option must be the way to go.”

The tutorial was impossible to beat using the usual methods. It took me ten tries before I finally figured out a proper strategy.

In order to survive, I had to avoid engaging in fights and simply kept on fleeing. When the opportunity arose, I snuck up on my own allies who were busy battling the goblins and took them out one by one in the final moments.

Back then, I let out a bitter laugh at the game developer’s twisted sense of humor. But now that the game has become reality, I can’t even force a smile.

“Killing huh…”

The ripples of turmoil that had been spreading within him gradually subsided. Perhaps due to the overwhelming emotions he had experienced throughout the day, his feelings seemed to cool down at a slower pace than usual.

“There’s no other choice…” Taking a deep breath, he calmed his mind. “…but to survive!”

Emotions and instincts were different. It was clear that even insects and microorganisms possessed the instinct for reproduction and survival. Phinence wasn’t completely devoid of emotions; they simply dissipated more quickly. It was only natural for him to take action in order to survive.

At that moment, as he prepared for what lay ahead…

“Hmm?”

His eyes caught sight of something amidst the approaching horde of goblins. One of them stood out with a crimson aura enveloping its entire body.

“What’s that? A red light?”

His gaze fixated on the flickering crimson glow…

[The Monarch’s eyes respond to your will.]

[With keen perception, you have detected the enemy’s threats.]

Information began pouring into his mind.

[Goblin Chieftain]

[Skillfully leads the horde. Defeating the chieftain can momentarily throw the horde into disarray.]

[Outward appearance and physical abilities are no different from regular goblins, making it difficult for those unfamiliar with goblin traits to distinguish the chieftain.]

“Was this even a thing..?”

The existence of the goblin chieftain, along with its radiant aura, hadn’t appeared in his first playthrough. Phinence retraced his thoughts and took a deep breath. His wavering subsided and the crimson aura responded to his will, emitting a faint glow.

If that’s the case, then the meaning of the aura…

“The Iron Monarch’s ability.”

It was said that The Iron Monarch could see the essence of the world with a composed mind. Phinence Bledian’s eyes had seen through the vulnerabilities of the goblin horde.

“It seems only I can see this light.”

A quick survey of his surroundings revealed one more fact. Despite the intense crimson flickering, everyone’s gaze was fixated randomly on different goblins.

“Are they telling us to fight…? Are we…?”

“Ugh…”

However, most were too overwhelmed by the fear of death to even lift their heads properly.

Phinence swiftly assessed the strength of his allies. Eight, including himself, were from Earth, and two were from another world. Aside from himself and the mercenary from the other realm, everyone else was barely standing on trembling legs.

The old wizard had fallen into panic after realizing he couldn’t use magic. And there was no need to check on the condition of the Earthlings who were facing the threat to their lives for the first time.

We’re at a disadvantage. A significant one.

The spreading fear was eroding human willpower, while the malicious goblins eagerly waited for the moment when the humans’ resolve would crumble. With every passing moment, the odds of victory for his allies grew slimmer.

“In the new world, you’ll have to use your true self completely.”

Why is my sister’s voice echoing in my mind right now?

[Death Count: 1053]

Once again, as the first playthrough came to an end, the statistics window lifted its gaze above the surface of memory.

Yes, any hint of complacency leads to death. If I want to survive, I must discard my previous approach. I must seize every opportunity presented and ascend, against all odds, in this hellish world.

[Episode Completion Rate: 11%]

Fortunately, there were still plenty of unexplored paths ahead.

Phinence reminded himself that the more challenging and seemingly impossible the missions on Sky Islands, the greater the rewards. With this in mind, he made the decision to alter his initial plan.

Let’s go for the second option.

A stroke of luck that came by chance. An opportunity for growth.

Isn’t it foolish to just do nothing when there’s a path that leads to higher place?

I will emerge victorious in battles.

He convinced himself.

For a brief moment, he shed any traces of Kim Hyeseong that remained within him and resolved to borrow the consciousness of a man named Phinence Bledian. To achieve victory, he had to become The Iron Monarch and lead them all.

“Everyone, look ahead.”

A chilling voice resonated across the despair-laden field. The commanding presence of the majestic monarch pierced through the fear, reaching the depths of everyone’s eardrums.

Did those words really came out my lips?

Even Phinence was taken aback by the unfamiliar tone of his speech. However, now was not the time to question whether he had truly transformed into the genuine Phinence Bledian. Such trivial matters could be set aside for the moment.

“…!”

One by one, the gazes of those around him shifted. Perhaps it was one of the unique traits inherent in a monarch to captivate everyone’s attention. Indeed, Phinence’s tone and gestures exuded an air of dignity.

“Who are you…?” The old wizard cautiously inquired.

Even he, who had belittled the Earthlings as commoners, couldn’t help but be overwhelmed by the atmosphere emanating from Phinence.

“I possess knowledge beyond your comprehension.”

It was not a lie. He had once reached the summit of Sky Islands and seen things that others couldn’t with the eyes of a monarch.

“I will explain it only once.”

It was solely his responsibility to lead this battle to victory.

“This world is neither a dream nor a fantasy.”

Soon, all eyes converged on him.

“It’s not a game, nor is it virtual reality.”

“…!”

Some Earthlings gasped in surprise, taken aback by the unexpected revelation from a man who appeared as an NPC.

“Reality is what you see. We find ourselves in a life-or-death situation.”

Now, everyone listened intently, their breaths held, focusing solely on Phinence’s words.

“I promise this. If you follow my lead, at least half of you will survive.”

“…….”

It was fascinating. How could trust be instilled in a voice devoid of any evidence? In truth, there was no need for reasons. When it came to leading subordinates, a monarch didn’t require long-winded explanations.

“If you desire to live, heed my words.”

A glimmer of hope began to blossom in the desolate field consumed by despair.