I Leveled Up Faster Than The Gods Themselves
Chapter 1 The One Who Shouldn't Have Died
The rain hammered Tokyo with a ferocity that mirrored the jagged shards of glass strewn across the city's underbelly, each drop a reminder of the chaos that lurked around every corner. The neon lights that adorned the buildings flickered erratically, casting garish reflections on the slick asphalt as if the city itself were drowning in a sea of its own turmoil. Ryn Arcten sprinted through the tempest, clutching a battered delivery case to his chest with a desperation that bordered on mania it felt like his only lifeline in a world that seemed determined to spit him out.
Tonight was a pivotal moment-one missed payment could spell disaster, a catastrophe that would ripple through every facet of his existence. Each echoing footfall against the hard-ground was punctuated by the urgent buzz of his phone, vibrating violently in his pocket. His heart sank as he read the screen- Final Warning Payment Overdue. Anger fueled his voice, which was soon lost in the cacophony of rain, as he cursed into the storm, his frustrations mingling with the heavy downpour. Rent loomed over him like a silent executioner. No matter the speed or vigor with which he ran, the city's mechanical arm was relentless it was always two steps ahead, ready to swallow him whole without so much as a second thought.
Driven by sheer necessity, he veered into a narrow alleyway, a constricted passage that seemed to draw him closer to the shadows. He clambered up a crumbling fire escape-gripping the cold, rust-covered steel rails with fierce determination. Climbing to the rooftop, he burst through the worn door and stood atop a six-story building, the world sprawling out beneath him like a wounded beast, its flickering lights struggling valiantly against the all-consuming storm. He was supposed to deliver one last package, a token of hope in this dark night-but of course, the address had inexplicably vanished from the system, leaving him frustrated and questioning his own existence.
Breathing heavily, he released the case onto the rooftop, the thud echoing in the solitude. Rain pelted his skin like icy needles, each drop a harsh reminder of his frail humanity. "I'm ordinary," he whispered to himself, gazing at the tumultuous sky. "Replaceable. Invisible." This bitter mantra had become second nature, reverberating through his mind until it nearly convinced him of its undeniable truth.
And then, without warning, everything changed.
The lights around Tokyo blinked out in an instant-the city's heartbeat stuttered. Streetlamps sputtered, neon signs flickered, and windows plunged into profound darkness, as if the world itself had taken a breath and simply stopped. The storm grew louder, the roar swelling around him with an approving ferocity, as though nature herself were present, an audience witnessing his plight.
It was in that eerie moment that he saw her.
In the intersection below, amidst the chaos, stood a girl, her bare feet planted firmly on the drenched asphalt. She wore a flowing white dress that shimmered strangely under the fading light, and her silver hair danced like ethereal tendrils caught in the wind. She wasn't simply standing there she was waiting, a palpable energy radiating from her, and Ryn instinctively knew that she was the architect of this blackout, a silent judge testing his resolve.
"Do you see me?" she called, her voice piercing through the rain and cacophony, crystal clear and unwavering.
Before he could form a response, a sudden burst of headlights surged toward her-a truck, careening out of control like a predator zeroing in on its unsuspecting prey.
"Move!" Ryn screamed, his instincts kicking in as he vaulted over the railing without a moment's hesitation. Time seemed to slow the rain morphed into needles that stung his skin, while the wind wrapped around him like a blade. The edges of the cityscape twisted and spiraled away as gravity claimed him in its relentless grasp.
There was a gut-wrenching impact. Pain shot through him like lightning, and then, abruptly, there was nothing.
He awakened in an otherworldly expanse of infinite white-floating, weightless, enveloped in a silence that blanketed all.
The girl materialized again, more radiant than before, her luminous eyes holding the secrets of entire galaxies. "You weren't meant to jump," she murmured, her calm demeanor tinged with an odd blend of sadness and understanding.
"You… caused the blackout," he stammered, confusion washing over him as fragments of memory flickered like lighting.
She neither confirmed nor denied it, merely stating, "It wasn't intended for you. Yet, the universe bore witness to your choice, Ryn Arcten. The very fabric of reality-those rules the gods adhere to-have now been shattered."
Runes sprang to life around them, glowing with an ancient energy that seemed to pulse with a primordial rhythm. Power surged through his being, raw and intoxicating, overwhelming every sense he possessed. In that moment, he felt the ordinary identity he had so meticulously worn like a shroud peel away, layer by layer, revealing something potent and extraordinary beneath.
"The world doesn't merely exist," she spoke softly, the intensity of her gaze locking onto his. "Sometimes it waits for a soul daring enough to reshape it in its own vision."
"What happens now?" he questioned, his voice trembling as both awe and fear gripped him.
"You've been granted another chance," she replied, her eyes shimmering with a mixture of hope and foreboding. "A new world awaits you. However, know this each choice you make will resonate across realms that are yet unknown to you."
Light enveloped him entirely, and he was gone.
When Ryn opened his eyes once more, the familiar scent of rain was replaced by an electric freshness that invigorated his senses. Twin suns blazed fiercely in a cerulean sky, illuminating endless fields of radiant grass that swayed gently as if welcoming him. The ground shimmered beneath his boots, alive and warm, beckoning him forward.
Nearby lay a sword, its blade glinting in the sunlight, humming softly as if it recognized him. He reached out, fingers brushing the hilt, feeling a surge of potential pulsating within him. Strength, speed, purpose-they flowed in his veins like a new lifeblood. He was no longer the same he was transformed. Stronger. Faster. Different.
"A world abandoned by its gods, huh?" he muttered to himself, a smirk beginning to form as he contemplated his newfound freedom. "Well, I guess that makes two of us."
But his moment of introspection was swiftly shattered as a harrowing scream pierced the air-a cry filled with human desperation, unmistakable in its urgency. Instinct flared within him like a fire, igniting every sense. Adrenaline surged through his body, propelling him forward.
Ryn grasped the sword tightly its weight felt right in his hands, perfectly balanced as if it were an extension of himself. His legs sprang into action, each stride echoing with the weight of choice and consequence, leading him toward an unknown but fateful confrontation.
"If the gods won't protect them," he growled fiercely, his voice resonating with a newfound determination, "then I will."
He sprinted forward, not merely in pursuit of survival, but rather with the fervor of someone chasing after destiny itself. His legs propelled him toward an extraordinary world that had patiently awaited the arrival of an individual-someone either audaciously foolish or incredibly brave-who would dare to reshape its very fabric. All around him, a nascent beginning began to awaken, a vibrant energy humming in the air, enticing him with the promises of epic battles and spine-tingling decisions that would put to the test every boundary and limitation he once believed to be insurmountable.
The landscape ahead shimmered with possibilities, each step he took resonating with the weight of history and the thrill of the unknown. He could almost hear the distant echoes of heroism and sacrifice, the whispers of those who had come before him and left their marks on the tapestry of time. It was as if the universe itself was holding its breath, anticipating the monumental choices that lay ahead, choices that would not only determine his own fate but could also shift the very course of existence.
This exhilarating journey was just the opening chapter of a tale yet to be told, a saga filled with unforeseen twists and turns, where every moment could ignite a revolution or lead to ruin. The air was thick with potential, and he felt the exhilarating pulse of adventure thrumming beneath his skin, urging him onward into the unknown. Yes, this was merely the beginning-just the first taste of an extraordinary adventure that would challenge him in ways he could scarcely imagine.
To be continued...