C1 The System That Fell from the Sky

Early in the morning, as Tilmon opened his eyes, he found himself contemplating suicide for the thirtieth time.

Why the thirtieth time?

It all began when he graduated from college.

...

Not long ago, brimming with joy, Rinn had invited his girlfriend Florence out to dinner, only to be met with a breakup speech.

"After graduation, it's time for us to go our separate ways. Tilmon, let's break up..."

Florence's words left Tilmon reeling. "Florence, didn't we plan on building our future together in Xingyang City after graduation? Why are we splitting up now?"

With resolute determination, Florence replied, "My father found me a job back home. I need to return..."

"I can go back with you!"

That's what Tilmon wanted to say, but Florence didn't give him the chance to speak and walked away.

By the time Tilmon snapped back to reality, Florence had disappeared. He reached for his phone to try and salvage the situation, only to be shocked to discover:

Florence had blocked his number!

It was clear to Tilmon that he had been dumped.

...

Armed with a diploma from a less prestigious university and the scars of a failed romance, Tilmon made his home in Xingyang City.

He took a job in real estate sales, donning a suit and leather shoes each day, looking sharp and respectable. Yet, his salary was so meager it made him long for the allowance his parents used to give him.

Tilmon considered quitting multiple times, but the thought of Florence spurred him to keep striving.

"Florence, you refused to bring me home to meet your parents because you look down on me!"

"You think you're better than me, don't you? Well, I'm going to excel in sales, climb the ranks, and get those raises! I'll make sure I'm not worse off than you!"

Amidst his internal rallying cry, Tilmon's heart sank as he caught sight of two customers.

"Florence! I always said you should've left Tilmon for me sooner! You never believed me..."

"Woodie, you claimed you'd buy a house right after college. Who would believe that?"

"Haha! So, do you believe me now?"

"Absolutely, but remember, I wanted to buy a house first, then start a relationship. Later on, we can visit my parents..."

A couple approached, the man tall and dashing in a sharp suit, the woman petite and strikingly attractive.

Under normal circumstances, Tilmon, a salesperson, would have eagerly approached to pitch a property.

But in that moment, his eyes red with anger, he bellowed, "Woodie, Florence, you two scoundrels!"

The couple jumped at his words.

"Tilmon, what are you doing here?" Woodie asked, guilt-ridden.

"Tilmon, have you started in sales now?" Florence asked, her tone dripping with scorn.

"Florence! Is this your idea of going back home?" Rinn fixed Florence with an angry stare.

Florence faltered, guilt flashing across her face, but she quickly retorted with a sneer, "Rinn, haven't you figured it out yet? The incompetent always find excuses. It's the wise who look within for reasons!"

Before Tilmon could respond, she added, "Leaving you was simple. You couldn't make me happy, but Woodie can!"

Tilmon's eyes grew even redder.

Knowing his ex-girlfriend's fiery temper, he turned his attention to Woodie and said, "I thought of you as a brother, and this is how you repay me?"

"I..." Woodie trailed off, offering only an awkward, sheepish smile.

"Tilmon, before you start pointing fingers, have you ever taken a good look at yourself?" Florence said, coming to Woodie's defense.

Tilmon fell silent, his gaze lingering on the two 'familiar faces' before him as a wave of revulsion swept through him.

"If I were five years younger, you'd both be on the ground by now. But I've grown up. A vile, shameless man and a brazen hypocrite—hitting you would only sully my hands!"

With one last bloodshot glare, Rinn walked away, his resignation and pride in tow.

He had thought his actions might stir some remorse in them.

But the truth was quite the contrary.

"Does this loser really think he's something?" Florence said with contempt as she watched Tilmon walk away, spitting, "He's got no talent but still puts on airs. He deserves to live in squalor!"

"Haha! These poor folks are always so bitter. They'll get over it. Come on, Florence, let's keep looking at houses! After that, I've got to get back to my games. The legendary Divine Kingdom has just launched..."

Woodie wrapped his arms around Florence's waist, a trace of fear still evident in his voice.

...

After his heartbreak, Tilmon stopped job hunting and fully embraced the life of an unemployed drifter. By chance, a new game called "Divine Kingdom" emerged. Despite being in beta testing, Tilmon got a chance to play and was instantly captivated.

In a society brimming with advanced technology, innovative and highly realistic games were being released one after another.

Tilmon had played many games, but in his eyes, they were all inferior to "Divine Kingdom."

Adventure, romance, character development, mystery...

"Divine Kingdom" combined the best elements of countless games, setting a new standard in gaming excellence.

Caught up in the excitement, Tilmon played obsessively, neglecting sleep and food, determined to become a pro gamer, reach the pinnacle of success, and marry the woman of his dreams.

But before his aspirations could take flight, another all-night gaming session ended abruptly with the beta test's closure, and the game went offline.

In a cruel twist of fate, the stress was too much for many players, including Tilmon, who tragically passed away.

...

But Rinn hadn't truly "died." He had been transported to another world, becoming part of its fabric.

Armed with his extensive knowledge of web novels, Rinn kept a level head. He adapted to his new body and accepted his new reality. After a few days of exploration, he stumbled upon an astonishing secret—he was now in the world of "Divine Kingdom."

He found himself in Snakefield, one of the game's novice village strongholds.

The original owner of his body, also named Rinn, was a fourteen-year-old boy with unremarkable looks, working as an apprentice blacksmith in the town.

Had the tragedy not struck, the timid and bashful Rinn might have grown up content and happy.

But fate had other plans. His father, a seasoned hunter, succumbed to a chronic illness, leaving Rinn motherless and alone.

The first to offer Rinn shelter in the village was the blacksmith, John.

The venerable old man, stroking Rinn's head, said, "Child, from now on, you'll live with me. I'll train you to be a blacksmith!"

Rinn found himself under John's thumb.

He had believed John to be a kind and warmhearted soul, expecting a life of happiness by his side. But reality was a harsh mistress.

John, much like Rinn's own father, was a hardened alcoholic who, in his drunken stupors, would lash out at Rinn with violent intent.

During one such episode of abuse, a blow to the head from John ended Rinn's life. The drunkard merely spat out, "Useless thing," before collapsing in a drunken heap.

Ironically, it was Rinn's death that triggered his transmigration.

"From this moment forward, I am Rinn."

From that point on, Tilmon cast aside his birth name, adopting the name Rinn as his own.

He had assumed that as a transmigrator, thriving in this new world would be a breeze.

After all, didn't every transmigrator in the novels have a 'golden finger' that assured their dominance over continents like Eriya?

But Rinn's reality was far from golden. The much-anticipated golden finger never materialized, and John's brutality only escalated with each passing day.

"Rinn! You brainless amoeba! I asked for black iron stone, not flintstone!"

"Imbecile! At fourteen, you can't even lift a hammer. Were you raised on a diet of mud?"

"All you're good for is ogling my daughter, you worthless scum! A wretch raised by a drunkard like you doesn't even deserve to fantasize about her!"

Day in and day out, Rinn endured John's savage beatings and vile insults.

He could have borne the abuse if there was some justification—after all, he was a man of reason.

But John needed no reason to strike.

The mix-up with the black iron stone was an honest mistake; Rinn had only recently arrived and was barely acquainted with the craft of forging. How could he be expected to know the materials?

And his inability to wield a hammer? Surely his malnourished, frail frame made that understandable.

As for the accusations of spying on John's daughter, Rinn was innocent. He had never even laid eyes on the so-called 'beauty.'

As a child who grew up in an era of peace, Rinn had never known such hardship.

The pain tormented him daily, and his slight frame left him powerless to fight back against John.

"Master John! This isn't right! We're blacksmiths; we should be hammering iron, not people..."

Tilmon, in utter despair, even began to plead with John.

"You son of a drunkard, you think you've grown bold! Daring to lecture me! I'll beat you to a pulp!"

John's hand, large as a fan, came crashing down in a rage.

"Smack smack smack!"

...

The next morning, Rinn woke to find his face swollen as he looked in the mirror.

"No golden finger, no gorgeous heroine, and now I have to endure the daily abuse from this NPC! I can't take it anymore!"

His disfigurement sent Rinn into an emotional tailspin.

He felt his Earth-born soul was ill-fitted for life on this barbaric land.

"I want to return to Earth! I vow to give up my internet addiction and get a real job!"

Tears in his eyes, Rinn set out to find a way home.

After much thought, he realized there was only one way back—death.

Finally, after nearly a month of hesitation, Rinn resolved to seek an opportunity for suicide.

...

The morning mist was denser than usual.

A mountain chicken cooed in the distance.

Rinn rose from bed with utmost care, silent as a shadow.

His roommate, Quinn, lay drooling in deep slumber, his pillow soaked.

"This NPC gets beaten every day, yet he sleeps without a care. The native's soul must be shackled. Only I, a modern spirit, dare to pursue freedom."

Filled with a sense of grandeur, Rinn pushed open the door, resolute in his quest for death.

An ancient well stood in the courtyard's heart, a relic from the time of John's grandfather.

Rinn felt it discourteous to use such a heritage for suicide.

But he was out of options.

After all, no one in the village would offer a well for such a purpose.

"Damn it, John! You just wait. Once I'm back in my own world and hit level 30 in the game, I'm going to camp out at the newbie village just to kill you every single day!"

Despite his internal rant, Rinn's face remained serious and composed.

He closed his eyes, ready to leap into the deep well.

Suddenly, a sequence of sounds echoed in his ears.

[Beep. Host detected.]

[Binding to host.]

[5%...]

[50%...]

[100%...]

[Binding complete. The system is now assigning a main quest.]

[The Eriya Continent enjoys a flourishing, tranquil civilization. It has been detected that an impending invasion by 'players' will soon threaten to shatter this peace. Thus, the Eriya Continent is in dire need of a dawn-bringing hero! Host, please swiftly enhance your power to become that hero, with the ultimate objective of annihilating or subjugating all players. Reward upon mission completion: Unknown.]