Limitless Evolution With My Character Merge System

Chapter 2: Transmigration As The Weak MC

'Ugh, my head… feels like its splitting apart.'

Alden winced, holding his head as he tried to bear and calm the raging storm of pain taking place within.

His head felt heavy like big stones were tied around for him to carry.

Now, he was enduring a terrible headache unlike any he had ever experienced in his life.

"I need more sleep," he whispered in a weak tone, struggling to pry open his heavy eyelids. "After months of my sleepless project, I definitely need that friend called sleep."

Even the simplest action like opening his eyes felt like an impossible task right now.

What the heck? In addition, he felt pain coursing through his entire body. It was as though his flesh were being pierced by thousands of needles, with every inch of his skin screaming in agony.

"Look! He is finally waking up."

"Hehe, the weakling has been unconscious for close to an hour."

Surprisingly, he could hear various voices, which he found strange.

Where are these people from?!

He couldn't recall allowing anyone into his house... and it was impossible for anyone to enter without his permission.

As far as he remembered, he hadn't shared his security password with anyone since he purchased the place a year ago.

So, how did they all get in?

It was confusing, he could not reach any conclusion as his mind was in disarray. In fact, the more he tried to think, the worse his headache became.

'Who are they...?' The thought clouded his mind as he blinked against the blinding sunlight, struggling to open his eyes.

Finally, after numerous attempts, his vision managed to open and his heart skipped a beat.

Looking around, he appeared completely confused, struggling to comprehend what was going on.

What was happening?

Where was he?

....!

His surroundings were nothing like he expected.

A vast bluish sky stretched overhead. It was confusing.

He should've woken up within the familiar confinement of his mansion.

But that wasn't even what shocked him or rather that worried him the most.

Looking around himself, he saw various faces gazing down at him, their expressions a mix of amusement and disdain. It was then that he realized he was lying on the ground the whole time, his body covered in dirt.

Who are these people? How did I arrive here? A flurry of questions erupted in his mind all at once.

He frowned, straining to remember everything and how it all got to this.

Trying hard to remember but all he could recall was sitting at his work desk, typing furiously to bolster his system's security, the glow of his screen casting eerie shadows across the dark room.

He was so exhausted, his body itching and desperate for sleep which he was resisting until was sure that his system's security was secure.

Wait!

And then he remembered.

His blood ran cold as he recalled the very last moment when a sharp seizure had gripped his heart.

Alden's mind squeezes in worry, desperately searching for answers.

Then like a hammer, a single thought struck him hard.

'No… This can't be real.'

'I transmigrated into that trashy novel?!'

Panic overwhelmed his mind and his face turned pale with dread as memories surged back.

Then he also remembered the anonymous messages he received.

He tried to banish the thought, insisting it must be a dream. But he couldn't fool himself, could he? This was far too real to be merely a dream.

He had read countless transmigration and reincarnation novels. That was how it always happened.

But to live within one? That was a nightmare he never desired.

Ahhhh! He pinches himself and it hurts like mad. It was a real pain.

No way, this was insane!

He could have denied it, but his surroundings also left no room for doubt. Everything—the scene, the atmosphere matched perfectly with the novel he had read.

He remembered this place now.

It was Chapter thirteen from the so-called book 'Heavenly Path Awakened'.

With his sharp memory, he recognised the place.

The realization slammed into him like a hammer. It wasn't merely any scene from the novel, it was the scene...

...The one in which Sammy, the protagonist was bullied and then developed a heart demon that began to affect his mentality, making him doubt himself and look down on his own worth.

The story was complicated and difficult to follow which was why he called it trash. Alden could already feel the weight of the trash plot pressing down on him.

The details flooded back: Sammy, plagued by one setback after another. His talent had never awakened and his childhood sweetheart had betrayed him, leaving him for a powerful rival.

Even his twin brother had turned his back on him.

Why this story? Why me?

Alden's heart sank further.

He looked up with a deep sigh and whispered, "I would prefer to be a random side character than this protagonist."

Sammy had been powerless. Useless. In the end, he had given up on himself, earning the title of the story's greatest failure—a pitiful existence that Alden wanted no part of.

"Arghhh!"

Just as he was lost in thought, a sudden kick to his stomach made him groan hard in pain.

It was then that he realized people were gathered around him, their laughter echoing in his ears.

"Welcome back to the land of the living, Grandmaster Weakling!"

"Did anyone notice he was mumbling to himself?"

"Looks like Ranno knocked the last bit of sense out of him," a mocking boy's voice called out from the back, triggering laughter from the crowd.

Alden coughed in pain, clutching his stomach and leaving him gasping for air.

He tilted his head slightly to locate the source of the voice, only for his eyes to lock with those of a tall, muscular boy with a dark sneer on his face. His short black hair and sharp features gave him the bad boy vibe.

'This must be the Ranno they are talking about,' he concluded in his heart.

Ranno stepped closer and said, "What's the matter, Sammy? Does the dirt feel like your bed or are you simply too weak to move?"

Alden didn't respond, his mind still in conclusion to piece together what was unfolding.

"Let me make this clear," Ranno stated, crouching so that their faces were the same range. "Spar with me or I'll keep pounding you into the dirt. The choice is yours, Grandmaster Weakling."

The crowd cheered as Ranno stood up, crossing his arms like a king surveying his subject. "Come on, 'Grandmaster' Show us what you've got! Or are you just going to remain there in the dirt?" He mocked.

Another voice added, "He's so bad at fighting that he might just pass out before the spar even begins!"

Alden gritted his teeth as he attempted to rise from the ground.

Every muscle of his screamed in pain, while his legs trembled as though they might give him out at any moment.

He knew Ranno's character so well. He wouldn't allow him to go away without exacting humiliation or something worse.

In the novel, Ranno regularly bullies Sammy.

The only option was to fight back, even though his weak body already bore the scars of injury. If he refused, Ranno would likely keep his word, beating him until he passed out again.

Slowly rising to his feet, he took a deep shaky breath, feeling the crowd's eyes bore into him like daggers.

'I need to figure out how to survive this.'

"Watch out, grandmaster! Be careful, a gust of wind might send you flying!" someone yelled from the crowd.

The crowd stood there, clearly mocking him like he was some kind of alien.

"Fine," Alden muttered, brushing off some dirt from his body. "Let's get this over with."

There were different reactions among the crowd. Some hold their stomachs in laughter while others lean forward with eager eyes, enjoying the show.

To them, it was as if they had just heard the funniest, most stupid joke ever.

A few stood quietly at the back, their expressions blank, unsure whether to show sympathy for him or join the others in the mockery.

With an unsteady stance, Alden raised his fists or rather, flailed them in what he assumed was a fighting stance.

Yet deep in his mind, he knew he had never thrown a punch in real life, let alone fight against someone like Ranno who was an experienced street fighter.

"Finally decided to grow a backbone, huh?" Ranno mocked, cracking his knuckles with a menacing grin. "Let's see if you can last more than a second against me."

THUD!!!

A punch to his face sent him crashing back into the dirt.

Ahhhhh! He groaned in pain, his nose beginning to bleed.

He didn't even get a glimpse of how Ranno got to him so fast, let alone see his blow itself.

Just as Ranno was about to pounce on him to deliver another blow, a commanding voice rang out from afar.

"Stop that!" "What is wrong with you guys?"

The crowd fell silent, their heads turning in unison toward the figure approaching from the distance.