Limitless Evolution With My Character Merge System

Chapter 3: Heart Demon

Alden could be seen in a dark, narrow alleyway, slowly walking forward in counting steps which was obvious that his body was in pain.

Each step was a reminder of the beating he had endured.

He was lucky that the guard had arrived in time. Without his help, he will probably be lying unconscious on the ground after another round of merciless beating from Ranno.

This was the world of Heavenly Path Awakened, a harsh place where the weak were always disdained and oppressed.

Individuals in this world could awaken unique talents/abilities to manipulate elements, heal, or summon devastating powers.

Even those born without talents weren't entirely hopeless. They could train in martial arts, harnessing their physical progress to grow stronger over time.

But Sammy had none of that. No talent. No potential for training in martial arts. NOTHING AT ALL.

"Damn it," he muttered bitterly, his voice filled with frustration. "Is this RealityKing's way of punishing me for calling his story garbage?"

He had never imagined this happening to him. The things he thought only occurred in stories and movies were now his reality.

Thrown into the world of Heavenly Path Awakened, Alden's mind was consumed by anger.

But deep down, he knew no amount of anger could undo what had already been done.

Now, he had no choice but to play the role of the so-called main character, even if it really disgusted him.

"How am I supposed to survive here?" he uttered. "This world demands greatness, and I've got… nothing."

He was here.

And he was Sammy.

Alden ran a hand through his hair, trying to think. If he wanted to survive, he needed a plan. Something. Anything.

Thump! Thump!

As he was thinking deeply about it, his heart suddenly started beating fast... faster and faster with each passing second.

He was confused.

It felt as if his chest were being squeezed tightly, as though his heart wanted to break free from his chest and jump out.

"Arghh... my heart!"

He grasped his chest, clutching it tightly.

Thump!

~Thump!

The pounding grew louder with every breath. His chest felt heavier, each inhale becoming difficult.

"What's happening—" he stammered, struggling to complete his statement.

His face filled with panic. Sweat dripped down his forehead as his hands gripped his chest, trying to make sense of the strange occurrence happening within him.

Thump~ Thump~ Thump!!!

"Arghhh..."

The thumping wouldn't stop or slow down, it only grew louder and faster, echoing in his ears, as though his heart weren't just beating inside him but all around him.

Breathing and talking were becoming increasingly difficult.

Now, he was completely exhausted. His legs felt as though they could no longer hold him, and his vision was beginning to blur.

Stumbling slightly, he managed to move toward the wall, leaning his body heavily against it for support.

This was abnormal!

Somehow, this feeling was almost identical to the first time it had happened to him.

He hoped it wasn't what he was thinking?!

Alden's heart gave one final, deafening THUMP... his heartbeat suddenly ceased.

With a loud thud, he collapsed to the ground.

When Alden opened his eyes, he found himself in a strange, unfamiliar place.

He would have jumped in fear, but the pain

surging through his body made even moving a struggle.

How...? What...? These kinds of questions filled his mind.

In this place, everything he saw were strange.

The sky was red and there were two suns shining above, both glowing with the same blood-red light.

Even the air, too, was filled with a strange energy that made it difficult to breathe.

The sight of this place was terrifying, sending a chilling sense of danger through him.

Just as he managed to stand, a strange being appeared before him in a flash, sending a jolt of terror through his mind.

It stood only a few miles away, its piercing gaze locked on him.

Calling this thing a "strange being" was insufficient. It better be called a demon.

The strange being stood in a mysterious form, unlike anything Alden had ever seen. Its skin was as dark as the night sky, and its eyes glowed with an unnatural, eerie yellow.

Its horns were long and sharp, pulsing with a strange, red energy that made anyone who looked at them feel dizzy.

A sinister air surrounded it, radiating pure evil. Anyone who looked at it would feel a cold chill run down their spine.

Seeing this terrifying creature in front of him, Alden shivered at its appearance. If he tried running, there was no way he could outrun such a monster.

The strange being rolled its eyes at Alden and then slowly raised its hand, pointing at him. "Hahaha, at last! see who we have here? The weak one."

"Finally, I was able to drag you into this place... Do you think you can escape from my grasp forever?"

Suddenly, the silence was shattered by the deep voice of the strange being that seemed to shake one's very soul. It was as if a multitude of voices were speaking in unison.

"You can't escape from the entrapment of your heart! It's your perfect prison."

Alden stood rooted to the spot, hearing the being's statement.

Heart entrapment!

Those two words rang a bell in his mind, yet he still couldn't fully understand their meaning.

"Nothing but trash. In this world, you're meant to be a stepping stone for others," the being's cruel words rang in his ears.

"Go ahead and kill yourself to stop all the bad talk going around about you. You're useless to the community."

"Death is the best option for you right now..."

"...No one acknowledges your existence."

"....."

.....!

The strange being continued to hurl hurtful words, each one a dagger meant to sow doubt in Alden's heart.

Wait—

This scene...

Finally, he was able to piece things together.

What else could use such hateful words against him other than the HEART DEMON?!

Now that he thought about it, he realized something.

Looking closely at the strange being, he noticed a faint resemblance to himself. One could say that the strange being was the demon version of him.

'Now I understand what is going on,' Alden thought. 'I was brought into a dream world by the heart demon.'

How could he be afraid now? When it's just an ordinary heart demon?!

He was Alden. Not Sammy.

He wasn't like the main character who looked down on himself or let other people's words get to him.

"Too bad that your little trick can't work on—" Just as Alden was about to talk back to the heart demon, there was an interruption.

-[ System online ]-

A translucent screen materialized before him, glowing faintly.