The dim glow of the hospital room's fluorescent lights flickered slightly, casting eerie shadows on the white walls. The steady beeping of the heart monitor was the only sound accompanying Alex as he lay in bed, fingers tapping rhythmically on his gaming laptop. His once athletic body had withered over the years due to his illness, leaving him looking frail, but his mind was as sharp as ever.
Alex was engrossed in "Etheron Chronicles," an MMORPG that had taken the world by storm. He had played halfway through the game, mastering its mechanics, uncovering deep lore, and optimizing strategies.
"Damn, this boss is a pain in the ass," Alex muttered, his fingers flying across the keyboard.
The enemy he was currently fighting was one of the most infamous mid-tier bosses—Vicarus, the Shadow Tyrant—a foe known for his unpredictable attack patterns and frustrating mechanics. Alex had fought him dozens of times, but tonight was different. He was determined to achieve a flawless victory.
"Come on, just a little more…" Alex grinned as Vicarus's health bar dropped to its final sliver.
Then, suddenly, everything went black. His vision blurred, his head felt like it was splitting apart, and an unbearable pain surged through his body.
"W-What the…?"
The last thing he saw was the image of his character collapsing before a GAME OVER screen flashed before his eyes.
---
When Alex regained consciousness, the first thing he noticed was the warmth of sunlight filtering through the wooden window. A cool breeze rustled the curtains, filling the air with the scent of fresh earth and morning dew.
'Wait… where the hell am I?'
He sat up abruptly, only for a sharp pain to pierce through his skull. Memories—foreign yet familiar—began flooding his mind. He clutched his head as waves of information assaulted him.
Alex Dragonheart.
An orphan. A nobody. A boy who had lost everything.
The memories blended together, showing him glimpses of his life in this world. His parents had disappeared when he was just twelve, leaving him and his younger sister, Lily, alone. At first, their neighbors had seemed kind, but that facade soon crumbled. Their so-called well-wishers took everything—their home, their money—forcing the siblings into the slums.
Lily had fallen ill a year ago, and Alex had been doing everything he could to earn money for her treatment.
'Lily… my sister…'
As the pain in his head finally subsided, something strange happened—he felt an overwhelming sense of responsibility and love for her, stronger than anything he had ever experienced before.
'These aren't just memories… They're emotions, too.'
It wasn't just knowledge of the past; it was as if Alex Dragonheart's lingering thoughts and emotions had fused with his own, affecting the way he felt and thought about people.
He clenched his fists, his breathing heavy. He wasn't just some guy who had taken over a body—he was Alex Dragonheart now, in every way that mattered.
Looking around the modest room, he could still feel the struggles and desperation of his past self. The wooden walls, the creaky bed, the old desk with scattered papers—it all felt too real to be a dream.
Then, a single thought crossed his mind.
"System."
A soft chime echoed, and a translucent blue screen appeared before him.
---
[Status Window]
Name: Alex Dragonheart
Rank: Novice (Low)
Bloodline: [Unawakened]
Physique: [Unawakened]
Class: none
Talent: [Dual-Soul Resonance] (Enhanced learning speed, intuition, and adaptability)
Strength: F
Agility: F+
Endurance: F-
Mana: F
Mana Capacity: F+
Will: B
Charm: B+
Luck:???
Skills: [Basic Swordsmanship (F)],
[Basic Mana Control (F)],
[Dodge (F)],
[??? (Sealed)]
---
Alex stared at the screen in disbelief. This was just like a game.
Then, his gaze shifted to his physique and bloodline. Both were unawakened.
'Wait… what?!'
His eyes widened in shock. Having either a bloodline or a physique was already an extreme rarity, something only prodigies and legendary figures possessed. But having both? Even if they were unawakened, it was unheard of.
'Just who was this guy supposed to be?'
His mind raced, but there were no answers. If this was a game character, he should have at least been mentioned in the lore, right? And yet, he had never heard of Alex Dragonheart before.
He let out a deep sigh, rubbing his temples. His stats were abysmal, but at least his charm stat was oddly high.
But even more than that—he could still feel the emotions of the previous Alex, his love for Lily, his resentment toward those who wronged them, and his desperate determination to keep going.
This wasn't just about adapting to a new life. This was his life now.
"Guess I won't have trouble making friends," he muttered before chuckling to himself. "At least I've got a single good talent."
With a deep breath, Alex clenched his fists, determination shining in his eyes.
'No matter what, I'll survive… and I'll save Lily.'