Saga of the Two-World Emperor
Volume 1: A Spark in the Ashes
Chapter 2 – A New Body in the Twilight
It was like ascending from the depths of a dark, cold, bottomless ocean…
Aden's consciousness, once shattered into fragments, slowly began to piece itself back together. The first sensation he felt was not the pain from his grievous wounds, but a sense of alienation… a heavy, unfamiliar feeling from the body that had become the new vessel for his soul.
His eyelids were as heavy as lead, but with all the willpower he had once used to fight in the brutal world of business, he managed to force them open.
The first image that came into view was blurry, gradually sharpening into focus.
It was not the familiar, sleek white ceiling of his penthouse, but a dark wooden ceiling intricately carved with delicate patterns of vines and flowers. It looked ancient, neglected, with cobwebs clinging to the corners. Pale moonlight streamed through a tall, arched glass window, illuminating the dust motes dancing lazily in the beam, like stars in a silent, miniature universe.
The scent that reached his nose was a mixture of damp stone, the cold aroma of old wood, the faint smell of dried herbs placed by the bedside, and the dust that had settled over time. It was the smell of poverty and decay, something he hadn't experienced in a very long time.
Where… am I?
He tried to push himself up, but this body was astonishingly weak, its muscles barely responding. He could only move sluggishly, with great difficulty. He looked down to examine himself… and his heart lurched with a startling realization.
This was not his body.
The hand he raised was pale, with faint green veins visible beneath the skin. The fingers were thin and calloused from wielding a sword, not the hands of a businessman accustomed to the touch of expensive fountain pens. The clothes he wore were just a coarse cotton nightshirt, rough against his skin, not the custom-made silk pajamas he used to wear.
What is this madness… His thoughts began to spiral. Am I not dead? Or is this hell?
The final memories flooded back into his mind… Anna's ice-cold face… the excruciating pain from the knife's thrust… and the chilling whisper of the mysterious system in the throes of death…
"…I agree…"
His final acceptance. A bet made with everything he had left.
As if in response to his thoughts, a translucent blue light materialized in the air before him. It was a rectangular window, floating silently, visible only to him.
Am I hallucinating?
[Two-World Transmigration System is in progress...]
[Connection to host body 'Adrian Walther' successful.]
[Warning: Extreme disparity detected between soul and host body. Commencing memory fusion process to mitigate side effects.]
Before he could brace himself, a massive wave of information crashed into his brain.
It was the images flooding in… the voices echoing… and the profound feeling of inferiority from a young man named Adrian. The second son of the once-glorious but now-fallen knightly family of Walther. His body, frail and plagued by illness since childhood. Scorned by his half-brother, ignored by his stepmother.
And amidst the chaotic memories, one image flashed with brilliant clarity…
A seven-year-old Adrian, lying feverishly in bed, crying silently after being mocked by Demian. Suddenly, the warm, gentle hand of a woman reached out to stroke his head softly. It was his mother, a beautiful woman with perpetually sad eyes. She placed a small, faded wooden carving of a bird into his hand and whispered…
"Remember, Adrian… even a bird with broken wings can learn to fly again… as long as it doesn't give up."
"Argh!"
Aden—or Adrian, now—clutched his head, gritting his teeth against the pain. The memories and emotions of two people merged until they were almost indistinguishable. He could feel the warm tears streaming from the eyes of this body… Adrian's tears for his mother.
When the storm of memories began to subside, leaving only a dull ache, the system window reappeared.
[Current Status]
* Name: Adrian Walther (Soul: Aden)
* Current World: Kingdom of Kairos
* Original World: Valeria
* Transmigration Points: 3/3 (Resets in 6 days, 23 hours)
* Commands: [Return to First World] | [Check Body Status]
His heart pounded in his chest. This was not a dream. It was all terrifyingly real.
"A chance… This is the chance I've been given… A chance for revenge…" he muttered, his voice hoarse and unfamiliar.
The thirst for vengeance still burned in his chest, but it was now suppressed by the staggering reality before him. He was not dead… and he had a way to go back.
His trembling finger reached out, tapping on [Check Body Status].
[Body Status: Adrian Walther]
* Strength: F
* Endurance: F
* Agility: E
* Magic Power: Undetected
* Overall Condition: Severely weakened, chronic malnutrition.
"Hah… hahaha…" Adrian let out a bitter laugh. "Trash… This is even worse than trash."
The word "trash," which Anna had used to brand him, came back to haunt him. But then… a glint of cold, unyielding determination appeared in his eyes.
Yes… this body is trash… but the soul inside… is Aden!
He had started from nothing before. He could do it again. And this time, he had the System as his trump card.
Creeak…
The sound of a creaking door pulled Adrian from his thoughts. He instantly dismissed the system window.
A young girl in a faded servant's dress walked in. She looked to be about fourteen or fifteen. When she saw Adrian sitting up, her emerald-green eyes widened in utter shock and overwhelming joy.
"Y-Young Master! Young Master Adrian! You… you're awake!"
She quickly placed a tray on the bedside table and rushed over. On it was a single bowl of thin oatmeal soup.
"You're really awake! I… I'm so happy! I'll go inform the Lady right away!"
"Wait!" Adrian stopped her. His voice was still hoarse but carried a certain authority that made the girl freeze. This was Lilia, the only servant who remained loyal to him.
Lilia turned back, her expression a mixture of confusion and apprehension. Her young master… seemed different.
Adrian looked deep into her eyes.
"I'm still not feeling well… a bit dizzy. Could you not tell anyone for a while? I'd like to rest quietly first."
He needed to buy time. He had to assess his situation.
Lilia hesitated, but seeing Adrian's pale face, she nodded in concern.
"Of course, Young Master… In that case, please have some soup. The royal physician said you must nourish your body."
Adrian gave a slow nod, his eyes fixed on the simple bowl of soup, then glanced at the system window only he could see… at the words [Return to First World].
This body is too weak, he thought. Revenge in this world will take time. But in my original world… I still have my final trump card.
Returning now was incredibly risky. But the potential reward was immense.
He had made his decision.
"Lilia," he called her name. "Could you leave me alone for a while?"
"Yes, Young Master." Lilia curtsied and quietly left the room.
Once the door was closed, Adrian no longer hesitated. He reached out his finger and tapped the command.
[Do you wish to use 1 point to transmigrate back to the First World? Warning: The body in the First World is in a critically injured and near-death state.]
"Confirm."
He accepted without a second's hesitation.
In the next instant, his body was consumed by light and vanished from the dilapidated bedroom, leaving behind only silence… and a bowl of oatmeal soup that was beginning to grow cold.
(End of Chapter 2)