The secret system of the Gallant Heir

I suddenly woke up, drenched in sweat. My body trembled as an intense pain throbbed in my head. It felt like my skull was being split open. Every pulse of pain sent another wave of dizziness crashing through me.

"What... was that?" I gasped, clutching my temples. "Why does my head hurt so much?"

Flashes of unfamiliar memories surged through my mind—faces I didn't recognize, places I couldn't recall. My vision blurred as confusion overwhelmed me. It was like I was experiencing someone else's life, yet the emotions tied to those memories felt painfully real.

"Who... am I?" My voice trembled as I whispered the question. "Where is this place? Who are these people?"

The pain intensified, a searing agony tearing through my skull. I gritted my teeth, trying to make sense of the chaos in my mind.

"Ahhh!" I cried out, gripping my head as the flood of memories threatened to consume me. My breathing grew ragged, my muscles tensed, and for a moment, I thought I would pass out.

Then, just as suddenly as it began, the torment started to fade. The unbearable pressure eased, leaving behind a dull throb. My body was drenched in sweat, my limbs trembling as I slowly pushed myself up from the bed. My hands shook, my mind still spinning from the flood of memories crashing into me.

"I… I am Alex," I whispered, as if saying it out loud would make it real. The name felt foreign yet familiar, like a long-lost truth buried beneath the weight of forgotten memories.

I clenched my fists, forcing myself to focus. "Yes… I am Alex. And I'm from Earth."

The memories resurfaced in fragments—blurry images, whispered voices, and a betrayal that burned deep into my soul.

"They failed to send me properly…" My voice was bitter, laced with quiet rage. "And then they killed me." A mirthless chuckle escaped my lips. "Those bastards really did it, didn't they? But here I am… still alive."

Then, like a knife to the gut, the truth hit me.

"I was part of The Black Hand," I muttered, my grip tightening. Just saying the name sent a wave of unease through me. "I was sent to this world for one purpose—to assassinate the Four Great Family Heads."

I sucked in a shaky breath. "But when the ritual failed… they turned on me. Those bastards didn't even hesitate." My nails dug into my palms. "The moment I became useless to them, they threw me away like trash."

I gritted my teeth, my jaw clenched so tightly it hurt. "So why? Why am I here if the ritual failed?"

And then, another memory surfaced. A dream—no, a nightmare—one that felt far too real.

A voice. Cold. Merciless.

"Do what you were sent here for."

I shivered as the words echoed in my mind.

"You have no choice. Fulfill the mission."

I could see him—the cult leader. Cloaked in shadows, eyes glowing with unnatural power.

"Do not think you can escape us."

I sucked in a sharp breath, my heartbeat hammering against my ribs.

"They know I'm here," I whispered, realization sinking in like ice water. "That dream… it wasn't just a dream."

Somehow, even across worlds, they had found me.

"They can only perform the ritual once every twelve years." My breath hitched. "If that's the case, then they must have a way to track me."

A deep, burning rage swelled in my chest.

"Those traitors…" My voice was a low growl. "They think they still control me?" I exhaled sharply, my eyes hardening. "No. Never again."

I refused to be their pawn. I refused to be used and discarded.

"I won't follow their orders." My voice was steady now, filled with conviction. "They betrayed me. And for that, I'll make sure they never succeed in what they're planning."

Twelve years.

"That's when the Red Task will appear," I murmured, the words sending an eerie chill through my spine. "Could that be what they were after all along?"

But something still wasn't adding up.

"They never mentioned a system back on Earth… but they did tell me one thing."

My heartbeat quickened as I pieced it together.

"I was supposed to arrive in this world as a 7th Circle Magician."

But I wasn't.

Which meant—

"A new person will be coming. And he will have the power that was meant for me." My breath was uneven. "A 7th Circle Magician…"

The weight of it settled heavily on my shoulders.

"I have five years," I whispered. "Five years to reach at least 6th Circle if I want any chance of defeating him." I clenched my fists. "If I don't, I'll be crushed the moment he arrives."

There was no room for hesitation. No room for failure.

"I need to train. Harder than ever before."

But despite my determination, a nagging feeling remained.

There was something I was forgetting. Something important.

I shut my eyes, trying to grasp at the thought, but it slipped away like smoke between my fingers.

"...No. Not now," I muttered, exhaling. "I'll remember when the time is right."

Lying back down, I stared at the ceiling, my body still tense.

"Tomorrow," I whispered. "Tomorrow, my real journey begins."