Rain's brows furrowed as he stared at the status window.
His name looked odd in the status window, and he couldn't shake the feeling that something was off.
Ignoring it could be dangerous because the majority of the time you ignore something it will come back to haunt you in the future.
This is a standard thing in every fantasy novel.
Rain didn't want to raise any red flags.
As he didn't know what the abnormality in his name signifies, he made a system query.
'System, can you confirm where I am? I seem to be in some sort of fantasy world,' Rain asked.
►[Host is right.]
'Then why is my name the same as my previous life and what is that question mark? Shouldn't I have a different name in this world?'
►[Host will soon know.]
This answer perplexed Rain.
He was tempted to pursue the system for answers, but after thinking rationally, he gave up.
If the system didn't want to answer, he didn't want to waste his energy either.
He realized that he needed to know where he was, and the best way to do that was to access the memories of the previous body's owner.
'So, system, can you provide me with the memories of the prior owner?' Rain asked. He wasn't sure it could, but he tried anyway.
►[Yes. Host.]
Rain was relieved to hear the system's positive response. 'Then let's get started,' he thought, feeling a strange connection with his mind as he spoke.
►[Initiating... Synchronizing...]
►[5%█]
►[34%█████]
►[55%█████████]
►[78% █████████████]
►[99%█████████████████]
Rain felt a sudden throbbing pain in his head, and he winced in discomfort.
The headache came on suddenly, and it was unlike anything he had ever experienced before. He tried to shake it off, but the pain only intensified.
'What the hell is going on inside my head?'
As he didn't see any point in coping up with the pain, he decided to lie down on the bed, convinced that enduring it would yield no rewards.
He wasn't some cultivation novel's masochist protagonist who liked to bear the pain. Rain put his head on the fluffy pillow and started thinking about taking a rest.
'Maybe the memories of the prior owner are coming.'
►[Synchronizing was successful.
It's best for the host to put up with the discomfort.]
'Sweet dreams', Rain wished himself.
Just like that, Rain lost his consciousness.
***
Rain slowly opened his eyes and blinked a few times to adjust to his surroundings.
As he looked around, he realized that there was nothing in sight - no trees, buildings, or people. A vast, empty void that seemed to stretch out endlessly in all directions surrounded him.
The emptiness of his surroundings made Rain feel alone and somewhat vulnerable. The absence of any discernible landmarks or features made it difficult for him to orient himself or to form any sense of direction.
All he could do was to stand there.
'Where am I? Why are all the things black?'
"Oh, there's someone," Rain said with relief as he immediately spotted the person.
Rain was astonished when he saw the man's face, which bore a striking resemblance to his own.
"Are you...?" Rain began.
The man smiled and introduced himself, "I'm Rain, too, but Rain Holmes."
The revelation left Rain in shock, realizing the connection between his own life and the novel character, Rain Holmes.
The name triggered a realization in Rain's memory. "Rain Holmes... the mid-tier villain from the novel I read?"
"Yes, that's me," Rain Holmes confirmed, leaving Rain in utter shock.
Rain squinted his eyes, visibly cautious and curious. "Wait, am I supposed to be the bad guy?"
With a calm and reassuring smile, Rain Holmes leaned forward, his relaxed demeanor evident. "No, you don't have to go down that path."
Rain's face hardened. "Well, I don't want to become a villain."
The furrowed brow on Rain's face revealed his confusion. "But how do you know the plot?"
Rain Holmes grinned, his amusement clear. "Because you and I are inseparable - not two separate entities."
"Don't tell me..." Rain began to speak, his voice tinged with disbelief, but before he could finish his thought, Rain Holmes jumped in.
With an amused glint in his eye, Rain Holmes commented, "Wow, you're quite clever, aren't you? You haven't been transmigrated, my friend. Instead, you have been reincarnated. Your current existence is nothing but a continuation of your previous life - a mere collection of memories and experiences that make up your ego. In simple language, you are my previous life, and I remembered it now."
He stared at Rain Holmes as though he was observing someone with a mental ailment.
"So you're saying that I am your previous life, and that we share the same soul?" he asked, his brow furrowing as he struggled to grasp the concept of reincarnation.
Rain Holmes nodded calmly, confirming, "Yes."
'How can someone spout this kind of bullshit with a calm face?'
Rain found the whole concept both intriguing and bewildering. "How is it possible that you have my memories?" he asked, unable to shake off his curiosity.
Rain Holmes tilted his head, his brow furrowed as he tried to recollect the strange sequence of events. "Honestly, I don't know much more than you do. I was just lying in my room when everything around me blurred, and I passed out. When I woke up, I was here in this strange void. There was a definite link between you and me, as if some higher power orchestrated this memory exchange. The moment I laid eyes on you, I got bombarded with your memories."
Rain thought out loud, "Maybe it's the 'System.'"
"Could be," Rain Holmes nodded, "Regardless of how it happened, we're in the same boat now, sharing memories and experiences. Essentially, we're one person."
Rain, with a sense of foreboding, asked, "Do you think this is a good thing?"
"Absolutely," Rain Holmes responded with confidence. "I've glimpsed my future through your fragmented recollections, and it doesn't look promising," he added, biting his lower lip.
"I've always strived for a happy life," Rain Holmes continued, his disappointment evident in the slight slump of his shoulders.
"That's why I need your help," He made direct eye contact with Rain. "Together, with our collective experiences and knowledge, we can create a happier life." His hopeful smile revealed his sincere desire for a better future.
Rain nodded slowly, absorbing the information. It was a lot to take in, but somehow, it made a strange kind of sense. "So what happens now?" he asked.
"Now, we work together. We pool our memories, experiences, and skills to create a better life." Rain Holmes smiled, clasping his hands together, signifying unity. "With our knowledge of future events, we can avoid repeating past mistakes and create a better outcome for everyone."
"But," he added, a hand gently on his chest, "two egos can't occupy one body simultaneously, especially in higher ranks. Your body and soul must be in harmony."
Meeting Rain's eyes, he reassured, "I understand your challenges. Ultimately, we share the same soul, right?"
"Yeah," Rain nodded in agreement.
"Then treat me well," Rain Holmes said warmly, extending his hand.
"Me too," Rain replied, reciprocating the smile as they shook hands. A strange sensation enveloped Rain as the two beings merged.
In a few moments, Rain Holmes faded into the background.
***
[Rain's Room]
Rain, still lying on his bed, thought about the changes he'd experienced. "It's not as uncomfortable now," he noted. "Maybe the system has changed for the better."
He lifted his upper body and sat on the edge of the bed.
═─┈─═─┈─═─┈─═─┈─═
╠═⌠ Status ⌡═╣
►Name: Rain Holmes
►Age: 19 years old
►Rank: F Grade (-F -> F)
►Strength: F (-F -> F)
►Health: F (-F -> F)
►Stamina: F (-F -> F)
►Charm: B+
►Intelligence: B- (C+ -> B-)
►Mana: G+ (Null -> G+)
═─┈─═─┈─═─┈─═─┈─═
Rain observed his status, his eyes narrowing as he noted the changes. "My birthday is just one week away," he muttered to himself, realization sinking in. His age was 19, and he couldn't help but think, "In just a week, I'll turn 20, and the game's plot will kick in." He clicked his tongue in frustration, brows furrowing. "Now that I have these memories, I can't help but despise this plotline even more."
It was as if Rain Holmes' emotions and memories were seeping into his mind, and Rain found himself feeling the same way about things.
After checking his rank, Rain's mood soured. He had plummeted from D- to F, now at the bottom of the rankings. 'Whether it's due to reincarnation or something else,' Rain mused, 'my rank drop from D- to F is unsettling.' He shook his head, bewildered by the sudden change. According to his memories, his rank was D- before.
A glimmer of relief washed over him as his health stat increased by one point. Yet, his mana stat left much to be desired, and a sense of inadequacy crept in.
In his whole life, Rain had never come across anyone with a G-ranked stat. 'This is a fantasy world, and if I continue like this, I'll be crushed in no time.'
►[Host.]
Suddenly, a cold mechanical voice interrupted him.