Ryder Blackwell sat hunched against a cracked brick wall, the faint smell of damp trash filling the air as he took a long drag from his cigarette. The alley was quiet, save for the occasional clatter of metal from a distant dumpster. It had been weeks since the raid, since his boss was taken down by the Chen family, and since his own life had been flipped upside down. The bruises on his ribs were almost healed now, but the sting of defeat still gnawed at him.

He'd been part of a small-time gang that thought they could muscle into the Chen family's territory. Their leader, drunk on arrogance, made the fatal mistake of harassing one of the Chen daughters. The Chens retaliated swiftly, and in less than twenty-four hours, their boss was dead, the gang broken, and Ryder had barely escaped with his life. The cops had done the rest, beating down anyone left in their way.

Now, Ryder was alone, and as far as the Chen family was concerned, he was still a target. He needed a plan. Staying low was the obvious choice. He wasn't a complete fool—he knew the Chen family didn't forget loose ends.

"Ryder, you still alive back there?"

The voice pulled him from his thoughts. He looked up, squinting into the dim light of the alley. A figure emerged from the shadows—tall, broad-shouldered, with an air of confidence that only a few in this world could pull off. Jax. He was one of the few left who still had ties to the underworld, and someone Ryder knew wasn't stupid enough to try and fill the void left by their gang's collapse.

"Jax," Ryder said, standing up straighter. "Good to see you. What's the word?"

"Word is, things are heating up. The Chen family hasn't forgotten about us, but there are other players moving in, sniffing around like vultures," Jax said, crossing his arms as he glanced around. "Most of the old crew's either dead or hiding. Smart move to keep your head down. Chen's people are still watching."

Ryder grunted. "Yeah, figured as much."

For a moment, the two stood in silence, the tension of the situation thick in the air. Ryder knew he had no shot of taking on the Chens, at least not now. Even Jax, despite his connections, wouldn't be able to move against them without getting crushed.

"So, what's your plan, Ryder?" Jax asked, his eyes sharp.

Ryder took a deep breath. "I lay low for now. I'm not walking back into a firing squad just because I want to prove something."

"Smart move," Jax said with a nod. "But don't stay out of the game too long. The underworld moves fast, and if you wait too long, you'll be forgotten."

"I'll wait until the time's right," Ryder said, eyes narrowing. "Then, I'll make my move."

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Jax studied him for a moment, then smirked. "Well, if anyone's crazy enough to pull it off, it's you. Just don't get yourself killed before you get your shot."

With that, Jax turned and disappeared back into the night, leaving Ryder alone in the alley once more. The quiet returned, but Ryder's mind was racing. Laying low was one thing, but how could he come back from this? What would it take to rebuild? He didn't have a gang anymore, no power, no allies, and his enemies were far more dangerous than ever.

As he walked deeper into the alley, Ryder felt a sudden, strange sensation. The air around him grew heavy, his vision blurred for a moment, and then a cold, mechanical voice echoed in his mind.

"Transmigration privilege granted. Initializing system..."

Ryder froze, looking around the alley. The voice hadn't come from anywhere nearby—it was inside his head.

"What the hell is this?" he muttered, his heart pounding.

"Welcome, Ryder Blackwell. This is the Transmigrator's System. You are now part of a special group that transcends the boundaries of this world. This world is based on multiple narratives, filled with protagonists, villains, and countless stories intertwined. As a transmigrator, you now have the privilege of understanding the deeper structure of this world and choosing your own path to power."

Ryder blinked in disbelief. "So... I'm in some kind of novel?"

"Indeed. This world functions according to the rules of various fictional narratives, and key individuals, known as protagonists and villains, rise and fall according to those stories. You are not bound by those rules. The Transmigrator's System will grant you knowledge—skills, strategies, and insight into the structure of this world. However, you must develop these abilities yourself. There are no shortcuts."

The voice was cool, emotionless, but Ryder's mind was whirling. This wasn't magic. This was something bigger—something that offered him the knowledge and tools he needed, but without handing him power on a silver platter. He would have to earn it.

"You may now choose your path. Protagonist? Villain? Or independent, carving your own destiny?"

A translucent screen appeared in front of him, showing three choices:

Protagonist: Rise as the hero of your story, destined to fight the forces of evil.Villain: Embrace darkness and seek domination through chaos and control.Independent: Forge your own way, neither bound by the roles of hero or villain, but by your own ambition.

Ryder didn't hesitate.

"I choose to become the emperor of the underworld. My own path."

The system responded almost immediately.

"Path confirmed. You seek to control the underworld and rise to the apex. This system will assist you in developing the knowledge necessary to achieve this goal. However, power must be earned. To begin, you must lay a solid physical and mental foundation. You will need strength, endurance, and intelligence to survive and rise."

Ryder felt a weight lift off his chest. This was exactly what he needed. The system wasn't going to do the work for him, but it was going to show him how to get there. He had to rebuild himself from the ground up, but with the right foundation, he could climb to the top again.

"Your first quest: Build your physical foundation. Lay low for the next few months. Train, prepare, and strengthen yourself. The system will provide guidance in physical development and strategic planning. Once you are ready, you will re-enter the underworld."

Ryder smirked. He had already planned to lay low, but now he had a roadmap—a way to make that time productive. The system was exactly the advantage he needed.

"Let's get to work," he muttered, determination burning in his eyes.