No image after layer merge

[Mithral Londrecken]

I am a noob to all kinds of image editing software, sorry, I just don't know what info is or is not needed to give. But I have a basic download 2.10 gimp then with the select color tool picked the different colors, and hit new layer in place. I did open the original file with layers and turn on the alpha channel. the rest however has me at a disadvantage, as for merge one layer at a time i did try that also. but my preview only shows a solid white back ground. so at a loss, but like any good gamer I have saved offen.

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I tried again a fresh program load with a simple jpg use the rec select tool and chose make new layer in place. Again my layer merge is blank??? wtf???