The sun was beginning to set behind the distant hills, casting long shadows over Briarstead as the village settled into its usual quiet evening. Kai, who had just returned from Greenhill after another unsuccessful trading attempt, walked slowly back through the dirt paths, his hands stuffed in his pockets. He had been feeling more and more useless lately—Elara's advice still gnawed at him, but the discomfort of training alone only seemed to deepen with each passing day. He wished for the safety and comfort of his previous life, the life of an Otaku, where he could escape into the worlds of anime and video games. He had never imagined that he would end up in a world like this, one where every mistake could cost him his life. It was all just too real.
Even as he tried to push that thought aside, the tension in his shoulders remained. How was he supposed to survive in a world like this? How could he go from an Otaku, who only understood the fake struggles of TV shows, to someone who actually mattered in a place like this? It was overwhelming.
Suddenly, a high-pitched scream cut through the air. It was the unmistakable sound of panic—a cry of terror. Kai's heart skipped a beat, and his head snapped toward the source of the noise. From behind a group of houses, figures rushed forward, some of them waving their hands in the air, others screaming for help. Panic spread like wildfire through the village as the first arrows whistled through the air, embedding themselves into the dirt path with sharp thuds.
Kai froze for a moment, unable to comprehend what was happening. Then, as a hoarse shout came from the village square, a group of goblins emerged from the tree line, their twisted, snarling faces twisted in bloodlust. They were armed with crude weapons—rusted daggers, clubs, and spears—and their wild eyes darted about, clearly out for blood. It was a small group, perhaps only six or seven of them, but their presence was enough to send the villagers into chaos.
The familiar feeling of helplessness surged in Kai's chest. He had no idea what to do. He could barely hold a knife, let alone face a group of goblins. His legs felt like lead, and he could feel his breathing quickening as panic began to bubble in his chest. But then, through the haze of fear and confusion, a figure moved with calm precision.
Gaius.
The name floated through Kai's mind as the veteran warrior drew his sword with a single fluid motion. His movements were graceful yet powerful, like a predator poised to strike. Without a word, he closed the distance between himself and the first goblin with such speed that Kai barely saw the motion. A blur of steel, and the goblin crumpled to the ground, its life snuffed out before it had even realized the danger.
Gaius moved again, his sword a shining arc in the evening light. He dodged an incoming spear with effortless grace, ducking low before springing forward with a counter-strike that cleaved through the second goblin's defense. It was over in the blink of an eye. The goblins were terrified now, a few of them scrambling to retreat as they realized they were outmatched. Gaius was a whirlwind of movement, his strikes precise, deadly, and incredibly fast. His every movement was a testament to years of experience, a well-practiced rhythm of death that seemed almost natural.
The battle was over almost as quickly as it began, and Kai found himself standing frozen at the edge of the square, his mouth hanging open in shock. The villagers were cheering, but all he could hear was the ringing in his ears as Gaius wiped the blood from his blade and returned to the center of the square, where a few of the more resilient villagers had begun to gather their fallen comrades.
"Are you alright?" Gaius asked, his voice as calm and steady as ever. His eyes flicked over to Kai, who stood there like a deer in headlights, unable to move or speak.
"I—uh—yeah, I'm fine," Kai stammered, his heart still racing from the adrenaline, but his body paralyzed by the overwhelming sense of inadequacy. He had watched Elara fight, and now he had seen Gaius in action. The gap between them was immense, and the reality of how much he had to learn—and how little time he had—hit him like a freight train. He couldn't just stay here, doing his half-hearted training with a knife or punching trees. There were real dangers in this world, and one day, it could be him standing in the square, staring down an enemy far stronger than he could handle.
Gaius's eyes narrowed, noticing Kai's stillness. "You've got a long way to go, boy," he said, his voice suddenly rougher. "If you don't train, if you don't get serious, one of these days, you'll be the one lying in the dirt. And no one will be around to help."
Kai felt his stomach drop at the implication. "What do you mean?" he asked, his voice faltering.
Gaius gave him a pointed look. "It's not a game, kid. In this world, you fight to survive. You don't get to take it easy and hope things work out. Either you get stronger, or you die."
The words hit harder than he expected. Gaius didn't say them with malice, but with the cold, hard truth of someone who had been through countless battles. Kai realized, suddenly, that the life he'd been dragged into was nothing like the world of anime or video games he had imagined. It wasn't about winning some ultimate fight against a dark lord—it was about surviving every single day. And if he wasn't prepared, if he didn't step up, then there would be no hero's journey. There would just be the dirt and the blood, and he would be left behind.
Without saying another word, Gaius turned and began to walk away, his sword hanging at his side. "Follow me," he called over his shoulder. "I'm going to show you how real warriors train."
Kai hesitated for only a second before he moved to follow. He had no choice. He couldn't stay a bystander anymore. His lazy days were over. The real world was waiting, and whether he liked it or not, he had to step up. Gaius was right about one thing—he wasn't going to survive on wishful thinking alone.
As they walked through the village, the sounds of victory still echoed around them. People were celebrating, but Kai barely heard the cheers. He was too lost in thought, replaying the battle in his mind, his heart pounding in his chest. How could he ever hope to be as skilled as Gaius? Was there even a chance for someone like him, who had spent so many years in a world of fantasy, to become someone who could truly fight and protect others?
But deep down, something stirred in him—a strange mixture of guilt and determination. He couldn't be the weak link, the one who needed to be protected. If he wanted to survive, if he wanted to matter in this world, he had no choice but to embrace the harsh reality of it. He had to become stronger.
And the only way to do that was to face his fears and train like his life depended on it. Because it did.
Gaius turned to him as they reached the training grounds, a small clearing near the edge of the village. "This is where you'll start," he said, his voice quiet but firm. "If you're serious about learning, then you need to push yourself. This isn't going to be easy, but it will be worth it. Trust me."
Kai nodded, swallowing his fear. He wasn't sure if he was ready, but he didn't have any other choice.
Kai sat on the ground, his back pressed against the rough bark of a tree, his mind racing. The sounds of the village celebration continued in the distance, the clinking of mugs and the low hum of chatter, but none of it reached him. He was far too caught up in his own thoughts, replaying Gaius's words over and over again in his head. "Either you get stronger, or you die."
At first, it hadn't seemed real. It was easy to dismiss things as a game, as some virtual reality or some strange scenario where he was just a player in a story. But after watching Gaius effortlessly cut down the goblins, and hearing the harsh reality in his voice, Kai couldn't ignore the truth anymore. This wasn't a fantasy world where you could reload a save file and try again. This wasn't some epic anime where the hero could just pull off some miraculous last-minute victory. This was real. There were real stakes here. People lived and died based on their strength—and right now, he wasn't strong enough to protect anyone.
The thought was suffocating. His chest tightened, and he could feel his pulse thumping in his temples. How had he let himself get so caught up in the fantasy? How had he thought that a little training with a rusty knife and some half-hearted swings would be enough? He wasn't some chosen hero or secret prodigy. He was just a lazy, good-for-nothing Otaku who had stumbled into a world where being weak meant you didn't survive.
What did that make him, then? A burden.
Kai clenched his fists, feeling the rough texture of his palms against his skin. He had seen enough. Gaius's cold precision, Elara's unshakable resolve—it wasn't just skill. It was the knowledge that their lives depended on their ability to fight. Gaius had made it clear: no one could afford to slack off, not if they wanted to see tomorrow.
And the worst part? He was the weakest link. The one who stood at the edge of the battlefield, too afraid to move, too unsure of himself to even try. The villagers, the people he'd come to know, had been trusting him with their lives, however small the role was he played in their survival. How could he stand by while they fought? He couldn't.
"I won't be a burden," he whispered to himself, his voice rough in the cool night air. "I won't."
A small spark of determination flickered in his chest. It wasn't much, but it was enough. Enough to push him forward. Enough to force his lazy self out of the comfortable sloth he had been wallowing in. No more pretending this was a game. No more hiding behind the illusion of safety. Kai was going to train. He was going to become stronger, not for glory, but for the people around him.
He wasn't going to let anyone down. Not anymore.