Chapter 1: The Hero's Summoning
A sharp ringing filled Kaito's ears.
His body felt weightless, as though he were being dragged through an invisible current, his consciousness barely holding on. It was suffocating—like being trapped between waking and dreaming, unable to move or breathe.
Then, in an instant—light exploded all around him.
Kaito's knees slammed onto cold marble, the impact rattling through his bones. He gasped, coughing violently as a wave of dizziness crashed over him.
His vision was blurry, but as his eyes adjusted, he realized he was inside an enormous cathedral-like hall. The air smelled of incense and old parchment, the flickering light of golden chandeliers casting eerie shadows across the massive stained-glass windows.
The place felt like something out of a medieval fantasy RPG, except this was painfully real.
A regal man in long blue robes stood before him, his face wrinkled with both age and wisdom. His trembling hands clutched a large staff, the crystal at its tip still glowing—as if it had just been used for a powerful spell.
Around the hall, rows of knights in full plate armor stood in formation, their silver helmets gleaming under the candlelight. Each of them gripped the hilts of their sheathed swords, their postures stiff with discipline.
But what unsettled Kaito the most was the throne at the far end of the chamber.
There sat an elderly king, his body draped in a red and gold robe, a jeweled crown resting on his head. His expression was one of calm authority, yet his sharp eyes analyzed Kaito with unsettling precision.
Before Kaito could even form a sentence, the robed man stepped forward. His voice rang out with ceremonial reverence.
"It worked! The Hero has been summoned!"
A wave of cheers erupted from the knights, their gauntleted fists clanking against their armored chests in salute.
Kaito's heart nearly jumped out of his throat.
"Hero? Wait… WHAT?"
Before he could even ask where the hell he was, the king raised a hand, silencing the room.
"Welcome, Hero," he spoke, his voice deep and commanding. "You have been chosen by the gods to save this kingdom from destruction."
Kaito blinked.
"The gods? Save? Hero? What?"
His brain struggled to keep up.
A few minutes ago, he was a normal high school student, walking home after another boring school day. One second, he had been about to cross the street—the next, a sudden force had dragged him into a glowing void.
And now, he was kneeling before a medieval king, being hailed as a hero?
His inner nerd screamed that this was exactly like an isekai anime, but the rational part of his brain yelled that this had to be some kind of hallucination.
Unfortunately, it felt way too real to be a dream.
Kaito swallowed hard. His throat was dry.
"Uh… I don't know if there's been a mistake, but…" He hesitated. "I don't know how to fight."
The court magician—the old man in blue robes—smiled as if he had heard that a thousand times before.
"Do not fear, Hero. As one summoned from another world, you have been granted the gift of power beyond normal men. You will awaken your true strength soon."
"Wait, wait, wait—gift? Power?"
Before Kaito could protest—
[Ding!]
A sharp chime echoed inside his head. His body froze as a strange sensation rippled through his mind.
Then, out of nowhere, a blue translucent screen flickered into existence in front of him.
The glowing text hovered in the air, unreadable to anyone but him.
> SYSTEM INITIALIZING…
Status: Dormant Mode Activated
Basic Combat Proficiency Unlocked
Kaito's breath caught in his throat.
He barely had time to process the words before a surge of knowledge poured into his mind—
How to grip a sword. How to parry an attack. How to move his feet for balance.
He suddenly knew things he shouldn't. His body felt stronger, his muscles tighter, his reflexes sharper. It was as if he had trained in combat for years—and all of it had been downloaded into his brain in an instant.
Kaito stared at his hands, his fingers trembling.
"What the hell was that?"
But his confusion was short-lived.
The king gave a slight nod, and one of the knights stepped forward. He was a towering man, his armor polished to perfection, his cape embroidered with the royal insignia.
The knight unsheathed his steel longsword, the sound sharp and menacing.
"Your Majesty," the knight spoke, his voice deep. "Shall we test the Hero's abilities?"
Kaito's heart skipped a beat.
"Test? Wait, hold on—"
But before he could object, the knight lunged.
A full-speed sword strike—coming straight at his head.
Instinct Awakens
Time slowed.
Kaito should have panicked—should have frozen in fear—but instead, something clicked inside him.
His body moved on its own.
He twisted sideways, barely dodging the blade. His foot pivoted, his weight shifting with perfect control.
The knight followed up with a second strike, swinging the blade toward Kaito's chest—but Kaito's arm shot up instinctively.
With unnatural precision, he caught the knight's wrist mid-swing, redirecting the momentum just enough to throw the attack off-course.
The knight stumbled back, his eyes wide with surprise.
The entire room fell silent.
Kaito panted, his heart hammering against his ribs. He stared at his own hands in disbelief.
"How did I do that?"
The System's words echoed in his mind.
> Basic Combat Proficiency Unlocked.
His body felt like it had been trained for battle his entire life.
A long pause followed—then, the king chuckled, clapping his hands together.
"Indeed… the gods have blessed us."
The knights muttered in awe, their eyes filled with respect and admiration. The court magician nodded with approval, while the king's lips curled into a pleased smile.
Kaito swallowed hard, his thoughts racing.
"I've really been summoned to a medieval kingdom… as a warrior… to fight in a war."
He clenched his fists.
He didn't know what was waiting for him in this world.
But one thing was certain—his new life had just begun.
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