From Wheelchair to Warrior: My New Life Online

Kael sat at a wooden table inside the bustling Silvercrest Guild Hall, absentmindedly running his fingers over the pouch of silver coins he had just earned. The Proving Grounds Tournament notification still lingered in his mind, teasing him with the possibility of testing his newfound abilities. He glanced at the quest board, half-expecting more beginner-level tasks, but instead, his gaze was drawn to a parchment pinned to the center of the board.

[Proving Grounds Tournament - Open to all Rank F Adventurers] Objective: Compete against fellow adventurers to prove your worth. The top 10 will receive rewards and advancement opportunities. Location: Silvercrest Arena Time: Tomorrow at noon

A tournament was the perfect chance to see how far he had come. He wasn’t just playing a game—he was living it. If he wanted to grow stronger, he had to push himself beyond gathering herbs and fighting slimes. Without hesitation, he pulled the parchment from the board and brought it to the guild master’s counter.

“You sure about this, kid?” The guild master raised an eyebrow as he took the form.

Kael nodded. “I want to test myself.”

The guild master studied him for a moment before letting out a chuckle. “Alright, you’re in. But don’t take this lightly. There are other players who’ve been training since they entered the game, and some have more real-world experience than you.”

Kael clenched his fists. “I’ll manage.”

The guild master shook his head, handing back a stamped registration slip. “Then get some rest. You’ll need it.”

Kael took the slip and left the guild, his mind already racing with strategies. He had yet to learn any real combat techniques outside of basic sword swings, but if he wanted to win, he had to step up his game.

That night, Kael found himself in the training grounds outside the city walls. The area was mostly empty except for a few NPCs practicing their routines. He gripped his sword and faced one of the wooden training dummies.

His first fight with the slime had been easy, but the River Piranha had forced him to move faster. Tomorrow, he’d be fighting other adventurers—some who likely had better gear and combat experience. He needed to get used to quick movements, counterattacks, and dodging. Taking a deep breath, he raised his sword and stepped into a fighting stance.

He began with basic slashes, feeling the weight of his weapon as he cut through the air. Then, he tried incorporating footwork, stepping back and forth to simulate dodging an opponent’s strike. The system-assisted muscle memory helped, but he knew he couldn’t rely on that alone. He needed to sharpen his reactions.

Sweat dripped down his brow as he practiced well into the night. His stamina bar would dip low, forcing him to rest momentarily before continuing. Just as he was about to call it quits, a voice rang out behind him.

“You’re wasting energy swinging like that.”

Kael turned to see a young woman watching him from a few feet away. She wore a leather chestplate over a tunic, a pair of daggers strapped to her belt. Her dark eyes studied him with amusement.

“Who are you?” Kael asked, lowering his sword slightly.

“Just someone who’s seen a lot of rookies like you,” she said with a smirk. “Name’s Elira. If you’re planning to win tomorrow, you’ll need more than brute force.”

Kael straightened. “And what do you suggest?”

Elira stepped closer and drew one of her daggers, twirling it between her fingers. “Fighting players isn’t like fighting monsters. They’ll read your movements, bait you into attacking, and strike when you least expect it. You need to mix up your patterns.”

Kael nodded. “So, you’re saying I need to be unpredictable.”

“Exactly.” Elira gestured at the training dummy. “Try faking an attack. Move like you’re going to swing, but don’t follow through. See how it shifts, then strike from another angle.”

Kael took her advice and positioned himself before the dummy. He feigned a rightward slash but redirected the attack at the last second, striking from the left instead. He repeated the process a few more times, each time adjusting his movements. It felt unnatural at first, but soon, he saw the logic behind it.

Elira watched him with approval. “Not bad. You’ve got potential.”

“Thanks,” Kael said, panting slightly. “Why are you helping me?”

She shrugged. “Maybe I just like seeing underdogs win. Or maybe I’ll be in the tournament tomorrow, and I want to see if you can put up a decent fight.”

Kael smirked. “Then I’ll make sure I don’t disappoint.”

Elira grinned before turning to leave. “Get some sleep, rookie. Tomorrow’s gonna be interesting.”

As she disappeared into the darkness, Kael looked down at his hands. He was exhausted, but he felt more prepared than ever. The tournament was his chance to prove himself—not just to others, but to himself. He wasn’t just Kael, the kid in the wheelchair anymore. Here, he could stand, fight, and win.

With renewed determination, he sheathed his sword and walked back toward the city. Tomorrow, the real battle would begin.