MTLNOVEL Chapter 6: Baptism by fire
Chapter 5: Baptism by Fire
Renji stood in the training yard the next morning, sore but determined. The sun was barely cresting over the palace walls, casting long shadows across the field. Around him, knights and squires were already at work, the clash of metal on metal ringing through the air.
Baldric, ever the no-nonsense knight, strode toward him with the same unreadable expression he always wore. "Hope you got some rest. You're going to need it."
Renji stretched his arms, feeling the ache from yesterday's spar. "You sound excited to beat me up again."
Baldric smirked. "Not me. Them."
Renji's stomach twisted slightly as he followed Baldric's gaze to a group of fully armored knights standing across the training yard. Unlike the younger recruits, these men had an aura of experience, their weapons well-worn, their eyes sharp.
One of them, a burly man with a massive warhammer, cracked his neck. "So this is the Summoned One? Doesn't look like much."
Another, a lean, dark-haired knight dual-wielding short swords, sized Renji up with an amused smirk. "Let's see if he can actually fight or if he's just lucky."
Baldric crossed his arms. "Today, you're going to face multiple opponents. We need to see how you handle real combat. If you can't keep up, you die on the battlefield."
Renji narrowed his eyes. "You really like throwing me into the deep end, huh?"
"It's the fastest way to learn," Baldric said flatly. "Now grab a sword. You'll be fighting all three of them."
Renji let out a slow breath. Three against one.
Alright then. Let's do this.
The knights didn't waste time. The moment Baldric gave the signal, the warhammer knight charged first, his massive weapon arcing through the air like a wrecking ball.
Renji barely dodged in time, the hammer smashing into the ground where he had stood moments before, kicking up dust and pebbles. The sheer force of the impact sent a shockwave through the ground, making his footing unsteady.
Before he could recover, the dual-wielding knight rushed in from his blind spot.
Renji twisted on instinct, raising his sword just in time to parry the first strike. The impact jolted through his arms, but he flowed with the motion, letting his enhanced reflexes take over.
Predator's Instinct activated in full force.
[Skill: Predator's Instinct]
Effect: Enhances the user's reaction speed, spatial awareness, and combat adaptability. Grants an innate sense of enemy movements, improving dodging and counterattacks.
Suddenly, everything became clearer.
Renji could sense the next attack before it even came. The moment the short-sword knight feinted left, Renji's body reacted before his mind could even register it—he sidestepped before the strike was even thrown.
A rush of exhilaration flooded his senses. I felt that coming.
Renji exhaled sharply. Time to stop running.
He rushed forward, targeting the dual-wielding knight first. The man barely had time to raise his swords before Renji feinted an overhead strike—then twisted low, slamming the hilt of his weapon into his ribs.
The knight stumbled back with a grunt.
And Renji could feel something deeper at play.
Predator's Instinct wasn't just improving his speed—it was helping him read the flow of battle. The slight shift in weight, the micro-movements before an attack, the tension in their stance—it all made sense in a way it never had before.
He wasn't just reacting—he was anticipating.
Renji didn't stop. He pivoted and threw his sword like a spear at the archer. The man flinched, dodging the flying weapon—just as Renji closed the distance and delivered a brutal kick to his chest.
The archer hit the ground hard, gasping for air.
Two down. One left.
The warhammer knight let out a growl, gripping his massive weapon with both hands. "Not bad, Summoned One. But let's see you handle this—"
He swung with everything he had.
Renji's body moved on instinct.
Instead of dodging, he stepped in close, too close for the hammer to be effective. Before the knight could react, Renji grabbed his wrist and—using his newly enhanced agility—flipped over the man's shoulder in a smooth motion.
The knight, thrown off balance, staggered forward.
Renji didn't hesitate. He snatched a fallen training sword from the ground and brought it down hard on the back of the knight's legs.
The massive man collapsed to his knees.
Silence filled the training yard.
The watching knights stared, some wide-eyed, others nodding in grudging approval.
Renji exhaled. His entire body was buzzing—not just from exhaustion, but from something else.
Power.
He was getting stronger.
Baldric approached, arms crossed. "Not bad."
Renji wiped sweat from his brow. "Just 'not bad'? I just took down three guys at once."
Edric chuckled from the sidelines. "You're improving, but don't let it go to your head. In a real battle, you'd be dead the moment you got hit."
The warhammer knight grumbled as he pushed himself up. "Gotta admit… didn't expect you to move like that."
The dual-wielding knight rubbed his ribs. "Yeah. That dodge? That wasn't normal human reflexes. What the hell is your Unique Skill, anyway?"
Renji hesitated.
He couldn't tell them about Death Claim.
If they knew his power, they might see him as a threat instead of an ally.
He forced a shrug. "Something that helps me adapt in combat."
Baldric's eyes narrowed slightly, but he didn't push the issue. "Whatever it is, we'll need to refine it. Tomorrow, you'll be training with actual weapons, not wooden sticks."
Renji groaned. More training.
But deep down, something inside him thrilled at the idea.
This world had thrown him into the unknown, into battles he never would have imagined.
And yet—he was surviving.
More than that… he was getting stronger.
And if this was only the beginning, then he was ready to embrace whatever came next.