From Wheelchair to Warrior: My New Life Online

The sun had barely risen when Kael found himself back at the adventurer’s guild. The excitement from completing his first quest still lingered, but now, a new challenge awaited him: the Proving Grounds Tournament. He had no idea what it entailed, but just the name alone sent a thrill down his spine.

Stepping into the guild hall, he noticed that it was livelier than usual. Adventurers of all ranks were gathered around the quest board, murmuring in anticipation. He weaved through the crowd and spotted a notice pinned at the center of the board.

[Proving Grounds Tournament] [An event open to all adventurers. Test your skills in a series of combat trials!] [Participants will be matched based on rank. Winning earns rewards and recognition!]

Kael's heart pounded as he read through the details. A chance to fight against other adventurers, to prove himself beyond gathering herbs or slaying weak monsters. This was the kind of thing he had been waiting for.

“You interested in joining?” a voice asked from beside him.

Kael turned to see a young man clad in lightweight armor, a sword strapped to his back. He had a confident smirk and sharp eyes that spoke of experience.

“I am,” Kael replied, nodding. “Do you know how it works?”

The adventurer chuckled. “Yeah. It’s a tournament with elimination rounds. Fights are one-on-one, and they make sure it’s fair by using ranking brackets. It’s a great way to test your abilities and earn recognition.”

“Sounds perfect.” Kael clenched his fist. This was the challenge he had been looking for.

He wasted no time heading to the registration desk. The guild official took down his name and assigned him to the lowest bracket—meant for new adventurers.

“The tournament begins this afternoon,” the official said. “Be at the training grounds by noon.”

Kael nodded and left, determination burning in his chest. If he wanted to stand a chance, he needed to prepare.

With only a few hours before the tournament, Kael decided to train. He found an empty patch of land outside the city, away from the main roads, and drew his sword. The memory of his fight with the slime and piranha was still fresh in his mind, but this time, he wouldn’t be facing simple monsters—he’d be up against real opponents.

He practiced his swings, testing different attack angles. The sword was an extension of his body, and he needed to make sure his movements were fluid. Footwork, balance, speed—he ran through everything he could think of.

After about an hour, he opened his status window.

[Kael] [Class: Swordsman] [Level: 2] [HP: 120/120] [Strength: 10] [Agility: 8] [Endurance: 9] [Skills: Basic Swordsmanship, Quick Step]

He was still weak compared to veteran adventurers, but that didn’t matter. He wasn’t here to win the entire tournament—he was here to grow stronger.

By the time noon arrived, Kael felt ready.

The training grounds were packed. A large wooden stage had been set up in the middle, surrounded by rows of spectators. Adventurers of all ranks filled the area, some chatting excitedly, others sharpening their weapons. The atmosphere was electric.

Kael made his way to the waiting area, where the participants in his bracket were gathered. A guild official called out names, matching opponents for the first round.

“Kael versus Darius.”

Kael’s gaze snapped toward his opponent—a stocky young man wielding a mace. He looked experienced, his grip on the weapon firm and confident.

“This is going to be interesting,” Darius said, cracking his knuckles.

The official led them to the center of the stage. A silence fell over the crowd as they took their positions. Kael tightened his grip on his sword, heart pounding.

“Match begin!”

Darius charged first, swinging his mace in a wide arc. Kael dodged to the side, barely avoiding the blow. The force of the swing left a dent in the wooden floor.

He couldn’t afford to take a direct hit.

Kael countered with a quick thrust, but Darius blocked with the handle of his mace, pushing him back. The crowd cheered as the fight intensified. Kael knew he had to be faster—he activated Quick Step, dashing to Darius’s side before striking at his exposed flank.

The attack landed.

Darius grunted, stumbling back. Kael pressed forward, delivering a series of slashes that forced his opponent on the defensive. Just as he was about to finish with a decisive blow, Darius suddenly spun around, swinging his mace in a desperate counterattack.

Kael barely managed to duck, feeling the rush of wind as the weapon passed inches above his head. He retaliated with an upward slash, striking Darius’s arm and sending his mace flying.

The official raised a hand. “Winner: Kael!”

Cheers erupted from the crowd. Kael exhaled, feeling the rush of victory wash over him. His first real duel, and he had won.

Darius let out a defeated sigh but offered a grin. “Not bad, newbie. Keep that up, and you might go far.”

Kael smiled back. This was just the beginning.

As he stepped off the stage, a notification appeared before him.

[Level Up!] [You have reached Level 3.]

He clenched his fists.

He was getting stronger.