Chapter 2: The training.
Four years had passed so far. Renjin was doing his usual training, which he was only allowed to do from the age of three, but only because his father gave him permission to start this training. His father, Nico, was someone who had always yearned for strength, just like "King Renkai" — Renjin's past life. But unlike King Renkai, Nico (Renjin's father) did not achieve great strength. Throughout all of Nico's adventures, he struggled. Even when he trained two times as hard as the others, he could never beat those of royalty — those who had talent, those who were meant for greatness. He eventually gave up on his dream, settled down, and created a family with Tomiko.
In his words:"Renjin, I love you, and I really hope you become strong, but I fear that if you don't have the talent, you will give up and become bitter like most people. Listen, all I have to say, son, is: become strong and DON'T GIVE UP.""Don't worry, Father, I will become strong," Renjin said."Honestly, son, sometimes I'm kinda worried. How do you speak so maturely at only 4 years old?" Nico said."Uhmm, Mama let me read a bunch of books, so I learned how to talk properly!""Uhmm, okay... I guess so."
And so Renjin continued his usual training of 100 push-ups, 100 squats, 100 sit-ups, and 100 rounds of running around the family farm. After doing this for 1 year straight, he got into pretty good shape. And one day, when he was meditating in his room, he finally awakened his Ki. After that, his training changed, because now, in addition to the physical training, he did 1 hour of meditating and 2 hours of practicing elemental attacks and spells. He soon also discovered he was a master of fire, which he had the best experience with indeed.
Renjin trained and trained every single day, even sparring with his father. Renjin knew that there was a school he wanted to go to because it was the NUMBER ONE magic school on the continent! But there was one big problem: you had to be at least 6 years old to even enter the lowest level of the school, so he had a lot of training to do to prove himself — to prove that he WAS indeed strong enough. So, in the next two years of Renjin's life, he did that training routine every SINGLE DAY, and eventually, not only to evolve his physical strength but also mentally. He also worked constantly on improving his KI levels. (KI levels are the level of your Ki. Once you awaken, your KI level is only at level 1, but if you make your way through a bunch of levels, you could be able to reach level 10 — also known as the Final Stage.)
"I have 2 years to get strong enough to join the best academy on the continent — Solmere Academy in the capital of this continent, Solmere. Also known as the heart of the continent, Elarion (the continent I was born in)."
And so Renjin continued his journey of becoming the strongest in this new world he had been reborn in. For the next two years, all he did every day was follow his training routine, eat, and sleep.
2 Years Later
"Come on, Renjin, we're gonna be late!" Renjin's father said."Yeah, yeah, I'm coming, Dad," Renjin said."Goodbye, honey! I will miss youu!" — Renkai's mom"Don't worry. I am Renjin's father, after all. I will keep him safe.""So Dad, why can't Mom just come with us? I mean, I get it's a little bit dangerous, but not that dangerous. I mean, Mom is a level 2 Ki mage — it will be okay, right? Plus you're a level 5 mage and I'm a level 3 mage (almost 4), so yeah, why can't she come?" Renjin said."Well, uhmm, son... there is something your mother and I have been meaning to tell you..." Nico (Renjin's father) said."WHAAAAATTTTT, SO YOU'RE SAYING MOM IS PREGNANT AND HAS BEEN FOR OVER 4 MONTHS?? WHY DIDN'T YOU TELL ME, DAD? COME ON??" Renjin yelled at his father."Well, Renjin, you had to focus on your studying and training and other things if you really wanted to attend Solmere Academy. And plus, don't you worry, son — your Uncle Ray is gonna pick her up in two weeks with his hoard of Ki beasts," Nico said."Yeah, I guess so, Dad. I'm sorry for lashing out at you. Oh, and yep — we're here! The Elarion Forest — the most mysterious forest in Elarion," Renjin said."Alr, Renjin, here we go. But remember, YOU wanted this, so there's no going back now. If you get hurt, it's your own fault for wanting to train HERE of all places," Nico said."Yeah, yeah. Alr, Dad."
While Renjin and his father were walking through the forest, looking around, they found it kind of strange that no Ki beast had attacked them yet, since that's mostly the norm in this forest. They had heard from the other people who had visited here. But as they walked deeper and deeper into the forest, they noticed something — or maybe... someone? — was staring at them. The moment they had noticed this, however, they immediately yelled out:"Who is there? Show yourselves!"
They were expecting some mana beast, so Renjin grabbed his special fire elemental sword, and his father grabbed his Earth Axe. But then, when they saw something walking out of the shadows, it wasn't a Ki beast at all — it was... it was.....