Evolution of the Ruined Heir-Chapter 187: Balance

Minutes later, Renlo’s eyes were wide open as he gazed at the sight in front of him.

"W-what is this?"

"A training course," Malakai responded calmly.

"I know that. I mean... what is this doing here?"

"I made it myself."

Renlo turned his wide eyes toward Malakai, his gaze filled with questions.

At Renlo’s request, Malakai had led him to the back of the manor where his training course was located.

Renlo had instantly been shocked upon seeing it. The clan had a training camp with every training equipment anyone could ever need. He couldn’t understand the reason for this course.

"I only gained access to the training camp recently. I had been banned because I couldn’t evolve. So I made this training course so I’d be able to keep training myself."

Renlo’s wide eyes dimmed, turning sad. He had just remembered that Malakai had gone through the same thing he had. Abandoned. Now he felt bad for asking the question.

But turning back towards the training course, he couldn’t help but feel amazed. While it looked crude, it didn’t change the fact that it was a remarkable achievement.

It targeted everything, agility, strength, stamina, speed, and balance.

To think Malakai made this on his own... Now Renlo felt embarrassed about bragging about his treehouse. What was that compared to this?

"Enough staring. Let’s get to work."

Renlo flinched at Malakai’s cold words. Somehow, he could just feel the hell coming his way.

"From all of our spars, I’ve noticed your terrible balance always affects your technique execution. On the Skeldrith, you couldn’t even maintain your balance when it suddenly took off."

Renlo scratched his head awkwardly as Malakai led him to a section of the training course.

The balance section was exactly what he feared, the tall wooden pillars were uneven and widely spaced, the foot holds small, just enough for a single foot.

"This will help with your balance," Malakai explained. "Since we’ll be leaving the fortress in five days, I want you to focus on this during that time. We won’t have access to this space once we leave."

Renlo nodded hesitantly. "I just have to make it to the other side?" he asked, staring at the pillars. The foot holds were tiny and spaced awkwardly. It would be hard to balance on each one. Still, he wasn’t too worried.

’I can take my time and increase the pace over time,’ he thought. Malakai hadn’t mentioned any time limit, so he assumed.

"Now get started."

Renlo nodded resolutely. He was about to drop his weapon when Malakai stopped him.

"Take your weapon with you. Learn to move with it." Renlo nodded in understanding. This was meant to improve his balance while fighting, so it was only right.

He used the steps at the front and took his first step after several deep breaths.

Renlo wobbled and shook, trying hard to balance himself on one leg. The foot hold wasn’t enough for two, so he had to make do.

’Calm your breathing,’ he told himself, and eventually the shaking eased. He placed his foot on another pillar, shaking a bit before getting stable. Then another. And another.

Renlo was smiling. It took him a bit of time to get stable each time, but he was steadily advancing.

’Piece of cake! He must’ve underestimated my ability,’ Renlo thought, feeling giddy.

He couldn’t turn to look at Malakai now or he’d lose his balance, but he couldn’t wait to see his face when he completed the course in one go.

’Haha, I’ll show you how amazing I can be!’

He continued moving at a steady pace. But just as he was about a quarter of the way through, a sharp sound reached his ears.

’What is that?’ He turned slightly, only to see a large stone shooting toward him at high speed.

Renlo’s eyes almost bulged out of their sockets.

’Move!’ he shouted in his head, shifting his weight and stepping onto another foot hold, barely evading the projectile.

’Shit!’ But his balance was off. His legs scrambled from one foot hold to another, trying to stabilize, when the same sharp sound rang again.

A chill surged through Renlo as he turned to see another projectile hurtling toward him. He couldn’t get away completely in time. The stone struck his arm, sending his entire figure spinning.

He tried to regain his balance but couldn’t. He came crashing down, limbs spread out between the closely packed pillars.

Through the array of wooden beams, Renlo glanced toward the starting point, where Malakai still stood unmoving.

Their gazes met, and as Renlo saw that cold smile, he couldn’t help but shiver.

’What the hell did I get myself into?’ he thought in dread.

To Renlo, the next few days could only be described in one word. Torturous. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm

Just as Malakai had suggested, he focused solely on the balance aspect of the training course.

But unlike what Renlo expected, he spent most hours of the day on that course, and it didn’t get easier. It got worse.

Every time he made any kind of progress, Malakai would simply ramp up the difficulty. What started off as one or two stones being launched now turned into two consecutive ones... then three... then four.

Renlo had fallen off the course more times than he could count. And worst of all, he had never once made it to the end.

Every single hint of determination had been snuffed out of him. And right now, he had fallen once again, limbs sprawled in every direction.

Renlo sighed.

It had already been four days, and the end of the course still felt impossibly far.

’Maybe... maybe it’s just not meant to be finished?’ he tried to console himself, but even he knew how much of a lie that was.

He shook his head with a chuckle and turned toward the starting point.

’I wonder what he’s doing.’

Malakai had told him to train alone today, said he had something to take care of.

Renlo let the minutes stretch before finally getting to his feet.

’Let’s make some progress before he comes back!’

He exhaled and got right back to it, renewed with a stubborn kind of resolve.