by Aaron Oster
Arthur nodded. He wasn’t surprised that the frog knew. They were frogs, after all, and jumping was what they were designed to do.
“Good. I don’t want you using it.”
Arthur winced at that. With his Spring, he could have easily reached the top within seconds. Without that initial boost, it would be much harder.
“Before we start, would you mind reading your status out to me? You don’t have to if you don’t want to, but it will help if I know exactly what we’re working with.”
He noticed Talia lean in a bit closer at that. It seemed that she was curious as well. Arthur debated this for a moment. Revealing the contents of his status would put him completely at this frog’s mercy. He would know everything about him; all his skills, abilities, and bonuses. Then again, Chuck could crush him in an instant if he felt like it, but he hadn’t yet, so Arthur was pretty sure he could trust him.
He debated asking Talia to leave but then shrugged to himself. If she would be traveling with him and Hopps, it would be better if she knew what he was working with. After all, he and Hopps knew each other’s attributes and skills, so why not her, too? His mind made up, he pulled up his status and read out loud to the others.
Arthur noted that the XP requirements had indeed changed after level 10. He couldn’t be sure how it would be distributed now, so he’d have to keep track over the next couple of levels. His Armor Rating was at 0, due to his not wearing any armor, and he noticed that his Perception was getting close to improving. He also noted that the Class option area was flashing bright green, likely to indicate that he now had the choice to pick one.
Chuck asked a few questions about his skills and abilities, nodding along as he explained. Finally, seeming to be satisfied, he asked about how he fought.
“With an Agility as high as yours, you shouldn’t be getting hit as much as you have been. You’re not built to take hits. Now, you’ve chosen well in the skills and abilities department, all except for the Parry ability. It doesn’t look like you’ve utilized it at all. Plus, it would do you almost no good against someone like Talia, who’s invested heavily in her Strength attribute.”
Arthur nodded at that. Back when he’d taken the ability, he’d been sure it would be useful. But the longer he fought, the more he saw dodging as the better option.
“You’re missing a specific skill, and it’s one that we’ll try to bring out in this training. Before we begin, I want you to put 2 points into Wisdom and the rest into Luck.”
Arthur gave him a questioning look, but Chuck just made a ‘go-ahead’ gesture. Deciding that the frog probably knew best, he did as he was told. He didn’t feel any different after, but Chuck seemed satisfied. He quickly looked over his status again before closing it.
Character Status
Name: Arthur
Race: Humanoid - Poison Frog
Class: None
Level: 11
XP: 4,400/11,000
AP: 0
Survivability
HP: 140/140
MP: 80/80
STA: 240/240
Armor Rating: 0
Attributes
Strength - 5
Constitution - 14
Endurance - 24
Agility - 37
Intelligence - 8
Wisdom - 10 (+2)
Charisma - 9
Luck - 9 (+3)
Skills
5/8
Unarmed Frog-Bat: Level 8
Perception: Level 10
Knife Wielding: Level 7
Acrobatics: Level 3
Critical Strike: Level 4
Abilities
5/8
Tae-Frog-Do: Level 6
Frog Slicer: Level 4
Parry: Level 1
Frog-Sassinate: Level 1
Drilling Blows: Level 1
Racial Bonus
Poison Touch: Tier 1
Spring: Tier 1
“Great, I think we’re ready now,” Chuck said as he closed his status.
He gestured to the poles and stood back to watch.
Arthur took a deep breath, his eyes sweeping over the circle of poles and planning his ascent. They were all evenly spaced, and he’d be trying to reach the top. He didn’t know how many jumps it would take, or if he’d even be able to make it.
Taking a running start, Arthur launched himself into the air and landed on the first pole. Pulling his legs in, he pushed off hard, leaping toward the next pole. It didn’t work, as his momentum was already all used up. He didn’t make it halfway to the second pole before he fell out of the air, just managing to land on his feet.
He turned to Chuck and gave him a questioning look, but the frog only waved him on.
Turning back to the poles, Arthur took another deep breath to calm his racing heart, then tried again. Sprinting to the first pole, he tried for a shallower but more powerful jump that allowed him to keep his momentum going for longer.
His legs coiled under him as he landed, then pushed off. This time he made it across the eight-foot span to the next in line. But as soon as his foot landed, he slipped on the slick surface. His face slammed painfully into the pole, and he soon found himself lying on his back, groaning in pain through a blinding headache.
He could vaguely hear Talia’s snickering laughter, but he didn’t care. He was in too much pain.
“On your feet and try again.”
Arthur turned to glare at Chuck, who was still standing off to one side.
“It’s impossible,” he said, getting slowly to his feet and rubbing at his tender nose.
“Two tries and you’re giving up?” Chuck asked with a raised eyebrow.
“Yes!” Arthur responded in annoyance. “It’s basic physics. If I couldn’t make it the first two times, it’s literally impossible for me to do.”
“And what if I told you to use your Spring?”
Arthur shrugged.
“Maybe. I wouldn’t actually know until I tried.”
Chuck nodded, as though considering it, then waved him back to the poles.
“Go again, without using Spring.”
“But…!” Arthur began to protest, but Chuck cut him off.
“I know what I’m doing, Arthur.” His voice hardened then. “Go again.”
Grumbling to himself under his breath, more to drown out Talia’s laughter than anything else, Arthur headed back to the poles and attempted again.
He didn’t even make it past the first pole, slipping as soon as his foot made contact with it, and slamming his face once more.
“Again,” Chuck said as he forced himself off the ground.
Arthur noticed his HP had taken a hit from that last one and that his Stamina was rapidly being drained by the exercise. It was regenerating since he wasn’t in battle, but not nearly fast enough.
He spent the next twenty minutes trying and failing to climb the poles. Once or twice, he managed to make it to the second pole, but never more than that. More often than not, he wound up on his back, gasping in pain. Talia was no longer laughing and was instead staring at him with pity. This was somehow worse than the laughter.
Arthur was just grateful it was dark out, and most of the villagers were asleep. Every few minutes, though, someone would pass by, but thankfully, they were waved off by Chuck before long.
“Damn it!” Arthur yelled, throwing his arms up to block the incoming pole.
He wasn’t fast enough and ended up on his back again, groaning in pain. Pushing himself back to his feet and panting hard, he ran at the pole before Chuck could even order him to. He had no idea what the point of this damned exercise was. He clearly wasn’t going to make it past the second pole. He just didn’t have the momentum required to make the jump.
Arthur took a running start, already bracing himself for the pain of failure, when his body suddenly experienced an extreme bout of weakness. He suddenly found himself pitching forward, face-first into the ground, and unable to do so much as move.
He’d run out of Stamina.
“What do you mean, good!?” Arthur growled, forcing himself back to his feet as soon as his Stamina reached 5/240.
“Now that your Stamina has been depleted, we can start. It was impossible to reach the top with your current Agility and skill set.”
“I knew it!” Arthur exclaimed, throwing his arms up in the air.
He yelped and threw himself to the side as a thin, whippy stick whistled through the air, narrowly missing him.
“What the…!” he began, only to be forced to roll to the side as the stick came whistling through the air once again.
“Save your breath for dodging!” Chuck roared, using his long tongue to whip the stick at him.
Arthur dodged to the side, and his Stamina ran out again, making him collapse. Chuck didn’t wait for him to get up, whacking him with the stick until he was able to get back to his feet.
“Make sure you don’t run out of Stamina in a fight. Otherwise, you’re good as dead!” he yelled, swinging at him again.
Arthur’s body was covered in painful welts, but he dodged the swishing stick, watching his Stamina dip by 2. It regenerated itself, and he was forced back once more, bringing him down to 1.
The stick was making its way back to him. What would he do now?
It slammed into him, throwing him to the ground. Despite the painful new welt forming on his forearms, his Stamina was safe and regenerating. This made it that when the next blow came, he was able to dodge. He knew that the only reason it was regenerating during this mock battle was due to the special effects of the training grounds they were in. He also knew that during a normal battle, he wouldn’t be so lucky. He had no idea what Chuck was trying to teach him.
The stick came howling through the air, and Arthur was forced to block again instead of dodging. He winced as he was thrown back and avoided the next blow.
Chuck was relentless, pounding him with the stick over and over. He kept up a steady rhythm, though he didn’t fall into any readable patterns that he could exploit. Chuck also never allowed Arthur’s Stamina to rise above 5 points, leaving him to either take every third attack or dodge and be bludgeoned until he could stand again.
As he moved, his mind began to wander. Dodging the attacks was exhausting, due to his constantly low Stamina, but it wasn’t mentally taxing. He allowed himself to think. What was Chuck trying to accomplish?
He watched the frog carefully, anticipating the next attack and dodging, then throwing his arms up to block the next attack as it came. He barely felt the sting anymore. His arms were so inflamed that they were beginning to grow numb, which should have worried him more. He just couldn’t bring himself to worry right now.
What can I possibly be doing wrong here?
Dodge. Dodge. Whack!
It obviously has to be something.
Dodge. Dodge. Whack!
But what?
Arthur watched the next incoming blow, and suddenly, he was struck by a bout of inspiration. Instead of taking a full step to the side, he allowed his upper body to sway back without moving his feet.
The stick whistled by his head, scraping a painful line across his nose and spinning him around.
“Shit!” he yelled, clutching at his nose, his eyes streaming.
Then he yelped, ducking another swipe and jumping to the side to avoid another blow. He winced, expecting to drop again due to the lack of Stamina. He was surprised when he didn’t. A painful blow to his side reminded him that he was still in the middle of a training exercise, but his mind raced with what had just happened.
Checking his Stamina, he saw that it was at 6 for the first time in nearly an hour! Did his earlier screw up work in his favor?
Taking a deep breath to calm his racing heart, he decided to try again. His nose throbbed as a reminder of what had happened the last time when he hadn’t been fast enough, but he decided to try anyway. What would happen if he failed, anyway? He’d be hit again, that was all.
The stick whistled through the air, aimed for his head. Gritting his teeth, Arthur waited for the last moment, then sharply jerked his head back. It wasn’t smooth like before, but the stick cleanly soared by his head…and his Stamina dropped by a single point!
Arthur was ecstatic but didn’t allow himself to become distracted this time. Not moving from the spot, he swayed to the side, avoiding the incoming attack again, smoother this time. Again, all it cost him was a single point of Stamina, which refilled by the time the stick came around again.
They continued for another few minutes, Arthur’s dodging growing smoother and smother, until, Arthur dodged…and his Stamina didn’t drop!
He stared in shock and only then remembered the stick, which came to a quivering halt an inch from his head.
“Excellent!” Chuck said, dropping the stick to the ground and giving him a wide grin. “I honestly thought it would take longer than that, but you’ve impressed me.”
“What…” Arthur’s voice cracked as his entire body throbbed in pain. “What was that?” He finally managed to get out.
“Check your notifications and let me know what you find.”
Arthur’s brows furrowed. His notifications? But what would they…?
Of course! He’d been kept way too busy dodging to check them.
Arthur did as he was instructed. Opening his notifications, he began to read them over.
19
Skill Available!
Due to your repeated actions, new skills have become available to you.
Dodge
Punching Bag
Sixth Sense
+2 Constitution
+3 Agility
+6 Endurance
+3 Charisma
+1 Luck
Arthur was astounded by the increases to nearly all his attributes. Then again, after the beating he’d just taken, he would have been shocked if he hadn’t seen at least some increase. He could understand all the increases he’d gotten, except for one. Why would his Charisma increase from training like this?
His eyes flicked over to Chuck. He looked as impassive as ever, so it couldn’t be him. Then they moved to Talia, who was still there, despite the late hour. Her lips quirked into a smirk when his eyes landed on her, and she gave him a nod of respect, as though to say, anyone who could take a beating like that is alright in my book.
It appeared that she was the reason his Charisma had gone up. He must have put on one hell of a show for it to jump by that much. He wondered if she’d start calling him by his name now, instead of the nickname she’d bestowed upon him.
Probably not, he thought, pulling up the skills and examining them one by one.
Dodge
It seems you’re really good at running away…
Skill Type: Movement
Skill Level: 1
Effect: -20% to Stamina consumption when dodging an attack
“What the hell, Chuck?!” Arthur exclaimed when he saw the skill. “I could have used this skill earlier!”
Chuck didn’t seem in the least bit abashed.
“Did you look over your other skills yet?”
“No, but…”
“How ‘bout you do that, then? If you’re not satisfied by the time you’re done, I’ll give you an item that will boost you an entire five levels.”
“Does such an item even exist?” Arthur asked, eyeing the frog suspiciously.
“Just check your skills,” Chuck said with a sigh.
Grumbling to himself once more, Arthur turned back to his skills.
Punching Bag
You’re a real masochist, aren’t you? Sicko.
Skill Type: Defensive
Skill Level: 1
Effect: -5% Damage from physical attacks
While somewhat useful, the skill description alone was enough to assure that he wouldn’t be choosing it. He pulled up the last one, hoping that Chuck had that item handy. There was no way he’d be satisfied with a skill like…His th
oughts came to a screeching halt as he read over the skill.
Sixth Sense (Advanced Skill)
Finally! It looks like you learned to use more than just your eyes.
Skill Type: Sensory/Movement
Skill Level: 1
Effect: -100% Stamina consumption on a perfect dodge, +20% chance to correctly anticipate and avoid incoming attacks
Advanced Skills/Abilities
Advanced skills and abilities are those that serve more than a single purpose. While all skills and abilities have a single Type, Advanced skills and abilities will have two. Advanced skills and abilities cannot be learned, only taught by one already in possession of the skill/ability. They must also have already reached level 41 in the skill to be able to pass it on.
“By the slack expression on your face, I take it you’re satisfied with the new skills?”
Arthur was snapped from his thoughts as Chuck finally spoke up.
“Um…yeah,” he responded, accepting the new Advanced skill and ignoring the other two. “But tell me, when did you teach it to me? I don’t understand.”
“The training we did ensured that the knowledge could be passed on,” Chuck said, lifting the stick once again.
“Now, we can really start training.”
Arthur paled, his entire body crying out for him to stop. Then an image of his little brother flashed through his mind, and his resolve firmed. He couldn’t waste any time. The sooner he completed his training here, the sooner he could go to Raya.
Gritting his teeth, Arthur straightened his back and nodded. This was going to be a long night.
***
Arthur fell face-first into his bed and let out a small grunt of pain.
“Sleep tight, frog boy,” Talia said, heading to the door. He’d been too beat up to make it back without help. “I’ll see you back at the training grounds in four hours.”
He just groaned in response, too tired to do anything else. Chuck had trained him mercilessly for over five hours, beating him with a stick, forcing him to try jumping the poles again and even having Talia attack him while his feet were tied in place, forcing him to utilize his new skill.