by Aaron Oster
Arthur felt his lips turn up in a grin as he made his selection. The choice was obvious, wasn’t it?
Character Status
Name: Arthur
Race: Humanoid - Poison Frog
Class: Conqueror
Level: 21
XP: 5,810/42,000
AP: 15
Survivability
HP: 170/170
MP: 200/200
STA: 370/370
Armor Rating: 6
Attributes
Strength - 5
Constitution - 17
Endurance - 37
Agility - 65
Intelligence - 20 (Base: 10)
Wisdom - 20 (Base: 10)
Charisma - 12
Luck - 10
Skills
7/8
Unarmed Frog-Bat: Level 16
Perception: Level 100 (Max)
Knife Wielding: Level 14
Acrobatics: Level 15
Critical Strike: Level 12
Sixth Sense (A): Level 10
Truth-Seer: Level 100 (Max)
Abilities
5/8
Tae-Frog-Do: Level 15
Frog Slicer: Level 8
Parry: Level 4
Frog-Sassinate: Level 7
Drilling Blows: Level 11
Racial Bonus
Poison Touch: Tier 2
Spring: Tier 2
Predator: Tier 1
Arthur had expected some sort of transformation when he’d chosen his Class, but it seemed that the Conqueror Class didn’t add anything extra, as the others seemed to. His Race name even stayed the same. He wasn’t disappointed in his choice, as he knew it was the best one he could make for his future. But he was a bit upset that he hadn’t grown any taller.
He sighed, closing his status, and leaned back in the bed. He would have to assign his points soon, but he wasn’t sure what to put them into just yet. His attributes hadn’t changed when he’d chosen his Class, meaning that he wouldn’t see the bonus until he leveled again.
He was just debating whether he should go back to sleep or not, when an urgent banging came at the door. He sat up, but before he could answer, the door flew open to reveal Talia. Her face was pale, and she was panting hard.
“What’s wrong? Are we under attack?” he asked, already halfway out of bed and preparing for the worst.
Talia just shook her head, leaning on her knees and breathing hard. This didn’t do anything to alleviate his concerns. If anything, it just worried him more.
“Then what is it?” he asked, getting out of bed and walking over to her.
She finally looked up at him, her red eyes seeming to shine in the dim confines of the chamber. The next words out of her mouth made Arthur’s heart skip a beat. Relief instantly flooded his entire body.
“It’s White. He’s alive.”
Epilogue
The Rat flew high in the sky, heading with all haste to the outskirts of Raya. She’d left the city shortly after double-crossing that frog and handing him over to the Felines. There had been some business for her to take care of in the neighboring city of Swiftide. Upon her return just hours ago, however, she discovered the city in chaos, the Felines overthrown, and her organization gutted.
She felt anger boil up in her breast as she winged her way over the city walls, angling back the way she had come. It had taken her years of effort to build up her network within the city, and it had all been ruined by that damned frog, the same one she’d brought in just weeks ago.
Now she would be forced to start all over again in Swiftide, though The Raven might not allow it. Perhaps she could go behind her back and talk to the Countess herself. The Raven wouldn’t appreciate the double-cross, but the Countess would appreciate the intel about Raya.
It was an important border city, and it would weaken the Empire as a whole. If this Arthur made a pact with the humans, for example, they could lead an army through uncontested. This would be very bad indeed – for the Felines, that was.
Sure, she’d just lost everything she had, but with loss came opportunity. She’d been relegated to Raya by The Raven for her wit and cunning, leaving The Osprey in charge of Swiftide’s underground. If she came bearing the information about the fallen city, she would undoubtedly curry favor, if not with her, then with the Countess.
Those in the Coalition were always looking to one-up one another. Normally, Raya’s fall would mean her demise. But if she moved swiftly enough, it could mean the demise of a rival. She felt her beak crack slightly and let out a low caw.
Arthur may rule the city now, but when the Countess found out about his rebellion, she would send an army to crush them. Raya might have been a border city, but the Baron in charge was the weakest among the nobility. Compared to the Countess, he was nothing, and when she came for him, Raya would belong to the Felines once again.
***
Arthur sat in the small infirmary on the ground level of the manor. Talia stood across from him, leaning against the wall, and Hopps stood outside the door, seemingly oblivious to the somber mood.
White lay on the room’s only bed, attended to by the same Tortoise who’d looked after Arthur’s injuries in the pits – Sheldon was his name if he remembered correctly.
The albino cat lay on his back, his body covered in bandages and salves. Talia had discovered him just a couple of hours before. The old Champion had been on the brink of death, his body broken, bleeding, and covered in burns and gashes. The torturer was still there, apparently not having heard the commotion from outside.
Talia had knocked the Feline out, and he was now sitting in the very same cell awaiting punishment. White had been immediately rushed into the room he was now in, and Hopps had been sent out to find a healer.
White’s injuries had been extensive, however, and Sheldon said that he would never fight again. His spine had been damaged, and he would be paralyzed from the waist down. When Arthur had heard that, he’d been tempted to go down to the cell and inflict some torture of his own to the Feline who’d done this to his friend, but he knew it wouldn’t do White any good.
Now they were sitting here, waiting for him to wake up. His HP was stuck at the halfway point, and Sheldon said it would take some time for recovery, but he should be awake soon. They all just hoped that the pain of his injuries hadn’t permanently damaged the Feline’s mind.
Arthur sighed as he looked at the old cat. One side of his face had been covered up to hide his ruined eye, the same one he’d given Arthur before he’d told him to run. Of everything he felt right now, guilt was the strongest emotion. If he hadn’t left White to save himself, he never would have had to go through all this pain and suffering.
Yet, somehow, the cat had survived. He was a fighter, a true champion — someone who wouldn’t give up lightly.
“Am I dead?”
Arthur started, looking up to see that White’s eyes were open. The Feline looked confused as he looked between Arthur, Talia, and Sheldon.
“No, you’re very much alive,” Sheldon replied. “Though I don’t know how you keep managing to avoid death. You have more lives than…well, a cat!”
White chuckled weakly, then winced as the broken bones in his chest grated together.
“I think my luck’s all but run out. Everything hurts. Except for my legs… can’t feel a thing down there.”
“That’s because you’ve been paralyzed from the waist down,” Sheldon said bluntly.
Arthur flinched, expecting White to grow upset, but the old Feline merely sighed.
“I figured as much. Guess that means my fighting days are well and truly over. It’s a shame, really. I would have liked to fight in the arena just one more time.”
“Well, despite how you turned out, your plan worked. The city is ours, no thanks to these two.”
“Ah, Arthur, I see you made it. And Talia, too. But I don’t see Hopps. Is he…?”
“He’s standing in the hall,” Sheldon said, checking one of the many ba
ndages on White’s body. “Now that you’re awake,” he continued. “I’ve got a few more patients outside the manor. Send for me if he needs anything.”
And with that, the old Tortoise waddled out of the room, leaving the three of them alone.
Arthur opened his mouth to say something, but nothing would come out. He wanted to apologize, but what good would that do him? An apology wouldn’t undo all the damage that had been done to his friend, nor would it restore his legs.
“Do you want the eye back?” he blurted out.
White turned his head to appraise him, his one remaining eye glinting red in the low lighting. It wasn’t the same red as Talia’s. Hers was a deep crimson and naturally occurring, while his were a lighter pinkish-red as a result of his albinism.
“No, I don’t think I do,” he replied, watching him carefully. “The eye suits you better than it ever did me. I never got much use out of it, aside from the skills it provided. But you, I can already sense the bond you’ve formed with it. It will serve you well.”
Arthur nodded, feeling his heart rate speed up as he prepared his piece.
“White, I…”
“There is no need to apologize for what happened, young Arthur. It was my decision alone to remain behind and allow you to escape. I see now, more than ever, the man you can become and the potential for greatness within you. You will free the continent from the Feline Empire and stop the oppression of all the Races here.
“I do not doubt that for even a moment. Yes, I was tortured, and horribly so, but that was because of my decisions, not yours. I may be unable to fight physically, but during my time, I had a sort of, I guess, enlightenment.”
White cracked a half-smile, then raised a hand. A flash of golden light shot from the tips of his fingers, fading after only a moment.
“I’d never had any aptitude for magic, but now, it seems that my affinity is higher than ever. It may take some time, but I’m sure that I’ll have the strength to fight again someday.”
Arthur nodded, accepting the Feline’s words. He still felt horribly guilty for leaving him back in the pits, but he wouldn’t dishonor the former Champion by arguing with him. Instead, he changed the topic to another matter, one that he’d been worrying about ever since the quest had tasked him with finding a leader for the city.
“I know it’s a lot to ask, especially after all you’ve gone through. But would you take over as regent of the city? I can’t stay here. I have too much to do, and I need someone reliable to rule. Besides, I’m not cut out to be a leader.”
White shook his head, his expression solemn.
“No. I will not rule this city. The people have been under Feline rule for too long. They will not accept another Feline ruler. And even if they would, I would not take the position. But…” he continued as Arthur’s expression fell. “I can advise someone worthy to rule the city in your stead. But only as a temporary measure. Once you return, the city will be handed back to you, its rightful ruler.”
Arthur debated that for a moment before hesitantly nodding. It wasn’t the perfect solution, but it would have to do for now.
“I’m glad you agreed,” White said with a smile. “As I said, I believe you can save us all and usher in a new age of peace. For that reason, and many others, allow me to pledge myself to you in service.”
Arthur gave Talia a panicked look, but the ant-girl only motioned him on, a small smile playing at the corners of her lips.
She really does enjoy my comfort way too much.
“Um. Okay, I guess,” he replied awkwardly.
But that seemed to be good enough for White, whose face split in a wide grin.
“Then let this be the day when a new king rises. One who will conquer all and free those from oppression.”
White forced himself into a sitting position, then bowed at the waist. The entire scene was so surreal that Arthur hardly believe what was happening.
What’s White talking about? Me, a king?
“That’s not what I want, though,” he said weakly, trying to get White to lay back down.
“And that is precisely why you must be the one to lead us. Don’t you agree?” he asked, turning to face Talia.
To his shock, Talia nodded, her smirk vanishing to be replaced with an expression of utmost sincerity. Then, she shocked him even more by dropping to a knee.
“From this day on, I will be your shield. Whatever happens, I will be with you.”
A slew of messages began flashing before his eyes, but Arthur ignored them, watching the pair in dumbfounded amazement.
Just what the absolute hell is happening?!
Then, as one, they both lowered their heads and said,
“All hail King Arthur!”
Afterword
What’s up, you bunch of wankers?! It’s your good buddy, Hopps, here. If you enjoyed the book and want to see more of my awesomeness, remember to leave a review. They really help the wanker who wrote this book. Don’t ask me why- maybe he’s got some ego problems or whatever. Either way, I hope to see you lot back for our next adventure!
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Series by Aaron Oster
Rise to Omniscience
Supermage: Book One
Starbreak: Book Two
Skyflare: Book Three
Solarspire: Book Four
Stormforge: Book Five Coming Winter 2020
Buryoku
Power: Book One
Book 2 coming January 2020
The Rules
Somerset: Book One
Book 2 TBA
Land of the Elementals
Rampage: Book One
Book 2 coming February/March 2020
Animal Kingdom
Riot: Book One
Book 2 TBA