Bells echoing in the village roused me from sleep, the echoes of panic could be heard even in my closed room.

I ran down and opened the door to the street. The village militia, maybe a dozen strong, were handing out weapons to any able body present. One of those militia made eye contact with me and approached.

“You, traveler! Fenley asked me to deliver you these, we are under attack.”

The woman reached out and gave me a worn short sword and a buckler—if you could call it that. The sword looked just sharp enough to cut bread, and the shield sturdy enough to block a kick. From a child. A weak, weak child.

“I’m not sure how much help I am going to be… I’ve never used these before.” I replied earnestly. I had never taken a single combat lesson in martial arts, much less with weapons. Neopets didn’t touch on fighting too much.

“Nonsense, we all went through some basic training when we were Adopted! Come, this way.”

She responded forcefully, leaving me with little room to argue. Clearly, I should have learned some things already, as I was just barely able to keep my head afloat during these conversations.

The paths that once held the local commerce were now filled with locals running with pitch forks. Windows were closing, animals led into barns, and everyone was buckling down for this invasion. Once I found Fenley, I would have to explain to him that I would do no good here, and that I should join the nonfighters.

As we made our way to the farmland side of town, the once empty rolling grasslands hosted an army. I use the word army, because compared to our four dozen or so gathered, it was. They stood at least 100 strong, maybe even closer to 150. All of them were adorned in various kinds of armor. Plate, chainmail, leather, everyone had something. Their colors were light blue and white, I assumed signifying their kingdom. Oh, and all the figures had tails.

Clear as day, I was looking at cat-like humanoids. What had once been my race of choice when playing RPGs, I now disliked when faced as enemies.

At the front of our newly formed militia stood Fenley, and I eagerly broke from my guard’s escort to join him.

“Fenley, there you are. Look, thank you for housing me and feeding me, truly I appreciate it. However, I don’t think I’m your guy here. I’ve nev— When I trained in my Adoption process, I was never very good. I think I would get in the way more than I would aid your village.” I almost let out that I had never used weapons before, butmy conversation with the woman altered my explanation.

Fenley gazed at the army in front of him and made no notion that he heard me. Or, if he did, didn’t care what I had to say. Before I could say anything more, Fenley took a few steps forward, as did one of the cat-man-things in plate armor.

“Hello there. My name is Fenley, I am the steward of Lord Randall, who has tasked me to run this town in his stead. I understand our factions are at war, and no sign of peace talks have begun. Is this your understanding of the situation as it presents itself?

The cat responded in a very formal, almost poetic voice. “Yes, those are the facts that have reached my ears as well. Do you wish to issue a formal surrender?”

Fenley sighed. “I wish, however, in accordance to my lord’s contract, a surrender is not possible. We must fight. May I ask, however, if we could participate in a champion’s duel? We have no illusions of victory, but this will reduce our casualties. You may choose to keep our town under your faction’s command, or loot if you so desire. I just ask for our lives to be spared in the process.”

Ahh, Fenley, you sneaky devil. He probably has a trick up his sleeve. Some champion of immense power on retainer that his kingdom has given him for such an occasion!

“Very well, steward, I accept your proposal.” The cat made a motion with his hand, and a giant cat jumped from somewhere in the company. I think calling this creature a cat would be insulting–. It was a damn lion. It wore no armor, which was more intimating than if it had been wearing any at all. If the warrior decided it didn’t need to wear some kind of gear for protection, it was probably for a good reason. The lion wore a gold necklace with some kind of pendant whose symbol I didn’t recognize. Its paws were festooned with rings, four on each hand, and adorned in finger-less black leather gloves.

The lion unsheathed a giant great sword, at least four feet long, from a bracelet on his wrist—yes a bracelet—and moved it with such ease that you could tell it was as cumbersome as a dagger in his hands… paws.

Fenley announced loudly, “Our champion, and visitor to our village, Vince Tieman!”

Oh.

“Fenley… what the fuck?” I could barely get the words out; my shock took me a few seconds to process what he'd said.

Fenley held my gaze, and an immense sadness and guilt could be seen written all over his face.

“Vince… I don’t have a lot of options here. Either the whole village dies, I nominate you, or I nominate someone from our small village where every able-bodied member matters. We haven’t received a new permanent resident in five years. Five. You are still a stranger to me, and I’m sorry. I appoint you our champion.”

You have been anointed Champion for the village of Favor. May you fight well.

There was no chance I would be some sacrificial lamb. I didn’t choose to be teleported to this shitty planet, and I wouldn’t let it kill me on the first fucking day. With that thought, I turned and ran about, oh say ten feet, before an electrical current took over my body, paralyzing me on the spot.

You may not retreat in a battle of Champions. We will return you to the battlefield. This is your only warning.

I was lifted a few inches off the ground, and magically floated thirty feet from my opponent, before gently being set down and the paralysis lifting. That was my first experience seeing magic play out in this new worldI. It would have been an exhilarating experience, if not for the magic leading me to my murder.

As I stared at the creature in front of me, against my best judgment, I decided to see what I was up against.

Analyze.

Mahar Razortooth (level ?)

Class - Ravager

Disposition - Pity

Don’t worry, I pity myself too.

Almost as if Mahar was reading my mind, a chuckle emanated from him before he spoke in a deep growling voice.

“I see your level is unclear to me. Given the fact you are in this village, looking the way you do, I think it is safe to assume your level is at least 5 below mine, rather than 5 above.” He smirked as whatever apprehension he had about of facing off against an unknown warrior began to wither away under his analysis.

Mine, on the other hand, increased dramatically. I didn’t know what a Ravager class was, but I was pretty sure it wasn’t a merchant or peacemaker. I really didn’t want to be ravaged. Time to talk.

“Mahar, that may be true, but may not. I could be a powerful wizard for all you know.” I bluffed as I tried to keep my bowels under control.

The lion laughed. “A wizard out here? Looking like you? I would be willing to bet my life’s savings that you are nothing more than the weakest link of the village, the runt of the litter.”

Well, let’s go all in, might as well.

“If I’m the runt, and you're so confident, would you like to make a wager? If I cast a spell, no matter how meager, you and your men will retreat from here.”

Mahar thought my proposal over, looking off into the distance lost in thought.

I can’t believe he’s considering this. The ego on this guy!

“No deal. I need the exercise.” Mahar gave his best war cry and began to run toward me

Debuff - Fear (Shouting Fear - Mahar)

-5% to Power.

Shit.

No sooner had I realized I wasn’t as smart as I thought I was, he was already on me. Like a goalkeeper trying to get a jump on a penalty kick, I had to make an instinctive choice. Reacting on my reflexes alone against this guy would do nothing. Swinging right to left? Left to right? Straight forward? So, I dodged to my left, using the round shield as a barrier against the ground, allowing my momentum to continue.

By some miracle I guessed right, and his blade hung in the air humming in vibration. His expression was surprised, but still sported a smirk as he looked at me.

“A squirrel that is blind can too still find a nut.” The comment earned snickers from his comrades.

Ugh, he couldn’t even tell the joke right.

Mahar suddenly dropped his sword to the ground, held out his arms, and beckoned me to come at him a la Morpheus style.

I rushed toward him, adrenaline fueling my limbs while my mind asked me what the fuck I was doing. I brought my sword down in a slash. Due to his height. around seven feet, my sword was aimed at the upper part of his chest.

2 damage has been dealt!

My sword was grabbed by one of Mahar’s meaty paws, stopped dead in its tracks. He accomplished this feat mid-swing. I had caused a total of two damage. Two.

Mahar ripped the sword from my hand, my grip strength stood no chance. Then he used my sword's pommel and smashed my face with it like a baseball bat.

8 damage taken

8 damage taken

8 damage taken

8 damage taken

…

He continued to use my face for batting practice, while wielding my sword in reverse. As I got up from the ground the fourth or fifth time, the lion flipped the sword around, caught it by its handle, and drove the blade through my stomach.

15 damage taken

You are bleeding! (-1 HP per minute until healed)

He withdrew the sword and threw it into the ground, then turned to his comrades, throwing his hands up in triumph. My world was painI. If I had ever referred to a pain in my past as “stabbing,” I took it all back. It started as a knot in my stomach, and gradually evolved into the single most painful thing in my entire life.

“Eyja!” Mahar shouted toward the sky. “Hear my wish. My enemy has received a mortal blow and I would wish to end this match now, letting him die slowly in your name. Do you accept my gift?”

A moment later, I received a screen in front of me.

You have lost the Champion’s duel in the eyes of Eyja.

The lion smiled in smug satisfaction. After a few bits of conversation I failed to overhear between the cat leader and Fenley, both parties went their own way.

Fenley came over and shook his head in defeat. “Don’t bother asking us for help. We all saw the message; this duel has been overseen by Eyja herself. We can’t help you.” Delivering his cryptic message, the Steward made his way back toward his village, leaving me to die alone.

I crawled toward an open pasture, while trying to maintain pressure on my wound. I wasn’t sure if real life physics applied in this situation, but I had to try something. I pulled myself up a rise on the grasslands. Before me was the village at one end, and the disappearing army at the other.

My HP fell to a measly 5/100 remaining, and my breathing had become labored. I was almost looked forward to my death, just to be released from the pain. The only thing I held onto was the memory of my wife. If I stayed awake a little while longer, I could think of her some more, before the never-ending blackness took me. We would joke around who loved each other more all the time, and in my opinion, thinking of her while bleeding to death gave me the ultimate trump card.

“Heh… Heh…” I laughed at my own thoughts and blood gurgled in the back of my throat between snickers.

My eyes closed while picturing her and my dogs, trying to keep my thoughts positive before I passed. It was at that moment the same wet nose feeling grazed my arm. I opened my eyes and saw my panther.

I’m not sure why I felt the need to call it my panther, but that’s what I felt. I got a better look at it, appreciating the beast’s beauty. White fur, laced with blue streaks, and beautiful blue eyes that rocked me to my core the same way as when I first gazed into them.

“I think you’re the closest friend I got out here.” I mumbled. “Could have used you against Scar out there though. I felt like Mufasa.” The panther cocked its head to the side, and I giggled at my own joke. “Tough crowd.” I stroked the side of the panther’s head.

“Mind staying with me during this part? I don’t… I would prefer not to do it alone.”

The panther leaned forward and began to sniff around the wound in my midsection, making a soft whining noise.

“It’s okay buddy. It’s alright.” My breath began to shorten as a 1/100 HP remaining flashed across my field of view. I closed my eyes, while scratching my new and last friend, and waited. A blue light began to light up behind my closed eyes. I guess this is me dissolving into the ether, or whatever it’s called here.

You have been stabilized by the spell, “Mend.” 1/100 HP remaining.

I opened my eyes in time to see my panther’s blue streaks glowing as it pulled its snout away from my wound. Well, where my wound was. It had closed, with just a small scar as evidence of my trauma.

“Wha…” I couldn’t get words out. The relief of pain, and the exhaustion of my ordeal, washed over me. As I began to faint, I could hear a female voice in my head.

“When you awake, head north along this road until you reach Johan. You need to attend the Transport Academy, and quickly!”