Authors note: this one is a little shorter than the others, just cause I want to get some things out of the way, I’ll post another chapter later today. Maybe.

Chapter 2

“Well, that was unexpected.”

I slowly woke up, and heard a familiar voice.

“Jordan.”

“Hey there buddy! How’ve you been doing?”

“quite well, besides having to kill a dozen spiders and being a cat, its just like how I expected it to be.”

“weeeell, about that, you meeting those spider was a teeny mistake.”

“why was that a mistake?” I was curious, since I had no idea how I could have done anything different.

“weeeeell, its because on average they were 50 levels higher than you and two of them had already gotten their first evolution.”

“you mean the green and red ones? Sure, they were stronger than me, but they were idiots. Strength is useless unless you can make a situation where you can use it.” another of my masters quotes.

“ha,ha, well, be that as it may beating something so much stronger than yourself usually has consequences.”

“like what?” I was starting to get suspicious of my delusion, and I wanted him to spit it out already.

“weeee-“

“Stop starting your sentences with that word.”

“okay! Okay! Basically the spiders you let escape went back to their nest and told their queen that an insane furry creature is going around the forest massacring them.”

“I see, but you said consciqunces, I assume that isn’t all.”

“ah, ye, your quite right. Some of the woodland creature saw the dead spiders and now they think some kind of monster is

going to try and eat them.”

“ah. I get it now.”

“b-but that’s not all, there’s some good news!”

“and what is it?”

“well, you leveled up quite a bit. 26 levels, actually.”

“well, what level was I before?”

“0”

“wait a second, let me get this straight. Basically, I’m a cat that is level 26, have no abilities whatsoever, am all alone, and I

have a swarm of giant spiders that want to kill me.”

“don’t forget that your now one day old! That has to count for something, right?

“that’s right. Something has been bothering me. How come a level zero, who was born a couple hours ago, can take on a dozen giant spiders and win. Does it have to do with me being a champion?”

“w-weeee-“

“Didn’t I tell you to stop starting your sentences with that word?”

“it’s not because you’re a champion! Please stop looking at me like that! It’s scary!”

“well then, how was I able to fight them and come out unscathed?”

“well, it’s because of your fighting prowess. On its own, the exact same cat as you would die the second it met a giant spider, but, well, your one of the strongest fighters from your world. If you win a fight, it’s because of your own ability. I’m not helping you at all, all I did was give you a second chance in exchange for being my champion. In fact, other champions get a stat bonus, but you don’t get any of that, all you get from me is flee.”

“whats a ‘stat bonus’?

“basically the champions blessing makes them stronger than how they would normally be, it can make you faster, give you resistance's, and pretty much anything else. It all depends on the god in question, the stronger the god, the more powerful the blessing. Natives to this world can actually get blessings from worshiping in a temple, and the god can decide to grant them his blessing.”

“huh, well, that’s good.”

He looked like he thought I was crazy. “I just told you that you are majorly disadvantaged. The only thing that you race gives you is the ability to hunt from birth, and claws and fangs, which basically everything els has, or something better. How is that good!?”

“it’s good because it means I don’t have to rely on you to get me out of bad situations. I either get myself out or die.” I licked my lips, and I could still taste the blood. “whats the point of a second chance if there is someone who can just bail you out? This makes it more exciting. Thanks for the information. I will make use of it, and while I'm at it, I’ll make this forest yours.”

“why would you do that? I’ve done nothing for you! You have no obligation to be my servant, you can just live the way you want to!”

I put my paw over his mouth. “thank you. You have given me a second chance, and being your champion has given me a purpose. I will conquer this forest, in the name of Jordan.”

I smiled. “and besides, killing things in this body is fun.”

As I walked out of the cave, I heard him muttering. “what kind of monster have I unleashed?” and shaking his head.

As I stepped out into the moonlight night, I looked out over the forest, and raised my paw. I inspected my claws, my pelt, and I discovered the fluffy tail that I had attached to me. I looked out at the moon once more, and thought to myself.

A conquerer needs a name. not my old name, that belongs to silica. I need a name that others can flock to, something that can be spread in rumors. I need a name. what shall I be called?

I thought for a while, and finally I told the moon, the forest, and anyone else who wanted to now.

“from this day forth, I will be known thus. The creatures of the forest shall tremble before it, and the earth shall shake before its bearer. My name, is,

Shadowpelt.

Hear this name and tremble, or I will make you.”

End of chapter 2