The Uncrowned King CYOA

SETTING(?):"this is basically a punk (monsterpunk) setting. A dystopian future, in which monster girls have dominated human civilization. Humans a second class citizens and have very few rights in the eyes of the monster-biased law. Poverty and crime is rampant. Our friend, Mac, is one such victim of this system. He turned to fighting in the underground because its and other version of organized crime are some of the other options for advancement for humans.
As for the organizers of the underground MMA fights, they are mostly lower class monster races. Yes that's right, even in the world of monsters, a divide between rich and poor exists. Most of the organizers of crime in the human world are the scum of the monster world, who by extension are also just trying to make a living."
"What separates the rich and the poor, the powerful and the powerless, in the monster world? The answer is magic. The possession of it, and the ability to control it. Magic is able to do very powerful and devastating things in this world, so those who cannot use magic are ruled over by those who can. Succubi and other races of demons stand at the top of the monster hierarchy. Onis, Orcs, Amazons, Ushi-Oni, and other physical-only monster races are near the bottom since they cannot use magic and don't have wealthy families to fall back on. (vampires have scraped by with middle class rank because many of them come from extreme wealth combined with average magic usage)."


>You are anon, the "Uncrowned King" of underground MMA fights
>well, you were
>your career is pretty much over
>you've lost the crowd
>nobody wants to see a human that doesn't lose, they said
>almost all your opponents are monster girls
>you realize that over time, human fans and spectators have dwindled, now it's just more fucking monsters waiting to see humans get the shit kicked out of them and raped
>you never lost
>last match, you were up against an Oni
>your manager basically told you to throw the match
>it would be painless he said
>it'll give you some popularity, he said
>well fuck him, you said
>you didn't throw the match
>you beat the shit out of that Oni, and spit on her unconscious body
>the crowd hated it
>boos and jeers
>a riot almost started
>your manager didn't even talk to you
>when you got your current match arranged, you knew they were getting rid of you
>your next match was tomorrow, up against an Ushi-Oni
>this was their way of making you disappear
>you'd probably die in the ring
>you felt helpless
>you wanted to get crazy drunk
>maybe off yourself tonight
>or run away
>maybe you had enough in you to go down in a blaze of glory?



>you decide you ain't gonna run, that's pussy shit
>you've been fighting all your life
>if you ran now it would change who you were
>you just hoped if you lost, the Ushi-Oni would be respectful
>not much chance of that, you imagine
>although you beat an Oni previously, she was definitely past her prime
>that was probably the only reason she was fighting you anyway
>it wasn't an easy fight either
>your superior stamina was what won you the fight
>the Ushi-Oni you're going up against, they call her "GraveDigger"
>she specializes in "putting down" errant fighters
>her specialty is making sure her opponents won't be fighting ever again
>the strength of an Oni, the mobility of an Arachne, and the mind of a killer
>you don't have much of a chance
>still, you'd like to win
>if you do, you fancy you'll retire willingly, and join the army or something
>you laugh grimly as you muse to yourself
>no reason to sit around day dreaming
>you head to the bar for a drink
>need something to calm your nerves
>you walk into your favorite watering hole and greet the bartender
>you walk towards a booth near the back
>on your way there, you see a figure near the back and freeze
>sitting in her own booth, smoking a cigarette, is the GraveDigger herself
>you both lock eyes


>You decide to be bold
>what does anything matter, at this point?
>you sit down across from her in the booth
>"Excuse me…?" She raises an eyebrow at you
>you extend your hand across the table
>"My name is Mac, though you probably know me as "the Uncrowned King'."
>her eyebrows arch even higher in surprise, before falling as her expression darkens
>she accepts your handshake in her large furry paw
>"Dammit, kid. Why you gotta do this to me now…" you hear her mutter
>"Pardon?"
>"Listen, there's a reason I don't look up the people I'm gonna fight. You think I like doing this shit?"
>you can't think of what to reply to that
>she takes a long draw of her cigarette
>just then the waiter comes around
>he looks understandably nervous
>"I-is everything a-alright here, Miss? I-if this m-man is bothering you I c-can-"
>"Forget it, " she dismisses the bartender with a wave, "He's fine."
>"Actually," you pipe up, "I'd like a white russian."
>the waiter looks confused then leaves to get your drink
>the Ushi-Oni leans back, resting both her elbows on the back of the booth behind her
>you can see her frightening and fascinating bulging biceps
>"Well, you already know I'm GraveDigger. You can call me 'Anna' just this once, considering the circumstances."
>You nod. "Thanks Anna."
>"Well, what do you want?" She asks, acting impatient
>you can tell you're making her uncomfortable
>"I just want to talk is all. I'm sure we're both not looking forward to tomorrow."
>she flicks her cigarette into the ashtray
>she is silent for awhile
>eventually she snaps at you
>"It's not my fault, okay! I don't arrange the fights! I don't have any other choice, just like you. I'm not the bad guy!"
>you can hear her voice choke in her throat as she says the last words
>just then, the waiter returns with your drink
>Anna turns her head away as he arrives, pretending to take another drag of her cigarette
>when he leaves she turns back to you, blushing slightly
>you take a sip of your drink
>"I don't blame you. You're not a bad person, I can tell already."
>you see the tension in her body relax a little bit
>a hand you didn't notice was drumming on the table suddenly stops
>"I didn't want this, you know." she says robotic-ally
>"I wanted to be a warrior, not an executioner."
>You can't think of anything to say so you sip your drink silently and glance at her once in awhile
>"I have a favor to ask." You say finally
>you see the tension return in her expression
>"I-I can't go easy on you, if that's what your asking, I'm sorr-"
>you interrupt her by raising your hand
>"That's not it."
>"If I lose, I just want it to be dignified. All I have left is my pride."
>Anna nervously takes a few drags of her smoke quickly
>"Fine. Whatever, I can do that. "
>you finish your drink quickly and stand up
>you place a hand on her shoulder
>"I don't mind losing, if it's you. You're not a bad person."
>"It was nice meeting you, Anna."
>She blushes a little
>"..idiot…" you hear her say under her breath as you walk away and out of the bar
>you take a deep breath as you walk outside
>you feel your nerves have calmed down, but some sort of melancholy has replaced them
>you almost feel like you're walking towards your own funeral with every step you take
>you look at your watch, it's only 7 pm


>you head straight home and collapse into your bed, trying to sleep
>sleep does not come
>mentally, you are exhausted, but physically you're on edge
>you decide to hit the bag in the basement, and skip rope for a few hours
>eventually you wear yourself out enough where you can collapse into your bed
>you wake up a few hours later from a dreamless sleep
>you don't really feel all that great or rested, but you suppose that's probably just the nerves
>you get ready and eat what you hope isn't your last meal
>you take a couple shots of vodka before you leave, for good luck
>as you arrive at the match, they are still setting up
>you head to the locker rooms to change
>on the way there, you run into your ex-manager
>surprisingly, he stops in front of you and looks like he's about to say something
>you decide to start
>"You're really fucking me over, you know that?"
>your manager looks pained for a second, but his expression is soon replaced with anger
>"Nah, fuck that, this is YOUR fault. You chose this. I told you to throw the Oni fight."
>you frown "That wouldn't have been right."
>your manager scoffs "And look where that pride got you. "
>the conversation dies there
>the manager takes a softer, kinder tone, "Look son, I'm sorry. Nobody wants to see a human champ anymore, we both know that. This is the way the world is now."
>he puts his hand on your shoulder and squeezes
>"This is your swan song. Give 'em hell kid. Don't go down easy."
>with that he leaves
>you finish changing into your fighting gear, wearing only a pair of boxing shorts and thing MMA gloves around your hands
>you wait anxiously in the backstage area for the show to begin
>eventually a coordinator taps you on your shoulder, signalling it's time to walk out into the ring
>there is a much bigger crowd here than at your last fight
>you guess a lot more monster girls want to see you get destroyed
>you received boos as the crowd notices you walking towards the ring
>a few drinks and concession stand foods are thrown at you
>you look straight ahead and ignore them
>you enter the ring and go to your corner
>your manager is not there
>you didn't expect him to be
>in the other corner, Anna, the GraveDigger is looking at you with a dark expression
>eventually you heard the loud crackle of the loudspeaker as the announcer booms over the crowd
>"Ladies and Gentlemen…awww who am I kidding….Ladies! Welcome to the event you've all been waiting to see! The premiere event of the season, 'The Dethroning of the Uncrowned King!"
>cheers ring out from the crowd
>you notice Anna doesn't react at all to the announcements
>"In the blue corner, weighting in at 172 pounds, is Mac "the Uncrowned King" Retsnom"
>the crowd boos and hisses
>you try to keep a straight face, just like Anna
>the announcer continues
>"In the red corner, weighing in at almost 300 pounds, Anna 'GraveDigger' Webspike!"
>at the call of her name, Anna stands up on her massive arachnid legs and skitters around to face the crowd
>she flexes both her arms spectacularly and the crowd cheers and whistles, although you can see her expression remains blank
>moments later the referee pulls both of you towards the center and makes you touch gloves
>Anna and you lock eyes
>you hear her whisper to you
>"Fight hard, Mac."

>You decide to hang back, waiting for an opportunity
>she senses your hesitation, and rushes forward
>you hear an erratic *skitter-skitter* as her eight legs move in as a blur
>she approach you faster than you were prepared
>unable to dodge, you take a quick jab to the face
>you back up and shake your head, clearing it
>you figure she's probably faster than you
>you decide to do something unexpected
>using your trained foot-work skills, you rush her quickly
>you can see you caught her off guard
>you feint a gut punch with your left and she guards low
>you hit her with a cross from your right, it connects sharply with her face
>blood flies out of her nose and lands on her shoulder
>fuck! It burns your skin
>you have to take a second to wipe it off with your glove
>as you are distracted, Anna strikes at you
>you barely manage to get your guard up in time
>you decide to endure for a little bit and tire her out
>she winds up a bit for a hard straight with her left, you dodge to the side at the last moment and hit her with a low gut punch
>you hear her grunt in pain but she skitters backwards in time to avoid most of the force of the blow
>eager to get more punches, you desperately pursue her
>that was a mistake
>with her maneuverability, she is able to kite you around and dodge your weak jabs
 >eventually your stamina falters and she throws out a punch before you can put up your guard
>you take the hit to the face
>your mouth guard is knocked loose
>you feel a burning sensation around your mouth
>your lip is now cut
>blood drips from your busted lip onto your chest and the mat
>just then the bell rings signalling the end of round 1
>you and Anna head back to your respective corners
>your manager, as expected, is absent
>you pick up your towel and take a swig of your water
>you dab at your lips but realize it isn't going to stop bleeding for awhile
>you hear spectators buzzing behind you
>"He seemed desperate in that round"
>"Of course, he knows he's got no chance"
>"He's already bleeding, he'll fade fast"
>"I wonder if he'll even last 4 rounds?"
>you turn around and glare at the monster girls behind you
>for some reason, they fall silent
>you can almost overhear the conversation between Anna and her manager, an imposing looking Amazon woman
>"I can't believe that human trash bag drew blood on you. You call yourself a fighter?"
>"From this round on, every hit you take from him is $100 out of your paycheck"
>Anna keeps her blank expression while being chastised and pampered
>you hear the bell ring again for the second round


>you grind your teeth together and stand up
>"Anna!" you shout loud enough for all spectators to hear, "I'll pay back double whatever's taken out of your paycheck, so don't worry!"
>you see the hint of a smile on  her face but it vanishes quickly
>you decide to go balls to the wall
>you're gonna raise hell in this ring
>you close the distance between you two as fast as you can
>before she can dodge, you hammer out jabs in quick succession
>Anna can do nothing but block
>you increase the tempo and finally her tempo falters
>you throw a straight at her face
>it connects
>you feel her nose crunch beneath your fist
>a shower of blood sprays you both
>feeling confident, you go for a kick
>you aim for one of her large segmented legs
>your shin connects right in the joint, pinching the hydraulic pocket there
>she gasps and limps to one side a little
>you figure she should be a little less quick now
>still, her hard body did a number on your leg
>your shin is now bruised
>angrily, she grips either side of your head in her large furry paws
>uh oh
>you weren't able to dodge or block
>she rears her entire head back and smashes her forehead into yours in a mind-numbing headbutt
>you fall back on your ass, seeing stars
>blood from her broken nose sprayed onto your face
>you wipe it off in a haze, trying to get the burning to go away
>in your daze, you half expect the ref to start counting, but you remember this match is special, KO only
>Anna skitters closer
>"Get up."
>you comply, your ringing head making you stand woozy
>you find it hard to concentrate and end up taking a few quick jabs to the face
>your right cheek is now cut
>your left eye is beginning to swell
>your sense come back to you and you dodge a hard right and counter with a cross which connects with her jaw
>unfortunately you're winded at this point and it didn't have nearly enough force behind it
>Anna growls and jabs out sharply, catching you in the mouth
>you take the blow full force
>you feel warm liquid fill your mouth as your tooth is knocked loose
>the end of round bell rings once more
>you limp your way back into your corner
>you find a bucket next to your supplies and spit into it
>your saliva is red with blood
>you hear an ominous little *plink* as the loose tooth is spit into the bucket
>with a sigh, you sink back into your seat and gulp down more water, the damp rag just hanging on your face
>you're tired, and still bleeding from various injuries
>droplets of blood begin to pool in an area of the mat close to your chair
>you wonder how much longer you can go
>a quick glance at Anna shows she's doing better than you are for sure
>although, not perfect
>the amazon manager looks on sternly as Anna's nose is reset and splinted
>you're glad your own nose isn't broken, but that won't last until the end of next round, you can tell
>will you last until the end of next round?
>the bell rings again

>you get up and spit the contents of your mouth in your bucket
>you ready your fists and dive in once more
>you aren't satisfied with just surviving another round
>you want to WIN
>with that determination in mind, you throw out jab after jab, giving no window for counter-attack
>Anna is able to block them, but you know her stamina is greater than yours
>you need to add complexity to your battle plan
>you feint a left straight and give her a right hook instead
>it lands, disorienting her
>satisfied, you throw out a real straight this time, which makes it through her guard
>you see her mouth guard fly out and blood follow it
>you silently hope you've taken one of her teeth as well
>you don't stop there
>despite the protests of your screaming muscles, you coil yourself up tightly and drive a hard left hook into the soft part of her rib cage
>Anna cries out in pain
>you have no time for mercy
>summoning a final amount of energy, you tense up every muscle in your lower body
>you crouch into an uppercut position and take off like a fucking rocket
>your fist slams into the chin of your opponent
>Anna is disoriented and staggers to the side
>time to press the attack
>amazingly, with some amount of arachnid perception, Anna is able to dodge your next attack and counter
>she hits you square in the face with her left
>you feel your nose break
>blood instantly floods your mouth and blocks your nose
>you back step out of the way, trying to catch your breath
>your exertion catches up with you
>you begin gasping, since you can no longer breathe out of your nose
>your whole body feel heavy
>you know in your stomach the end of the round is too far off
>you don't even know if you can fix your nose by yourself
>you don't have time to think those things
>Anna is bearing down on you again
>you have no choice but to put up your guard
>she wears you down with some quick jabs
>she feints an opening and you fall for it
>a weak a slow punch floats by her head
>hooking an elbow over your extended arm, she pins it there
>oh no
>with a sharp twist of her elbow, you feel a crunch run through your body
>your right elbow is now broken
>your scream rings out over the sound of the bell
>Anna doesn't return to her corner
>gasping, you back off as fast as you can, cradling your elbow
>Anna continues bearing down on you
>you look to the ref, but he doesn't meet eyes with you
>the rules don't apply any more
>well, you expected this

>you try to put up a defense with just one arm
>of course it doesn't mean much
>Anna easily passes through your guard and hits your temple and eye sockets with her left and right hooks
>you feel your eye swelling closed now
>feeling desperate, you rush forward, trying to sneak through her barrage
>you feel two strong arms snake around your neck and she puts you in a head lock
>"That's enough, Mac," you hear her whisper gently, "Let this be the end."
>you feel a gently warmth inside as your vision fades
>she's being so kind to you
>offering your mercy
>you could just lose here
>if you pass out, the fight is over
>no more pain
>….
>FUCK THAT
>snapping back to your sense, you realize you would rather die standing than live kneeling
>you take a large bit into the forearm of corded muscle in front of your face
>Anna screams in pain as her hot blood fills your mouth
>it scorches your tongue and throat
>it feels like swallowing embers
>it hurts so bad
>you don't let go
>eventually Anna can take the pain no longer, and she releases you from the headlock
>you stagger backwards, the sudden return of circulation making you dizzy
>black spots dance in front of your eyes
>before you can compose yourself, a fist slams into your face
>you feel the world spinning beneath you as you tumble to the ground
>you can feel that your eyes are still open, but you can't see anything
>you feel and hear Anna skitter closer to your body as lay on your back
>you feel a woosh of air as her leg comes down on your left arm
>your left arm is now broken
>you barely register the pain
>you hear the crowds cheers begin to fade away
>another, harsher voice becomes clearer in the fog
>"You get back in there Anna, he's not done yet."
>"Both of his arms are broken, he's done."
>"What did I just say? Bones can heal. You get in there and make sure he never fights again, or I'll do it for you."
>you feel the weight of the mat shift as Anna skitters closer once more
>"I'm sorry, Mac."
>almost gently, you feel once of her legs turn your over onto your stomach, exposing your back to the air
>you feel that familar ominous whoosh of air as she jams her leg down into you
>a sharp knife of pain pierces you in the lower back
>you feel your vertebrae get crushed like glass
> you feel yourself vomit and scream before finally passing out


>you wake up in a hospital bed
>the lights are too bright, you have to squint your eyes
>everything looks too clean and white
>you always hated hospitals
>a quick glance at yourself reveals you are in quite a sorry state
>both of your arms are in casts, immobilized at your sides
>your face feels heavy with bandages and splints
>you immediately feel the urge to scratch or move but even turning your head makes it ache and pound
>you can't feel your legs
>after a few moments, and elderly human doctor sees that you are awake and looks startled
>"My god, you're awake! Remarkable!"
>your voice comes out as a hoarse croak "What happened?"
>the doctor looks sadly at you, "You lost, son."
>you figured as much, it doesn't stop the pit from forming in your heart though
>the doctor understands the meaning of your silence and continues talking
>"Yes you're lucky to be alive; you've got two badly broken arms, a shattered eyesocket, a few fractured ribs, a broken nose, and a few other breaks and bruises."
>he pauses before continuing
>"I'm afraid that's not the worst of it. Three of your lumbar vertebrae were shattered at the end of your fight."
>"A few shards of bone were sent into the spinal cord and severed it from the waist down."
>you hear the doctor's words but don't comprehend
>"I'm sorry son, but by all medical accounts, you'll likely never walk again. You're paralyzed from the waist down."


>you can't believe what you just heard
>"Hey, Doc, that's a lie, right?"
>The doctor looks pained
>"I'm afraid not, son."
>your mind scrambles for something
>"What about augmentations or those advanced medicines the monsters have?!"
>the doctor sighs and shakes his head sadly
>"This is a HUMAN hospital, son. I doubt we'll ever get access to medical care like that. I'm sorry, we did the best we could."
>he leaves shortly after
>you eventually drift off to sleep
>when you wake up, you faintly hope everything up to this point had been a dream
>unfortunately it wasn't
>the morphine makes it easy to drift in and out of sleep
>once, you open your eyes and see a large, dark form setting something on your table
>as your vision clears, you recognize the form of Anna
>you are filled with instant rage
>Anna notices you are awake and looks uncomfortable and nervous
>"U-um…hi..Mac…I just w-wanted to-"
>"YOU GET THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!"
>she is startled by your sudden outburst
>the shouting hurts your ribs but you don't care
>"YOU FILTHY PIECE OF SHIT! I DON'T EVER WANT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!"
>Anna puts up her hands defensively, obviously shaken by your outburst
>it is then that you notice the bandage on her forearm where you bit her, and the splint on her nose
>"Look, I'm sorry I just thought-"
>"YOU THOUGHT WHAT?! THAT YOU WERE SHOWING ME MERCY? BY CRIPPLING ME? FUCK OFF AND DIE."
>your shouting draws the attention of doctors whom quickly call security
>they threaten to drag Anna out of your room, but really, you doubt they could if it came down to it
>it doesn't, as Anna leaves quietly on her own
>she stares at the floor as she leaves
>the sound of her skittering away disgusts you
>if you never see her again, it'll be too soon

>you stay in the hospital for a few more weeks
>besides your legs, the rest of your injuries heal nicely
>it gets to the point where you can leave your hospital bed, albeit in a wheelchair pushed by a nurse, and take in the various sights around the hospital
>each of the nurses always try to make small talk with you, even though they all know you barely respond
>the fire from your confrontation with Anna has burned out
>you are left cold and dead inside
>many of the "conversations" with the one of the nurses turns out to be an external monologue like it always is
>"Ya know, sometimes I get so mad at the state of this world, " One nurses sighs as she slowly wheels your silent form around the hospital grounds
>"The laws these monsters have place over us are too heavy. Hospitals like are barely able to keep functioning with the poor funding they give us, meanwhile their monster-run hospitals have budgets fit for a king."
>you remember one of the last things your ex-manager said to you
>"This is the way the world is now" you croak out
>the nurse falls silent
>as she wheels you back towards your room, you spot a small crowd and a commotion
>"Let me go! I demand to see him!"
>you recognize Anna's voice
>she spots you in from the middle of a crowd of orderlies
>"Mac!" she shouts to you
>you don't respond
>"Ma'am please," the old doctor sternly explains to her ,"No one except direct family is allowed to see him, so please leave."
>"Very well then!" Anna shouts
>she points dramatically towards your slumped form in the wheelchair
>"I claim Mac as my mate. He is now my property and my family."
>"You…" the elderly doctor seethes and clenches his fists, but lets her pass
>Anna skitters over to you and shoos the nurse away from your wheelchair and takes the helm herself
>as you pass the elderly doctor, you hear him grumble to you
>"I'm sorry son, can't fight the law. Stay strong my boy."
>Anna wheels you out of the hospital, pretending to ignore the shitty glares the occupants give her
>you don't feel anything
>"C'mon Mac, trust me, you and I are gonna have fun together. "
>"Whatever." you mumble meekly under your breath.

>"I'm really sorry, Mac. For everything. I know you must hate me."
>you say nothing as Anna pushes you down the sidewalk
>she gulps and then continues "I just wanted to show your mercy, to give you some dignity-"
>at that statement you snap
>"Oh? This is dignity, now? I can't go to bathroom by myself now, is that dignified?"
>Anna goes oddly silent at that
>you can't tell if she's holding back sobs or whatever, since you can't see her face
>a small part of you feels dastardly pleased that you managed to hurt her, even a little bit
>she finally breaks the silence
>"I'll do anything, anything in my power, to make it up to you. Whatever you want."
>you think for a moment
>"Can you make things out of silk, like other arachnids?" You ask.
>"Yes, why?"
>"Well, I was just wondering if maybe you could spin me a noose, so I can hang myself and end this bullshit."
>At that, Anna stop pushing the wheelchair
>She gasps at first, then goes deathly quiet
>you can feel her hands quake as her body is wracked with sobs
>you don't try to comfort her
>you take vindictive pleasure in getting back to her with your petty remarks
>"Wait," you say, as a thought occurs to you
>Anna stiffens and sniffles a little, "What is it?"
>"Take me to a better hospital, a monster one."
>"Since I'm the property of a monster now, you should be able to arrange it, right?"
>"Well, maybe…" Anna sounds hesitant
>you're almost giddy
>"They have much better equipment there. Maybe they can fix my legs!"
>Anna places a paw on your shoulder
>"Mac, I don't know if that-"
>you tear her paw off your should and squeeze it in both hands, crushing it
>you twist around in your wheelchair to look her in the eye
>you probably looked crazed right now, but you need her to understand this
>"Anna, you owe me. You said anything. This is that something."
>Her face looks on the verge of tears again, but there is fear in her eyes.
>Finally she sighs, "You're right. I'll try to arrange it. Let's go there after we get your things."
>you sit back down in your wheelchair and Anna begins pushing once more
>"Where are you taking me?"
>Anna giggles humorlessly, "You're going to move in with me. You can't go back to your old place anyway."
>it's true, your landlord would probably throw you out if he saw you again, since you've been ex-communicated from the fighting scene
>you might have one opportunity to get your things
>you don't really care at this point
>you're anxious to go to the next hospital
>"Well, let's get to it then."


>you eventually arrive at your old apartment
>there is an eviction notice stapled to the front door
>you both ignore the paper and go inside
>most of your valuables, furniture, television, laptop, couch, are all gone
>it's okay, you don't care at this point anyway
>you point Anna to your heavy bag in the corner
>luckily, the thieves left it
>it was probably too heavy for them
>you unzip the heavy bag and reveal that it's full of money, hard earned from your career as a fighter
>Anna just whistles at the amount
you try to ignore her
>you load the heavy bag onto her back/thorax along with some bags of clothes you found unscathed.
>you tell her to try to load up your mattress while you wheel yourself into the bathroom
>you feel under the bathroom cabinet
>luckily, you're able to find your secret compartment
>you pull out a revolver
>you check it, it's loaded with all 6 rounds
>you quickly close the chamber and store the revolver in the waist band of your pants
>never know when you might need it
>after that, you and Anna head over to her place
>she lives in a shady part of town
>her apartment looks even worse than your old one from the outside
>upon entering, you notice that most of the apartment is free of furnishings, with webbing suspended from the ceiling and coating the floor
>"Ha, well….here it is…" Anna says uncertainly
>"Do arachnids have something against furniture?" you say sarcastically
>Anna gives a sad little sigh, "No, it's just, after my match with you…well i haven't been getting paid well. Had to sell most of my furniture. I can make do with my webbing, though, look!"
>she jumps up on a web hammock hanging from the ceiling, swaying in it as she stretches out
>"Wait," you say suspiciously, "You're still a fighter?"
>Anna's face is crossed with pain and guilt
>"I don't have much choice. There's very few ways to quit this job. You should know that. Either you die or well…you go through what you did."
>you say nothing, and Anna continues
>"My bosses weren't happy with how I handled our fight. They wanted you dead. I've been forced to take a lot of shit jobs to make due in response. It's…it's not been great…"
>you don't have the patience to deal with her sob stories
>"Well? We dropped off my stuff, let's go to the hospital."
>a dark shadow crosses her face, but she agrees and you set off once more
>as you arrive at the monster-run hospital, right away your impression of it is much better than the last establishment
>everything about it screams opulence and high-class
>there are lots of professional looking monster nurses and doctors running around
>even the lighting seems less depressing than the last place
>you already feel optimistic
>despite that, many of the patients there are much less welcoming
>many of them glare at the both of you as you are wheeled throughout the halls
>you swear you heard one of the monsters spit as you passed
>an Oni stood in the path of your wheelchair and just took turns glaring at you and at Anna
>you didn't think she would stand aside but eventually she relented and let the two of you pass


>finally, Anna brings you up to a doctor
>The doctor appears to be some sort of Kraken race, wearing a white labcoat and looking professional with her spectacles
>she looks over her clipboard and spies the both of you
>"Yes…?" she says apprehensively
>"Um…" Anna begins, "I'd like you to examine my friend here, He uh…he hurt his spine..I was hoping you could-"
>the doctor interrupts her without looking up from her clipboard
>"We don't give service to humans, you should know that."
>Anna gulps nervously but continues "He's my property now, so…my protection as a monster should extend to him….I think…"
>Anna doesn't seem to sure
>the doctor stops scribbling in a huff and puts down her clipboard
>she looks at the both of you over the top rim of her glasses
>"Very well, we'll examine him. No promises. We're going to charge double, consider his…lineage."
>at the doctor's instructions, Anna wheels you into a waiting room
>"What did she mean by double the cost…?" you ask her when the doctor leaves
>Anna sighs sadly "monster health care is very good…but also very expensive. especially for a low-life like me…"
>you are stunned momentarily
>you assume the monsters would at least be loyal to their own
>a group of monster nurses manages to wheel you into to get x-rays done without ever speaking or looking at you
>you're surprised they agreed to do their job at all
>after a few hours, the Kraken doctor slithers back in to tell you the results
>"Good news, human, looks like there may be a procedure we can try."
>She opens a folder of files in front of her
>"I can't guarantee a full recovery, of course, but we should at least be able to get the nerves active once again. Best case scenario you might leave that wheelchair one day."
>She closes her folder and takes off her glasses, staring at you
>"Of course, this is invasive surgery, and will takes months of dedicated physical therapy to work correctly, which we will not provide. I'm sure you'll figure something out for that bit."
>"Wait," you stop the doctor before she's about to leave.
>"What?" the doctor huffs indignantly
>"You wouldn't….you wouldn't mess up the operation…because I'm human, would you?"
>the doctor smiles a wry smile
>"Listen here, you piece of shit. I find it offensive you think your pitiful existence matters that much to me. I'm going to do this surgery because your owner is going to pay me a lot of money to do it. And I always do my best work, even when it's wasted on pieces of garbage like yourself."
>without another word, the doctor slithers out of the

>a couple more hours of waiting and soon you get prepped for surgery
>you feel pretty nervous
>sensing your mood, Anna rests a paw on your shoulder and squeezes lightly
>you flinch a little, and Anna freezes
>you eventually decide you've got enough to worry about and don't bother telling her off
>besides, it does makes you feel somewhat better
>before you know it, you are on a gurney being wheeled into the operating room, then being asking to counting backwards from 100…..
>you open your eyes
>you're in another hospital room
>similar to your last experience, you're lying in a hospital bed attached to a whole bunch of machines
>you see Anna by your beside, twirling her thumbs nervously
>the Kraken doctor is making notes on her clipboard again
>when she notices your eyes are open, Anna jumps up excitedly and shouts "Doctor, he's awake!"
>The doctor barely looks up from her notes
>"Yes, I can see that. Right on time."
>She slithers towards your side of the bed
>"I am told the surgery was successful, there were no complications. Now to see if there are any results."
>she extends a tentacles toward the end of your hospital bed where your feet hide under the covers
>she squeezes your left foot
>"Can you feel this?"
>you concentrate on trying to locate a sensation
>very faintly, you feel the glimmer of pressure in the tip of your foot
>"Yes! Yes! I…I can feel something!"
>Anna practically bounces in excitement, "Really!?"
>The doctor looks unimpressed and marks something on her clipboard, "A complete success, then."
>Anna and you clasp hands and laugh and cry for joy
>she leans over and gives you a big hug
>you hug her back in you excitement
>a few seconds pass before you realize what you've done
>you awkwardly break the hug off, your face feeling hot
>you avoid looking at Anna
>suddenly, more sensations come from your legs
>they begin as tiny dots of heat, but multiply and grow like being stabbed by thousands of tiny pins
>soon it feels like your entire lower body is on fire
>"O-oh fuck! My legs, it hurts!"
>You look to the doctor helplessly.
>The doctor looks at you with a bored expression, "That's to be expected, those nerves were 'dead' for almost a month. Reviving them is going to be painful."
>you gasp and grunt as your nerves scream in protest
>"I-isn't…isn't there any…medication…you can give me..?"
>the doctor looks at you with mock surprise
>"Oh? Those are pretty expensive, are you sure."
>you grit your teeth in anger and frustration
>Anna goes to speak up, "U-um…well maybe we can-"
>you decide to interrupt her, "Forget it. I don't need pain meds. I just take a few shots with my daily routine, like I always do."
>the doctor smiles grimly, "Good boy."
>with that, she walks out
>after that, Anna and you are booted out of the hospital, 'because a decent monster might need it'
>you are still wheelchair bound, but you're hopeful
>your legs and lower torso are still on fire
>the pain makes you gasp and grunt and shift in your seat uncomfortably
>every time you do, Anna stops pushing your wheelchair and looks at you with a worried expression, offering to massage your legs or buy you some aspirin or anything
>angrily you snap and her to keep going and wave off her ministrations
>she's the last person you want pity from, anyway
>you grit your teeth and force yourself to stomach the pain
>One day, you're going to leave this wheelchair
>you're going to learn to fight again
>and you'll make a lot of people pay

>when you get back to Anna's house, you search your secret stash for your best vodka
>you slam down half the bottle, hoping the pain will fade with it
>Anna looks at you with a troubled expression, but doesn't say anything
>"Listen," you nearly belch out, wiping your mouth off
>Anna perks up nicely, looking excited to have you talking to her
>"I still don't forgive you. I don't know if I ever can." you bitterly
>Anna looks deflated, yet you can see in her eyes she isn't surprised
>"You still owe me. Big time. Your life belongs to me now, understand?" You jab your finger in her direct
>she looks at you bewildered for a moment, but nods obediently
>you continue, "That being said, you delivered on your promise. That debt you have, will the money in my heavy bag cover it?"
>Anna just shrugs slowly, "Probably."
>You grit your teeth impatiently but say nothing. You take another swig of vodka. "Tale the money, we're partners now, we share our debts collectively."
>Anna perks up a bit, "Partners?"
>"Partners in crime and misery," you spit out, "Make no mistake, I'm going to use you to get revenge."
>Anna cocks her head, "Revenge?" There is a little bit of fear in her eyes
>"Not you….not if you cooperate at least," you slump in your wheelchair, "This entire world is a shit hole. What happened to me was just a symptom. The world fucked me in the ass and I want to fuck it right back. You're gonna help me with that. That's all."
>you take another swig of vodka, "Carry me to my hammock"
>Anna skitters over to you, lifting you out of the wheelchair and cradling your limp form in her arms like a bride
>you don't even blush, your sense of shame and self worth means nothing any more
>you fall asleep surprisingly easy, suspended from the ceiling by sturdy silken web
>you dream of shattered bones, crowds of people laughing and yelling at you, and being showered in blood and burns like fire
>when you wake up, the sensation of burning does not pass
>you quickly realize the alcohol has worn off, and your legs are screaming in pain once again
>despite the burning, you try to wiggle your toes
>it seems like you sit there for twenty minutes, face red with exertion
>finally, you see and fell your big toe move a centimeter
>the pain in your legs fades to the back of your mind
>for a moment, your heart swells with pride
>That'll do, you think to yourself

>the next couple of months are hard
>your mental and physical limits are put to the test everyday
>each day you start out by wiggling your toes, at first to see if you can do it, and then once it becomes easier, to make sure you still can
>after you wake up, the next part of your routine involves Anna massaging each of your legs
>at first you were hesitant to all her to touch you, but after trying it once and seeing how much of a difference it made on the near-constant your legs felt, you soon relented
>eventually it become part of the routine
>her furry paws would knead the tender flesh and improve the blood circulation
>it didn't help overly much, but it wasn't better than nothing
>after breakfast, Anna and you would do small exercises to strengthen your legs
>at first it was real small stuff
>once you mastered the toe-wiggling, it was time for knee-bending
>after a few weeks of practicing bending your knees, you began lifting your entire legs, while laying down, of course
>soon you are able to combine the motions and pantomime regular compound leg motions
>Anna seems overly enthusiastic about your progress, but for you, you're impatient
>you can't wait for the day your legs return to normal
>all this stuff in between is just wasted time
>you dislike using your wheelchair so much, so you take to riding on Anna's back/abdomen, wrapping your arms around her waist for stability
>her arachnid abdomen is surprisingly soft, and the rest of her body is incredibly warm to the touch
>a couple times you end up falling asleep while leaning up against her human-like back
>Anna keeps fighting in the underground, she has no other choice
>every time she comes back from a fight, she looks worse
>physically, she remains unscathed, but each time she comes back a little quieter
>you offer your vodka to her once, which made her smile, but she refuses
>soon you are practicing standing with Anna holding you up with her arm around you, your other arm gripping the wall
>every time you put all your weight on your legs, your knees want to buckle
>this time, you squeeze your eyes shut and concentrate very hard
>you feel your nerves screaming even louder than normal
>you ignore the pain
>after a few minutes of intense exertion, your concentration is broken by Anna's gasp
>"Mac, look"
>you look down, and notice your legs are straight, supporting your body, the knees aren't bent at all
>you look over and notice Anna has moved away from you and is no longer supporting you
>you didn't feel her move, that's how hard you were concentrating
>you're standing on your own, finally
>you don't even remember when you started weeping
>you and Anna share another spur-of-the-moment hug, though you are both more conscious of yourselves and pull away awkwardly quicker than last time
>after that, your recovery progress shoots up by miles
>a few weeks later, you are sitting in your accursed wheelchair for what you hope is the last time
>Anna watches you a good distance away
>you told her to move farther away, but you know she's worried she'll have to catch you if you fall
>you breathe deep, and stand
>it isn't easy, your knees wobble on the way up, and your nerves burn in protest, but you stand
>now for the  most important part
>you steel yourself mentally
>you take a step forward, away from your wheelchair
>it is the worst looking step you've ever taken, it is unsure, off balance, and you land with a slight limp
>it's a limp you'll probably always have
>but god damn, does it feel good
>you take your first step into your new life
>no tears this life, just a look of cold, calculating desire
>Anna looks at you expectantly, "Now what?"
>you grin wryly, "String up the heavy bag, we're going to train."

>training with the heavy bag wasn't that effective
>you can still barely walk, and punching relies heavily on lower stability and foot work
>still, it feels good to just touch the bad
>even if your punches are weak with no weight to them
>you tell Anna you want to go to the store
>she walks you there, with you leaning on her for support, since you still cannot walk very far on your own
>when you reach the grocery store, you notice something strange
>you see two young human men carrying heavy boxes out of the store and into a large van
>they are wearing metal collars fastened tightly around their left biceps,  with a purple flag in in the center of it
>a bored looking imp stands near them, watching them as they work
>curious, you mention it to Anna, "What's the deal with those guys?"
>Anna looks at you surprised, "You mean you don't know."
>you feel your face get hot
>"Yeah, I guess I don't," you snap, more sharply than you intended
>Anna looks taken aback for a second them thoughtful as she tries to explain
>"Those men….are criminals. Well, a special kind, I suppose, they are convicted criminals."
>you nod, that is certainly out of the ordinary
>you don't know many humans who can't consider themselves at least part-time criminals
>but then again, nobody ever gets caught, that's why the system works so well
>"How did they get caught then?"
>Anna shakes her head, "They weren't convicted for human crimes. In the monster society, nobody cares what the humans do to each other. Those men broke a monster law."
>you stare at the sullen, defeated looking men as they perform manual labor
>"So what did they do?" You ask eventually
>Anna looks at the men and squints her eyes staring at their metal collars
>"Let's see…it's purple…which means adultery…I think…"
>"Adultery…?" You repeat, dumbfounded
>"Adultery means having sex with a monster that's not your owner."
>"I know what adultery means," you snap back
>Anna just gives the men another sad look
>"The police don't lock humans away for crimes. They stamp them with those collars that are color-coded to tell everyone what they did. The more severe crimes make them targets of dangerous and sadistic monsters."
>"How many colors are there?" you ask, following Anna's gaze towards the men
>"A whole bunch, ranging from blue to black"
>"What does a black collar mean?" you ask without thinking
>Anna turns to look at your gravely
>"Murder. Not many of those around, thankfully."

>You and Anna get your groceries at the store, then quickly head home
>you are silent with your thoughts all the way there
>you wonder what it's like, to have your crimes branded onto you for a hostile world to see
>you take an extra shot before bed that night
>Soon you begin walking without Anna's help
>you need to use a cane to steady yourself
>it takes you forever
>but you can usually struggle through a short walk to the store in a few hours
>one day, after Anna comes home, you decide to ask her something
>"Anna, what happened to your manager, the Amazon?"
>Anna stiffens up, but answers anyway "She fired me after my match with you. No one's seen her since. Maybe she's dead."
>you say nothing
>One day you are limping your way to the convenience store
>you bump shoulders with a human man walking the opposite direction
>you stumble a bit and almost fall over
>"Hey man, I'm sorry, are you oka-"
>The man has turned around to help you up if needed
>as you turn to face him, you recognize his face, even hidden under grime and a poorly shaven beard
>it's your old manager from your fighting days
>"M-Mac…I-I thought…" your manager is at a loss for words
>you feel hatred rise up inside you like bile

>You decide to check your anger and ask your questions
>"I demand an explanation" you say as clearly as you can
>your manager's face shifts from nervous and confused to indignant and incredulous
>"Explanation?! You fucked up, Mac. You know this. What happened to you was 100% your fault."
>He face becomes red as he raises his voice and continues, "I told you to throw that Oni fight. I told you. I warned you. But no, your pride was too important. You broke the rules, Mac. What happened to you was just the consequences of that. "
>you are angry but can't think of anything to say back to him
>"I was paralyzed, you know. They said at first I would never walk again." Is what you settle on
>"Then maybe you should count your blessings that you're still alive and walking and keep your head down. 'Cause right now, it looks like you want trouble."
>Your manager shakes his head sadly, "I thought you were one of the good ones, son. But you pissed it away. Look at you now. You're a failure."
>Your head swims with anger
>you feel your hand involuntarily gripping the cane tighter

>"What happened to you since I've 'retired'" you ask
>your manager fakes a laugh
>"No one in that scene wants anything to do with me now. I've had to take up shitty odd jobs to provide for me and my family."
>he narrows his eyes and looks in your direction, "Which, I might remind you again, is your fault. If you had thrown that Oni fight both of us would still be in business."
>you decide to change the subject, since you aren't getting anywhere with his angle
>"Are you in contact with any of the other managers from the scene still?"
>your ex-manager goes quiet for a moment
>"Why do you ask?"
>you ignore his question
>"GraveDigger's ex-manager, the Amazon, do you know her? Where is she?"
>he just pinches the bridge of his nose and laughs
>"If I knew, I wouldn't tell you. It's better if you forget you were ever a fighter, and just go home and live a quiet life."
>you finally snap
>"I want revenge!" You shout, drawing the attention of pedestrians in the street, "I want to fight back, to get my dues paid for what happened to me!"
>"Oh yeah?" your ex-manager says, "You stuck your neck out before, and tried to get your 'dues paid', how'd that work out for you? Look at you now, you're a fucking cripple-"
>You didn't realize how close your manager's face had gotten to yours
>without thinking, your fist slams into his, knocking the man backwards
>the middle aged man is sitting on his ass in the middle of the street, holding the side of his face
>"Y-you! You little shit! You're crazy! This is why you couldn't make it in the underground, you don't know how to put your head down and follow orders!"
>he's lying, you think to yourself, he knows something he won't tell you
>you could convince him, you know it
>even with your legs as they are, he'd be no match for you
>he's middle aged and overweight
>besides, he's already on the ground in front of you
>you feel the sting in your fist from your punch
>it's a comfortable, familiar kind of pain
>you want to feel it more
>it feels like every muscle in your body is on edge
>you feel adrenaline pumping through your body
>you could hurt this man right now, and it would probably make you feel better

>immediately, you realize what you've done
>you aren't a common thug
>this man cannot fight back
>you decide that any piddling information he might have isn't worth beating him for
>you hobble away from him, ignoring the stares of passerby as you do
>when you get home, Anna is there
>she has on an apron
>"Oh, welcome back, I was just about to start dinn-"
>she looks down at your left fist, swollen and red
>"What happened?!"
>for some reason her question bugs you
>"None of your fucking business." you grunt out
>that night, you lay in your hammock, thinking
>you think about the man you once were, the king without a crown
>the fighter who had the crowd on his side
>the honorable man who wouldn't throw a match
>you wonder if you are still that man
>even still, you wonder if you can get your revenge and still be that man
>you close your fist tightly
>it doesn't matter, you decide. You died in that ring
>you vow to throw away your old self until you pay back everyone their dues
>you sleep easy that night

>Three months later
>you're stalking the streets at night again
>looking for your mark
>you're in the monster slums
>you hear lots of whispers as you limp past
>"Who's that weird guy with the limp?"
>"Sshh. Not so loud…! They say he's the one…."
>you ignore them
>you expected rumors to start, but you don't care
>it might actually make your plans move more smoothly if people know you and your reputation
>your legs have gotten considerably better, though they aren't nearly as good as they were before the match
>you still have a limp on each stride, but you've learned to deal with it
>you walk through a back alley, following a route placed in your head
>as you near the back of a grungy night club, you see your mark, a cheap looking Lizardman prostitute
>she's smoking by a fire barrel with a few other monsters
>as you approach, the other monsters take notice, and take violent postures
>some of them pull out weapons
>"I don't know where the fuck you think you are human, but this is the wrong neighborhood. Leave."
>you put up one hand calmly
>"I just want to ask some questions."
>"Not gonna happen," one of them replies
>oh well, you think
>you like it better this way anyway
>you pull on your old MMA fighting gloves over your calloused hands
>the gloves are much heavier than they were previously, thanks to some metal plates you've installed inside the padding
>the monsters exchange a few glances at each other while you slowly prepare yourself
>after you finish putting on your gloves, you sigh and take a fighting stance
>before any of them can laugh, you charge in
>"H-huh?! How's he so fast?!"
>you've trained your footwork tirelessly ever since the day you could walk again
>even though the nerves are still clumsy and awkward, you've forced them to be quick
>you are upon the group before they have a chance to prepare
>you fists smash into flesh and bone
>you hit one in the face and feel her nose crush under your fist
>you feel oddly proud as her blood begins to spray from her face
>you whip around, and see a monster raise a metal bat above her head
>before she can swing down, you are already striking her in the gut
>she collapses on the ground and begins dry-heaving
>the hairs on the back of your neck flare up
>you turn around just in time to see the scaly fist of the Lizardman as it slams into your face
>you don't flinch or react
>you take the hit full force
>it hurts, but nothing compares to having your spine broken
>you doubt any pain will ever compare to that
>the Lizardman retracts her fist, confused
>you feel your warm blood drip from your nose and into your mouth
>your tongue snakes out and licks your upper lip, clearing it of blood
>"Good punch," you tell her
>then you strike
>your metal clad fists rain upon her like mortars
>she squeaks and squeals as she is unable to  block all of them
>you hit her squarely in the jaw, and feel it dislocate
>she collapses into a crumpled heap at your feet
>you reach down and grab a fist full of hair, dragging her head up to eye level despite her half-hearted protests
>you examine her face closely
>yep, she's definitely the Lizardman you fought in the ring back when you were still a fighter
>good, you didn't make a mistake this time
>"You were a fighter. Tell me how to contact your ex-manager."
>the Lizardman says nothing, you punch her in the stomach
>you decide to ask a different question
>"What about GraveDigger's manager, the Amazon? What happened to her?"
>the Lizardman barely grunts out, "Fuck you"
>she spits in your face
>you slam her head into the wall in response
>you drop her and leave her in a crying heap
>she doesn't know anything, but you didn't really expect her to
>you reach inside your pocket and cross her name off the list
>you begin the slow walk to 'home'

>when you walk in, Anna is waiting for you, just like always
>she barely looks at you before saying, "You were out fighting again."
>it isn't a question, it's a statement
>"Yes, I was. What's it to you?"
>Anna continues looking cross, "I didn't help with your training so you could go out and be some sort of brute stalking the alleyways!"
>her confrontational tone irks you, "Like you have room to talk. The only difference between  you and I now is you're a brute for money and I'm a brute for vengeance."
>Anna huffs and skitters away
>it's an argument you've been having a lot lately
>it usually 'ends' the same way as well, with Anna leaving in a huff until it gets brought up again
>you pull out your trusty bottle of vodka and take a couple swigs
>"Oh yeah," Anna says as she skitters back, "This came in the mail for you."
>she hands you a letter
>you panic a little "How do they know I'm here?"
>Anna says nothing and you decide to open it
>it's handwritten
>you skim the letter quickly
>you re-read the letter
>you read it a third time
>"Anna, come listen to this," you decide to let her in on the letter's contents
>'Hello Mac,'
>'My friends and I have been keeping an eye on you for awhile. Every night you go out, looking for something and causing trouble.'
>'You never do find what you're looking for, do you?'
>'I know what you're looking for, and I can help you. Without us, you'll be nothing but an animal rattling the cage.'
>'I want to set the beast free. I believe you'd be perfect for our organization.'
>'If you are interested, please meet us in Turnspire Alley, at midnight.'
>'I hope to see you there, Mac. You are lost, but you can be found. Come meet us and see for yourself.'
>'Signed, A friend.'
>'P.S. you can bring the spider'
>You finish reading the letter aloud
>for a moment neither you nor Anna say anything
>Suddenly, Anna says, "If you're going, I'm going with you."
>"What? Why? I don't need you. It's better if you stay here and hold down the fort."
>Anna narrows her eyes, "So you were thinking of going."
>you sigh heavily
>"Of course I was. I'm shooting in the dark trying to get info here, I don't have any other leads."
>"What if it's a trap?" Anna protests
>"I can take care of myself." You insist
>"Still, I want to be there, to help protect you. Think of it as fulfilling my obligations to you."
>you consider it a moment and eventually decide to allow her to tag along
>both of you eat dinner in silence, thoughts preoccupied with what's going to happen tonight
>you're really on edge for some reason

>at around midnight, Anna and you head to the meeting spot
>at first, you don't see anything
>you think it might have been a prank
>"Welcome, Mac"
>you hear a voice from the shadows, followed by the soft sound of clapping
>slowly the source of the noise walks out of the shadows into the light where you can see him
>following him are several other men
>you think you see a few monsters as well
>the man has a large scar across his face, and a wild look in his eyes
>he is smoking a cigarette, and wearing a huge jacket without using the sleeves
>he definitely looks like "gang leader" material
>"I'm glad you could join us," he says with a smile so big you almost believe him
>you get right to the point, "Who are you? What is all this?" you gesture to the rough looking people behind him
>the man laughs "My name is Jack. And the people behind me, are my Brothers and Sisters."
>you're almost too stunned to say anything for a moment
>Jack continues, "We're very interested in you, Mac. We want you to join us."
>"And what do I have to do to 'join you'?"
>Jack takes a long draw of his cigarette, blowing the smoke to the side
>"You have to earn your 'black wings', mate."
>you look at him quizzically, Jack gets the hint
>he snaps his fingers, "Show him, boys."
>Jack and a several of the men behind him roll up the sleeves on their left arms, exposing the skin on their left biceps
>Anna and you gasp at the same time
>on each of their arms is a band of metal fastened permanently into the skin, colored a deep black
>Jack laughs a bit at your reaction
>"That's right, boyo, some folks call us the 'Black Banders' but that's not really official. We're a brotherhood."
>"Brotherhood….?" you repeat ignorantly
>Jack's smile fades, "We're the resistance, mate. That's us."
>he steps forward, putting his arm around your neck and pulling your head down to his level to whisper into your ear
>"I know you've felt it: haven't you looked at the way we are, the way humans are, today and been disgusted at how pathetic it all is?"
>images of your ex-manager groveling in the street, telling you to keep your head down come to your mind
>"It's time," Jack breathes, "Those monsters think we're complacent and stupid. Don't you think its time to tip the scales a bit?"
>you can only nod dumbly
>Jack releases you neck and turns back to his crowd of 'brothers'
>"We need Mac's help, don't we boys?"
>a shout of agreement arises in response
>you feel slightly flattered at the response
>Anna gives you a troubled look
>"What do I have to do?" you ask.
>Jack winks and taps his metal band with a finger, "You need one of these mate, only way in."
>Anna shouts suddenly, "You want to make him a marked man! To ruin his life more than it already is!"
>Jack sighs and shrugs, "That's kind of the point, to be honest. It's both initiation and an insurance policy."
>"Black Banders can't survive alone. It makes sure that once you join us, you won't ever betray us. It forces us to forget out differences and help each other."
>Jack whirls around and jabs a finger in your direction
>"I know what you want, Mac, and we can give you that and more. Oh yes. You can have your revenge, but also so much more. You can help a greater cause than your own. You can be a part of something great."
>Anna pipes up, "Does that invitation extend to me as well?" She eyes the other monsters in the crowd
>Jack sighs sadly, "I'm afraid not. Not yet anyway. We know what you did to Mac, and we aren't as quick to forgive as he is. "
>"But who knows, that could change. We'll have to wait and see if  Mac works out, maybe he'll be good for referrals!"
>Jack cackles and a few men in the crowd chuckle
>"I need time to think about it" you say
>"Of course, I expected that" Jack says confidently
>"You have until tomorrow to decide. We'll wait here at the same time."
>"T-that soon?!" you exclaim
>Jack just shrugs, "Them's the breaks, boyo. Unfortunately we're already behind schedule on our plans. We can't waste more than a couple days on uncertainties."
>Jack shakes your hand
>as he does, you feel him slip your a piece of paper in your hand
>you deftly pocket the paper discretely
>you say your goodbyes and begin walking away, you hear Jack shout after you
>"You'll always have a Crown in my kingdom! Ha!" Jack and his 'brothers' laugh along with him

>that night, you dream of weights on your hands so heavy, you cannot lift them
>you wake up at midday, surprised that you slept so long
>Anna didn't say anything to you since you got back from the meeting with the Black Banders
>she usually wakes you up for breakfast
>you look around and see she isn't there
>probably 'working' by now
>usually around this time, you'd be outside getting into fights and trying to find information
>you don't feel like doing that anymore
>instead, you go hit your trust heavy bag some more
>you concentrate on using your footwork to quickly move around the bag and hit it from multiple angles
>in no time at all, you've worked up quite a sweat
>you decide to take a shower
>by the time you're out of the shower, Anna arrives home
>you didn't realize how late it was
>both of you eat dinner together at the table like always
>both of you are oddly silent
>you break the silence first, "I thinking about joining those guys." You say
>Anna slams her paw on the table, "You can't!"
>you look at her, surprised
>"What?"
>"I said you can't! T-those guys! They're…bad news! It's not a good idea!"
>You stare at her dumbfounded, "You should be happy. With this, you'll be absolved of your obligation to me. Once I join them, I won't need your help anymore. You get your life back."
>Anna looks taken aback, "T-that's not…."
>you decide to continue, "Look, these past few months have been hard on us both. I know I'm a burden so it'll be good for you if I leave-"
>Anna slams both her paws down on the table, hard
>"I LOVE YOU, YOU IDIOT!"
>she reaches across the table and cups your face in both paws
>she leans forward and gives you a tender, fragile kiss on the lips
>she pulls away, leaving you stunned
>tears begin pouring down her face
>"Don't go…" she sobs
>you don't know how to react
>"I won't be going anywhere, I mean sure, I have to get processed at a station to get my band but once I'm in I'll be in the same neighborhood…"
>Anna cries and shakes her head, "You don't know that. One day you could be gone. If you leave, I might not be here when you get back."
>she looks you in the eyes, "You have to choose, Mac."
>you think back to the note Jack slipped you before you left
>'It's us or the spider mate, choose.'
>you understand the meaning of the words now
>If you choose to stay with Anna, your plans for revenge most likely will go nowhere.
>you've been denying it for months, but the truth is you've got nothing. No leads, nobody to investigate.
>you were so desperate you were just tracking down everybody you'd ever fought or knew had a connection to the fighting ring
>The Black Banders definitely know something, and their leader, while charismatic and eccentric, seems to have lofty goals
>he promised you revenge, and you're inclined to believe he's got the means
>but joining the Black Banders might mean losing Anna
>you suddenly wonder if that thought bothers you

>"I'm sorry," you say, "I have to at least check it out. I'll see what info they have."
>"If they have nothing I'll turn them down."
>Anna is still crying
>you feel uncomfortable and get up to leave
>she grabs your hand and hands you something
>it's a silk cloth handkerchief
>"I-i made this for you…" she sniffles, "You're…technically still my m-mate….from back in the hospital"
>"Come back to me, okay?"
>you leave out the front door, leaving Anna sobbing at the table
>you arrive at the meeting place once more
>Jack appears in front of you, looking quiet and sullen
>"I know it was a hard choice to make, mate." He pats you on the back. "You chose right."
>you shake off his arm impatiently
>"I haven't made my choice yet. I want to see what you have to offer me, despite promises."
>Jack looks at you stunned, then cracks a grin.
>"Bring her out, boys!"
>Jack waves his hand and a few of his brothers carry a monster in chains into the light
>they pull the hood off her head and reveal her face
>it's Anna's ex-manager, the Amazon
>the one who gave the order to cripple you
>Jack sees your expression and smiles
>"She's just a teaser, of course. I figured we could use her for your 'initiation'."
>He turns to you
>"This corrupt society is stacked in such a way that nobody in it knows anything about anybody above them. That's why your method of beating up trash in alleyways would never have borne fruit."
>"Now," Jack says as he takes a drag of his cigarette, "We, on the other hand. Have more than a few tricks up out sleeve. We need each other, Jack."
>you stare in awe at the strange, scarred man before you
>you take a look at the group of people he'd managed to assemble under him
>you could never do something like this alone, you think
>this man might be eccentric, but he's got charisma, something you never had
>you can see in the eyes of his brothers that they hang on to his every word
>you doubt you could ever convince people to follow you and fight for you the way this man could
>"Mac," Jack says, putting his hand on your shoulder, "Take that revolver out of your waist-band, and get your revenge."
>you don't even bother asking him how he knew about that
>you pull out the revolver, cock the hammer and place the barrel on the forehead of the Amazon
>she squirms and squeals behind her gag
>Jack whispers in your ear, "Do it, Mac. This is what you deserve."

>"Un-gag her."
>Jack wordlessly waves his hands and the Amazon's gag is remove
>She glares at you
>before she can say anything, you back-hand her swiftly, producing a satisfying *smack*
>"…You…." the Amazon grunts out
>"Who gave you the order to snuff me out?"
>the Amazon growls, but answers anyway, "My superior, who got it from their superior, and so on. I have no idea where the order originated."
>"You friends probably know more than I do," She spits
>you look at Jack, he shrugs
>"Of course we might have a little more info," Jack says, "but I'm not playing all my cards just yet. Consider it a sign-on bonus if you join us."
>"Forget it," you say, and lower your revolver
>Jack just looks at you
>"If it's gonna be like this, I can't do it. I don't want it that bad."
>Jack just nods his head sadly
>"I had a feeling you'd say that." Jack snaps his fingers
>one of the men un-holsters a pistol, levels it at the back of the Amazon's head, and pulls the trigger
>there is a loud bang and blood and brain matter and splattered on the ground in front of you
>"W-what the fuck?!" you exclaim
>"You probably already guessed it, but she was just another bottom feeder. She was only useful to us as a gift to you. Since you've declined…well…no since wasting the effort."
>you are too stunned to say anything
>"Well, me and my boys have places to be. Sorry you couldn't be a part of it."
>Jack put his arm on your shoulder one last time, "I hope you find peace, somehow. Even without your help, we'll fix this world. I hope you'll be alive to enjoy it."
>You see Jack and his companions loading up mysterious black cases on their backs
>"Seeya, boyo." Jack gives you a casual salute and walks into the shadows.
>somehow, you know you'll never see the Black Banders again
>you walk back to Anna's house
>As soon as you open the door, Anna nearly tackles you at the entry way, hugging and kissing you
>"I'm so glad you're back! I…I thought I'd never see you again."
>"Well…" you awkwardly say, "Maybe I could use your service a little longer…."
>Anna giggles and hugs you tighter
>the next day, you read on the news about a pro-human terrorist group that made themselves known last night
>they blew up a government building a killed a lot of high ranking monster officials
>the news reporters urged all monster owners to keep any humans indoors and watch them carefully for rebellious behavior
>you are a little awed by what the group accomplished
>but ultimately, you know you couldn't do that line of work
>you're too honorable, too prideful
>you once thought you wanted revenge more than anything, but your realize now your heart was in pain
>you don't have the strength to destroy yourself for a greater cases like Jack or his buddies
>you're content to eek out your own path
>you'll find your own way, somehow
>there is still good to be done in this world
>and you're going to find your niche
>after all, you're the Uncrowned King, the nameless champion
>your specialty has always been in the shadows, working hard without receiving fame
>you aren't cut out for being a revolutionary
>"C'mon Anna," you say, "Let's go train"
THE END