Hello guys I'm back with some more chapters okay more soon
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Side Chapter: Rufus — Just a Toad Being a Bro
Outside the towering walls of Toad Tower, the wind rustled through tall grass. Birds chirped. Sunlight shimmered off the stone walls.
And in the middle of it all…
sat a lone toad with a backpack, a fishing rod, and a very dramatic sunhat.
"Okay, Rufus," he said to himself while dangling his legs over a tiny creek. "Today is a chill day. Just fishing, snacks, and zero chaos."
He cast his line into the water, then pulled out a sandwich from his bag.
It was squished. Very squished.
"Perfect," Rufus grinned. "That's exactly how I like it."
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Ten Minutes Later…
CRASH!
From the nearby forest came the sounds of something panicking—branches snapping, leaves flying.
"Hold up." Rufus stood and squinted into the trees.
A small frog kid came running out, chased by a wild giant beetle.
"HELP!!"
Rufus's eyes widened. "Welp. So much for a chill day."
He jumped between the kid and the beetle, dramatically holding up his fishing pole like a sword.
"Back off, six-legged punk!" he shouted.
The beetle roared. Rufus roared louder.
(…It wasn't that scary. But the beetle hesitated.)
Rufus took off his sunhat and threw it like a frisbee—it bonked the beetle in the face, distracting it just long enough for him to scoop up the kid and run in zigzags like a cartoon ninja.
After a few minutes, they ducked behind a rock.
The beetle eventually gave up and scuttled off.
"Are you okay?" Rufus asked the frog, handing him a juice pouch from his bag.
The kid nodded, still panting. "Y-Yeah. Thanks, mister!"
Rufus grinned. "Name's Rufus. Former Toad Tower soldier. Full-time hero. Part-time sandwich squasher."
The kid blinked. "You were in Toad Tower?!"
"Long time ago," Rufus said, dusting himself off. "Wasn't my scene. Too serious, not enough laughter. I like helping people my way."
He stood up, stretched, and looked toward the tower walls.
"…But maybe it's time I peek back in."
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Back near the tower gates…
Rufus set up camp outside the walls. Just a hammock, a campfire, and a kettle full of whatever soup he invented today.
He didn't know it yet, but someone inside—Mahishah—was starting to change the tower from the inside out.
And soon… their paths would cross.
But for now?
Rufus smiled up at the stars and whispered,
"Don't worry, world. I got your back."
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To be continued… (main story returns next!)
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