Warwolf: The Last Warrior is a novel series that works as a sequel to Warwolf: The Centurion Warrior, both of which are written by Marc Weinstein. It is an Urban Fantasy with Science Fiction elements.
As the 20th century— by the calendar of humanity— draws to its close, Lycanthropes have revealed themselves to humanity and the two races have, more or less, successfully integrated their societies, fulfilling the original mission of the four werewolves who starred in Centurion Warrior.
However, the demonic threat from that story, Garron, is returning for another crack at world conquest— something it attempts roughly every 200 years or so, as the result of a Celestial Covenant that pits a single member of the Esheraso family against the demon until the gateway between the two realities closes for what should be the final time. Standing in the demon’s way is Ar’Holf Esheraso— better known as Warwolf Esheraso— a professional wrestler, who is the direct descendant and reincarnation of the original Warwolf who suffers from partial memory loss. Meanwhile, Warwolf is dealing with being forced to deviate from taking a rematch for a title he’d recently lost to Japan in order to get acquainted with a girl he hasn’t seen in over a decade due to them being the principles of an Arranged Marriage.
The Last Warrior series will comprise at least two books, at the very least:
Book One: A Wrestling Fairy Tale
Book Two is currently unnamed
Warwolf: The Last Warrior contains examples of:
- Action Girl: Atsuko.
- Alternate History
- Earth, per Word of God, is much larger than the real thing. As a result, there are a few more land masses and as such a few things have changed. For example, America has displaced Canada, taking their physical place on the North American continent (Though again according to the author, this may change to put America further north than even that by the time of the book's completion), while America’s real world location is instead the location of Antherias, the home of all Lycanthropes, and the capital of the worldwide Lycanthrope Empire. Canada is on yet another landmass even further north. This likely means there’s another mass of land to the north of Russia as well, and no telling what’s south of Africa, India, and South America.
- Japan’s history is different, as it appears there was never a Shogunate in this reality. Lycanthropes supposedly prevented the overthrow of the Emperor, meaning that the Shogun never became ruler of the Empire of Japan, and as a result, Japan never closed itself off from the outside world.
- Lycanthropes are much more advanced than humanity in most respects but kept themselves hidden for centuries. Their presence in the North American landmass means that when humans came over during the ice age, they never got any further than Canada. As such, the term ‘Native American’ does not exist in this world because humans never migrated there till well into the 13th century or so by humanity’s calendar.
- Amazonian Beauty: Atsuko, Misato, and Kattō. Becomes especially apparent in Atsuko’s other forms, as she goes from five foot six to around six-foot-ten and loses none of her good looks. If anything, the book implies she gets curvier due to the extra height and loses none of her muscle! Warwolf finds the mixture appealing anytime he notices Atsuko’s body. Something she encourages him to do whenever possible.
- Assassination Attempt: Referenced and played straight. Atsuko, being a princess, is aware of this potential danger to her life, has been trained to counter these. As revealed at the beginning of book two of the series, Warwolf himself fell victim to one at the age of seven. He was put into a coma for months. He effectively Came Back Wrong, as when he awoke, much of his personality had altered drastically, due to losing a good chunk of his memories from the age of three up. He ends up the victim of a second such attempt on a date with Atsuko, which he only survives thanks to her Shifting for the first time into her were-Ti-Liger form.
- Arranged Marriage: Warwolf and Atsuko have been engaged to marry since they were children. Atsuko has been aware of it most of her life and is happy with it since she’s in love with Warwolf. Meanwhile, Warwolf was kept in the dark about it until the start of the story and is conflicted on the issue.
- Ax-Crazy: Akio, full stop.
- Battle Couple: There are hints in book one that Warwolf and Atsuko will end up this way in the chapter Rescue Run.
- Badass Boast: Surprisingly, despite being a pro wrestler, Warwolf only does this once in the first book, but it’s surprisingly effective, as he does it after fending off a dual attack by a pair of toughs he starts a fight with when he finds them picking on an old man.
- Bilingual Bonus: There are some words in a fantasy language dropped here and there in the book.
- Blood Knight: Warwolf has shades of this in the ring and during fights in general. Seems to enjoy a good match and even when fighting for his life, takes an odd joy in it. Instead of being pissed when he learns that the girl who attacked him is Atsuko’s younger sister Misato, he’s actually impressed, praising her for her left hook. Atsuko finds this exasperating and Misato is completely confused by the reaction when Atsuko tells her about it.
- Atsuko might qualify as well, as she enjoys reliving historical battles via ‘Immersive Reality’ simulations. Warwolf is amused by it.
- Captain Ersatz: Yamaneko Saotome appears to be Ranma, just having been thrown out of his family for refusing to marry Akane. He gave up his human name and took Yamaneko (literally, “Wildcat”) when he became a Were-Puma. The girl who Infused him happens to have the same surname he once did. Hence, he regained the Saotome surname due to marrying into a different Saotome family.
- Cat Girl: Atsuko in her were-cat forms. Misato and Kattō also qualify. In fact, pretty much any female Lycanthrope of the feline persuasion counts for this, mixed with Little Bit Beastly and Our Werebeasts Are Different.
- Charlie Brown from Outta Town: The girl in the full body suit and mask seen at the beginning of the first book. No prizes for guessing who’s under all that. Yes, it's Atsuko.
- Character Tics: Warwolf occasionally has moments where he randomly stares off into space. He has no knowledge of it even happening. The first time Atsuko is witness to it, she becomes worried for his mental health. He has another where he will occasionally scratch at a spot on his chect just below where his heart would be, possibly a reference to his survival of the assassination attempt when he was younger (see above)
- Chekhov's Gun: After dropping a few hints here and there in the story, we learn that Warwolf can fly in book one during the battle shown in the chapter Rescue Run.
- Childhood Friend Romance: Atsuko is hoping for this. Warwolf seems receptive to the idea but isn’t quite sure about it. Partly due to his own memory issues, partly due to the fact that he feels like he has nothing to offer her as a potential husband.
- Crush Blush: Atsuko does this more than once. Warwolf gets a minor version of it at one point.
- Declaration of Protection: Atsuko makes one to a comatose Warwolf at the end of book one.
- Devoted to You: Atsuko is this to Warwolf, though the latter is largely unaware.
- Do Not Call Me "Paul": Warwolf’s birth name is Ar’Holf Esheraso. He makes a point to correct anyone who calls him by this name. Atsuko is the only one who gets away with using his birth name, for reasons nobody can really guess at yet.
- The Dreaded: Garron to most of the Lycanthrope Empire. Humanity is largely unaware of him unless they happen to be a scholar of Lycanthrope history. Warwolf, despite all evidence to the contrary, refuses to acknowledge that he even exists until after the events of Rescue Run.
- Eating the Eye Candy: Atsuko and Warwolf do this on occasion with one another. Warwolf more so than Atsuko, as Atsuko has blossomed into a Statuesque Stunner, and as Warwolf notes, no red-blooded heterosexual male could miss it. Atsuko, being a werecat, is more than happy to receive the attention and encourages Warwolf to see her as not just a half-remembered childhood friend, but a woman who is very much willing to be his wife and share her body with him. Warwolf is depicted as being better looking than average in a more rugged but subdued fashion, but Atsuko is so smitten with him that to her, he’s perfect as he is.
- Face: Warwolf is this in the ring and out, and plays the trope straight. He plays by the rules— unless it’s no-holds barred— and treats the fans with respect.
- Fantastic Romance: Warwolf and Atsuko. They are a werewolf and a were-Ti-Liger respectively.
- Fanservice: Atsuko provides for a bit of it, at least in Warwolf’s mind. Not that he’ll necessarily say it out loud.
- Five Moves of Doom: So far, averted. None of the wrestlers, including Warwolf, seem to have a specific set. Warwolf is partial to the Chokeslam and has a distinct finisher called Starcrusher, but otherwise will use pretty much any and all moves.
- Forgotten First Meeting: Warwolf barely remembers Atsuko, or their time together due to the Assassination Attempt on his life years ago. This is utterly heartbreaking for Atsuko, who realizes from pretty much the moment they meet as adults that Warwolf doesn’t really recognize her.
- Full-Frontal Assault: Atsuko after she Shifts for the first time. Later explained by the fact that she usually ended up buying clothes meant for humans all this time due to being forbidden to Shift by the elders of the Pride, despite her parents’ objections. As a result, she never learned how to force the clothes to alter with her (described as a standard skill all ‘Thropes usually learn at a young age), nor did she ever buy clothes specifically designed with Lycanthropes in mind.
- The Giant: Pretty much every Lycanthrope in their were-forms. Special mention so far goes to Ni’Salir, Warwolf’s father, who in werewolf form is nine feet tall and weighs in at about three hundred and eighty plus pounds.
- Gentle Giant: Played with for most of the cast as they all have at least some form of animal instinct influencing their actions at times. In his two werewolf forms, for example, Warwolf is perfectly friendly outside of combat. When threatened, has one of his few Berserk Buttons pushed, or is in a match, not so much.
- Glowing Eyes: Warwolf has this when he goes into Moonrage. Atsuko shows this off the first time we see her in her were-ti-liger form. In both cases, it’s a sign of extreme danger for pretty much anything in their way.
- Good Thing You Can Heal: All Lycanthropes have advanced healing, though some things can impede its effectiveness to varying degrees, silver being the most obvious one.
- Hammerspace: All Lycanthropes seem to have access to this, which they call Subspace, in a seeming nod to The Transformers.
- Her Boyfriend's Jacket: Atsuko buys a Warwolf-based bit of merchandise— specifically a t-shirt he designed years ago, and that RCW marketing put together for him— and wears it when they go out on their first official date. Warwolf is surprised but touched by the gesture.
- Impossible Hourglass Figure: So far, Atsuko, Misato, and Kattō, complete a large bust and Hartman Hips, based on Atsuko’s description alone, and she and her sister are said to have inherited their looks from their mother Kattō, who is also depicted as being highly attractive.
- Improbable Weapon User: Given that pro wrestling is a legit fighting style in this world, this isn’t just inevitable, it’s practically mandatory.
- Insistent Terminology: The Lycanthropes have their own distinct names for the various types of ‘Thrope. They also insist on Lycanthrope itself as a blanket term, derived from their creator, Lycantheron.
- Jerkass: Saliacta, full stop. He’s completely species-ist towards Warwolf, and doesn’t even try to hide it. He also seems to have a hate on for his own granddaughter, though it’s left unclear as to why.
- Lawyer-Friendly Cameo: A few characters from Ranma ½, namely Akane and Nabiki pop up, though they are only referenced by their family name, and the events of the entire show appear to have happened in Kyoto, rather than Tokyo, due to the fact that half of the archipelago is under Lycanthrope jurisdiction, and the other half under Japanese control, aside from the Ryuku Islands, which remain their own kingdom.
- Legacy Character: Warwolf is the direct descendant and reincarnation of a previous Lycanthrope named Warwolf. He’s officially named in the book as Warwolf Esheraso II.
- Leg Focus: Atsuko and Misato qualify. Kattō probably does as well, given that its inferred that the girls inherited her figure.
- Longing Look: Atsuko does this a fair bit in Warwolf’s direction. He doesn’t really notice. Largely because he’s still figuring out how to feel about Atsuko in general.
- Mask of Sanity: Akio and Atsuko each seem to be wearing one. Akio’s mask begins to come loose when she begins displaying signs of sadism during her fight with Atsuko. Atsuko seems to have a case of Multiple Personality Disorder, though she hides it well, and actually seems to get along with the other personalities.
- Warwolf himself may qualify, as there are signs that something about him is just not right, and that Warwolf is himself unaware of it. The author has confirmed that there is something terrifyingly wrong with Warwolf and that it ties into the attack as a child that almost killed him. He just refuses to say exactly what it is, as it apparently is a plot point yet to be addressed but that will come up later in the series. He has however, confirmed that it’s probably one of the most screwed up and tragic things in the series.
- Meaningful Name: Warwolf’s birthname is Ar’Holf. It can apparently be translated as either Sacred or Honor. His surname, Esheraso, means ‘Blood of the Stars’. Combined, the names mean Sacred/Honored Blood of the Stars. The name Esheraso supposedly is meant to reference the fact that the family is directly descended from Lycantheron, the creator god of the Lycanthropes. According to Word of God, this name will be significant in later parts of the series.
- Mega Neko: Atsuko’s full beast form is huge, standing a little over ten feet at the shoulder and over twenty feet long from nose to tail tip.
- Mêlée à Trois: A Triple Threat match occurs at the Merathi Festival. Warwolf ends up winning in the strangest possible fashion. He ends up being pissed about it because he doesn’t remember it even happening.
- Mighty Whitey and Mellow Yellow: In human form, Warwolf is white, and Atsuko is Japanese.
- Monochromatic Eyes: Warwolf in all forms except his human one are stated to be as white as pristine and untouched arctic ice. Atsuko’s full beast form has completely black eyes.
- Motive Rant: Atsuko asks Warwolf why he became a wrestler, and he delivers quite the speech as a result.Warwolf: “…You ever have a moment? Like…where you encounter something that’s just…” he seemed to struggle for a moment, “that just hits like it’s something that’s always been there, and you never knew it? An instant that just grabs your soul, says ‘You belong here. You’re mine.’ and holds so tight that it feels like it’s been part of you forever? That’s what January Twenty-Third, Nineteen Eighty-Four was for me.”Atsuko gave Warwolf a glance. That date…why did that date sound as if he held it almost sacred? “What happened then?”Warwolf: “That was the night I was introduced to the sport,” Warwolf said, his voice taking on a nostalgic, almost dream-like cadence. “I knew the term. It’s not like it’s not part of the general history classes we take when we’re still in school, y’know? But until that moment…it was just an abstract. I knew it existed. I knew it was there, but I didn’t know it.” Warwolf shook his head and gave a semi-shrug from where he leaned against the railing as he said the last. Then that grin began to reform. “But after that night? I didn’t just know wrestling as an abstract. I knew wrestling. It just…the highs, the lows…the raw thrill of the matches. It was like I’d come home and never really knew I’d been away.”
- Most Common Superpower: You need to ask?
- Ms. Fanservice
- Atsuko, a Statuesque Stunner, is this, in and out of universe.
- Misato, her younger sister, also fits, as she looks very similar to Atsuko, aside from hair and eye color.
- Names to Run Away from Really Fast: Warwolf. He’s an accomplished fighter to boot, and is stated to be part of a long standing conflict that stretches for over two millennia, meaning it doubles as a Meaningful Name as well.
- Noble Wolf: Warwolf certainly fits the bill for the most part. Ni’Salir as well.
- Oblivious to Love: Played with. Warwolf doesn’t quite seem to understand that Atsuko has been in love with him for over a decade. He’s getting the idea that she’s interested now but seems not to realize that she has been for literally most of their lives.
- Panthera Awesome: There are several feline ‘Thropes in the story and all of the ones who get into fights kick serious ass, even if they end up losing. Atsuko, once she starts Shifting, becomes probably the single most powerful werecat in the series thus far.
- Protagonist Without a Past: Zig-zagged. Warwolf suffers from partial loss of memory, losing massive chunks of almost three years’ worth of his life to an assassination attempt. So he has a past just…not all of it.
- Pro Wrestling Episode: There’s an actual match every so often in the book. Warwolf is a fully qualified professional wrestler, and uses pro wrestling moves as his primary fighting style in and out of the ring. Since wrestling in this world is 100% real, it’s justified.
- Pro Wrestling Is Real: In this world, it’s a legit fighting style. Effectively an adaptive “martial art” unto itself. One that originated with Lycanthropes and was then adopted by humans. In the books, it’s flat out stated that Warwolf’s direct ancestor and previous incarnation created the style, or at least the prototype for what is recognized today as modern pro wrestling moves. Greco-Roman/Collegiate (aka “Amateur”) wrestling is apparently a separate thing altogether and originated with humans.
- Royals Who Actually Do Something: Atsuko and Misato are princesses and are fully willing and able to fight.
- Really 700 Years Old: It’s stated that Lycanthropes age almost absurdly slowly compared to humans, and that many of them are well over a century old, but barely look older than sixteen, though some can look older. It’s implied that Lycanthropes don’t start to show any real signs of aging at all until well into what is for them old age, and even then, the ‘Thrope in question might not look older than twenty or so when they do die. Humans who are turned into Lycanthropes, a process they call “Infusion”, will cease aging from the moment of Infusion and live for centuries.
- It’s further implied that as life expectancy rates have gone up with both humans and Lycanthropes, that this means that some characters are well and truly ancient by modern real-world standards. There’s also disturbing implications that the Esheraso family, being Directly blessed by Lycantheron, the literal god of the Lycanthropes as well as direct descendants of his and thus also Semi-Divine, may actually be longer lived than even regular Lycanthropes, but that most wouldn’t notice this because the majority of the family have been hunted down and murdered by the Cult of Garron. This is played straight with at least a few ‘Thropes. Averted with Warwolf as well as with Atsuko, Misato, and their three brothers, who are all the ages they appear to be.
- Sanity Slippage: Akio, full stop. It’s unknown how long this has been a thing, but the mask begins to not so much slip as go flying off during her fight with Atsuko.
- Semi-Divine: The Esherasos are stated to be descended directly from Lycantheron.
- Serenade Your Lover: Atsuko does this at the end of book one when Warwolf is left in a coma, in the hopes that hearing her will bring him out of it. Does it again at the start of book two. The second time, it works.
- Shipper on Deck: Most of Atsuko’s school friends are hoping for her engagement to work out. Yamaneko and Cairaz also back the pairing, as they see them fitting well together. And of course, there’s Atsuko’s parents and uncle, her younger brothers, and Warwolf’s parents as well. Averted with Saliacta, who seems to hate Warwolf purely based on his species.
- Signature Move: The Chokeslam and to a lesser extent, the Powerbomb, for Warwolf. The latter is given a full on Mythology Gag based Lampshade Hanging by Warwolf himself. See the Shout-Out listing for more.
- Shout-Out: A good number, most of them related to wrestling, but there’s a few anime based ones, even if the names of the anime are clearly meant to be silly Expies.
- Warwolf at one point snarkily claims that he is not a ‘Master of the Powerbomb’ when one of the Yamiarashi elders comments on how crisply he delivers the move. There was a tag team in the early 90s, comprised of Sid Vicious and Big Van Vader called “the Masters of the Powerbomb” in WCW.
- Ric Flair is given a slightly oblique reference, as both Warwolf and Saliacta reference ‘The Robed Blonde’, and reference his saying “To be The Man, you have to beat The Man.”
- Hulk Hogan’s victory over the Iron Sheik is referenced by its exact date, though neither man is mentioned by name. Warwolf states this was the night he became enthralled with professional wrestling. Atsuko notes that he references the date as though it were sacred to him.
- Wyvern Burst X appears to be this world’s version of Dragon Ball Z.
- Saotome Yamaneko mentions being subjected to a method designed to create berserkers. Given that he’s basically Ranma with the Serial Numbers Filed Off, this is almost certainly intended to have been the Cat Fist.
- Shown Their Work: The writer really knows his wrestling. He correctly notes how many times Ric Flair has been champion at the time the story takes place, accurately notes the date of Hulk Hogan’s first WWF title win, and has an extensive knowledge of wrestling moves and terms, though some are altered in the way they’re applied due to the fact that in this world Pro Wrestling Is Real.
- Smitten Teenage Girl: Although an adult by Lycanthrope standards, Atsuko is still a teenager chronologically, and thus fits under this trope.
- Superpowered Crazy Side: Warwolf seems to have a super form that he cannot control— at least at present, anyway. It seems to be an inherited trait, but since Warwolf can't control it, he's extremely dangerous in this state. Atsuko is treated as though her ability to safely approach him in this state is unusual.
- The End of the World as We Know It: Implied to be what will happen if Warwolf does not defeat Garron.
- Thousand-Yard Stare: Warwolf does this a few times, much to Atsuko’s concern. He’s depicted as entirely unaware of these episodes.
- Trademark Favorite Food: Bacon for Warwolf.
- Training from Hell: Warwolf implies that he was subjected to this by wrestlers who thought he wanted to become a wrestler as a lark. The fact that he returned after being put on the shelf for months due to the injuries they gave him as a Secret Test of Character changed their minds, but it’s implied they still made him work harder than anyone else he was in the training classes with due to his family’s ties to pro wrestling as a whole. Something that most of his family haven’t really kept up with, and actively tried to discourage Warwolf from taking up. Atsuko is suitably horrified when she learns what Warwolf was subjected to at a time when he wasn’t even a student yet!
- Truth in Television: Though it seems made up, Ti-Ligers do in fact exist. They are the result of a male tiger mating with a female liger. Since Ligers as a general rule do not exist in the wild, this species is extremely rare due to Ligers being bred only in captivity, and usually only by accident. As such, they are very rare, but look and act much like a normal tiger, with some small elements of lions due to being one-quarter the latter and three-quarters tiger.
- Violently Protective Girlfriend: As many of the cultists of Garron and their enthralled slaves quickly learn, Atsuko is terrifying when Warwolf’s life is threatened.
