I never understood why people go to war.

I mean, I know that people have different ideals or different circumstances.

Oppression, loss of freedom, religion, money. I understand that.

What I didn't understand was how leaders decide to go to war.

How do they decide to wage war knowing that thousands if not hundreds of thousands lives would be lost on both sides.

Was it easy? Or did they lose sleep over their decisions.

I closed my eyes.

Scenes of blood and gore filled my vision.

Desperate pleas for mercy fell onto deaf ears.

A cold shiver ran down my body.

I could still smell the stench of blood and hear the never ending screams of hopeless agony.

And then, silence.

I felt my hands shaking as I covered my eyes as if trying to erase the cruel spectacle burned onto my mind.

My nerves were shot. My emotions all over the place.

Fear. Desperation. Hopelessness, and at the fore, rage.

RAGE!

My hands clenched tightly into fists as I recall those scarlet, blood thirsty eyes staring at me.

Eyes without an ounce of mercy.

Eyes intent on slaughter as its claws come down again and again to extinguish all remnants of life.

I cringed at the thought.

With a deep calming breath, I summon up the image of my nemesis in my mind once again.

Truly a figure of awe and fear.

Constructed for only one purpose. Destruction.

My thirst for vengeance rocketed up.

I understand now.

I understand now how people decide to go to war.

They do so because they knew if they didn't, more blood will be spilt.

They do so to protect lives.

For Peace. For their way of life.

I too have made my decision. There will be war.

Blood will be spilt, but this time, not my own.

I'll take back my peace and my way of life.

"I will fight! No matter what the odds, I will fight! And God save your furry souls!" I roared.

[SLAM]

The door opened up suddenly.

"Damn Bro! What's with the yelling this early in the morning?" Jacquie questioned.

"And why's it's so dark here?"

I heard some rustling and then light poured in as Jacquie drew the curtains open.

She came near the bed where I was. Staring at me with a smile full of mischief.

"So what's up doc?" She queried.

I flinched at that.

"Not funny." I grumbled.

Sigh. I knew it was a mistake talking to her about that "calamitous event". Unfortunately, I had no one else to talk to about it.

"I don't know what you mean..." She tried to feign innocence and she would have pulled it off but for the flash of unabashed mirth in her eyes. "Thumper."

She fell on the bed laughing.

"Ha-ha. Just laugh it up and get it out of your system." I grouched.

"You have to admit it's kinda funny. not even an hour from your login and you got pwnd. Bad. By a Rabbite." She finished with a snicker.

I wish I could refute it, but alas, I couldn't. I think I would have laughed as well (maybe even harder) if not for the fact that it happened to me.

Arggghhhh... It's all that rabbit's fault.

Damn his cute and huggable hide.

"Hah. If you must know I already have a plan of action against those hairy critters." I blustered.

"Yeah, I know. Holding up under your bed covers for a couple more days while cringing in terror. I can see the effectivity. You haven't been killed by a bunny rabbit for these past 2 days." She interjected with a giggle.

I winced at that.

I wasn't able to make myself login for the past few days. The memory of me dying was still fresh.

To be truthful, death there was no big deal. It was the events leading to my death that was.

I knew it wasn't real. I kept repeating that to myself, but still, seeing a rabid animal going at you, claws sinking through your flesh, add the astonishing realism with full degree of immersion in the system, and you got a recipe for a lifelong trauma.

"I've decided that I won't let this setback to drag me down. And as for those rabbites, they will have their day. Mark my word." I said with a trace of false bravado.

I rose from my bed and got my helmet. I struck a bold pose. Trying to infuse the confidence in my speech to my heart.

My sister stared at me and started cracking up falling once again on the bed.

"Do you want wittle sisters help?" She asked with a giggle.

I threw her a dirty look.

"No, thanks."

Before she could say anything I put the helmet on and logged in.

***********************************************************************************

"Welcome back user Eric."

"Thanks, Lillith."

"The minibar has been stocked, as per your order, user Eric. Receipt will be sent to your mailbox."

I went directly to the minibar and got myself a soda.

Gulp. Gulp. Gulp. Gulp. Gulp. Gulp. Ahhhhhh...

Maybe something stronger? I grabbed a different bottle.

I have been to my mancave a couple of times in the past few days.

I stared at the bookshelf as many times as well. It's just no matter what I did, I couldn't bring myself to login to T:O.

Everytime I tried touching the book, I froze.

Well, that all changes today.

WIth a determined stride, I went to the bookshelf and grabbed the book.

Before I can even have second thoughts, I opened the book.

I closed my eyes, already anticipating the flash of light.

When I opened my eyes, I was in the middle of the square once again.

It was bustling with activity like before.

I looked around me. Now that the initial wonderment has faded, I tried to familiarize myself with the place.

Various people went about their business as before.

It was actually difficult to tell which were NPC's and which were players.

I mentally marked some places of interests like shops that sells items and equipments.

I went to the side first.

I should take a look first at my stats.

"Display stats."

A window opened before me.

________________________________________________

NAME: Myst JOB: Freeman

HP: 100/100

MP: 100/100

LEVEL: 1 FAME: 0

STATS:

STR: 10

AGI: 10 ATK: 10

CON: 10 DEF: 19

INT: 10 CRT: 1%

LUC: 10

Gold: 0

________________________________________________

SKILLS:

Observe (Displays basic information on the target)

________________________________________________

"Display Equipment."

________________________________________________

EQUIP:

WEAPON:

1H Rusty Sword (ATK + 5)

ARMOUR:

HEAD: Straw Hat (DEF +1)

BODY: Rough Tunic (DEF +3)

- Straw Belt (DEF +1)

LEGS: Patched Trousers (DEF +2)

FEET: Worn Boots (DEF +2)

________________________________________________

"Items."

________________________________________________

Bag:

Wheat Bread x 10 (Restores 20 points to HP)

________________________________________________

As a level 1 newbie, I'm no better than a beggar.

Sigh. Better forget about the shops for now.

Well no need to cry over something I can't change at the moment.

First thing's first. Recon!

I need some info on how to fight those critters.

With a mental slap for encouragement, I went towards the gate.

Time to start the ball rolling.

I saw a few people heading out as well.

Most of them already had their own groups.

I decided to follow one of the groups. Safety in numbers. Right?

I walked behind a group of five adventurers discreetly.

There wasn't much differences between our garbs. Probably newbies like me.

I would have loved to join the group but I really didn't what to say them.

With my ego in the dumps, it was really hard talking to people.

Sigh.

After a while, they found a group of rabbites grazing around the meadow.

I felt my hands go clammy. I immediately grabbed the sword at my waist and resisted the urge to draw it from its scabbard.

Okay, Eric. Just relax. We're not here to fight just to watch.

I placed my hand on my chest to calm myself. I felt my heart beating like crazy.

Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out. Breathe in. Breathe out.

I looked at the rabbites once again. There were at least a dozen in the group.

Hmmm... They're not as big as I remember.

Well, rabid animals tend to look bigger when they're in your face and trying to kill you.

I looked at the group of people I followed. They didn't seem worried.

The two groups charged at each other.

Whew. Good thing I didn't follow too closely so I didn't get the agro with them.

Not even a minute passed and I was left with my mouth hanging open.

The group of rabbites were slaughtered with ease.

I looked at the adventurers. All of them were using the same basic equipment that I am.

What the hell?!?

They didn't just fight the rabbites they massacred them!

How the hell did they do that? I didn't notice any special skills being used.

Come to think of it, this is supposed to be the beginner area for newbies.

Logically speaking, the enemies here should be canon fodders for players to farm.

I saw another group of rabbites charging the adventurers.

I focused on one and used my one and only skill.

"observe"

A window appeared beside the creature.

________________________________________________

Rabbite LV 2

HP 35/35

A common vermin infesting the farms in nearby areas. Their meat is treated as local delicacies and their furs are used by local artisans.

________________________________________________

That's what killed me?!?

A

nd I thought my self esteem couldn't get any lower.

Oh my god. Kill me now.

Uhm.

Wait.

Scratch that. Those nasty critters just might.

Well, no wonder Jacquie's been laughing her head of at me.

I think it's time to test the waters.

I separated from the group and went my own way.

I walked a bit and tried to find my own mobs.

I saw a lone rabbite not far from me. Silently nibbling some sort of leafy vegetable.

I smirked and drew my sword.

Silently, I approached my unsuspecting victim.

"Hello my pretty. You will have the honor of being my first conquest." I stalked my prey slowly.

"Don't worry. This won't hurt. Much." My eyes probably glinting with deadly intent.

With some sort of sixth sense the rabbite suddenly looked up and stared at me.

There we were.

Man versus beast.

Staring at each others eyes. Waiting for each others first move.

I squinted my eyes and gripped my sword tighter.

[SNIKT]

With the sound of its claws emerging from its paws serving as a signal to start.

It suddenly charged at me.

As for me, the sound served to call a very unpleasant memory.

I couldn't help myself as it flashed before my eyes once again.

It made me freeze in my tracks.

And when I came to, the rabbits was already in front of me.

A sense of overwhelming panic engulfed me. I screamed!

"Waaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh..."

With a 180 degree turn, I scrambled away.

I looked back only to see the crazed bunny on my tracks.

I tried to squeeze all the speed I had and continued to sprint away from it.

Unfortunately that led me directly to another group of those beasts.

I veered away from them.

I almost cried when I spied at my back.

I inadvertently agroed them.

"Waaaaaahhhhhhhhhhh..." I miserably screamed.

I was in a panic and didn't know where I was going.

It seems every turn I make I meet more friends of those critters.

As it was, I was being chased virulently by more than a dozen rabbites.

I didn't really know how long I've been running by now and it seems the more I run the more rabbites are added to my menagerie. I was really getting tired but I wasn't crazy enough to stop.

I was now in an area with some players present.

They didn't dare come near me with the multiple rabbites on my ass.

But that didn't stop them from talking.

"Dafuq is the nutcase doing?"

"Serves the noob right. He was probably pulling a train and it backfired on him."

"Hahahaha. What a loon!"

"Hehehe, Wanna bet how much longer he can run?"

"Hehehe. Sure, I've already been here for more than an hour and I think he's been running since then."

"C'mon guys. Shouldn't we at least try to help the poor guy?"

" You do it then."

"..."

"How much are we betting again?"

Goddamn heartless people.

I didn't even have enough energy to cry about it.

After a while I was almost at the end of my rope, when suddenly I saw some thing that made a broken laugh erupt from my throat.

SALVATION!

I saw the gate to the city not too far from me.

With one final burst of acceleration I made a break for it.

"Pant, pant. C'mon. Pant. Lamarque. Pant. You. Pant. Can. Pant. Do. Pant. It!"

I dove towards the last meter to the gate.

[TWANG, TWANG, TWANG, TWANG]

I heard some unfamiliar sounds coming from above.

I rolled over to my back and looked up to see the guard towers raining arrows towards the hapless rabbites.

"Serves. Pant. You. Pant. Right. Pant."

I closed my eyes trying to regain some energy.

I felt myself about to faint at any given moment now from exhaustion both physically and emotionally.

[DING]

I opened my eyes and a window was right in front of me.

What the hell?!?

NOTIFICATIONS:

+2 AGI FOR CONSTANTLY RUNNING FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME

TITLE AWARDED!

Faintheart of the Yellow Belly Legion

gained for consistently retreating from enemies continuously.

+5 AGI, -5 STR, -5 INT, -2 FAME

Congratulations!

And that was the last thing I saw before I lost my consciousness.

**************************************************************************************

________________________________________________

NAME: Myst JOB: Freeman

TITLE: Faintheart of the Yellow Belly Legion

HP: 100/100

MP: 100/100

LEVEL: 1 FAME: -2

STATS:

STR: 10 (-5)

AGI: 12 (+5) ATK: 8

CON: 10 DEF: 19

INT: 10 (-5) CRT: 1%

LUC: 10

Gold: 0

________________________________________________

SKILLS:

Observe (Displays basic information on the target)

________________________________________________

EQUIP:

WEAPON:

1H Rusty Sword (ATK + 5)

ARMOUR:

HEAD: Straw Hat (DEF +1)

BODY: Rough Tunic (DEF +3)

- Straw Belt (DEF +1)

LEGS: Patched Trousers (DEF +2)

FEET: Worn Boots (DEF +2)

________________________________________________