Chapter 7 Understanding My New Life
“Scott?” Julie asks again with more force.
It brings me back to my senses and out of my train of thought. “Did you see that message?” I asked in disbelief. “Welcome to New Earth, become a Hero or a Villain? Can you believe that shit, like this is some of a game? Our lives are now a game??” I am totally in disbelief now. I bow my head and put both hands on my temple while resting my elbows on the table.
“Yeah Scott, I read it, and I have no words for it, this is unbelievable, really too much to handle” replies Julie with a somewhat defeated voice.
“Hey you two knock it off already. Now is not the time to get down” Cindy interrupts.
“So we have been dealt a shitty hand” Cindy continues, “And we have two choices, like you said back at the Mall Scott, we can give up and commit mass suicide here, or we adapt and live on? So what will it be?", She glares at the two of us.
Shaking my head I look at her new with respect. Cindy is something, at first I thought she was a total ditz with all tits, but now since she lost her tits, she has become more formidable. The Mall changed us for sure. We are no longer living the simple life, hell I am not single anymore.....I think I'm not and give Julie a glance.
Julie is staring at Cindy, uncertainty in her eyes,”I do not know Cindy, this is just so overwhelming”
“The fact that you can do magic is not?” Cindy asks questioningly.
“umm well....that was different I think” Julie replies.
“Well think on this Julie, you were studying at night to become a nurse, the question is why?” Cindy says with a slight smile on her face.
“I wanted to be able to help people, NO, I still want to help people” Julie says as she gains some resolve.
“That's my girl!” Cindy exclaims, then looks at me,” and you Scott, why did you try to save Brad and me?”
I give that one some thought and then slowly reply.
“It was instinct, a reflex more or less, I did it without a second thought to be honest” I reveal, and a sudden realization hits me. All my life I always jumped in front to help others, no thought given to my safety a the time. Why? Why do I do that? I am not a hero, but I value life more than anything. A such I want to save as many as I can when I can. But why did I let Brad die? I feel relief he is gone, no remorse.
If I value life then why did I help in killing him? Was I jealous of him? Or maybe I was angry a the way he treated me? No, he was a person who did not care about others, only himself and would sacrifice any to benefit himself. That type of person is no good, not worth saving.
Will I meet others like that? More than likely. Is it a common thing? Yes in most cases, most people will think only of their own safety, but the Brad type is different, not only will they think of themselves but use people in a way to sacrifice them for their own personal gain whatever the cost. They will not work with others for the betterment of all, but instead try to exploit all for their own benefit, THAT is what makes them worse, and why saving them is a waste.
Is it wrong to think like this? In some peoples eyes, maybe, but that is me and who I am and I can live with that. With my final thoughts put away my head is now clear, or so I think it is, but I have a better understanding of myself, an epiphany of sorts. To understand ones self is the path to enlightenment it is said.
So I like to save people............... Hero
I like vanquish evil................ Hero
I go out of my way to help others........................ Hero
Fuck did I just tag myself as a Hero??
Go with the flow, go with the flow, go with the flow I keep repeating to myself in my mind.
So what now? I ask myself. The first thing we need is more information and understanding of what is going not only around us, but to ourselves as well. Also I need to check something
“Status!” I say out loud
StatusName: Scott SmithLevel: 4Race: Human Age: 18Experinece to next level: 2500/2800Title 1: Goblin Hunter
+5% XP when killing GoblinsTitle 2: (empty)Title 3: (empty)Title 4: (empty)Title 5: (empty)Profession 1: None SelectedProfession 2: None SelectedFame: 2000Infamy: 0Health: 2950Base Attack: 20%Mana: 1150Base Defense: 18%Stamina: 3050Base Accuracy: 9%Strength: 51Dexterity: 41Vitality: 49Endurance: 56Intelligence: 18Wisdom: 28Luck: 10SkillsUnarmed CombatSkill level 1 +10% DamageField MedicSkill level 1 +5% HealingStealthSkill level 2 +6%Sneak AttackSkill level 1 +5% damage 2X damageSword MasterySkill Level 1+10% damageDagger MasterySkill Level 2 +20% DamageItems EquippedGood Quality Long SwordDamage: 25-40Good Quality DaggerDamage: 17-27
“HUH? Age 18???? What the hell?” I exclaim in confusion. I am 18 again? It completely reset my age?
Julie looking at her status screen, “That is weird I am 18 too!” she says
Cindy sigh,” yups I am 18 as well”
“What? No way, you look so much younger!” Says Julie in disbelief.
I look at Cindy as well in disbelief,”really?” I question.
“Yeah, I was cursed or blessed however you want to look at it with eternal youth, so much so that people always questioned my age. How old did you think I was when you first met me?” says Cindy with a wry smile.
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“Probably in your 20's” says Julie, I nod in agreement.
“Haha, I had just turned 38” Cindy says with a triumphant look.
“Oh my god I am so jealous” Julie complains
Cindy looks at Julies breasts and says,” well that makes two of us..........” she sighs and frowns.
While the two talk about looks beauty and youth, I turn back to my status screen.
Hmm all this looks familiar I think to myself, Just like the MMO's I used to play. Well I am a close combat fighter. I can use my hands, a gun, a sword an a bow. Those are my strong points. So to hit harder and evade, I should increase Str and Dex, Plus dex adds to my defense and bow abilities, plus adds to my stealth as well. Also being able to take a hit will be important. Choices choices....
Right now I can last in a fight seeing my Endurance is up there. So no need to increase that just yet, having the ability to end a fight quickly will be important. Dex will probably effect my usage of the gun as well as it should be considered a bow type weapon. So heavy on the Dex with some Str and Vitality.
With that in mind I add 20 to Dex, 10 to str and 10 to Vit
Str now 61
Taking Base Damage to 22% I winder how strong that is? Am I now the Hulk? Or just Herculese? Or am I normal? These stats almost rally make no sense to me.
Dex now 63
Taking base defense to: 22% Does that mean I am harder to hit? Or can I take a hit and not be phased? Am I man of Steel or a man of paper? Will test this for sure.
Also taking base Accuracy to 12%, hmmmm does that improve on my existing skills from my so called previous Real Life? Will have to test and see about this. I thought I was pretty decent with the Bow and gun before, but seeing this stat makes me wonder........
My Stealth is also up at 8%, not much, but it is improving. Again does this improve previous experience?
I look over at the girls, Cindy and Julie are both deep in thought, blue screen in front of them as well a they are pondering over their choices.
“Umm are you two making any sense of this?”, I ask
“Yeah, pretty straight forward it seems. Apparently it is similar to some of the MMO's I played as well.” Julie replies not taking her eyes off the screen and then using her index finger to trace something in the air. Then smiles with a nod of satisfaction.
Cindy too, is deep in thought and probably did not hear me or is too engrossed to hear. She shakes her head a few times, but then nods and hums a "mmhmm" in acknowledgment. Then exclaims “I thought so, there it is” She then looks at me with an excited expression. “Scott form a party!”
“What?” I ask not understanding.
“Just say form a party then invite Julie and me to it by saying invite Julie, invite Cindy” she says excitedly..
I shrug, then say,”Form Party”
NOTICE!You have created a party, do you wish to invite other people.
Note up to 6 people can be in a party.
Yes or No
“Yes!”
NOTICE!Please say or think name to add to party
“Invite Julie to Party”
NOTICE!Name is incomplete,
please specify full name of individual to invite to party
“Invite Julie Matterson to Party”
NOTICE!Invite to party has been sent to:
Julie Matterson
NOTICE!Julie Matterson
Level 1 Healer
Has join the party.
NOTICE!Do you wish to add any other people to your party?
Note you have room for 5 more people.
Yes or No
“Yes!”
“Invite Cindy Horn to party”
NOTICE!Invite to party has been sent to:
Cindy Horn
NOTICE!Cindy Horn
Level 1 Fire Mage
Has joined the party
WHAT?? Fire Mage? How?
Cindy is staring at me with a proud expression, while I and Julie are stunned.