CHAPTER SEVEN: RABBITS?

“This forest way spooky or is it just me?” Juzo says while clutching his sword and looking around at every small noise, we all have our Glow Stones on even though the sun is high up still, the canopy above is so thick the forest is really dim. The trees look black as if charred and very ominous. I have the worst sinking feeling in my gut.

“No you're right this place is creepy.” I can see my breath, the air feels cold and there's a slight fog setting in.

“I don't like this at all.” Azula clutches her gauntlets as we walk in formation with Juzo at front, me to the left, Azula to the right and Eva in the middle.

“This feels so creepy.” Eva clutches her staff close to her chest.

“If we get split up then hang a Glow Stone from the tallest tree you can find okay?” I have to keep a calm head if we're going to make it through this in one piece.

“The fog seems to be getting thicker, should we keep going?” Juzo stops and points to a small shadow on the floor in the fog.

“What is that?” I say, bracing myself for battle.

“Should I use Fireball?” Azula says, stepping forward.

“No there's too many trees around, just stay on guard.” The shadowy figure comes into view and we all clutch our weapons firmly.

“Awww a bunny!” Eva says crouching down to pet it.

“Eva wait we don't know if it's dangerous!” Juzo says as she laughs.

“Dangerous? How can this cute bunny be danger- ouch!” The rabbit bites her finger, small drops of blood drip down from it, “That really hurt!”

“See it could be poisonous.” Juzo says, his eyes glued to Eva's finger.

“No. Even worse.” Azula says with the coldest tone.

“What do you-” I turn my attention away from Juzo and Eva to look at the rabbit, “Mean? Oh holy shit!”

“What the hell!” Juzo's voice is filled with fright.

Eva lets out a loud scream as the rabbit grunts and morphs, the body becoming elongated and the fur turning a dark red color, it stands on two skinny feet with sharp talons at the edge, its arms and legs long and slender, the body almost hunched over due to the limbs being so long. A long snout with three rows of razor sharp teeth, it lets out a loud howl that is returned by many in the surrounding area, “Wererabbit level ten.” Azula clenches her fists.

It quickly lunges forward, “Juzo!”

Juzo nods at me, “Dragon Armor!” He grabs it by the neck and slams it on the floor as my sword quickly crashes down, chopping the head off.

There's no time to pick up the five Copper that fall near the body. A long slender arm reaches from the fog and pulls Eva by the leg, “Help! Juzo please!” She screams as we rush to help.

I'm tackled by a Wererabbit and use my forearm to keep the snapping teeth away from my face, Eva screams in agony as Juzo and Azula continue fighting in the fog.

“Feint!” I appear behind it and chop through its spine, then I rush to Azula and Juzo. I slice the back of the neck of one and the leg of another. There are two eating and tearing through Eva's stomach, her HP is very low, “Feint! Feint!” I quickly chop off their hands and feet and kick them against a tree, the two Wererabbits writhe in pain on the ground and then become still. I quickly shuffle through my satchel and give Eva three Health Pills, “You can't die okay? Eat these please!”

Juzo and Azula stand guard as I quickly crush the pills and mix them with water, “I...need to get...stronger.” She begins to cough blood, her chest wide open, her guts hanging out of her red dress.

“Don't talk it's fine, please drink this please.” My hands are shaking but as I hold the bowl close to her lips she pushes it away.

“No...sa..save them…” She points her right hand at herself, “He...Heal!” Her hand glows white and her health bar recovers quickly, her body returns to normal. She slowly stands up, “See brand new! Sorry I'm so weak, but soon I'll be strong okay?”

Juzo and Azula are crying, “I'm just glad you're okay!” Juzo says loudly.

“It was my fault I let my guard down. Thank you Umbra, thank you Azula and Juzo!” She smiles as if nothing just happened.

“Stay on guard, there could be more okay?” I calmly say, listening for more beasts but there seems to be none in the area.

“Are you okay though? Like mentally? I mean you just had your guts ripped out.” Azula asks Eva, wrapping her arms around Eva and squeezing tightly.

“Yes I'm fine, this is the world we live in. I have to get used to battle and being injured. I'm prepared for the worst okay? Just keep fighting strong!” They squeeze each other tightly as Juzo and I quickly pick up the 30 Copper and place them in my satchel.

“That was weird.” Juzo picks his sword up from the floor.

“What was?” I quickly carve their hands and feet.

“My sword wouldn't cut so I had to use my hands.” I put the pieces in my satchel and take a closer look at his sword.

“When was the last time you sharpened it?”

“Sharpened it?”

“Yeah, it's a sword and unlike Azula's gauntlets or Eva's staff our weapons lose sharpness with use.” I reach into the satchel and hand him a small square stone, “Sharpening Stone, just slowly move it along the edge a few times. With practice it could be reduced to a single swipe and these never run out. We need to make sure to keep our gear in top shape, it could be life or death.”

“Got it. Thanks Leader!” Juzo slowly runs the Sharpening Stone against his sword for a minute and then hands me the stone, “Thanks! What now?”

“We keep going, we'll buy Eva new clothes and some basic armor once we get to the next town.” I quickly run the Sharpening Stone across my blade and then put it away.

We continue walking into the dense fog. We hear screaming nearby and rush to check it out. As we get close to where the noise is coming from Azula and Eva suddenly duck behind a large tree, their faces pale, “What is it?” I ask, clutching my sword and walking towards whatever was causing them this much panic.

Azula quickly grabs my arm and pulls me to the tree, “Don't look, Juzo watch out.” She whispers but it's too late, Juzo glimpses whatever is out there and quickly hides, his breathing becomes fast, his face is pale as well.

“What is it?” I try to lean over and peak.

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“Don't look, trust me.” Juzo says, wiping beads of sweat from his forehead.

“I have to look.” I slowly look over and see blood splattered everywhere with pieces of Adventurer bodies scattered across the floor, what seems to be an arm or a leg is being chewed viciously by a pack of eight Wererabbits. I duck back behind the tree, the snarls and barks of the pack along with howls are returned by a few sets of howls in different directions, “What should we do?”

“We should hide in the trees, there's way too many of them to fight.” Juzo’s breathing is back to normal now. My hands are shaking but I need to stay calm.

“It would be hard for you to get up right?” Azula's voice is shakey.

“I can use Feint to take him up. Eva and Azula can get up easily so let's try this.” I wrap my arms around Juzo, “On the count of three okay?”

“No we have to go now hurry!” Azula points to a pack that breaks through the fog, rushing towards us.

“Hurry! Feint! Feint! Feint!” Eva quickly uses her wind powers to get to the lowest branch while Azula shoots a fireball and then pushes herself up with flames. Juzo is really heavy but we're slowly moving upward, my mana dropping quickly, we barely make it on the branch.

“They can climb!” Eva screams while pointing her staff down towards the bottom, “Wind Bullet!” There is a cyclone of snapping fangs and claws at the bottom, too many Wererabbits to count.

“This is the life huh? Constant fights for our life where we could die at any moment. I took these past few days in the town for granted.” I let out a deep sigh, “Juzo hold me up again.”

“This is the life of an Adventurer and I wouldn't want to live any other way!” Juzo cracks his knuckles.

“Eva use the healing spell as many times as you can on us, what was it like two?” I grip my sword and calm my breathing.

“Yeah two, but I wouldn't be able to heal for a while after okay? Wait no just once I've been using spells sorry!” She has a worried look on her face.

“Look out!” Azula quickly kicks a Wererabbit off of the branch and it falls to the floor while screeching loudly. A thud and a small yellow plus sign with numbers that are too quick to see appear next to the four of us and our Exp. bar increases slightly .

“What was that number?” Azula stands on guard, scanning the rest of the tree branch.

“Eva it's fine use it! Azula that was Exp. share, I have the ability to change the settings since I'm party leader, I want us to all level up at the same time if that's fine with everyone? That way nobody gets left behind.” I look at the three and they nod.

“Thank you Leader! Heal!” Eva points her palm towards the floor and all of our bodies glow yellow as a speed buff clock appears next to our names.

“I was hoping for attack boost but speed is fine, any buff is better than none. Juzo you ready?” I grip my sword.

“Yep! Dragon Armor!” He grabs me by the ankles again and I try to control my breathing.

“Focus Slice!” My sword glows and I swing, the shockwave falling along the trunk of the tree, ripping through the many Wererabbits climbing up. Our levels rise to 8 and the Wererabbits scatter away in a panic.

We sit down holding our knees, every now and then we hear the screaming deaths of a group of Adventurers and can't help but to feel sorry for them, “Going from fighting the Boar and then straight to these where they're at level ten, it doesn't seem right at all. There isn't enough time to have actual battle experience for a combat situation like this. We got great gear to start, these Adventurers probably have shit gear and stats and just get thrown out into the world. Keep feeding the beasts and they'll stay away from the towns, or maybe it's just out of their control.”

“It's not fair at all. Once I'm stronger I'll change things.” Juzo wipes tears from his eyes.

“They sound so helpless.” Azula says, the day feels endless.

“Any of those people dying could have been us. Especially me, while I was being dragged away my throat was cut, but I was barely able to use the healing spell. Then they ate me all over again. I really owe whoever that person who sold us the items, I owe them big time.” She rubs her earrings with her fingers.

“I didn't know you were that close to death. We all have to be careful.” My mind is filled with doubt, how will I lead them this time, will we even survive?

“It'll work out, we just need to work as a team, that's it.” Juzo says, standing up, “We should make our way out of this forest before nightfall, who knows what kind of beasts will come out then.”

“I forgot it was still daytime. Yeah Juzo's right we should hurry.” Azula stretches her legs.

“What's the plan of attack?” Eva is looking at me for answers.

“We have to be very careful, avoid the pack if we can, even if there are Adventurers being eaten we have to keep pushing forward.” Is that really what a hero would say? But then again I am no hero, just a leader trying to keep my party alive, “Eva use healing only if it's life or death got it? Also can you get to the very top and look to see where the forest ends?” I calm my mind and prepare to fight for survival.

“Got it!” She quickly uses air magic to get to the top, disappearing from view. She returns after a few minutes, “There’s the edge of the forest half a mile in that direction.” She points her staff.

“Thank you, we dash that way and don't stop until we reach it.” I look at my team and we're all ready to fight once more, we look down into the fog covered floor. We are about to leave the safety of the nest, “Juzo let's go.” I wrap my arms around him and we jump off of the branch, “Feint, Feint, Feint.” I slowly let both of us fall and then we silently land, listening for any sign of movement, we quickly move from tree to tree.

“Shit. Hold.” Juzo puts his hand up and we stop and stare at a pack of Wererabbits growling at a single swordsman who is covered in blood, holding his sword with one hand.

“Just run away please!” A girl is on the floor covered in blood, tugging at his shoe. The other two members of his party are unconscious with limbs missing.

“No! I have to protect you, what kind of Leader would I be if I just ran away? I won't! I'll fight until I die!” The snarling Wererabbits prepare to attack, my body moves on its own and I lunge into action, “Feint! Middle! Feint!”

“Dragon Armor! Left! Grand Slash!”

“Right! Fists of Flame!”

“Heal!”

I listen to the call outs of my team as I focus on the two Wererabbits ahead of me, I dodge a claw and chop off one's leg then the arm of a second one. I quickly grab whatever coins they dropped and rush to the four Adventurers, “You guys okay?”

They're all healed perfectly, “Thank you! Thank you so much!”

“Leader what's the plan? Hurry!” Juzo listens to the distant howls and barks that echo throughout the forest.

“We have to hurry, keep going and save any team we find along the way. Eva use as many Mana Pills that you need. We can't create a kingdom if there aren't any Adventurers alive, we have to hurry.” They nod in agreement and follow closely as we quickly run through the treeline. I hold my hand up, there are bodies all over the floor but none seem to be Adventurers I hear a faint yelling in the distance.

“Let's check it out.” Juzo nods and everyone rushes through the fog.

“Help! Somebody!” Wererabbit pieces are all over the floor, there's a guy carrying his friend over his shoulder while limping, “My friends are still fighting!”

“Eva.”

“Got it! Everyone get close to them! Heal!” We all get attack buffs and the two are perfectly healed.

“Swarm the Wererabbits!” We all dash as one big mob through the fog tearing through the Wererabbits, Eva heals the next two players and we continue running through the fog, swarming the few Wererabbits and healing the two other players.

“Hold!” I hold out my hand and they all stop, “Focus Slice.” I charge my mana and slice through a massive tree in front of us and it falls down with a loud crash the tree stump is now a large platform, “Everyone we'll use this as our battle arena. Juzo can you yell for me please, tell any Adventurer to use their emergency Flashbang on any Wererabbits and flares to signal us and to run in our direction. Azula can you shoot Fireball into the sky, the branches are high enough to not catch fire.”

“Got it, ADVENTURERS IF YOU'RE IN THE FOG RUN TOWARDS OUR FIRE AND USE YOUR FLASHBANG IN YOUR DUNGEONEERING KITS ON ANY WERERABBITS AND THEN EMERGENCY FLARES AS YOU RUUUUUUN!!!!!!” Juzo repeats this as Azula shoots Fireball into the sky, the bright flames light up the forest.

“Everyone else prepare for battle, keep the healer and two signaling in the middle got it! Fight hard!” I roar as they prepare themselves, we take on a circle formation as Juzo and Azula continue to signal, we see six sets of blinding flashes from different directions and sparks begin to fly into the sky, a few join up and continue to run, the groups break through the trees with panicked faces.

“There's so many of them!” They all run up to the tree stump and we help them up.

“Azula light the fallen tree on fire so they can only approach from the front and then protect the ranged fighters! I think this is everyone! Ranged fighters in the back! Healers behind them! DPS and Assassin classes come with me! Tanks up front with Juzo! Formations go! Understood!? Juzo got it!?”

“Copy that!” Azula quickly swallows two Mana Pills and lights the tree on fire then stands next to Eva and stretches her legs.

I hear the thunderous sound of footsteps quickly approaching. At least 50 of them and one big one, must be the boss, “Fight hard and we'll make it out of here alive!”

“Got it! You heard him people move your asses!” Juzo gives me a thumbs up as nine Adventurers gather next to me.

“What's the plan?” One of them asks.

“No time, let's go. Juzo there's a big boss with them be careful!” Juzo gives me a thumbs up and I motion to the treeline, the nine sprint with me as fast as they can. After a few minutes I hold my hand up, “Hold. The battle is about to begin. How many here have wide ranged DPS attack skills?” Four raise their hands, “We'll ambush them from behind and spam our spells as the Assassin class Adventurers guard us. Got the plan?”

“Yes!” They say, I focus my hearing. Juzo shouting orders, him tanking the big boss by himself, everyone else fighting the others, “We need to go now!”

We sprint once again towards battle, as fast as we can. The Assassin class become invisible, “You saved us, I'll protect you with my life.” One of them quickly says.

“We're Adventurers, we should have each other's backs. Let's do this!” The battlezone is fierce, the tanks are holding the line, the ranged fighters are blasting spells as fast as they can. Juzo is to the left of everything fighting the big boss, who is a massive colossal Wererabbit with enormous muscles, and rather than slicing he’s using his huge fists to fight. We get close enough to where our spells are in range, “Now attack! Focus Slice!” I channel my mana and my blade glows, the other four say their skills and are charging as well, seems like they're spellcasters. A few Wererabbits notice us and rush to attack, I trust in the Assassins. A Wererabbit gets close but falls down with a crunch as a kunai lodges in the back of its head.

“We got you!” One of them says.

“Tanks watch out!” I swing my sword as the others cast their spells.

Juzo yells from his battle, “Shields up!”

The tanks all use their defensive skills, “Shield Wall! Defense! Barrier! Fortify!”

My Focus Slice rips through the Wererabbits as a hailstorm with sharp shards of icicles impale them, a tornado sweeps some up, molten lava burns a bunch to a crisp, and then crystal spikes impale others, there are only a few left, “Swarm them and then the boss! Tanks surround it! Ranged attackers keep firing!”

I rush through the carcass covered floor and slice down the few remaining Wererabbits. I run towards Juzo to help, Wererabbit King level 20, with five different health bars. It moves very quickly for its size doing a 20 kick combo. Juzo goes flying into the large tree that's on fire, “Juzo!” Eva screams and rushes to help.

“Azula help Eva! I got this! Tanks surround him!” I rush towards the towering beast. Some of the tanks are against the trees sobbing, most of the ranged fighters are throwing up or sitting down. Three exhausted tanks are trying to hold formation, “Launch me!” I scream to one of them who holds a massive shield up, I jump on it and he flings me into the air, “Focus Slice!” My body becomes stiff in the air but I am behind the beast, it turns around quickly, the gleaming red eyes locked on me, steam seeping through the massive jagged teeth, it punches towards me. It's too fast I won't be able to charge in time, “Shit.”

“Bomb Kunai! Hidden Blade! Flash Kunai! Poison Kunai! Shock Kunai!” The Assassin Squad appears out of nowhere, the beast clutches his eyes, one health bar is drained.

“Thanks!” My skill is fully charged this might be a cheap move but I aim for the upper thigh and swing my sword. The tendons and flesh tear apart as it wails in agony. It falls over as blood gushes everywhere, the health bar slowly draining.

“Get off your asses! Help finish this thing!” Juzo roars while jumping through the flame, the surrounding players all glow a light-blue color and their morale is boosted. Everyone cheers as we finish the boss, and as the last HP point reaches zero the fog disappears.