5 A Man Worthy of a Title

"Notice: You have gained a new title. To see this new title, please use the command phrase: Status.", Brick repeated once more.

I get a little excited because, from my knowledge of how games work, titles are supposed to help you significantly. As I start fantasizing about how strong I can become in the future, the excitement finally gets to me.

"STATUS!" I shout, my words reverberating against the walls around me.

A window popped up in front of me, and I begin grinning ear to ear. 'I'm actually in a game,' I think excitedly.

{Name: Unknown}

{Job: None}

{Title: Worthless Coward}

{Experience: 0/10}

{END: 2(+5)}

{STR: 1}

{AGI: 2(+5)}

{INT: -1}

{LUK: 0}

{Title Description: Only someone who lacks life value and doesn't dare to survive without running can acquire this title. Those who can only flee get a +2.5x boost to END and AGI.}

My grin fades rather quickly upon seeing the title and its description. Worthless Coward.

'This is what I'm rewarded with for running from death...' I lean my head against the wall, "At least I get extra health and running abilities... wait, is this telling me that I should keep running from fights?"

I look down at the status window. 'I don't get experience from running away successfully, it seems.'

I sit in the dark as I think about this before finally asking Brick, "How do I get Experience?"

Brick tells me the least helpful information he can, "You can gain experience by doing tasks that grant it as a reward." I stare blankly into the distance and blink a couple of times slowly, 'I wish Brick had a physical body... I would beat him senseless' Brick suddenly says, "Warning. Enemies are approaching from the cave entrance. Chances of escape... 0%."

As I begin to panic because of the announcement, two small furry animals came into the room.

"Brick... Are you serious right now? How can these things be dangerous?"

Brick says with an alarmed tone, "Normally frews are docile creatures, but they are highly territorial, and it seems this is their den."

I groan as I realize that I'm about to fight small animals. Looking at the animals, I realize they have some very distinct features.

With a single white stripe from their head to the end of their tail, the remaining fur appearing as what looks like the color of dirt, and large eyes, this is by far one of the cutest things I've ever seen. I reach out to touch one of them without thinking.

Brick interrupts my moment instantly, "Please refrain from trying to touch the animals, which I just said are territorial, while inside of their den.

" I pull back quickly and sigh. "I just wanted to touch the cute little anima-..." I stop mid-sentence as the frews begin growling with a pitch that seems far too low compared to their body size. I try scooting back only to encounter the cold of the stone wall. The ceiling too low for me to stand. I'm stuck with no way out and no way to fight back.

The animals don't move as they snarl. 'Are they afraid too?' The thought passes through my mind quickly, but I discard it just as soon as it entered. I sit against the wall, unsure of how to proceed.

'What if I just...' I pull my legs close to my chest then slam my foot into the head of one of the creatures. 'Oh god...what have I done...this is horrible' This is the only thought passing through my mind as I repeat the action once more, kicking the second animal.

The first one recovers and jumps at me. My arms shoot out and catch it just before it can get to me. My hands wrap around its neck, and tears begin streaming down my face as I realize I'm too weak to kill it. The second one jumps at me. Its teeth sink into my arm, causing a massive rush of pain. I swing my arms in what little space I have. My hands slip, and I throw the first one against a wall. Simultaneously I manage to throw the second one off my arm.

A small chunk of flesh is missing from my arm. I begin trying to crawl out of the cave. Moving as quickly as I can, I get on my stomach and slide into the small opening. Suddenly I feel something bite me near the heel of my foot. I flinch in pain and slam the little thing against the ceiling with full force. I feel the warmth of blood flow down my foot when I get my first notification about experience.

{+5 XP}

Brick takes this moment to point out something that I didn't want to think about, "I think you killed one of the frews. Apparently, flailing around is a good way to kill them." I keep moving as fast as I can, ignoring the hateful comment from my companion in which I never wanted. The second frew stops attacking, and I manage to escape the hole. I look around manically, afraid that the goblins are still here.

'Thank the gods... I escaped,' I sighed and bent over out of breath. I enjoy my moment of serenity before the frew, that was still alive, decided he wanted revenge. I yelp in surprise as the little demon bites my behind.

"Why won't you leave me alone" I begin to sob as I just fall back to scare off the little thing.

The frew releases me and then charges at me again. This time prepared for its attack, I kick it with all my might dazing him.

I get to my feet as fast as I can. I stomp as hard as I can on his head with my injured foot. I feel his skull crush against my skin then begin crying as I get my second notification.

{+5 XP}

{Level Up}

My stomach growls in this time of distress. Speaking to Brick, I quietly say between my sobs, "Are they edible?"

Brick responds completely unaffected by the horror of what occurred, " When cooked properly, frews are considered a delicacy in most capital cities due to the difficulty in which it is to find them."

I begin to cry more as I go back inside the small cave to retrieve the other cute animal's corpse