Chapter 2: First Taste of Combat

The archers jumped onto the roof and took positions then Captain Harris and the remaining 3 guards took positions at the front, rear, left, and right side of the cart. Antonio ducked as low as he could.

I’ve got to stay as hidden as possible so that I am not killed in this ambush.

Just as the thought formed his head a hailstorm of arrows flew into the sky. Captain Harris rushed on top of the carriage and placed his shield above his head. The other shield user protected the greatsword wielding soldiers. Antonio quickly rushed under the carriage.

This carriage should protect me from the arrows coming from above.

Antonio pulled himself up and hid between the bottom of the carriage and the wheel axels. As he was hiding he could see the arrows falling to the ground and hear the metal clanking when the arrows bounced of the carriage and the shields. He could also here the soldiers scream out in pain as they were injured by arrows. Apparently, the kite shields could not block all of the arrows.

“Ahhh!!! The arrows were poisoned. I can’t move my legs”, said one of the voices from on top of the carriage.

“Damn this is bad”, said Captain Harris. “Is anyone else hurt?”

“Yes we have one injury down here. His arm is paralyzed from the poison.”

“Take you battle position and keep your eyes peeled for any danger.”

This guy is not as good as I thought. He didn’t have any first aid or poison antidotes. He even kept us here instead of moving forward to escape. No matter what in an ambush, you should not sit still. You should try to move to a place where the enemy is not at an advantage.

Then the enemy appeared. Antonio could not see but there were about 2 dozen sets of boots that he could see from under the carriage.

“Give us your master and I will make your deaths quick”, said the voice of a woman.

“You know I can’t do that”, replied Captain Harris.

“Then you will die here and now.”

Then the battle began. The action was furious but Antonio could see anything other than boots moving and bodies beginning to fall. When he looked at one of the bodies he saw that it was a woman.

What in the world. She is a woman but she has a tail and ears like a cat? What kind of…

Then he saw the heads of one of the archers fall to the ground. Then a shield hit the ground and he saw another of Captain Harris’s men hit the ground. The situation was getting grim. Antonio heard the door of the carriage open and he could see the golden boots of his master. The boots moved quickly and he could only hear the screams of some of the enemies.

The master must be an amazing warrior for him to have the enemy screaming. I guess that armor and sword weren’t for show after all.

Several bodies dropped in the direction of the master went towards. The battle raged on. Antonio saw another saw one of the archers hit the ground there was an arrows protruding from his eye.

There are only three people in the escort plus the master left. How long can they hold out against these superior numbers. Then again is this the moment that God was talking about? If my master dies won’t I be free? Yes… that’s it. How will I hide though? Will they leave the carriage and take the woman? Or will they find me and overwhelm with superior numbers? Dammit! Should I just take my chances and hide? Or should I help them?

Antonio clenched his fist and began sweating. Another guard fell to the ground. This time it was one of the men hold the greatswords. The battle waged on several more of the people that looked similar to animals hit the hit the ground. Next, Captain Harris’s head was hit the ground.

Shit! There is no way they are going to win this now.

Antonio heard one of the enemies grab the door to the carriage. It sounded like the Mistress was desperately struggling to hold on to the door.

“NO! STOP IT!”, screamed the Mistress.

Wait she had daggers and armor. Why isn't she fighting back? She can’t fight! Oh no! That means….. They are going to kill her or maybe worse. I have to do something. Can I win this fight? Should I even help those that have enslaved me? No I have to help.

Antonio dropped down and slid out from under the carriage as he stood up he saw about a dozen enemies that looked like a variety of different animals including wolves, foxes, and cats. All of them had either one long sword or two short swords and all of them wore leather armor.

This is going to be tough. I can’t make any mistakes.

Antonio quickly picked up the sword and shield as it was what he used when he was in the Roman army before he retired. He quickly attacked the enemies that were at the carriage door. His blade cut through the air and slashed at the wolf man who was pulling on the door. His blade went straight through the wolfman’s arms. Blood flew through the air and the wolfman howled in pain.

Critical hit

-50 (100)

While the wolfman could not defend himself, Antonio smashed his shield into the wolfman’s chest. I

-20 (80)

and severed the wolfman’s head from his shoulder.

Fatal hit

-100 (0)

Oh so depending on how I hit them the hits will do more damage or even be fatal.

The wolfman fell dead. Before he could celebrate his victory he saw the other greatswordsman fall dead. The next enemies that engaged Antonio were a set of female cat warriors they both had longswords. They slashed at Antonio but his shield defense was too good. Each attack was deflected by his kite shield. One of the cat warriors slashed her longssword at Antonio but he managed to deflect the attack upwards breaking the cat woman’s stance. Her hands were too high to defend against his attack. He thrust his sword deep into her throat.

Fatal hit

-100 (0)

As Antonio pulled the blade from the woman’s throat, the blade from the other cat warrior slashed across his leg.

-20 (80)

Damn that hurt. One attack shaved 20% of my health away. Well I guess it’s not as serious because in my world I wouldn’t have a leg anymore. These guys are strong but their skill is is low. As long as I don't lose focus this should be my win.

She swung her blade again and again and again but Antonio managed to get his balance back and defended each attack with his shield. Antonio found an opening in her attack and he smashed his shield into her face.

Dazed

-15 (90)

The enemy stopped moving and Antonio took the opportunity to he slashed straight across her throat.

Critical hit

– 80 (10)

Her body fell to the ground and Antonio stomped on her head and she died

10 (0)

You have gained the skill shield mastery

You have gained the skill sword mastery

You have gained the class warrior

With this class you will do more damage with melee weapons. Your strength and endurance will increase by an +10 for each level.

What does that mean I gained a class and what does it mean I gained skills? I can’t worry about that now, I’m in the middle of a battle.

The tale has been stolen; if detected on Amazon, report the violation.

Antonio opened the door and saw his Mistress. She saw the armed man and screamed.

“NO.. NO… NO!” screamed the Mistress

“Mistress Storm I killed the enemies who were at the door”, said Antonio.

“Antonio? Is that you?”

“Yes Mistress. I am going to help Master outside and try to protect you. Please stay inside.”

She nodded as Antonio jumped out and closed the carriage door. He picked up a bow and the quiver full of arrows he found on a dead archer and jumped on top of the carriage.

There he saw only his master who was surrounded by 7 enemies. Antonio quickly pulled back his bow and fired off an arrow. The arrow straight through the eye of one of the enemies

Fatal hit

– 80 (10)

The fox man dropped dead and Antonio fired off the remaining 3 arrows but none of the landed. He jumped down on top of another enemy.

-15 (75)

You gained the class Archer

You may only use one class at a time. Warrior is your default class if you wish to change it you will need to wait until combat is over.

You gained the skill bow mastery

I can’t worry about that right now.

While he was on top of the enemy he shoved his sword right through mouth of the enemy.

Fatal hit

-75 (0)

There were only 5 enemies left. His master nodded towards Antonio in acknowledgement of the help he had given. The two ran out to attack the group. A flurry of swords banged against Antonio’s shield. He deflected them all but one attack came from behind him.

-25 (55)

I can’t let them get behind me.

Endurance increased by 1

So I can gain endurance by taking hits? This world is crazy!

Antonio turned swinging his shield. The force of the swing smashed the enemy against the carriage causing the enemy to take damage from his shield and the impact of hitting the carriage.

-15 -10 (75)

Antonio pressed his shield against the enemy preventing them from moving and took his sword and chopped off the arm that was holding the shield.

Critical hit

- 50 (25)

Antonio then shoved the blade into the enemy’s stomach.

-25 (0)

He saw one of the enemies trying to sneak up behind his master. He immediately through his shield and it hit the back of the wolfman’s neck causing him to fall to the ground.

Dazed

-20 (150)

His health is higher than all of the others. He must be the leader.

As the shield popped up from the hitting the wolf man in the back of the head, Antonio jumped in the air and grabbed it. As he came down he dropped his knee on the spine of the wolfman. Antonio could feel a crack.

-30 (120)

Was that his ribs?

Antonio took his blade and put it through the back of the wolfman’s head.

Fatal hit

- 120 (0)

Antonio looked up and saw his master bleeding from under his armor but there were two more enemies laying down on the ground. The situation was getting even more intense with his master’s injuries but it was now 2 on 2.

“Master’s go rest I will finish this”, said Antonio as he moved in front his Master.

His master moved back and sat down on the step used to climb into the carriage. Antonio readied his shield but the enemies did not move forward. He took a step closer and they began to back away. He raised his shield and they turned and ran.

“Don’t let them get away and bring one back alive!”, screamed Master Sky

Antonio dashed off towards them. The first enemy he threw his shield at them and it hit him in the back of his head. The fox girl fell forward onto her partner and the both tumbled to the ground.

-15 (85)

Antonio ran up and picked up his shield. He slashed at the female before she could get up.

-20 (65)

The male got up and began slashing at Antonio. He carried two short swords. The blades were coming at a furious rate. Antonio was trying to attack but the attacks were coming to fast. The cat man smashed both of his swords down on Antonio’s shield.

-5 (50)

My arm is going numb from holding this shield and

withstanding all of these attacks. I’ve got to do something or I’m going to die here.

Antonio quickly thrust his sword straight through the man’s leg. The man howled in pain

-30 (70)

Antonio quickly smashed his shield into the warrior’s face opening a huge gash in his forehead. Then he finished it off with a slash across the warrior’s throat,

Combo

-20 -30 (20)

Antonio went in for the kill when the female warrior jumped in and deflected his blade from piercing the warrior’s heart. Antonio kicked her in the chest and she fell backwards.

-10 (55)

While she was on her back, Antonio pierced the chest of the male warrior killing him.

-20 (0)

Antonio went over to the woman. She dropped her weapons and tried to crawl backwards as she knew death was quickly approaching. Antonio continued to walk up to her. She stood up and began continued backpedaling but it was to no avail when she backed into a tree. She closed her eyes from the pain and before she opened them Antonio hit her in the head with the pommel of the sword knocking her unconscious.

Antonio picked her up and carried her back to the carriage where his master and mistress were.

“Master I am back”, said Antonio

“So you are. Where did you learn to fight like that? Were you a gladiator before you came here?”

I can’t tell him the truth that I was reincarnated so I guess I will go along with his story.

”Yes master.”

“I was not informed that you were a gladiator and you do not look like it as you have no scars from battle.”

“I was taught to fight using a sword and shield so I rarely took damage because I defended with my shield master.”

“We can continue this conversation at home. Tie up the prisoner and drive us back home. I need to see the doctor to get these wounds looked after. As of now you are my personal guard.”

Your slave job has increased to level 9.

You have learned the job guardian.

I guess I earned that by protecting the Master and Mistress. Now that I am closer to him, it will be more difficult to escape. Then again it will be easier to kill him. I better take some of the equipment that those guards had in order to equip myself later on.

Antonio tied up the female warrior and placed her on the seat in the front of the carriage with him then he went to the dead warriors and took all of the equipment and placed it in the compartment at the back of the carriage. Antonio jumped in the front of the carriage and turned it around and head back to the Master’s home.