Rescue

by R. A. Mejia

  I practice all the unarmed combos the Lanista has shown me. Jab-right cross. Jab-jab-cross. Jab-hook-knee. Front kick-jab-hook. After I’m warmed up, I start testing my newly-purchased abilities.

  I test out [Dodge] using the rotating mannequin with the ball and chain, a special piece of equipment that’s used to practice attacking and blocking. It’s a wooden man with a shield on one arm and a ball-and-chain weapon on the other arm. There is a pivot joint in the mannequin’s waist that lets it spin around. You hit the shield, and the ball and chain come at you from the other side. You’re supposed to learn how to quickly switch between attack and defense while using a shield, but I’m using it to test out this new passive [Dodge] ability. The details say that I’m 10% more likely to dodge, which can mean anything for all I know so far, so I start out with a slow push on the shield, forcing the ball and chain to come spinning at me from the other direction. It’s not going fast, and I take a step back to avoid it. I don’t feel anything happening, but maybe that’s cause it’s passive? Still, I continue the testing. After hitting the shield a bit harder and thus speeding up the attack from the ball and chain, I have to actually make some effort to avoid being hit. Out of about fifteen dodges, I think I feel a slight push once or twice when I nearly failed to avoid the attack. I don’t suppose there’s really any way to test an added 10% chance to dodge without having a baseline set of data already prepared. So, I move on to testing [Sidestep].

  At a cost of 10 mana and no cooldown, I can use [Sidestep] six times in a row at my current mana pool of 69. I kick the shield on the rotating mannequin, and as the ball and chain approach, I activate [Sidestep]. Instantly, I feel the draw on my mana pool and find myself one step to the left. From my point of view, it actually looks like the training dummy moved to the right. But none of that matters because the ball and chain are still in motion and hit me in the head.

  Damage received: 1

  The stupid notification doesn’t help me feel better as I rub my face. Even if the ball on the end of that chain is wooden, it still smarts when it swings right into your face. I try the experiment again, only this time, I’m hit in the head much sooner since the ability sends me one step to my right, practically into the oncoming ball and chain.

  I continue on with my tests and after getting hit too many times, I figure out two things. One, in addition to the direction of the step being chosen for me, there’s also no way for me to predict which way [Sidestep] will send me. I’ve gone left, then right. Then left, left, left. Then left, right, left. It really does seem random and entirely unpredictable. The second thing I’ve learned is that, since I always move to my right or left regardless of where an enemy is, I have to very carefully consider lines of attack when using the skill. If I’m being attacked with a vertical attack, then facing it directly and activating [Sidestep] will get me out of the way. But facing a horizontal attack head on and using [Sidestep] won’t, unless I use it multiple times in a row. Even then, because of the randomness, it might just drop me back where I started.

  Next on my agenda is to test my new [Shadow Clone] ability, but before I can, I hear Lanista Lucanus yell, “Armon, what are you doing up this early training? The staff is complaining about the noise this early in the morning.”

  I wave to the Lanista as he walks over and try to explain about my plan to improve my survivability in the Colosseum by getting abilities that help me dodge attacks. I list the abilities I purchased in the marketplace, but when I’m done, the Lanista looks kind of mad. I don't understand why he’s so irate. I would have thought he’d be happy that I got some new abilities.

  Lanista Lucanus growls, “So, you fell for the Shadow Clone sales pitch? Did they tell you how broken the ability is?” He takes a breath and seems to calm. “I’m sorry, Armon. I’m not angry at you, but at those thieves in the marketplace. If you’d talked to me before you went there, I could have warned you about the Shadow Clone ability. It’s common knowledge that it’s a scam. Salesmen tell you it’s a rare ability, but what they don’t tell you is how quickly the clone disappears, how weak it is, or how you’ll lose 10% of your stats when it dies or if you can’t pay the mana upkeep cost.”

  When I think about how close I came to losing eight stat points, a shiver runs down my spine. That’s almost two levels worth of stats. It would have been terrible.

  The Lanista snaps his fingers to get my attention. “Armon, please promise me that you won’t use that ability again, especially not in a fight.”

  I quickly promise the Lanista not to use [Shadow Clone]. I excuse myself and promise to return later. For now, I head home to meet up with Sonya.

  Chapter 33

  After returning to the house, Sonya and I make the trip to the Colosseum so that she can accept the challenges from ‘Killer’ Kyle and 'Myrmidon' Myers. Despite the obvious trap, she is determined to beat the living snot out of the two in front of a huge audience. I understand how she feels and plan to lay some smack down on the two myself.

  Returning home, I give Vrax the list of abilities and skills we found at the market. He chooses to buy just about every active dodge ability that I couldn’t, including [Leap], [Spring], [Bolt], and [Ghost Step]. Additionally, he buys [Thrust], a spear ability. A quick look at Vrax’s companion page, and it shows me that he has 175 stamina. I’m honestly a little jealous that he has the energy to use all those abilities in the same fight.

  It only takes an hour to get Vrax the abilities he’s requested. After, we decide to swing by the Familia to let Lanista Lucanus who we’re fighting next, but when we get there, he’s waiting with two pieces of paper in his hand.

  “Anyone care to explain why you did the thing that I advised you not to do?”

  The three of us look at one another, worried that the Lanista actually looks angry. It’s Vrax that plucks up the courage to tell the Lanista. At least, that’s what I assume he’d have done when I take a step back and almost yell, “Vrax has something to tell you.”

  Vrax looks back at me and scowls, but he faces the Lanista bravely. “We got tricked.” The following explanation is surprisingly eloquent, and there’s a hint of a tear in the corner of the Lanista’s eye as Vrax finishes his story.

  “So, you’re not going to be a father?” he asks me, wide-eyed. I really wish Vrax hadn’t included that part, but I can’t be mad since it is part of the story.

  “No, sir. I’m not. But our bigger concern is preparing to beat these guys,” I say.

  He nods and hands some papers to me and Vrax. “You two don’t have much time to prepare either.”

  I look down at the slip of paper and read it. I have a match scheduled with ‘Killer’ Kyle in five days and another with ‘Myrmidon’ Myers in seven. “Well, it could be worse, I suppose. I have a match in five days.”

  Vrax looks up at me and nods. “Yes. You could have match tomorrow and the day after.”

  I look at my friend as he hands me his slip of paper and confirm that he already has a scheduled match with ‘Myrmidon’ Myers tomorrow and another with ‘Killer’ Kyle a few days later.

  Lanista Lucanus looks angry again, but this time, it’s not directed at us. “Those dirty cheats must have paid someone off to get a match scheduled so quickly. I’d always suspected they operate in such a dishonorable way, but this is just too convenient to not be proof. I mean, how does the administration expect you to train for the match when you only have a day?”

  Vrax puffs up and pounds on his chest. “I no weakling. I give a good fight.”

  I sit on my heels so that I’m eye level with Vrax. “Yeah, buddy. I know you’ll fight hard, but these guys are going to pull out every trick to score a victory.”

  Vrax considers my words. “Then I be bait, and you can learn how to fight them better.” He turns to the Lanista and asks, “What happens if I lose?”

  “Nothing really. Since they’re the ones that challenged you, they put up the initial hundred gladiator points. You’re already ranked at the top of the Copper Level
. You may lose a little in the rankings there, but that doesn’t matter as long as you still have the gladiator points to challenge someone at the Silver Level. They’re the ones risking their rank at the Silver Level if they lose.”

  “Which is why they target low-risk newcomers,” Sonya mutters as she punches her hand in frustration.

  The explanation makes Vrax’s comment about being bait make sense. He can help us see exactly what we’re in store for. It’ll be like scouting out the opposing team before a big football game. “I don’t like the idea of using you as bait, but since you’ll have to fight anyways, we’ll make the most out of the situation.”

  Vrax nods. “Yip. When life gives you mushrooms, make mushroom soup.”

  “Mushrooms? Isn’t that supposed to be lemons?”

  “What a lemon?”

  I shake my head, realizing lemons might not exist here. “Never mind. Lets get some training done.”

  _______________

  The day of his match with Myers, I escort Vrax to the Colosseum. Even though it’s only on paper, Vrax is my ‘slave,’ and I need to bring him to the Colosseum for his fight. Sonya can’t come with me since she’s not Vrax’s owner, but she promises to be watching from the stands.

  We wake up early, eat a breakfast of porridge, and are out the door by the time the sun is rising. The city is pretty quiet this early, and it only takes us an hour to get to the Colosseum. We walk up to the multistory structure, and I can’t help but smile excitedly as we walk up to one of the entrances. The attendant on duty directs the two of us to a side entrance the gladiators use, and a guard checks our credentials before letting us walk down the stairs that lead to the rooms set aside for the gladiators.

  The stone steps lead down to a cool, dark hallway that follows the curve of the Colosseum. It leads to a large underground level of the structure where slaves are already working tirelessly to prepare for the day’s matches. We continue to follow the curved hallway until we reach a long room. Light enters from arched windows along the top of the walls near the ceiling that look into the Colosseum itself, and along the back walls are wooden cubbies for competitors to store their gear or supplies. There are a few other gladiators practicing with their weapons, but much of the room is empty. I peek out the windows and am stunned by the sheer size of the Colosseum. Even from this limited view, I can see that the area the gladiators fight on is at least as big as a professional football field. The empty seats surrounding the field reach up four stories.

  I feel a tug at my tunic and look to my side to see Vrax. “Let me see.” I realize that he’s too short to see through the windows properly, so I put him on my shoulders, and he yips happily at being able to see the Colosseum.

  Laughter from somewhere down the long room catches my attention, and a man in heavy armor points at us. “That’s a new fighting style, isn’t it, boys? Together, the two of them are almost the size of a normal gladiator. Maybe that’s their secret technique?” The few other fighters in the room chuckle at the joke. Vrax hisses and climbs down my shoulders to the floor.

  The man in the heavy armor comes closer, and I can see a smile on his face. He holds out a gauntleted hand. “Hello. I’m sorry if my joke offended, but we tend to give the new guys a bit of a hard time. No offense meant. I’m Tony.”

  Shaking Tony’s hand, I ask, “How could you tell we were new?”

  He nods up at the window. “Only new fighters are still impressed by the sight from here.”

  I look at the other gladiators and note that they’re focused on their weapons or warming up.

  “So, who are you fighting today?” Tony asks.

  “I’m not actually fighting anyone. My friend Vrax here is.”

  Tony gives me a curious look, then his gaze falls down to my kobold brood brother. “You mean the lizard guy? Isn’t he your slave?”

  Realizing my error, I quickly amend, “Yes, sorry. I’m not originally from around here, and I sometimes mix up my Imperial words. I meant, my slave is fighting today. He’s fighting Myers.”

  The sounds of people practicing with their weapons stops and everyone looks at the two of us with pity. Tony shakes his head sadly. “I’m sorry that you got matched up with that guy. He and ‘Killer’ Kyle give gladiators a bad name.”

  Without further explanation, he walks away to talk to the other fighters.

  A few hours pass. More people start to arrive, and the seats in the Colosseum start to fill up. To pass the time, I pull up Vrax’s character sheet. I still have access to a version of it since he’s my companion.

  Vrax Lvl 6

  XP to level: 1364

  Health: 100

  Stamina: 177

  Mana: 44

  Skills: Sneak - Beginner 5, Knife Mastery - Beginner 3, Search - Novice 8 , Track - Novice 8, Herbalism: Novice 4, Sword Mastery: Beginner 1, Sling: Novice 8, Unarmed Combat: Novice 7, Trapping: Novice 5, Spear: Novice 6

  Abilities: Backstab, Hamstring, Leap, Ghost Step, Spring, Bolt, Thrust

  Spells: None

  A trumpet blasts a short time later, and the start of the day’s events begins. The first warm up event is a mock battle between two groups of two. The pairs wear no armor and only use wooden weapons, but their skills are still top notch. They attack and defend almost in the same motion, and it looks like a well-choreographed ballet. One group eventually wins, and more music plays, signifying the end of the match. Vrax, as the newest member of the Silver-Level fighters, is called up for his match next.

  Before he goes, I pat him on the back and tell him, “Good luck, Vrax. You do the best you can. I’ll be watching from here.” He only nods once before he walks out of the room. I see him reappear on the Colosseum floor a few minutes later. He’s dressed in minimal armor, only a thin leather chest piece, but he carries a spear twice his height and a small shield.

  A large door opens up across the stadium, and a rider in white armor bearing a long lance and riding a white horse comes galloping out. He takes a lap around the Colosseum floor, waving at the crowd as he does so. They cheer as he passes.

  The announcer calls out, “Today’s starting match will pit a reigning Silver-Level member against a new contender. It’s 'Myrmidon' Myers versus the terrible lizard, Vrax!”

  The crowd cheers for Myers and boos for Vrax. But my friend doesn’t take his eyes off his opponent. Myers trots his horse to the opposite side of the field, and Vrax takes his first steps towards Myers.

  The announcer continues, “This match will feature two separate disadvantages purchased by 'Myrmidon' Myers. The first is the bell suit. A dead give away for any of the sneakier gladiators, it’s designed to ring and jingle anytime the wearer moves. The second disadvantage is the hobble, a simple rope that is tied around the wearer’s waist with the other end of the rope being secured to the ground. The wearer must use precious seconds to cut their way through the rope and free themselves.”

  A group of slaves in collars and white tunics enters the field and puts the bells on Vrax and ties a rope around his waist.

  Next to me, in the gladiator waiting area, Tony says, “See, this is why those guys give us a bad name. Using such dirty tricks on newbies. They don’t even give them a chance to learn the ropes before using disadvantages.”

  I knew going into the match things would be stacked in Myer’s favor, but I never expected this.

  Still, Vrax doesn’t seem to mind the bells or the rope at his waist. Instead, he bangs the spear in his right hand against the shield in in his left. The steady beat seems to get the crowd charged up and slowly, then they start to stomp their feet in rhythm with Vrax’s banging.

  The announcer says, “Oh, it looks like the crowd is getting restless. But now that the detriments have been handed out, the match will begin in 3 . . . 2 . . . 1 . . . Go!”

  Vrax immediately drops the spear in his right hand and reaches around his back to grab the stone knife tucked there. He begins to saw through the rope tying him down, but it’s too thick to cut through wit
h a single swipe of his blade. While he’s sawing through it, Myers lowers his head, drops his lance, and digs his heels into his horse. The mighty beast snorts and prances around before landing on the ground with a mighty thud. The pale equine then digs its hoofs into the ground and charges from across the field. It’s more than a football field away, but that only gives Vrax seconds to free himself.

  I hear myself yelling, “Hurry! Cut the rope! Hurry!” But my own voice is only one of many that are screaming. Myers hugs the curved wall of the Colosseum, coming at Vrax from an angle and thus extending the time my brood brother has by a fraction of a second. But that fraction of a second is all the time my friend needs as his knife finally cuts through the restraints tying him down. The sound of ringing bells accompanies his desperate dive out of the way of the thunderous hooves of Myer’s horse. The charge passes through the space Vrax once occupied, and the horse and its rider continue on past. When the dust begins to settle, the crowd boos. But I cheer. My friend is lying on the field, unhurt. I realize that he likely used one of his new abilities to move so quickly and am happy he purchased them. Vrax gets back on his clawed feet and quickly checks himself for injuries. Finding none, he turns around to get his dropped spear, only to find that it’s been crushed to tiny pieces by the horse’s hooves.