Light rays bursted out and blinded me as I woke up from my overnight nap. Yes, I was comfortable enough to nap. I had already considered this as one of the best possibilities, while others might see it as the worst.

“Wake up you Quags. We’re here.” The head knight said, as the horses stomped into a massive looking mountainside. “Welcome to a hell for runaway slaves. The last departure before their execution. A literal battle arena served as execution.

The rocky mountain side had caged slaves in it, their skin charred from the rays of the sun and some were dead. Acts of cannibalism were prevalent because it was obvious these people weren’t being fed.

“Damn, my status as a slave just got worse.” I mumbled to myself in depression. I hadn’t predicted this into my calculations, nor did I predict this.

Status:

Character: Tylor Justifix

Title: Nameless ( 0 Fame )

Rank: Slave

Level: 0

Strength: 0

Vitality: 0

Agility: 0

Dexterity: 0

Intelligence: 0

Wisdom: 0

Luck: -1

Skills: ‘Being an Asshole’

More than anything I was annoyed at the last line of the menu that had just up and appeared in front of my retinas. A shadow crept over me as the horses entered the mountain asylum.

What was this strange menu? It definitely resembled a game menu from the past world that I resided in. I was a pretty big fan of games, but these stats where abhorrent to anything I’d ever seen. I even had negative luck. How…?

As strong as I was, my stats were a concrete zero, so it was safe to assume that this menu was an additive to what I already was in a physical form. I had a superior advantage, although I probably wouldn’t need it for a long time.

Confident in my abilities, I just took note of every minute detail as we made our way to the big cage that contained most of the runaway slaves. “Here is your new home until death you Quags.” The knights threw us off and departed swiftly to meet back up with Baron Roghan. The baron was on his way to the noble section of the arena.

In fact, with the light beaming in and the metal bars cascading down on the cell we were in, enough light was shining through to give us a picture of scale. The arena was huge, carved out of the mountain, there had to have been thousands of people watching this battle royale that constantly echoed on.

A massive line of slaves were lined up toward the door. Most of them were just sitting and talking, waiting for their selection to be confirmed and their death to be verified. Assessing the situation, it wouldn’t be good for Hibe and Lincoln to go out there and get killed. It would be losing progress.

“Hey guys, we need to talk.” I whispered to my buddies as we ventured off to the corner to depict the most methodical approach. “We need to get the hell out of here!” Hibe responded.

I nodded, Lincoln inputted his own reasoning, “Yeah, I say we try to take a guard hostage and take his shit.” The blonde man said with a bolt of energy through himself.

“No you shit heads! Do you see that guard over there? Armor of a veteran warrior, chainmail and plate armor, with a long two-handed beast at his fingertips. You’re out of your fucking minds! We really would be some Quags to attack someone like that barehanded. Plus they stripped us of our guard armor before throwing us in here.” I pointed down to my mere garments.

They nodded, their resolve still strong but rehabilitated from that bad suggestion Lincoln made. “I say our best luck is actually fighting in the arena and gaining the crowd’s favor.” Hibe said.

With a bit of thought, I reasoned that this might actually be my best option. Sometimes risks were just necessary to the cause. “I think you’re right Hibe. Let’s just man up and do this shit.” I put my hand in the middle as a sign of agreement.

Lincoln hesitated, “I’m not so quick to put my hand out after what happened to Reynolds, but I’m in.” After agreement had been settled, we all turned back to get in the loose line and were just biding our time.

Suddenly, a bunch of guards came through and started yelling, “Alright get yer’ asses up. We’re having a special event for the Baron. Baron Roghan has requested we serve a mosh pit arena battle between knights and you criminals. You’ll be given what you have on you to battle with. Likewise, the knights will use their personal equipment to wage war.” He had a subtle grin on his face as he spoke.

The people in the cell immediately erupted in protest. “Ehhhh!? Like hell we are! You’re asking for us to get slaughtered out there!” A large brown man bolted up and pressed his finger against the guard’s breastplate.

The guard grabbed the man by the neck, even as the brown man towered over him. “You fucking Quags have no right to protest in your situation. You’re criminals of this land! It’s only natural that you are smited for your shittyness!” The grip around the man’s neck started to crush his windpipe, as he struggled for air. The guard managed to pick him up by one arm, and killed him instantly with his grip alone, throwing him aside.

The men began cowering helplessly. The guard who had come in was a staple example of what we were up against, and yet we had no weapon to defend ourselves with. This was the opposite of fair play. I would wager that this is the equivalent of mandatory slaughter.

The only chance we had was literally forming leadership under one man’s command and strategizing a plan. The guard was generous enough to give us an ETA of fifteen minutes before the slaughter team deathmatch began.

This gave me enough time to plan, and enough time to tell Lincoln and Hibe to begin explaining how we were going to retaliate in a last ditch effort. I had effectively come up with a plan that was full proof for survival.

The fifteen minutes the guard gave were more than enough time to rally the men under my command. Tylor had an intimidating body for me to use as bravado, and my leadership was predominantly based off of what I knew from my past life and my confidence in strategy.

Once I had the men toward me, I would give a battle speech that would even scare the guard’s on duty in here. It was great to be reincarnated. It was fucking awesome. I have more power as a criminal slave runaway, than a scholar on earth. The power of the scholar so to speak.

The men all looked toward me as Lincoln and Hibe joined my side. “Men, oh my men of better stature than this! Look towards me now if you haven’t already!” I caught the rest of the gazes and even the guard’s attention. There were maybe a hundred men in this cage, all of varying size. “The knights are sure to have calvary and lances. They are sure to have spiked maces and noble swords! But I propose to you this! A strategy not only to survive...but to win!”

The room became as still as air. “As you know, it’s mostly impossible to stop a knight while unarmed, but this is not the case.” I said, giving them the rest of the briefing on the strategy. Of course, they were eager to agree to such a formidable plan.

The guard came back in with his eyes closed and began to speak, “Alright you Quags, your death date has arr-” He opened his eyes to be met with eyes of determination, organized by three young men. He saw Hibe short and stout at my left, and the tall and blonde Lincoln at my right. In the middle, with my arms crossed, I became an intimidating presence in the room. It was obvious something had changed since he had left.

He immediately looked toward the guards who were supposed to inform him of schemery, but they were dead against the walls, and the three in front had saddled their armor and swords onto their persons. I could only smile at this beautiful situation. He had pissed his pants!

“That’s right, we killed your guards. We owe you no hospitality because you gave us none to begin with. Calling us Quags from birth and treating us like dog shit is about to bite you in the ass. Now go get your buddies before we kill you too.” I spat in his face.

“Why you impudent Quag!” He exploded, his sword came from its holster, but Lincoln grabbed his wrist and I grabbed him by the neck and raised him in the air as I choked him almost to death. “Now, run along to your men before I avenge the man you killed with a smile on your face.” I threw him out of the cage, as he ran across the sand to the other side of the arena in absolute fear.

The crowd of people were absolutely enraged at his cowardness, and went silent at the sight of the Quags who were calm and collected walking out of their cell. It was an absolute uproar. The persecuted Quags stood at the center of the arena, and at the forefront was none other than I, Tylor Justifix.

Baron Roghan rose from his seat and stood almost petrified. He couldn’t believe this display of foolery. He looked toward the head knight that I had just strangled and gave a thumbs down to him, signalling that he should end us. The knight nodded, putting on his knight helm and mounting his horse. He had regained some confidence behind his armor and men.

I stood there with a surging confidence with my arms crossed. The wind was flowing through my hair, and the men behind me stood tall and bold with an arrogance that was absolutely crushing.

The knights were saddled up and they readied themselves to begin the death parade. A hawk veered in the air, as I strode out closer to the group of knights with Lincoln and Hibe. Likewise, as a courtesy, three knights came out to greet us. Of the three knights was the head knight who I had just strangled earlier.

“Do you have any last words before I slaughter you and your militia of Quags?” He sneered.

“I could have a few, but they definitely wouldn’t be my last. I was just coming to tell you how you’re going to die, but I just changed my mind. I’ll tell you while I’m killing you. Yeah, some of my men are going to die, and they’ve resolved themselves with that fact, but if we don’t all want to be slaughtered by this clearly unfair match, sacrifices must be made. At the end of this though, you shall know my name and the Baron will be irrefutably embarrassed at this outrage. So much so, that I might even take your spot as head knight you ugly fuck.” I unsheathed my sword part way.

“Now, turn around back to your pussy army before I cut you down here. I don’t trust that you ‘noble’ knights won’t stab me in the back because I am a Quag. If you think I’m bluffing, I’ll strangle you again.” I smiled.

The two knights looked at the head knight after a moment of silence. It was clear the head knight was intimidated and sweating under his full helm. “Let’s go. We should have never listened to this Quag. They are all talk and no act! Let us cut them down in the field of battle.” He turned his horse around before looking back at me.

“Tell me your name, and I shall tell you mine.” He said, as the knights returned to the party.

“I am Tylor Justifix, clear conscious and strong-willed. If you are not dead by the end of this, you shall hear my name from every corner of these lands.” I squinted.

“Then...Tylor. I am Sir Roland, the wise. I am a favored knight among courtiers and am of noble stature. I’ll see to it you meet the grave on this day.” He turned and steadied himself, walking back to the group of knights.

We returned to my hundred men. “There are about twenty knights. Let us claim victory. I promise you freedom, or even refuge under my command if you live through this. I assure that today we will make history!” I raised my sword stolen from the guard into the air and initiated a war cry amongst the men. They screamed in a raucous tone, shaking the knights in their boots.

Baron Roghan was clearly pissed, and wanted to finish off this display of hope torn to shreds. He gave the initial go to the knights and Quags. Raising his hands, and dropping them to commence the battle. The sound of warhorns around the colosseum powered through the air. The mountain colosseum and the people in it were in an uproar.

The sound of calvary and men charging enthralled the men and women in the seats. A strong tide of wind carried a strange destiny on this day. Something told Baron Roghan that he was about to see something unprecedented. He was afraid of this wind of fortune, but also excitingly invigorated by the splendor of the knights and the arrogance of the Quags.