Three lizardmen stood in a tight triangular formation.
The one riding the Water Lizard carried a bow on his hand , while the two lizardmen on foot stood on either side of him, each holding a long spear and a shield in front.
It was a dangerous formation.
If I charged straight at them, the archer could fire at me while the two spearmen blocked Rusty's path.
And even if Rusty managed to break through, their shields would protect them from a direct attack.
I didn't have the strength for a prolonged fight.
I needed to escape.
The archer suddenly drew an arrow from his quiver.
The moment he pulled the bowstring back, I moved.
I yanked Rusty's reins to the side.
Rusty immediately changed direction, accelerating through the shallow swamp water.
I deliberately turned my back toward them.
The only attack I needed to worry about from this distance was the arrow.
My Sensory Field spread around me.
I could sense the movement behind me.
They were following.
The Water Lizard was faster through the swamp than the two lizardmen on foot, and soon it moved ahead of them.
The archer remained on its back, while the two spearmen chased behind.
An arrow suddenly flew toward me.
I sensed it before it reached me.
I swung my spear backward.
The axe blade attached to its side struck the arrow out of the air.
A sharp metallic sound rang through the swamp.
Rusty continued running.
Arrows didn't stop.
I can't keep this up.
The Water Lizard was built for this environment.
If I continued running in a straight line, they would eventually catch me.
I needed a plan.
Then I noticed something.
The archer's quiver was becoming lighter.
He was shooting quickly, but he wasn't firing as frequently as before.
He's running low.
I immediately changed the grip on my spear from my right hand to my left.
Ahead of me stood a thick tree.
Perfect.
As Rusty approached it, I lowered my body.
The moment we passed the tree, I swung my spear.
The axe blade struck the trunk.
CRACK!
The blade buried itself deep into the wood.
Holding the spear.
Without slowing down, I pulled Rusty's reins sharply.
Rusty changed direction, making a wide circle around the tree.
The Water Lizard and its rider rushed past the other side.
For a moment, the archer lost sight of me.
That was enough.
I drew my sword.
The two spearmen were still running toward me.
The first one was shocked by sudden move but it is already recovering from the sudden change in direction.
I closed the distance before he could properly raise his spear.
My sword swung downward.
THUD!
The blade struck his head and buried itself deep.
His body collapsed into the swamp.
The second lizardman finally recovered.
He raised his spear and thrust toward me.
I moved before he could complete the attack.
My left hand reached toward my belt.
I drew one of my butterfly knives.
Then I threw it.
The lizardman raised his shield, blocking my attack.
I immediately stepped backward.
My spear was still lodged in the tree, and my sword was buried in the lizardman's head.
The archer was already changing direction.
I had to act quickly.
Before the spearman could recover, I tightened my grip on Rusty's reins with my left hand and drove him forward.
Rusty lowered his head and charged straight toward the lizardman.
At the last moment, I released my grip on the sword.
As Rusty crashed into his shield, the lizardman staggered from the impact.
I was already above him.
I drew my butterfly knife and drove it straight down into the top of his head.
The blade struck him directly.
His body went limp.
He collapsed beside his companion.
But before I could pull my knife free—
**FWOOSH!**
An arrow tore through the air toward me.
I threw myself sideways from Rusty's back and landed in the shallow swamp.
My hand immediately reached for the shield lying beside the dead lizardman and my sword on it's head .
I grabbed it and raised it just as another arrow came flying toward me.
I pulled it up just as another arrow arrived.
CLANG!
The arrow struck the shield and bounced away.
I crouched behind it.
The archer was already preparing another shot.
He's still too far away.
I waited.
The bowstring tightened.
I watched his movements through the gaps around the shield.
Then—
FWOOSH!
Another arrow.
I kept the shield between us.
CLANG!
It struck the shield again.
I immediately moved forward.
The archer began drawing another arrow.
I advanced.
He fired.
I crouched behind the shield.
CLANG!
Another impact.
I kept moving.
He reached for another arrow.
I was getting closer.
He fired again.
This time, the arrow struck the shield with enough force to push it backward.
I felt the impact travel through my arm.
But I didn't stop.
I took another step.
The archer's eyes widened.
He realized how close I had gotten.
He quickly reached for another arrow.
I tightened my grip on the shield.
One more.
He drew the bowstring.
I raised the shield.
The arrow flew.
THUNK!
It pierced through the edge of the shield.
Blood suddenly dripped into the swamp.
I looked down.
The arrow had gone through the shield and grazed my arm.
But by then...
I was already within striking distance.