Chapter 4. Khandaq
1163 Words
Jim remained in his prison cell, the cold stone walls offering little comfort, He has been languishing in that place for five days . Today was the day—the day the Neiter forces would descend upon Byre Town. He exhaled heavily, staring at the faint sliver of daylight creeping through the barred window. He could only hope that Klax and his men were prepared.
Suddenly, a chime echoed in his mind, followed by a series of glowing notifications.
[level up 10]
[Intelligence increase +3]
[You get point: 5]
Before he could process that, another notification appeared.
[Pastoralist skill experience increases]
[Pastoralist [Unique] [Active] Lvl 2 (250/500)]
[you have gained 1000 Gold]
Jim’s brows furrowed in confusion.
"What on earth...? I haven’t done a thing, yet my level has increased, my Pastoralist skill has advanced, and I’ve suddenly acquired gold?"
His pulse quickened. He quickly summoned his status screen.
“status”
[Status]
Name. : Jim Slavn
level: 10
Age. : 25 years
Gender. : Male
Race. : Resurrected Human
Job. : Historian
: Fort Guard
Title. : -
Gold. : 1100 G
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[Abilities]
Vitality. : 14
Strength. : 13
Agility. : 12
Intelligence: 20
Luck. : 8
Mage. : 0
Unallocated points: 15
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[Skill]
Pastoralists [Unique] [Active] : Lvl 2 (250/500)
Allows the user to perceive the status, history, and all available information of any object or entity touched.
Guardian [passive] : lvl 1 (0/100)
All ability attributes are increased by 200% when protecting something of great importance.
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Jim rubbed his chin, deep in thought. Could it be...?
"Is this because the trench Klax ordered has been completed?"
His mind raced as he pieced together the logic behind his sudden gains.
"If my knowledge as a history teacher applies to this world, then any strategy I suggest must have real-world consequences, which in turn rewards me."
A grin slowly spread across his face.
"Of course! I based the trench strategy on the ancient battle tactic used in the War of Khandaq—an Arab strategy where defenders dug a deep trench before a fortress gate, filling it with hidden spikes and covering it with foliage. The idea was simple: enemy cavalry, charging at full speed, would be caught unawares and fall into the trap."
Jim chuckled to himself
"They say history should never be forgotten… seems that saying is proving quite useful after all—bwehehehe."
He clenched his fists.
"I must apply everything I know from my old world in order to survive in this one."
••••
Elsewhere, in front of the Byre Town gates. The sky above was grey and heavy, thick with restless clouds. A tense atmosphere settled over the town’s defenders.
Standing before the fortress gates, Captain Klax Forterr surveyed the defensive lines with a keen eye. The trench, now completed, stretched menacingly in front of the gate. A soldier approached him hesitantly.
“Captain, the trench has been dug as you ordered,” he reported. “If I may ask… what is its purpose?”
Klax folded his arms, eyes never leaving the horizon. “I’m not entirely sure if it will work, but I trust the one who suggested it.” His lips curled into a knowing smile.
He turned to the assembled troops.
“Form ranks! The main force will remain behind the gates. Archers, take your positions on the walls!"
"Aye, Captain!” the soldiers chorused.
Moments later, a distant tremor rippled through the ground. The enemy had arrived.
From the horizon, a sea of Neiter warriors emerged—hundreds strong, their banners rippling in the cold wind. The bulk of their force consisted of cavalry, their horses galloping in perfect synchrony, kicking up a cloud of dust as they surged forward.
Klax watched their approach with unwavering confidence.
"Jim… your knowledge has already changed the tides of this battle. I will make sure you are freed today."
Meanwhile, in prison, Jim paced anxiously. His gut twisted with unease.
"The Neiter army must be attacking by now… my family, my comrades—will they be safe?"
He clenched his jaw. There must be something I can do…
Then, an idea struck him.
"If fate is out of my control, then I’ll tip the scales in my favour."
A wicked grin spread across his face.
“Let’s see if luck is truly on my side.”
With a single thought, he allocated all his unspent points into Luck.
[Luck increase +15]
[Luck : 23]
Jim let out a boisterous laugh.
"There’s a saying—smart people lose to lucky ones!"
A new notification blinked before him.
[Notice]
[Because you have allocated all your points to Luck, you have acquired a new Title and Skill.]
[Title: Tsutomu Yamaguchi]
[Skill]
Yamaguchi [Passive] : lvl 1 [0/100]
*Any calamity that suddenly befalls you will miraculously miss. This effect activates up to twice per day.
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[Historical Reference]
Tsutomu Yamaguchi was a man who survived not one, but two nuclear bombings in Japan, making him one of the luckiest people in history.
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Jim's eyes widened. He burst out laughing.
"Incredible! Just by maxing out my Luck, I’ve been gifted the fortune of a man who defied nuclear annihilation!"
He smirked.
"Let’s see what fate has in store for me now."
••••
Back on the Battlefield
The moment had come.
The Neiter cavalry thundered towards the town, their commander laughing in arrogance.
“CHARGE, YOU DOGS! THEY’RE TOO AFRAID TO EVEN FACE US!”
The air was thick with anticipation. Klax held his breath.
"Hold… hold… NOW!"
A deafening c***k rang out as the Neiter cavalry plummeted into the trench. Horses screamed, soldiers tumbled—chaos erupted.
Klax grinned.
"Jim… your strategy is brilliant."
He wasted no time.
“ARCHERS! FIRE AT WILL!”
A rain of arrows descended upon the trapped Neiter troops, slaughtering them before they could recover.
The surviving cavalry, dazed and leaderless, attempted to retreat—only to be met by Klax’s own cavalry, cutting them down with ruthless efficiency.
The battlefield soon fell silent. The enemy was routed.
The soldiers of Byre erupted in cheers.
“Victory! The captain has led us to victory!”
Klax, however, remained cautious. “Hold your celebrations. Ensure the enemy is truly gone.”
News of the crushing defeat reached Major Sveint, the Neiter commander overseeing the invasion.
The old man’s face contorted with fury. He slammed his fist against the wooden table.
“WHAT?! We were defeated… at Byre?!”
A trembling messenger nodded. “Captain Gressee and his men… they were utterly annihilated, sir.”
Sveint’s lips curled into a sneer. “Gressee, you useless frog. Even a toad could have won that battle.”
His eyes burned with cold malice.
“Release the flying monsters.”
A cruel chuckle escaped his lips.
“Frogs will always be food for eagles.”
His laughter echoed ominously.
“Let’s see how they fare against fire from above."
- Writer
