This was much much more annoying than Adam thought.
The "techinque" was very simple.
Too simple to be called a technique even, just one move.
But, for some reason he just could not get it right.
He trained at home, with nothing but his sword and a book opened on the table.
Swinging and swinging and reading the manual.
For hours sometimes, leaving breaks for food and shopping.
But it just did not feel better. Every swing was almost the same.
Training session did helped more, but still not much.
Physical strength was important, experience with attacking others was useful and Grant watching his every attempt was giving him at least any feedback.
Like how his hips are not in the right position.
Orientation of the feet.
Hands, legs ,body and every other part of his body.
But it was still...missing something.
Every strike was still shaky, every one was different.
And the best test for that was the next gate.
This time Marcus was already waiting with a group of unknown people.
"Hey man" They shook hands "Who are they" Adam looked over his shoulder
"Oh well. You remember last...time"
"Yes. I do"
"So the amazing System decided to 're-draft' more soldiers"
"oh finally. I thought we would have to this s**t cut down again"
"Yeaa....I just hope they`re useful"
Ben and the remaining squad members arrived later, most of them in rough shape.
However, still in a pretty good mood and excited for the fight
"So " Marcus started the briefing "We are not doing the barricade again"
*nods of agreement* the 7 "veteran" soldiers agreed
*shakes of confusion* the 5 "newbies" had no idea what was that about
"Instead we are charging the archers from the flanks. Since last time Adam could just....avoid the shields we assume that we can try that again"
[Wave 1 will begin now]
"Alright Alright. New guys - with me. Rest - flank`em. GO GO GO" Marcus started to gather everyone quickly
A gate opened and again, goblins appeared.
Similar to last time- Archers and shields.
Adam nodded to Ben and they came together onto the side.
The goblin commander came out and immediately screamed out, and shields went down and bows were drawn.
However the soldiers were already on their way, coming up from far sides and converging on the archers back
Goblin leader panicked and screached out
*KITEE KITEEE KITEEE* while beating up the archers with his hands.
The arrows flew, well some of them since archers in the middle didn`t have any line of sight so they tried to move away, but well... they could only back away from the shield goblins.
Adam charged in, blocking his vulnerable parts with his left arm and preparing to strike with the other.
An arrow hit, bounced off and the owner of it got hit back.
And then the next one nearby.
Quick strike after another, trained a thousand times by now, it was not even slowed down by their flesh.
Ben next to him was doing fine too, crashing into the archers and slowing down the shields.
*fwoosh swish* archers with now no blocking allies started sniping.
One blocked one hit, Adam couldn`t stop.
Slash and thrust, another pair down.
At this point the formation was broken down.
6 soldiers at the back destroying the enemies, 6 getting the melee goblin`s attention.
It was easy, but at some point Adam started to fight swords instead of shields and bows.
and small flashbacks from last "encounter" showed up, making Adam angrier.
So now, each strike was as heavy as possible to make it impossible to just deflect.
And it worked. More and more goblins died and finally, the last one surviving was the enemy commander backed out to the gate
[Wave 1 completed]
[Wave 2 will begin now]
"Regroup. To me squad" Marcus raised his commanding sword high adn gathered his squad again.
Goblins came out.
Shields again.
Archers again.
and the next addition to the group - 4 goblins armed with scimitars,shields and light leather-iron armor . Well leather armor with bits of scraps attached to it.
"Same tactic men. Newbies be careful"
"AWOO" the "veteran" squad shouted out and prepared for battle
The enemy archers shot out instantly over the shield soldiers, not giving time to run around them.
"MOVE IN THREES" Marcus shouted while all the squad covered their weak parts with the armor and swords.
Adam grabbed his buddy and some other guy and moved slowly forward.
Every reload was an occasion to move a few steps and then wait and bear with the arrows.
But they finally got to the flanks.
Just to be met with the new breed of warrior goblins, who were more than happy to meet the human counterparts.
Adam bashed him as usual, but the shield blocked him.
Counter from the scimitar but blocked by the leg.
"Ah I see" Adam grinned "So that`s how they wanna play"
Kick to push the goblin away and another try.
Manuals words slipped through his mind.
Position, sword up and down with the foot.
*DOOOONNNGGGGG*
The scimitar goblin got shocked and the vibration from the strike were almost visible on him.
And then another one. and another. Every time the goblin tried to attack, he got kicked in the stomach and then struck by the sword
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHH" By the forth strike Adam shouted and destroyed the shield and the goblin behind.
Panting and sweating, he looked up to see a line of arrows pointed at him.
So he ran. trying to block or dodge or at least get him somewhere safe, but the fight got to him already. Few minor scratches, one decent arrow and the tiredness of killing goblins was enough to make him painfully slow.
But as more and more arrows flew at him, the slower they came.
Goblins ran out of them simply.
That was the moment.
*Swish swoosh* and the heads were separated after another painfully slow process.
Finally, the sweaty metal man came to a goblin who was fighting the new guys.
*tap tap*
The goblin turned around just to be struck both from the front and in the back.
"he he" the new soldier panted in somewhat shocked and happy way "thanks man"
"ey.. *pants* no problem" and Adam went to the next one.
And again. the last surviving goblin was the commander.
"Who gets him this time" Adam sat down
"You know what" others did the same "This sounds like the commanders honor"
"Yea yea. you know, leader fight"
" I don`t.... Guys .... C`mon" Marcus backed off while having no trouble breathing or signs of blood on him
"You`ll be fine man. Go"
"GO"
"GO GO GO"
the squad started to push him towards the standard wielding goblin
"Fine" Marcus assumed a fancy fencing position "I`ll show you how its done"
And after his one strike, injuring the goblin`s shoulder, the flag pole got really quickly stuck in his.
"HA. Loser" Adam stood up, ripped the flag pole out and threw it away "Watch me"
Slowly and surely. he came to the enemy. And performed the one thing he could do well.
[Wave 2 completed]
[Monsters killed : 61/61]
[Civilians survived 12/12]
[Most kills achieved : Low Ranking Soldier Adam]
[Rewards will be given out shortly]
"WOOOO" the newbies this time shouted in relief
"WOOOOO " and so did the veterans, although they were much more excited and happy than relieved.
Again they left and Adam went home. But this time not angry he got blocked or mad that he`s weak. No
Today he finally noticed the problem. Both today and last time the problem was the same.
Stamina.
All this time. The technique was almost perfect. His strength was well beyond the goblins. He could block the strikes with his armor and swords. Cuts were almost meaningless.
But the running, dodging and fighting for longer? Especially in almost full plate armor?
And while in danger of dying from multiple sources. Crazy.