Forged Destiny [Book 2: Ch. 3]

He blocked my first blow, but seemed utterly unprepared for the Strength behind it. He was an Archer, but clearly nowhere near as strong as Coco. A Soldier Caste member relegated from the Hero Caste and now turned to a life of crime. The figure's face was shrouded by fog but I caught his snarl as he tried to push the sword aside and cut across my neck with a short sword held in his other hand.

I slammed the edge of my shield into his wrist before he could. Bone cracked and he cried out in pain, only to go silent as I repeated it once more, this time to face. He slumped to the deck, unconscious.

—Forged Destiny [Book 2: Ch. 3]