There were two dozen of us of various builds and races. Some possessed characteristics that were out of place. They were human but had racial traits I was unaware of. The World Group Incorporated was strict on genetic purity, while the Global State Corporation heavily engineered its soldiers. More so than the Coalition was willing to push. Still, these people were of races I needed to be more knowledgeable about. One of the guard warriors placed a crate on the ground. From it, he retrieved circular devices. It was evident what the device was. A slave collar or something similar. A telling bit of information about the land I was in. Nowhere on my Earth was something as rudimentary as collars were needed. We were slaves to the surviving nations that formed the three new superpowers. World wars three and four had lived up to our expectations of death. Although the final great war made all four world wars look like petty skirmishes.
I stood silently as the warriors attached the collars to the unsuspecting candidates. There were no technical or technological features to the slave collar. I didn't see no real way to prevent one from removing it on their own. A few tried but were readily beaten for this infraction. Some began to resist, only to suffer from beatings as well. I didn't make any moves when mine was wrapped around my neck. The warrior attaching it grunted in approval at my apparent compliance. There wasn't any way to act at the current moment. I could indeed overpower many of the warriors with my close combat training. 'But what would I do from there?' No doubt there was an army of warriors just behind the scenes. A crowd this big indicated this was a metropolis. Meaning there was some police force and military force. From what I could ascertain, this could be a city-state not unlike those in Earth's ancient times. This wasn't Earth, or at least not my Earth. It was undoubtedly Earth-like from my observations so far.
An older man dressed in dark blue robes with a green slash appeared behind me. The guards placed the two dozen of us around the elderly man. He looked like some priest or, dare I say, wizard. For a moment, he paused and examined every one of us in the eyes. He then puts up his hand, making a symbol with it while he mumbles something under his breath. I notice the collars glow in bluish energy. My neck burns hot and chills cold at the same time. The collar tightens a little. One of the captives tries to remove the collar out of sheer terror. His body lights up in flames for several seconds. I watch in horror as he wails in pain, rolling on the ground. His body doesn't seem burned, but his skin is bright red and smoking. None of the other captives make the same mistake. The old man departs the way he came. A detachment of warriors accompanied him. Several more warriors brought more crates. Sitting them all in the center of our circle. They left them while they formed a larger circle of warriors around us.
I had a feeling about the contents of the crates, so I didn't waste time pondering like the others. Inside the first crate were short swords. Too small for my size to handle effectively. I checked another and found maces. Once the others understood what these crates held, they swarmed the containers. Picking weapons without thought or care for how they are used. I needed something with reach, and that was heavy. The plan was to take advantage of my natural reach and strength. My augmentation amplifies those traits. A moment later, I found it. A giant two-handed hammer. One with a heavy head and a sharp backside. In addition, it had spikes on the other sides. I pick the weapon up and feel its weight. 'A little heavier than it looks.'
The warrior in command spoke again. He gestured for us to reform the circle. Using hand signs to instruct us on what to do. We were to face outwards and hold our chosen weapons ready. The warriors then made their own formation and retreated to a safe distance. They were waiting for someone or something. I scan the men with me. None of them had any idea what was about to happen. The strongest-looking ones had a sense of danger. Maybe a few have some military training. The others were clearly civilians, utterly unprepared for the coming threat. I couldn't blame them either. No one in their right mind could conceive of this current situation. My gut told me these captives were not from this world or my Earth. That alone was another huge revelation. I'd tackle that implication later.
A tremendous roaring comes from the center where the spectacle occurred. I counted four dozen brutes charging at our position. From this distance, it was hard to make them out. As they drew closer, I spotted more details about them. They were still out of range of ordinary human sight to determine details. My eyes were better. The charging force was well-armored and well-equipped. I took note of the greenish hue of their skin and protruding lower fangs or maybe tusks. These were not humans by any means. What they were was beyond my knowledge. What I knew was they'd trample us in our current formation. We were as good as dead when they reached us.
I did the only thing I could and charged at the incoming force. My goal was to break their charge and confuse them. We had to slow them down if we stood a chance. No one had spears or halberds to break the charge. Our only option was to charge at full force. Some of the others understood what I was attempting to do and charged alongside me. The crowd erupts into a song of cheers and fries. I didn't expect anything less. This was a colosseum, after all. By now, our whole group was charging. The distance closes fast, and I prepare my first attack. I went for the one leading the charge. This was probably the leader. Killing him first would go a long way in keeping us alive.
The moment came as our two forces clashed like two opposing jet streams hitting one another. My first swing broke the giant green man's greatsword and slammed into the side of his ribs. I could hear the sound of bone crushing and snapping at my hit. Before the brute could act, I slammed another swing at the warrior's head, ending him. His head disintegrated at the force of my swing. I kept the momentum going, swung around, and connected with the closest opponent. He, too, went down to the ground in a shattered mess. I followed through with the hammer to the head, putting him out of his misery. Another enemy charged at me, and I yanked the hammer back, meeting the sharp end to his chest cavity. I pull my hammer out and apply a second hole in his chest, dropping him dead. Like a well-oiled machine, I quickly delivered death to four more. Ignoring the green and bluish blood painting my body and weapon.
Our enemy was in disarray, with half a dozen of their party going down so fast. Unorganized and rattled, I didn't give them a chance to regroup. We were still outnumbered, and the odds could change at the drop of a dime. But, true to my training and upbringing, I continued my bloody assault with a cold and calculating focus. I had to, or the others would die just as gruesomely. Even the ones with military experience were outnumbered. These green men were strong. Far stronger than a non-engineered human from my Earth. They were the perfect super soldiers the countries of my Earth attempted to create.
I dismantle another six of them before the group focuses solely on me. I alone had cut down a third of their fighting force. That was the point, to begin with. Another dozen went down as they attempted to dance with me. This turned the tide on us. Our numbers were even now, and we surrounded them. But, of course, many of my group hadn't made it either. That was a dark loss in my eyes. No one deserved to die in that way except for me. I grip my hammer tightly. We couldn't lose anyone else. This has to end swiftly. Two dozen left to handle. 'Could I take them all alone?' My answer came as the others attacked. I don't hesitate to join them in the final struggle.
The fighting is intense but lasts just a few minutes. Covered in bluish-green blue, I scan the field to find four still standing. All of us were covered in the green men's blood. None of the opposing forces stood with us. The sound of the crowd cheering felt like a distant hum. It was over; now, the guard warriors surrounded us. They didn't even bother taking our weapons. We knew we couldn't use them against them. At least I did, and I wasn't about to test whatever energy caused the early man to burn. Not until I had more information.