The fight didn't last long. Shogun Bloodaxe tried his best as he exhausted himself in the fight but to everyone's sheer horror, Princess Valerie dodged all of them as she calmly stabbed his body at different angles.
None of them was directed at any vital organs and was meant to prolong the fight.
...Or maybe, she liked torturing people.
Valerie pivoted on her ankles as her sabatans dented Shogun's chest and pushed him down on the ground. He choked up blood as he tried getting up but Valerie increased the pressure and held him under her foot.
Right at that moment, from behind the bushes, several horsemen emerged, their bodies covered in chainmails.
Seeing the group of barbarians, the horseman at the front shouted.
"Surround them! Nobody should escape!"
The horses neighed as they galloped and secured the entire area. The leading horseman, whose armor looked more decorative than the rest, trodded to a halt in front of the princess, who had now sheathed her sword and was standing calmly.
The man atop the horse jumped down and instantly went down on one knee.
"General Adams at your command!"
Valerie glanced down for a moment before she commanded, "Arise, general. I assume all work has been done?"
"Yes, Your Highness. Just as instructed, all the six other Shoguns have been slain."
At that, the princess turned to the general. "Didn't His Majesty ask you to capture and bring them back alive?" Her voice held a sharp note.
The voice of the middle aged man quivered as he answered, "W-we tried, Your Highness. But their pride was just too high and were stubborn enough to not accept their own defeat. Ultimately, we had no other option but to...kill them."
'Bullshit. If you are lying, say something that can atleast be believed.' David resisted the urge to roll his eyes at the fabricated story. Even the princess didn't speak anything for a few moments as she just stared at the general.
If someone had told David that Shogun Bloodaxe hadn't surrendered and ended up getting his group killed, he would have easily believed that.
But the other Shoguns? No way would they act stubbornly in front of a certain defeat, one that could end up killing their people.
David knew why they were lying. Even though they considered themselves more "civilised", they had a certain bloodlust within them when it came to the barbarians. Killing his kind was a dream to many of them. In a way, this sentiment has been deep rooted in their society for centuries.
Afterall, there was a saying among the Hermann clan: "Abandon your faith if you will, but never trust a Windsor or their scums."
And it seemed that even the princess doubted the credibility of the fabricated story.
Suddenly a thought struck David.
'Ehh...wait a minute! The Shogun won't surrender right?! Oh no...I be damned!' He realised as he turned to look at Bloodaxe, who was raising himself from the ground with great difficulty.
As if she had read his mind, Valerie turned as well. In the same calm manner, she asked in the native tongue.
"So what shall it be, Bloodaxe? Death by the sword or from old age?"
Bloodaxe didn't even look like he had to doubt his choice as he almost shouted out. "I won't die a coward's death. I shall fig-"
He was interrupted as Draven dashed forward and in a low tone, said. "Don't do that, Shogun. You are already outmatched by the princess. It won't do for you to die in another duel where the result is already predictable. Also today isn't even the Blood Moon."
As he said that, both of them looked up in the sky. Only a semblance of the moon was visible in the distant horizon, which was fading away as well.
Shogun seemed to hold in his impulse as he considered the words of his trusted aide. His eyes shifted to Thorgar, a young boy who he had been training.
'Maybe we still have hope left...' But as his eyes fell on the two other nameless, all such thoughts disappeared.
A leader needed subordinates. If in case Thorgar somehow managed to become a leader, who would serve under him? The light brown haired filths?
His blood boiled at that thought. 'That would be a slow, torturous extinction for our clan. I would rather it all ends here.' He bellowed inside him in rage.
But even if he didn't want to admit it, the reason of his rage weren't the two nameless. The problem was him, still in denial over his loss at the hands of a mere princess.
Afterall, how could a Shogun like him get defeated at the hand of a...female?!
"End it all here, fools." He spoke, his language only understandable to the princess and Draven. "I won't bow to anyone nor let my people do so."
Draven blinked in apparent surprise. Wasn't his words about how today wasn't the Blood Moon not clear enough?
The princess didn't speak but in her place General Adams stepped forward with a menacing glare. He didn't understand what the Shogun had spoken but he dared talk with anger in his tone?
"Who do you think you are talking to, savage? Watch your tone."
Turning back at Valerie, he asked in a respectful tone. "Your Highness, I am guessing he chose death by sword." To which, the princess nodded.
David's eyes widened as his fear came true.
'Fuck, I just got my memories back. No, no...I am going to die?? Just for the ego of an old man?! Wait...is he old or that's how his face is built?'
He suddenly shook his head. 'What am I thinking about? Ahh right! Oh wait!! I don't wanna die...'
He took a step back as he saw the general approaching him, a sword in his hand.
'Ehh? Why me?! Why am I the first?' His body felt like it would burst out from the sheer vibrations that rooted him to his spot.
"Filths, each of you! Watch your kind die." General Adams muttered in a low voice, audible only to David. His eyes widened as he realised his previous theory was indeed correct.
This guy had killed all the six Shoguns without ever giving them a choice. He tried backing off but something sharp poked at his back. He glanced behind him.
A soldier was pointing his spear at his back from atop the horse.
David swallowed his nervousness as he turned to look at the approaching general. He glanced sideways at Draven who was busy covincing Shogun to not let his ego muddle his thoughts.
But David could see...it was a futile attempt.
He closed his eyes, biting his lips in anticipation - one that was certainly not pleasant. Adams raised the greatsword in the air.
"I guess this is your end, lowest of the barbarians." He said.
Beside David, the nameless girl watched it with teary eyes, something rare for her.
But before any life could be unalived, a clear voice rang out. "Halt the execution."
Everyone turned to look at the source. At Princess Valerie.
Her gauntlet covered hand was raised in the air. A sign to stop whatever Adams was about to do, who looked back at her in a questioning manner.
Ignoring him, she turned towards Draven and Bloodaxe. In a voice so indifferent as if she was just stating some mere facts, she spoke in the native tongue of the barbarians.
"That was some nice acting from both of you. Say...do you really think I am a fool?"