Calvary arrives

With every stroke of the sword, a warrior died. Barda's movements were both methodical as they were accurate. It was like a painting of blood and gore that you just couldn't look away from. His movements were just too fast and too coordinated for the soldiers to even threaten him.

From the beginning of his onslaught, Barda had not missed or had his sword blocked by anyone. Everywhere he went, his sword came out with an offering of blood.

"Run!"

It didn't take long for the soldiers to realize that this was a losing war. Many took off running in whichever direction. They now would have preferred to be shot down by an arrow as compared to going up against such a fiend. Facing Barda's onslaught, even the bravest of soldiers felt their knees turn to jelly.

Barda didn't pursue, he wasn't in it for the meaningless bloodshed. With his 2 swords, he made his way over the ridge, where the princess and her people were currently locked in fierce combat. Already, 5 were down.

Batoo was still up and fighting beside the princess. Together they were surrounded by the adventurers eager to protect the VIP. Facing them on every flank were the invaders.

Michelin had been tasked with rooting out the sneak attacking bast*rds and their lookouts and secure the line on this end. This was why they had been so many since their work involved more than just taking care of a few archers. He was Scarface's number two, and he was charged with taking care of the lookouts. The lookouts were more hence he had the bulk of the force.

Despite that, they were not able to penetrate the defenses. These were elites and cutting them down was not that easy. Noticing their retreat, he was about to call back the forces when he saw her.

Many moons earlier, he had been at the palace, one of the soldiers tasked with protecting the Gumina delegation. He had seen her back then as she sat on the crown. Though she looked different, Michelin was sure it was her. Michelin was not the kind to remember names easily, but faces for him were unforgettable. Just one glance he could tell the warrior in front of him was the same princess he'd seen back then.

That was when a crazy idea came in his head. If he could capture her, then this would be a bigger win than even the ongoing attacks. With her being caught at the first clash, the war would be effectively over in an instance.

With his mind made up, Michelin moved forward like a fiend. He was fast and strong. Nothing exaggerated on either side, a balanced fighter. He wielded a longsword that was 4 feet long. His armor was heavy leather, which offered some defense but was not constricting to his movements.

In any standard, Michelin would be considered a Purple-ranked adventurer. His movement, speed, and adaptability made him out to be a top-notch fighter. He was equipped with a plethora of sword skills and fighting techniques that rendered the adventurers utterly defenseless.

Michelin moved as though he was dancing. With every swing of his sword, he would incorporate a high-tiered skill with his attacks and defenses. If anyone was watching, they would be enthralled by the beauty of the sword, the elegance of its movement.

Marsha was one of Lady Maara's guards. He had watched her grow in his service in the palace. When she volunteered to go on this journey in search of reinforcements, he had been instructed to lead the guards. Unlike the others, he had only one task, keep her alive.

With 7 adventurers dead and counting, it was clear now that the princess had gotten herself in a pickle, dragging them along. Marsha wouldn't let anything happen to her, but right now he didn't have much in terms of choice or power to do anything. All he could do was hack away at the targets coming at them.

He and his fellow guards had desperately tried to get an opening, create an avenue for the princess to make her escape but the encirclement was too well done. Their only consolation was the fact that no arrows were raining down on them.

Barda's team had shifted their focus to the ridge. From where they were, they couldn't see much of what was happening, but whatever they did see, they shot down.

Purple-ranked adventurers were not to be messed with. The trapped adventurers at the peak may have been too constrained to do much, but these rangers were in their element, and with the enemy so close, hitting the target was easy-peasy. They just needed to get their a*ses in the right place.

The Princess didn't have time to worry as she swang her sword over and over again. Every target she saw, she attacked. Having grown up around warriors even in the castle, she was not lacking in skills and techniques. She might not be Purple-ranked, but she wouldn't fare too badly against a Red or Orange-ranked adventurer.

Michelin's sword was as intimidating as it was long. As the bladed edge got close to Marsha, he raised his shield to block it, while also swinging his sword in a counter. Suddenly, the sword changed direction midair, cleaving down at Marsha's hand. Marsha had no choice but to abandon the counter and change his sword to try and defend himself.

He was too late. The sword claimed his sword-hand. The attack left his wide open, and without even giving him a moment's respite, Michelin claimed his head.

With Marsha falling, there were now only 4 people left on the ridge against an entire squadron. Everyone else had fallen to the attackers, and their chances of survival were dwindling by the second.

Seeing their commanding officer fall, the 2 other guards began to back away instinctively. They now understood that the opponent they were facing was not simple at all. Marsha may not have been the best the city had to offer, but he came pretty place. He was an experienced fighter, one who could think on his feet. To have ended so smoothly spoke volumes about the skill of the attacker, and they didn't think they had what it took to stop him.

However, they had their duty, which was behind them. They had to do all they could to protect her. It hurt to think that their death would be for nothing, but no matter what they did, their ward would be killed that day.

Michelin eyed his prey. The 2 guards, the princess, and some weak-looking adventure. He walked towards them menacingly. They were surrounded and heavily outnumbered, there was nowhere they were going. He wanted to wet his blade with their blood, all save the princess. That was a wish he would never get to fulfill.

An arrow came out of his forehead. The roof of his head exploded with blood, bone, and brains. The mighty-looking man fell unceremoniously.

Next to him, another tumbled down, and another. Before they knew it, arrow after arrow kept raining down on them. The soldiers were shocked, wondering where all this was coming from. Looking around, they were appalled to find arrows raining on them from all over.

They had been the one to surround other, this time, they were the ones surrounded, cut off and without reprieve. With a shout, adventurers came out of the bushes screaming bloody murder. The princess swang her sword with sheer glee, and with the adventurers at her side, she joined the fray.

"Miss me?" Lady Ellen asked Barda when she got to where they were.

"No, been too busy shooting down soldiers to notice your absence," Phoenix, who was right behind Lady Ellen was shocked by the level of familiarity of the 2. Since when did Barda and the commander get that close.

"We need to go now!"

The battle was over, but the princess was not slacking. She never forgot the soldiers that were dying due to the ongoing attacks. Leading the way, the cavalry charged into the battlefield.

Neither Captain Dunhill nor Captain Todd understood what was happening, but as soon as they saw the new arrivals fighting with them, the men under Captain Dunhill, whose number had been shaved to a mere 345 and counting, finally found hope, and so did the villagers behind their line.

"Pull back!" Commander Dana ordered. The attack had served its purpose anyway, and they had suffered losses. With the reinforcements joining in, their advantage was lost, and since their duty was to whittle down the defenses, that had been done. Why stick around.

"Welcome home your majesty," said Captain Dunhill once the battle was done.