" Haa*"
Magnus let out a roar, pushing down his every enemy despite having multiple visible injuries around his body. The large body of his protected his people like an unbreakable wall that was shielding them against the incoming army.
With his every move, blood splattered around the cliff, dyeing it with crimson that sent chills to others' eyes. The heavy smell of blood and iron permeated through the air, making people intoxicated from the battle, yet he didn't show any struggle.
" Monster!"
One of the climbers plunged his sword into his chest but grabbed it with his bare hand while pushing it with his elbow shattered the sword like it was made from ice.
" Weakling!"
Magnus spat out blood from his mouth, kicking him down with a single kick that sent him flying down to his death.
His bushy beard was covered in ice from the frost but he didn't care about it. The taste of blood lingered inside his mouth but he didn't give a damn about it because he was Magnus and he had reasons to be here.
The faces of his people flashed inside his mind, giving him an endless surge of strength that pushed every boundaries inside his body. Perhaps, this was the feeling that those ancient warriors felt during their peak and demise.
" Chief! Everything is ready back in the village. They are waiting for us to return."
One of the Vikings came beside him, passing the good news to his ears as Magnus took a deep breath to relax while fighting against them. He knew he wouldn't last forever here and he had to leave but his people weren't ready yet. Fortunately, now he was able to retreat.
" Hmm, this would be troublesome."
He narrowed his eyes, looking at the increasing number of enemies. He just couldn't leave it here because they would pursue them and breach their defense, so he had to make a choice.
" Tove! Lead half of the remaining force with Bo and leave this place early. Freyja and I will hold off for an hour and follow your steps. You must assist our people to leave early. Otherwise, we will be doomed for eternity."
Tove didn't hesitate to nod his head obediently, believing in his leader's words without fault. He wasn't smart as Magnus and Freyja but he wasn't foolish enough to stay here. He could tell the battlefield was turning unfavorable to them and he had to leave with his men.
" Where do you think you are going, rat?"
Bo chopped the head of the Viking who was pretending to be dead among the corpses.
He took up a torch and turned his head around to face Magnus.
" Do it!"
Magnus didn't care at this point, knowing honor wasn't as important as their lives. Bo nodded with a silent face, dropping a torch on the corpse that was oiled during the battle. The corpse let out blazing fire as others started pouring oil on the corpses to use them like logs.
" Those hypocrites are using corpses as obstacles!"
Horton gritted his teeth, looking at the burning corpses with hatred in his eyes since Vikings didn't burn corpses during the battle. They believed it was an insult to the people much less using them as logs.
His hands trembled from the rage but he wouldn't let it cloud his judgment because one slip would spell his end. Specifically, Freyja was aiming at his head after their showdown. There was no guarantee that he would be left unscathed.
Meanwhile somewhere in Roma
" The holy emperor issued an order for the execution of Magnus the Pacifier. He worries that Bjorn would spare his compatriot and ultimately that would make another William in the north. You know our situation with barbarians isn't good these days, Henry."
A masked individual handed a golden scroll to the kneeling man as he looked at his eyes. The gentle ashen eyes were filled without an ounce of emotion as he received the scroll with both hands.
" I received the will of the majesty, but did His Holiness approve this decision?"
His question wasn't answered with a straight point and both of them fell into silence. The current situation in Roma was in turmoil due to the divided opinions of both leaders and Henry belonged to the corps of the Pope.