I was the Queen of Persia

Page 96

Matthias staggered to his feet, angrily shoving aside his attendants, and dusted off the black raven embroidered on his overcoat, the coat of arms of the Hungarian Árpád dynasty.

Gazing at the beautiful figure riding a warhorse before him, Matthias felt a nameless anger of defeat burning within him, but he still bowed and said, "I have lost. Although I am not convinced, a loss is a loss. If we meet on the battlefield in the future, I will definitely defeat you!"

The Iranian female knight opposite her—Gushmani Khorasan Razavini (who had now been promoted to a regimental commander in the Shahr Guard)—simply smiled politely and returned the greeting.

Shahzani shook her head helplessly:

The Hungarian was indeed formidable and skilled in horsemanship. He charged into battle immediately, brandishing his lance and roaring, and fought for over ten rounds, proving himself a force to be reckoned with. However, Khorasan's Zavini was far more skilled on horseback, and after a fierce battle, the outcome was obvious.

Upon seeing their warriors victorious, the officers and soldiers of Saman's army naturally cheered and jumped for joy.

The defeated Hungarians were deeply disappointed. Matthias was already their most skilled warrior, yet he hadn't lasted long before being defeated so easily. The frustration of defeat left them disheartened.

"How foolish and reckless!" Zoe cursed inwardly. "They've only given the Samanid Persians more credit!"

She had hoped to use the ferocity of the Hungarian Magyars to thwart the Samanid Empire's power, but the opposite happened. Naturally, the Byzantine envoy was very dissatisfied with her thwarted plan.

Chapter 224 The "Dark Horse" in the Arena

Soldiers galloped on horseback, and war drums resounded.

"By my decree, grant those Hungarian warriors an 'encouraging reward'," Shahzani gestured to the official beside him.

"Yes. However, there is one thing I don't understand: they have already lost the game, so why reward them?" the official said.

“Although they failed, they faced our most elite warriors. Such a defeat is not shameful, but rather worthy of reward. Moreover, their courage in daring to challenge our iron army is commendable. Go forth,” Shahzani waved his hand.

The competition on the battlefield continues.

This stage is a free-for-all competition, where warriors from different countries are allowed to freely match with opponents and engage in chaotic battles. The requirements for strategy and tactics are not as high; as long as one is physically strong enough and attacks fiercely and aggressively, victory is assured.

Many warriors emerged victorious from the competition and continued to participate in the next stage of the competition. Of course, the losers were also allowed to participate or not according to their own wishes, after all, this was not the knockout stage, but only a small warm-up before the big competition.

Next up are the individual foot combat and individual horse combat competitions.

The all-armored cavalry battle was largely a foregone conclusion. An officer from the Farrukhdin Bachman Regiment of the Shahr Guard fought his way through numerous foreign opponents, including the Oghuz, the Eastern Romans, and the Kievan Rus', and defeated several strong contenders from the Transoxiana-Khorasan cavalry, ultimately winning the championship.

The winner of the unarmored horse battle was someone else entirely. A warrior from the Turkmen-Seljuk forces, more skilled in this light and fast horse battle, ultimately defeated many favorites, including the Shahr Guard, after several rounds of competition to claim the crown.

In infantry combat competitions, Iranian female warriors are at a disadvantage. Despite training and system enhancements, women's upper body strength is still inferior to that of the strongest men, putting them at a disadvantage when facing burly heavy infantry opponents.

In the foot combat competition, a towering Varangian Viking stole the show. This Viking was over two meters tall, with an explosive head of blond hair and arm muscles like protruding rocks. He easily wielded a fighting tomahawk with both hands, wreaking havoc on all sides.

"Who is this person? Which country's delegation is he from?" Shahzani asked the official beside her, looking at the Viking.

"Reporting to Shahsha, this Varangian is named Torukel. He is not from a state delegation, but from an armed mercenary group," the official reported.

“Oh? Armed mercenaries?” Shahzani raised an eyebrow.

“Indeed. The leader is a Varangian named Ashrat the Ashman, who is said to come from the cold, icy sea further north of Kievan Rus’ and works as a mercenary…” the official replied.

Shahzani understood.

This is an armed mercenary group active in the North Atlantic, North Sea, Baltic Sea, and Volga River region, possessing characteristics of both pirates and armed merchants. Perhaps having heard of the Samanid Empire's formidable reputation for sweeping away powerful enemies, they entered the country as merchants, requesting an audience with the great Empress in hopes of making a profit.

"Aren't they law-abiding citizens on our land?" Shahzani narrowed her beautiful eyes.

"Of course," the official hurriedly replied. "A large number of government officials are watching them. If they do anything improper, they will be arrested and punished immediately."

Shahzani nodded slightly, signaling the officials to return to their positions, then looked up again and continued to scan the arena.

Torukl was a barbarian born for battle. He rampaged through the arena like a golden whirlwind, his constant roars like a giant bear sending chills down the spines of many warriors.

"Bang-bang-bang-!"

Three Fatima warriors were kicked more than ten steps away, crashing heavily to the ground, spitting out mouthfuls of blood and losing consciousness. Fortunately, the relatively soft sand absorbed some of the force, otherwise the injuries would have been even more severe.

"Roar—!" Torukel raised his dual weapons and let out a deafening battle roar.

"Heh, he does have a bit of brute force, quite interesting." Shahzani sneered as she watched the Viking berserker's performance.

"Torukel!" At that moment, a rough voice came from the sidelines again.

A middle-aged Viking with a full head of blond hair and wearing Nordic-style leather armor stepped out.

“You have already shown your bravery, now come down and stop fighting!” The middle-aged Viking’s voice was not loud, but it seemed to carry an irresistible authority.

Torukl was still burning with fighting spirit and his eyes were still blazing with anger. When he heard the middle-aged Viking's words, it was as if he had been doused with a bucket of cold water. After hesitating for a moment, he finally gave up his fighting weapon and retreated in a sullen mood.

Shahzani witnessed all of this.

“That person must be Ashrat, the mercenary leader,” Shahzani said.

“Exactly.” The official beside him nodded slightly. “It is said that he is a descendant of a fallen noble family, but he is still an illegitimate child. As you know, in the European class system, this is a very low status. He cannot inherit ancestral property and can only engage in military and adventurous careers.”

On the other side of the field.

"Boss, I haven't used up all my strength yet! Why are you making me get down?!" Torukel complained unhappily.

"Don't act recklessly here!" Ashrat glared at him. "You should know very well that we are now on the territory of Queen Shahzani of Persia. We must be careful with our words and actions and avoid causing unnecessary trouble!"

"But the Queen said that any warrior can participate in the tournament, and the champion will receive a generous reward!"

"That's true, but you have to understand, this is her territory. If you outshine her warriors and embarrass her, then this Persian queen won't give us a friendly look."

"So what? We can just leave. These Persian female soldiers may be alluring and have big, plump butts, but they're incredibly fierce when they get hostile. They're not interesting at all," muttered another Viking warrior wearing a Norman helmet.

“Listen to me, Biaolun. We’ve come here to exchange benefits with the Persian Queen. Put away your airs and don’t cause any more trouble! Understand?” Askeladd’s expression turned serious.

“Yes, boss.” Although Biao Lun was reluctant, he still obeyed Askeladd’s orders.

The martial arts competition continues.

After a series of qualifying rounds, including group matches, semi-finals, knockout rounds, and promotion rounds, the individual infantry combat competition quickly produced a champion. Sogdian military leader Ikhshde, through his robust physique and superb martial arts skills, defeated numerous competitive opponents to claim the title.

Next, a team competition will be held with nations as the opposing forces. Individual bravery will no longer be the primary factor in determining victory; teamwork and coordination among soldiers will become more important.

Chapter 225 The Persian Empress with Abundant Martial Virtue

"Prepare the armor and warhorses; I will personally participate in the group competition!" Shahzani ordered those around her.

She had been eager to fight for a long time. Months of pregnancy had deprived her of countless opportunities to go into battle, leaving her with a burning desire. Now, seeing the warriors' heroic spirit and fighting spirit only fueled her own fighting spirit.

The Empress's personal intervention naturally thrilled and inspired the soldiers of the Saman Empire, who were filled with excitement and eager to win the championship in the arena.

They quickly selected their teammates to fight alongside them, including distinguished female warriors with outstanding military achievements such as Bahram, Khorshid, and Khorasan Lazavini, as well as a large number of valiant and heroic female guards of Shaher.

They put on their armor, sharpened their weapons, and warmed up before the competition.

at this time.

"Your Majesty is going to the arena to compete, how can you not invite me?" A familiar voice rang out.

Sahimian slowly emerged from behind the curtain embroidered with geometric patterns. She wore a magnificent suit of armor, exuding heroic spirit, and wore a faint smile on her face, seemingly confident of victory in the upcoming contest.

"Wow, you've arrived?" Shahzani's face lit up with surprise. She patted Shahzani's shoulder with a smile. "You must have had a long and tiring journey from Iraq to Jahan Shahr. Why don't you rest for a few more days at the inn?"

"Hey, the fatigue of the journey is nothing. I heard you're holding a martial arts competition here, how could I miss such a good show?" Sahini took the weapon for fighting, swung it a few times skillfully, and a smile appeared on her lips.

"Ha, it seems our Holy Flame Brigade's female warrior is still as spirited as ever." Shahzani laughed heartily. "Very well, once we win the championship, she can choose any handsome young man in the arena. What do you warriors think?"

"Pfft... Hahahaha!" Upon hearing this, the Saman soldiers burst into laughter.

“Then thank you for Shahsha’s generosity.” Sahinian’s eyes revealed a hint of coquettishness. “Well, the Iraqi borderlands are not as comfortable as the wealthy lands of Khorasan. I’m going to enjoy myself to the fullest this time back in Beijing!”

As she spoke, she swayed her ample hips and waist, moaning sweetly and seductively, which made the female soldiers laugh so hard they almost fell over.

"Alright, stop showing off." Shahzani patted her plump buttocks. "Hurry up and get ready. There are many fierce warriors among the contestants, so don't underestimate them."

"I will obey your orders." Upon hearing this, Sahinian stopped her playful demeanor and nodded solemnly.

Shahzani specially donned the latest four-mirror armor and a face-covering pointed helmet to prevent her opponents from recognizing her. She still chose an armored warhorse as her mount. After being heavily armed, she looked every bit the majestic and valiant armored cavalry warrior.

Arranging themselves into battle formation, the female warriors of the Saman Empire made a solemn entrance.

……

Meanwhile, at the other end of the field.

Askeladd and his mercenaries, fully equipped with armor and gear, were ready to take to the stage for the duel.

"Have you remembered what I said?" Just before he stepped onto the stage, Askeladd reminded his men once again, without getting tired of it.

"Remember, win a few games first, then find an excuse to quit," Torukel replied sullenly. From his impatient tone, you could tell he'd heard that phrase a million times.

"That's good." Ashrat nodded in relief. "Remember, winning first is to prove our worth; withdrawing later is to save face for the Persian Queen."

"Alright, boss. Hurry up and gather all our warriors, or we'll run out of time!" Biao Lun urged from the side.

Donning their Norman-Varyag-style armor and mounting their tall warhorses, this group of burly, muscular men charged menacingly toward the arena.

In the dust-filled arena, after several rounds of fierce battles, the victorious teams cheered and jumped for joy, while the losers, like wilted eggplants, left the arena dejectedly with their heads down.

"The next match will be between the Saman Empire's Shaher Guard and the Yoms Mercenary Group!"

The referee officer had a very loud voice, which boomed into the ears of every spectator.

The resounding hoofbeats resonated in the hearts of all the spectators, as the two powerful armies stood tall on the battlefield, where war drums echoed.

One side was fully armored, their crimson uniforms gleaming like fire; the other side was as imposing as mountains, their battle armor gleaming coldly. The two teams, with their distinct colors and styles of armor, were clearly separated, yet evenly matched, neither gaining the upper hand.

"Valkyrie warriors, charge!" A rough, foreign language came from Ashrat's mouth, and he took the lead, charging towards the Saman warriors.

The Viking berserkers of the Yorms Chapter roared and howled, their imposing presence chilling, like moving iron towers, so oppressive that the air itself seemed to freeze.

When Shahzani saw the group of menacing Norse berserkers, a contemptuous and seductive smile curled at the corners of her lips beneath her veil. She then ordered her soldiers to change formation and thwart the enemy's attack.

Shahr's Guard quickly dispersed their formation and then fiercely outflanked the Vikings in a flanking maneuver. As they rapidly closed in, they fiercely and uniformly raised their blunt-nosed lances, covered in multiple layers of thick cloth, and pointed them at their opponents.

"Snap—!" "Thump—!" "Snap—!" "Thump—!"

The sounds of lances breaking and horses falling to the ground were incessant, as both sides poured almost all their strength into their weapons.

However, when the dust settled, all the spectators were speechless.

The tall, powerful, muscular, and menacing Yoms Viking berserkers were all slashed down as easily as cutting vegetables, unable to mount any effective counterattacks, and none of them even managed to take down a single opponent.

After a brief silence, even louder cheers erupted from the stands. Almost all the spectators were impressed by the powerful tactical charging ability of the Shaher Guard.

The female warriors of Shaher dropped their lances and galloped around the arena in response to the cheers of the spectators.

"Cough...!" Ashrat and the other Viking warriors scrambled to their feet, looking at the Saman cavalry in the distance, feeling extremely aggrieved.

They had hoped to display the spirit of the Vikings in their first battle, but they never expected to suffer such a defeat, which was truly shameful.

At this time.

"Warriors of the Samanid Persian Empire, this is not a fair match! We have a request!" The burly, bear-like Torukel rose from the ground and, speaking in his still somewhat broken Persian, roared at the referee officer.

The once-boiling arena fell silent. Everyone held their breath and stared at the Viking man, who was over two meters tall and had a robust build.

"We Vikings excel at foot combat, while you Persians excel at cavalry combat, which is why we lost! If you truly possess great martial skills, why not have another foot-based contest!"

The roar of the burly man echoed in the air above the arena for a long time.

The referee was caught in a dilemma.

Askeladd struggled to his feet, glared at Torukel, and said in a low, stern voice, "A loss is a loss. Don't be rude!"

“It’s alright.” Shahzani looked at the indignant giant in front of her, waved to signal the referee, and her melodious voice came from behind her veil, “In that case, let’s dismount and fight on foot, and have another match.”

Chapter 226 I gave you a chance, but you are useless

The Saman judge officer knew that the female knight in front of him was the Queen, so he immediately nodded slightly to indicate that he understood.

At Shahzani's command, all of Shahzani's female guards dismounted and formed ranks on foot.

Torukel was basking in his "cleverness." He was over two meters tall, while none of his comrades in the Yoms mercenary group, from Ashrat to ordinary Viking berserkers, were shorter than 1.8 meters.

He observed that although Shahzani and the female guards of Shahr were also very tall and strong, many of them over 1.7 meters, there was still a difference in height between women and men, and this difference was even greater when facing extremely burly men.

Mounted combat might compensate for this disadvantage, but not on foot. Moreover, Viking berserkers were naturally fierce and brave infantrymen, and almost no opponent could withstand their charge.

As Torukel thought of this, a cold smile crept onto his lips.

As the leader of the mercenary group, Ashrat had already accepted his fate of defeat, but Torukel's disruption forced him to grit his teeth and stand at the front of the battle once again. As he passed by Torukel, he glared angrily at the brute.

"Please forgive my subordinates' rudeness. But now that we are ready for battle, the Valkyrie warriors will not back down. Make your move!" Ashrat said in slightly fluent Persian, but his fighting spirit was clearly not as strong as before.

Shahzani responded with a gesture, then ordered her female guards to form a defensive formation and prepare to meet the enemy.

"Clang—!" The Viking berserkers raised their large round shields, roaring Scandinavian war songs, and strode toward the Shahr Guard.