Hirishima and Subaru snaked around the field to throw the archers off as they closed in on them. A moment later, two of the elite guards decided to intercept and eliminate the two runners. One of them was wielding a halberd while the other a greatsword. Both of them leaped right in front of the warriors who nearly reached their targets and swung their massive weapons at them.

Hirishima and Subaru completely avoided both attacks but didn't counterattack. The elite guards enraged after finding this lack of interest humiliating and continued attacking with murderous intent. The difference in skill of these elites compared to normal imperial soldiers was tremendous as even Hirishima and Subaru found it difficult to consistently dodge attacks with large damage windows. Despite that, both didn't land a single blow on any of their attackers.

Erashi reached the two elite guards and used his spear shaft to hit both guards at the same time. The proficiency of the commander's weapon hand startled the two as Hirishima and Subaru were given an opportunity to return to their objective.

"Thanks for not laying a finger on my prey," Erashi spoke.

"We would never dare," replied Hirishima.

The commander began fighting the two guards at the same time with his spear and gave them a tough time as his hits packed a punch despite clearly having a much weaker weapon. None of the guards were given a chance to even raise their weapons as they were overwhelmed by a barrage of targeted attacks from an insanely skilled opponent.

The lower ranked warriors engaged the regular guards and each warrior had to take three or more guards on at the same time. This outnumbering didn't falter them one bit as still they courageously stood their ground without taking much damage. Compared to the ferocious demons the warriors are trained to fight against, these soldiers had trifle strength.

Very occasionally a few warriors took slashes from the swords and spears of the enemy but landed much deeper gashes in return. The main targeted area was the upper torso armor along with the lower limbs of the guards so that they could immobilise them without necessarily spontaneously killing them. This wasn't a mortality deficient battle by any means as still quite a few pints of blood flew across the battlefield. Many guards were still killed but at least the warriors were merciful towards the downed and low skilled.

Hirishima and Subaru reached the archers and began taking them out one by one. The archers only managed to hit a few arrows at the two elite warriors in the armor and didn't do any real damage as the two masterfully kept their attention towards them this entire time. Upon striking distance, these archers were extremely weak to melee attacks as they were all knocked out in a flash. The remaining two elite guards, both wielding sharp curved swords, rushed towards Hirishima and Subaru but were interjected by a thrown greatsword which stuck on the ground as it landed between the two opposite sides. It was Erashi who was wielding the masterfully crafted halberd of his earlier foe.

"Impossible, those two should've kept you occupied," an elite guard perplexed.

"See for yourself." Erashi pointed back at his past opponents beaten to a pulp with faces barely recognisable.

"How are you this strong? You might be just as strong as Tamura!" The elite guards faltered.

"Now then, you two return to the fight and knock out the rest of the guards before The Warriors can kill them," Erashi ordered as he readied his halberd.

Both acknowledged and ran back while Erashi casually walked towards the two guards. Both were extremely intimidated despite being more muscular and having sturdier armor.

On the way back Hirishima noticed a rolled up whip attached to the belt of one of the knocked out elite guards and smiled.

"Looks like you won't be needing this anymore."

"No fair," Subaru complained.

"First come first serve my friend," spoke Hirishima before both of them joined the fight with their subordinates and began striking out the remaining guards, speeding up the course of their victory.

"(Shit, it will be over soon. As expected, the difference in training regiments is really starting to show here. I better make my move now.)"

Xiang decided to jump in the court by breaking the window's glass with his dagger. He immediately followed up by placing the sharp weapon on Father Yamato's neck and locked him into a place behind the partition. The other cultists were startled by this sudden manoeuvre.

"Hey! What do you think you are doing?" Kieri questioned Xiang.

"I need to ask a few questions from him. Let me take him away!" Xiang demanded.

"Don't take another step, I am here to make sure nobody here goes out of this court!" Kieri stayed firm to her position.

"What need do you have of him? Besides, I will kill him if you don't comply," threatened Xiang.

"Who are you anyways? Doesn't look like one of the guards. Maybe a bandit?" Kieri inquired.

"I don't have time for this!" Xiang threw the cult leader out of the partition and leaped right back on his back to place the dagger at his cervical spine.

The narrative has been taken without permission. Report any sightings.

"I am serious about killing this miserable old man! Now stand back!" enraged Xiang.

"Be my guest, then you won't get much use out of him as well," Kieri casually replied.

"(Damn it, she's a problem.) You better recognise me, old fart." Xiang rotated the cult leader and took off his hood.

"Wait.. you are... Xiang Zaruki! The king's only son!" Father Yamato recognized Xiang's burnt up face.

"Long time no see."

Xiang greeted by releasing the old man and allowing him to stand up.

"How is this possible? You went missing and your dead body found later was burned to ashes," Kieri sputtered.

"All lies! I never went missing, my doltish old man ordered his men to drug my drink and then set my obviously alive body aflame after keeping me in captivity for a month. It is because of this cultist I am breathing right now," explained Xiang.

"Is he telling the truth?" Kieri looked at Father Yamato.

"Yes, I transported him out of the crematorium just as the flames were lit and took him to the best healers in the deep forests of Pandara," confessed Father Yamato.

"You forgot the part where you had me cough out the location of my secret stash I hid from the King," Xiang emphasized.

"I deserved proper payment for going through the trouble of saving you from a certain death," reasoned Yamato.

"Speaking of which, you used the same black box transportation magic thingy as that child abductor back then right?" asked Xiang.

"Yes, it's called a Shakkura. It was created in massive numbers by the second generation deities for quick transportation of armies in the great war. Now, only a few of these magical boxes remain and each can only be used once."

"You are being oddly divulging today, you are a smart coward," joked Xiang.

"One thing doesn't add up, why would the King do that to his one and only son? He even weeped for you when he disclosed your death to the public," Kieri puzzled.

"It's a long story, one I don't want to recall. The thing I still fail to understand is why didn't he bear another Prince." Xiang suddenly became solemn.

As Kieri was about to utter another word, Erashi, Hirishima and Subaru returned to the court to report their victory,

"The guards have been taken care of and the warriors outside will keep their eyes peeled for reinforcements. Now then we should plan our next move."

Xiang slowly began hiding behind the old man.

"Don't think we didn't see you as we entered," Hirishima spoke.

"I guess one can't hide from a professional's sharp eyes," complimented Xiang.

"Who are you anyways? A bandit?" Subaru asked.

"Why is everyone calling me that today?" growled Xiang.

"As surprising as this may sound but this here is Prince Xiang Zaruki," stated Kieri.

"Prince Xiang? Is that even possible!?" perplexed Hirishima.

"Another one came back from the dead? These are strange times," Subaru sarcastically said.

"I was there at your cremation, six years ago. Surviving that is Impossible," recalled Erashi.

Kieri proceeded to explain to the three newcomers exactly what happened.

"It really is him, unbelievable." Subaru scanned Xiang.

"(A black box for quick transportation? Could that be the one Hoshi was sent here by?)" Thought Hirishima.

"Sorry your highness we couldn't recognise your face because-"

"Of my hideously devastated face, it's only natural," Xiang interjected Erashi.

"That's not true, a person's beauty isn't defined by his appearance on the outside but much rather the inside," opined Kieri.

"(She might be the first woman who didn't feel totally disgusted by my face)." Xiang blushed slightly.

"We didn't introduce ourselves, your highness. I am commander Erashi while these three are Hirishima, Subaru and Kieri, the only three elite warriors currently," Erashi calmly spoke.

"You already know my name and don't bother with the title. I am no longer the Prince you all knew back then," responded Xiang.

"Alright, Xiang, what are you doing here?" asked Erashi.

"Well there is no hiding the truth."

Xiang explained his plan, how he met Hoshi and it was his fault he got captured.

Hirishima and Subaru enraged,

"So it was you! None of this would have happened if you didn't barge in!"

"It is because of you Sir Warren died! You selfish bastard!"

Erashi stopped them.

"What done is done, we can all scold him later. Right now we should focus on how to get that child back and put down the king for good."

"Speaking of that, this old man here must have some insight into the king's next move," Xiang pointed out.

Father Yamato was questioned by Erashi,

"Tell me then where is the king and what plans do he have for the outsider?"

"The king would be in his palace of course, and I have no idea about the outsider," Father Yamato swiftly answered.

"Stop playing smart! I know he ain't in the palace! There would be way more guards here if he were! Now stop lying on your own or I will make you by breaking your mouth!" shot Erashi.

"He was kind and calm a second ago? Now he is all vexed and daunting," whispered Xiang.

"The commander despises lying the most among other things," stated Kieri.

"Huh, ironic," mouthed Subaru.

"What other things? I feel like I should know that before making him mad at me next," asked Xiang.

"Well he also hates when someone whispers about him behind his back," told Hirishima.

"Shit. Forget I said anything," fretted Xiang.

"Too late, he has the best perception among us," added Subaru.

Xiang engulfed his own saliva in fear.

"Cut it you two, they are only messing around," disclosed Kieri.

"(I like her but not those two brawny dolts.)"

After pressurized by Erashi, Father Yamato confessed the whereabouts of the king,

"He is at the lake of Solace with Tamura and the remainder of the elite guards."

"The lake of Solace? Why does he need so much secrecy?" Erashi inquired.

"What is he planning to do to Hoshi?" Hirishima added to the question.

"The outsider? I don't know, I swear! He only informed me through a message that an outsider will arrive at the court just as the judge will announce his decision. My task was to order the guards on his behalf to take him to the king, that's all!" Father Yamato articulated.

"Like I suspected, the king somehow got all this information beforehand as if he predicted what was going to happen but how is that possible?" Puzzled Hirishima.

"You know about the magical items and stuff, tell us what did he use!" Subaru queried.

"I already told you everything, there is no item that lets you see the future as far as I am aware! There is one possibility though.." Father Yamato swiftly answered.

"And that is?" asked Erashi.

"The outsider might be hired by him to lure The Warriors into a trap at the Lake of Solace. Since that area can be easily turned into a natural cage by blocking its one narrow entrance," implied Yamato.

"I don't think that's the case! I conversed with him and I am not an imbecile not to know his true motives!" insisted Hirishima.

"That kid is too honest and altruistic for his own good, beardo here is correct," assured Xiang.

"Beardo?" Hirishima gazed at Xiang.

"Uh sorry! I couldn't help myself, no hard feelings right?" spluttered Xiang.

Kieri laughed and in response, Xiang's cheeks went red.

"Regardless of what if and can be, one thing is certain there is only one way of ending this and it's through Insurrection," stated Erashi.

End of chapter twelve.