As the elite warriors and the commander were planning their next move Hirishima spoke once he heard marching footsteps becoming louder every second,

"Hear that?"

"I do. That coordination, It must be," guessed Subaru.

"It's the reinforcements I ordered to arrive beforehand, they are a little late but no matter," said Erashi, smiling.

"So you were planning to go against the King regardless," Subaru conversed.

"My predictions were correct, kind off. Good thing I even ordered them to bring our standard issue warrior equipment as well," Erashi stated.

"Don't you think you are overdoing a bit? The guards aren't that vigorous. Even half of us would have sufficed," proposed Hirishima.

"If their intellect supported them, they would lay down their arms after seeing a hundred fearless warriors in front of them. This way maybe we could avoid fighting all together," responded Erashi.

"Aren't you two quite confident today?" remarked Kieri.

"Now then, There is no time to waste. We should proceed with our plan," suggested Hirishima.

"Excuse me, what about these cultists?" Xiang chimed in.

"The cultists are free to go, they aren't of any use to us now and I will make sure you are escorted to wherever you live for the time being by a few warriors," answered Erashi.

"I refuse, I will fight too. The main reason I planned all this was to take revenge from that sorry excuse of a king. That much hasn't changed!" Xiang determined.

"In the battlefield, no one will treat you as the Prince, you understand that?" Erashi inquired.

"No one has been treating me as that for six years now, so that bit isn't new. Besides, I know my way around a fight," Xiang solemnly replied.

"I see. Then how about we test the strength of your punch?" spoke Erashi.

"How will you do that?"

"Here, hit me in the face with all your strength."

Erashi pointed his index finger at his face.

"That brings back memories."

"Xiang is probably flustered right now."

Hirishima and Subaru whispered.

"What? You sure about this?" puzzled Xiang.

"Yes, put everything you have in it."

Erashi tilted his torso in order to forward his face towards Xiang while relaxing his arms.

"(Is he mad? Or does he underestimate me this much because I was once a fragile Prince?) Fine, but don't blame me if you get seriously hurt," Xiang agreed.

"You don't have to worry about that. Alright, I am ready," said Erashi as he closed his eyes while smiling.

Xiang pulled back his right arm and clenched his fist for a punch. He then proceeded by swiftly launching his arm forward and extending his elbow to land a surprisingly swift punch on Erashi's face. The commander's face didn't even flinch from its original position while Xiang retracted his arm and perplexed.

"(He didn't even falter! And my hand, it hurts! What is he made of? Steel?)"

"Hmm not bad. If I had to rate that on a scale of one to ten I will give it a four," commented Erashi.

"A four from Erashi? He's got potential," mumbled Hirishima.

"Even you got a three back when he began training you," Kieri recalled.

"(What? A four? I placed everything I had in that punch! Am I that weak?)" downed Xiang.

"Now it's my turn."

Erashi took a single step and launched a punch of his own without any warning.

"Wait! You didn't say you would get a go as well!" Faltered Xiang.

The punch was purposely diverted towards the left to just miss its target. It had so much force behind it that Xiang could feel the intensity of the air flowing through his cheeks. The pressure alone did more damage to him than his targeted punch earlier, leaving a shallow cut on his cheek.

"This would be an eight out of ten," uttered Erashi as he pulled his arm back.

"(Don't know what would have happened if he hit me for real)."

Xiang stood there, astonished.

"You fail for not trying to dodge my sudden attack but pass for trying to take it like a man. You have a strength level slightly higher than a standard warrior so stay close to the elites for a better chance of survival," remarked Erashi as he turned around and walked out of the court.

"(What is he talking about? His attack was so fast that I didn't have the time to think about anything!)" pondered Xiang.

Commander Erashi gathered all of The Warriors outside the court who suffered no casualties as of yet. They saluted their commander upon arrival and both the old and newly arrived arranged themselves in rows. The three elite warriors and Xiang positioned themselves in front of those rows.

"Listen up, all of you!" Erashi loudly began.

"Today is finally the day we fight against the leeches that are sucking Pandara dry from the inside and establish a new freedom for The Warriors and the citizens! The king's order not only forces the industrious to pay heavy and unfair taxes but also gets those with a slightly different opinion brutally tortured and killed! Not to mention, it was about to take the lives of two people who have been through hell multiple times for the safety of our home just like that!"

Erashi took a breather before continuing.

"Finally the outsider, or should I say a child, is in danger because he was just born somewhere else. Tell me, how many of you have kids? Would you want your kids to be treated sternly because they were just different from the rest? As warriors, we devote our lives to fight for a more peaceful future where everyone can beam without fear. That's why we can no longer let the King and his guard continue this prejudiced cruelty, where the rich prosper and the poor wilt away. So I ask you all! Are you all with me in this final effort of changing our home for the better!?" Erashi concluded and waited for the response.

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The warriors responded enthusiastically in acknowledgement. The elite warriors also agreed every single point placed by their commander while Xiang looked around to be amazed at the amount of faith every warrior had in just one man.

"Excellent, now everyone gear up without wasting a single second! We are about to leave shortly towards the Lake of Solace!" announced Erashi as he dismissed The Warriors.

Hirishima and Subaru looked through the several crates brought by their subordinates and found the equipment they preferred. Subaru wore a dark grey torso armor with blue shoulder pads similar to his friend with the exception of his interior apparel being full sleeved. He also picked up a set of a bow, a quiver and steel tip arrows as his weapon of choice. Hirishima on the other hand still had his armor on and just picked up a pair of identical longswords with red painted hilts. Kieri picked up a standard sword and a small dagger to deal with multiple tricky situations.

Xiang just stood there seeing the preparation of an imminent war before being approached by three low ranked warriors.

"Not going to gear up yourself? I heard the commander gave you a four on his test."

"He didn't even gave us the privilege of testing us the same way."

"If that's the case, you must help us in battle as well. Here."

The warriors conversed as one of them offered armor and a sword.

"I am not sure I should accept these. I am not a warrior afterall," hesitated Xiang.

"It doesn't matter if you are one or not. If we are going to fight side by side then you are our comrade!"

"Fine then comrade! I shall accept this gift not that I need it or anything haha."

Xiang removed his coat with the hood and exposed his burnt up body with scars all around. His rectus abdominis and serratus muscles were well built.

The warriors were not expecting this and were shocked to see a body this rugged.

"This is what you get after training like crazy in the mountains after almost getting burned alive," Xiang said while he wore the chainmail shirt and the cuirass.

Meanwhile Hirishima approached the commander and spoke, "Sharon, my wife, would be getting worried to a fault because I didn't come home this morning or yesterday. I want you to send one of the warriors to my house with a message to her that I am busy with training Hoshi today as well and will come home late."

"Why not tell her the truth? I made a similar mistake and now am paying for it," asked Erashi.

"If I told her the worry would eat her alive. She had a rough past with everyone around her treating her harshly. That's why I want her to not fret anymore," answered Hirishima.

Without any further questions, Erashi agreed and ordered a warrior to deliver this message with haste.

Sharon who was waiting on a table with freshly prepared breakfast laid out neatly for the two to return.

She grew more worried by the second and even began self talking.

"If he spends a night in the headquarters he always comes back at this time. Last night he very unusually sent someone else to give his message. Even if it is a mission outside he informs me himself before. Something must have happened!"

Sharon got up and moved to the door but hesitated once again to open it.

"I can't, not in the morning. They will all see my face and fill my ears with those remarks again. Hirishima will be back, whatever the reason is, he is the strongest. Even though I know that, why can't I stop worrying?"

The warriors led by Commander Erashi proceeded towards the lake of solace. That lake is said to be the site of Pandara's origin. It's where the new generation was created after the great war by the Goddess Cora. The lake was located in an area covered by large mountains with only one entrance to it which can be easily fortified. The Warriors arrived at the bridge between the two mountains called Tengah bridge leading up to a forest before their final destination.

"Hirishima and Subaru! Survey forward and report the status of the enemy!" Erashi ordered.

The two elite warriors immediately set off forward as the lake was just a mile further from the bridge.

The bridge was quite wide and sturdy as this route once was used by a large number of refugees arriving from the mountain pathway directly connected to the forest ahead. If you did fall however, a quick death is guaranteed as there was nothing but rocky protrusions in the dark pit below.

The small forest ahead was full of long trees with narrow barks devoid of any branches. There was very less vegetation and almost no wildlife to be found. The elders believe that to restore this side of Pandara, Cora had to suck the life from a once very lush and beautiful forest created as a gift for the first couple.

Hirishima and Subaru walked carefully to check the condition of the guards.

"Man I am exhausted! Why sent us?" Hirishima complained.

"This is all our fault to begin with so don't bitch too much," Subaru replied.

"Yeah yeah, I would want a beer after this is over." Hirishima stretched his back muscles.

"I would have two and you will be paying for them," Subaru chatted.

"Say what?" Hirishima rejoined.

"Are you forgetting who dragged me in?" Subaru jeered.

Passing the forest, the two warriors arrived at the entrance of the lake. There were no guards at the entrance or in the forest to speak of.

"This is weird," Hirishima perplexed.

"There were no enemies in the forest too. I don't understand, maybe that bastard cultist lied to us again," Subaru growled.

"What you say? Take a peek inside the lake?" Hirishima suggested.

"I devise against it. Let's just report back," Subaru opined.

"You're no fun man, fine."

Hirishima and Subaru swiftly returned to Erashi and reported their findings.

"Hmm I know what they are up to. They are trying to throw us off," Erashi speculated.

"So what do you suggest?" Kieri abruptly asked.

"We March in there with our archers and sword wielders ready!" Erashi answered.

"But what if they changed locations?" Subaru queried.

"Like I said, they expect us to turn back. They can't surprise attack us as there is no way to hide such a huge force in a small forest with such narrow barked trees," Erashi stated.

"Everyone! With me! Keep your guard and weapons up!" Erashi commanded and the warriors proceeded forward.

"I have a bad feeling about this," Xiang mumbled.

"Not too late to head back your highness," jested Hirishima.

"Damn you beardo," mouthed Xiang.

As the sun beamed through the trees, the warriors entered the forest and still there was no sign of the king's guard. The warriors continued until they reached the lake's entrance. The entrance was through a narrow dark cave with a single wooden sign on front.

Suddenly, Tamura walked out of the cave while clapping.

"So the warriors are still as predictable as ever! Came straight here without looking behind!"

He was not wearing any cuirass and was wielding both his katanas in his hands.

"You bastard! How dare you show your cowardly face!" Subaru infuriated.

"Where have you kept Hoshi!?" Fumed Hirishima.

"Come on don't be like that. You gotta give me some credit here for surpassing you two completely in strength," Tamura proudly said.

"Enough of this Tamura! You promised me that you will never show your face around these lands. You have broken a promise with your only brother, what would mother think of you?" enraged Erashi.

"You have broken your own promise ages ago so it's only fair I would return the favour," conversed Tamura.

"What are you talking about? I saved your ass that day and gave you a chance at a new life! I shouldn't have stopped Subaru that day from killing you on the spot!" Fumed Erashi.

"Quiet! I am not here to talk about the past! I am here to fight you! Beating you will make me the strongest warrior ever!" challenged Tamura.

"You told us that your purpose was to protect someone you love, who is it?" Hirishima questioned.

"(You know who it is.)

I wasn't the one who said that!" Tamura stated.

"What the hell are you saying!?" Subaru yelled.

"I came here just to finally fight Erashi and I will make sure our battle should not be disturbed."

Tamura snapped his fingers and a large portal opened up through which about 80 guards walked out.

"Using that stupid box again?" Erashi and the others looked behind.

"Just this much? This would be an easy win!"

"Is he trying to mock us?"

"Looks like most of us won't even get a chance of fighting."

The Warrior's confidence increased significantly upon seeing the extent of the enemy force.

"Wait, something is not normal with these guards. Look at their eyes," Kieri noticed.

Upon second inspection the guards were seen to be having a faint purple glow in their eyes and a mildly strong black aura around their bodies. Their muscle mass was increasing by the second and they weren't even wielding a single weapon.

"Don't underestimate my personal army, frail warriors," laughed Tamura.

"What is going on here? Are they drugged?" puzzled Erashi.

"Can't say, but the intensity in the air feels… Very demonic!?" Kieri was astonished.

"You are right! But that's impossible right!?" Hirishima exclaimed.

"Get ready brother, things are about to get dicey," Subaru fretted.

End of chapter thirteen.