11 Chapter 11

"BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!" "BANG!"

The once peaceful capital now reverberated with the cacophony of gunfire, mortar explosions, and the thunderous roar of artillery cannons. The chaotic symphony roused the city from its slumber, jolting its inhabitants into a disorienting reality. The origin of the explosions became evident, emanating from the opulent district where grand mansions stood as symbols of affluence and power.

Witnessing the unfolding chaos, the Imperial Guards sprang into action, their adrenaline-fueled steps urging them towards the source of destruction. But their progress was abruptly halted by a formidable blockade of heavily armed military soldiers, their steely gazes fixed upon the approaching guards.

"None shall enter!", An imperial soldier shouted with a gun in his hand.

The unexpected confrontation sent shockwaves through the ranks, including Captain Ogre and the steadfast Seryu Ubiquitous, whose impulse to break through the blockade was swiftly curbed.

"Hold your ground, Seryu! These soldiers are part of the Imperial Army. Their orders come from a higher authority," Captain Ogre commanded while restraining Seryu's fury.

Seryu's voice trembled with desperation, her concern for the lives at stake evident in her plea. She stared at the soldiers blocking her path towards the inner part of the Capital, "But Captain, people could be dying there! We must help!"

Captain Ogre's voice resonated with a mix of frustration. "I understand your concerns, Seryu, but we can't do anything about this. As much as it pains me to say this, we lack the authority to command the soldiers blocking our path. Our priority now is to restore calm and protect the lives of the citizens."

Ever since Budo's out of the ordinary behavior, Captain Ogre had been compelled to temporarily stop taking bribes and he had started to perform his role as Captain of the Imperial Guards more seriously. He didn't want to be on the receiving end of what seems to be a bloodthirsty general. Especially now, there was no doubt in Ogre's mind that whatever was happening within the Capital was Budo's doing.

He swiftly directed the Imperial Guards to disperse throughout the capital. With composed authority, he instructed the guards to maintain order and urged the citizens to remain calm, emphasizing the importance of staying within the safety of their homes during such a dangerous time.

Meanwhile, in the heart of the chaos, the residence of the Four Rakshasa Demons, notorious as the Prime Minister's ruthless executioners, became a target of relentless assault of both gun firing and cannon barrage resulting in them waking from their deep slumber.

The building trembled violently under the fierce attacks. Fear and surprise gripped the four individuals as debris started falling on them. They realized that their current situation was worsened by the fact that the night before, they were too drunk to sleep in their own bedrooms and ended up dozing off in the living room.

Tragedy struck swiftly, claiming the life of Mez, her once beautiful face marred by a fatal gunshot wound. Sten, consumed by a surge of anger and disbelief, couldn't contain his outrage. His voice erupted with a mix of fury and desperation, "What the hell is going on!?"

Amidst the chaos, Ibara's authoritative voice pierced through the bombardment, cutting through the confusion and instilling a sense of urgency, "Find cover, you idiots!" His words resonated with a command that brooked no argument, compelling his companions to abandon their disoriented state and seek safety amidst the chaos.

Fueled by a surge of adrenaline and guided by primal instinct, the group launched themselves into action, propelled by an overwhelming desperation to find safety. In a seamless display of agility, they swiftly sought cover behind the imposing pillars that adorned the opulent estate.

The onslaught of attacks persisted, unrelenting in its ferocity. Determined to survive, they crouched low to the ground, their bodies pressed against the cold marble floor. The air crackled with danger as multiple metal projectiles ricocheted through the surroundings, their deadly trajectory inflicting wounds upon the trio.

"We can't hold out much longer in this shit storm!," Ibara growled through gritted teeth as agony coursed through his veins. A bullet had ricocheted off the wall, tearing through his flesh and leaving a crimson stain upon his shoulder.

Sten's voice dripped with anger and desperation; his body marred by numerous wounds. "All these bullets will shred us to pieces!"

"We need to leave!", Suzuka shouted, agreeing with Sten's assessment.

With a shared understanding passing between them in a fleeting glance, the trio propelled themselves forward, their muscles tensing in preparation. Sprinting towards the nearest window, they navigated the treacherous path amidst a barrage of bullets.

"AH!" "AH!" "AH!"

Their superhuman speed and durability proved insufficient against the relentless onslaught. Bullets pierced the air, leaving a painful trail of wounds in their wake. With mere seconds to spare, they managed to escape the crumbling estate, narrowly avoiding its impending collapse.

Amidst the chaos and swirling dust, the three remaining Rakshasa wasted no time and sprinted away from the capital. As loyal soldiers under the Prime Minister's command, they realized that they would only be targeted if the Prime Minister had lost control of the city. Recognizing the gravity of the situation, their collective decision was unanimous—to flee the capital as swiftly as possible.

However, the pursuing soldiers were quick to give chase. Aware of the trio's severe injuries, they saw an opportunity not to be missed. Determined to eliminate any remaining threat, they relentlessly pursued their wounded prey.

Meanwhile, within the grand halls of the Prime Minister's mansion, a scene of turmoil and defeat unfolded. Prime Minister Honest, once revered and now battered by numerous injuries, knelt on the cold marble floor. His left hand hung limply, broken and mangled, while a mosaic of bullet wounds adorned his body. Breathing heavily, he locked eyes with the man responsible for his downfall.

"It's over, Honest," Budo declared, his voice laced with a mixture of triumph and exhaustion. He, too, bore wounds inflicted during their fierce confrontation, albeit not as severe as Honest's.

Surrounding them, a circle of Imperial soldiers stood, their weapons ominously trained on the fallen Prime Minister, serving as a stark reminder of his shattered authority.

Throughout the intense battle with Budo, Honest wracked his brain trying to understand why the Child Emperor would order his capture. He pondered every possible scenario, and only one thing came to his mind.

Honest was certain that the last time he had seen Makoto, he still showed favoritism towards him. Budo's current actions against him were something Honest had never expected Makoto to order. Makoto was supposed to be a naive child, incapable of making decisions on his own. The unfolding events could only point to Budo's manipulation, which infuriated Honest. He never imagined that within a few days, Makoto would develop a stronger allegiance to Budo over himself.

With blood in his mouth, Honest glared at Budo and asked, "Why didn't you bring your Teigu?"

This question had also been bothering him. No one, not even Honest's trusted right-hand man or his own son, knew that he possessed a Teigu capable of destroying other Teigus. Budo attacking him without his own Teigu was a perplexing anomaly.

Not wanting to engage in conversations further, Budo remained silent. He instructed his soldiers to chain up Honest with the use of thick and durable chains in order to prevent any escape.

As the soldiers began to bind him, a sense of dread enveloped Honest. It was the unmistakable feeling of impending death. He desperately tried to negotiate with the soldiers and even Budo himself, offering them great riches if they would just release him. However, before he could speak further, a soldier quickly and forcedly gagged the Prime Minister's mouth.