Without a way to jump through the Mirror World, far fewer Beyonders had gathered around Prince Mountbatten than the Rose School had brought. Including Xio, there were only six.
The others were either still wandering the Labyrinth or had already been killed by the Rose School.
Three of the six were Sequence 5 powerhouses: Evan, a Light Priest; Myron, a Reaper from the prince's personal squad; and Baron Larry, a Disciplinary Paladin, army colonel, and captain of another squad originally sent in as bait.
With Prince Mountbatten, an Ocean Songster, serving as their temporary leader, they could just about match the Rose School's top fighters.
Unfortunately, Xio was the only Sequence 6 among the other three. The remaining two were Sequence 7 members of the prince's personal squad: Kard, a Seafarer, and Bass, the black-haired young man with a knack for analysis.
The moment their group entered the hall at the heart of the Labyrinth, the Rose School surrounded them. If Prince Mountbatten had not raised a Marionette and pressed a finger against a badge on its body, they would have attacked at once.
Prince Mountbatten surveyed the enemies around him, his heart heavy. He let none of it show. "Chieftain Fatt, I'll say what I said before. Fighting to the death before we've even seen the treasure would be foolish."
"You think you're still in a position to bargain?" Chieftain Fatt rubbed his bald head, his expression hovering between a smile and a sneer.
He had already vented the anger he had built up, so he could handle matters with relative calm now.
"Why wouldn't I be? If I remove the seal on Sealed Artifact '1-025' right now, it can kill everyone here!" Prince Mountbatten stated, a threat beneath his words.
"If keeping you from what's inside means giving