Parashar was being pressed from both sides by Eknandini and Kritipal. His men held firm, pushing back their forces, refusing to give an inch. The two warlords found it increasingly difficult to breach the walls Parashar commanded. Eknandini signaled Sharvas.
Hundreds of arrows flew through the sky, darkening the battlefield for a fleeting moment before crashing down upon Parashar's men. Cries of pain erupted as soldiers fell under the deadly rain. A small opening formed on Eknandini's side. She saw her chance and pressed forward with her forces. The cavalry unit responded instantly, charging toward Eknandini and her men. Unable to hold their ground against the swift assault, Eknandini's soldiers retreated. The breach was mended.
But Eknandini was relentless.
She demanded a horse. Casting aside her twin parshus, she picked up a massive spear and raised it high. "Rally behind me!" she commanded. The moment she mounted, one of her men sounded a war horn. The deep, resounding note spread across the battlefield like a storm warning.
Kritipal heard the call and signaled his men. Suddenly, all attacks on Parashar stopped. The enemy forces took a step back. Parashar's soldiers hesitated, confused by the abrupt shift. Then, Kritipal's and Eknandini's men began stomping their shields against the ground, creating a thunderous rhythm. The battlefield trembled with their resolve.
The formation was changing.
Eknandini and Kritipal moved into an arrowhead formation, positioning themselves at the lead. Kritipal was handed a horse, a spear, and a shield. With both warlords now mounted, the formation solidified, its sharp tip aimed directly at Parashar's defensive wall.
The march began.
Parashar's eyes widened as he recognized the maneuver. He roared, "Wall! Wall! Double down on the wall!" His men rushed to reinforce the defenses, shields locking tightly together.
The arrowhead formation struck like a battering ram.
Parashar's frontlines trembled. The sheer impact sent men stumbling backward. He bellowed an order to the elephant archers. A fresh volley of arrows rained down upon the attackers, thinning their numbers. The cavalry unit remained on high alert, watching for weaknesses.
Eknandini and Kritipal fell back momentarily, only to prepare for a second charge. Parashar knew the next impact would be stronger. He swiftly discarded his melee weapons and grabbed a bow. His arrows soared with unerring accuracy, striking down enemy soldiers with every shot. But Eknandini and Kritipal were undeterred. They kept coming.
Second impact!
The wall buckled. This time, it did not hold. The breach had begun.
Ashvapati, standing on higher ground, watched the formation with an analytical eye. He knew this wasn't over. With a subtle gesture, he ordered fresh reinforcements. More soldiers flooded in to seal the breach, their shields forming another barrier. The cavalry moved into position, ready to counter any deeper penetration.
Eknandini smiled. They were preparing for their final charge—the one that would break Parashar's defenses for good.
Parashar signaled again.
Ashvapati lifted his massive hammer and swung it in the air. His men understood immediately.
As Kritipal and Eknandini thundered toward the wall for a third strike, the formation changed.
Just as they were about to collide, Parashar's wall stepped back. The soldiers suddenly parted, splitting into two separate sections. The momentum of the arrowhead formation carried Kritipal's and Eknandini's forces forward, straight into the open space.
Then, like a steel trap snapping shut, Parashar's men surged forward again, closing the gap behind them.
Kritipal and Eknandini's forces were split! Half of their soldiers were now trapped inside, surrounded by Parashar's men. The other half remained outside, disorganized and struggling to respond. Kritipal and Eknandini had been lured in—but were they trapped, or was Parashar?
Ashvapati swung his hammer again.
The formation shifted once more. The surrounding soldiers moved in perfect sync, shaping the encirclement into the Vartul Formation—The Circle of Death.
Parashar's cavalry charged the isolated enemy soldiers outside, cutting them down before they could regroup. Inside the encirclement, Kritipal and Eknandini stood with their remaining men, now surrounded by an unbreakable wall of Parashar's warriors.
An uneasy silence settled.
Then a voice broke through the tension.
"Ready?" asked Rudra.
"Always," replied Raghav.
The twins sprinted forward with a handful of their elite soldiers, weaving through the shifting formation. A small opening appeared in the wall—just enough for them to slip through.
Parashar turned slightly, a smirk forming as he drew his sword.
"You know I don't need your help," he remarked.
"But we couldn't let you have all the fun," Raghav quipped.
Eknandini and Kritipal dismounted. They had no choice but to fight their way out.
Kritipal smirked, eyeing the twins. "Didn't know you needed children by your side to win wars, Parashar."
Parashar chuckled. "Sometimes, unexpected things happen in wars."
They took their stances. The battle within the Vartul Formation was about to begin.
Chaos rose!