Raktapasu threw away his sword and shield, his eyes burning with bloodlust. He stretched out his hand, demanding a weapon. A warrior rushed forward, handing him a Mudgar—a massive spiked club, the very sight of which struck fear into weaker men. He gripped its handle tightly and swung it in a wide arc, testing its weight. He slammed it against the ground, sending a shudder through the battlefield.
Ten warriors flanked Raktapasu, forming a solid line around him. They carried an assortment of weapons—swords, spears, axes—each one ready to strike down any who dared approach their warlord. Their eyes locked onto Arya and Dhanudanda.
Dhanudanda had already sheathed his swords. Without hesitation, he picked up a nearby shield—heavy, broad, its edges dented from battle. With a slow, steady breath, he stepped forward. Arya mirrored his movement, drawing his sword tighter in his grip. They marched towards Raktapasu, their pace unwavering.
With a roar, Raktapasu lunged at Dhanudanda, swinging his Mudgar with terrifying speed.
Arya knew he had to hold off the warriors flanking Raktapasu, keeping them from interfering in the duel. He shifted his stance, sword gleaming in his grip, eyes darting across the battlefield. The first soldier charged at him with a spear, thrusting forward with precision. Arya twisted to the side, letting the spearhead sail past him, and brought his sword down in a swift arc—slicing through the soldier's wrist. The man howled in pain before Arya delivered a finishing blow to his throat.
Two more came at him—one wielding a short sword, the other an axe. Arya blocked the sword strike with his own blade while sidestepping the axe-wielder's heavy swing. He pivoted low, slicing the tendons of the axe-wielder's leg, sending him tumbling. Before the swordsman could react, Arya thrust his sword through his gut, kicking him off as he turned to face another.
A warrior with a spear lunged from the side. Arya barely managed to duck as the tip whizzed past his ear. He grabbed the shaft of the spear, pulling the soldier forward, and slammed the hilt of his sword against his face. Blood spurted from the man's nose as he staggered back. Without hesitation, Arya spun and decapitated him with a clean stroke.
A sword slashed towards his back. Arya ducked, feeling the wind of the blade cutting close, and countered with an upward thrust straight through the attacker's ribs. Another soldier swung a mace at his legs—Arya leaped back just in time and, using his momentum, drove his sword deep into the soldier's exposed side. The battlefield around him was filled with the clashing of steel, the screams of the fallen, and the scent of blood-soaked earth.
Three more soldiers remained. One came from behind, but Arya anticipated it. He twisted his body, using the falling corpse of another soldier as cover, and struck the incoming enemy across the chest. The last two hesitated, watching their comrades fall. Arya smirked, lifting his sword, daring them to come. One lunged—Arya parried, sidestepped, and in a swift motion, slashed across his throat. The final soldier tried to flee, but Arya threw his dagger into his back, dropping him where he stood.
Arya exhaled sharply, blood dripping from his blade. He turned to where Dhanudanda and Raktapasu clashed in a battle of monsters.
Dhanudanda barely raised his shield in time as Raktapasu's Mudgar crashed against it with bone-crushing force. The impact sent a shockwave up his arm, his feet sliding back against the blood-soaked ground. He gritted his teeth. If that blow had landed directly, it would have shattered his ribs.
Raktapasu laughed, his voice like thunder. "Where is your bravado now, Dhanudanda?" He lifted his Mudgar again, swinging it down like a hammer.
Dhanudanda dodged at the last second, rolling to the side. The Mudgar slammed into the ground, sending dirt and blood flying. Seizing the moment, Dhanudanda countered—he drove his shield forward, smashing it into Raktapasu's face. The warlord staggered back, momentarily dazed. Dhanudanda pressed forward, slamming the shield again into his chest, forcing him back further.
Raktapasu snarled and retaliated with a side sweep. Dhanudanda lifted his shield just in time, but the sheer force of the blow ripped the shield from his grasp. It flew across the battlefield, landing with a heavy thud. Dhanudanda stumbled back, momentarily exposed.
Raktapasu lunged, his Mudgar coming down again. With no shield, Dhanudanda had no choice but to **dodge—**he rolled forward, coming up inside Raktapasu's reach. With a roar, he drove his elbow into Raktapasu's ribs. The warlord grunted but did not falter.
Instead, he grabbed Dhanudanda's wrist.
A sickening crack echoed as Raktapasu twisted, trying to break the limb. Dhanudanda gritted his teeth against the pain, kicking Raktapasu in the knee. The warlord let go for a brief moment—just long enough for Dhanudanda to slam his forehead into Raktapasu's nose. Blood splattered as the warlord stumbled back.
Dhanudanda saw his opening. He rushed forward, fists clenched. He ducked under another wild swing of the Mudgar, closing the distance in an instant. His hands wrapped around Raktapasu's throat.
For a moment, the two giants stood locked in a death grip. Raktapasu's fingers clawed at Dhanudanda's arms, struggling to breathe. But the warlord was not done. With a sudden surge of strength, he lifted his knee and drove it into Dhanudanda's gut.
Dhanudanda gasped, losing his grip.
Raktapasu took advantage. He shoved Dhanudanda away, grabbed his Mudgar, and swung it with all his might.
Dhanudanda barely had time to react—he raised his forearm, the spiked edge of the Mudgar scraping against his armor, tearing through his sleeve. Pain shot through him, blood dripping down his arm. But he did not yield.
Instead, he roared and charged straight at Raktapasu.
Raktapasu grinned, welcoming the challenge.
Their fists met, their bodies colliding in a brutal, primal brawl. Blood splattered. Bones cracked. Each strike landed with the force of a storm.
Neither would fall.
The battle between Dhanudanda and Raktapasu raged on, while around them, the war continued to swallow the battlefield whole.