Sunlight crossed the streets of Arkhel.
It reflected over rooftops, windows, and pale stone.
On one of the roads leading to the Second Wall...
CLANK.
CLANK.
CLANK.
The sound of chains crossed the street.
Soldiers occupied both sides of the passage.
Two rows.
None of them advanced beyond the line formed by the others.
Some held spears.
Others kept their hands near their hilts.
Ahead...
Oryn led the group.
Behind him...
five figures completely covered in white robes advanced in silence.
No face remained visible.
At the center of them...
Ravana walked.
Thick bands descended from his shoulders.
Crossed his torso and restrained his arms against his body.
Others wrapped around his neck and climbed over his face, leaving only his nose and mouth exposed.
Golden inscriptions ran across the fabric.
Five chains remained attached to the restraint points, held by the figures around him.
Below the knees...
other inscriptions pulsed faintly.
A short chain connected his ankles, limiting the length of each step.
CLANK.
The metal dragged across the stone.
None of the soldiers looked away.
Farther ahead...
the Second Wall cut across the horizon of Arkhel.
And beyond it...
the world disappeared.
A mass of white covered the entire fortified passage.
Snow crossed the tops of the walls.
Fragments of ice appeared and disappeared within the storm.
Ravana slowly raised his face.
A smile began to take shape.
"Hm..."
His face tilted a few degrees toward the Second Wall.
"They've already begun to break apart."
Oryn continued ahead.
He did not answer.
Ravana let out a small laugh through his nose.
"Heh..."
The chains once again followed his steps.
CLANK.
Another one.
CLANK.
Suddenly...
Ravana stopped.
CLAAAAANK!
The five chains stretched at the same time.
The figures in white were forced to stop their advance.
Oryn stopped as well.
For a few moments...
Ravana did not move.
His chin lifted.
His head tilted a few degrees.
For an instant...
the smile disappeared.
"Ah..."
The golden inscriptions pulsed over the restraints.
VMMMM...
The smile returned.
Larger.
"Heh..."
A low laugh escaped his lips.
"Seems this battlefield was still waiting for another monster."
His head tilted a little farther.
"How interesting."
Oryn partially turned his face.
"Good..."
His gaze shifted toward one of the figures in white.
"Perhaps you'll find something capable of keeping you occupied."
Oryn made the slightest movement of his head.
The figure understood.
Pulled the chain.
CLANK!
The others followed.
The five chains tightened.
The golden inscriptions shone with slightly greater intensity.
Ravana yielded one step.
Then another.
CLANK.
The smile remained.
On the other side of the Second Wall...
FWOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!
The blizzard crossed the fortified passage.
Snow raced across the frozen surface.
Covered cracks opened in the ice.
Disappeared into craters scattered along the path.
In some places...
enormous crystalline formations still rose above the white.
Broken.
Crushed.
Others had been reduced to fragments scattered across dozens of meters.
FWOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!
A layer of snow slid over one of the craters.
Beneath it...
deep cracks continued cutting through the ice.
Some crossed almost the entire width of the passage.
Farther ahead...
a dark mass broke through the white.
Dharmapala remained where Boran had left it.
The base of its shaft disappeared into the ice.
Crystalline layers had formed around the weapon.
The heavy chains around the shaft swayed slightly beneath the storm.
CLINK...
CLINK...
A few meters from it...
Boran stood motionless.
His enormous body rose at the center of the destroyed passage.
The old bandages still wrapped around his forearms.
Snow accumulated across his shoulders.
He did not brush it away.
Around him...
three figures kept their distance.
To the left...
León.
The sword remained before his body.
Its tip slightly lowered.
His eyes never left Boran.
Farther ahead...
Tristan held the spear between both hands.
The shaft crossed his body diagonally.
The tip pointed toward the man at the center.
On the opposite side...
Ryou.
The white cloak of the Order of White Dragons fluttered behind her slender body.
A Katzbalger remained in each hand.
The two broad blades pointed inward toward the circle.
None of the three advanced.
At the center...
Boran remained motionless.
His eyes calmly passed over the three.
None of them lowered their weapons.
Then...
Boran's gaze descended.
A few meters behind them...
Garrick remained on both knees.
His torso bent forward.
His arms hung before his body.
His hands almost touched the broken ice.
His head remained lowered.
Blood ran down his face and disappeared into the snow.
He did not react.
Boran watched him for a few moments.
Then his eyes returned to the three.
"You really intend to do together..."
No one answered.
"what even the Northern Wall could not?"
Boran tilted his head slightly.
"He gave me everything he had."
His eyes returned to Garrick for an instant.
"And yet..."
"he could not remain standing beneath the weight of his own Karma."
Tristan let out a brief laugh through his nose.
"Curious to hear you speak of that with such pride."
The spear remained firm between his hands.
His eyes shifted briefly toward Garrick.
"Lord Garrick spent the last few days fighting."
His gaze returned to Boran.
"While you remained behind these walls."
A small smile appeared at the corner of his lips.
"And yet..."
"it still took all this to make him fall."
Boran remained silent.
His eyes met Tristan's.
For a few seconds...
only white crossed the passage between them.
"You speak as though war owed any justice to the men who wage it."
Tristan's smile diminished.
"It does not wait for them to be rested."
A brief pause.
"It does not return strength to the weary."
Boran's eyes slid toward Garrick.
"And it does not spare a man because he has already fought enough."
Boran looked away.
They stopped on León.
"Seems you taught them well how to wield a weapon, León."
"But not how war works."
León held Boran's gaze.
"That part..."
Ryou lowered his body.
FWOOSH!
The distance began to disappear.
"war teaches."
The two Katzbalgers broke through the white.
The right descended against Boran's shoulder.
The left came from below.
Against his forward leg.
Boran withdrew his support.
Turned his torso.
SHIIING!
The first edge passed flush against the bandages.
The second cut through the snow where his knee had been.
Ryou advanced with the cuts.
The right sword returned against his neck.
Boran stepped in before the arm completed its arc.
His left hand closed around the armed forearm.
The other Katzbalger changed direction.
The tip rose toward his ribs.
THUD!
Boran's right palm struck the wrist guiding it.
Deflected it outward.
The two blades passed along the sides of his body.
His fingers tightened around Ryou's forearm.
The tip of a spear appeared beside them.
Boran released his grip.
SHIIING!
The steel passed through the space his hand had just abandoned.
Tristan was already pulling the weapon back.
The tip did not descend.
It returned toward Boran's face.
He tilted his head.
The edge passed before his eyes.
His right hand reached for the shaft.
Tristan pulled it away before the fingers could close.
At the same instant...
Ryou moved away to the side.
Opened space.
León was already advancing from the opposite side.
Boran turned to meet him.
The sword descended.
Too close for him to leave the line completely.
His forearm rose against León's wrists.
THUD!
The blow deflected his arms.
The blade cut through the fabric beside Boran's shoulder.
His left fist immediately drove forward.
Against the chest.
León withdrew the sword.
Rotated the steel before his body.
BOOM!
The fist struck the flat of the blade.
León's arms gave way.
His rear foot carved a line through the snow.
SCRRRRT!
He slid until he met an ice formation.
His knee bent.
The sword remained in his hands.
Boran advanced to follow him.
The spear took the space between them.
Straight toward his throat.
He stopped his step.
Struck the shaft with his right hand.
The tip was guided outward.
Tristan allowed the deflection.
Rotated the weapon between his hands.
The opposite end came toward Boran's face.
He pulled his head back.
FWOOSH!
The shaft passed before his chin.
From the other side...
Ryou had already returned.
The right Katzbalger sought the elbow of the arm that had pushed the spear away.
Boran withdrew it.
Ryou entered with it.
Too close to extend the second sword.
Her left fist rotated.
The blade pointed downward.
THUD!
The pommel struck Boran's ribs.
The contact was firm.
Even so...
the impact reached Ryou's hand strangely muffled.
Boran yielded very little.
His arm descended.
Pinned that forearm against his own flank.
The right Katzbalger returned toward his hand.
He did not wait for the cut.
Rotated his hip.
Pulled Ryou beyond his side...
and released.
FWOOSH!
The white cloak crossed the snow.
Ryou spun through the air.
One foot found the ice.
The other came immediately after.
SCRRRRT!
The body continued sliding.
One knee drew close to the ground.
The two swords remained raised.
Boran was already advancing.
The spear tip descended before his face.
He twisted his torso aside.
The steel struck the ice.
CRACK!
Tristan withdrew the tip as Boran retreated.
The shaft rotated low.
Against his ankle.
Boran raised his foot.
León entered before he could set it down again.
The sword advanced toward the center of his body.
Boran lowered his left hand.
Struck the side of León's wrists.
SHIIING!
The thrust passed beside his ribs.
His foot returned to the ground.
CRACK!
The ice broke beneath his support.
The stone beneath appeared between the cracks.
Boran drove his shoulder into León.
The swordsman rotated with the contact.
Yielded to the side...
without allowing the impact to catch him head-on.
His sword remained low.
The edge returned toward Boran's leg.
He had to withdraw it.
Tristan already occupied the other escape.
The spear advanced again.
Boran struck the shaft.
This time...
he kept his hand on it.
Pulled.
Tristan followed the movement with a short step.
His forward hand slid backward.
Shortened the weapon between them.
Boran's fist came from above.
Two blades crossed its path.
CLANG!
The Katzbalgers crossed before Tristan.
The blow struck the meeting point of the guards.
Ryou's arms dropped under the force.
Tristan moved out to the side.
The tip of his spear found Boran's center again.
He released the shaft.
Pulled his body back.
SHIIING!
The steel passed before his abdomen.
León approached from the left.
Ryou separated the swords.
Boran planted his feet.
Before him...
the three once again closed the exits.
His left hand opened once.
Then closed again.
CRACK!
Boran advanced against the three.
The spear advanced to meet him.
Boran tilted his head.
SHIIING!
The tip passed beside his neck.
His right hand struck the shaft from above.
Tristan yielded his arms.
Let the weapon descend...
and retreated diagonally.
Boran's left fist crossed the place where his chest had been.
León entered from the side.
The sword sought the extended arm.
Boran withdrew it.
Ryou was already closing the other exit.
One Katzbalger came high.
The other advanced toward his abdomen.
Boran rotated his torso.
The first edge passed before his face.
His left hand struck the wrist of the second sword.
Pushed it outward.
Ryou followed the deflection.
The high blade returned toward his neck.
Boran lowered his body.
FWOOSH!
The steel cut through the snow above his head.
He advanced while still low.
His shoulder met Ryou.
THUD!
The impact pushed the two apart.
León occupied the space before Boran could continue.
The sword advanced toward his chest.
Boran struck the arm guiding it.
SHIIING!
The thrust passed along his side.
Tristan was already approaching from the other side.
The spear returned toward Boran's face.
He raised his forearm.
Tristan withdrew the tip before contact.
Rotated the shaft.
The opposite end came from below.
THUD!
It struck the ribs.
Tristan's hip followed the blow.
Both hands remained firm.
Even so...
the resistance seemed to disappear before the movement ended.
Boran barely yielded.
Tristan narrowed his eyes.
Immediately withdrew the weapon.
Boran's hand closed around the shaft.
Pulled.
Tristan advanced one step to maintain his balance.
His rear hand slid.
The spear crossed before his body.
Boran's knee rose.
THUD!
It struck the shaft below the hands.
The weapon was lifted together with Tristan's arms.
His center opened.
León's sword entered against the wrist holding the spear.
Boran released it.
The edge passed between them.
Tristan moved away as León advanced.
A short cut.
Then another.
Boran pulled his arm away from the first.
The second opened the bandages beside his elbow.
Old fibers came loose in the wind.
Ryou returned from the side.
The two Katzbalgers descended in sequence.
Boran yielded one step.
The first cut through the white before his chest.
He stepped in against the arm guiding the second.
THUD!
His forearm struck Ryou's.
The cut lost its direction.
Boran's free hand advanced against the center of his body.
Ryou withdrew the swords.
BOOM!
The palm met the flat of one of the blades.
The second supported the block from behind.
The arms gave way.
SCRRRRT!
Ryou was pushed through the snow.
Her feet carved two grooves across the ice.
León tried to follow Boran.
The enormous left arm came toward him.
Horizontal.
Against the head.
He lowered his body.
The blow passed above.
His sword returned toward the exposed flank.
Boran rotated with it.
The edge tore through his clothes.
His elbow followed.
León had to abandon the advance.
Retreated beyond reach.
Tristan was already attacking.
The spear tip sought Boran's chest before he completed the rotation.
His left forearm descended over the shaft.
The thrust was driven toward the ice.
CRACK!
Tristan pulled the weapon back.
Boran advanced with it.
The distance disappeared before the tip could return.
His right hand opened.
The fingers remained together.
The arm rose above the shoulder.
Tristan separated his hands farther along the shaft.
Began raising it before his head.
— गरुकभार कर्म.(Karma Material)
León raised his face.
"TRISTAN! DODGE!"
The hand was already descending.
Tristan interrupted the block.
His forward foot rotated over the ice.
The other pushed his body to the side.
The spear followed the movement.
Boran's hand passed through the space he had just abandoned.
And continued downward.
The edge of his palm struck the ice.
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
The surface sank.
Cracks opened in every direction.
Entire blocks were torn from the ground.
The pressure reached Tristan before his feet could find support again.
His body was hurled farther away.
The spear remained between his hands.
He rotated his torso.
One foot struck the ice.
Then the other.
SCRRRRRRRRT!
Tristan slid.
Lowered the weapon's tip.
The steel tore through the frozen surface...
without managing to stop him immediately.
Around them...
the snow was torn from the passage.
A white mass rose above Boran.
Opened to the sides.
The nearest crystalline formations disappeared among the fragments.
León moved away from the breaking edge.
Ryou lowered his body, bracing both weapons as the gust tore through his cloak.
Above them...
the white opened.
Through the storm...
a patch of sky appeared once again.
Sunlight reached the ice.
For a few seconds...
the shadows of the four stretched across the passage.
Tristan finally stopped.
One knee touched the ground.
The tip of his spear remained buried at the end of a long groove.
He raised his face.
The place where he had tried to block no longer existed.
A crater occupied that section of the passage.
Its edges continued collapsing.
Inside...
Boran began to straighten his body.
His right hand remained open.
The light touched his fingers.
Then...
the light began to narrow.
FWOOOOOOOOOOOOOSH!
The snow returned from both sides.
Crossed the crater.
Covered its edges.
Boran's silhouette disappeared first.
Then...
the crater itself, opened in the ice.
From within the white...
the roar continued.