Night had barely faded when the horns of Ang sounded across the palace grounds.
The training yard, usually filled with soldiers practicing drills, now held a different atmosphere. Warriors stood in silent formation, armored and prepared for real battle.
At the front stood Asha.
Behind her were the twenty warriors she had personally trained—the Solar Guard.
Each of them carried real weapons today.
Not practice blades.
Not wooden spears.
Steel.
The air felt heavier.
Asha walked slowly before them, her sharp eyes studying every warrior.
"Today," she said calmly, "training ends."
The soldiers straightened immediately.
Her voice hardened.
"From this moment forward, you are not students."
She pointed toward the eastern road beyond the palace walls.
"You are warriors of Ang."
The Solar Guard answered together.
"Yes, Commander!"
Their voices echoed across the courtyard.
Karna watched from the stone steps of the palace.
Vrinda stood beside him.
"So it begins," she said quietly.
Karna nodded.
"Our enemies have been sending spies."
His eyes moved toward the distant horizon.
"Today we answer."
Moments later, the palace gates opened.
The Solar Guard marched out of the capital.
Asha led them.
Karna walked at the front beside her.
Vrinda followed several steps behind.
The eastern road stretched through forests and low hills.
It was one of the main trade routes connecting Ang to neighboring kingdoms.
Recently, travelers had begun disappearing along this road.
Villages had reported masked riders appearing at night.
It was no coincidence.
Someone was testing Ang's defenses.
Today, they would discover who.
The group moved silently through the forest paths.
After several hours, the road narrowed between two rocky hills.
Asha suddenly raised her hand.
The entire Solar Guard stopped instantly.
She crouched and studied the dirt road carefully.
Hoofprints.
Fresh.
Many.
She looked up toward Karna.
"Riders."
Karna nodded.
"And they didn't try to hide their tracks."
Vrinda frowned slightly.
"That means they want someone to follow them."
Asha's hand moved toward the hilt of her sword.
"An ambush."
Karna remained calm.
"Then let them try."
They continued forward carefully.
Soon the road opened into a wide clearing surrounded by tall trees.
The moment they stepped inside—
Arrows flew from the forest.
"SHIELDS!"
Asha shouted.
The Solar Guard reacted instantly.
Metal shields rose.
Several arrows struck the shields with sharp clangs.
Others struck the ground.
Hidden figures began emerging from the trees.
Masked warriors.
More than thirty of them.
Each armed with swords and bows.
Asha's expression hardened.
"Double our numbers."
Karna stepped forward calmly.
His Vijaya Dhanush appeared in his hands.
"Numbers are meaningless."
The masked warriors attacked.
The Solar Guard met them head-on.
Steel clashed instantly.
Asha moved like lightning through the battlefield.
Her sword flashed through the air with deadly precision.
One attacker fell.
Then another.
Behind her, the Solar Guard fought in tight formation exactly as she had trained them.
Two warriors guarded each other's backs.
Three advanced together.
They were outnumbered—
But not disorganized.
Meanwhile, Karna stood calmly in the center of the clearing.
His bowstring moved faster than the eye could follow.
Arrow after arrow flew.
Each one struck its target perfectly.
One rider fell from his horse.
Another dropped his sword as an arrow pierced his shoulder.
The battlefield quickly shifted.
The attackers had expected frightened soldiers.
Instead they faced disciplined warriors.
Suddenly—
A loud horn echoed through the forest.
The masked warriors froze.
Then they quickly retreated toward the trees.
Asha narrowed her eyes.
"Retreat signal."
The attackers vanished back into the forest.
The clearing fell silent.
The Solar Guard regrouped quickly.
Several attackers lay defeated on the ground.
But most had escaped.
Asha wiped blood from her blade.
"Cowards."
Karna shook his head slightly.
"No."
He looked toward the dark forest where the enemy had disappeared.
"This was never meant to be a full battle."
Vrinda stepped closer.
"A test?"
Karna nodded.
"They wanted to measure our strength."
At that moment, a slow clapping sound echoed from the trees.
Everyone turned.
A single figure stepped out from the forest shadows.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Wearing dark armor.
His face remained hidden beneath a black helmet.
But his presence alone felt dangerous.
Asha immediately raised her sword.
The Solar Guard moved into defensive formation.
The man stopped several steps away.
Then he spoke.
His voice was deep.
Calm.
Confident.
"So…"
he said slowly.
"The Sun King truly is strong."
Karna stepped forward.
"And you are?"
The man removed his helmet.
A long scar ran across his cheek.
His eyes were cold.
"I am Rudrasen."
Vrinda's expression changed instantly.
"I know that name."
Asha glanced at her.
"You do?"
Vrinda's voice grew serious.
"He was one of the generals who destroyed my kingdom."
Silence fell across the clearing.
Rudrasen smiled slightly.
"Ah…"
"So the lost princess still lives."
His eyes turned toward Karna.
"You are protecting dangerous people, King of Ang."
Karna's expression remained calm.
"She is under my protection."
Rudrasen chuckled softly.
"That makes you my enemy."
The wind moved through the forest.
Leaves rustled around them.
For a moment, no one moved.
Then Rudrasen stepped backward.
"This battle was only an introduction."
He placed his helmet back on.
"Soon… we will meet again."
Before anyone could stop him—
He disappeared into the forest.
The Solar Guard remained alert.
But the enemy was gone.
Asha lowered her sword slowly.
"That man is trouble."
Vrinda's fists tightened.
"He helped destroy my kingdom."
Karna looked toward the dark forest.
His voice remained calm.
"Then he has made a mistake."
The Solar Guard gathered around their king.
The forest wind blew gently through the clearing.
The first battle of Ang had ended.
But the true war had only begun.