The forest clearing slowly returned to silence after Rudrasen disappeared.
Only the sound of the wind moving through the tall trees remained.
Several masked warriors lay defeated on the ground.
The Solar Guard gathered around their king, catching their breath after the sudden battle.
Asha wiped the blood from her blade and sheathed her sword.
"That man didn't come here to win," she said.
"He came to provoke us."
Karna's gaze remained fixed on the forest path where Rudrasen had vanished.
"Yes."
Vrinda stepped forward, her expression tight with anger.
"He was there the night my kingdom fell."
Her voice carried years of buried rage.
"I remember his face."
The Solar Guard exchanged glances.
For the first time, they saw the normally calm Vrinda trembling with emotion.
Karna turned toward her.
"Do you want revenge?"
Vrinda did not hesitate.
"Yes."
Karna nodded once.
"Then we will not let him escape."
Asha frowned slightly.
"You're planning to chase him?"
Karna's voice remained calm.
"He revealed himself deliberately."
Asha understood immediately.
"He wants us to follow."
Karna's eyes sharpened.
"And I will."
He turned toward the Solar Guard.
"Form pursuit formation."
The warriors straightened instantly.
"Yes, Your Majesty!"
Asha gave quick commands.
Two scouts moved ahead through the forest.
The rest followed carefully behind Karna.
The hunt had begun.
Rudrasen moved quickly through the forest.
His horse thundered along the hidden path between the hills.
Behind him rode a dozen surviving warriors.
One of them spoke nervously.
"General… the King of Ang might pursue us."
Rudrasen smirked beneath his helmet.
"That is exactly what I want."
He looked toward the distant cliffs ahead.
The forest path narrowed there.
Perfect terrain.
Perfect trap.
"Prepare the second line."
His soldiers nodded and rode ahead.
Back in the forest behind them…
Karna suddenly raised his hand.
The Solar Guard stopped immediately.
Asha stepped beside him.
"What is it?"
Karna closed his eyes briefly.
His Solar Battle Instinct activated.
The world around him seemed to slow.
Every sound became clearer.
The wind.
The trees.
The movement of distant horses.
Then—
He sensed it.
Hidden warriors.
Waiting.
"Ambush ahead," he said calmly.
Asha grinned slightly.
"Good."
She turned toward the Solar Guard.
"Battle positions."
The warriors spread out silently among the trees.
Vrinda looked toward Karna.
"You knew they were waiting."
Karna nodded.
"Yes."
Then he added quietly,
"Which means Rudrasen believes we will fall here."
Vrinda's eyes hardened.
"Then let him be wrong."
Moments later, the path opened into a rocky valley between two cliffs.
The perfect place for a trap.
The moment Karna stepped into the valley—
Arrows rained down from above.
"SHIELDS!"
Asha shouted.
The Solar Guard raised their shields in perfect formation.
Arrows struck the metal surfaces with sharp clangs.
Hidden soldiers appeared along the cliff edges.
More than forty warriors.
Rudrasen rode forward from the far side of the valley.
His voice echoed confidently.
"You should have stayed in your palace, King of Ang."
Karna stepped forward calmly.
Behind him, the Solar Guard held their ground.
"You destroyed her kingdom," Karna said.
His voice was quiet.
But the entire battlefield heard him.
"And now you attack mine."
Rudrasen laughed.
"Kingdoms rise and fall every year."
He raised his sword.
"Power decides everything."
Karna slowly lifted the Vijaya Dhanush.
Golden light reflected from his armor.
"Then let power decide today."
Rudrasen shouted.
"Attack!"
Warriors charged from both sides of the valley.
The Solar Guard met them head-on.
Steel clashed violently.
Asha moved like a storm across the battlefield.
Her blade cut through enemy lines with deadly precision.
The Solar Guard fought exactly as she had trained them.
Disciplined.
Coordinated.
Unbreakable.
But the enemy still outnumbered them.
From the cliffs above, more archers prepared to fire.
Vrinda looked up.
"There are too many!"
Karna stepped forward.
His eyes burned with golden light.
Then he raised his spear.
The Solar Spear.
The ancient weapon began glowing brighter.
Heat filled the air.
The ground beneath Karna's feet trembled slightly.
Rudrasen's confident expression faltered.
"What…?"
Karna spoke calmly.
"Your trap ends now."
Golden fire erupted around the spear.
The energy gathered into a blazing sphere above the weapon.
The soldiers across the battlefield froze in shock.
Even Asha paused mid-fight.
Vrinda whispered in awe.
"The Sunfire Astra…"
Karna pointed the spear toward the cliffs.
"Fall."
He released the power.
A wave of blazing solar fire exploded across the valley.
The light blinded everyone for a moment.
The cliffs shook violently as the explosion tore through the enemy positions.
Archers were thrown from their perches.
Weapons shattered.
Dust and flames filled the air.
When the light faded—
The battlefield had changed completely.
The enemy formation was broken.
Their morale shattered.
Rudrasen stared in disbelief.
"What kind of power is that…?"
Karna walked forward slowly.
Golden energy still shimmered around his spear.
"Power that protects my kingdom."
Rudrasen realized the battle was lost.
He turned his horse quickly.
"Retreat!"
The remaining enemy soldiers fled into the forest.
But Karna did not chase.
The battlefield had already been decided.
Asha wiped blood from her cheek and laughed.
"Well…"
She looked around at the defeated enemies.
"That ended quickly."
The Solar Guard regrouped around their king.
Vrinda stared at the battlefield, still stunned by what she had witnessed.
Karna lowered his spear.
The golden light slowly faded.
Vrinda stepped closer.
"You could have killed him."
Karna nodded slightly.
"Yes."
She frowned.
"Then why let him escape?"
Karna looked toward the distant forest.
"Because he will lead us to the ones truly responsible."
Silence filled the valley.
The war had begun.
And now Ang's enemies knew exactly what kind of king they had provoked.
The Sun King of Ang.