Meanwhile, Armad realized that those creatures were none other than Dordor. He slashed the air with his sword, sending a burst of red lightning towards them.

A hundred or so dordor got slashed by the flying sword, but another group took their place. The sword, now slowed down, cut through them as well. But another batch took their place again and they were cut down.

It was easy, Armad thought.

It was as if those standing at the back were waiting for the ones standing at the front to die and replace them. This happened until the lightning died down.

Then, suddenly, the dead Dordor rose from the dead and even doubled in number (by literally duplicating themselves) like it was normal. This happened just as Armad was about to make a second attack.

"Judgement Dance!" Armad shouted. Even if he died, he would take Uznu down with him.

***

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, Uznu had a relaxed smile on his face. He cleaned his body with a piece of cloth and buttoned his robe. It was time to leave the battlefield. The council only tasked him with bringing Armad. He didn't have to help the alliance.

"Done?" Asked the woman.

"To enter the pocket dimension of the Lord King is to be as good as dead. I should have killed him already if not for the prince. He wants to extract the Book-sword. It's a shame I won't be the one to do it after all the years I spent researching on it." Uznu sighed.

"The Heirs of Wilberforce are now becoming lax. I've thought this one would do better." The woman looked disappointed. She shouldn't have gotten her expectations so high.

Meanwhile, Bihanzin was taunting old man Dalja.

"Stop feeling so smug, Armad isn't my last card."

Daljari shrugged. "It's still a huge blow. You thought your son-in-law could defeat Ururu? Just wait till I get my hands on you." As he said this, arrows made of burnt clay emerged from the ground and shot towards Bihanzin. It was instantaneous casting without the need of any gesture or incantation.

There was a scream as Bihanzin tried to evade the arrows. The soldiers thought Bihanzin was impaled by the arrows. But then they realized the scream didn't come from Bihanzin. It came from somewhere below...

Their eyes fell on Uznu.

Uznu, his mouth bloody, was almost kneeling on the ground, while Yarsaira held him up. There was a minor wound in his right arm which was visibly healing. The man had a surprised look on his face.

The woman holding him said some incantations while pressing his chest. Immediately after, he regained some strength but still couldn't stand up.

Silence descended on the battlefield.

"What... happened?"

"Who cut him?"

"Did he get a new opponent?"

"Who can be so foolish to attack him after seeing his last performance?"

The soldiers had little understanding of what happened.

Bihanzin turned to Daljari with a satisfied smile and asked, "Ever heard about the One-Night village?"

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Daljari hissed and went on sending his volley of arrows at Bihanzin. Somehow Bihanzin didn't mind. He was determined to tell his story even as the arrows rained on him.

"There were six thousand villagers at the time. Three thousand people died in one night, all of them vomiting blood. The cause of death is still unknown. The corpses remain to date. But the most baffling thing was the surprised look on their faces. The Bend used in killing those people is the same one used by Armad on Uznu. The Judgement Dance.

"It was said that the tribe of Wilberforce created this technique based on the famous Dance of Uncertainty. But unlike Dance of Uncertainty, Judgement Dance creates a controlled delay of injuries on the target. In other words, the injuries won't appear until the intended time. Whereupon the oath of death, already made by the attacker, is fulfilled. Hence the surprised look on the faces of the villagers. Look at Uznu on his knees, isn't he surprised?"

"The Judgement Dance you speak so highly of." Daljari hissed. "It uses an agreement between the soul and sword. And you know Ururu's soul doesn't let go that easily. Stop getting ahead of yourself. Your in-law won't even scratch Uznu despite his clever methods."

"Er... You are right, I guess." Bihanzin laughed. "But that is why I am going to use my plan B now. I just can't allow you to kill my entire army. I hope you understand."

Bihanzin turned to his right and looked at Deniz Iluru. It was a simple look but Deniz seemed to understand something. He turned to the carriage and nodded at his son Bizaya and commander Kalhari.

Commander Kalhari whistled.

In response, the Deniz army stopped attacking the Sisiyans. They immediately took arms and turned on their former allies. Meanwhile, Bizaya and Kalhari went and stood by Hasanu's side.

"Old man Dalja," Bihanzin said. His voice was solemn as if he was going to state some hidden truth. "You thought you started earlier than everyone, but you are wrong. You started early in the morning and I started late into the previous night. I shall make it a quick death for you, for the sake of Hilhusa."

~The Wall of Kisra

~In front of the entrance gate...

The trio of Hidaya, Zaikid, and Taidara walked toward the gate where the two Shishirui guards stood.

When they arrived at the gate, Ranbirshishirui turned to them with an excited smile. While Dandirshishirui was just studying Hidaya in wonder.

"Did you bring what you promised?" Ranbir asked the woman who was regarding them uninterestedly.

"Here, have it." She threw him a white bead chain in the form of a bracelet.

He caught it midair and stared at it uncertainly.

Hidaya sighed. "Are you wondering if it is a counterfeit?"

He shook his heads. "I am just amazed at your excellent workmanship," he said, looking at the charm again. Satisfied, at last, he leaped up in happiness, sending his seven heads all over the place.

Hidaya smiled and led her group out of the gate.

Han'ibal and his salsa stood outside the gate with their hands on their weapons.

"Just capturing you will surely bring a great reward from Ururu. Rank elevation to the first world, perhaps?" Hanibal said when they were within hearing distance with Hidaya.

"But..." Han'ibal looked both happy and uncertain as his eyes fell on Taidara. "You came along with an icing to my cake, the rebels' leader, Taidara Wilberforce."

He turned to Zaikid and said, "The only one unknown to me is this old man. But being with you, I am sure he will attract a great bounty as well."

"It is your turn to tidy up the house and make dinner, old man," Hidaya told Zaikid, completely ignoring Han'ibal.

"It is your turn. We all did our turns except you," Zaikid countered.

She tilted her head as if in thought, before replying, "Oh! Of course, I remember. But... well, you know I got it burnt any time I cook. Make dinner tonight, I'll make breakfast tomorrow."

Before he could refuse, Taidara interrupted him, "I will check on the army, and Heeda is bringing Armad and Fatima home. That means you are the only one left to do the house chores." Taidara bowed to Zaikid respectfully and patted Hidaya before vanishing.

[Hidaya's pet name was Heeda]

Bush flame, one of Han'ibal's salsa, pointed his index at Taidara, but Han'ibal raised a hand at him. "Let him go. We won't overstress ourselves when we don't have to."

Zaikid reluctantly nodded to the empty air where Taidara had been.

"Go, hurry and bring my daughter and grandson back before twilight. I hate it when dinner goes cold uneaten," Zaikid said before also vanishing.

Hidaya smiled at the old man's disappearing figure and turned to Han'ibal for the first time.

"What brings you here, Han'ibal?"

He opened his mouth to answer but she went on, "Trying to stop me from going to the battlefield, eh?"

Han'ibal immediately ordered his Salsa to attack. They surrounded her, but Hidaya just stood without a move to defend herself. But when they tried summoning fire, their attempts went in vain.

Hidaya adjusted her voluminous robe and moved a few hair strands away from her face. She said, "I have already tied your djinns with the chains of white bead some seconds ago. If you have another Bend that doesn't involve djinns, feel free to show it."