"Huh!" The head abbot of Chal Jama Monastery woke up from a violent dream that he had, sweating droplets of cold sweat from his entire body.

"Abbot Archan, is anything the matter?" His sleeping disturbances had alerted the patrolling monks for the night shift.

"Rise the other abbots, I wish to address them over a vision!" He hastily got out of his quilt covers and got dressed. The young monk did as ask of him while he rushed over to the scriptures archive searching for a certain scroll reading that matched the dream he had.

It had been forty years since he had taken up his vows, naturally the archives were a place he would venture during his past time to reflect upon the experiences of his predecessors and historic events kept in safe hands. Forty years, he had memorized almost all of the scriptures and their writings, having read them over dozens of times. For before his appointment to head abbot, he was but a scriptures monk. His predecessor had been slain by the Demon's apprentice to take responsibility for housing Golden Path and weapons within the mausoleums.

He counted it lucky, they had not decided to raze Chal Jama over this offense and let the other monks and scriptures remain. Archan believed that even Badala was aware of how deeply their faith was rooted into Kyrati society and the act of destroying religion would raise brows of his moral standing. But he was wrong, when news of his expansion came and wiping out of a City just to show the Chinese Army their intentions. It was clear that they were spared on a whim.

The monks prayed fervently day in and day out for answers to this new regime. They were afraid of loitering and wasting a day in meditation or even seen dozing off. He had made it clear that the moment they stopped acting like clergy, he would remove them. Archan didn't want to be afraid of man, he only wanted to fear god. But even he shivered with just the mere mention of his name spoken casually by a worshipper.

But this time, it was different. He had received providence.

Archan held onto the scrolled-up thangka that he brought to the meeting place. The abbots greeted him and he to them. The priest of the former-Jalendu Temple had a place amongst them as well. Badala had razed sacred Jalendu as an act of war against the Golden Path movement and expression of his disdain towards ritualistic practices that restraint liberty. Clearly, his idea of the ritual for the Tarun Matara living with him was not like the rest of the people. Just who was he? No-….. He knew who this was. That was part of his vision.

"The young one has given us a rough idea. What is it you wish to share with us, brother Archan?"

The Head abbot unscrolled the thangka. Once it had belonged to one of the warrior families, till that clan faded into non-existence. Its last descendant donated it to Chal Jama centuries ago.

The classic art style of over a thousand years ago had not changed. So it was easy for them to interpret what kind of message the paint depicted.

"This-…."

"Is something the matter?" He asked of one of his colleagues who stuttered and turned purple.

"It cannot be…. So-… Dhami was telling the truth." The abbot placed his hands to his face in regret.

"What is it brother Guna?" Archan inquired as he seemed to have seen this image before.

The abbot looked at him gravely.

"Do you recall the goat killer?"

How could he not? It was the talk of the monastery over eight months ago. It was relatively quick but an incident that their clergy hid. Because they suspected that the culpit for the Yalung Mask murders was one of theirs. Or at last he used to be. Brother Dhami of the Eastern Wing Shrines. When he was excommunicated by the abbot of that shrine on suspicion of murder of his fellow brother, he left and joined the Royal Guard. A while later, it came out on the news. Corporal Dhami, the Yalung Mask murderer. Their Dhami.

"You cast him out because you suspected he was responsible for killing his fellow monk, correct?"

"Yes, but it's not the suspicion of his murder that we excommunicated him for." The other monks were curious as to what was the reason.

"He- We had though he'd ranted blasphemous words. We had no idea this scripture truly existed!" The abbot of the Eastern Wing was truly ashamed.

Head Abbot Archan was not surprised. Not even he would have been able to finish the archives in his mere lifetime, then what of the other senior members of the monastery. Less likely.

"What he said was…. Anarchy in the mountains. Rakshasa and Demon God shall clash upon the highest peak and meld a new star in the ashes of what remains."

All including him, stared at the thangka. And exactly as he'd said, it was painted upon the ancient scroll.

A giant Rakshasa in the form of a Garuda confronting the bloody-handed demon upon a triangle mountain. Their minions fought their own war below. A depiction of a second sun was placed right between them to represent the new star to destroy all that remained.

The Head Abbot trempled slightly, it was exactly as the Eastern Wing Abbot had described and how his own vision had been bestowed upon him.

"We have wronged our brother." Archan declared to which the other abbots nodded.

"He prophesized this impending disaster before we were aware, yet we mocked him and cast him out only to be slaughtered by the Demon to fabricate that story about his killings."

"That Demon cannot be trusted!- It can't be that this Demon and the one here are one in the same?"

The abbots discussed heatedly as that thought stuck in their heads.

"The other day a worshipper had come praying about Badala, she said in his trial he had apparently mentioned something about Rakshasa in the mountains."

The hairs stood on the head abbot. In his mind and in his heart, the coincidence and similarity were just too close. The head abbot was sure.

"By the gods….. It is him!"

"It can't be-… then Kyrat-.."

"Will be met with oblivion…"

The silence daunted amongst the clergy of Chal Jama.

"We must not allow this to happen." Head Abbot Archan ironed out his resolve.

"How?"

"We reject the Demon." Archan was fearful of the Demon, in fact he was absolutely terrified. But before his fear were his responsibilities as the head of the organization. God was on their side, he would surely protect them from evil no matter what form. Even if that form was the unstoppable force that drove Kyrat out of pain and suffering.

"Will that not also mean rejecting Pagan's rule?"

"It is for the people!"

The Head Abbot was putting them through a rather difficult time, they wished he would have just stayed silent. But this crisis was happening whether they wanted it to or not.

"God is with us, my brothers. Just as Kalinag had vanquished the Rakshasa and our lord had banished Yalung. We, humanity will prevail!" Archan adopted an aggressive stance to motivate his fellow clergy into action. The monks began to discuss on their actions, the unanimously decided on one thing in their plans to save the people from their destruction.

"From this day forth, we who are loyal to the one up high invoke the Eternal Dharma!" Archan took a brush and drew out the characters of this ideal upon a canvas paper for his brothers to bring out with them to rally support. Eternal Dharma was their ideal of holding the orthodox ways of tradition more tightly and closely. The only way, they could be saved. When god came down to safe his worthy flock, they would be among them.

The monks had cemented their stand to oppose the Demon of Kyrat for the sake of the inhabitants. They would protest before the seat of power, they would hold their heads up high as they demanded his death to quell the imminent prophecy from happening. Badala must not remain or the calamity will appear.

"Go forth and warn the people of our divinitation! And may the gods protect you, my brothers!" The Head Abbot dismissed the abbots and senior monks who blazed with fervent spirits. The High Priest of Jalendu stayed to share a few words.

"Is what we're doing the right thing?" He asked the High Priest, he had slight conviction that he was doing nothing more than stirring trouble. What if he was wrong?

"I can only say, trust in your vision and faith, my son. If "his" providence has foretold of this event to come, then we must not cover our eyes from the truth. We've failed Brother Dhami and allowed him to succumb to the Demon's fangs. We must not commit the same mistake." The old priest rested his hands upon his shoulder to assure him as he left.

But Archan sensed another emotion swirling in the old Priest's eyes. He truly did not care for what they were about to accomplish, only the end means of this act. All he wanted was to strike back at Badala for robbing him of his holy grounds. Even so, Archan needed the power of Jalendu's most exalted one to convince the people that this was indeed a divine providence.

"This is for the people." He convinced himself once more. Many worshippers had come to Chal Jama not to pray for themselves but for Badala's continued glory and safety. Because they believed that the man who took the persona of a demon to do horrible things that man would not do against fellow man for their sake. The proof of this was the end of the Civil War and peace attained in the Himavanas.

Archan didn't want to believe it either. But his dream had a very special visitor from up high, this he left out from his fellow clergy. For it was being instructed to him not to reveal "his" nature or form. Archan had been given a sacred duty to save his people from calamity with promise of entry into paradise that was Shangri-la. The face of that which passed this message resembled the paintings and the statues that dotted throughout Kyrat. He neither confirmed nor denied who Archan thought he was, but gave him a gift. The honour of learning his true name.

Archan clenched his fist as he stared out into the night with the same fire of zeal that he'd passed onto his fellow monks.

"By your word, Lord Eternal."


The sight of him was enough to drive them into a surrender, they weren't going to take their chances testing the strength of the demon of Kyrat any times soon. The Papir Police went in to apprehend the anarchists and disarmed them of the weapons thrown to their feet by Golden Path to stir up trouble. They hated to admit, the war criminal Badala was a great asset to have in restoring order with minimal collateral as possible. His mysterious hooded soldiers disarmed the armed troublemakers with skillfully shot arrows to the limbs to disable them. No one would die by their hand.

Ajay rounded up some constables to accompany him to get the people to assist them, for he had zero credibility here. They found civilians barring themselves within their residence, they escorted them to the police commissions compounds for additional safety. Ajay had managed to find a physician and his staff, a businessman willing to lend workers and manpower, a courier service that would provide trucks to evacuate civilians and carry huge bulks of relief aid that was on its way.

There was however, one party that were not spared from his blade. And that was Golden Path. The policemen and Papirese Soldiers garrisoned in the City needn't do a single bit of fighting off these terrorists. They left it entirely to Ajay, or rather… they were afraid to get in his way.

Ajay rushed and shrew them like a tiger amongst a rabbit herd. They did not know how he could so easily kill these powerful warriors whom reported to have been shot multiple times but did not fall. Just content they were not his enemy now, rumours of him were all proven true and false before them. It was no wonder those that stood against him fell so disasterously. He was a monster on the battlefield.

Without Sabal to even try leading them, they were but a few gangs of armed men scattered around the City. The Hunters may not have possessed sufficient ability to take them down, but they had in their person a laser designator for calling in guided missiles for precision air strikes upon the Golden Path who gathered in a single location. Somewhere in the airfield Garudsang was a Spike NLOS launch platform that sent missiles to designated areas. The Hunters that guarded Pagan had such clearance to those fire support elements. Word on the net was that Surendra had been safely escorted into the airfield for extraction to Kyrat where it was slightly safer than here. The same mode of transportation was arranged for all of the delegates of Papir and Yinke who were hold up in Garud Durbar.

Ajay returned to the steps of the palace and killed the Golden Path groups that were loitering the premise searching for VIPs to kill, thereby creating chaos without their leadership. In truth, Ajay didn't understand the move that Mohan had made. It made things all the more terrifying, a strike on the Capital of Papir had to serve some sort of purpose other than to cause just a disturbance. Ajay couldn't put his head around it with the evidence he had, there was no way Sabal would've told him anything even tortured.

(Bang)(Bang) (crack)

A double tap to the head of the last remaining survivor of the group of Golden Path Exalts he found in the palace. Ajay found that while they were almost immortal yet immune to damage, they weren't immune to neural-poison that constantly kills them or shock to stop their heart. Which is why blunt trauma from high-powered weapons always killed them instantly. But in the range of small arms to bear against their equivalent, they were still outmatching any soldier in terms of strength.

Ajay focused using his third eye to look for signs of distress in the essence of the air, a tell-tale sign of someone seeking refuge. Garud Durbar was a place of historic significance, so there was at least a few hidden rooms. He looked in the most sensible spot to find them in the library.

"Channel Holmes…" He flipped his investigator mode on and looked around. The fireplace, the shelves, the furniture tossed from their original area and a cabinet lined with all the wine glasses. The one feature that even during his return from Yinke to be commended had always baffled him as the one furniture that didn't match the area. Sure, there would be some who wouldn't give to have their favourite spirit and red wine by the fire while reading. But it seemed that the cabinet of alcohol glasses and decanters was hastily throw in as a last-minute adjustment. He looked more closely to the cabinet, even feeling around it.

Looked at the feet of the cabinet, he noticed horizontal scratch marks to its side.

"…"

He continued to feel around the cabinet until- (click) (vrrrrrrrrr) He triggered a mechanism that dragged the wooden cabinet aside albeit loudly against the stone floor. Behind it was a corridor passageway, not unexpected at this point for having a secret mechanism to the cabinet.

Ajay walked through it without worry even when it was completely dark within. In the distance, he could hear voices. Not surprising as they were shouting and arguing with one another. The light at the end of the tunnel became more visible. And the closer he got, the voices quieten down as they heard his footsteps. Coming into the light, he could see a safehouse-like structure where they were. With a radio, stacks of food supplies and other necessities. Meant for anyone that meant to live out his days in hiding. In this case, the twenty-four individuals here were the most likely ones to occupy that role.

"B-Badala!" Dhir exclaimed surprised to see him here and in combat fatigues. The papirese soldiers had their rifles in a half-ready position, unsure whether he was friend or foe.

"The riot has been quelled. The Golden Path are dead, take back control of the situation." He told them.

His answer gave great relief to the delegates including the Papirese members of parliament.

"What happened out there?" An MP asked without considering the situation carefully.

"Go see for yourself." Ajay didn't bother to answer his request in full, he hid here and still dared to ask from him how was things fairing outside. In fact, they all were. If Ajay didn't know Dhir's personality he would have associated him with them as well. But the president of Papir represented the heart of the government body, he could not afford to be killed.

"With their leader dead, the Golden Path have routed. I've gotten the help of the Police Commissioner to restore order through Marshal law. But the rest, your people will have to sort out. I've already called in for relief supplies." Dhir bowed out of gratitude.

"What of King Min and Kumsa?"

"His Royal Highness has already been evacuated, Surendra Kumsa is being escorted by his guard and Colonel Roka."

"Saraswati?!" Eavesdropping in on the report, Arjun had come over.

"I originally intended to be amongst them to take Surendra out, but I bumped into Sabal. And he pulled me off, so I ended up here."

"And you let them travel through the countryside without additional backup!?" Arjun wrapped his hand around his collar and clenched it with his fists and he manhandled Ajay.

"Marshal Ro-!" Dhir was stopped by a hand raised by Ajay.

"Tell me then, Badala. If you loved my daughter, then why did you let her go out in harm's way?! You've always done that! All I see is her being used in another of your machinations!" As these words passed through, an eerie silence passed over as a powerful and intimidating aura struck and filled the atmosphere with dread and unease. Catching them all off guard, and turning Arjun especially pale as he saw the type of expression Ajay released only for a moment. His hands let go as they lost strength all together, Arjun had struck more than just a nerve unknowningly.

"I'll pretend I didn't hear that, Marshal. For both our sakes, I hope you don't ever bring this up with her either." He said it like a suggestion, but it weighed of a threat.

"You-.."

"She's fine."

"And how would you know?! You didn't anticipate Golden Path being here!"

"Maybe if I wasn't kept from working things might've been different. But really, who can say." Ajay dusted his front of the dust that fell from the stone roof.

"Don't forget, she's not just some any old how Colonel loitering around and tooting her rank for benefits, she's Saraswati "Freaking" Roka. Your daughter. She's been doing anti-insurgency mission way before we had real Special Forces units. Have a little faith in your own flesh and blood. Or are you implying that you don't have faith in yourself or don't trust in Swati's abilities?"

"That does not change the fact of what you've done."

Arjun was starting to have trouble finding why he hated Ajay or found a reason to oppose him, something kept edging him on to do so, he believed that it was his own intuition that he'd always trusted.

"Swati told me stories about your nature. Its more than just stubborn on the surface, there's an ulterior motive behind this. She also told me how you destroyed Mohan Ghale with a single sentence." Arjun had his breath taken from him when he talked of the incident that triggered the fall of Mohan from leader to rampant fool.

"I honestly believed in your spirit as an example that should've been set in the Army. But don't you know when enough is enough?"

"I-… didn't mean to-…"

"The end result was that you created the rift that broke Ishwari and Mohan's bond forever. You caused him to go nuts and kill Princess Lakshmana, and Ajay Ghale lost everything." The look that Arjun had was as if he'd advanced over twenty years of age. The light in his eyes was trembling.

"Is that why you're so stubbornly restricted Swati's own choices? Because you felt that this betrothal to Ajay was all you could do as penance for taking his everything? You wanted me to stay away so that Ajay Ghale, somewhere in Kyrat would have a chance to meet and fall in love with Swati." A hand wrapped around his collar in turn with the sound of knuckles crunching.

"I just hope-…. I don't want to believe that you raised her and loved her only for just this, Arjun. Because if it was true…. (crack) I'm gonna kill you." For the first time, Arjun saw a face of both pain, anguish and rage all in one package from the boy as he crunched his knuckles till they cracked. The fearless and wicked demon who showed no remorse and laughed at his enemies' downfall.

He could no longer look at Ajay in his face. A multitude of reason and anxiety poured into one moment and battered the older man.

"Is it wrong to sought redemption?..."

"Only at others paying."

"Swati is my daughter, my pride and joy. There's no doubt that I love her more than anything. Why can I not give her to the son of my Brother who I too love? So that she would experience the same."

"Stop using Ajay Ghale as an excuse! Your happiness isn't hers!" Ajay roared angrily for good reason, he'd taken off the mask and thrown it violently on the floor as he announced this.

"And what do you know of Ajay Ghale?! You never even seen him, nor know how he looks. You've not checked in on him like Pagan had for twenty-five years! You know nothing of what he'd been through! Watching Ishwari slowly die a little bit every year when we grew up and took care of her as she did to us. We didn't belong in the States, and we didn't belong in Kyrat… we had nothing and the one thing we had we lost forever!" Arjun watched as Ajay exhibited another emotion, crying. But he quickly wipped them away, Arjun was pushed away.

"I don't need you to try and repay back what you made us lose, Arjun…. Nothing you give can ever substitute our mother, our father and complete our family."

"Because you're doing it at Swati's expense. I will not let you do the same to her."

Arjun opened his mouth wanting to refute him, but Ajay posed him a question that was unsolvable in this case.

"If you were faced with the same instance with Ajay as you did with Ishwari and Mohan. Would you still stay true to your righteousness? Or will you break them over a debt of guilt?" The nail was struck, Arjun was trapped in the paradox of his beliefs. Justice was blind but fair, family love too was just but if he was to choose justice in this instance, he could not choose family. And vice versa.

"RAAARRRRGGHHH!" Arjun screamed madly as he covered his ears. Overwhelmed with pain and emotion. And was reduced to a miserable heap crying against his hands.

The delegation was made to watch these two settle their differences with what they should've done in the very beginning. This trial was a whole waste of time in Dhir's view, all they needed was closure with one another. But the rift and difference in their beliefs caused this rift to form and the Marshal's distrust in Badala's motives.

"Forgive me-…. forgive me, Ajay….for- forgive me, Badala boy…." Arjun wept in front of him.

"If Ajay were here I'm sure he will…. But I cannot, I will not, Arjun Roka."

Arjun looked up in worry about what he meant.

"I will never forgive you for pushing your peace upon him and her in the way you did. So remember that, Arjun. Let this thorn remind you that not everyone in a world of piety and honesty can be as perfect and just as they want. I hope that you'll have more sympathy over them as you would your own children."

Ajay walked back from whence he came, meeting Dhir at the exit.

"I can give you temporary asylum while Papir patches itself back in order."

"Then I will be leaving my people here?" He refused.

"Golden Path may attack again, and as per alliance ruling, I can't deploy troops in the City to fend them off. This needs to be Papirs responsibility."

"…."

"Sir, with all due respect. Join his grace to Kyrat." One of the elderly and well-respected minister of the left spoke up.

"How can I just up and leave?"

"We will stay behind to ensure that the Capital is running properly. Until we can truly ensure that all other Cities have returned order, we will give you the soonest time to return."

"Please, sir. Trust in his excellence." The other MPs supported the Left minister's idea that backed Ajay.

Seeing this determination to return Papir back to its state of normalcy, Dhir agreed to their best course of action, which was to ensure his safety. Dhir bowed and gazed at his MPs strongly.

"I will be back, please stand strong and steadfast!"

Ajay waited for him at the library on the other side of the hidden passage where it started.

"I'll be depending on Kyrat this once."

"We won't disappoint." Dhir accompanied him on route to their ride out.

"Look, son. I'm not one to judge in a family's affair but, perhaps you were too hard on the Marshal. Aren't you yourself answering on someone else's, Ajay Ghale's behalf?" Ajay smiled.

"Me and Ajay are a lot closer than anyone else thinks, you could say that we're one in the same mind."

Ajay arrived in the compound area where the elevated and extended helipad was based. In full view of the surrounding City due to Garud Durbar's build on elevated grounds. In the distance, he could already hear the distinct rotation of rotor blades. There, awaiting the helicopters' arrival. Dhir and the cabinet of ministers who came to see him off were made to witness their smoking city.

"What kind of leaders are we?" Dhir questioned himself before the destruction wrought while they were safe in the hidden passage.

"The type that'll make this right again." Ajay's words gave Dhir some strength to know what he needed to do.

"Your Grace, I assume you've heard what had happened in Kumsa."

Ajay looked at him baffled.

"Crown Prince Manendra has mounted coup de tat and has allied himself with Golden Path." Hearing it for the first time was hard to believe.

"Can you prove it?"

"He announced it on broadcast, did you not hear it?"

"…." He wasn't exactly putting his ear to the radio while fighting the Golden Path in the streets.

"What will you do to Kumsa?" Dhir wanted to know what sort of judgement Badala would pass upon Kumsa at a time like this, where desperate times called for desperate measure. Ajay was quiet for a moment to reflect upon an answer.

"To the people of Kumsa. Who is King, Surendra or Manendra?" Ajay instead possed that question.

Dhir knew what that meant, the Kumsans had to sort out their own mess just as Kyrat and Papir had done to their own states.

"I'll only carry out what I'm needed for. Destroying Golden Path and the Rakshasa in Kumsa." Dhir respected his decision.

"The trial-….. I think we can forget about it now." Ajay chuckled at Dhir's response.

"Still going on about it, I thought that after Manendra's crazy declaration everyone would've forgotten about it."

The helicopters appeared in the far distance, approaching closer as the dawn approached. The silhouette of the NH90 Royal Helicopter was here, accompanied by a fleet of Super Puma helicopters. Ajay took out a coloured smoke flare and dispersed it up on the roof with green smoke and illumination to indicate a safe area and where they were.

Arjun approached the helipad after slowly arriving and waited by the edge of the pad for his ticket back to the Royal Fortress. There was no meaning for him to remain, he had duties in office to return to and Ajay respected that.

"You really beat sense into that poor man." Dhir commented on the Marshal, Ajay made a glance to access Arjun's condition as well.

"He's important to our Army's military honour integrity. Men like him are too earnest at their job at being good leaders than powerful ones. Being the cruel despotic one is my job." No one would ever decide to just take on the burden of being the dark side of politics, it wasn't good for one's health neither was their anything to gain from this. Just like how they'd accused Ajay conveniently for all of their troubles and anxieties. This was Ajay's purpose, to funnel all of the negative emotions towards him, so that others could focus on building a better place without scrutiny.

"…. You really take your job seriously."

"The fact that you acknowledge it, is enough."

The helicopter manned by Kamran landed and opened the doors for the VIPs to board. Ajay went next to the cockpit window where Kamran was to dispatch orders.

"Take President Dhir and the Marshal back to the Royal Fortress! Remember to tell control, you're entertaining a head of state." Ajay said over his throat mic on his mask to dispel the racket of the rotorblades chopping.

*You're staying?*

"Someone needs to. I'm gonna find out why Golden Path were after Surendra specifically. Who're those boys you're flying with?"

*Task Force Agni. Helicopter Squadron Efreet. And 6th Dragoons, they rescued the Kumsan King and the Colonel before asking to accompany me to help out the Papirese. From what they heard, the Capital was hell.*

Ajay switched to the intercom local frequency that was locally broadcast about the Royal helicopter.

"This is Badala. C.O. of Task Force Agni, Colonel Magar report."

*My lord. Lieutenant-Colonel Magar, with the 6th Dragoons Battalion, reporting. Two-hundred and forty men heli-borne troops strong, sir!*

"Colonel Magar, leave a chosen Platoon to provide support to the local authorities here and to liason with fire support. Have your unit divide accordingly to the remaining cities. They are not to engage any armed assailants hailing from Papir. Golden Path is their only viable targets."

*Understood, sir! Deploying 3rd Platoon to assist, Lord Badala. Company O.C., comply.*

*Captain Tharu responds ready and willing! 3rd Platoon deploy!*

At his command, the super pumas closed in on the ground. Releasing over fifty soldiers that rappelled down the hovering choppers and closing in before matching towards the Police Commission with the aid of a Papirese Republican Guardsman.

Dhir had already buckled himself tightly with the assistance of the door gunner, Arjun was just climbing aboard.

"Badala-.." He turned around with a face full of anxiety.

"Your daughter was the best thing that's happened for me. Even if you don't give me your blessing as a father, I'll still marry her and do everything to make her happy." Ajay said wearing a wry but friendly smile.

"….." Arjun felt his lips curl naturally into a smile as well as he replied-..

"…. To a rascal like you….." He said shaking his head whilst chuckling.

Kamran waited patiently for Arjun to take his seat as he wouldn't be able to take off safely if he didn't. At that moment, no one was paying attention up on high. As all focus was on the ground where the city was still tearing itself apart.

That's when it came.

A shadow passed over Kamran's chopper only for a moment. That single moment Ajay felt his hairs raise and within his pocket, the Demon Banishing medallion rattled more violently than ever before.

Ajay had looked up to see a huge shadow eclipsing his view of the sun coming down hard. Ajay reached for his mic button and yelled into the comms.

"Contact up high! Choppers, evasive action, NOW!"

[RAAAEEHHHHAAAAAA!]

A powerful shriek pierced their eardrums and put those not used to long sounds on their knees. The shadow was gigantic in size and proportion, came swooping down and only growing as it reach out its claws for the closest helicopter.

(thrug)(BOOM) A loud sound of metal renting of the main rotors of the helicopter colliding with the shadow and followed with a loud explosion as the shadow had struck it with sufficient power to set off its fuel supply.

The wreck fell to the earth in a fireball and collided with the buildings below. And the shadow stayed in place, admiring the work it had done. Watching all those faces of despair and disbelief upon those little people down below.

But its glowing orbs cast its gaze directly at Ajay as it marveled the genuinely shocked expression of its one true hated enemy. How could he not be in shock from that sight of the figure hovering over the ground through a denial of physics. That figure wasn't any ordinary figure either. It was a figure that he had never expected would truly come out of where he'd last seen it.

It was the last boss of Shangri-la.

The embodiment of Rakshasa.


Just who was Pravindra, she wondered. To have successfully brought her all the way out of multiple layers of security within the brig, take to the sky in two A-29 turbo-prop aircraft and gain flight clearance without termination from the Air Defense sites. She had never dared to escape by air with those SPYDER SAM sites in operation, there were reports of Russian Pantsir triple-As killing the POF F-16s that flew too low during that bombing mission.

*Two more minutes, and we should be in the clear without mountains hanging in the way.*

*(Sigh) Your idea of fresh air.*

*Do you not like it?*

*No complaints here.*

Her transition into the Super Tucano was not difficult as she flew a Cessna back in the states as military trainers. All she needed to know were where the instrument placements were.

*We're here.* He told her over the intercom. Finally clearing the clouds, she was exposed to a whole cloudless sky luminated by the full moon up on high. He breath was taken away by the sight of stars blanketing the night alongside the moon that did not seem like night at all.

*Right, now we can get to it.*

*Get to what?*

*We're gonna have a rematch.* Olivia was astounded by what he had just said.

*Weren't we just getting fresh air?*

*We've already come out this far, what awaits us back in base is a reprimand.* Her mind was a mess to the antics of Pravi, he was really difficult to read. None of his actions seemed to have a logic behind them that made sense in the same way as she viewed it. The same could be said for his flying mannerisms. A combination of turns and strafes that didn't follow standard doctrine, made him a difficult target to predict his flight path and apprehend.

*We're gonna correct what you should've done in that dogfight.*

*Excuse me?*

*I'm 80% sure that you had more than one opportunity to down me, Lieutenant Lowde. But something was stopping you from doing so, and it was true for that battle.*

Olivia was silent on the comms as she didn't know how to answer his question if even she didn't know her own problem.

*You're afraid to dive.*

Pravi gave an answer which she found strangely coincidental in her inability. It sounded stupid, for a pilot to not be able to fly downwards during combat to perform manoeuvres.

*Some part of you says that if you lose your energy, you won't be able to recover it again.*

No answer didn't mean he was wrong either.

*In piloting nothing is certain, I'm sure your instructors have said the same thing over and over again. You can be a "by the book" kinda girl, but never let the enemy read you or he's just gonna make life more difficult for you.*

She knew what he was saying, it was how he had exploited her weakness by taking frequent baitings only to find her still up top like the king of the mountain where it was almost impossible to engage with her style of combat which was dogfighting with the guns. If it had been a missile scenario where radar wasn't impaired like back then than it wouldn't have been an issue to finish him off easily. But the entire point of the trip here was to school her in gunfight.

*Trail after me.* He said and she decelerated behind his plane. Since this wasn't a jet, there was no issue of running behind his jet lash, causing an engine deprivation of air.

Pravi took his plane down a simple attack vector, being the only ones in the sky she felt no threat. Olivia took her plane into the same descend, trailing close by. Pravi took his plane for multiple turns and shakes which she followed without issue.

*Not bad. Alright, now for the fun part.* He increased speed and was almost out of sight from them. Olivia did her best to catch up, the whirl of the propeller accelerated.

*I want you to shoot me down.*

*Are you crazy?!*

*Don't worry, these planes are loaded with a special paint mix bullet in the .50s. they're a pain to wash off so we don't ever like getting shot because the losers have to wash all of the airframes.* Olivia never believed they would be so reckless, not even the US air force would do something like this. What if the paint impairs their vision around their canopy, then they'd not be able to see their surroundings. Or if someone loaded a live round amongst the paint shots. Even the engine could get fouled and get damaged.

Olivia didn't worry about these things as he was already gaining the advantage to strike back at her from behind. She chased after him, but now she could follow his pattern, having accompanied him in flight.

*Don't be afraid to fire a few shots even if you overshoot me, your systems aren't gonna to tell you exactly where the shots will land. That's why missiles are relied upon so much. Use those shots to zero-in for the next opportunity.*

She did as he said and chased him in his Split-S maneuver. When her target was lined up, she depressed the trigger.

(Brbrbrbrbrbrbr) A stream of .50 paint shots flew, since there were no tracer rounds visible she had the helmet thermal to see the stream of fire.

But it hit nothing as Pravi's plane disappeared right before her in a dive. She turned her stick to follow after him but her body just stiffened on reflex, not under her control at all. Pravi saw it from the back of his cockpit, the fatal body reflex that cost her a move in the air.

*If you won't attack me, then I will.* He attempted to come around her during this stumble. Olivia quickly fought back for her position as the aggressor and him as the defender. She chose rolls to keep herself in a good position whilst Pravi choose an aggressive combination of lag rolls to come just next to her and a rolling scissors to come right behind her.

Her laser warning was beeping like crazy, even without missiles on their pylons, the IR module was still marking her in line with his gun. During her entire career, she had rarely been out turned and outmatched. Only being the one doing the damage because of her swift and efficient attacking prowess and her leadership skills in having wingmen who covered her rear and gave her utmost security. It was this sort of performance that gave her a ticket with the Raptors and special mission targets from Special Activities Division. But down here, she was alone. Pravi was revealing a weakness which she had struggled to conceal for so long and worked her hardest to erase.

*Dive, Olivia!* Pravi's voice over the comms shook her, she depended on the voice to lead her out of the jeopardy she faced. Trusting the voice, she took a dive for a defensive spiral to outrun her opponent who was still close by and on her.

*Don't climb! That's a certain deathwish!* Just as she was about to climb on reflex to restore her height and energy advantage the voice advised against it.

*Then what-.*

*Under cartwheel. Go!* She honestly didn't know what to say. Normally, one wouldn't go lower than they already were, nor would they perform a manoeuvre that put the pilot at risk to other aircraft in the area. But here, they were alone against each other.

She did as he said and wrestled the high-Gs and vertigo of turning around. She almost lost sense of direction, it was an equivalent of a tumble. Pravi did the same but told her something else while he was in the midst of following her.

*Now climb!*

Pravi had just come about and was pointing his plane straight up like she was. A considerable distance lay between them.

(Brbrbrbrbrbr) Pravi fired a few shots to motivate her to make subtle movements left and right. With the aircrafts facing upwards, it was difficult to angle in a way to get his sights on the target. This was what he was trying to make her understand. (Brbrbrbrbrbr) He kept firing short bursts to keep her ascending.

-Now, what will you do?-

Olivia who had been depending on his instructions till now panicked with no directions given to her. She understood that from here on out, she was on her own. Trying her best to maintain her calm under pressure, she looked for alternatives. Pravi's guidance in the pattern of flight she took just now showed that even with almost negligible energy to fight, it was still possible to outmanoeuvre your opponent. Energy manoeuvre theory which she'd studied in in the flight school was meant for modern tactics, mainly with the use of missiles over guns.

Yet, the gunfighting Pravi beat and outmaneuvered her in the most advanced fighter of this generation. Her air forces' way wasn't wrong, but neither was Pravi's. There was more to air combat that she had previously thought, it was more than just a cold calculative set of strategic moves and tactically correct maneuvers.

With the assurance, she had been given over the situation and guidance by a fellow kindred spirit she commenced her counterattack. She did the exact opposite of what Pravi had first told her to do, a somersault upwards. Coming around, she gained significant gravitational potential energy and lost it with speed downwards. But now, she was facing Pravi head on. The move was so quick that Pravi acted on reflex and moved out of the climb into a steady flight. But now, she was right behind him.

Presented with the clear rear end of his plane, she squeezed the trigger, sending a salvo of paint shots striking his glass canopy with a thump. Bright orange that stained his rear was even visible in the night.

A smile crept onto his face. She had conquered her own weakness on her own. He was sure that Olivia was feeling an inexplicable feeling of satisfaction from being able to surpass that flaw on her own.

*Knew you could do it.*

*…. Thank you, Pravi.* A meaningful thanks was sent his way.

*Right, I think that's enough fresh air for today. We'd better get these planes back or the technicians will feel Rohan's wrath.*

Olivia accompanied him on the route back to the base. She was still visible distance from Pravi as she flew it in his direction. The ecstasy of the moment had subsided and she had been thrown back into the situation of being behind bars.

Or did she.

She was out of the prison and in an aircraft just a few hundred kilometers from the Pakistani border. She looked at the fuel gauge, it was a quarter full which wasn't a problem. So now it was a question of whether she ws ready to leave or not. Olivia felt the guilt of betraying this pilot who had not only given her a liberty that no military organization would offer their prisoner and had helped her conquer one of her most fearful weaknesses all out of good will. The Pilot Ace Pravi was an enigma.

If she left now, he would face the music of assisting her escape. There was no way he could apprehend her with only paintshots loaded so nothing stood in her way. So why was she taking so long to decide where the old Olivia would have just turned tail and run?

One end was Freedom at the cost of integrity and her honor, if she left she would have repaid good karma with ingratitude and she would remember it for the rest of her life. On the other end was nothing good for her by rotting in a prison for the sake of an enemy, with no confirmation of whether combat search and rescue teams would be dispatched. It would be easier to declare her MIA and possibly KIA behind enemy lines.

The roll of clouds on the exit came in front of Pravi as he flew home.

*I had my suspicions, but now I know it for a fact. You are a natural-born pilot, Olivia."

A silence on the comms was all he got.

*Olivia, you there?* He had no visibility through the clouds so he was not able to confirm her whereabouts at that moment.

Only when the clouds cleared did he find himself flying alone in the sky towards Sagarmatha. Somewhere in his heart, he knew that this would happen. He had given her the means of escaping so of course, she would take it. He wasn't sure of what would the penalty he would receive for this offense. What would happen to him for aiding in the escape of a high-value prisoner of war, allowed the appropriation of an asset the Super Tucano and had given her privy sensitive intel such as the dimensions and capacity of Sagarmatha to an enemy?

He'd probably lose his wings. And yet, he didn't feel all that bad. In a way, Olivia was a student of his. And her future in the skies might just be a credit to himself. There was no answer for a long time on the comms, so he assumed that she had genuinely left.

Even so, he pressed the talk button on the comms and said….

*I don't regret taking you out in the skies, maybe you think I helped you. But in truth, you helped me by letting me help you. This squadron leader stuff really isn't my style, I'm just happy to soar in the air. Who knows…. maybe the next time I might get a rematch and lose to you. I hope you'd do the same for me.* Pravi had said his piece to the empty airwaves. Preparing himself for the whooping he was going to receive.

*I highly doubt it.* Returned an answer on the comms. Pravi was surprised out of his shoes, he looked around but no contacts could be found, until a Tucano came rising beside him from below to his wing.

*You might not even live to tell the tale.* Said the individual in the glass cockpit of the other Super Tucano with a smile that could be seen even in the night.

Pravi laughed at the control of his plane. It was the idea that she would actually be willing to return with him back to the place she was being held. Thinking about this whole excursion, it was one of the most ridiculous things he'd ever done besides a few.

*I don't know about that, I've got my friend Arun watching over me.*

*Heh! Your wingman wouldn't be so lucky if I even get a go.*

*He-…. Was my weapons officer.*

*….. Was?*

*He's gone.*

*I'm sorry.* Hearing her say that he suddenly laughed again. He laughed because he recalled once, Arun declared that if he were to be killed in action, he would want it to be by a beautiful woman. But of course, how many Armies had female pilots in fighter aircraft?

"You hear that, Arun? She apologized. Now are you gonna forgive the beautiful lady for shooting you down?" Pravi murmured to himself not realizing that he'd left the microphone depressed.

*Hey, Olivia. Let's take this on a pass over the control tower.*

*(Sigh) One last prank before you face the music?*

*You mean we, right?*

*I'm just a POW along for the ride. Geneva says if I escape I'd just get incarcerated again and again till the war ends.*

*So cruel.*

*Look on the bright side. At least, I'd have an interesting fellow inmate to talk to.* Pravi laughed again dryly.

*Interested enough to talk to me, huh? I like that.* Considering her previous aloof behaviour to him it was a transition.

*Don't wag your tail so excited, my little puppy.*

*woof woof!* He followed on with a little humour.

Their conversation was overheard by the control tower who found their activities to be without explanation. Olivia landed on the tarmac with Pravi in tow. As they made a stop near the hangar, MP vehicles with their police lights moved in and halted near them. MPs flooded out the rear and surrounded the two planes.

One MP on the microphone demanded they exit with their hands behind their heads.

From their point of view, they were baffled when two of the pilots. One was their prisoner of war, the other was the celebrated Lieutenant Pravindra Kumar were laughing away as if they, the MPs weren't a bother to them. The escort leader ordered them to apprehend and cuff them both.

"Hahahahahhaa!..."

"Hahahahahahaha!..."

They still laughed at one another over some sort of funny conversation joke they had no idea was about. But had tickled their funny bone till they were almost out of breath. It would be days before Pravi's release would be secured by Badala. Until then, he would laugh and chat with Olivia in the brig. One of the rarest occurrences of companionship with the most unlikely of individuals.

The enemy who became his friend.


"Why" only froze him into inaction like the rest had been subjected to, as they saw what Ajay had only seen from a vision of Shangri-la.

"Kamran, get out now!" Kamran responded by rising quickly as he could.

"Royal Army! Kill this monster!"

The miniguns whirled and unleashed spreads of heavy caliber cartridges upon the newly arrived foe. The helicopters dispersed to gain some ground to evade as they came fired upon the hovering monstrosity.

Tracers from the infantry down below were sent upwards at the giant bird-like monster. Rocket pods unloaded upon the Rakshasa monster, the massive firepower was being unleashed onto one single target loitering in one spot. The heli-transports tried to dump all of its troops for fear it would perish along with its entire troop complement.

At this point, the loudness of the battle between the Battalion and the flying Rakshasa monster was turning heads from all parts of the City. Be it anarchist or law enforcer, they all heard the terrifying sound of the monster and suddenly lost all motive of arson and restoring order to run for cover.

As it hovered over ground where all could clearly see for the first time what the Royal Kyrati Army had been fighting all this while.

*Lord Badala! Allow us to help you!*

"Negative, Colonel Magar. Leave the squadron to take care of it, you and your men help as many to seek shelter! The rules of engagement still apply, kill the Golden Path!"

*Yes, sir!*

[RAAAEEHHHHAAAAAA!]

(BOOM) The Rakshasa didn't seem to be affected at all by the 12.7mm API rounds, but seemed slightly shaken by the limited rockets that were fired at it.

Ajay pointed at it and performed the most powerful hex to get the Rakshasa's attention before it demolished too many of his helicopters. He was fully aware of the consequence of using it upon a beast bigger than him.

"My will is the mountains… my karma is the mantra." But as he was halfway through the spell, the Rakshasa sensed the built up of Demon Banishing magic and turned directly toward him. The giant bird-like monster swooped in a strafing run towards him at inhuman speeds, now he had its attention.

Ajay fired his G3 on fully automatic to get its attention. When the monster swooped to pick him up with its claws, Ajay vaulted out of the way and it struck air before trying to rise up to its original altitude.

(BOBOBOBOOOM) The Rakshasa received some rather heavy volume of firepower exceeding what the Super Pumas had. Tracers of 30mm rounds and 80mm rockets pummeled the beast and distorted its steady flight, a pair of Havoc gunships flew pass. Hoping to draw its attention to them instead.

"Gunships! Maintain distance, ground that bastard so it doesn't take flight!"

*Roger. Grounding big bird. Over.*

"Badala to all units, Task Force Agni and the Papirese authority. Cease crowd control activities at once and begin mass civilian evacuation to local shelters! The enemy is upon us! Single target, extremely hostile and dangerous. The Rakshasa is a 15-foot Garuda-type, immune to under 20 mil. All ground forces are not to engage unless in an emergency situation. From this moment, the target shall be designated as Griffon." He chose a respectable name for its abilities without having too much of a psychological effect upon the troops, so they could fight with a clear head without being too overwhelmed. The channel chattered with response complying with him, while others were dispatching orders to do as he said, evacuate the civilians regardless of their stance.

Ajay looked to a radioman of the 3rd platoon that came to join him previously for hunting Golden Path. They weren't the priority now, they'd most likely take the opportunity to escape with their lives while the Griffon drew their attention.

"Contact, Sagarmatha Command and tell'em to dispatch CAS, for an anti-armor mission. Authorization codes: Echo 44-2376-93 Charlie." The radioman went to work while the soldiers went to look for anyone nearby to help evacuate. Mainly, the ministers who had been out to send Dhir off. Ajay had lost sight of Kamran but was sure he'd left.

(BOOM) The Havocs frustrated the Griffon as it attempted to chase them in their odd formation of random-like passes. So it went for the easier prey in the form of the Super Puma transport helicopters.

"Tsh!" It was a sore loser.

Ajay drew out his only weapon that he believed would have some limited affect on it. The compound bow deployed and automatically pre-strung an arrow.

As the Griffon Rakshasa gouged itself upon the burning metal of the wreck it carried, the Havocs made another strafe. But this time, it flung the wreck towards one. The pilot managed to avoid getting smashed inwards completely by the flying wreck. But lost a whole tail rotor causing the attack helicopter to spin out of control as it descended.

It became quite obvious with the faux-Garuda's mentality. It was quite narrowminded in its rendition of destruction. Only focusing on aggressors that dealt heavy punishment upon it. The Griffon wanted to return the favour tenfold by wrapping its talons around it and squeezing it to death.

One current example would be the recently crashed Mi-28 havoc gunship and its two pilots who were getting out unscathed thanks to the armour body of the cockpit that absorbed the crash.

[RAAAEEHHHHAAAAAA!]

But they were in for trouble, as the Rakshasa came for them in retaliation. (crack) The hefty monster crashed the rubble underneath it upon landing as it hobbled towards the crashsite.

(pow) (BOOM)

An explosive bolt detonated against its armoured cheek, causing it great agony compared to the other weapons due to the talisman drawn into the semtex bolt. It traced the trajectory back to where up on the roof tops were a figure that brought its rage to the maximum. The reason it was now what it was.

It instantly forgot about the helicopter gunship pilots and turned towards Ajay. A distance of around fifty metres was not much for it to reach him.

Ajay lit a flare and waved it around to get its attention. A maneuver that seemed pretty effective on dinosaurs.

"That's right, you giant turkey! Come get this delicious birthday cake."

Ajay turned around and ran. The Griffon Rakshasa pursued on foot, waddling through the confines of the streets and destroying much of the windows and property laying around. The streets had many routes, so it gave Ajay many opportunities to hide but it also forced the Griffon to move in a direction of his choosing. As he made sharp turns with it just ten metres behind him, the Griffon couldn't suddenly change direction and tumbled but got up swiftly and bought Ajay additional time.

"You better be ready when I'm there…" Ajay murmured in regard to his plans.

Ajay turned the next alleyway and straight ahead was the city square. This city square was roughly the dimensions of Moscow Red Square. Just a kilometer of wide open space with paced roads. This was the place he'd chose, for it would allow fire support to fully bear upon the Griffon with minimal collateral damage and endangerment to the population. It would be at the cost of the brickworks and the old baroque-style fountain that dominated the centre, but it was acceptable.

The Griffon Rakshasa came rushing through the buildings with no regard, when it tried to take off into the air, the remaining Havoc unleashed a barrage of anti-armour missiles that hurt it gravely. Ajay had lit flares along the way to guide it towards him as it seemed to be directed in its path by mere instinct alone.

It spotted Ajay and moved in to attack him. As he waddled forwards, it leaped in the air and shook its wings sending down projectiles flying out, metallic quills that shot like a rain of arrows towards him.

(pow)(BOOM)

He acted upon reflex and fired the explosive arrow just in front of him. The detonation blasted the dangerous feathers away from their original trajectory, Ajay only had to pay for the power of the blast of his own arrow warhead. A shot of morphine helped to numb the pain ever so slightly without him losing total feeling.

The Griffon pounced upon him, determined to flatten him with its talons. Ajay fired his grapples at the fountain and winded the tether wires at maximum speed. The motor saved him from becoming a pancake.

He retracted back to where the anchors had been embedded, which was the fountain itself. Looking down, Ajay saw that one of the engineering sections had indeed followed his instructions. He reached down and picked up an object.

"We can keep this up all day, and you wouldn't be closer to getting hold of me." Ajay taunted.

[RAAAEEHHHHAAAA!] The Rakshasa he dubbed "Griffon" gave a fierce response. Its powerful shriek had a piercing effect on eardrums, covering his ears did very little to mitigate that cry.

(Bang)… (Bang)….

The Griffon's feet smashed the pavement as it closed in cautiously. Ajay strung another arrow and shot it dead centre.

(BOOM) [IIIIEEEEEEEEERRRAAAAHHH!]

The talisman engraved explosive arrow caused the Rakshasa Griffon great pain. But didn't kill it at all. Ajay dropped into the fountain well filled with water. Placing his hand into the water and murmured the scriptures of consecration upon the waters to use as a weapon.

The Griffon recovered from the painful explosive arrow and bull charged its way to where Ajay was. He did not make any indication of moving as he was still chanting to render the waters. The Rakshasa became sure of its ability to crush him as he made no attempt to escape.

The closer it got, the more nervous he felt but had no choice if he wanted to ensure success. If his arrows weren't enough to kill it, then he needed another way of causing great amounts of damage on it to expose a critical point in the monster.

He'd tried to previously determine the nature of the Rakshasa with his third eye. But all he could see was a large shroud of opacity. There were no Karmic threads spreading out from it either so Ajay had no way of determining the exact controller of this monster. But the biggest question was why Natural Law wasn't intervening to eradicate it, this creature was clearly against Nature. Something wasn't right. It was clearly Rakshasa work, but even with the Rakshasa they had a limited window in being here. This monster was clearly on par with a Pillar or even greater.

He was forced to deal with it directly.

(Bang)(Bang)(Bang)(Bang) The Rakshasa got closer and closer, until it was just looming over him.

(Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr) A stream of bullets struck and ricocheted off its body. The tracers linking back to the Royal helicopter, which should've been off depositing the VIPs.

-What the hell?!- Whilst maintaining the chant, he pondered upon the reappearance of Kamran.

Looking up at the side door of the helicopter, he saw Arjun using the minigun to distract the Griffon.

*Whatever you're doing do it fast!* Ajay had no time to answer him as an interruption in the spell would have a terrible backlash.

(Brrrrrrrrrr)

The rounds bounced off its armoured feathers, causing no damage other than irritation. The Griffon leaped into the air and flapped its wings.

[REAAAAAHHHH!]

(BOOM) The distant Havoc gunship fired another salvo of millimeter wave radar missiles at the Rakshasa to keep it on the ground. But the Griffon pulled through and flapped its wings on the spot faster.

It created a vortex that swirled around it, drawing debris up from the ground to whirl around its mini-hurricane. Kamran nearly lost control as he too was being sucked it, but managed to wrestle his chopper free with some skill and focused on stabilizing his aircraft as best he could.

Ajay enunciated the final hymn and stood up from the waters and pointed to the Rakshasa.

"My will is the mountains, my karma is the mantra… Banish all creation against nature." His voice was carried with the winds of the hurricane that the Rakshasa produced. All those in the area heard it as if it were a P.A. announcement.

"8th Demon Banishing Hex! Seal!"

The invisible lightning trailed towards the Rakshasa monster and struck it within its centre. The Griffon suddenly seized and dropped to the ground.

"Puucckk!" Ajay sustained significant internal damage from casting that spell, vomiting a fountain of blood into the water as well.

The Rakshasa rolled in agony before getting up in pain and turning once more towards Ajay. Now, it didn't care what other distractions were around. It could feel that its life string was nearly severed by this person, but he was just off by a certain level to completely seal and destroy it. Even so, it had sustained very critical damage internally that the healing factor was working vigorously to restore.

It stomped its feet, kicking off the ground and charging towards the fountain while he showed weakness.

*Get out of there!*

But Ajay seemed not to have heard as he stayed in that crouching posture. The Griffon charged on. And just when the opened beak of the Griffon dived down to grab hold of him. Ajay raised his concealed compound bow was string drawn and released an arrow into its mouth.

(BOOM) A muffled explosive detonated from within the Griffon and it fell clumsily into the statue that dominated the centre of the fountain. (splash) (sssssssssss)

Falling body into the fountain waters that begun to burn it all over, the Rakshasa could only groan in agony as it was too weak to get up in time.

Ajay had used the grapple to clear the area and his eyes meet with the Rakshasa that held both shock and terror in one widen look. In his hand was a remote detonator to 200 kilos of C4 laid around the circumference of the fountain.

"Bye-bye." (click)

(BOOOOOOOOM) Like a volcano had erupted from the central city square, an orange fireball blew upwards where the C4 had been carefully made to direct. And in its blasting pathway was the Griffon Rakshasa that disappeared into the fires.

[REEAAHHHhhh-…] The shriek died down until there was absence.

The helicopters loitering in the distance closed in to clear the perimeter and evacuate the wounded civilians and law enforcement personnel while the skies were clear again.

*You did it! Boy!*

"We did it. (huff)."

*Hang tight while we come pick you up.* Arjun was already directing Kamran's movement.

He wasn't sure what happened to Dhir as there was no comment on him.

"You should've taken Dhir straight back."

*Leaving you here alone to fight this thing?*

"I had it under control."

*Yes, I'm sure you did.*

Ajay was in no mood to argue again with Arjun. What baffled him was why he came back here.

*We've dropped Dhir at the airfield to return by fixed-wing. The Marshal felt that it was safer than traveling by slower helicopter with this monster around.* Kamran disclosed why Dhir wasn't with them. But why they were really back here, Ajay didn't want to imagine that Arjun came back here to support him, it didn't match his personality.

Either way, the Royal helicopter came down in an approach to pick him up.

In truth, Ajay had no energy left to continue this venture of questioning Golden Paths actions here. He needed to mobilize a force to liberate Kumsa back for Surendra and bring Manendra in for questioning. He needed to know what his father was planning because it was in line with what Esha wanted. It meant that she wanted him to fight to gain control of the entire Himavana realm where the ancient lowland kingdom ruled. Fulfilling Wise Head's prophecy.

*Come, let's go home….. And we can talk about my daughter's future over dinner.*

At first, Ajay thought his hearing was off, but after Kamran reacted as well to prove that he was correct. Ajay broke into laughter because just moments ago he was against his interaction was Saraswati. The thought of him supporting an idea of discussion was out of character for someone as stubborn as the Rhino of Kyrat.

"….. Ok."

*Hey, can I come?* Kamran buggered in unusually.

*Why in the world?*

*I'm practically suited to be his best man!*

"*That's not decided yet.*" Both Ajay and Arjun answered in unison.

*You wound me, Badala. After all, those quick drop offs I've done for you.* He said in a joking manner.

"Huh! I thought that it was your job, and you didn't really care who you-." A shadow came out of the smoke of the devastated ground and swept down to where Kamran was descending.

(Crash) The shadow smashed his tail fuselage and sent him flying about in an uncontrolled crash landing pattern.

*Mayday! Mayday! (static).* (BOOOM) The helicopter spun and crashed into the buildings of the city square's perimetre. But Ajay was presented with another problem, he saw what the shadow was.

[REAAAAAAHHAAAAA!] A blast of wind cleared the smoke and presented the aftermath of the powerful controlled explosion. Only giving an undesired unsatisfactory result, the Griffon was still standing.


Large graze marks tarnished its armoured body but other than that it was still standing and healing with difficulty. The dangerous combination of viscious "Blessed" water and a lot of high explosive had been very effective upon it.

Ajay rushed over to the downed helicopter to assert the outcome of Kamran and Arjun. The Havoc gunship noticed it was still standing so it strafed it with its limited supply of anti-armour missiles till someone could bring out heavier ordnance or come up with another plan.

But the Griffon seemed fixated on him specifically and waddled after him, and fell on the ground as it realized its left leg had been blasted so badly it barely resembled a leg. The only part of the Griffon that didn't seem to heal. Even so, it limped towards him no matter how slow it was.

"Kamran! Arjun!" He arrived at the crashed NH90 used as Pagan's personal helicopter.

"(cough) Ajay-…." Through the cracked glass cockpit, Kamran was bleeding badly.

"I'm here!"

"..It's coming…." He informed what was behind him.

"Where's Arjun?!"

"He-… in the back, knocked out."

The door was crushed in an awkward angle, preventing him from pushing it aside. He took out his kukri and smashed the joints to release the door entirely. (Thung) The passenger compartment door came falling down was a metal thump and Ajay entered the compartment in search of Arjun. As Kamran had said, he was unconscious against the harness of the seat. The door gunner had been crushed between the other door which the helicopter leaned on and was not so lucky to survive.

Ajay immediately grabbed hold of the Marshal and pulled him out of the wreckage.

"Ajay…. I think I'm stuck…."

"I'll be right with you!" He said dragging Arjun to the inside of a house and running over back to the chopper.

"No-…. Just take the Marshal and go….. I'll be right with you."

"I said I'm coming for you!"

The Rakshasa continued to limp his way. But all Ajay cared about was getting Kamran out, he reached the cockpit and wrenched the cockpit door out of the way and witnessed the real damage to Kamran from the crash.

"There's no escape for me….. Ajay." He said out of breath from his heavy breathing. His face was extremely pale as well from the loss of blood. And the loss of blood was from where he'd sustained that immobilization.

A beam from the helicopter's frame had pierced right through his thigh and pinned him into the helicopter. Ajay tested the integrity of the beam and if it was come free.

"AArrghhh!- Stop! Stop! No more!" Kamran was feeling too much pain from him moving the beam, so he switched over to breaking the lower portion of it.

(thang) (thang) He tried striking it with his kukri without much progress.

He put it away and used his bare hands, calling upon the demon's blood to tear the metal apart. And as he did so only render the metal sharper. The bent metal cut his palms through the gloves, but he persisted. Until blood poured from his hands.

"It's useless.."

"Shut up! Grrrrrrrghhh!"

He was trying to bend solid titanium alloy with the thickness of a soda can. He had considered chopping off Kamran's leg instead, but the point of entry was almost to his pelvic area meaning it was impossible to cut beyond killing him instantly.

"Goddamnit- break!" Who would have thought that the hardest metal meant to protect them during a crash had been the item that trapped its pilot instead. Damn those aircraft designers, he thought to himself.

"Ajay.."

"I'll get you out, I promise!" But Kamran knew there wasn't enough time.

[REEEAAHHH!] Behind Ajay lit up orange as a trail of fire was sent just next to him and melted the houses. The Griffon spewed flames at him because it became complacent in limping towards him when Ajay made no indication of moving from his spot. Kamran was there to witness the flamethrower in all its glory, the house instantly caught fire and its wooden structure crackled where the flames ate the wood.

"….."

"Take Arjun and go." Ajay had no intention to leave him behind.

"….. Did you ever consider me a friend, Ajay?"

"What do you think I'm doing! Rgghh! Of course! Raargh! (thung) Rarrgh! (thung)." Giving up on bending be pulling and squeezing. Ajay attacked the metal beam repeatedly with his fists.

A hand reached out and grabbed him by the harness.

"Stop shaming my death and get the hell out! Or you'll be next!" Kamran shouted at the top of his lungs.

"As if I'll allow that! You said you wanted to come be my best man, right? Fine! Then be one! Live!"

Another stream of flame struck the tail of the Helicopter on their far right, but showed that their location was being zeroed in by the Griffin.

"Ajay-."

"I'm tired, Kamran! I'm not losing another friend to this Rakshasa bastards!"

Another hand grabbed hold of his arm as it retracted to slam the beam again, a bleeding hand that showed Kamran that Ajay truly wanted to free him with everything he had.

"Hey man, it's ok. It's alright, Ajay….. I'll stick with you one way or another." Despite the despair of his situation, Kamran gave him the most meaningful smile he could muster. He said one last thing to Ajay just as the Rakshasa spewed flames their way. And then pushed Ajay aside with all the force he could muster into saving him from the same fate as him.

"Gurrgh!" Ajay went skidding against the floor as the flames struck downwards and engulfed the entire chopper.

Ajay recovered and stared at the cockpit area where Kamran had been only to find it occupied by flames that were burning out of the cabin. His mind reeled as he recalled Kamran's last words.

-As long as one of us lives, our legacies, our stories will pass on. Remember me. Ajay.-

[REAAAHHHHAAAA!]

The Griffon shrieked in triumph as it annihilated another one of his companions that its true enemy seemed to value. It turned from Ajay lying on the ground towards its handiwork for a moment to bask in its glory since its rebirth as the apex of Rakshasa. Then turned back to finish off its helpless prey that it was dying to finish off slowly. There was one problem, however when it turned back….

Ajay wasn't there.

(BANG) [RREAAAAAAAA!?]

It shrieked in a combination of surprise and formidable agony as an inhuman force struck it right in the breast and hammered its entire body into the ground from just the yield of the strike alone. And yet, as it looked around with its incredible reflexes, it could not see nor detect what had struck it without its knowledge.

(BANG) As the second strike from the unknown assailant was delivered, in came a terrifying aura was cast over the circumference of the city square. In an instant, all the flames that had been sent by the Griffon were extinguished and a sphere of crimson sky engulfed the local area painting the sky blood red. The fountain that had contained Ajay's blood and the metal around which cut himself on blazed with a blackened immaterial flame.

(Crash) The Rakshasa codenamed "Griffon" fell on its back after receiving the follow-up strike to its beak. The Rakshasa shrieked in an untellable agony, its brilliantly shiny armoured feathers in the areas it was hit had fractured to the point that the blemish would never be restored. The Rakshasa could not recover from these hits and it increased the daunting feeling of death that had matured way before it had been reborn.

It could not see its assailant, it could not sense its assailant. But it felt its rage, its instincts told it that it was going to be crushed by this force that had entered the field. It turned to face the assailant based on its instinctual sixth sense of imminent death. And its orbs fell upon a figure that looked like its true enemy, yet did not sense like him. Engulfed in a black viscous flame that felt like an enormous well-spring of Prana was used to fuel its voracious appetite.

The expression of the individual held no pain, no remorse, no rage, an emotionless face. Yet, it bled off an insatiable Anger.

The Rakshasa had felt this emotion before, somewhere in its former life. But could not draw out that memory quick enough. A memory imprinted into all descendants of man born within the Mountain and Valley. For the one that created this memory was built out of pure dread and terror cast upon humanity in its prime. This feeling of absolute fear…

What it sensed was the embodiment of Yalung.


Author's Notes:

Anyone still remember when the Goat declared his vision? Back in Chp 6 in the very beginning, such a long time ago. Oh Boy.

Author's Thoughts:

On the Kyrati Banashuri clergy:

...

Heresy! Heresy everywhere!

- Lord Inquisitor Fyodor Karamazov (If the Emperor had text to...)