Into the Forest of Power

After the victorious Battle of Manihat, Nahusha received orders to lead his army in an attack on Rukse, the second main city of the Mansaya kingdom. However, a vast forest stood between the two cities, casting doubts on the mission's safety. Despite his vice captain's warning about the potential trap, who is Nahusha's one and only friend and had been with him since he started his life as a mercenary, Nahusha, bound by his mercenary status, had no choice but to proceed. Determined, he ordered his officers to prepare for an early morning march.

The next day, as Nahusha's army ventured deeper into the forest, a sudden arrow pierced the air, finding its mark in one of his troops. An onslaught of arrows followed, swiftly decimating his forces. Realizing they were ensnared in an ambush, Nahusha and the surviving soldiers were forced to flee further into the forest, seeking shelter from the ongoing conflict. Yet, their respite was short-lived, as another enemy troop attempted to attack them. Nahusha's leadership prevailed, and he managed to subdue and capture the enemy soldier.

To Nahusha's astonishment, the captured enemy soldier revealed a startling truth. Nahusha racked his memory. He recalled that the ministers of both kingdoms had just begun negotiations at the bank of the Saya River, near the city of Tam, while he was still engaged in the Battle of Manihat. That battle was very important because it was the only city that connected Mansaya to the Tamgan area. That's why Anga wanted to secure it. If Mansaya had control of Manihat, they could advance towards Tam and the Anga capital of Bang as well. Whoever had access to Manihat could gain strong power over the Saya River and control agriculture. Anga had gained the upper hand in the negotiations, exploiting their victory to secure favorable terms.

Nahusha went to finish off the remaining enemy soldiers and took control of several villages during the month. At that time, the treaty was being negotiated, as he was securing Anga's position and crushing every possible rebellion in the region. According to the peace treaty, Mansaya wanted Nahusha's head. However, Anga could not simply hand Nahusha over to Mansaya, as doing so would reduce trust among the troops and towards the kingdom as well. Instead, they resorted to a deceitful plan to trick Nahusha. This was because Anga also saw Nahusha as a threat. His rising power in Anga, especially in the south, was a cause for concern. His victory in the Battle of Manihat had earned him a great deal of respect in the cities of Sak and Gon, and his rising power could pose a threat to the Anga kingdom. The enemy soldier who had revealed the truth was the captain of Mansaya's army, a nobleman who had been involved in the planning of the assault on Nahusha. This explained his knowledge of the peace treaty details.

Overwhelmed by a mix of fury and survival instinct, Nahusha executed the enemy soldier and embarked on a treacherous journey to flee to the Kuki kingdom, located east of Mansaya. However, the harsh realities of the escape took their toll on Nahusha's dwindling forces. They succumbed to the slow agony of wounds and starvation, one by one, until only Nahusha and his vice captain, his closest friend, remained.

Carrying his friend's wounded body on his back, Nahusha pressed forward, his own strength waning with each step. The burden of responsibility weighed heavily upon him, but he refused to abandon his comrade, their bond forged through countless battles and shared hardship. The journey was arduous and filled with danger, Nahusha's wounds reopening with every grueling movement. Yet, driven by loyalty and determination, he forged ahead, clinging to the hope of reaching the safety of the Kuki kingdom.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Nahusha managed to reach the border of the Kuki kingdom. With great care, he gently laid his friend down, only to witness the life slip away from his once-vibrant eyes. The crushing weight of grief enveloped Nahusha, leaving him utterly alone in the world.

In a state of weakness and desperation, Nahusha, bereft of any meaningful connections, continued his journey towards the border of the Kuki kingdom. Exhausted and plagued by the weight of his past, he encountered a mysterious man near the kingdom's border. Blinded by fatigue and consumed by paranoia, Nahusha mistakenly perceived the man as a threat, swiftly unsheathing his sword and launching an attack.

To his surprise, the man skillfully defended himself, countering Nahusha's strikes with ease. It became evident that this was no ordinary encounter. With a calculated move, the man retaliated, casting Nahusha into an endless dimension, a realm of uncertainty and imminent danger.

As Nahusha found himself trapped in this otherworldly dimension, his fate seemed sealed. Uncertainty hung heavy in the air, and danger lurked in every corner. Nahusha, now stripped of all familiar ties and haunted by his past, faced the harsh reality that his actions had led him to this abyss of isolation and perdition.