Superiority struggle

back at Stevenburg Mark was getting prepared for the big dinner when he remembered that their was a way he could make victory for Ashhad and his friends even more difficult, he had a book in which he had thorough knowledge about all the townspeople of Ortania and he could also revoke citizenships, he took out that book and with ease accessed the pages regarding their enemies, he revoked the citizenship of the 6 friends, Nizaam's citizenship had already been revoked leaving all 7 friends factionless as Mark smiled and said to himself whilst looking in his mirror

Mark : I can't wait to tell Sufiyan about this.

back in the forest Ashhad and Zulqarnain were engaged in furious combat, Ashhad shielded himself from the oncoming Dean and when seeing an open opportunity struck Dean right on the chest, Dean was not holding back one bit he struck Ashhad right on the face and with no remorse started striking him again and again but Ashhad blocked him after taking several hits, Ashhad replied with an overpowered kick to the jaw and then knocked the bulky Dean down with a running strike, Dean quickly got up though he dropped his sword, still he continued fighting with his hands, his hands were rock hard leaving Ashhad with no choice but to shield himself from this behemoth, Zulqarnain on the other hand was again fighting both a physical and emotional battle, though this time he let his mind be his guider as he kept shielding when necessary but mostly kept an offensive stance, he slashed Skull crusher many times with his blade, Skull did the same whilst both of them were engaged in a heated argument

Zulqarnain : YOU HAVE CHOSEN THE PATH OF EVIL, SO BE IT!!!

Skull crusher : OH REALLY, I'M EVIL FOR SIDING WITH THE KINGDOM, WHILE YOU ARE OPENLY OPPOSING OUR RULES!!!

to this Zulqarnain replied with a simple answer

Zulqarnain : RULES ARE MADE TO BRING PEACE AND ALL YOU ARE DOING IS THE DEFINITION OF CHAOS!!!

Skull crusher : SHUT UP!!!

Zulqarnain : NO YOU SHUT UP!!!

the fight waged on, no one seemed to be getting an upper hand, Ashhad however, was having a tough time, Dean was punching Ashhad's shield with his bare hands, despite this cracks had started to show in Ashhad's shield, Ashhad was praying for a miracle just then a punch tore through the shields metal frame and a another hit broke the whole thing, Ashhad was shaking from fear he took a few steps back before fumbling and falling to the ground, the horrifying Dean came close to him, Dean raised his hammer like hands in the air, Ashhad felt that this was it for him so instead of closing them Ashhad kept his eyes open to face Dean's fury head on but just then his prayers came true, he heard the neigh of a horse and then from the corner of his eye he saw a person riding a horse coming right towards them, Dean was about to crush Ashhad but when he heard the horse he turned his attention towards it, the person riding the horse took out a long and sharp sword and with all their force swung it at Dean injuring him and knocking him down in the process, the horse stopped a few steps away from Ashhad, Ashhad first looked at the horse, it looked like it was from a fine breed, then Ashhad looked at the rider whose face was cloaked, Ashhad was sitting on the ground speechless, just then the person riding this horse got down from its back, Ashhad saw this and immediately stood up though still shaky, as he asked

Ashhad : who ... who are you?

the mysterious person gave no reply and instead took a step forward, Ashhad annoyed by all of this shouted

Ashhad : answer me!

before pulling his sword out and aiming it right at this person, this mysterious person removed their cloak to reveal that it was actually a girl, seeing this Ashhad was a bit relieved, the girl chuckled as Ashhad asked

Ashhad : what's so funny?

the girl replied

Girl : I always thought man were brave, yet here you are cowering like a chicken.

the girl continued to chuckle as Ashhad asked

Ashhad : who are you?

Kainaat : the name's Syeda Kainaat Fatima, I'm sure you've heard of me?

hearing this name, a bell rang in Ashhad's head as he said

Ashhad : oh yeah, you were ....

Ashhad's sentence was cut off by Dean who growled as he stood back up both Ashhad and Kainaat were alarmed by this as Kainaat drew out her sword and asked

Kainaat : wanna help me put this guy down?

Ashhad replied

Ashhad : gladly.

the fight continued but this time it was Dean's turn to receive a beat down, Kainaat went all out on Dean striking him multiple times with her very sharp blade, Dean tried his best at blocking but he still took several hits, then Ashhad came running and with a flying kick knocked Dean back, Ashhad then started his own sword fight with Dean, now Dean was able to fight back a little bit, using his fists he struck Ashhad multiple times but was able to land only a single not very lethal hit, all his other attempts were blocked and some even countered, this gave Kainaat the opportunity to get back on her horse, she had no idea what move to execute next so instead she turned her horse towards Dean and began riding in his direction, though the distance between the two was short still Kainaat gained a reasonable momentum and without thinking much about the consequences she jumped of her horse, the horse ran straight into Dean badly injuring him, Ashhad saved the horse from slipping and falling while Kainaat got back up, Dean was at an all time low, he began crawling his way out but Ashhad was determined to put him down, he attacked the now escaping Dean with his sword, he got on Dean's back and started stabbing him mercilessly, Dean cried out from pain, he picked up some dirt and threw it into Ashhad's face, he then pushed Ashhad to the side got up and without thinking once of his Allie Skull crusher ran away into the forest, seeing that Kainaat ran after him but Ashhad shouted

Ashhad : wait, stop!

Kainaat stopped and annoyingly said

Kainaat : but he's getting away.

Ashhad : we need to help Zulqarnain.

Kainaat : who?

Ashhad : follow me.

Zulqarnain was engaged in fierce combat with Skull crusher just a few feet away, the two had used every trick up their sleeve, nothing was working, no one was winning or losing, it was only a matter of time before both of them fainted but, Ashhad was about to turn the tide of this seemingly endless fight in Zulqarnain's favor, when arriving at the scene of this conflict, Ashhad and Kainaat were met with the awe inspiring sight of Zulqarnain and Skull crusher fighting, it was so equal and perfect that Ashhad almost didn't wanted to disturb it but, then he remembered that this isn't a story and that they are being hunted by mercenaries as Kainaat drew out her sword and asked

Kainaat : shall we break this cycle?

Ashhad : definitely.

the two barged into the fight scene, Ashhad got over to Zulqarnain to support him in defense while Kainaat attacked Skull crusher from behind, Skull crusher was left stunned by this, Zulqarnain and Kainaat both charged at him from opposite sides, Skull crusher was taking critical hits, Ashhad jumped into the fray as well ending any hope Skull crusher had of victory, the exhausted Skull crusher fought with everything he had but it wasn't enough, Skull was slowly losing more and more health eventually he began to retreat, now Zulqarnain screamed with full confidence

Zulqarnain : DON'T LET HIM GET AWAY!!!

as the 3 went right after Skull crusher.