His eyes blazing with fury, he shouted, "You little twat! Who are you to speak over the words of Bear Tarkan Kara? In times of peace, warriors like me are forced to bow before the likes of you. But now, in times of war, I'll show you the old ways!"
With a sudden movement, Kara reared his horse, its hind legs kicking out violently. The powerful strike hit Kutay's horse squarely on the head, causing Kutay to be thrown from his saddle to the ground. The scene was one of utter shock as everyone looked on.
Without hesitation, Kara dismounted and charged toward Kutay. The situation quickly descended into chaos. Uluç, witnessing Kara's outburst, realized the situation was spiraling out of control. Wolfram glanced around at the unfolding chaos, trying to make sense of the rapidly deteriorating situation.
Kutay interjected with a mocking grin, "Ah, the great wolf has spoken. Well said! I agree with you completely. While you handle things here, I'll make my way to Üstyurt and take my rightful place on the throne of Türk-il. And I shouldn't keep my wife waiting much longer either." With that, he gave the order for his forces to march toward Türk-il. Aslı, seeing this, also moved her troops in the same direction.
Uluç, Kara, and Wolfram watched as the armies began to move, realizing they had only a small force left at their disposal. At that moment, Kara had reached his breaking point. His eyes blazing with fury, he shouted, "You little whelp! Who are you to speak over the words of Bear Tarkan Kara? In times of peace, warriors like me are forced to bow before the likes of you. But now, in times of war, I'll show you the old ways!"
With a sudden movement, Kara reared his horse, its hind legs kicking out violently. The powerful strike hit Kutay's horse squarely on the head, causing Kutay to be thrown from his saddle to the ground. The scene was one of utter shock as everyone looked on.
Without hesitation, Kara dismounted and charged toward Kutay. The situation quickly descended into chaos. Uluç, witnessing Kara's outburst, realized the situation was spiraling out of control. Wolfram glanced around at the unfolding chaos, trying to make sense of the rapidly deteriorating situation.
Kara suddenly charged toward Kutay. Kutay was caught off guard, still dazed from his fall, and stared in shock as the giant of a man approached him. When Kara reached him, Kutay instinctively tried to push him away with his feet, but Kara, towering over him with his nearly two-meter frame, was unstoppable.
Kara began to hurl curses and insults at Kutay, his deep voice filled with rage he started speaking in an old dialect. "You little twat, I'll tear your head off with my bare hands! I'll turn your skull into a cup and drink wine from it!" he shouted, his words echoing with the venom of a seasoned warrior.
Standing nearby, veterans like Uluç and Chagatai understood every word. They realized that Kara was channeling the fierce spirit of ancient warriors, his fury manifesting in a primal, almost ancestral rage.
The onlookers were frozen in place, watching in disbelief as Kara unleashed his full wrath on Kutay. The atmosphere was thick with tension, Kara's furious shouts reverberating through the air, leaving no doubt in anyone's mind about his intentions. He was a force of nature, embodying the ferocity of the warriors of old, determined to crush Kutay with the full weight of his anger.
In the midst of the chaos, the soldiers accompanying Kutay quickly dismounted and rushed to pull Kara off him. Four men were trying to drag Kara away, but removing someone as large as Kara, especially when he was in a berserk state, was no easy task. Kutay had taken severe damage, as Kara's hammer-like fists rained down on his face with savage fury.
Finally, a soldier of similar size to Kara managed to jump on him, and now five men were holding Kara down, pinning his arms, legs, and head to the ground. Despite this, Kutay was in no condition to speak. Just then, Osho, the great Osho, commanded with authority: "Uluç, order Kara to stop immediately! This madness cannot continue. We must move our armies towards Türk-il at once!"
As Kutay began to regain his senses, he was quickly helped onto his horse. Before being taken away from the scene, he managed to say, "Kılıç likely wasn't dead, but it doesn't matter. If he isn't, I'll make sure he is myself. And once I've taken Türk-il, it will be your turn to taste my wrath. Everyone here will feel my fury," he threatened as he rode away.
Just before Kutay departed, Kara, still pinned by four men, began to shout. He bellowed out with all his might: "Hear me, Turk! As long as the sky above doesn't tear apart, as long as the earth below doesn't crack open, who can destroy your state, your customs? Now rise and awaken!" Kara's powerful voice echoed across the river, resonating far and wide, heard by all present.
At that moment, the Hunnic warriors, the horse riders who had been scouting for the army, began to circle around Kara. They were one of the first riders who passed. They weren't many in number, but they were enough to calm the situation. Just then, Kara let out another shout and managed to throw all five men off him. As he stood up, he met Uluç's furious gaze.
"Kara, compose yourself immediately and go help the soldiers," Uluç commanded sternly. "That's an order!."
Kutay sat on his horse, his army behind him, waiting for his command. They could either march toward Türk-il, or engage in battle against Uluç, Kara's Hunnic riders, and the remaining soldiers who had managed to cross the bridge. Kutay held the advantage in numbers, while Uluç and his forces were trapped by the lake behind them, with nowhere to retreat. Despite his advantage, Kutay was uncertain. Should he attack? Was it worth risking his army?
At that moment, Kara mounted his horse and began to approach Kutay, slowly but with a determined purpose. His gaze was sharp, filled with a burning intensity. He advanced silently, exuding a menacing presence. Kutay's troops grew uneasy as this giant of a man drew nearer.
Kutay, at his horse with his army behind him, was waiting for his command. The decision lay before him: would they march towards Türk-il, or would they engage in battle against Uluç, Kara's Hunnic cavalry, and the remaining forces that had managed to cross the river? The numbers were clearly in Kutay's favor. The river was at Uluç's back, leaving him cornered. But Kutay still hesitated. Should he attack? Should he risk his army?
At that moment, Kara mounted his horse as well. Kutay, still dazed from the blows he had taken to the head, searched for his commanders with his eyes, but they had retreated to safer ground during the chaos, none of them wanting to fall victim to Kara's wrath. Kara, with the Hunnic riders at his back, faced Kutay, who was struggling to regain his senses.
Kutay, still not fully recovered, gave the command for his forces to march towards Türk-il and then suddenly spurred his horse into a full gallop. When Kutay reached his army, he paused for a moment, looking back at Kara. As part of his army began to move forward, another portion remained behind. Their task was clear: they were to eliminate Kara and Uluç.
Uluç was deeply shaken by all that had transpired. His authority was being openly challenged, and events were spiraling beyond his control. Anger surged within him. He drew both of his axes, spread his arms wide, and with his towering, nearly two-meter frame, he charged at the army like a hawk diving for its prey. He began to gallop at full speed, his determination and rage driving him forward. Seeing their leader charging ahead, the soldiers immediately followed, sprinting after him.
Uluç was far ahead, leading the charge with his army trailing behind him. The sight of Uluç rushing towards them was enough to send the enemy soldiers into a panic; they began to flee without even firing an arrow in defense. They feared him that much. However, after gaining some distance, Uluç reined in his horse and stopped, watching them from afar. The fleeing soldiers were terrified, but they seemed defend themselves if Uluç came any closer. Their fear of him was palpable.
After Kutay's forces fled, Uluç halted his charge, and his army, catching up to him, did the same. They waited in tense silence as Uluç assessed the situation. Seeing that the enemy had lost the courage to fight, Uluç turned his horse around and, in a voice brimming with contained fury, commanded, "Return to the bridge." Without another word, he led his horse back to the site of the earlier chaos. His face was flushed with anger, but Uluç was not one to take out his wrath on others impulsively.
When they reached the bridge, Uluç dismounted. Kara approached him, sensing the storm brewing within his old friend. "Kara, draw your axe," Uluç ordered, his voice sharp and unyielding.
Kara, hesitant and filled with regret, tried to explain, "Uluç, I only—"
But Uluç cut him off, raising his hand to silence him. The gesture was unmistakable; he wanted the axe, and he wanted it now. Kara, fearing the worst—banishment from the army or even execution for insubordination—slowly unsheathed his axe and handed it over to Uluç, his head bowed in shame.
Uluç took the axe without a word, walked over to a nearby tree, and began hacking at it with all the fury he had held inside. The blows were powerful, each strike sending a shockwave through the trunk until, with a final, guttural shout, Uluç delivered a blow that split the tree in two. Blood dripped from his hand where a splinter had pierced his skin, but he paid it no mind.
"Chagatai!" Uluç called out, his voice echoing through the camp. "Set up camp immediately and start preparing food. Batun, cut down wood. We're building a temporary bridge," he commanded with a tone that left no room for argument.
Kara, feeling the weight of his actions, walked away from the scene, consumed by his guilt. Meanwhile, Wolfram approached Isaakios, who was drenched in sweat and visibly exhausted. Wolfram relayed what had happened on their side.
Isaakios shook his head, explaining, "The bridge collapsed under the weight suddenly, out of nowhere. I blame those Hunnic riders. We shouldn't have followed this path. Also Aslı made soldiers rush it too fast. Bridge couldn't take it anymore I guess" Then, with a mix of frustration and resignation he grunted carrying bags, Then Aslı betrayed us. She didn't let her soldiers cross and after the bridge collapsed she took off and most likely heading towards Türk-il now, beside her husband!"
Isaakios sighed deeply, looking around at the remnants of their forces. "Anyway, help me with this," he said, gesturing to the supplies that needed to be moved. The two men began working together, knowing that despite the chaos and the betrayal, they still had to prepare for whatever lay ahead.