After spending the whole day exploring Sudan, everyone ate dinner in the evening. Inside the inn, a group of merchants was discussing crossing the Gidhour Hills during the night.
One merchant said, "I've heard that robberies in the Gidhour Hills have increased. The attacks by bandits are becoming more frequent."
Another merchant added, "It would be better if we cross the Gidhour Hills tonight itself."
All the merchants agreed with the suggestion and decided to leave that very night. They started packing their belongings. Kapil also expressed his intention to travel with them. Everyone prepared their horses, and the group of four followed the merchants.
The merchant caravan consisted of 20 horse carts carrying goods and about 35 people. They left Sudan late at night.
Under the full moon's light, the path was clearly visible. Gradually, the group advanced toward the Gidhour Hills.
One merchant noticed Vishakha and asked, "Who is this girl, and who is she with?"
Prabhas replied to the merchant, "She is our sister, and we are heading to Shahpur City."
The merchant looked at Kapil and Sourabh and asked, "Are you both with her as well?"
Kapil and Sourabh nodded in agreement.
During the third watch of the night, an experienced merchant suggested, "Three miles from here, we will find the pass between the hills. We should take that route."
Everyone supported his suggestion and started moving toward the pass.
As they progressed, the merchant explained, "150 years ago, a natural calamity created this pass in the Gidhour Hills. A landslide turned these long hills—five miles in length and one mile wide—into rubble, which spread over an eight-mile area."
All the people reach the pass, and their horses and carts pick up speed. After some time, three hawks begin circling above them. A merchant, panicking, says, "It's a bandit attack!"
All the merchants are worried as the three hawks circle and then land on the ground in front of them. From the hawks, 22 bandits descend.
One bandit says, "Leave all your belongings and run, or you will die!"
A merchant, pleading, says, "Master, have mercy on us. If you take everything, what will happen to us? Please take only half."
The bandit, enraged, steps forward and strikes the merchant with his sword. But before the sword can hit the merchant, an arrow pierces the bandit's neck.
The bandit falls to the ground with a loud thud. The arrow was shot by Sourabh.
This gives the merchants a ray of hope. Just then, another bandit draws his sword and says,
"Sword Shadow Technique: Basic Style, 8th Form - Shadow Wheel Clash," and attacks.
Kapil counters immediately,
"Shield Shadow Technique: 3rd Form Shield Expansion."
A protective barrier forms over the entire group of merchants, and the attack fails.
Prabhas draws his sword and quickly moves forward, shouting, "Ordinary Style: Fourth Form Blade Wind Strike!"
Prabhas's sword cuts through the man's head, separating it from his body.
The remaining 20 bandits panic and mount their hawks, attempting to flee. The three hawks rise into the air.
Kapil grips his sword tightly, closes his eyes, and says, "Advanced Style 1st form Energy Slash Strike!"
Leaping 60 feet into the air, he slashes in a single strike, cutting down one hawk along with eight bandits.
Sourabh, with his arrows, takes down four more bandits.
However, eight manage to escape.
Kapil feels exhausted after using the advanced style form
Prabhas tells all the merchants, "We must move forward quickly because there could be more attacks."
Everyone moves ahead with haste.
The sky had a reddish glow, signaling the arrival of sunlight.
By now, everyone had reached the Central Region (Madhya Kshetra).
Kapil says to the merchants, "We are heading to Shahpur City, so we will have to part ways with you here."
The merchants express their gratitude.
An experienced merchant says, "This short journey with you was truly wonderful. We will always remember you."
Kapil bids them farewell and starts toward Shahpur City, followed by Vishakha, Sourabh, and Prabhas.
As they travel, Vishakha asks Kapil, "Elder Brother, how long have you been a disciple of Dipendra Sir?"
Kapil smiles and replies, "I have been his disciple for the past six years."
Vishakha says, "You've learned so much in just six years."
Kapil explains, "When I was 12 years old, I trained at a private swordsmanship academy. Two years later, I moved to the advanced academy in Rawalpindi. After three more years, I reached the Provincial Arena (Prantiya Parishar) at the age of 17.
In the Provincial Arena, there is an annual training program that lasts one year. Every participant gets three opportunities to pass within three years.
If you fail to pass within three years, you are sent back to the advanced academy and can only attempt the annual training program again after 10 years."
Vishakha asks, "What is this annual training program?"
Kapil explains, "The annual training program consists of combat matches between warriors. It is conducted over three months.
To pass, a participant must win 70 matches."
Vishakha then asks, "How did you perform in the training?"
Kapil responds, "When I was 18, I participated in my first annual training program. Out of 87 matches, I only won 40.
In the second year, I participated in 112 matches and won 67, falling short by just three wins.
In the third year, I participated in 115 matches and won 100 of them, breaking a 125-year-old record.
The previous record for the most wins, held by my Guru Dipendra's first disciple, was 99 wins.
After this, I became Guru Dipendra's disciple."
Vishakha then asks, "And what about Sourabh?"
Kapil says seriously, **"Sourabh always wanted to become a warrior since childhood, but due to the lack of spiritual energy, he couldn't learn shadow techniques. Guruji brought him from the private branch to train personally. Sourabh and I were initially students of Ashok Trainer.
At the age of 20, Sourabh participated for the first time. In his first and second years, he won only 34 out of 94 matches and 52 out of 103 matches, respectively.
But in the third year, despite lacking spiritual energy, Sourabh surprised everyone by winning 72 out of 130 matches."**
Vishakha asks Kapil, "Big brother, why do the number of matches vary every year?"
Kapil replies with a smile, "The number of matches is determined by the trainers. However, those who win are given fewer matches, while those who lose are given more.
But to ensure their favorite students pass, trainers often assign them more matches so they can win more."