Samarth and Manik could see that the fighting soldiers of the Tanishq was not their limit. They felt like earthquake when she saw the ground opening up and more people coming out of the group. The armoured soldiers coming out one by one filling the empty place of the field.

Manik frowned "they digger hole in the ground?"

"They are over thousands. So this is the back-up plan of Tanishq. I must say, Parv planned it out well. He kept it for the further use in the battlefield " Samrath said.

"What do you think brother? Could out soldiers keep up with it?"

Samarth turned to look at him "what do you think? Our soldiers are already tired currently but they still trying to keep up. Now that the army of the enemies increased it will have huge impact on them. I should have brought the back up plan of Hunas"

"You think it would work?" Manik shook his head "they are damaged and I guess they couldn't engaged in fight for 2-3 years. How do you think we will have advantages with them. It will be same as now"

Parv laughed. His laughter roared in the battlefield. It was more like a mocking taunt as he looked at them. His eyes held the pride and the smile on his lips are heart wrenching.

"What happened to you? Are you scared? I guess you guys don't have the good back-up plan" he shook his head making a sad face. "What a pity! My hear ache for you two. You fought with the great Hunas not long ago. I can understand your problem. Don't worry I will be little merciful towards you as considering the fact we are cousins and give you two a painless death. I promise you, you two won't feel much pain before dying. But.." Parv tilted his head to the sude "I couldn't guarantee for othe other people. You know your family and your fiancees " he laughed.

"You are too confident" Manik said without changing his expression.

"Still so arrogant?" Parv smiled "Manik oh Manik" he sighed "I always knew you are arrogant and no one could compare it with you. Look at you, even at this time you are still the same. Tell me how do you manage to do it all the time? Or you are trying to show off because you are afraid? Don't worry, I told you I will be merciful enough. Afterall we are all related by blood"

"Don't compare your dirt with us Parv. You and me, we both know it's incomparable. For the kinds of behaviour you have showed already proved what kind of blood you have in your veins. It will be better if you understand this simple matter and refrain yourself from putting it in one place" Samarth replied.

Suddenly Parv's expression changed. His blood boiled when he heard the cursing words "huh, you both have guts to even show off when your death is nearing. Your showing off courage is quite appreciative but what can I do, I can't wait to see it more. You know, I have to end this game fast so that I can enjoy a pleasuring feast over your deadbodies.

Manik smirked "as I said, confident is good but over od something is destruction. You should never underestimate your opponent because you have no idea what will happen next. Throwing such proud look and words, have anyone ever told you, you look like a clone?"

Parv's expression changed into anger while Samarth also looked at Manik with a frown. It was clear that they don't have back-up plan. And at this current situation it's also likely to be defeated because of Parv's increased army. But the way Manik said, he sounded like he has a good back-up to turn the situation around.

"Your confidence is good but I promise you, it won't stay long. You think you can win this battle against me Manik?" Parv glared.

"I thought not but over thinking, I just remembered I have something in hand, may be you would also like to see it?" Saying that Manik pulled out a small object and showed it.

As soon as Parv saw it, his heart jumped and his eyes widened. Isn't it? The picture he had seen in the secret library. The key, he wanted to have, the key for which he had to marry Yashica, the key he did everything to get. How could this land on Manik's hand. He don't know what kind of power does this key hold but he knows this key is the resource of winning. Yashica's father was the one who made this key, he did everything but neither the general not Yashica told him anything. They both died without saying a word about it. The only person who know about the key in this world was Yashica after her father. But how could Manik who was always in Quasar knows it and also has it in his hand? The general and Yashica both died infront of him and there's no way for them to be alive. Then how come?

"What's this?" Samarth frowned.

"Back-up plan" Manik replied but Samarth couldn't understand it.

"Are you sure?" He asked again. Before Manik could reply Parv shouted.

"How the hell you have this key? That is mine"

Manik raised his eyebrows "yours? I never knew that the great Yuvraj of Tanishq Kingdom is this shameless to claim other's thing as his? Tell me did you have this habit all the time or it's your new ability?"

Parv glared at him. This was the key he coveted since he got to know about it. He was even too selfish to tell his father about the key. Only him and his mother knew this matter other than the late general and Yashica. But what more surprising was how did Manik gained this key when other don't have any idea about it? Unless there's still someone who knows about the key and had given him that. Who's that? As far he knows there's not anyone left from the general side to know the key. The last person who knew what is the power of the key was Yashica.

"Shut up and give me back my thing. You bastard, you are a traitor to steal the secrets of Tanishq" Parv accused.

"Secrets? Are you joking? I guess even the Samrat has no idea about it yet you are presenting as your property" Manik said. "Who's the traitor one? Me or you?"

"Shut your bullshit and give me back my thing" Parv shouted becoming insane. He couldn't let the key slip from him like this. He had been wanting to hold the key for years now. Now that he had seen the key, how could he just let go without trying? For the key he even sacrificed so many things.

Looking at his insane attitude Manik smirked.  "ay, since you are so eager to let me also check what kind of secrets does this key holds?"

"Bastard" Parv become more angry and he shouted "charge. Kill this bastard this instant"

The new army who just arrived came forward to attack. Manik look at the key and remembered what Nandini said to him.

"The key has a secret and may be it could help you to back-up when you need emergency. Press the green gem on the key and then use it as whistle"

He looked at the key carefully and found a small green gem attached at the bottom the key. He hurriedly pressed it and instantly it gem pushed inside making a hole and the top of the key also opened. They knew looked like a whistle now. He put it in his mouth and whistled so loudly. The sound echoed around that even the armies fighting at the farthest corner could hear. Then everything turned silent.

Parv looked at the situation and laughed "is this what you got? A whistle? I really thought it was that orginal key but now are you joking when you see your death is near? Do you think a whistle is enough to help you here? Manik, you fool you are betrayed by your own people. Now see how my soldiers will chop your body into pieces. Soldiers, get this man and kill him for me" he pointed his sword towards Manik.

The soldiers were about to step when they heard piercing sound echoed in the open air. The sound was like a whistling hisses but it doesn't sound one but thousands. The voice become louder and slowly the clear blue sky covered in darkness. The soldiers looked with wide eyes at the sky. The creature flying above there heated were the known hunters known as Lappet-faced vulture. But it was not one or two but the amount was enough to spread along the who war field and cover the sunlight of the area. Parv's eyes widened in shocked. This birds are more than his newly called army. Those hunter birds are flying across like they are waiting for a signal to dip down and hunt their prey.

"Woah" Samarth's eyes almost pop out of his shoket. What was that? A large group of Lappet-faced vulture? How did this hunting birds are called so suddenly? Then he looked at Manik who also has the same expression as him. The cry of the birds filled the battlefield.

"This...." Parv couldn't believe his eyes. The key was real. This birds are the power of the key, the secret army that the late old general raised? But how did he trained this birds? Let alone train, how did he captured then all? This was the biggest question. But who will answer it when the person who know has already been dead for years now.

Manik shook his head and whistled again. As soon as the sound fell the birds flew down and attacked the enemies. It was really surprising that they were able to detect who's their enemy because none of them had not touched the soldiers of Quasar. The soldiers cried when the birds attacked them mercilessly. It was like another good show to watch as everyone was shocked. The birds didn't stopped until the enemies fell on the ground like lifeless bodies. It didn't took time when the glory of the Tanishq army disappeared. The only one who stood in the battle ground was the Quasar people.

Parv watched how his well trained army become deadbodies lying on the ground leaving him alive though he also had the scratches on his body. The flew away from the ground and covered the sky again flying around like before. Manik looked at Parv and smiled.

"Your back-up plan was quite weak isn't it?"

"Don't get yourself in high. You are just a bastrd who used hunting birds to destroy my army" Parv snapped.

"Everything is fair in war" Manik nodded "I did not say anything when you called your armies but you are complaining about mine? You are biased cousin"

Parv glared at him. Now he knew why late general and Yashica refused to tell even when they were on the edge of death. Suddenly Parv felt cold sharp tip pouting at his throat. Manik was smirking and pointing his sword tip at him.

"Your soldiers had their destiny now it's your time"

×××××××

Who thought the secret of the key is.....? 😂

( See the hunter bird in the media box )