They left before dawn.
No delay.
No extended preparation. No unnecessary gathering of supplies or strategy discussions that stretched into hesitation.
Only what was needed—
And movement.
Because this time—
Speed mattered.
Not reckless speed.
Not the kind that ignored consequence.
But decisive movement.
The kind that did not waste time waiting for certainty.
The kind that stepped forward despite uncertainty.
Duryodhana walked ahead.
His pace steady.
Purposeful.
There was a difference in him now. Subtle—but unmistakable.
His energy was no longer reactive. No longer driven by what appeared in front of him.
It had shifted.
Focused.
Sharp.
He was not responding to events anymore—
He was stepping into them.
Beside him—
Karna moved quietly.
Calm as always.
His steps made no sound beyond what was necessary. His presence did not disturb the forest around them—yet it felt anchored within it.
But his awareness—
Had deepened.
The pull—
Stronger now.
No longer faint.
