At dawn, King Kay Kavus ordered Gev and Tus to bind the massive war drums upon the war-elephants. Opening the imperial treasury, he distributed rewards and set his immense army in motion. One hundred thousand armored cavalrymen and shield-bearers gathered from across the realms. As they marched, a thick veil of darkness enveloped the earth; the sky turned ebony, and the roaring of drums vibrated like a boiling sea.
Day after day, the sun was swallowed by the churning dust of their march. Spear-tips, golden shields, and colorful banners flashed through the gloom like fires behind a lapis curtain. It was as if an ebony cloud rained down sandarac and gold dust upon the world, completely blotting out the heavens and the Pleiades until the vanguard reached the gates of the White Fortress.
From the high lookout, a loud cry warned the garrison of the army's arrival. Sohrab ascended the ramparts to survey the plain, pointing out the vast, endless sea of troops to Human. Seeing the terrifying magnitude of the Iranian host, Human's heart seized with dread, and he fell silent. Yet Sohrab, steadfast and fearless, banished all worry from his comrade's heart, declaring: 'Do not fear this endless crowd. I see many weapons and countless bodies, but not a single true champion capable of standing against me on the battlefield. By the royal fortune of Afrasiab, I shall turn this plain into a sea of blood!'
Without a trace of anxiety, Sohrab descended from the fortress walls in high spirits, calling for a goblet of wine to drink with his cupbearer, untroubled by the looming battle. Outside the fortress, the grand royal pavilion of King Kavus was pitched, filling every inch of the plain and mountainside with tents and warriors.