Upon a charger swift as an eagle and as massive as Mount Alborz clad in coat-of-mail, Human rode into the open space between the arrayed hosts, brandishing a shining javelin. Seeing his defiant posture, Tus, Commander-in-Chief of Iran, spurred his horse forward as the war-horns wailed. Tus taunted the Turanian prince, recalling how he had shattered Arzhang in combat, and declared that even without armor or helmet he would leap upon Human like a mountain leopard. Human responded with cool arrogance, advising Tus that self-praise was ill-becoming a supreme general. He questioned why renowned Iranian champions like Giv, Bizhan, and Gudarz remained behind while their commander imperiled himself, asserting that Tus's true duty was to uphold the sacred Kavian Banner, for his death would shatter the morale of the entire Iranian realm—though he conceded that save for Rostam, he had never seen a champion of such illustrious blood and martial majesty.
Tus replied that he was both commander and duelist. He offered wise counsel, urging Human to consider that endless vengeance would consume both armies, reminding him that King Kay Khosrow had expressly forbidden any harm to fall upon Piran Viseh, who had fostered the king in his youth. Human acknowledged the sanctity of royal command and praised Piran's noble nature, but their diplomatic exchange was abruptly broken when Giv son of Gudarz rode up like a whirlwind. Pale with rage, Giv rebuked Tus for listening to the deceitful words of foaming Human, insisting that enemies must be answered only with the edge of the sword. Human flared with furious wrath at Giv's intervention, cursing the House of Kashvad and boasting of the Iranian warriors he had cut down, reminding Giv of his fallen brothers.
With words exhausted, Tus and Human closed in combat. They swung their heavy iron maces with titanic force until the dust billowed so thick that the sun was blotted out, turning midday into gloom. The clash of steel rang out like thunder. So violent were the blows that their maces bent like Chachi bows and their fine Indian blades shattered into splinters. Grasping each other's waistbands in a desperate wrestle, Human's belt snapped and his horse collapsed beneath him. Human mounted a fresh steed, but Tus drew his bow and unleashed a devastating rain of eagles-feathered arrows. Tus's shafts pierced Human's horse, bringing it down to the dust. Forced onto foot, Human covered himself with his shield until Turanian horsemen rushed into the arena, rescued their fallen prince, and set him upon a fresh saddle. As night fell like black ebony over the battlefield, the duel was suspended.
Human returned to Piran's camp, where the Turanian chieftains praised his endurance. All night, Tus roared with fierce respect for Human's demonic strength, acknowledging that even a furious elephant was no match for him. As dawn rose in the constellation of Cancer and illuminated the world, the wardrums thundered. Human exhorted his troops to lock Chinese shields, abandon bows and lances, and fling themselves forward in a massive cavalry charge. On the Iranian side, Tus arrayed his vanguard in the precise formation of a rooster's eye. Seeing the Turanian ranks outnumbering them two-hundred to one, Tus turned his face to Yazdan in humility, ordering his men to hold the base of the mountain near the Kavian Banner. The venerable Gudarz reassured him, declaring that victory depends not on numbers but on the decree of Heaven, urging the commander to array his line with an unshakeable heart.