Amidst the raging war between Iran and Turan, a formidable giant from Kushan named Ashkabus roared across the battleground like a thunderous war-drum, demanding a champion. Roham of Iran donned his mail and helm and galloped forth to meet him. A brutal clash ensued, but Roham's arrows glanced harmlessly off Ashkabus's impenetrable steel armor. When Ashkabus raised his crushing mace, Roham grew exhausted and, unable to withstand the assault, turned his mount toward the safety of the mountain. Tus, the Iranian commander, flared with anger and sought to charge Ashkabus himself, but Rostam restrained him, declaring that Roham was better suited for wine-cups than war. Slinging his bow over his shoulder and tucking arrows into his belt, Rostam stepped onto the bloody soil entirely on foot.
Ashkabus laughed in disbelief at the unmounted champion, mockingly asking his name and who would weep over his corpse. Rostam roared back that his mother had named him 'Your Death' and that Fate had crafted him into the hammer that would shatter Ashkabus's helm. When Ashkabus mocked him for fighting on foot, Rostam retorted that lions and dragons do not charge into battle on horseback, promising to teach the haughty rider a lesson in infantry combat. With cool precision, Rostam loosed a single arrow straight into the chest of Ashkabus's prized steed, bringing the charger tumbling down. As Ashkabus staggered to his feet, pale and trembling, he rained desperate arrows upon the Iranian titan.
Rostam calmly selected a shaft of poplar wood tipped with diamond-bright steel and fletched with four eagle feathers. Fitting it to his Chachi bow, he drew the string back to his ear until the bow-horns cried out. The arrow leaped from his grip, piercing straight through Ashkabus's chest and shattering his spine. Ashkabus dropped dead instantly, and the very heavens seemed to kiss Rostam's hand for the impossible feat. Seeing their champion fallen, dread gripped the Khaqan of Chin and Kamus of Kashan. When the Turanian lords pulled the massive arrow from the corpse, they marvelled in terror at its size. Piran Vayseh warned of Rostam's devastating prowess, prompting Kamus to swear a fierce oath of vengeance. As dawn broke, both armaments readied for a cataclysmic clash, while Rostam rallied the Iranians, promising them glory and the treasures of Kay Khosrow.