When the white banner of the sun was unfurled across the sky and the darkness of night dissolved, the thunder of war-drums and the blare of trumpets resounded from the backs of war-elephants. The valley trembled as the armors of aligned hosts shimmered like endless stars upon a dark sea.
King Khosrow Parviz established his position at the center of the royal army, placing his trusted lords upon the flanks—Garduy commanded the right, while Shapur, Andiyan, and Gustahm protected the king. On the opposing side, Bahram Chubineh rode forth upon a giant white elephant, inciting his forces to clash. Bahram mocked Shapur for his loyalty to Khosrow, but Shapur answered fiercely that true nobility lies in service to the rightful sovereign. Seeing Bahram press forward on his elephant, Khosrow ordered a volley of arrows targeting the beast's trunk; pierced by countless steel points, the elephant recoiled in agony. Enraged, Bahram dismounted, tucked his chainmail skirt into his belt, and waded through the infantry like a wave of destruction before mounting a swift charger and smashing through Khosrow's center.
Bahram then charged the left wing, coming face-to-face with his own brother, Garduy. Sword against sword, brother fought brother. When Bahram reproached Garduy for shedding a brother's blood, Garduy replied firmly that a brother who betrays his King and the Divine Law is no brother, but an enemy deserving of the blade.
To prevent the Roman auxiliaries from claiming the glory of defeating the rebel, Khosrow hand-picked fourteen illustrious Iranian champions—including Gustahm, Bandoy, Garduy, Shapur, Andiyan, Azar Goshasp, and Farrukhzad—to engage Bahram directly. Bahram, noticing Khosrow's small escort, advanced with three of his fiercest captains: Izad Goshasp, Yalan Sineh, and Jan-Foruz. A ferocious skirmish erupted, and in the swirling chaos, Khosrow became separated from his men.
Pursued relentlessly by Bahram, Izad Goshasp, and Yalan Sineh, the king was driven up a rugged mountain path into a narrow, dead-end gorge. With towering rock walls blocking his front and the sharp steel of his deadliest enemies closing in behind, Khosrow dismounted, raised his hands to the heavens, and cried out in pure devotion to Almighty Yazdan, asking for divine salvation.
Instantly, a heavenly roar echoed across the crags, and the blessed divine angel Suroush appeared, clad in emerald green atop a radiant white steed. Suroush extended his hand, grasped Khosrow, and miraculously lifted the king through the air, depositing him safely atop an inaccessible mountain peak. Suroush prophesied that Khosrow would reign in righteousness over the realm for thirty-eight long years, and then vanished into the light.
Bahram stood spellbound by the miraculous sight, realizing with dread that his struggle was no longer merely against a mortal king, but against the cosmic decree of Heaven itself. Meanwhile, Prince Niatos and Princess Maryam, who had been weeping on the mountain slope believing Khosrow slain, looked up to see their sovereign standing unscathed upon the summit. Joy erupted across the encampment as Khosrow recounted his miraculous deliverance by Suroush, reigniting the spirits of his army for the final confrontation.