Episode Thirty-Five: The Roar of the Battering Ram, the Marble’s Scream
In the Persian Market: The Roar of an Empire
Episode Thirty-Five: The Roar of the Battering Ram, the Marble’s Scream
1. The Roar of Iron
“—Drive it in!!”
At the Macedonian general’s command, a colossal battering ram—borne by a hundred soldiers—slammed into the palace’s main gate, the Gate of All Nations.
BOOOOM!!
Marble shards exploded outward. Statues that once stole the breath of envoys from across the world shattered without mercy.
“…It’s begun. Nirfar—fall back. We’ll hold them here.”
Cyrus tore off his blood-soaked merchant’s coat and tightened the leather breastplate—Hossein’s keepsake—around his chest.
“No, Cyrus. There is nowhere left to flee. This is our final storefront—our market’s last stand.”
Queen Nirfar drew the silver blade inherited from her father, King Reza, and leveled its tip at the gate.
2. The Rampart of Wit
The instant the gate gave way and Macedonian heavy infantry surged forward, they were met by Danesh and Inaz’s final trap.
Without warning, torrents of slick perfumed oil flooded the palace’s grand staircase.
“Waaah—!”
The vanguard slipped, fell, and piled atop one another. In that moment, Azad’s archers loosed a volley of fire arrows.
“…Market oil comes at a premium!”
In a heartbeat, the staircase became a wall of flame. Sweet, savory spice mingled with the stench of burning flesh, filling the palace halls.
3. Shahab’s ‘Dance of Death’
From the shadows of the chaos, Shahab and Kabil burst forth.
Unfazed by fire, they cut down smoke-blinded enemies with surgical precision.
“…Kabil, to the left. Target the King’s Guard—the Hypaspists.”
“Got it, boss! Even golden shields can’t protect the throat!”
The sound of Shahab’s flute no longer carried sorrow. It screamed—a death rattle that drove foes to madness.
4. The King’s ‘Godspeed’
Then a streak of light cleaved through the inferno.
Alexander himself charged up the blazing staircase on horseback.
Bucephalus reared against the heat, then leapt through the flames, trusting his master.
“…Stand aside! Do you think mere fire can halt my advance?”
With every flash of the king’s blade, warriors of the Market Host fell in heaps.
This was no longer war—
it was destruction, written into history.
5. Hope, Severed
“Cyrus! The eastern wall has been breached! They’re circling through the rear gardens!”
Danesh shouted as silver waves closed in from every direction.
The palace—an island no more—was about to be swallowed whole.
Through the flames, Cyrus locked eyes with Alexander.
“…Nirfar. Are you ready? …Until the ‘promise’ of Episode Forty, I’ll protect you—even if it kills me.”
The corridors of the palace echoed with the hopeless clash of steel.
