> “The rain lacerates my skin, mingling with the sweat of despair. My breaths are shallow, each one a struggle. The battlefield’s chaos engulfs me.
Mom’s voice echoes from the Batal Stone, whispering secrets of strength. I must unearth them now, or forever be lost.
At dawn, I shall rise anew, a commander bound by this single truth: I will not fail again.✴”
— Scene 1, *The Hero’s Stone* ⟁
_Batal Vol.1 · Ep.1 · Scene 1 – Tribe Vice-Chief · [Unspecified]_
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📖 **Excerpt from the book:**
> Vice-Chief: Chief! Chief!
> Barun: What’s all this noise about! Has the sky split apart or the earth caved in?!
> Vice-Chief: Someone has come looking for you outside. It’s a strange boy.
> Barun: A stranger? Is he important enough to warrant waking me from my sleep?!
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