putting one's life on the line; staking one's life (on); risking one's life; life and death situation
upper stratum (classes, stories, storeys); upper layer; layer above
securing; obtaining; ensuring; belay; belaying
ruins; wreckage; wreck; broken remains; debris
to tear up; to tear off; to rip up; to separate (e.g. a couple); to disrupt (a relationship)
to crumble down; to tumble down; to fall in
substitution (for someone else); substitute; stand-in; scapegoat; sacrifice
to curse; to put a curse on; to detest intensely
unclear; obscure; unknown; unidentified; ignorance; lack of wisdom
concealment; hiding; ambush; incubation; latency; dormancy
to burn down (to the ground); to clear away by burning; to reduce to ashes; to burn off
a find; windfall; bargain
bright red; crimson lotus flower
to go round and cut in; to take a roundabout path
direct unforked road; straight path
subterranean rumbling; earth tremor
war potential; military strength; fighting power; ability (to compete); capabilities; valuable asset
destruction; annihilation; devastation; catastrophe
rubbish; trash; garbage; refuse
lingering attachment; lingering affection; regret; reluctance; ruefulness
mercy; compassion; clemency; Hodgson's hawk-cuckoo (Cuculus fugax); Horsfield's hawk cuckoo
holy mother; birth mother of a holy man (or woman); Virgin Mary
whispering; whisper; secret talk; murmur
from here; from this place
to keep someone from doing; to stop; to prevent; to check; to hinder; to obstruct
immediately; instantly; with nary a pause; without a moment's delay
be (that) as it may; having said that
eternal; unlimited; endless