"Stop them now," the commander screamed at the top of his lungs.
The raptors continued their runs, and demons shot bone at them. Horrors waited in the trees, and when a janaav flew too close, nightmares dropped down and consumed them. The screams were horrific. There were too many of the exploding demons, and the elementalists and janaav tired. Arrows ran low.
Sugriva smirked. "They gave hope and now they take it."
Three of the demons reached the front gate, a minor miracle that so few made it. They exploded in unison. The iron doors twisted back from the hinges, but held.
The men cheered, praising the Ashtadash. But Sugriva knew the Ashtadash weren't there.
Ravasha appeared from the shadows, stepping out of his demon horde. His flesh was red, his head nothing but a skull without eyes, and he had six arms. He threw potions up into the air and a red mist covered his army. The demons howled, tearing each other apart before charging forward with furry, vaulting the wall as if it was a low fence. The men on the walls cried out in surprise. Sugriva fought on.
The demon lord went to the doors, grabbed on where the metal was weak, and ripped them off the wall. Demons poured in, falling upon the men on the other side.
Humbari held the street with his elite guard. He ran into the center of the onslaught and picked up demons, tearing them in two. Bagh nahks, or tiger claws, adorned his fists, and when he punched the monstrosities, he pierced all the way through until iron came out their back. Then he discarded the crippled forms for his soldiers to finish off. The fire of battle blazed in the bear’s eyes.
The walls were lost. Buildings leading to the city center had soldiers in wait for ambushes, but the men on the walls would still need time to escape. Sugriva shouted, "Fall back." The men didn't hesitate, fleeing their post. The earth staff felt good in his grip, the earth becoming one with him. The weapon shot out, swept several demons, and tossed them through the air. Another it pierced the skull. The staff shrunk, so it fit in his palm. He moved the fire from the circlet to his fists, and punched like an inferno. Then he launched himself off the wall as it was overrun, landing by Humbari.
The bear roared, "Get away from me, monkey. You won't take my glory in this battle."
"We're going to die. Stop worry about glory." He saw Ravasha still at the city gates, a swarm of darkness rushing past him. "Anyway, that guy there is the only one who matters. We kill him, and there's nothing commanding these demons."
"Will killing him end the war?"
That was a great question. "Sure."
"Guard, advance on their general at the gates. Cut through as best you can," he bellowed, and his guard did as commanded, their weapons slicing a path through crawling, formless flesh.
Ravasha's skull grinned wide, the sinew on his jaw pulling tight. "Yes, come to me. Feed me. I will feast on your body and bones. You will die, and I will find power within what is left of you. Sugriva, I have groomed you for this moment. Kill everyone here and join me or die. Make your choice."
The voice in his head was too loud for him to make out, and he dropped to a knee. He gripped his skull, trying to crush out the noise.
Humbari backhanded Sugriva, and the strong taste of iron spilled from inside his cheek. "Knock it off."
The voice fell silent as stars dotted Sugriva's vision. "Yes, sir," he groaned, scrambling to his feet. "We need to finish this. I'm going to launch myself into the air. You do your thing."
Before the bear could protest, Sugriva thrust himself up on his staff, shifted into a monkey for extra height, then shifted into a janaav. Humbari punched Ravasha several times when the demon looked up at the monkey. Then two arms grabbed the bear, holding him in place. Two more hands went to his head, trying to snap the general's neck. Several guards came in, hacking at the limbs.
Then Sugriva thrust his staff down, making it grow, and he cracked Ravasha in the skull. The demon lord staggered, skull fractured, and dropped Humbari. The general took his chance to get in as many punches as he could. He reached up to one of the arms, thrust his fists into it numerous times, the blades ripping at the shoulder. Then he tore the arm off, making the demon scream.
Sugriva landed on Ravasha's head and aimed his staff at the eyeless sockets. He struck again and again, causing more cracks. "To the hells with you, Sugriva. You made your choice, and I find you aggravating."
"I get that a—"
Before Sugriva could finish, Ravasha picked him up by the nape of his neck and tossed him aside. A demon horde came down on him, and he launched himself with his staff. One demon held on, yanking him down. Sugriva called on fire, and when he landed, a spout of lava shot out of the ground and consumed the demons, leaving a scorch mark. He shot himself up again, just in time to see Ravasha pick Humbari up by his head. He tore at the bear with his nails.
"How dare you attack the master of a demon realm. How dare you try to make a demon lord look weak in front of his soldiers. How dare you—"
Then Sugriva landed on the demon's head. He hit another shoulder hard, repeatedly, then put a hand into Ravasha's mouth, pulling up on the teeth. He ripped several teeth
