Ravasha's jaw moved awkwardly, but the words came out clearly. "I will pollute the Well of Ghuma. Once I do, it will spawn as many thralls as I need. Then I can claim the gate to heaven, and this world will be consumed by chaos."
"What?" Despite the struggle, Sugriva's mouth slowly opened. The demon was delirious. Monkey called on the fire in his fist, thrust it down Ravasha's throat, and tried to stoke it until it exploded. But nothing happened. "No. Give me one more shot," he whispered. "Ishva, if you can hear me, I need this."
The fire burst in his hand, though barely. There was a small burn, but the fire on Sugriva's hand went out. The demon gurgled.
Then a fire immolated his hand, crawled up his arm, and it consumed him, eating away at his hair and making his skin red. Ravasha tossed the burning monkey aside.
THE WORLD WAS BLACK when Sugriva came to. Heavy weights crushed down on his chest and legs, and he could feel them shift as people—or creatures—walked over it. He could make out slimy scraping above, and realized definitely creatures. Jaya was overrun, which would make sense. It wasn't in great condition before he passed out from being set on fire.
He used the earth staff to jettison himself up into the air. He surveyed the city and found a mostly intact building to land on. The demons frenzied seeing him and clamored up the siding. Sugriva launched himself away repeatedly. The demons picked up their pace at the scent of fresh and active blood. As Sugriva continued, he watched as abominations burst into houses, then dragged out victims who couldn't get to the city center. He wanted to intervene—to save them all—but he knew he couldn't. He also knew they were unimportant in comparison to stopping Ravasha from reaching the Well. At best, when possible, Sugriva used his staff to snuff out the victims.
In view of the Well of Ghuma, Sugriva climbed up a tree to avoid the demons below. They looked up briefly as the tree shook, but it didn't keep their interest with all the warriors and monks ahead.
Ravasha limped up the path. Several warriors fought him, and he dispatched each in kind, gaining more ground with every kill. The path was slick with their blood, every stone touched either in crimson or the ruddiness of dried blood.
Divyan was there fighting. Humbari was nowhere to be seen. He likely went off to the palace to make sure Prince Anka remained safe. Meanwhile, warrior priests fended off Ravasha from the irreplaceable Well. Sugriva cursed the short term thinking of General Humbari.
Sugriva launched off and up toward the Well. He dropped in the water and called the liquid to coat his bare skin, soothing burned flesh. The priests were astounded, tripping over themselves from monkey's sudden appearance, but Sugriva ignored them. "Divyan," he said. "I need you to fight Ravasha with me."
The hawk smirked. "They said you were dead. I said you're a ghost and death has no hold on you. Here you are. The Ghost of Sankive." He took out a spear with a jade tip and intricate designs. "Lead the way."
The two men charged down among the priests, moving past the final three gates keeping Ravasha from the Well.
Sugriva spat water and guided it into Ravasha's eyes. He swept for the demon lord's knees. The demon swung down two swords, and Sugriva shifted into a monkey and let his inertia pull him behind the demon's legs. Then he cut up and caught a hamstring. Ravasha dropped to a knee, howling, then swung back, knocking Sugriva off the path. A second pause reattached the severed hamstring. Ravasha charged through the priests and Divyan, then shouldered through another gate. Wood shattered and iron twisted, clanging as it was thrown to the ground. Several monks were killed by splinters and the doors falling. Then Ravasha kicked down the supports, and stone fell and crushed more people.
Sugriva thrust down his staff, steadying himself, then jumped back into the battle, taking a crack at the demon's skull. His aim was off with the flying debris distracting him, and he missed. Divyan flurried, but the jade-tipped spear was rebuffed. Ravasha grabbed the spear during one of the thrusts and dragged Divyan toward him.
Monkey launched a side shot to the skull, which reverberated up the staff and stung in Sugriva's hands. Ravasha struck against a rock wall, and Sugriva struck again and again until Divyan lodged the spear in the demon's torso. Divyan snapped the spear and thrust the broken tip in with his palm, making sure it was deep as the wound sealed over it.
Ravasha threw Divyan, and the hawk shifted to fly, keeping an eye on the monstrosity. Another gate shattered, and Ravasha took one of the pillars and threw it at Divyan. The hawk dodged lazily.
Sugriva poured out water, and let it run over his hand. The stream felt like it pulsed, and he called to it, creating a tendril. The tendril struck, rushing down the demon's throat, filling his lungs. Ravasha waved his hand through the stream, and Sugriva lost his connection. The monkey had a small amount of water left, but certainly not enough to drown the demon.
With a single cough, Ravasha cleared his lungs. "One more gate. These priests can't do anything. You can't do anything. Give up. Flee."
He speaks the truth. Kneel before him. He will still take you. The voice racked his head, but he pushed it down, and it hurt his chest. He parried an attack, then thrust, but Ravasha moved aside. The opening was a grave mistake, and multiple swords came
