A gnarly arm that resembled a tree trunk pushed through the shattered window. Sandun and Dasun yelled and recoiled. Vinod turned around and leveled his gun at blinding speed. The twins ducked as a jet of holy water shot right at the monstrosity. Droplets sprayed everywhere. Binara flinched.

The demon howled and drew back—the bone-chilling noise blending with thunder. That was when Binara registered that it was a Naruma demon—not unlike the one that pulled the cart in the naga tunnel.

Lightning flashed, illuminating its blackened form and abnormal proportions. Sickle-like teeth protruded from its mouth. The reddish glow from the clouds above brought out the veins that criss-crossed its bare body. It was more beast than humanoid—a terrifying aberration that Hevana's old murals had attempted to capture. Skin sizzled everywhere the holy water touched as if it was a corrosive liquid that ate into its very muscle.

Binara realized that she wasn't the only one staring aghast.

"We gotta move those rocks off the road!" Vinod jumped out and slammed the door.

The noise spurred them to action with the force of a gunshot.

The lesser demon spasmed on the ground while they heaved and pushed against the blockage. The rocky incline towered up on one side of the road, hardly visible but for the lightning. The twins managed to send a large rock tumbling down the sheer drop on the other side. Binara and Piumi pushed aside another.

"Incoming," Sandun yelled.

Everyone whipped up their heads to watch malevolent eyes peering over a boulder high above.

"Get in!" Vinod sprinted to the van. "We can make it through."

The others followed without a word. Binara had an instant to see the Naruma demons barreling down on all fours, dislodging stone and dirt. One of them lost its footing and rolled down. Their brutish bodies could probably withstand trauma.

Vinod jerked the van into motion and swerved—a precarious move that sent one wheel hanging over the precipice to the side. Binara's stomach dropped while she flew sideways into Piumi. Rock screeched against the van and wrenched a side mirror clean off.

Then the battered vehicle righted itself and took off, hurtling along the crooked path as fast as it could go. Binara scrambled around and stared back in time to see the demons giving chase—lumbering monsters that were unaffected by the potholes and bumpy terrain slowing down the van.

"They're going to catch up to us," Piumi said in a quavering voice.

Unanse started chanting pirith.

In the darkness, a weight thudded onto the back, and wheels skidded. The twins yelled. Vinod struggled to maintain control. One of the demons had leaped onto the van. Lightning illuminated its grotesque face through the rear window, which started to rattle.

Binara straightened up and kicked the window off. The demon snarled but held on, while the window disappeared behind them. Piumi materialized next to her and jabbed her polearm into the clawed hand. The monster bellowed and finally let go. More of its kin had gained on them, mere feet from grabbing on.

As Vinod desperately tried to pick up speed, Binara produced her slingshot and let loose a sura pellet. It was difficult to aim, but the ensuing grunt told her that it had hit its mark. Sandun and Dasun crowded onto the back with their holy water guns and started firing. The horde was relentless—like sharks in a feeding frenzy.

"Don't use up all the ammo, guys," Piumi shrieked, one hand holding a throwing knife at the ready.

The van hurtled on, bumping over potholes. The demons gradually fell behind. As the road curved, the other side of Bahira Mountain became visible.

Their vantage point revealed fires burning down the mountain slope, though nowhere near the temple at the peak. Entire trees fell as if a rampaging beast was gobbling up the forest. The cacophony of battle thundered into Binara's ears. Pirith verses sputtered from a loudspeaker before they were snuffed out. Under bursts of lightning, she spotted several flying forms above the treetops, armor glinting copper. Garuda's birdmen!

Even as she watched, one of them fell, crashing into the trees, though she had no idea if it was a demon attack or the Yakadura's doing. Her heart clenched. The birdmen were surprisingly few in number, and that was when it occurred to her that it might have been difficult to transport a larger force into the human realm. These were no doubt a handful of elite warriors.

As the van rumbled on, Binara's stare panned away to land on a forested plateau that inched into visibility. Above it, the clouds swirled into a hellish vortex. It was no doubt the eye of the dimensional rip.

"That has to be the portal," Binara exclaimed. "It's so big it's affecting the weather."

Everyone stared out of the windows, trying to get a better look. Awed silence stretched out between them, amplifying the chaos outside.

"So demons are coming in through that?" Piumi asked in a hushed voice.

"Bahirawa and Mahasona must be holding it open." Binara took in a shuddering breath. "Diyan told me that portals require considerable skill. And this one is huge. The energy cost must be high."

"What about the battle over there?" Piumi pointed at the slope of Bahira Mountain.

"Mahasona's minions? Mara demons?"

"Where the heck is the Black Prince?" Vinod yelled above the thunder.

"Diyan might be trying to thwart Mahasona. Close the portal?" Binara's insides twisted. "Other demons are no match for him—unless he's overwhelmed. But he's got Garuda's warriors on his side."

"Well, the Yakadura are no doubt fighting them all." Piumi turned to her. "You can use Chandrahasa to convince them to ally with Diyan. Meanwhile—"

"Only the higher-ups are calling the shots," Vinod interrupted. "Binara would need to get to Molamure."

Binara pressed against the nearest window, eyes straining in the darkness. "And where would he be?"

"I dunno. Somewhere close to the battle over there. They probably headed along the main road to Bahira Mountain, which would take them to the temple at its peak. It would've been a good base of operations, since it's warded. But they might have been waylaid by the demons."

"That makes sense," Piumi muttered grimly.

Vinod continued, "The Yakadura have military-grade vehicles with demon aura shielding. Molamure might be using one as a command post to direct the operation."

"We need to get Alambara first," Binara said, jaw set. "Then head there."

No one said anything, obviously weighing the chances of success.

Rock and foliage obscured the view again. The vehicle labored on as the road grew steeper and bumpier. A dirt path branched off, engulfed by vegetation, which may have led to a small village. The beat of the drum was now louder than ever, reverberating up Binara's very spine. Next time she got a clear view of Bahira Mountain, it appeared much closer, and she spied a footbridge that connected the hill they were on to the mountainous side closer to where the battle was raging. The bridge was no doubt used to facilitate easy travel to the temple.

They ascended a particularly steep incline, and Binara didn't need the detector to sense the danger. She could discern multiple ectoplasmic signatures, which set her whole system into fight mode. The others also stiffened, eyes alert and muscles tensed. Without warning, the trees ahead parted to reveal a clearing.

Against the blackness of night, hemmed in with trees, a dozen demons stood gathered around a massive drum.

Binara's gaze stilled on Alambara for a prolonged moment. All white, it stood out like a beacon—an otherworldly raban drum big enough to accommodate multiple drummers. Lightning gleamed off the contours and the intricate runes that had lost their power over the years.

As the van skidded to a halt, all the demons looked up—most of them deformed brutes. The drummer was more humanoid and held mallets which struck the drum with inhuman force. Fangs protruded from his mouth, adorned with grotesque piercings, and an ancient outfit encased a wiry frame, ending with crude, leathery boots. The most striking feature was a skull headdress that hooded a face etched with tattoos.

The drumming stopped. Everything happened at once.

The demons attacked like frenzied beasts, right when Vinod issued a battle cry and leaped out. Binara and the others followed suit. As holy water jetted out, flesh sizzled and howls erupted. Binara barely registered Unanse's hurried verses as she aimed her slingshot and fired at one demon after the next, halting their motion. She turned in time to see Piumi swiping one with her polearm again and again—a desperate move driven by panic. Sandun had already sustained an injury to his head, which sent blood trickling down his face, though he kept on fighting.

Right when it appeared that they were winning, a dark figure swooped into view, red eyes glinting. Binara started, and so did Piumi right next to her.

It was none other than the Mara demon they had encountered in Natran.

The drummer resumed beating the drum, as if this was all a temporary setback.

As heavy percussion vied with thunder, the Mara demon snarled, eyes locked onto them. Ugly scars disfigured the gaunt face—evidence of Binara's handiwork the last time they met. He flicked his hand, and the polearm twisted out of Piumi's grasp. She gasped. Then he lunged forward like a vengeful shadow, but Vinod fired his gun. The demon evaded the holy water in the nick of time.

Sandun and Dasun charged with their weapons, having exhausted their holy water. The demon sent them flying back. Vinod used the distraction to land a hit with a sanctified dagger, drawing blood, but the demon turned to fight him, teeth bared. Binara fired a sura pellet, but it missed.

"Hit him with everything you've got," Vinod yelled, panting. "I'll aim for a critical strike so we can seal him."

Piumi picked up the polearm and lunged. There was a ferocity about her that surprised Binara. They kept up the onslaught for a full minute. The demon deflected their blows, both physically and with poltergeism. A few of the Naruma demons they had taken down started to recover.

Panic inundated Binara. They were wasting time. Half of her wanted to unsheathe Chandrahasa and smite the demon, but he was just too fast. She wondered how many Mara demons were out there right now, killing and maiming. Their best chances of winning rested on the Yakadura allying with Diyan's forces as soon as possible, and she was the only one who could make it happen. Yet, here she was stuck in a mini battle. As Piumi caught her eye, her stare mirrored the urgency that consumed Binara.

While the twins attacked the demon, Piumi whirled around, words tumbling out in rapid succession, "Binnie, listen to me. You need to go. Use the footbridge and get to the nearest Yakadura agent. Get them to take you to Molamure. We'll take care of things here and bring you Alambara."

Binara blinked. "But—"

"There's no time." A fierce gleam appeared in Piumi's eyes, and she gripped the polearm tighter. "After what that a-hole did to you in Natran, we have a score to settle. Leave this to me."

That instant, many emotions reared up in Binara's head, clashing for dominance. Instead of resistance, her whole being embraced the idea. She didn't have to do all of this herself or cling on to a distant memory for strength. Piumi was there, right in front of her. She was going to get Alambara—same as Diyan who was out there holding off Mahasona for her. Despite the darkness and what was at stake, Binara's chest eased. Everything she had experienced in Kalacakra came flooding in, and a shaky breath escaped her.

Whatever was stamped on her face, it make Piumi tackle her into a hug. "I've always believed in you, Binnie. It's time you believe in me."

For the first time, Binara reciprocated the hug, hands clammy. "Thank you..."

When they pulled apart, Piumi blinked at her. Perhaps she put down Binara's gesture to temporary insanity brought on by impending doom. Whatever it was, she recovered, and her cheeks stretched into a grin. Then she gripped the polearm and flung herself into the fray, her step surer than it had ever been.

A moment later, Binara turned and ran to the dirt road they had passed, which could lead her to the footbridge.