A Magical Spell ~ Ramayan | @TheLadyAesthetic

18. The Titan's Trick

"LAKSHMAN WATCH OUT!"

Rama roared urgently, raising his bow.

Before the third prince could even react, the eldest sped a cluster of golden-winged shafts in swift motion towards the screaming weapon, even as it entered within a yard's radius of its target.

The spear, hurled with deadly accuracy, fell to the ground right in front of Lakshman's chariot, its disarrayed pieces burning.

Lakshman stared in disbelief at the destroyed lance for a moment, before turning to face Rama, who looked like he could have had a heart attack.

Just then, a distant cackle sounded sharply throughout the battlefield, despicable to the ear, and both the princes looked up towards the blackened skies, only to find what seemed to be a transparent image of a golden chariot, and they instantly recognized the perpetrator.

A blinding bolt of pure electricity abruptly struck the battlefield, and the skies blared deafeningly as the Rakshasa prince appeared amidst the dark masses of rainless clouds, laughing like a beast. His golden armor flashed fiercely, reflecting the streaks of bright lightning that monstrously painted the sky.

"Ah Lakshman! Finally you're here! I had begun to consider you were afraid and hence decided to hide within the protective barriers of your palace instead. But as they say, vinaash kaale viprit buddhi. You are destined to die at my hands, and so your death has brought you to me. And I, Indrajeet, sole defeater of Shakra-"

"Arrey, rehne do!"

Lakshman's sharp interjection cut the prince's announcement midway, and he narrowed his eyes at the golden skinned man standing in front of him, below his altitude.

"You lowly descendent of your race, if what you so vainly boast about is true, I would not have survived your manipulated Shakti-Astra. The truth is however, you are destined by the creator himself to die at my hands, that's why you keep rushing foolishly to meet me in battle."

Lakshman tightened his grip around his bow, locking his murderous gaze with the demon's. "You are already a terrible person, but up until now, I did not have any direct grudge against you. But for the continuous calamities you have brought upon our family in the past few days, I will not spare you with your life." The prince growled, anger evident in his eyes as he recalled every tear that had been shed after the incident.

Before Indrajeet could react, Lakshman lifted his gigantic golden conchsell and let out a tremendous blast that filled the four quarters, shattering the determination of the Rakshasas, and strengthening the resolve of his soldiers. At the same time, Rama blew his own divine conchsell, and blew another terrifying blow that reverberated for miles, its din more powerful than the natural roar of thunder.

Without a moment's delay, the third prince raised his humungous bow and sped twenty arrows at once with deadly accuracy at the towering demon.

Meghnad however, hurriedly reached for his own bow and fended off the attack, matching his assailant's charge with his own barbed shafts.

Lakshman attacked the Rakshasa with doubled ferocity, increasing the number and brutality of his serpentine shafts, that screamed through the air in the hundreds towards their mark, clearly showcasing the prince's rage.

Indrajeet was astonished and thoroughly taken aback by his adversary's skill level, and found it difficult to even look upon him through the downpour of arrows that had clouded his aerial chariot within moments.

Unable to continue the battle fairly, Ravana's son summoned his limitless stash of deadly illusions and burned the tight network of steel around him. Becoming partially invisible for a split second, the demon brought into being a lethal weapon of terrifying structure. Its mouth shaped like that of a monstrous serpent, carved from pure ivory and emerald, and sparks emanating from every part of it, the javelin was daunting to behold.