"Come meet your doom, Demon!" Komso taunted.
Barry sensed the interest of the watchers. Many times they had seen Komso's powers displayed, and they were waiting for the demon to flee or die.
Suddenly Barry launched himself from the bottom in a headlong rush.
Komso dodged and his hands came out in a clawing, scratching reach. In that instant Barry knew Xintel had been right.
He knocked Komso's arm aside and whipped his fist toward the smirking face. It struck, but only a glancing blow. It left him floundering off balance. The water around them glowed with increasing brightness as they twisted and turned.
Again and again Komso's poisoned nails reached out, but each time Barry managed to escape. He tried to maneuver the battle toward the bottom, but Komso stayed above and made short, threatening swoops. Barry was forced to move upward again or remain entirely on the defensive. He did not dare grapple.
In desperation he relaxed his guard and tried a judo chop at Komso's shoulder muscles. The priest uttered a cry of pain, but the blow had not disabled. Fingernails scraping along his neck filled him with blind panic. Luckily they failed to break the skin.
Komso drew away, dove in again, this time low, clawing at Barry's legs and keeping clear of his punishing fists.
Barry drew his legs up, and as the Venusian passed under him, pumped them down with all his strength.
One foot struck Komso's side. Barry felt something shatter beneath his heel.