Demoness 2 - Chapter 58 - Sudden Strikes and Reunions (Patreon)

Elania plummeted from the cavern’s ceiling, her golden wings tucked tight against her body. The wind whistled past her ears, a deafening roar that drowned out the distant sounds of battle.

Below, a group of monks hurried through the rubble-strewn streets, their robes billowing in the acrid breeze. They moved with purpose, unaware of the death that hurtled towards them.

Elania’s lips curled into a snarl as she pull her light spears into reality. With a flick of her wrist, she sent them spinning towards the ground, their tips glowing with divine energy.

The spears struck the monks, exploding in a burst of blinding light. Screams of agony filled the air as the monks were engulfed in [Divinity] hued flame.

Elania didn’t pause to admire her handiwork. There were still several monks that had managed to protect themselves.

She snapped her wings open, the sudden drag slowing her descent. As her feet touched the ground, she lunged forward, her hands morphing into wickedly sharp claws.

The surviving monks didn’t stand a chance.

Elania tore through them like a whirlwind, her claws rending flesh and bone with equal ease. Blood splattered her face, warm and sticky, but she paid it no heed other than to take their spilled essence for herself.

As the last monk fell, Elania straightened, her chest heaving. She could feel the [Divinity]flowing into her, a heady rush of power that made her nerves sing.

This was the tenth group she had ambushed, and yet her strength showed no signs of waning. If anything, she felt more alive than ever, her [Power] stretching to new heights with each kill.

Part of that was that she was purposefully holding onto more [Power] in herself instead of releasing it to her mana shards. That effectively turned her body and mind into a furnace, one that was constantly damaging and repairing itself.

Reforging her [Power]capacity to be even higher in the process.

Whenever the excess grew too much to bear, she shunted it off into one of her bracers.

[Power: 2144/1785]

It was certainly working.

Her hand brushed against the pouch of shock crystals at her belt, still unused. The normal attacks had proven sufficient thus far, and she saw no need to show the possible new weapon unless it was critical. Keeping it in reserve as a surprise seemed ideal.

The same went for the rifle slung across her back. Even if it only used [Power] for propellant, ammunition was limited. Best to save it for when she needed some overwhelming physical ranged firepower.

Elania flexed her wings, the golden light illuminating the surrounding devastation. With a powerful beat, she launched herself back into the air, the rush of wind drowning out the distant screams and explosions.

Her [Presence Concealment] kept her hidden from enemy eyes, turning her into a silent bird of prey. She’d avoided striking the same area more than two times in a row, to prevent any of the enemy’s remaining Elders or worse from pinning her down and forcing her to retreat.

She scanned the city below, taking in the burning buildings and crumbling walls.

Soldiers moved through the streets like ants, their armor glinting in the flickering light of the fires. Elania’s lips curled into a predatory grin.

More prey for the hunt.

Before Elania could line up a new target, a sudden heat suffused the air.

She turned her gaze towards the distant Conclave Fortress, her eyes widening at what she saw.

The Seraph had returned, hovering near the chasm that surrounded the Conclave fortress.

Chains encircled its ankles and wrists, glinting in the eerie light that emanated from its form.

Its hood obscured its face, but Elania could sense the power that radiated from it, a palpable force that made the air crackle with energy.

Red light began to build within the seraph, a swirling vortex of power that grew brighter with each passing second. Elania’s heart raced as she realized what was about to happen.

The Seraph unleashed its cataclysmic laser, sweeping it across the city below. Buildings crumbled and streets shattered, reduced to rubble in an instant.

Elania watched as the laser carved a path of destruction through the heart of the city, leaving nothing but devastation in its wake.

The laser stopped abruptly, its focus shifting to the Magistry tower.

Yolani was in that tower.

Elania held her breath.

A golden dome shimmered into existence around the tower, a shield that seemed to absorb the laser’s energy. The dome pulsed with light, growing brighter until it was a blinding beacon.

Elania covered her eyes with the back of her hand.

The shield held firm against the seraph’s assault.

The seraph’s laser eventually dissipated, its energy spent.

The golden dome flickered and faded, revealing the Magistry tower unscathed beneath its protection.

Elania let out a breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding.

Hovering in the air, she realized the fighting had gone silent. She wasn’t the only one that had been shocked by the display. She surveyed the destruction below without letting her emotions play into it.

Smoke billowed from the shattered buildings, obscuring the streets in a haze of gray. There were great splotches throughout the city now, where fighting and the laser had taken their toll. Maybe even half the city had been demolished.

She had no idea how many people had just died… had died so far.

A flicker of movement caught her eye, and she watched as the seraph disappeared into the distance, its chains glinting in the fading light. Elania frowned, her mind racing with possibilities.

“Two days,” she muttered to herself, remembering the time between the first and second attacks. “That might be how long they take to use it again.”

She shook her head, pushing the thought aside. There wasn’t really enough to base her theory on, at least not enough to be sure.

Elania banked hard, her wings slicing through the air as she turned towards the City Watch fortress. She still needed to contact Magister Bannon and search for Henri.

Below, at multiple points, the Lightbringers and monks were assaulting the city wall situated between the Magistry and City Watch.

Her jaw clenched as she spotted a group scaling the wall, their ladders locked into the stone. She slowed and then turned toward the attack, summoning a light spear.

There was no time to admire the impact, and she was already moving on to her next target.

Another light spear, another explosion.

The guards on the walls cheered as they saw her. That was ultimately short-lived as they prepared for another attack, or moved to assist allies further down the wall that were still engaged.

She could see the City Watch fortress in the distance. It was under heavy assault, with ladders propped against its walls and arrows raining down on the defenders.

Cannon fire and musket shots rang out as the guards tried to hold back the tide, but Elania could see they were outnumbered.

She hesitated.

Keswick’s words echoed in her mind. If she couldn’t restore the communication lines, she was supposed to return.

Elania gritted her teeth, frustration welling up inside her. She wanted to keep fighting.

There had also been the Seraph attack. That had likely drained the engine. Yolani was in the tower, and she needed to go back.

With a last glance at the City Watch fortress, Elania turned back towards the Magistry tower. She flew low over the wall, her light spears striking down any enemies she encountered.

Elania soared through the shattered window of the Magistry tower, her wings folding gracefully as she landed on the polished marble floor. It took her two circles of the tower before she finally spotted the very specific landing place that led to the Magister’s office.

The glow of her golden aura illuminated the room, casting long shadows across the walls.

When she landed and made her way inside, Keswick was already there, probably having spotted her return.

The Magister did not appear happy. “Where have you been? I expected you back sooner.”

Elania met her gaze evenly. “I was attempting to reach the City Watch, as you well know.”

“And you couldn’t spare a moment to report back?” Keswick’s voice was sharp, but Elania could see the fear lurking behind her anger.

“I’m here now.” Elania stepped forward, her boots clicking against the floor. “What’s the status of the Celestial Engine?”

Keswick’s shoulders slumped, the fight draining out of her. She rubbed her temples, her fingers trembling slightly. “The seraph’s attack stressed it heavily. We’re running out of time.”

Elania watched as Keswick turned and began to pace the room, her robes swishing with each step.

The Magister halted and fixed Elania with a piercing stare. “Do you have enough essence, or do we need to call for the prisoners?”

Elania’s stomach churned at the thought. She shook her head vehemently. “I’m full. There’s no need.”

Keswick studied her for a long moment, her lips pressed into a thin line. Finally, she let out a heavy sigh. “I suppose I’ll have to take your word for it.”

Elania clamped down on a retort. Damned straight she would.

She followed Keswick through the winding corridors of the Magistry tower. Everyone else was busy working in the various chambers, and the more hectic back and forth were above or below them.

The Celestial Engine level was eerily quiet, except for a low hum she could feel through the walls as they got closer to the vault entry doors.

It was the first time going down to the Celestial Engine control room without Yolani.

It felt like her friend should be there, but she didn’t want to insist on bothering her.

They rode the elevator down without speaking, although the background noise of the Engine spinning and doing its ‘celestial things,’ continued.

Keswick took her place at the monitoring point, her fingers flying over the controls with practiced ease.

Elania stepped up to the altar, the pedestal looming before her like a silent sentinel. She took a deep breath, steeling herself for what was to come.

She’d done this before, more than once. This time, she’d manage it again. No sweat.

Her hand touched the cool surface of the pedestal, and the world fell away.

The familiar sensation of the engine’s essence enveloped her, a swirling vortex of energy. The white space with her essences visualized for her slowly faded into existence, replacing everything else.

It was simple enough to attach the Engine’s siphon hose and begin the transfer. Everything was normal.

Until it wasn’t. A familiar aura that made Elania’s heart skip a beat.

[Greetings, Elania.]

The voice echoed through her mind, a resonant tone that sent shivers down her spine. She knew that voice.

Eziel.

She turned and the seraph-turned-sword hovered before her, its now golden blade gleaming in the stark white of the essence space. Elania stared at it in shock, her mind reeling.

“How?” she whispered, her voice trembling. “How are you here?”

[Some things are harder to digest than others. I have been waiting for you to return.]

“What do you want?”