Demoness 2 - Chapter 76 - Ranolf’s Legacy (Patreon)

Elania surveyed the cache, her eyes scanning the sheer volume of equipment packed into the small space. Boxes, crates, and barrels filled every available inch, stacked haphazardly on top of each other.

“Wasn’t it illegal for anyone other than the guard to have firearms?” she mused, her voice echoing in the confined space.

Yolani nodded, her expression grim. “This cache appears to be highly illegal.”

The soldiers wasted no time, each one filling their weight-reduction packs with shock crystals. They started to strap the muskets to the outside of the packs.

Elania didn’t like it. They were already tired, and the weight reduction wasn’t going to help the things outside the packs. It was going to slow them down if they were overloaded.

She stepped forward, her voice cutting through the clatter of metal on metal. “Leave most of the muskets. We already have mostly enough guns. It’s the ammo that’s critical.”

The soldiers exchanged glances before nodding, adjusting their loads accordingly. Elania watched quietly. Tens of thousands of rounds of ammunition… and there were supposed to be more caches.

“Was the syndicate preparing for a rebellion too?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Yolani shook her head, her expression thoughtful. “We’re going to have to make multiple trips. This was just the first cache. There are four more.”

Elania nodded, her jaw set with determination. She turned back the way they had come. “I’ll take the lead on the way back.”

The soldiers fell into step behind her, their packs laden with the precious cargo. Elania’s mind raced as they navigated the twisting tunnels.

What else would they find in the other caches?

The way back was as uneventful as the path to the cache. Her time navigating the deep caverns below Neftasu proved its worth as she navigated flawlessly. When they reached the point near the Magistry walls, Yolani pointed her toward their exit.

The door leading out was a vertical manhole. Elania looked at the others. “I’ll go first. If it is safe, I’ll send a sign.”

Yolani handed her a ball. “Use this. It’ll light up if you squeeze it. Just toss it into the hole. You’re great at throwing things.”

Elania took the object and smiled. Well, of course she was. She had Rank S+ in it after all.

Climbing the ladder, Elania pushed up on the metal cover, only to find it didn’t want to budge.

“Do we need another exit?” Yolani asked.

Elania grunted and hit the cover harder. There was a thump as it moved slightly. Something heavy was lying on it. She braced herself and then shoved hard. Whatever it was gave way and the metal banged open.

The sound was much too loud to her ears, and her heart pounded in her chest as she popped out to scan the area for any signs of danger.

The Magistry District walls loomed over her, and she spotted the guards on the wall. Two of them were looking down at her, rifles visible. She extended a wing and waved. That calmed them down.

At least if they got ambushed now, they’d have cover fire.

Elania looked back down the ladder. “Looks good. Wait another minute for the sign.”

Maybe it wasn’t strictly necessary, but she wanted to be sure. The ammo and Yolani were worth the extra precautions.

She jumped and climbed up the side of the nearest building, avoiding using her wings for flying. That would draw attention for sure. Once on the roof, she checked the nearby streets.

The city was a sprawling maze of narrow paths and towering buildings in the area. Her vantage point gave her a pretty good view, though, and there really was hardly any activity to note in sight.

Coast clear.

Elania activated the little glow ball Yolani had given her and then tossed it to the manhole. It went right down the center. Thirty seconds later, the first guard emerged.

Once everyone was out in the open, they hurried toward the nearest wall gate. There was a small door in it that opened for them, and they rushed inside.

Once they were in the district walls, Elania let out a sigh of relief.

Mission Accomplished.

A few other soldiers joined them on their route back to the Magistry tower. Outside the building, a waiting group of men were ready to sort their spoils.

Elania watched as the soldiers unloaded the packs, passing them off to the waiting guards. They immediately began dividing it up and carriers hurried to rush the ammo toward the walls wherever it was needed most.

The sheer volume of the haul was staggering, and she could see the immediate effect it had on morale. Faces that had been etched with worry and despair now held a glimmer of hope, a renewed sense of purpose.

She couldn’t help but smile, feeling a sense of pride in what they had accomplished.

When the packs were empty, Elania took a deep breath.

“Alright, everyone, listen up!” Elania’s voice rang out, cutting through the chatter of the soldiers. “We’re heading back out. Get your gear and be ready to move in five minutes.”

The soldiers scrambled to obey, their faces set with grim determination. Yolani looked at her with a serious expression, then nodded.

Elania led the way through the dank, dimly lit sewers. The previous three trips had gone smoothly, the soldiers working efficiently to retrieve the precious cargo from the hidden caches.

The men had been exhausted, though, and they had been dismissed and replaced with a new group. That had changed the dynamics completely.

As they made their way towards the last location, she could feel the tension in the air, the weight of exhaustion and fear pressing down on the men.

Yolani shared a worried look with her.

Elania paused and looked back at them. “Keep moving,” she urged, her voice echoing off the narrow walls. “We’re almost there.”

Despite her words of encouragement, she could see the hesitation in their eyes.

It seemed contagious. Even she couldn’t shake the feeling of unease that crept up her spine, the sense that something was watching them from the darkness.

“Did you hear that?” one of the soldiers whispered.

Elania paused, her head cocked to the side as she listened intently. But there was nothing, only the distant drip of water and the scurrying of rats in the shadows.

“It’s nothing,” she said, her voice firm. “Keep moving.”

A few minutes later, she was proved wrong.

A high-pitched screech echoed through the tunnels, sending a chill down her spine. The soldiers froze, their eyes wide with terror as they scanned the darkness for the source of the sound.

“Cluck! Cluck, cluck, KLUK!”

Elania’s mouth dropped wide open. At the next intersection, a horde of feathered chickens turned the corner straight toward them.

She recognized them instantly.

Ranolf’s Demons!

They had obviously missed some of them when they had cleared his kennels.

“Not again,” Yolani hissed.

“It’s fowl indeed,” Elania replied, a grin spreading on her face.

Yolani jabbed her in the side, the scale armor clinking. “That’s not funny.”

It was funny, but only because the demons weren’t really a threat anymore.

Elania took a breath and then released her [Demonic Aura] with a pulse of [Power].

“Behave.”

The horde of little demons aborted their charge, feathers flying as some stopped so fast they rolled in the muck, while others collapsed.