Chapter 34 – Siege of the ruined city (4)

Joshua laid on his stomach. He watched two soldiers walked passed before suddenly sprinting. The soldiers saw Joshua. They pointed their guns at them. But before they can pull the trigger, a swift claw cleaved through their necks. The soldiers fell as the doer of the attack took their ammunition and threw them at Joshua.

“Thanks,” said Joshua, taking the bag of ammunition. He took a paper cartridge inside it and placed them on the rows of his rifle. He then took the lead balls and inserted them before priming them.

“Let’s go, we should reach the stronghold through here,” Leiko grimaced with her werecat face and went down this tunnel. She followed this tunnel and behind her was Joshua who was full of bruisers and dirt. She was too covered in soot and ashes. She had the smell of blood and gunpowder. Her black fur was smothered by gray.

Leiko kept on walking this tunnel until she found the entrance. Her senses made her notice that there were others behind the door. She readier her claw and turned her crossbow to the front, rushing out of the door to aimed at the people behind. The soldiers behind wore the blue garb of the City. They pointed their rifles but stopped after seeing the familiar face of the assistant of the Lord Enforcer.

“Madam!” said one of the soldiers. “Are you okay? Are there any others?”

Joshua came out of the door while holding his rifle. The soldier furrowed their brow as they looked at him.

“We are the only ones that came here. Where are the Lord Enforcer and the Warlord?” Leiko said with a stern voice.

A soldier stepped forward. “They are defending the front Madam!”

“I see,” she nodded her head. “Do you have anyone that knows how to dig a tunnel here?”

The soldiers looked at each other. A man with his head almost covered in bandaged took a step forward. “I do. What should you need me for?”

Leiko gestured at Joshua. He answered. “The tunnel that the servants used has been blocked. Can you help us remove them?”

“Sure, it’s better than staying here,” he said, taking his saddlebag from the floor. Joshua nodded at the soldier and then led Leiko and that soldier to where the tunnel was. They arrived there and started planting the explosives. The soldier made sure that no one was nearby by using this extendable pipe, He then spoke into that pipe and after that he prayed as he lights the fuse, making the explosives he planted made this sizzling noise.

Boom. The explosives made the rubble that blocked the tunnel flew. Leiko quickly jumped down, she shouted Kioko’s name as Joshua followers. The three followed the tunnel until they saw servants from the stronghold holding their rifles at them. Noticing that it was a soldier of the city, and Leiko, they lowered their guns at patted their chest in relief.

“Sister!” a voice called out. Leiko turned to that voice. Her werecat form vanished as she tightly hugged the running Kioko who was covered in dirt and soot. It was a tight hug. A very tight one that it made Leiko feels like her chest has gone light. Joshua looked at them, he squatted on the ground, his arms leaned on his thighs. The solder that followed them turned to look at the servants. He started talking them, checking if they are alright.

“Big Brother, Joshua!” shouted Kioko, her little legs stretching towards him. Joshua smiled wearily at Kioko. In return she patted his dust-covered head, tilting her little head to the right, saying. “Are you okay? Mhm, there are flowers on your body brother.”

“Huh?” Joshua looked at his body. He found no flowers, but then he realized that Leiko was staring at him. He said. “Ah, it’s okay, it’s nothing alright?”

“Uh huh,” said Kioko gently. “What’s happening out there Brother Joshua?” she said innocently.

Joshua looked at Leiko, then to the others. “There are fireworks out there, and it’s dangerous to go out. They might fall on your tiny head. You are scared of them aren’t you?”

She looked surprised. “How did you know?”

“I just know,” he looked at Leiko while saying that.

“So behave for a moment okay?” said Joshua, walking to Leiko with a frown. “So what should we do?”

“Have people defend this tunnel. It’s thicker than the other tunnels. And if we hold the line here then there should be no worry about putting bullets on them,” She looked at the tunnel. The tunnel was straight. It was reinforced with brick and stone. It was perfect to make a defensive position.

“I can see that,” Joshua commented.

“You there,” Leiko hollered at the soldier. “Call the other soldiers and make a defensive line here. And Kioko, stay here and make sure you don’t follow us okay? Listen to that big brother over there.” she pointed at the man holding a rifle.

“Okay!” said Kioko obediently. It made Joshua raised his brow in surprise.

“Let’s go,” she told Joshua while gesturing at the soldier and the man holding a rifle.

Joshua followed Leiko. They went through the tunnel and went upstairs. While heading there, Leiko finally said what was in her mine. “What are those canisters on your belt? They have been bothering me for a while.”

Joshua bolted. “Shit, did it start leaking?”

“No, I don’t think so,” she looked at the canisters. “Is that a smoke bomb?”

“Kind off,” he took a step, pulling one. “But this one doesn’t just obstruct the eyes. It kills.”

“So it’s poisonous?” she looked at the canister.

“Yeah, it’s a modified smoke bomb. Instead of emitting normal smoke, it emits Chlorine gas. I found some bleach and ammonia in Old Forsa’s lab. I don’t know how and where he got them but it allowed me to create this nasty stuff. It even surprised me that I was able to make it despite knowing that it would bloat my body into one big yellow balloon if I wasn’t careful enough. It’s unstable since I just mixed them together in a hurry. If released it should evaporate like a normal gas, and then the added distilled sulfur poison should do the trick to kill them or at least that’s what I think.”

“You are creating something that you haven’t even tested?” said Leiko with a sneer.

“I didn’t have time,” Joshua stopped. He made this crazy look. “And besides, I should be able to test them sooner or later.”