JUDICATOR JANE 6 - CHAPTER 22 (Patreon)

Back to the Valley

The past few days had blurred together, passing in a rush that left Jane barely aware of the time. Whether soaring through the skies with The Drawn Veil or striding beneath the dense canopy of the forest, her mind was a whir of plans, contingencies, questions, and risk projections. She had briefly considered stopping at the village she passed along the way, but the thought of having to beg—or even ask—for food and shelter turned her stomach. Pride, and perhaps a stubborn streak, had kept her moving. The previous night she had slept near the top of a towering pine, wedged between two thick, interlocking branches that cradled her like a precarious nest.

I hope everyone’s doing alright, she thought, a flicker of worry threading through her anticipation. Twice she had encountered wild monsters—once a level one hundred and twenty Wendigo Behemoth, which she had sent flying with a single whack of her oversized hammer, and another time a trio of level ninety-eight Dark Moth Spiders, who had the misfortune of poisoning themselves to death on her Mantle of Retribution while she slept. That had granted her another level, though, disappointingly, no new skills or evolutions.

Still, the fate of her demons weighed heavily on her thoughts. Many of them were far lower in level than the beasts lurking in these forests, and despite her confidence, a gnawing worry remained. No, she reminded herself firmly, the weaker ones are backed by stronger demons. They’ll be fine.

Above her, Taltorius swooped lazily through the air, keeping his usual faithful orbit. If she flew, he stayed with her. But on the ground, the tiny demon often wandered ahead or slipped away, reappearing only once her Mana had fully restored.

Jane narrowed her eyes, scanning the horizon as a glimmer of recognition sparked. There, sprawled out before her, was the Terrazene Labyrinth—an endless stretch of glittering Arcanite twisting to the north. And just before it lay the valley, the only clearing amid the otherwise unbroken sea of forest.

But something was different.

She slowed, biting her lip. The woods surrounding the valley were... altered. Massive swaths of trees had been felled, the ground scarred by logging work on a scale that seemed impossible for the short time she had been away. Huh. Has it really only been a week? Whatever had begun here had already taken deep root, as if it had been in motion for months.

Not wanting to disrupt the demons with her Drawn Veil skill, Jane touched down lightly outside the perimeter and continued the approach on foot.

The air smelled of fresh sap and churned soil. As she crossed into the clearing, the scale of the operation became clearer. Rows of pens had been erected, each housing several massive creatures, easily twice the size of a warhorse. Their hulking forms shifted restlessly within the enclosures, the sound of heavy breathing and thrash shrieks echoing out.

What the heck... Jane hesitated at the edge of one of the pens, curiosity outweighing caution. She narrowed her eyes, locking onto the nearest creature and triggering Piercing Gaze.

Emerald Drake (Level 104)

Not quite a dragon, but close enough to ruin your afternoon hike, these land-bound nightmares will have you sprinting through the woods like you’re auditioning for a low-budget Benny Hill reboot. If you’re reading this, congratulations—you got the lead role!

Sure... okay.

All around her, the clearing buzzed with furious activity. Hellguards and Tormentors worked in tandem, hacking down towering trees with brutal efficiency, while Darkwing Skimmers flitted overhead, their thin wings cutting sharp silhouettes against the overcast sky. Makeshift forges—rough constructions of stone, wood, and demon ingenuity—spit smoke and sparks as Smiths hammered away, fashioning tools and weapons from raw ore like it was second nature.

Guess I forgot how productive demons can be, Jane mused, weaving carefully between the chaos.

Near one of the larger pens, her attention snagged on a tall, broad-shouldered female demon with a stark white face, inspecting the structure’s supports with critical eyes. There was something familiar about her appearance—the white humanoid face was a rarity. Don’t I know her? Jane narrowed her gaze, doing a quick check of the demon’s name and class.

Maevlor (Level 115)

Demon

Class: Pitwarden (Rare)

Oh, that’s right. Jane’s lips twitched in recognition. The chonky lady I bound somewhere in the Netherrealm’s Dark Lands.

The demoness turned at Jane’s approach, straightening to full height with crisp precision.

“Ah, mistress, you have returned,” she said, her deep voice carrying a mixture of deference and pride.

Jane gave a casual nod. “Yup... so what’s all this about?”

Maevlor gestured broadly toward the pens behind her. “While exploring the forest, many wild monsters were discovered. Most were too savage to tame, but these creatures proved manageable.” She swung open the gate of one pen and stepped inside without hesitation. Immediately, two bulky drakes lunged at her—but with two sharp hammering blows from her fists, she sent them sprawling into opposite corners of the enclosure.

“Learn your place!” she barked at the dazed creatures before turning back to Jane without missing a beat. “The Step Clakkers of the Netherrealm are far deadlier than these beasts. In fact, I have found many of my skills adapting well to this world. I swear, in time these unruly drakes will learn proper respect!”

Jane stared at the whimpering drakes for a beat, then blinked a few times and offered Maevlor a thumbs-up. “Well, keep up the good work.”

Beyond the demoness, the rest of the operation came into focus. Piles of freshly cut logs and mounds of quarried stone were neatly stacked, and in the distance, Jane saw that the narrow entrance to the valley had been massively widened. Where once a single gateway carved into the mountainside had stood, now an enormous breach gaped open—wide enough for the largest demons to march through side-by-side without so much as brushing the edges.

She turned instinctively as the ground trembled beneath her boots. Balostroze came galloping in from the west, his six-legged frame kicking up clouds of dust as he approached at speed.

Jane raised a hand in greeting. “Hey there. I’m back. How did it go?”

The titanic demon reined in and dipped his head in a low bow. “This land teems with life, mistress, but none that posed any significant threat to your horde. Even now, the perimeter around the valley is being expanded. The Velnatari advised that we harvest resources—stone, wood, ore—in case you wished to erect fortifications or pursue other endeavors.”

Jane nodded thoughtfully. “Yeah. Probably a good idea to be prepared.”

Balostroze’s mouth twitched, barely suppressing what might have been a grin. “I can only assume that with the intelligence you’ve gathered, we will begin subjugating this new world shortly. It would bring your predecessor great satisfaction to know you were continuing his unfinished work.”

Jane chuckled and shrugged. “Yeah, something like that I suppose. Chances are we’ll be pushing south—straight into a war that’s already in full swing. Have any of the Infiltrators made it back yet?”

Balostroze shook his head. “Not yet. But I will feel them when they re-enter the sphere of my Dominance. You will be informed at once.”

“Good. Thanks.” Jane shifted her attention toward the valley. “I should go find Melindra. Any idea where she is?”

The demon closed his eyes for a moment, his senses rippling outward. “She was last seen near the dragonkin temple.”

“Right. Thanks. And have Veralaktus meet me there too,” she added, already jogging toward the widened valley entrance, her mind shifting gears toward what might have been discovered in the ancient dragonkin structure.

***

Inside the stone temple, Jane found Veralaktus waiting near the entrance, arms folded with patient expectation.

“Greetings, Jane,” the demoness said, inclining her head. “Was your journey fruitful?”

Jane nodded, brushing a few stray strands of hair from her face. “Yeah... though not exactly in the way I expected. Where’s Melindra?”

“Since your departure, she and the other Velnatari have spent most of their time in the library. This way.”

Without waiting, Veralaktus strode through the wide central chamber, her long strides cutting a clear path between the silent columns. Jane followed, boots echoing lightly against the stone floor as they wound through a series of hallways leading deeper into the temple’s heart.

Moments later, they stepped into the dragonkin library—three sprawling stories of packed bookshelves, arched ceilings, and scattered tables. Dust motes drifted lazily in the shafts of light breaking through the skylight above. Amid the quiet hum of turning pages and the faint scratch of writing, Jane spotted Melindra hunched over a wide table, surrounded by a chaotic sprawl of open books and ancient parchments. The other three Velnatari each occupied their own corners, their tables equally buried in research.

“Hey, Melindra,” Jane called, raising a hand.

Melindra immediately looked up, her focused expression softening into a warm smile as she rose. “Ah, Jane, wonderful. How was your journey? Were you able to negotiate passage with the Traders?”

Jane crossed the room, shaking her head. “No, I’m afraid not. From what I gathered, the Traders have been pulling out for some reason. The people I talked to haven’t seen one in weeks. I even tried using my Luck to guide me to some...” She hesitated, grimacing. “Yeah, that didn’t work out either.”

Melindra’s smile grew thin but remained polite. “I see. That is... unfortunate.”

Jane held up a hand before the mood could sink too far. “But—I did find something useful. The Dirthian capital, Integra, is here. To the south. I’m pretty sure they’ve got tunnels that stretch all the way to Arcadia.” She hesitated, remembering. “And, uh, technically... I already have an invitation to visit them. From a while back.”

Melindra’s brows lifted in mild surprise. “I see.” She turned to rummage through the mess on her table, eventually fishing out a large rolled parchment. “You’re not alone in that discovery. Here, look.”

Clearing a space, she spread an ancient map across the table. Time had yellowed the parchment, and the ink was faded in places, but the detail was clear. Melindra pointed toward a small dot on the southern edge of the continent.

“This marks Integra. I’ve only heard of it in passing from Belgoth’s old tales, but according to this map, it is here, on Kaldara. However, what’s labeled here is likely just the entrance. The city itself must lie deep underground.”

Jane leaned closer, scanning the map. Compared to Xian’s version, this one was far more detailed in terms of landmass—coastlines, mountain ranges, and forests meticulously drawn—but it lacked the newer cities, Mandala rings, and nautical markings and roads. Only three cities were named: Yiztharian beside the Terrazene Labyrinth, Bangralah in the center, and Integra in the far south.

Huh. I don’t remember seeing any city outside the valley, Jane thought, tracing the faint lines with a hovering fingertip.

“Well, it’s good to have some confirmation,” she said aloud. “What do you think? Could the Dirthian tunnels be the answer?”

Melindra shrugged, folding her arms. “Perhaps. But we should be cautious. Some of your demons are enormous, and Dirthians are quite small. Even if the tunnels exist, they may not be built to accommodate an entire horde.”

“Yeah...” Jane grimaced. Either it’s gonna be Mines of Moria huge... or more like crawling through one of their cramped bank tunnels. “Still, it feels like our best shot. If we push south quickly enough, maybe we can get there before anyone realizes a demon invasion is happening.”

Melindra chuckled under her breath. “I see. So that was your plan?”

Jane shrugged unapologetically. “More or less. And besides, it sounds like there’s already a war brewing down south. That probably works in our favor.”

Melindra rubbed her chin thoughtfully, then straightened. “Lilith, would you come here, please?”

A tall demoness rose from one of the side tables, gliding over with an eerie sort of grace. She was nearly nine feet tall, draped in silver robes, with a build so rail-thin she looked half-spectral under the high windows’ pale light.

One of the Velnatari, Jane noted. Don’t think I’ve checked her yet. Curious, she triggered Piercing Gaze, reaching for more information.

Lilith (Level 183)

Demon

Class: Demonic Instructor (Epic)

Strength: 121

Agility: 65

Constitution: 189

Intelligence: 231

Dominance: 0

Wisdom: 290

Soul Bound: Jane King

Health: 1890/1890

Mana: 2900/2900

Fun Fact:

Do this, do that, sit up straight, mind your manners! Lilith’s crusade to turn demons into respectable citizens has gone about as well as teaching cats to file taxes. Still, like all great educators clinging to the last threads of their sanity, she grits her teeth, pours herself her sixth cup of coffee, and daydreams about the moment she can clock out and bolt home as fast as demonly possible.

“Mistress,” Lilith said, bowing her head slightly.

“Lilith, please explain to Jane what you’ve discovered about the dragonkin,” Melindra prompted, stepping aside so the taller demoness could approach the map.

Lilith moved to the table, one long, graceful finger tracing the faded parchment as she spoke. “There is a vast amount of history buried in this library,” she said, her voice calm and precise. “In the limited time we’ve had, we’ve only been able to uncover fragments. However, one thing is clear: at one point, the dragonkin lived here—” she pointed to the city Yiztharian, marked near the Terrazene Labyrinth, “—all of them.”

“That city is no more. The only remnants, broken half-buried ruins.” Her finger drifted lower across the continent. “Over time, they migrated south. The reasons are unclear—clan divisions, political rivalries, or perhaps simply a drive to expand their dominion.”

“Or something else,” Melindra added, her eyes steady on Jane. “The humans in this valley were under the dragonkin’s influence, though in what capacity remains unclear. Perhaps the dragonkin who moved south sought to push their reach beyond the confines of the northern forests.”

Jane sighed, rubbing the back of her neck. “Yeah. Well, I didn’t meet any dragonkin—and no one I talked to had even heard of them. But what I did learn about were kingdoms—or regions—called Mandalas.” She pointed to the open space on the map between the labyrinth and Integra. “There. Eight of them, spread across this area. Each one is themed—Power, Beauty, stuff like that. And supposedly, they’re run by others wearing those same gold masks.” Her voice hardened. “It sounds like whatever the dragonkin were doing here, they’ve taken it to a whole new level down south.”

She exhaled, frustrated. “I’m pretty sure half the continent is enslaved by them. But that’s a story for another time.”

“Enslaved?” Melindra murmured, thoughtfully pressing a hand to her chin. “The Traders have long been known to traffic Arcadians if the opportunity presents itself. I suppose we shouldn’t be surprised. Belgoth never spoke in great detail about the lands beyond the Green Sea, though... I often sensed there was much he left unsaid. Perhaps this was why.”

Jane leaned over the map, her brow furrowed. “We don’t have the luxury of getting bogged down with whatever ancient political mambo-jumbo is happening these days. But we also can’t give these guys a chance to react once they realize demons are loose again.”

She straightened, crossing her arms tightly. “For now, we’ll wait for the Infiltrators to return. See what they can add. But we need to start planning. If we’re marching south, I want numbers. How fast can we travel? How will we keep the horde supplied? How long will it take?”

She looked around the table, meeting both women’s eyes in turn. “Let’s start putting things in motion. We can’t stay here—and I’m not leaving anyone behind.”