The Paladin in the Abyss-Chapter 737 - 758: A New Adventure

Before the sky had even begun to brighten and the sun hid shyly behind the horizon, Lancelot already opened his eyes in the chamber where he sat in meditation. He perceived a strong and familiar presence that had arrived at Hagrid Manor, slowly walking over the garden’s low-lying grass.

Lancelot stood up straight away and walked out of the chamber through the tunnel that served as its exit. After a night of meditation and cultivation, his clothes were as if enchanted to be spotless, and a faint luminescence on his skin gradually faded away, leaving him looking rejuvenated.

When he passed the gym, which had been converted from an interrogation room, his figure caught the attention of little Isa, who was hanging upside down on a cross, practicing sit-ups. Faced with the girl’s inquisitive gaze, Lancelot nodded gently, after which the vampire Wanderer silently flipped down from the rack, trailing behind Lancelot like a small cat.

Shortly afterward, the two emerged outdoors to find the Succubus Lord admiring a strand of purple flowers hanging from a rack. Hearing the noise from the gate, she turned gracefully and revealed a happy smile to her knightly lover.

"Good morning, my lady," Lancelot greeted the Succubus Lord politely yet intimately, "I’m pleased to see you enjoy these flowers."

"Good morning, Lady Tijana," little Isa, following behind him, lifted her dress and performed a curtsey expertly, "Compared to you, these flowers are nothing."

"Oh, dear, that does sound rather sweet," Tijana was amused by the little vampire’s compliment, "Did you rest well last night, Sir Lancelot?"

"Wonderfully," Lancelot raised his eyebrows, "but I guess I’m about to say goodbye to such comfort and wonderful times soon, right?"

"…Yes," the Succubus Lord pursed her lips, seemingly about to point out that it was his own decision, but ended up saying, "I wish I could spend more time with you too."

"But Bruto can’t wait," Lancelot shook his head with regret, "Let’s go inside, everyone else is up too."

The trio bid farewell to the supernaturally beautiful garden in the morning light and walked into the manor. Just as Lancelot had said, Bruto, Kalalin, and Alamir were all already awake. The Scholar and the Elves were coiled on the couch, yawning, while the Dwarf sat on a stool with a serious expression, looking calm but the rapid twitching of his right leg betrayed his inner anxiety.

Everyone stood up to greet the Succubus Lord, while Tijana waved her hand, saying:

"We’re already well acquainted, let’s dispense with such formalities from now on. Let’s get straight to the point. With the help of the Abyssal Scroll you brought back, I’ve found a suitable portal that can take you to the Domain of the Vague. Craftsmen have worked overnight to repair your equipment, which has already been delivered to my castle, and you’ll be able to get your hands on it shortly. But before you set off, I still have a few matters to entrust to you…"

"Please give your orders, my lady," Lancelot nodded earnestly.

"Firstly, after further investigation, I can be sure that this attack was aimed at those Grand Craftsmen, likely intended to strike at Twin Bridges Town’s production capabilities. Although Lord Molo of Oasis Fort is quite clearly responsible, this move is far too foolish and differs greatly from his usual conduct, so there’s likely another mastermind behind this. You may find some clues that reveal the true culprit during your search for Barrend’s soul, but do not act rashly, nor draw hasty conclusions. Remember your most important task: recover Bruto’s father’s soul; other objectives are secondary. Understood?"

"Understood," Lancelot answered solemnly, "If I obtain any intelligence, I will inform you immediately."

"Our mind link is unlikely to work across planes. If there is truly valuable intelligence, have Kalalin contact me using the Message Spell, he knows how to do it."

"Second, I will first send you to the thirty-second layer of the Abyss, Sholo-Tovos, through the Dark Scrolls, and then you can use the natural portal on that plane to proceed to the Domain of the Vague. The lord of Sholo-Tovos, ’Eternal Hunger’ Tulaglas, is currently in slumber, so it should not be too dangerous for you there."

"I have heard that there is a special curse on that plane which gradually turns visitors bloodthirsty, craving for slaughter," Kalalin said thoughtfully, "And apart from leaving, there is no magical defense to prevent the curse from taking effect..."

"Yes, but you shouldn’t be staying there too long to completely lose your mind," Tijana spread her hands, "The portal is on the peak of the highest mountain on that plane; you are not likely to miss it. However, teleportation via the Dark Scrolls may not be particularly precise, so be prepared for climbing..."

"How big can the error be?" Kalalin asked worriedly, "If it’s too far, I must rely on the power of magic..."

"There could be an error of up to a hundred miles, but since I have been to that plane before, it shouldn’t be much," the Succubus Lord shrugged, "If you want to use magical aids, go ahead, but make sure not to stand out too much. The curse of that plane does not only affect outsiders."

"If you can’t walk anymore, I’ll carry you," the Dwarf offered to the Scholar, "Guaranteed to be more comfortable than riding a horse!"

"Lastly, regarding your actions in the Domain of the Vague," Tijana interrupted her companions’ jest with a stern tone, "Remember, no conflicts are allowed there unless it is an absolute necessity for self-defense. Do not attack any creature of that plane unless it is a must. The only exception is Demons, aside from soul-stealing thieves, they have no other role in the Domain of the Vague. The current King of the Dead is an absolutely orderly deity, and you are in His Divine Kingdom, do not challenge the rules set by the host."

"Of course," Lancelot nodded, "We will remember."

"I’m not worried about the others; they don’t have the ability to mess things up too badly," Tijana glared fiercely at Lancelot, "Five minutes to gather your things, and then we set off."

"There’s no need," Bruto lifted a well-worn leather backpack from his feet, "We are already prepared!"

The others also nodded in agreement, including little Isa. She had already moved her sleeping box into Lancelot’s Dimensional Bag in advance, naturally, the one without the Sword of Zariel.

"However, we can still make use of these five minutes, like having breakfast," Bruto touched his stomach, "I think father wouldn’t mind waiting just a little longer."

"Keep your appetites for now; we’ll eat once we get to Sholo-Tovos," Tijana shook her head, "You will soon find yourselves hungry, eagerly wanting to taste some fresh, sentient beings’ flesh—White Dragon’s would be nice, you already know that trick."