The Paladin in the Abyss-Chapter 553 - 577 Good Knight
Chapter 553: Chapter 577: Good Knight Chapter 553: Chapter 577: Good Knight “`
In the terrified gazes of the prisoners, the zombies butchered the living Frost Giant guards one by one, severed limbs flying everywhere like shattered pottery. The warm blood that spattered on the cold ground quickly congealed into dark red ice. In less than ten minutes, the last Frost Giant had been killed, and only about a dozen of the Giant zombies still stood.
They formed a circle around Lancelot like soldiers guarding a king, as if waiting for new orders.
Lancelot stood in silence for a while. Although these Frost Giants were loyal to the Abyssal Lord and undeniably villains, he had to admit they had fought bravely. As a warrior himself, Lancelot was willing to offer a moment of mourning for the Frost Giants who died under his command.
But upon deeper consideration, knowing that the souls of these chaotic and evil Giants would likely return to the Abyss to be reborn as Demons, and that he might have to kill them again, Lancelot lost the urge to pay any further respects.
Ignoring the zombies standing around him, Lancelot beckoned his companions to come help open the cages and set all the prisoners free. However, their reaction was unexpectedly peculiar; they huddled in their cages, staring at Lancelot with fearful eyes as if he were a man-eating beast.
Lancelot felt a wave of bewilderment. Gratitude, weeping, even kissing his boots he could understand, but fear? His Spirit Perception told him these people were not under any magical influence, aside from the fear so thick he could almost smell it.
“What’s wrong with you all?” Lancelot asked proactively. “Come on out, the folks who considered you dinner have all been dealt with.”
...
“Lancelot, have you considered your current appearance?” Alamir reluctantly pointed out from the side. “Take a look at those zombies around us. If it weren’t for the fact that your eyes aren’t shooting fire, you’d resemble a Death Knight commanding an army of the Undead.”
“Ah, so that’s what it is…” Lancelot said as he removed his helmet and flashed a toothy smile at the shivering prisoners, “I’m just a passing Human Knight, no need to be afraid, you’re free now.”
Perhaps Lancelot’s face was far too different from that of a grand villain because the prisoners eventually, trembling, walked out of the cages. They stood up straight and stretched their limbs, looking around somewhat lost as if they still couldn’t quite accept the fact that they were free. The old Dwarf who had earlier urged Lancelot to leave came forward and gave a deep bow, speaking with some reservation:
“Honored Sir, thank you for saving our lives,” the old Dwarf tried to remain calm but couldn’t help glancing at the Giant zombies nearby, “I don’t know how we could ever repay you. The Frost Giants took everything from us, but if there’s any way we can be of service…”
“There’s no need for that, old man, my name is Lancelot. I only helped you out along the way, there’s no need for any repayment,” Lancelot replied courteously, bowing in return. “As for the zombies… there’s no need to fear, they won’t attack as long as I’m here.”
“Then how are we supposed to leave this place?” a man dressed in tattered clothes inquired. “Kind sir, can you tell us where we are? How far is it to Halio Gabarus City in Damara?”
“I’ve never heard that name before,” Lancelot shrugged. “This is the Abyss, my friend.”
“How can this be…”
“We’re truly in the Abyss…”
“It’s over, we can’t go back now…”
“Isn’t this supposed to be Jotunheim? Why haven’t I seen a single Demon?”
“`
Updated from freewёbnoνel.com.
Lancelot’s words caused a stir; he scratched his head and cleared his throat, then spoke up to interrupt the discussion of the people who had just regained their freedom.
“Listen, this is the twenty-third level of the Abyss, the Iron Ice Plains—territory of the Prince of Wrath, Kostcheqi. Some of you may have heard that it was recently captured, but the Frost Giants still loyal to the Abyssal Lord roam this plane… um, Kalalin, could you please give us an overview of this layer?”
While Kalalin was speaking, Lancelot began calling out the name of the Succubus Lord in his mind.
“What’s the matter?” Tijana’s response came immediately, “You should be attacking Gorgiad Fortress now… Did you find that demi-god?”
“Not yet, but the fortress has already been taken. I’ve rescued about thirty mortals here; they were supposed to be used as rations for the fortress garrison…”
“That’s nice.” Tijana’s voice sounded disinterested, “Anything else?”
“Um… I was wondering if we could send these people to Twin Bridges Town?”
“I knew it…” Tijana said with a touch of resignation, “How do they look, capable of working?”
“They should be fine after getting some proper rest,” Lancelot requested earnestly, “Please, Tijana, if we leave them be, most of them won’t survive three days.”
“First ask them what they wish to do; don’t make choices for them. If anyone is willing, let them enter the demi-plane, and I’ll open a portal to Twin Bridges Town. The supplies you asked for last time are all ready.”
“So soon?” Lancelot asked with some surprise, “Some items are not easy to find…”
“Am I being underestimated now?” A crisp laughter echoed in his heart, “I have plenty of surprises on me waiting for you to discover, my good knight…”
The telepathic link was then cut by Tijana, leaving Lancelot alone to ponder if there was any special meaning behind the Succubus Lord’s last sentence. Feeling someone’s gaze on him, Lancelot looked up to find Kalalin had finished describing the Iron Ice Plains and was looking at him inquiringly.
“If you wish to stay or seek your own way out, you should be able to find some useful equipment in this building, help yourselves,” Lancelot said amiably to the crowd, “But I have another proposition. I just spoke with my… employer, and she is willing to take you in to settle in her territory. Yes, she is a demon, ruling over a Neutral Town in the Plains of the Abyss. You won’t be enslaved, and if you work hard or have a particular skill, you may find the income quite good. It’s just that everything there is relatively expensive…”
Unsurprisingly, all the captives chose to go to Twin Bridges Town—merely because the Plains of the Abyss was a hot place. After sending off the ragged, emaciated captives, the comrades moved to the back of the hall, in front of a staircase leading down to a cellar.
Several Frost Giant zombies were trembling and kneeling towards that entrance; as mindless undead, it was some kind of residual instinct within their bodies that compelled them to make such an act.
The reason was obvious; Gjollgard, one of the brothers of Solheim, the god of the Frost Giants, must be imprisoned down there.
