The Paladin in the Abyss

Chapter 104 Slave Enclosure

"So, can we take off the Transformation Rings now?" Bruto complained as he followed along. "I guess those zombies and skeletons aren't exactly interested in beauty."

"Yes, but it's best to keep one. The identity of the Succubus might help us get into the slave enclosure."

"I'll keep it," Lancelot said confidently. "The transformation doesn't greatly affect my combat abilities."

"Whatever makes you happy." Bruto shrugged, removed his Transformation Ring, and, with a flash of magic, he turned back into the young Dwarf.

"Ah, this feels much better."

The Werewolf Reap led the way at the front, with Bruto and the Succubus-figured Lancelot following close behind. Kalalin didn't revert from his Succubus form either; he, along with Alamir, Koula, Phil, and Dwarf Priest Witt, walked in the middle of the group. The remaining three Temple Guards of Moradin followed at the very end, these brave Dwarves responsible for covering the rear.

Aside from the Halfling Koula, everyone in the group had impressive combat capabilities. Phil might be an unstable factor, since the Goblin's bombs posed a great threat to both enemies and allies alike.

However, Koula seemed familiar with this type of adventurous activity. Nobody noticed when she ended up with a small knife in her hand, apparently the blade of the large cleaver that Lancelot had chopped off. Moreover, Lancelot noticed that her furry bare feet made no sound on the ground, just like a cat's.

Lancelot reminded himself to ask this little one how she ended up in this dreadful plane.

The group swiftly navigated through Oasis Fort, occasionally encountering small bands of Demons. These purple Bartez wisely chose not to trouble them—partly because the group looked genuinely formidable.

The occasional falling boulders posed a greater threat, but after the first near miss, Lancelot's Spirit Perception was fully alert. With deliberate caution, he could always give a heads-up in time, allowing the team to proceed swiftly without mishaps.

Before long, they had crossed the not-so-large commercial district of the Oasis Fort and arrived at the entrance of the slave enclosure. They hid in the shadows of the buildings across the street, stealthily observing the situation near the entrance.

Though called an enclosure, it looked more like a huge open pit on the ground, with the entrance resembling a city gate. Inside the slave enclosure, it was said that there was a structure similar to a spiral staircase, with the side rocky walls featuring one cell after another, filled with slaves as well as various low-level Demons treated almost like cannon fodder.

The gates were wide open, and a group of Berserk Demons stood guard, looking very restless and anxious. A major battle was happening nearby, yet they were stuck guarding due to some foolish duty requirements.

"Didn't expect these guys to still be here," Reap quietly peeked out and said with a tinge of disappointment.

"Will they let us in?" Kalalin asked softly, noting the large group of Demons guarding; clearly, forcing their way in was not feasible.

A chaotic clamor erupted from inside the slave enclosure, which at first resembled a colony of hornets that had their nest disturbed, but quickly escalated to the level of a tavern brawl. A large group of Coward Devils burst out from within the slave enclosure like goats being released from their pens, followed by several Goblin overseers that resembled giant flies.

Trailing at the back was a large Demon, fifteen feet tall with deep-red skin and a beast-like head sporting two horns, but the most striking feature were its four arms, two human-like arms with palms that had four fingers each, and two extremely thick limbs resembling crab pincers.

Lancelot knew this to be a Succubus, a demon that preferred seduction over violence to destroy mortals, and unlike Demons, they never attempted to fulfill any promises made to mortals. These demons were not welcome in Twin Bridges Town, as Tijana believed they reduced the work efficiency of mortals, but it seemed the Lord of Oasis Fort had a different opinion.

The Berserk Demons guarding the gate eagerly watched the cannon fodder charge into battle. Several of them, unable to contain themselves, also joined the charge but were swiftly knocked back by the pincers of the Succubus.

"Keep this damned gate secured!" the Succubus roared, "If I come back and find the gate intact yet any of you missing, you'd better be dead at the hands of the Demons, or else I will slice open your bellies and pull out your insides one by one!"

The Berserk Devils whimpered and retreated, once again proving that fear was the most effective means of ruling over demons.

"It's ironic," Kalalin laughed, shaking his head, "that demons, creatures utterly dominated by violence and the desire to destroy, are most afraid of pain. A demon captured alive by Demons would spill all they knew within minutes, no need for high-level spellcasters' assistance."

"I'm afraid these big toads won't let us in," lamented the Werewolf with a pained expression, "Entry to the slave enclosure requires a slaver's certification, a token issued by Molo that allows slavers to rent a warehouse inside to store their 'inventory.' I can't get such a thing now."

"What do we do then?" Bruto asked anxiously, "Do we just wait here for them to leave on their own?"

"Exactly. There is a real blood battle outside, and without high-level demons watching, want to bet how long these big toads can hold out?"

Bruto closed his mouth and said no more, as everyone patiently hid in the shadows of the building across from the slave enclosure, pricking up their ears to the sounds around them.

Lancelot, touching a mountain crystal equivalent to a Middle Grade Spirit Stone, restored his True Qi for the possible upcoming battle. His hearing was much more sensitive than the others, clear on any significant noise within a mile radius.

The latest battle occurred less than six hundred feet from them, mostly between Beard Demons and mercenaries within Oasis Fort, as he heard the distinctive sound of the Beard Demons' Large Cleaver, the screech of colliding weapons, and the particular crunch when Plate Armor was breached.

The victorious side marched off in uniform steps, and he knew without guessing who the winners were.

Faint yet dense battle sounds drifted from farther away. The siege was still intensely underway, mixed with the rage-filled roars of demons in battle and their dying wails. By contrast, the Demons were much quieter, save for occasional loud, crude language that seemed like shouting orders.

From the sounds, the attack seemed to be occurring from all directions. The demonic lines had not collapsed, but the falling boulders were gradually destroying key defensive structures.