The Paladin in the Abyss-Chapter 324 - 338 Demon Capital
Chapter 324 -338 Demon Capital
On this windless night, Lamborado Lake shimmered like a black pearl, elegantly set in the vast plains of Androlina. Near the shore, glowing seaweed outlined the lake’s edge, also enticing curious creatures to draw closer.
With Lancelot’s understanding of the Abyss, if they got too close, it certainly wouldn’t end well. Tentacles suddenly shooting out of the water? A giant maw akin to that of a shark? Anything was possible, and he was not particularly interested in finding out the truth.
Arriving at Lamborado Lake meant that the group had covered one-third of their journey. They would now follow the lakeshore for fifty li, then head west for another fifty li to reach the Demon Capital, Gaomendikolia.
There was about two hours left until dawn, and they needed to find a cave to hide in quickly. This would usually be the most dangerous part of the journey, as the pressure of time might force them to blindly enter the nearest cave and pray that its inhabitants were not too difficult to deal with.
But with little Isha’s help, things became much easier.
Bats, rats, and wolves – creatures that seemed to survive in even the harshest environments, including places like the Abyss. The little vampire had once again activated her “Child of the Night” abilities, summoning a large swarm of bats which soon informed them of a nearby hidden, unoccupied cave.
Under her guidance, the group arrived at a rocky pit not far from the lakeshore. The ground had several narrow cracks, only wide enough for bats to enter, making it hard to believe that there was a cave suitable for hiding underneath.
But after the Dwarf moved several large rocks, a deep entrance appeared before them.
The Elven Ranger was the first to jump in, and everyone followed in single file, while Lancelot, at the rear, manipulated vines to restore the entrance.
Just as little Isha had learned from the bats, this cave indeed wasn’t occupied by monsters, and it also smelled reasonably pleasant. The winding cave stretched for hundreds of feet, and they quickly completed their exploration of the entire cave. At its deepest part was a tranquil pond, which also contained some glowing seaweed, suggesting a connection to Lamborado Lake.
They cautiously avoided the pond and set up camp in a dry, elevated stone hall. A warm campfire was lit, its gentle glow not only dispelling the darkness but also the chill from the stone crevices. After arranging the watch order, everyone took turns resting, waiting for night to fall again upon the land overhead.
Unlike previous encounters, nothing disturbed their rest this time. By 9 PM, everyone was in good spirits and eager to continue their journey.
The glowing seaweed near the shore acted like a strip of lights in the dark, guiding them in the right direction. They moved carefully under the cover of night, ensuring not to attract any unnecessary attention.
This place was still considered a “war zone,” yet they had already reached the rear flank of the Demon Legion. They hadn’t encountered any patrols or even recent footprints along the way, which disconcerted Acheron. As an Elven General who had dealt with these adversaries for many years, he knew this couldn’t simply be explained by good luck.
In his worst hypothesis, the demons had already launched an attack, their forces having moved south toward the Hoffenstan River, leaving the area where the group was no longer within the Legion’s patrol range. If that were true, the combat plans they aimed to steal might be of little value.
However, being in the wilderness, they couldn’t access the latest information about the situation; everything would have to wait until they arrived at the Demon Capital.
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Though they hadn’t encountered any Demon patrols, they did come across a few groups of Prime Demons and Coward Devils. These low-rank Tanari posed no threat and would flee from any creature stronger than themselves in the absence of higher-ranking demon coercion.
Lancelot didn’t bother to chase after these creatures but some Coward Devils, in their panic, ran towards the lake. In the next second, the glowing water grasses there suddenly extinguished. When they lit up again, no trace of the Coward Devils remained by the lake, only the gently spreading ripples and tracks on the ground like snakes had passed, hinting at what had befallen these low-rank demons and making the group involuntarily stay further from the dark waters.
Due to their smooth progress, they had covered the distance planned for an entire night in just four hours. The glowing shoreline of Lamborado Lake began turning toward the northeast, while the group started heading west, embarking on the final leg of their journey toward Gaomendikolia.
If they continued at their current pace, they might see the towers of the Demon Capital by dawn. However, on the advice of the Elven Ranger, they found a cave and began to rest. Gaomendikolia was an open town, but not a neutral one. The difference lay in that no administrators or institutions would provide security for visitors.
The attire designed by the Dwarf bartender Dag made them look tough, but appearances alone couldn’t deter the greedy local thugs. Upon entering the town, they would undoubtedly receive a “warm” welcome from the locals, so they had to be in their best fighting condition at all times.
The irregular sleep schedule and the intense long-distance travel over the past few days had greatly fatigued everyone; they slept for a full ten hours in the cave, not waking up until around two in the afternoon. The group didn’t wait for nightfall to set out again, instead walking boldly on the road unafraid of being noticed, for this was no longer a “military zone.” Many teams dressed similarly to them were on the road, though mostly moving in the opposite direction.
In the Abyss, it was rumored that “Mother of Demons,” Cang Ye was the progenitor of the entire Tanari demon race. Thus, the mountain north of Lamborado Lake, home to Cang Ye’s palace, was known as Mother Mountain and considered sacred by many lower and middle rank demons and cultists who worshipped the Mother of Demons. Gaomendikolia, filled with portals, served as a point of arrival for pilgrims from other planes and realms.
In its beginning, this Abyssal City was not the headquarters for Cang Ye’s armies; demon generals initially established it merely as a recruitment point to replenish troops lost in the prolonged war with the Aira. However, as increasingly more of those deemed Cang Ye’s offspring became Abyssal Lords—especially after “Lord Wu’an” Grazzt became one of the Abyss’s three giants alongside “Demon Prince” Dimogorgen and “The Undying Overlord” Okus—the number of pilgrims surged, rapidly expanding the town into the city it was today.
In the lingering light of sunset, Lancelot and his party reached the journey’s end: the Demon Capital Gaomendikolia, composed of numerous twisted spires.
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