The Paladin in the Abyss-Chapter 580 - 604 The New Plan

Chapter 580: Chapter 604: The New Plan Chapter 580: Chapter 604: The New Plan Nighttime, in the hiding spot near the Glacial Fortress.

Comrades sat around the campfire, listening to the flames crackle as they consumed the hard, dry firewood. That sound easily reminded one of the battle that had occurred during the day when the bones of Frost Giants were broken by their mutated kin, producing a similar noise.

Other sounds carried from afar, such as the agonized screams of prisoners undergoing brutal torture. Some Frost Giants, wavering in the face of death, attempted to flee amid their allies’ struggle, but soon they discovered that death was not the most terrible thing. It was well-known that Demons delighted in killing—given the chance to snap necks, rip out hearts, and tear out bowels without their victims fighting back, they always acted without hesitation. So why bother capturing prisoners?

Because once all enemies were dead, the joy ended, whereas torturing prisoners provided a more enduring entertainment.

Everyone finally understood the true purpose of the Blood-Mire beasts—those large dogs with human heads. They were remarkably skillful in making the consumption of a prisoner as bloody and prolonged as possible, ensuring that the victim remained conscious until the very last moment.

What was more important, they memorized the moans and screams of their ‘food’ and imitated these sounds after the deed was done. Obviously, both the mutated Giant Demons and those loyal to the Prince of Wrath enjoyed such noises. However, to those huddled in the cave, these sounds were anything but pleasant.

Bruto let out a heavy sigh, briefly dispersing the silence that filled the air. He rose from his stone ‘sofa’ and ladled a bowl of soup from the pot beside the fire. The soup, made from salt fish, onions, and some vegetables, was simple yet tasted undeniably good; however, it did little to lift Bruto’s foul mood, especially when his spoon scooped up a fish head bone completely devoid of meat.

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“Damn it!” The Dwarf cursed involuntarily, “Don’t look at me with those eyeless sockets, you cursed salt fish!”

“Cool it, Bruto,” Lancelot’s voice suddenly broke in, “It was my decision to retreat; don’t take it out on the soup.”

“What do I have to be angry about… have you and Tijana finished talking?” Bruto turned at the sound, but his face still carried an expression of discontent, “So all that preparation we did before was for nothing. Now that damned White Dragon is back, blocking the entrance to that cursed fortress like some watchdog, right, and there are even more of those damn hounds inside, the White Dragon being the damned head hound! And to top it off, the damn guards around it haven’t just not decreased in number, they’ve gotten even stronger!”

“Our previous plan was solid; no one could have predicted that turn of events,” Lancelot said calmly, “Tijana agrees with Kalalin’s viewpoint; it must have been the intervention of Divine Power that triggered such an extreme reaction from the Abyss itself… ”

“Fantastic! I knew it!” Kalalin clapped her hands in excitement, “What a great discovery!”

“Did our employer and landlord say anything else?” Bruto asked as he took a big gulp of his soup, “If she wants us to go back, I’m not having it! Absolutely not! No way!”

“She did suggest that, out of goodwill, but I’ve already refused it,” Lancelot shrugged, “Yes, our chance to ascend to godhood for Geogad is shattered, since he was publicly defeated and his followers slaughtered to the last, but Dain Frostbeard’s armor wasn’t destroyed, and all of us are sitting here in good health, so I see no reason for us to declare the mission a failure.”

“Exactly!” Bruto slapped his hand in agreement, but his face fell again, “But that ancient White Dragon, and those mutated Demons…”

“The ancient White Dragon is indeed a problem we had hoped Gorgiad would help us solve, but that option is no longer viable.” Lancelot Morassa stroked his chin, “We need to think of an alternative…”

“How about that giant crab under the Black Mist Rift?” Bruto scratched his head, a sure sign he was trying to think, “What’s its name again? Gogbarahum? Have Tijana get you some of the spiciest peppers from the Multiverse, and we can spice up its food, make it go fight the White Dragon!”

“I don’t like this idea one bit.” Old Reap interjected from the side, “That creature’s way of thinking is different from ours, who knows how it will act, it might not even go after Svafnir…”

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“At least it provides a line of thought,” said Lancelot with a smile and a shake of his head. “How does that saying go again? As long as you haven’t given up, there is always a solution. Let’s all rack our brains and see what we can come up with.”

“Do you already have an idea of your own?” Bruto looked at Lancelot suspiciously, “From what I know of you, big brother… definitely!”

“Now you’re calling me big brother?” Lancelot winked at him, “I do have a new plan, but it’s still in its infancy, missing several pieces to complete the puzzle, so I need your ideas…”

“Really?” Alamir spoke up with curiosity, “We’re primarily faced with three difficulties: one, the Demons Giants that lurk around the fortress, two, the Ancient White Dragon blocking the entrance, and three, the guards inside the fortress, and any unknown anti-theft measures… Which of these can your ‘infant’ plan solve?”

“The last one,” Lancelot touched his nose, “and perhaps the first one as well.”

“You have a way to deal with those Mutated Giants?” Bruto asked in surprise, “We’ve all seen their numbers are still increasing, just throw a Frost Giant into the magma and a new one comes out soon after… what the heck is going on with that volcano? No wait, the Mother of Demons has already been sent to prison by us, so this must be the will of the Abyss…”

“Stop there,” Kalalin said sternly, cutting off the Dwarf, “The problem we’re discussing has nothing to do with… with that will!”

“Fine, we won’t talk about it, not even mention the name, right?” Bruto spat fiercely onto the ground, “But the volcano is already there, showing no sign of disappearing, even Kostcheqi would have to consider moving because the heat of the volcano is about to melt his lair!”

“Speaking of this…” Lancelot began in a drawn-out tone, “Bruto, do you remember the structure of the mountain peak where the Glacial Fortress is located?”

“Of course I do, I’m a Dwarf after all.” Bruto looked at Lancelot oddly, “Why are you asking?”

“Do you remember the Blizzard I conjured in the Shattered Mountain Range?” Lancelot watched the campfire in the middle of the group, “I’m thinking, if the Glacial Fortress suddenly melts, everything inside would surely rush out like a mudslide to a certain place…”