The Paladin in the Abyss

Magic Power ceaselessly flowed through the Scholar's body as he cast one Second Circle Spell after another, all used to cast the Web Technique. Kalalin had never before used magic so intensively, which left him feeling overburdened, yet there was also a strange sense of pleasure.

Once the last of his Second Circle spell slots had been expended, the Scholar knew the preparations were complete—it was time to deal with the enemy.

He pulled a noticeably thicker scroll from his Howard convenience bag, a spell he often used while he was still on the Prime Material Plane, a low-ranking member of the Black Cult—Pit-Creating Spell. This Second Circle Magic could create a pit about 1,000 square feet wide and 30 feet deep.

And since he had gained the ability to cast Third Circle Spells, as part of his daily practice, he had tried to upgrade all of his Second Circle Spells into Circle Upcasted versions, with mixed results. The Pit-Creating Spell was one of the more successful attempts, resulting in the visibly sturdier scroll now in his hands.

With an inexplicable excitement, Kalalin unfurled the scroll, his gaze sweeping over the dense Arcane Symbols, and his spirit began to draw Magic Power from the void.

The Runes on the scroll lit up one after another, and powerful Arcane Energy started to converge in Kalalin's hands.

The monster seemed to sense something and attempted to attack this troubling source, but Bruto and Koula's hard-fought distractions made turning around immensely difficult, while Lancelot also burst forth vigorously, his Great Sword dancing in a whirlwind, firmly entangling the enemy.

After nearly a minute, Kalalin finally completed this immature spell. His eyes glowing with a blue radiance, he intently stared down the enemy and, with a wave of his hands, released the potent magic energy.

The Scholar's strength suddenly depleted, and he almost collapsed, but Eckmond came over in time to hold him up. Kalalin didn't have the chance to express his gratitude as he shouted to his companions still engaged in the fierce battle:

"Back away!"

There was no need for a specific reminder as everyone was keeping an eye on his actions. The three quickly retreated the moment the magic was released.

Above the mound of corpses, a giant shovel illusion appeared, swinging wildly in the air. Following the motions of that illusion, a large pit appeared on the ground, and the monster began to sink little by little until only its top remained above the surface.

The creature tried to extricate itself from the pit, but its arms were incapable of lifting its massive body. It flailed in anger at the people around it, but the three who had just been grappling with it were now standing far away, beyond the reach of its flailing limbs.

"Wow, this is like fighting a house," Koula said, panting by the side, her voice sounding much deeper than when she was shorter, "We spent half the day making a dent in the wall, and you've just demolished its foundation."

"What do we do next?" asked Bruto, looking towards Kalalin, "It doesn't seem like it can climb out, can we leave now?"

"No! We must cleanse this defiled being!" Alamir exclaimed in dissent, "I want to use the Holy Fire Technique to reduce it to ashes, bit by bit!"

"There's no need for Holy Fire to turn it to ashes," Kalalin said with a smile, pulling another scroll from his pack, "Ever since I got the ability to cast Third Circle Spells, I've wanted to try this quintessentially Mage technique, but unfortunately it isn't very effective against most fiends from the lower planes. Does anyone particularly like roast meat?"

"Me." Koula raised her hand, "What's wrong?"

"I just wanted to say sorry in advance, haha." Kalalin made a face, yanking the scroll open, "You're probably going to be unable to enjoy your hobby for quite some time."

Magic power surged toward Kalalin once more. Lancelot was extremely sensitive to these fluctuations, such that he could immediately confirm it was a spell related to fire.

After all, he too was a cultivator in possession of a Fire Spiritual Root.

Also a Third Circle magic, this technique was cast much quicker than Kalalin's original creation. In less than the time it takes for three breaths, Kalalin had completed the spell, creating a basin-sized fireball that whooshed toward the monster trapped in the pit.

This was the iconic technique of arcane casters, a spell that a magic apprentice must master before leaving the academy, the ultimate answer to most problems across the multiverse: the Fireball Technique!

The scorching fireball exploded above the monster, the blast wave sweeping through every corner of the monster's body, instantly igniting the greasy cobwebs and corpses.

The entire mound of corpses began to burn intensely, with the accelerants Kalalin had prepared beforehand performing to a thousand percent of their effectiveness. Countless heads of corpses screamed in unison, a sound so full of agony that it was unbearable. Even Lancelot covered his ears, and the others had long since run out of the cave.

Apart from that harrowing scream, the odor in the air was enough to make them nauseated. Not because it smelled awful—quite the opposite, in fact—it smelled too good, which made them want to stay even less. It was a trial that human reason should not have to endure.

Lancelot used his True Qi to block his ears and seal his nostrils. These things did not affect him much. The reason he stayed was simply to confirm that the enemy was truly dead. He enveloped himself with True Qi, which possessed a natural affinity for flame due to its origins in nature's spiritual energy from the Abyss, effortlessly absorbing the terrifying heat.

Though the human knight appeared like a fire person, in truth, he was completely unharmed.

As the mound of corpses burned down gradually, the flames did not diminish but grew higher. When Lancelot sensed that something was amiss, a terrifying presence suddenly enveloped the entire cave, the formidable pressure it exuded almost making him want to kneel. But he resisted the urge.

A demon's face with two massive horns appeared in the flames, expressing extreme joy. A voice resonated directly in Lancelot's heart:

"Hahahaha! Who is making a sacrifice to Kaldu, lord of Baro?" The voice reminded Lancelot of the flame itself, merely hearing it seemed about to ignite his Sea of Consciousness. "Oh! The screams of a thousand living beings being burned alive! Such a marvelous sound!"

"Oh! Look at this, so many corpses. Is this all your handiwork? Merely to please me?" The demon's voice sounded thrilled, "Boy, you really should learn how to summon me. With such grand sacrifices, I am bound to come personally, hahahaha!"

At this moment, Lancelot hardly dared to breathe too deeply. The presence was only a projection, yet the pressure it exuded far surpassed that which Tijana had given him. He could only desperately release his True Qi to wrap himself up tightly, hoping that the Abyssal Aura within it would help him bluff his way through.