The Paladin in the Abyss

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"Who are you?" Elothysia looked at the Tiflin nervously, a longsword she had picked up from the ground now in her hand.

"You must have realized how foolish the inherent chaos of the Tanari nature is...and how the path of the Holy Warrior brings you nothing but pain. Not one of those so-called gods is willing to accept you," the Tiflin said, his smile splitting so wide it nearly reached his ears, "Come with me, and I will guide you on a different path, a path to power, prestige, and conquest."

"You're a Bartez!" The Succubus Paladin's tone turned icy cold, "In the past I merely disliked you, but now I understand deeply how despicable your ways are. I once foolishly hoped that some divine power could change my nature outright, but now I realize that such a thought was wrong. Goodness must be my own choice, although the process is very painful, only then can true redemption be achieved."

"Wonderful. Rational thought, the most powerful weapon in the Multiverse, it seems you have mastered it," the Tiflin's grin became even more brilliant, "When we have time, I'd be delighted to explain why those hypocritical creeds are utterly meaningless."

Just then, the sound of a skull echoed from afar:

"Boss, I'm here! How's it going, hurry and let me meet that charm... "

His words cut off the instant he saw the Tiflin, who had already turned his head to look at the skull.

"Cromwell?" The Tiflin showed a look of surprise, then his smile turned sinister, "What are you doing here? My luck seems to be quite good... "

When the Tiflin said the name Cromwell, Lancelot felt an intense shock from the soul bond, followed by an uncontrollable surge of anger.

"Don't be reckless!"

Lancelot shouted loudly, but the skull had already charged forward like a cannonball. Seemingly blinded by rage, he intended to ram straight into the fray.

A nail-headed hammer that appeared out of nowhere sent him flying with a fierce swat, and Lancelot, with quick reflexes, reached out and caught the crack-riddled skull in his arms.

"Run, boss... run fast... he's a... "

The skull couldn't finish his words before passing out, but Lancelot already knew what he was trying to say.

In the place where the Tiflin had stood, there now appeared a twelve-foot-tall humanoid Fiend with giant wings on its back and purplish-red skin. Green venom dripped from its mouth, and its body was covered with metallic-lustered scales, while a thick tail that resembled a python whipped up dust on the ground with a gentle flick.

This was one of the strongest Bartez in legend, a Demon Refinement just below the rank of an Archduke of Demons.

Just seeing its form was enough to instill extreme fear in an observer. Everyone present had fallen into a state of despair, with not even a thought of resistance.

Except for Lancelot, the image of the Demon Refinement had a profound impact on him, too, but the Ice Heart Technique, which he had been quietly cultivating since encountering the Succubus, helped him maintain his composure. His mind raced, pondering the current strategy.

"Bartez! You've got some nerve! To show your true form in the Abyss!"

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Elothysia's angry voice resonated, as she too had successfully resisted the Fearful Aura of the Demon Refinement. Whether as a Paladin or as a Tanari, her disdain for Demons was profound. She was also acutely aware of the immense strength of the Abyssal Lord of Demon Refinement, understanding that death was likely her fate today.

However, such an end was far preferable to being used as a living sacrifice for evil purposes.

"Hahaha, what, are you planning to call upon Pazuzu for help?"

"You!" The Succubus Paladin bit down on her teeth in anger. Pazuzu, the ancient Obyrith Demon, ruler of the skies above the Plains of the Abyss, was known to aid any kind soul that called upon him, especially Paladins. But accepting his help meant inching closer to chaos and evil, the very thing Elothysia had long strived to avoid.

"These people have nothing to do with this, let them go!"

"Hahaha! Sure, as long as you submit to me!" The Abyssal Lord of Demon Refinement laughed even more joyously, "How ironic, your insistence on hypocritical principles actually prevents you from protecting others! Abandon those foolish restraints, they are meaningless!"

Stunned and furious at these words, Elothysia didn't know how to rebut, momentarily speechless due to urgency.

"Truly demonic, to twist black into white. Your cunning words and logic seem sound, but they are merely excuses for your evil deeds," the Human Knight interjected timely, turning towards the Succubus Paladin, "This demon has set a trap with his words; if you listen to him, you'll be ensnared."

"Human, don't think you're something special just because you killed a wounded Serpent Demon; I could crush you with a flick of my finger," the Demon glared malevolently at Lancelot, "My logic is flawless; she wishes to protect you out of kindness, but she can only do so by renouncing kindness, proving that benevolence is essentially self-contradictory and meaningless!"

"Who says that we must abandon goodness to protect us?" Lancelot retorted firmly, "You posed the problem, and offer only two options, thus forcing her into this moral dilemma. But there are more choices, you've just deliberately hidden them!"

"Hahahahaha! What choice do you have?" The Abyssal Lord of Demon Refinement concealed its insecurity behind loud laughter, as its massive tail thumped heavily against the ground, "Before my absolute power, you have no choice at all!"

"So you admit it, there is no moral dilemma; your reliance is nothing more than your strength, which far surpasses ours," Lancelot did not back down, "Elothysia, do you understand? Your enemy is this demon, not kindness, not principles, and there's more..."

In the hands of the Human Knight, an amulet shimmered like a piece of red jade.

"Time is not your enemy."

"What is this nonsense?" The Demon was confused by the Human's seemingly gibberish words, but in the next instant, its face changed.

Liquid-like flames poured from Lancelot's hand, rapidly forming a gigantic Teleportation Formation before him. A whip made of fierce flames emerged first, wrapping around the Abyssal Lord of Demon Refinement and yanking it fiercely.

The muscles of the Demon bulged as it exerted all its strength to avoid being pulled directly into the Teleportation Formation. However, at the other end of the whip, a massive figure had already used the pulling force to leap from the formation. It stood nearly as tall as the Abyssal Lord of Demon Refinement, also sporting a pair of colossal wings.
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Its scar-ridden skin glowed red-hot, and from its blazing eyes shot destructive beams of light.

Lancelot gazed in shock at the figure, having speculated about what kind of ally the amulet given to him by the Disfavored Lady might summon, but never had he expected something like this.

This was a Barlow Flame Demon, the mortal enemy of the Abyssal Lord of Demon Refinement, the second most powerful demon in the Tanari clan, just below the Abyssal Lord.