The Paladin in the Abyss

"My master, Lord of the Styx, Charon, has always held the Lord of Death and the Raven Queen in the highest esteem," the Ferryman Demon replied respectfully. Lancelot could detect a hint of fear in the creature's voice. "Our kin has served as envoys for the Lord of Death since ancient times... It is a great honor."

"Since ancient times?" Lancelot asked curiously, "Which Lord of the Dead are you referring to?"

"He refers to Yago, the Master of the End of All Things, the first Lord of the Dead." At some point, little Isha had emerged from Lancelot's hair again. "However, during Milko's time, this collaboration ceased for certain reasons and was never restored..."

"Are you... a favored one of the Lord of the Dead?" Vexus seemed startled and took a step back, accidentally dropping his hood to reveal his smooth head. "Wait a moment, you also seem to be... a favored one of the Raven Queen?"

"Hmm?" Little Isha wrinkled her nose, "Can I understand then that the Ferryman Demons have been serving the Raven Queen for the past few millennia?"

"Uh... this..."

"It's okay, it's not important." Little Isha shook her head magnanimously, "Can I interpret your attitude as your master, Lord of the Styx, Charon, wanting to express goodwill towards the Lord of the Dead and His mentor Yago?"

"Of course." Vexus shivered and gave the vampire a deep bow. "As I just mentioned, it is indeed a great honor..."

——————————————————————

After boarding the ship, Vexus informed everyone that they were previously on a rather concealed tributary of the Stygian River. Sailing south for about fifty miles would bring them to an eastern part of the river near Bell Toll Town, a section called the Blood River due to the color of its waters. From there, heading five hundred miles east would lead them to Twin Bridges Town.

At the regular sailing speed of the Bone Duke, it would take about a day and a half to arrive. However, wanting to honor the Lord of the Dead, Vexus naturally employed the Ferryman Demon's special skill—Phase Leap—accelerating through a straight, wide river channel before jumping into the Stellar Realm with the ship and reappearing in another waterway of the Stygian River. Essentially, this functions as a form of teleportation magic, using the ship as the spellcasting medium, while the Ferryman Demons possess many other supernatural abilities related to ships.

When this ship, once belonging to the Demon, returned to the Abyssal Plane, the outline of Twin Bridges Town had already appeared in their sights, but it no longer resembled what their companions remembered. The once towering and orderly city walls were almost non-existent, with several ominous black smoke columns rising from unseen spots within the city. On higher ground within the city, Tijana's iconic red castle was destroyed, its surface riddled with landslides, resembling a sandcastle after a wave's visit. The flag hanging from the highest point silently confirmed all the bad news the group had heard on their journey:

An enormous white hand with six fingers silently proclaimed who was responsible for all that had happened here. Lancelot said nothing, staring unblinkingly at the flag, as cold as a stone dug out of a snowdrift, while Barrend and Bruto jumped about in rage beside him.

"Damned, damned, damned!!" The young Dwarf knelt on the ground, pounding his fists. "Adrick... Adbeke... Delg... Dain... my good brothers... I will avenge you... I swear..."

"I thought I was lucky to have another chance after death." Barrend slumped on the ground, looking suddenly aged. "May my kin rest in the Father's hall..."

As the Bone Duke gradually approached, the guards within Twin Bridges Town noticed this peculiar battleship. The city walls began to teem with Berserk Demons, even if they didn't have the keen eyesight of Lancelot or Alamir to clearly see the vicious and ravenous expressions on the Demons' faces, the glint of their weapons made it clear this place's new owners were far from welcoming.

"It seems we've come too late this time, Sir," the Ferryman Demon quietly walked up behind Lancelot. "Shall we continue to approach?"

"No need." Lancelot shook his head, "Bypass around it. There's a fjord about six miles downstream where we'll disembark."

"As you wish." Vexus nodded and quietly retreated.

"Lancelot, why disembark there?" Kalalin asked with concern, "Where are we heading next?"

"To the Shattered Temple." Lancelot lifted his gaze from the ruins of Twin Bridges Town, "There may be survivors there."

————————————————

When the Bone Duke passed Twin Bridges Town, they received a "warm" welcome from the guards. Javelins, falling stones, and Quasimodo Demons flew down from the walls. Most lacked accuracy, posing no threat, except the Quasimodo Demons, which could autonomously adjust their trajectory in mid-air, providing a channel for the companions to vent their frustration. Despite his earlier silent demeanor, Lancelot was ruthless in combat, piercing enemies with his sword and leaving no body intact, his ferocity intimidating even the city wall guards.

When no more projectiles fell around the Bone Duke, the deck was already covered in a layer of thick, foul-smelling blood, giving the originally bone-composed ship an even more sinister appearance, but the ship's owner seemed unconcerned. Actually, the Ferryman Demon was quite pleased; after all, as a Fiend, what better paint than fresh blood?

The conquerors of Twin Bridges Town did not possess a navy for pursuit, allowing the group to spend the final part of their journey in relatively calm surroundings. About half an hour later, they disembarked the ship and set foot once again on the barren, cracked land of the Plains of the Abyss.

It should be noted that the Stygian River does nothing to enrich the surrounding lands; its poisonous waters only worsen everything.

Their disembarkation point was the closest position to the Dwarf Temple in the Shattered Mountain Range. Continuing from there, they would reach their destination before sunset. Although the hidden Holy Land had been established not long ago, it had already become the religious center for the sizeable Dwarf population of Twin Bridges Town, permanently manned by a small Temple Guard. If any survivors managed to escape when the town fell, the temple would be their final refuge.

Additionally, Lancelot still harbored a sliver of hope, for Tijana's final message was to go to the Dwarf Temple; perhaps there his Succubus lover had left clues on how to revive?

The Human Knight walked on, thoughts turning over in his mind. Suddenly, he stopped abruptly, furrowing his brow and listening intently to the wind's sound from the mountains.