The Paladin in the Abyss-Chapter 717 - 738 I’m Late

The human knight’s figure traced a high arc across the air, eventually crashing heavily into the boiling lava, stirring up a scorching wave. Although Lancelot’s physical strength had surpassed that of a mere mortal after his Foundation Establishment, his True Yuan was now completely depleted, and the Flame Demon’s Self-destructive Explosion had shattered his body. Plunging into the lava, survival was impossible.

"Big... Big... Big Brother!!!" Bruto, his face covered in blood, struggled to rise from the ground, completely ignoring his still-burning beard, almost delirious as he ran toward the lava lake, but he was immediately grappled by Alamir, who was less injured.

"Let me go!" the dwarf struggled desperately, "Hurry and save Lancelot! Didn’t you see? He fell down!"

Normally, an elf priest would not be able to hold down a dwarf warrior robust as a bull, but Bruto’s own injuries were extremely severe, and he was completely unable to break free from his comrade’s grasp.

"Stop, my brother..." Alamir said in a sad but rational voice, "Without Lancelot’s help, we would turn to ashes the moment we touch that lava..."

"No! No!! No!!!" Bruto screamed frantically, his body collapsing to the ground, then he began to cry like a child, "Now... Big Brother... not even a trace of remains left... why did this happen... why him..."

"There is still hope." The elf priest extinguished the flames on the dwarf’s body, sat next to him, and pulled the continuously shuddering dwarf into his arms, "Only his physical body was destroyed, Lancelot’s soul is still intact. He will not leave us just like that, the world still needs him..."

"Can Shuni resurrect him?" Bruto looked up, his eyes filled with hope, at the elf priest, "The Fire-haired Lady is also a powerful goddess, right? It shouldn’t be difficult for Her, right?"

"Gods cannot do so directly, but the Goddess can shelter Lancelot’s soul." Alamir nodded confidently, "Lancelot did not worship any deity, but I will pray to the Goddess to accept our friend first. The Fire-haired Lady will surely not refuse. Lancelot will spend a wonderful time in the Goddess’s beautiful garden, while we try to recreate his body. It won’t be difficult as long as Tijana is willing to help..."

"But... but what if... Tijana is not willing?" The dwarf’s face immediately clouded with despair, "I’ve heard that the cost of such a spell is very high..."

"Impossible, unless we are all blind," the elf said, his tone suggesting he was not as confident, "If... I mean just in case... Androlina’s Airas can probably help too, there are a few very powerful druids there..."

Suddenly, Alamir and Bruto stopped speaking and turned to look towards the white-hot surface of the lava lake, expressions of surprise appearing on their faces. A greenish glow emerged from the boiling lava and swiftly drifted toward the shore.

"Hahaha! Look!!" The dwarf shouted excitedly, his face covered in tears and snot suddenly breaking into an ecstatic smile, "That must be Lancelot!"

Bruto’s guess was spot on, the orb did indeed contain their knight comrade, though Lancelot was still unconscious. His head radiated a bright green light, forming a semitransparent sphere that kept the surrounding lava ten feet away from his body. The surface of the light sphere occasionally flickered with the pattern of a bamboo scroll, yet within the bright and dazzling magma, no one could notice this detail.

The one pushing Lancelot toward the shore was none other than the Sword of Zariel, still firmly clutched in his hand. This treasured sword was emitting a flickering white light, pulling the human knight’s body forward and soon they reached where Bruto and Alamir stood. The protective green light pushed the two companions backward, but then it completely vanished.

Lancelot’s body heavily fell onto the ground, covered with sharp crystals, and the Sword of Zariel slipped from his grasp and planted itself nearby.

"Big brother!"

"Lancelot!"

Bruto and Alamir hurriedly ran over and turned Lancelot’s body over. The Elf Priest quickly cast a simple Healing Divine Art, channeling a stream of life energy into their companion’s body. Lancelot’s tightly shut eyelids immediately twitched and then slowly opened.

"Thank goodness... thank goodness!" The Dwarf excitedly shook the Human Knight, "I knew you’d be fine!"

"I don’t know who just now crazily wanted to rush into the lava." The Elf also breathed a sigh of relief, jokingly teased, "But I also felt you couldn’t just be finished like that, there are too many villains in this world after you..."

"That doesn’t sound like a compliment." Lancelot grimaced as he sat up, "I can’t believe I’m not dead... Wait, where are Tanya and Jing?"

"Right there at the end of those two trails of blood." Alamir pointed with his hand, "I don’t know if they passed out or died, but regardless of the situation, I can get them back on their feet... What’s wrong? Are you feeling uncomfortable?"

"Something isn’t quite right..." Lancelot’s complexion looked very grim as he forced himself to stand and quickly walked toward the Half-elf and demon girl whose fate was unknown, "Visuvius might not be dead... I mean, it may have prepared something in advance to prevent itself from being killed in the Abyss..."

Lancelot’s speculation was not only reasonable but also had direct evidence. Every time he killed a mid to high-ranking Demon, he could absorb some energy similar to Abyssal Spiritual Qi from the opponent, but after killing the Succubus at Oasis Fort, nothing had happened, and he later learned that the Succubus was likely resurrected in Shendiravir, hinting at a similar situation this time.

Unfortunately, although he realized this, they were already in Visuvius’ lair, in a secret chamber under the lair, to be exact. The Magic Artifact containing the essence of the former Lord of the Volcano Fortress was an unremarkable brass brazier, still left in the treasury they had just left (and destroyed). A magical item imbued with Flame Demon Essence, of course, would not be destroyed by magma, and while Lancelot had floated toward the lake shore, Visuvius was also reshaping his body in the deep part of the lake.

Abruptly, the lake behind them began to erupt violently. In the storm of flames, a pair of huge red bat wings suddenly spread open, and the roar filled with a will to destroy echoed as Visuvius emerged from the rolling flames, looking completely rejuvenated, while on Lancelot’s side, everyone was either dead or injured, with not even a shred of strength left to fight again.

The former Lord of the Volcano Fortress had no intention of wasting words; flames gathered in its hand into a long whip, and then with a fierce sweep, the Flame Whip whooshed toward the trio. Lancelot instinctively tried to block, but realized he didn’t even have a weapon, and could only use his bare hands to fend off the terrifying whip attack.

A streak of white light flashed, and a sharp explosive sound echoed through the cave, but nothing hit Lancelot. Surprised, he looked up to find a beautiful figure standing in front of him, holding a bright silver whip in her hand.

"Sorry, I’m late." The Succubus Lord didn’t turn around, but Lancelot knew she was speaking to him, "Leave the rest to me..."