The Paladin in the Abyss-Chapter 657 - 681: It’s Our Turn to Take the Stage

Chapter 657: Chapter 681: It’s Our Turn to Take the Stage

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Compared to the Brezu Demons, the more common Berserk Demons showcased a different style. Although Lancelot and Bruto made light work of these humanoid toads, skillfully dispatching them like a fishmonger slaying fish, Berserk Demons were actually one of the most troublesome types among Middle Rank Demons. First off, they were as muscular as a mound of flesh, with strength and stamina just slightly inferior to that of the Succubus; secondly, their skin was covered in spikes and horny plates, already very tough. If they had Lords willing to equip them with armor, letting a Beard Demon hack at one for half a minute might still not kill it.

Therefore, a Berserk Demon could withstand quite a long while under attack, causing significant damage to the demon lines. Although their offensive capabilities paled in comparison to Brezu Demons, their brute strength was more than enough to tear apart enemies on the level of Beard Demons.

However, despite Middle Rank Demons posing such a significant threat to the demons, their numbers were far too few, and they always became the primary targets for the Spellcasters to deal with. Lancelot noted that although nearly all demons had some innate spell-like abilities, the army’s full-time Spellcasters were similar to those among the Demons, mainly comprising Devilspawn and Tiflin, seeming to indicate that mixing the bloodlines of fiends and mortals made it easier to produce offspring with exceptional magical talent. These Spellcasters wearing Mage robes and wielding Magic Wands were few in number, typically operating in groups of three, tucked behind the dense ranks of Beard Demons, strategically casting spells to provide protection for their warriors.

Although most Demons also had resistance to magic, the devils, as their long-standing adversaries, had long since figured out a set of methods to counter them—the Berserk Demons were of low intelligence and easily fooled by Illusion Techniques; Brezu Demons themselves couldn’t last long and would fall, so imbuing their targets with a temporary surge of life energy was a good choice; moreover, spells that altered terrain could effectively constrain the Middle Rank Demons, whose magical resistance could only protect against direct spell effects but was powerless against, for example, a magic-created ice wall.

But as time passed and the battle gradually intensified, the Demons’ crude tactics began to take effect—countless Coward Devils being used as cannon fodder were wearing down the devils’ strength bit by bit, causing their weapon swings to become unavoidably slower and no longer synchronized, seeming on the verge of collapse.

Lancelot could tell something was amiss from half a mile away, and the devils’ Commanders were obviously well aware too; but as a species with a strong inclination towards order, they certainly had contingency plans in place, and every warrior knew exactly how to execute them.

Without the need for a messenger to shout orders, the devils’ mental link network was undoubtedly one of the best command systems in the Multiverse. Before Lancelot’s incredulous gaze, the purple-gray metal dike began to change: sections of Beard Demons neatly stepped back in retreat, forming a subtle indentation in the line of soldiers, then stood their ground while their counterparts protruding on both sides began to fall back.

If someone were looking down from high above at that moment, they would surely think the movement of the Devil Legion resembled the ebbing tide of the sea, retreating in an interweaving wave pattern that allowed them to rearrange their formation while preventing gaps from appearing during the movement—in fact, the Demons’ side was the one being stretched thin, with some local areas even facing being outnumbered.

Lancelot was awestruck by the tactical play of the devils; such a level of coordination was beyond the capability of mortals, at least certainly beyond that of human armies. The main job of a Lord is actually the deployment of troops before a battle begins, as once an army engages with the enemy, aside from having already determined victory or defeat, issuing any command could lead to devastating consequences.

This is also why reserve troops are so important, as they would be the only (and appropriate) means at a commander’s disposal if a battle did not unfold as anticipated.

The devils weren’t simply retreating, either; from left to right, the speed of the retreat steadily accelerated, making their formation seem to be rotating sideways and backwards. At the same time, a reserve troop within the devils’ formation, which had always been on standby, also began moving toward the right. However, because the extent of the retreat was greater there, the pressure was much less than on the rest of the formation. In theory, no support was needed at all on that side.

“General, have you noticed the movements of those Bartez?”, asked a Succubus Captain next to Sonam, “Do they intend to flank the allied army’s right wing from there? Should we go and support?”

“There’s another possibility,” Lancelot also spoke up, “They might also be worried about being flanked.”

“What?” At least five pairs of eyes focused simultaneously on Lancelot’s face, the six-armed Serpent Demon looked at the Human Knight skeptically, “Who can flank them? Us?”

“How many troops are left in the Volcano Fortress?” Lancelot pointed in the distance.

“You mean…” Sonam narrowed her eyes, but before she could finish her sentence, the metal gates of the black fortress burst open suddenly, and hordes of Demons poured out like erupting lava, racing down the steep stairs, led by the exceptionally burly Barlow Flame Demon.

“That’s Visuvius! You really called it!” The six-armed Serpent Demon straightened up instantly, “Mortals, are you all fed up with waiting? It’s our turn to take the stage!”

The response was a resounding cheer; the mercenaries had been spectators for too long and were impatient to join the fray. Without any further encouragement, everyone immediately followed the Serpent Demon Commander into the charge. Their attack was aimed at the far left of the Demon formation, a clearly correct choice to maximally tie up the enemy’s forces, but there was a persistent discomfort in Lancelot’s heart.

Where had that missing Demon Legion gone?

The enemy commander had also been closely watching the movement of these mercenaries; the moment they started to move, another reserve unit was promptly dispatched to reinforce the area, compelling Lancelot to focus his attention on the fight at hand.

When they were less than thirty feet from the enemy lines, Sonam’s figure suddenly disappeared, and in the next instant, the six-armed Serpent Demon had already appeared within the dense formation of the Demons. She swung her massive tail viciously around, instantly knocking over a swath of enemies, then her six Cold Iron Longswords whipped up a metallic storm, bringing a flurry of severed limbs and the ghastly screams of Demons.

“Is it you who’s gone stir-crazy?”

Lancelot laughed loudly and already reached the front of the Demon line. A faint green sword light flashed, and the weapons of dozens of Beard Demons transformed from Large Cleavers into long sticks, while the Human Knight himself crashed into them like a siege hammer, creating a huge breach in their lines.

“Big brother is really awesome!”

The Dwarf’s cheer rose from behind, accompanied by the sound of wind rushing fast. Lancelot tilted his head, and a spinning Warhammer whizzed past his ear, smashing a Beard Demon trying to stab him to the ground.

“Thanks!” Lancelot shouted, cleaving the Beard Demon’s head in two with his sword, “But he’s not dead yet, so this one still counts as mine!”