The Paladin in the Abyss-Chapter 748 - 678: Crystal Tower

(Chapter 678: Post First, Revise Later)

The deity wearing the silver mask swiftly eradicated the remaining Demons as easily as one might brush crumbs from a dining table. Afterwards, He cast a brief glance at Lancelot and his companions, made no further sign, and walked directly to the female Demon, speaking with a cold tone:

"You should leave as well."

"Why?" the female Demon glowered at the expressionless silver mask, "I haven’t broken any rules..."

"Because even if you had, I would not be able to hold you accountable," the Lord of the Dead said from on high, "If the rules cannot punish you, then you cannot ask for the protection of the rules. Leave now, dark Princess, this is the realm of the dead, you will find nothing here that will aid your schemes and ambitions." freeweɓnovēl.coɱ

"I was just here to relax," the beautiful bronze-skinned Fiend said nonchalantly with a shrug, "But since the host is unwelcoming, I must leave."

"Thank you."

"Tch... how dull." The female Demon snapped her fingers, and a burning Portal appeared behind her, "That Knight over there, if you ever come to Barto Hell, remember to call my name, I’ll make sure to treat you well..."

Lancelot remained silent, neither nodding nor shaking his head, but just silently watching her. The female Demon didn’t mind, she turned gracefully and walked into the Portal, disappearing completely.

"As for you..." the Lord of the Dead turned his head, sweeping his gaze over those who likewise shouldn’t be here, "you will accompany me to the City of Judgment."

"Great Lord of the Dead, we mean no harm by coming here..." Lancelot boldly spoke up, "Besides, we just stopped those Demons from raiding your subjects..."

"I know." The silver metal mask betrayed no expression, "I am not taking you back to face judgment... mostly."

"Great Lord of the Dead, I don’t understand," Lancelot made his tone as respectful as possible in front of a True God, but a sudden surge of intense unease rose in his heart, "When you say ’mostly,’ who is not included?"

"Her." The deity lifted an arm and pointed with His gloved hand clad in Scale Armor at little Isabella, "Undead, their mere existence is an insult to me."

"What!" Lancelot exclaimed, his body instantly standing in front of little Isabella, "That’s not fair!"

The Lord of the Dead watched Lancelot expressionlessly, but the latter did not flinch under the mountainous pressure. After a moment, the Grim Reaper continued in an emotionless voice:

"I can promise you, as I have promised mankind, she will receive a fair trial."

"But you said her existence is an insult to you," Lancelot spoke in a suppressed voice, "But Isabella didn’t choose to become a Vampire, she is also a victim, and since then, she has never harmed anyone..."

"And she has never deliberately spread the Vampire’s curse?"

"No." Lancelot shook his head firmly.

"Then she is innocent." The Lord of the Dead stood firm as a statue, "Provided that all this is true. As the Grim Reaper, I can see everything a dead person has endured, do not try to answer for others, mortal, it’s pointless. Moreover, considering what you did just now, I can offer you an immediate exit, but I can also see that you did not come to the Domain of the Vague with evil intentions, if you seek my assistance, you must follow me back to the City of Judgment."

"Let’s go, Lancelot," Bruto suddenly spoke up, "Since my father’s soul hasn’t been here, there’s no need..."

"No, don’t do this for me," little Isabella bit her lip and stepped out from behind Lancelot, "Judge me, Mr. Cranvo, I have nothing to fear! But since you’ve won and promised help, you must deliver."

"Of course." The silver mask nodded gently, "Brave girl."

He made no special movement, but everyone was shocked to find everything around them rapidly moving away, as if they were standing on a bridge while the world below rushed by like a river. Soon, the surroundings were no longer the static white desert. From the horizon emerged towns, forests, fortresses, and fields that moved swiftly closer, and before anyone could discern any details, they sped away even faster. Yet one thing remained unchanged: a long line of countless dead forming a queue, and the real destination of their journey, a Crystal Tower more splendid than the Mother of Demons Cang Ye’s Bone Castle, appeared at the end of the line, quickly filling everyone’s entire field of view.

Though prepared for impact, Lancelot still stood unflinchingly in place, gazing directly at the oncoming crystal wall. Just as the Human Knight anticipated, they passed through the outer wall and entered the interior of the high tower.

The companions were entering a True God’s Divine Kingdom for the first time and found it entirely unlike what they had expected. The interior of the Crystal Tower contained countless rooms, densely packed like a beehive, each room’s walls mirrored crystal, reflecting every flaw of the person within. More strangely, in each room stood a Lord of the Dead donning a silver mask, and before Him stood each dead person, whether proud or humble, beautiful or ugly.

Lancelot remembered Alamir once said that deities could have many avatars, listening to devotees’ prayers, granting Priests Spells, meeting with other Deities, and performing their Divine office. Only under very rare circumstances would They concentrate all Their spirit and power in a single entity, thereby possessing immense power but temporarily unable to perform Their Divine duties—an outcome surely undesirable to the Lord of all Deities, Ao.

Eventually, they stopped at the highest part of the tower, an odd sensation flooding their minds as Lancelot knew they had reentered the real world. It was a very spacious hall, its walls entirely made of clear crystal, offering a view of the entire City of Judgment.

The Lord of the Dead seated Himself on a lofty throne, and a figure in a hooded cloak and cloak, revealing nothing beneath but floating a pair of white gloves, soon appeared beside Him, allowing the onlookers to reluctantly imagine an invisible body.