The Paladin in the Abyss

Chapter 165 The Price of Power

The Giant Bull Demon, freed from its restraints, immediately knew who its enemy was—the giant nearly as tall as itself. With a roar of fury, the Demon charged on all fours, its antlers aimed at the Barbarian like an enraged bull.

An enraged bull weighing over ten thousand pounds.

Guarado cursed aloud, but the proud Barbarian refused to dodge, instead raising his heavy hammer high and smashing it down with precise timing.

The heavy head of the hammer struck the Giant Bull Demon's spine, but the Demon's terrifying body withstood the attack and drove its spear-like horns into the Barbarian's ribs, lifting him off the ground.

"Eckmond," Lancelot called softly to the skeletal head, "do you think you can hold the Giant Bull Demon's attention?"

"Ah? Me?" Eckmond was surprised, but after thinking for a moment, he understood Lancelot's intention, "Seems not impossible, as long as I can hold it off, right? I'm so little, it won't be easy for that big guy to hit me."

"Then, leave the mightiest enemy to you in a moment."

Lancelot continued to survey the remaining enemies. One Serpent Demon was already dead, another was heavily wounded, so he said to Alamir:

"Elf, that Serpent Demon with only half a claw left is yours, no problem, right?"

"Right," the Elf Priest replied succinctly, eyes eagerly fixed on his target.

"Bruto, aren't you the toad slayer? Make sure no Berserk Demon distracts me when I fight that Serpent Demon."

"Don't worry, just hold on for one minute, and I'll be able to help you!"

"Very good," Lancelot finally turned to the Scholar and the Cook, "Kalalin, just stay put later, at most use some Illusion Techniques to help Eckmond, and do not reveal your position at all. Koula, if anything happens, drink your Mutagen and run with Kalalin."

The two nodded understandingly; they had no objections to Lancelot's arrangements.

With the tactics in place, Lancelot looked back at the battlefield, waiting for the moment to strike.

The sharp horn pierced the barbarian's body once more, then sent him flying.

The mercenary leader staggered to his feet, only to feel the strength draining from his body again.

"No!" he cried in terror, calling out to the voice he had heard just moments ago, "Strength! Give me more strength!"

"But I already gave you strength, and you agreed to any price." The voice sounded quite pleased, "The payment I want is simple, just your soul. It's time to repay your debt, so would you be so kind as to die quickly? I've already prepared a very suitable collar for you, made out of Winter Wolf teeth. Just a little twist of the neck and it will poke multiple holes..."

In Lancelot's severity, the massive bulk of the barbarian began to shrink visibly, until he was not even as tall as he was originally. The flames that had covered his entire body were completely extinguished, and the once vigorous mercenary leader had become a decrepit old man, his withered skin clinging to his gaunt skeleton, like a corpse dug out from a grave.

He opened his mouth as if to say something, but the Giant Bull Demon was not interested in listening.

The demon lifted its hoof and crushed the detestable enemy underfoot, then twisted on the spot to ensure it ground the foe into a bloody pulp.

The mercenaries' morale collapsed, the demons quickly sniffed out the scent of fear, and death came swiftly upon the mercenaries.

Only a troll or two, or rather parts of a troll, managed to escape, but for such creatures that could regenerate any part of their bodies, they had already dodged the fate of death.

It was then that Lancelot turned back and gave everyone a signal for action.

The Scholar quickly unrolled the Haste Spell scroll he had prepared for a long time. The moment the spell took effect, Lancelot charged out like an arrow released from a bow, closely followed by Bruto and Alamir, each racing towards their targets without a moment's hesitation.

But it was Eckmond who first engaged the enemy, having pretended to be an ordinary skeleton head, rolled close to the Giant Bull Demon. Receiving the command sent by Lancelot through a mental connection, he immediately leaped from the ground and floated in front of the Giant Bull Demon, which was still joyfully twisting its hooves.

"Wow! What is this!" The skeleton head cried out in surprise, "A big, dumb bull! And so hideously ugly! What happened to your face, did you accidentally kiss a wolf spider?"

"ROAR!!!!"

The Giant Bull Demon was instantly enraged and responded to the derogatory remark about its appearance in a straightforward manner: it immediately charged its horns at the annoying skeleton head.