The Paladin in the Abyss
Chapter 820 - 831: Big Goose

What difference would it make to decapitate with a long sword versus smashing the head with an elbow strike?

The answer was right before them. Unlike the smooth cut made by a sword, the angel’s neck sprouted a long vertebra, but the skull that originally rested on it was no longer there.

The exposed bone in the air gave Lancelot a completely different feeling. Its surface was pristine, white as jade, more like a part of a heavenly creature. Furthermore, the vertebra began to glow and swiftly conjured up a phantom head. Seeing the expression on the head’s face, Lancelot knew there was no need to continue fighting.

’Thank you, noble knight,’ a genderless voice echoed directly in his mind, ’You have set me free…’

The angel retracted his wings and bowed to Lancelot. At some point, his wings had become clean and radiant again, the filth completely gone. The angel leaned against his great sword, and tiny beams of light began to seep from his skin, floating upwards like dandelion seeds caught in the wind, or fireflies on a summer night, soon disappearing.

"That was quite beautiful… I suppose we’re done here?" Bruto’s surprised voice sounded from behind Lancelot, "We should leave quickly, it seems there’s quite a ruckus outside…"

Lancelot did not respond immediately; he was frowning at the gray, dull corpse of the angel, trying to discern whether the strange impulse he felt was an illusion—he sensed that the corpse had a particular allure, like…

Don’t get the wrong idea, it was like seeing a rare treasure.

Lancelot removed his iron gauntlet and gently placed his palm on the angel’s corpse. It had turned rigid and cold, but beneath the lifeless flesh, he felt a special power, one similar to the Spirit Stones from higher planes, yet differing in a crucial way…

The Cauldron Immortal Technique began to activate on its own, creating a vortex in Lancelot’s body, madly absorbing the remaining energy from the angel’s corpse. The howling wind drew everyone’s attention. Turbulent air currents swirled around the human knight, as if a miniature storm had arisen, and at its center, a pair of huge, white, swan-like wings slowly unfurled behind him.

"By Moradin’s beard…" Bruto’s jaw nearly hit the ground, "What’s this? Could it be that big bro has been secretly an angel all this time?"

"Seems like he sprouted a pair of light wings when he was knocked flying just now…" Even the Elf Priest was unsure now, "But surely… that can’t be? Lancelot has also transformed into a Barlow Flame Demon before…"

"Right." Bruto nodded, "A Fallen Angel, no doubt."

"Wasn’t it a Demon Prince?" Tanya mumbled quietly, "He and that Succubus Lord must have… you know, done that, right?"

"All this talk… can anyone explain it to me?" Princess of Zombies Fran summoned the courage to ask, "One moment it’s demons, the next it’s angels, what kind of people are you?"

"Too complex to explain in a few words." Bruto shrugged, "But definitely good people."

At that moment, the wings behind the human knight began to dim, quickly fading away. He stood up calmly, pausing briefly to pull the angel’s great sword from the ground.

"Are we done?" Bruto circled around Lancelot, scanning his body, "Big bro, just now…"

"Nothing much, just absorbed some residual energy he couldn’t take with him." Lancelot smiled slightly, "Don’t overthink it, I’m just an ordinary person…"

"If you’re an ordinary person, I’d be a farting stone." Bruto sniffed, "What’s next? Does the holy power inside you drive you to desperately want to fight the evil Lich Tyrant, like, right now?"

"What nonsense?" Lancelot looked at the dwarf like he was an idiot, "Of course, we retreat... Are your dad and Kalalin ready?"

"They’re already inside." Alamir walked over, returning the Dimensional Bag to Lancelot, "Feign Death Technique lasts only an hour, so we need to be in a safe place by then, so I can…"

The elf’s words were cut short by sudden arrows. At the sound of the wind, the three reacted instinctively: Alamir and Bruto raised their shields towards the arrows, and bent low; the ever-brave Lancelot drew Frostslash and turned towards the sound.

There were five arrows; one was deflected by Lancelot’s sword, one hit Alamir’s shield, and the other three missed. The assailants were five skeleton soldiers emerging from the woods, and the little Yisha urgently warned Lancelot through their mental connection that the main undead army would soon arrive; they must leave immediately.

"Go!" Lancelot commanded quickly, pointing with his long sword, "That way!"

The companions moved quickly, but saw Lancelot running towards the two animate tree houses. Ravens caged inside flapped their wings urgently at him. With a swing of his sword, he easily shattered the cages, and the birds flew out, cawing, vanishing in no time.

"Keep running!" Lancelot shouted without looking back, "I’ll catch up quickly!"

Without pausing, Lancelot rushed into a tree house. Beneath the broken floorboards, he found an egg-sized emerald pulsing with abundant life energy. He reached for it, but as soon as he touched it, the broken floor turned into wooden fangs, snapping at his arm—unfortunately for the trap, Lancelot’s hand was too quick, and the jaws collided and shattered.

In the other tree house, he retrieved another life gem from the same spot, using the same method. By then, his companions were nearing the forest edge. Taking a deep breath, Lancelot charged in their direction, moving faster than ever before.

Behind him, a pair of light wings flapped wildly, making the human knight look like a giant, running goose.