The Paladin in the Abyss

In such circumstances, Mogrondale was simply a beacon within the Great Abyss, being the only place that could offer security to Outsiders. In fact, despite the ubiquitous wars, the Great Abyss remained the transport hub of the entire Bottomless Abyss, and Mogrondale naturally became one of the busiest commercial cities in the Abyss.

However, a city that required a twenty-mile climb to reach had no commercial value, no matter how alluring the clinking of Gold Coins in its Great Bazaar might be. It couldn't attract merchants, mercenaries, and thieves from the entire Multiverse to complete countless deals that could change the tide of the bloody conflict as it did now.

In reality, the most convenient way to Mogrondale was by 'boat,' and Lancelot and his group were now standing next to a dock on the shore of the Blood Lake, looking at several dilapidated small boats moored to the bank.

"Is this all there is?" Bruto lamented, "They look like they should have sunk a long time ago..."

"Haha, that's the reaction every brat has the first time they see a Stygian River boat," the skull-headed Cromwell scoffed. "Take a look at who the boatmen are. As long as they are in control of the boats, they will always float on the water."

Upon hearing this, Lancelot concentrated and examined the figures standing at the stern of the boats, finding their bodies hidden under cloaks to be extremely withered, somewhere between skeletons and Zombies. The heads under their hoods were nearly identical to Cromwell's—a skull.

The only difference was that their eyes shone with a faint red glow, whereas Lancelot's skeletal companion's eye sockets contained eyes no different from those of a living person.

"Is that a Ferryman Demon?" Kalalin asked with curiosity, "I've heard of such creatures. Legend has it they possess supernatural abilities to control boats and are familiar with every inch of the Stygian River. As long as you pay enough for the fare, they can take you anywhere."

"Not anywhere. They won't go to places that threaten their own safety," the Succubus Paladin interjected. "They are a part of the Yugoroth Demon Tribe and maintain absolute neutrality in the Blood War. Be it Tanari or Bartez, as long as you are willing to pay, their services are yours. These Ferryman Demons are employed by Mogrondale's administrator to shuttle any travelers needing to go to the city."

"I see," Bruto shrugged, "Then let's hurry onto the boat. How long have we been out in the wild? I can't believe I'm saying this, but I hope to sleep in a bed tonight, under a solid ceiling, not a tent flapping noisily in the wind."

No one naturally opposed the idea, and they chose a boat that could just fit them. Lancelot stepped forward to negotiate with the Ferryman Demon at the stern.

"Destination?"

As the Human Knight approached, the Ferryman Demon asked in a dry and hoarse voice, eyes brimming with anticipation.

"Mogrondale."

Upon hearing that name, the anticipation in the Ferryman Demon's eyes vanished. It scanned the people behind Lancelot and said dryly:

"Eight people, one hundred Gold Coins each."

"Can we pay with gemstones?" Lancelot didn't intend to haggle over whether a small Isabella in his pocket counted, or argue about whether a skull could be considered cargo. He didn't want to risk angering the Ferryman Demon over saving a bit of fare, and they weren't short on money now.

"Okay," Lancelot handed an Emerald to the Ferryman Demon, "The extra is an offering to Charon, in gratitude for the service provided by its servant."

The actions of the Human Knight seemed to have made the Ferryman Demon a bit more amiable. Charon is the Protector of all Ferryman Demons, and following Cromwell's hint, any act of respect shown to Charon would make the journey on the Ferryman Demon's boat a bit more comfortable.

Another widely known fact in the Outer Layer is that if one is willing to pay four times the fare, the Ferryman Demon would provide utterly loyal service, even if it had been bribed to lead you into a trap.

But this time, the group didn't need to do so since the Lords of Mogrondale City had already reached an agreement with these boatmen, ensuring that all boats from Blood Lake to Mogrondale would arrive safely at their destination.

One by one, everyone boarded the boat, filling the small vessel just right without making it too crowded.

"Fasten your safety belts," the Ferryman Demon boatman advised, which was when everyone noticed many flat straps scattered next to the seats.

"You mean these straps?" Bruto asked, lifting one of them, "How are we supposed to use them?"

"Use them to bind yourself to your seat," the Ferryman Demon said, revealing a wicked smile, "Tighten them well." Your next read is at My Virtual Library Empire

"Think about those waterfalls," Cromwell chimed in from the side, "Ferryman Demons' boats won't sink, but they also won't fly."

Bruto's face fell instantly, and the Dwarf bound himself as quickly as possible, looking like a turtle that a vendor had taken to market.

Everyone sprang into action, including Lancelot, who didn't show off but obediently used two straps to secure himself to the seat. After the Ferryman Demon patiently ensured that everyone had taken safety measures, he gently pushed off with his oar, and the small boat left the shore, heading toward a waterfall at the edge of the Great Abyss.

"Suddenly, I think rock climbing isn't so bad," Bruto said with a pale face as he eyed the approaching cliff, "At least—Whoaahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!"

He couldn't finish his sentence before the Ferryman Demon mischievously pushed hard with his oar, causing the boat's speed to surge wildly as it shot out over the cliff like an arrow released from a bow.

A second later, everyone found the boat was now completely vertical to the ground, sticking to the waterfall as it accelerated towards the Endless Abyss under the force of gravity.

Koula and Isabella screamed, but Bruto's voice was the loudest. The Dwarf's screams even seemed to disperse the surrounding mist, clearly having accumulated too much energy from the days of ample food and steady journey.

Soon, the terror in their screams disappeared, and everyone even began to enjoy this thrilling and exciting stretch of the journey.

The boat landed in a large pit at the bottom of the waterfall, immediately leaping down another; sunlight naturally could not reach such depths, but glow-in-the-dark mushrooms dotted the cliffs and crags, providing illumination for the passengers to appreciate the scenery whizzing by.

Lancelot saw large flocks of winged Demons, mainly Flomos, a kind of Demon known for their low intelligence and extreme ferocity, with large feathered wings and beast-like bodies, a cross between humanoid creatures and vultures; another frequently encountered Demon was the Kas, which looked like a nauseating mix of flies and humans—the overseer he had met when encountering Bruto was a Kas Demon.

These Demons showed no interest in the speeding boat, and though twenty miles was not a small distance, in less than half an hour traveling at a speed close to freefall, the outline of Mogrondale City appeared beneath everyone.