The Paladin in the Abyss

"Lancelot, be careful! That must be the corpse of 'The Digger' Vagramore!"

Kalalin reminded him loudly, although Lancelot had already guessed the answer. Previously at the Hall of Contention, three Lords of Withering appeared together to issue the mercenaries the task of finding the Eye of Sarezdon, and Vagramore didn't show up even on such an occasion, seemingly confirming the rumors about his weakness, convincing the brutal helminth that the powerful magic wand, as people suspected, had exhausted all its powers.

And now that Dugba had already killed the first Lord of Withering, it wouldn't be unimaginable for him to kill the second one. Lancelot was secretly astounded; did this creature harbor grand ambitions to own all four major districts of Mogrondale, becoming its sole tyrant?

The surrounding crowd gradually realized that this helminth had just killed another Lord of Withering, and the more astute ones even guessed its purpose for coming here. Find your next read on My Virtual Library Empire

As a show of force, Dugba threw the corpse of the Fireburn Demon in front of Lancelot.

"Heh, it's really unexpected, that it was you who killed Satugura," the helminth said to Lancelot, revealing a strange and terrifying smile, showing its mouth full of sharp teeth hidden behind three wedge-shaped mandibles, "Quite a coincidence, isn't it? I also killed another Lord of Withering. Do you want to touch its still-warm corpse...?"

"So, what are you here to do?" Lancelot asked calmly, but one hand quietly began forming the spell, "If you want the Governor's position of Spray Plains, I can let you have it. I'm not interested in it."

"Oh? Do you have any complaints about Spray Plains, or are these..." the helminth gestured extravagantly to the surrounding crowd, "lovely citizens disappointing you?"

The audience emitted an uncomfortable laughter. The residents of Spray Plains all wanted to be Dugba, but nobody liked him. The helminth seemed to misconstrue the role of a governor, whose routine involved walking the streets with a bunch of henchmen provoking others, resulting in at least one unfortunate demon citizen dying by his hand each day.

They could understand the newly appointed Lord of Withering, Dugba, establishing his authority through killings, but this giant beetle seemed to consider slaughter a part of the Lord of Withering position's perks, even Yugros mercenaries who maintained the basic order were unwilling to accept his gold anymore.

The demons indeed have a chaotic nature, but they are not fools. They indeed despise order, but they fear death even more, with fear of death superseding all factional leanings. Powerful demons rule through violence and the threat of death, and this threat serves as an implicit promise: submit and your life will be spared.

It was under this unwritten agreement that cities and kingdoms of demons were established in the Abyss, places more chaotic and fallen than any mortal realm, yet still allowing those familiar with the rules of the game to survive. Even by demonic standards, Dugba was too brutal and unpredictable.

For a neutral city like Mogrondale, the ideal governor should be a greedy merchant chasing wealth, not a tyrant addicted to slaughter.

"How I feel is my business," Lancelot's face was icy cold, "and what is your purpose for being here?"

"Hahaha, I rushed over as soon as I heard that the new Governor of the Glacier is facing a challenge. How could I miss such a spectacle?" Dugba arrogantly showed his carapace and spikes to Lancelot and the surrounding audience. "Am I a bit late? It seems, little brother, you no longer have any opponents."

"Stop being so sarcastic and say what you want." Lancelot once again hoisted the glacier onto his shoulder. "The position of Governor of the Glacier can be yours, but if you insist on a fight, I can satisfy that request as well."

"Ah, little brother, since you helped me take down that detestable fox, I'll let you die with clarity." The massive beetle demon began to slowly circle around Lancelot, as its minions all retreated to the outskirts. "You can choose to relinquish the title of Lord of Withering, but who your successor will be is for the elders in Kai-Oine to decide. However, according to Mogrondale's rules, whoever kills you, will directly become the Governor of the Glacier. Of course, if you could give me... um… one million Gold Coins, I wouldn't mind sparing you!"

"I don't have one million Gold Coins." Lancelot shook his head, his body squatting and rotating in sync with his opponent's movement, ensuring he was always facing him. "My sword, however, I can give to you, but it's both heavy and sharp, and I fear you wouldn't like it."

"You really put me in a difficult position." Dugba circled around Lancelot and returned to his original spot. "I might as well just kill you. That would simplify things..."

"Dugba! Don't get too carried away!"

Another familiar voice was heard from the sidelines. Everyone turned to see that it was 'The Immortal,' Pakos, the Halfling, seated atop an Ogre's head, forcefully making his way to the edge of the crowd.

"Ha, I wondered who it was, just a foolish Halfling." Dugba spat a glob of corrosive saliva onto the ground, sizzling the earth, "Did this Human Knight learn from you? Once I become the Governor of the Glacier, you'll be the first clown I deal with!"

"Ha! If you have the guts, just try it." The Halfling sneered, narrowing his eyes and hiding the vertical pupils that were inadvertently exposed due to his excitement. "But in Mogrondale, there has never been any precedent of a Lord of Withering ruling over two domains, you have already crossed the line."

"There wasn't before, there will be now. Once I become the King of Mogrondale, my word will be..."

"Oh? The future King of Mogrondale, what role do I play in your kingdom then?"

The audience parted once again as an unexpected voice arose, escorted by several robust demons, a petite humanoid female demon with dark red skin walked in, none other than the current Governor of the Blood Abyss, 'Shapeshifter' Madam Akama.

"Um... If you are willing to obediently follow, there might be a place for you by my side." The light of lust gleamed in the beetle demon's eyes. "I'm talking about complete obedience, do you understand what I mean?"