The Paladin in the Abyss

Chapter 401: Chapter 415 Classic Tactics

“Big brother, are you sure this method works?”

Bruto, transformed into a Succubus, and Lancelot walked side by side out of the corner, approaching the huge figure sitting on the ground with its back to them.

“Of course I’m not sure,” Lancelot shrugged, “Our goal is to lead it away. If the process is about being chased rather than hunted, the experience should be much more pleasant.”

They did not deliberately hide the sound of their footsteps, and the monster in front seemed to have heard the movement behind it but didn’t pay any attention, instead focusing intently on what it was doing.

Lancelot and Bruto circled to the front of the monster from left and right and saw a scene that made their stomachs churn: the creature was gnawing on a humanoid being that had been skinned.

Yes, the monster that the Goblin Head Chef called Paji had taken off its headgear and was eagerly feasting. The goblin had described its face as an Ogre’s head soaked in cow urine for three days, and Lancelot thought the description was quite vivid.

As for what it was eating… since half of it had already been gnawed away, it was difficult to determine whether the blurred mass of flesh once belonged to a goblin or a gnoll, but watching it shove limbs that were still dripping with blood and recognizable as hands and shins into its mouth, even Lancelot couldn’t help feeling a shiver crawl up his scalp.

However, he still noticed some details: the creature’s teeth were not sharp, they were more adapted to chewing than tearing, making it seem more human than beast; its massively gaping mouth at the bottom was so large it could fit a Halfling, allowing food to slide directly into its throat without the need for swallowing.

“Hey, big guy!” Bruto, seemingly unaffected by the scene in front of him, greeted with a light tone, “What are you eating that smells so good?”

The Butcher turned its attention away from its food and looked toward the source of the voice. Its swollen face featured two round eyeballs hanging without eyelids, resembling eggs pressed into a snowman for eyes.

It didn’t seem much interested in Lancelot after his Transformation, making the Human Knight feel a strange sense of loss. However, upon seeing Bruto’s bearded Succubus face after his Transformation, the monster’s eyes bulged out like those of a goldfish, as if it had seen something incredible.

‘Not good!’ Lancelot’s heart skipped a beat, that look was not a good sign, it was almost like love at first sight…

“Woah-ah-wah-aah!”

The monster let out an excited, indistinct roar and reached out its thick, knotty arm towards Bruto.

“Hey! Where are your manners?” The alert Dwarf rolled back agilely, dodging the impertinent grab. During the process, Lancelot also swiftly pulled him, and the monster’s big, fat hand touched nothing.

“Follow me!”

Lancelot didn’t say a word, and dragged Bruto towards the other end of the corridor. The Butcher, having been in the midst of his meal, abandoned it, his mountain-like body standing up from the ground with a fierce movement, and began pursuing the two ‘Succubi’ with heavy steps.

“Ha! You seem to quite like my current look, huh? But I’m not so fond of you!” While running, Bruto also turned back to shout, “Damn it, these legs are too long; it’s really awkward to run like this…”

With Lancelot’s movement technique, shaking off the Giant chasing them would naturally be a breeze, but his goal was to lead the creature away, so of course, he couldn’t run too fast—at least not out of the creature’s line of sight.

At the first intersection, they turned left, heading toward the Goblin’s kitchen area. Lancelot remembered there were several spacious empty rooms there. His plan was to lure the monster into one of the rooms and then escape using Shadow Jump. By that time, Acheron would have already led the others through, and this seemingly dim-witted big fellow would only be puzzled by the sudden appearance and disappearance of two Succubi, having no clue about what actually happened.

Just as he had hoped, the monster followed them. But just when Lancelot thought everything would go according to his plan, he suddenly felt a shiver-inducing wave of fear. It was completely instinctual—using his shoulder, he rammed brutally into Bruto beside him. As the Dwarf was knocked flying, Lancelot himself also fell to the other side.

They saw an iron hook fly rapidly past the spot where they had just been standing, and it landed heavily on the ground ahead. The hook, which looked like the tool previously used for hanging the air-dried, skinned Coward Devils, was unexpectedly turned into a weapon by the creature.

The end of the hook was tied to a chain, and when the two of them looked back, they saw that the chain’s end was grasped in the Butcher’s hand. Upon seeing their gaze, the monster revealed an ugly smile, then pulled the chain forcefully, causing it to go taut in an instant. Meanwhile, its heavy body soared into the air, flinging forward by the pulling force as it fixated on the transformed Bruto with a gaze filled with yearning.

“Whoa! Pervert!!” Bruto’s voice even took on a whining tone, the usually fearless Dwarf experiencing a threat he had never felt before: someone was coveting his body.

This was, to the Dwarf, quite terrifying.

Lancelot too was startled by the monster’s abrupt attack. Although he managed to dodge the hook, he could tell from the passing rush of air that the force was substantial. Not to mention Bruto—even he would have been pulled right up to the monster if hit, and what might happen next, Lancelot did not want to find out.

Their pace of escape suddenly increased, all the while having to dodge iron hooks hurled at them from behind. In no time, Lancelot led Bruto to the outskirts of the kitchen where the Goblins worked, taking much less time than planned. Their task was to draw the monster away to create an opportunity for the others to slip by—returning too soon might end up causing the chasing monster to collide with their companions.

Lancelot knew that he and Bruto must engage with the creature for a few more minutes, but the heavy iron hook was no joke; every second spent near this beast increased the likelihood of serious injury.

After turning another corner, they had reached the outside of the kitchen. Instinctively, Lancelot pulled Bruto into a half-open door, just in time to see the Goblin Head Chef Rotfoot stumbling to his feet from the ground.

“Who goes there… oh—Hey~! Hi~ two beauti—AHHH!! Monster!!!!”

In less than a heartbeat, a mix of confusion, surprise, and flattering expressions crossed the Head Chef’s face, ultimately freezing in terror. Even a Goblin couldn’t deal with the concept of a bearded Succubus.

It wasn’t Lancelot’s intention to pick this specific room, but an idea flashed in his mind as he looked towards a wooden barrel open in the corner. The Goblin had claimed it contained water from the Stygian River, and being a resident of Twin Bridges Town, Lancelot could tell it was the real deal. Rather than risk being hooked by the creature, perhaps they could use this most mysterious liquid from the Multiverse to keep the monster at bay for a while.

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