"How can this be?!"
Lancelot was genuinely shocked. Starlight Strike was a genuine Divine Artifact, not only incredibly sharp, but its special effects were also extrely powerful. The Succubus Paladin had only recently used it to defeat the Mother of Demons, and although, strictly speaking, it could only be counted as the finishing blow—Abyssal Lord Cang Ye had already been gravely injured in the assault by Queen Aira's two consorts—it was indisputable that a weapon capable of threatening an Abyssal Lord had imnse intrinsic value.
More importantly, this sword had a very special significance for Aira's race—it was ford from the condensation of starlight from the wild fields of Aira's ho, personally forged by the Queen, and was also the sidearm of the forr King Consort, Eskodel. And it was Eskodel who had died defending the children trapped in Androlina, ultimately ending Cang Ye's rule over Androlina with this sword.
If it were humans or dwarves, this artifact would certainly have been treated as a Holy Relic, deserving of a grand cathedral for worship, with it being paraded through the streets on every major festival.
"No, no, I can't accept it," Lancelot waved his hands repeatedly, "This sword carries too much significance, I'm not worthy to possess it..."
"Haha, we think it's quite fitting for you to carry it," said Finier as he directly placed the hilt into Lancelot's hand, "This sword was created for the purpose of fighting Demons. Given the current situation in Androlina, letting you take it would best fulfill its mission."
"But we're venturing into the Abyss, and our lives are at constant risk. Although I'm not afraid, what if sothing unfortunate happens? Won't the sword be lost again?"
"Of course, we don't hope for that to happen, but when Miss Elothysia previously went to the Court of Stars, the Queen had already cast a special Spell on this sword. If any evil being takes possession of it, the Queen will imdiately know its location, as well as the situation within a mile radius."
"Alright then," Lancelot stopped declining and bowed deeply to the King Consort with the artifact in hand, "Thank you for your trust, I will treat this precious gift with care."
"You don't need to cherish it too much," the elegant Aira Lord winked at Lancelot, "After all, a sword is ant for cutting people."
"An enemy that requires to use this Divine Artifact must be no simple foe..." Lancelot carefully stowed the one-handed sword in his Dinsional Bag, "This won't cause any trouble for you, will it?"
"Don't worry about that. If we can imprison the Mother of Demons, what's there to fear from ordinary Demons?" Finier's face revealed a confident smile, "The Court of Stars has a strong inclination towards good, and any evil creature's power would be severely weakened there, not to ntion our Queen presiding over it. Just make sure you don't bring more than two Abyssal Lords at once..."
"I'll try my best to avoid such a situation," Lancelot laughed, but he had already decided that he wouldn't use the artifact unless absolutely necessary. Attracting unwanted attention was one thing, but since the weapon could teleport enemies away, that ant he couldn't loot the corpses for spoils of war, and just the thought made him wince.
"Ah, there's also this," the King Consort handed over the crystal imprisoning Ulgog, "Almost forgot to return it to you."
"You don't need it anymore?" Lancelot asked curiously, looking at the crystal, "He was the forr Commander of the Demon Legion, he must still have more useful information to offer."
"Indeed he does, but we do not wish to cooperate with or exchange anything with Bartez anymore," Finier shook his head, "Moreover, a high-rank Demon becoming the lieutenant of an Abyssal Lord, especially when the armies of the Nine Hells had already invaded the Abyss, is too abnormal. There must be soone in those Neutral Towns willing to pay a satisfactory price for him."
"I understand." Lancelot secured the crystal and then turned, waving to those around him, "Well then, friends, goodbye! I look forward to our future reunion!"
"Goodbye! Thank you for everything!"
"Feel free to co back and relax!"
"Last ti I couldn't drink you under the table, next ti we must determine a winner!"
"Goodbye Uncle Lancelot! When we grow up, we'll co find you for an adventure!"
The waves of farewell blessings rose and fell, and Lancelot responded with smiles and waves. His gaze finally rested on the Succubus Paladin beside him, whose radiant face bore a tranquil smile, a aning behind it that only Lancelot understood.
"Goodbye, Sir Lancelot," Lady Elothysia bowed to him slightly, "I wish you all the best in the future."
"Yes, you too," Lancelot returned a formal Knight's salute and turned to look at Finier, "I entrust Elothysia to you."
"Nobody will think of laying a hand on her," the King Consort promised him, "She's one of us now."
"Thank you."
Lancelot nodded his head and then took out the Emblem that could take him back to Twin Bridges Town from his chest. As soon as the Emblem was in his hand, he suddenly felt a wave of unease; this feeling was peculiar, as if the Succubus Lord to whom the Emblem was connected was in so kind of danger.
At that mont, a strong hand gripped his arm—it was Bruto's hand, while the Elf Priest held onto the Dwarf, with the Human Scholar behind them. Lancelot hesitated no further, took a deep breath, and began to quietly repeat the na of the Lord of Twin Bridges Town.
"Tigana, Tigana, Tigana..."
The familiar sensation of vertigo ca, gravity seed to lose its grip on him, and his body felt as though it suddenly sprang off the ground. The surrounding scenery blurred into countless points of light and then began to reassemble into a new scene. Lancelot had used this Emblem to teleport before and, if everything was normal, he would quickly feel his own weight again.
But this ti was different. Right at the last mont of the teleportation concluding, Lancelot felt as though he had slamd into an ice-cold wall, and then he crashed to the ground.
"Ouch! That hurts!" Bruto's loud complaint rang out beside him, "What's going on, why is it so cold?"
Before the Dwarf could finish speaking, Lancelot instantly stood back up. He didn't see the familiar Succubus Lord in front of him, but instead, a huge ice wall with a white humanoid indentation on it—which was obviously left by his recent collision.
"Did the teleportation fail?" the Elf Priest was the second to stagger to his feet, then he took in the situation around him and sharply inhaled, "What's going on here..."
By the looks of their surroundings, they were inside Tigana's Castle's Throne Hall; however, the state of the hall was as if the God of Winter had already arrived: ice sculptures in human shapes were around, with Succubus Maids frozen stiff inside; the walls and floor were covered with a thick layer of frost, and huge icicles hung from the ceiling like in a cave sealed in ice for ages.
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