The Paladin in the Abyss

Bruto’s spare gear included a brand-new set of Dwarf Heavy Armor crafted by Barrend himself, featuring resistance to shoving impacts; a Cold Iron Hand Axe, Bruto’s own creation, unenchanted yet razor-sharp; a heavy Black Iron Tower Shield, one of the trophies found in the Succubus Palace’s treasure vault, capable of absorbing flames, though Bruto found it too cumbersome and thus never used it—now it was just right for Barrend.

As Bruto helped his father "try on his new clothes," Lancelot and the old Dwarf discussed the latter’s experiences after his death, as in some ways, everyone was now acting as Cranvo’s proxy, and there were many uncertainties surrounding Barrend’s death that needed clarification.

"Death is indeed a very unique experience, like... falling from reality into a dream," the old Dwarf recounted with a complex expression. "They say that when a person dies, their soul lingers around for a while, watching friends shake your body, wailing heartbreakingly, and even having the chance to observe your own funeral. But none of that happened to me. The spears that killed me were like harpoons, and my soul was the fish impaled on them, immediately yanked out of the water."

"What about those witches?" Lancelot asked softly. "After they captured your soul, what did they do to you?"

"They did nothing," Barrend shook his head. "I never saw those witches you’re talking about. When I regained consciousness, I found myself naked in a dense forest, surrounded by bodies already starting to stink. I grabbed some clothes, trying to figure out where I was, but soon those men with skull armbands captured me, it seemed they knew I would appear there... After that, I was thrown into that dungeon, waiting for an unknown fate. Luckily, you came before the executioner, ha! Truly Moradin’s blessing!"

"Waking up naked in a dense forest?" Kalalin interjected, puzzled. "That shadow spirit mentioned before that in this Demon’s Domain, the dead are resurrected in that form... Could it be that after capturing Uncle Barrend’s soul, the witches released him? What was their purpose?"

"We will find out," Lancelot reassured his companions. "To escape this Demon’s Domain, those witches are our only lead, but there are more important questions to clarify before that. Uncle Barrend, we’ll be fighting side by side next, and I need to understand your combat style and habits, and you need to understand ours..."

As Baron previously claimed, the old Dwarf was no stranger to battle. Though he spent most of his time next to the forge, he also had experiences mining for new veins in the deep underground tunnels. The Dwarf tribe is a collectivist society, where every citizen has a duty to undertake public responsibilities; when armies of rat-men, orcs, or dark elves attack, everyone must take up arms and defend their home.

Therefore, as a veteran, Uncle Barrend could skillfully use his shield to protect himself and cover his allies. The Dwarves’ trademark move, the Low Slice, mastered expertly, was enough to severely injure any enemy who underestimated him. This combat technique, executed with a Short-Handled Axe, featured tricky angles, was difficult to deflect, and had a very quick launch, allowing for an immediate shift to a defensive stance—a perfect match for the Dwarves’ characteristics of shorter statures, exceptional strength, and sturdy constitution.

Of course, Lancelot wouldn’t immediately assign too critical a role to the new team member. During battle, Barrend would stand slightly to the left of the center, with Bruto next to him. When the latter entered his reckless rage, the old Dwarf would fill the gaps left by his son’s charges, maintaining the integrity of the formation and providing a safer casting environment for Scholar.

"Right, didn’t Tanya’s prophecy mention a tavern?" Bruto suddenly said. "What was it again? I remember it had something to do with wolves, and this place is called the Wolf King’s Den..."