Chapter 11: Chapter 7 Demons and Demon

    "What kind of place is Twin Bridges Town? Is there anything special about it?"

    Barrend''s eyes lit up with longing as he answered:

    "Twin Bridges Town is one among the few neutral towns in the Abyss, and it''s the closest to us. It lies just beyond the foothills on the other side of the Shattered Mountain Range. We should be able to see it once we get over this hill."

    The word ''neutral'' caught Lancelot''s attention, and he asked with confusion:

    "Neutral Town? Neutral between whom and whom?"

    "Between Demons and Devils, of course. Didn''t you know?" Bruto looked at Lancelot oddly, then remembered something and apologized with a smile, "Sorry, I forgot you''re new here. Old man, better you explain."

    "I''ve heard of Devils." Lancelot answered, "They don''t get along with Demons?"

    "It''s more than just not getting along. If one day all the Demons in the Abyss vanished completely, the first suspects would definitely not be the Holy Warriors from Mount Heaven." Barrend stroked his gray white beard. "Although both Devils and Demons are incarnations of ultimate evil in this universe, they severely clash over many doctrines."

    "How does one differentiate evil from evil?" Lancelot asked curiously.

    "If there are distinctions within the good alignment, there are naturally also distinctions within the evil alignment."

    "Wait, could you first explain the distinctions within the good alignment?"

    "Well, the simplest example: A just Judge and a robin-hood-like thief. They''re both good people, with kind hearts, the latter mocks the former''s prudishness and naivety while the former believes that regardless of whom the stolen items come from, or how they''re handled, theft must be punished by the law."

    "Correct, this is the topmost layer of the Abyssal Plane, named the Plains of the Abyss. The Plains of the Abyss is the largest layer in the Abyssal Plane and the battlefield of the eternal Blood War."

    Lancelot pondered for a moment; a neutral town was immensely enticing to him. He could obtain information, supplies, and even refuge there. If he wanted to survive in the Abyss for a long time, a neutral town that welcomed him would be very helpful.

    "A neutral town sounds perfect for me right now. Can I come with you?"

    "Of course, no problem!" Bruto interjected happily.

    "The Abyss is full of dangers. To have a powerful and noble knight like yourself accompany us would be our pleasure," Bruto''s father added more seriously. "But we are not in a rush to leave; we might still stay here for a few days."

    "What? Why not leave immediately? Is there something else you haven''t handled yet?" Lancelot asked, puzzled.

    "Haha, look around you, there''s a group of Dwarves and a mine here," Bruto answered with a laugh. "And to be honest, this is a really good mine. If the demons would treat us a bit better, there would be no need for whips. Just two days, no, three days, and we can arm everyone here."

    Lancelot asked, genuinely surprised:

    "Can you start work right here?"

    "With a Cross Pickaxe and Blacksmith Hammer, we can start work anywhere. There are ore materials here, magma for heat, and a true master—I''m talking about my old man. Speak now if you have any requests; it will cost you later."

    "What nonsense are you speaking?" Bruto was again soundly punched by his delighted father. "Don''t mind this lad''s nonsense, Sir Lancelot. If you have any needs, you can approach me anytime. Dwarves never forget those who lend a hand during tough times."

    "You''re too kind. I really don''t have anything to offer as payment right now," Lancelot said, scratching his head awkwardly. "I would like to turn this fellow''s mouth into a short sword or a dagger. Also, this armor might need some maintenance. If you could make the moving parts quieter, that would be great—charging head-on in the Abyss might not be a good idea."

    "Making weapons from special materials is my forte. We''ve also found some excellent copper ore and Dragon Scale Charcoal here. Just a small technique is needed to make your armor as smooth as if it were oiled," the former best blacksmith of Rivet Fort proudly said. "Just you wait and see."