Holy Warrior Liu Bei

Chapter 28 Zariel's Lackeys

"Anders, perhaps we should leave. A group of adventurers just passed by outside, and judging by their direction, they came from Baldur's Gate! I told you before, don't cause any trouble. This isn't Avernus! This is the Prime Material Plane!" After hiding the body, Cyril came to the front hall with a face full of anger.

"Hey, who messed with our sweetheart! Didn't you say you wanted a warm, undisturbed room?"

Anders was a little angry: "Don't forget, the lady gave a death order, demanding that we take Karak back to Hell! How many of our comrades have died trying to capture her, and now what are you complaining about? It's just a group of adventurers, it's as easy as killing those gnolls, isn't it? What are you afraid of?"

"Anders! This is the Prime Material Plane! The Prime Material Plane that even the Grand Duke is unwilling to easily set foot in!"

Anders scoffed, "Regretful? If you regret it, why did you come along? Who was it that begged me back then, saying they were fed up with the smell of sulfur in hell, fed up with those demons, fed up with the bloody battles, and wanted to come to Faerûn for a different kind of life? Now you're scared?"

"Hehehe, aren't these Zariel's lackeys? What's all this arguing about? Maybe you should stop arguing and prepare to die!"

The gates of the expropriation office were flung open by Karak, who stood there furiously, wielding a giant axe. The light from the hell engine running in her heart pierced through her skin, and her entire body was engulfed in hellfire, making her look like a giant human torch.

"Karak, you've come!" Anders was quite surprised by her intrusion. "A devil like you dares to roam around here; this isn't hell. But I also understand why the lady wants a vicious savage like you."

"Madam?" Karak laughed in exasperation. "You really are a good dog of Zariel, still calling me 'Madam' so affectionately even after arriving in Faerûn."

"Be angry, Karak! Use your hellish power to your heart's content, burn as you please! You are Zariel's property after all, and we will take you back!"

"But then again, I'd much rather leave you here, far from home, and let the hellish engine slowly burn you to ashes from the inside out!"

"Homeland?" Karak's rage was completely ignited. "Avernus was never my homeland, it was a prison! Baldur's Gate is my home! I'm free, and I will never go back! Never! Never!"

The Hell Engine roared, power emanating from Karak's heart, and flames surged around her. She could no longer control herself; her rage needed an outlet, and the target of that rage was this pack of Hell Grand Duke's lackeys before her!

......

"Who exactly is Zariel, whom Karak mentioned earlier?"

Liu Bei knew very little about the Nine Prisons.

"The first level of Hell, also known as Aphonas, is ruled by Zariel, the Archduke of Demons on this level and the commander of the Blood War on one side of Hell. Legend has it that she was originally an archangel from Heaven, but entered Aphonas to stop the Blood War. However, she was tempted by the devil and ultimately fell, becoming the ruler of Aphonas. Eltoril, the city where Sefro and the others lived, also fell into Aphonas earlier this year due to her schemes."

Liu Bei knew about the fall into Aphrodite.

At that time, he had just arrived in Faerûn and was rescued by Lady Morwen, the Duke of Dagger Beach, who placed him in the Happy Cow Tavern, which was Ansel's family tavern.

After this incident, a large number of adventurers set off from Waterdeep and even the more distant Neverwinter, all with the goal of reaching El Toril.

They made a brief stop at the tavern, and it was during this time that Liu Bei learned of the matter from them.

When he and Ansel set off on their mission to form the Society of Swords, they learned of the return from the caravan, and the Typhoons they encountered along the way also told him about it many times.

But what is a bloodbath?

There was no record of this in the many books he read about the customs and manners of the people of Faerûn.

What is a bloody battle?

"The Nine Hells are the territory of demons, and the Abyss is the territory of devils. These two worlds are closely connected for some reason. Since demons and devils are hostile to each other, an endless blood war began at their border. No one knows when this blood war started, and no one knows when it will end."

Liu Bei remained silent. He had originally thought that the so-called hell was similar to the underworld he had experienced before, but now it seemed that this was not the case.

Hell is not a place of rest for the dead.

This also answered a question that had puzzled him before: why the entire city would fall into hell.

"Been taught a lesson!"

"I wouldn't dare! I'm just confused. Aren't you from Dagger Beach, sir? These things should be common knowledge that adventurers should possess..."

"I dare not lie, I am not a person of this world."

"A traveler from a distant land, ah, that's no surprise!"

Will suddenly realized.

"A distant land?"

"Our world is called Toril, also known as the Prime Material Plane. Beyond this world lies the Astral Plane, and above the Astral Plane are the worlds inhabited by gods and elves. There are many of those worlds, as numerous as the stars in the sky, too many to count. Below our world are the Hells and the Abyss, these are the lower planes. Whether they are upper or lower planes, they are not far from Faerûn. Most can be reached through interplanetary teleportation, or through towns in the City of Sigil and other realms. The distant realms are worlds beyond the known planes."

Are there many people like this from distant countries?

"Not many, but not few either," Will said. "There are quite a few in the Ringed City, and in Forren... maybe Candlekeep has some."

Ringed City, Candle Fortress.

Liu Bei silently memorized these two place names.

Needless to say, I had already heard of Candle Fortress back at Dagger Beach.

He wanted to ask further questions, but a loud explosion interrupted his conversation.

The two were horrified and looked toward the place where the explosion had occurred, which was inside the expropriation office.

"Have you seen Ansel?" Liu Bei asked.

"No! Shouldn't he be going to find Karak?" Will asked, somewhat puzzled.

"Oh no!" Liu Bei stamped his foot. "There's no time to explain! Get inside! How could these two be so reckless!"

The gate of the expropriation office was blown off by the explosion, and flames roared inside!

Liu Bei was absolutely certain that the explosion was caused by Ansel!

"No way? That kid?"

Will also considered the possibility that his impression of Ansel was neither good nor bad.

This is my first impression: Ansel is a warlock with the blood of a golden dragon who likes to play with fire.

My first impression was that this kid really liked the Fireball spell. He would start with Fireball and keep casting it until he ran out of rings and couldn't cast any more Fireballs.

He was almost killed by Liu Bei's fireball during their first meeting!

How dare he cast a fireball indoors!

He quickly dismissed the question as soon as it arose; this guy had dared to throw fireballs inside the cave back then!

What's so strange about that!