"No!" Uther cried out in grief and indignation as his beloved teacher fell before him.
"I will have you buried with him!"
"Die, demon!"
The three most powerful paladins of the era erupted with dazzling holy light, their hearts filled with the flames of vengeance. All they wanted now was to tear the demon possessing Gavinrad's body into a million pieces.
The demon showed no fear of being surrounded by the three. He threw the short sword that had just slain Archbishop Faol towards Tirion Fordring, who was closest, then slightly dodged Uther's heavy hammer, and lunged with all his might at Saidan Dathrohan.
Both of their weapons had caused great damage to Gavinrad's body. Uther's hammer had almost shattered his entire left shoulder, and Dathrohan, with a life-for-life attitude, had struck him in the abdomen without dodging, and the internal organs inside must have been mixed with the intestines beyond recognition. But the demon showed no pain whatsoever, laughing loudly as he rushed towards the door, mocking the clumsy paladins: "You are truly foolish humans! Remember, it was I, Balnazzar, who killed this old man!"
Balnazzar's main body detached from Gavinrad's already dilapidated body, transforming into the image of a dreadlord more than eight feet tall. He turned back and released a swarm of putrid flies, the evil negative energy pouncing on the three paladins who were catching up, forcing them to temporarily activate defensive spells, allowing Balnazzar to successfully buy time to escape. This demon was very clear that once he was outside, he could fly freely, and these humans could never hurt him.
When he burst open the door, he thought he had succeeded, but unexpectedly a burning longsword came slashing towards his head. In the crisis, he dodged as much as possible, but his chest was still left with a deep wound. The burning pain constantly stimulated his nerves, causing him to let out a painful howl for the first time.
"You shall not pass here, demon!" The Judgment Angel Kayle coldly stared at Balnazzar. She and Aiden had heard everything outside. This despicable demon had murdered a revered elder, a sage. Kael'thas's interactions with Faol might not have exceeded ten sentences in total, but this old man had indeed left a deep impression on her heart.
The Cult of the Damned in Scholomance also angered Kael'thas, but at this moment, she only wanted to kill this demon!
The time bought by Balnazzar's swarm of putrid flies had already passed, and now he was facing a very bad situation. In front of him was an angel whose combat power was by no means lower than his, behind him were three powerful and angry paladins, and beside him was a mage interfering.
He foresaw that he might have to prepare himself mentally to abandon this body.
"Did Archbishop Faol specifically call Kayle and me over to stop this dreadlord?" Aiden's thoughts were in chaos. He had long seen that the Archbishop's body was already very weak, but his spirit was very Excitement, giving people a feeling of a final burst of energy. He just didn't expect the moment of farewell to come so quickly that he couldn't even say a word of farewell.
Now, there was only one thought in Aiden's mind: to kill this dreadlord Balnazzar who had harmed Archbishop Faol!
The Nathrezim demons were not a race known for fighting, especially under the siege of the three most powerful paladins of the era and an angel whose abilities completely countered demons, and with a mage who knew various nature spells and time spells harassing him from the side. Balnazzar quickly became unable to support himself. His demonic body was covered in wounds, his left hoof was smashed by a warhammer, and his two bat-like wings were also cut off by Kael'thas when he tried to fly up.
Balnazzar let out a painful roar. He could no longer support himself to stand, and knelt down in front of everyone, allowing Kayle's sword of condemnation to rest on his neck.
Kayle stared at him coldly: "Any last words, demon!" Once this demon made any unusual movements, this sword would cut off his head before he could make a move.
Balnazzar greedily gasped for breath, his only remaining left eye still revealing an evil green light. He stared at Saidan Dathrohan, who was furious and ready to smash his head with a hammer at any moment, and mocked: "I smell the anger and sorrow in your hearts, weak creatures, do you really think you can kill me? No, the death of the body is the sublimation of the soul. When I regain my strength, it will be your death!"
"Your death has arrived, demon!" Uther ignored him, raised his warhammer high with both hands, and then swung it down fiercely. The holy light bursting from the weapon illuminated the surroundings as if it were daytime, and when the light disappeared, this dreadlord had become a puddle of flesh.
But he wasn't lying.
Balnazzar's soul left his body, condensing into a translucent phantom in the air above his corpse. He let out a wild and vicious laugh, wantonly mocking the group of people who had killed his body: "How is it, ignorant creatures, how could you possibly understand the power of us dreadlords! We are unkillable!"
Dathrohan glared, his eyes spitting fire, and violently attacked the phantom with his warhammer, but the warhammer passed through it, and his behavior was like attacking air.
"Continue, continue! Ah, what delicious hatred and anger! Come, come and kill me!" Balnazzar laughed madly.
Kayle's holy flame ignited the sword of condemnation, and the flowing fire blade slashed across Balnazzar's ethereal body. Balnazzar's laughter turned into a scream, and he floated upwards in fear. That sword had almost burned away one-tenth of his soul power.
"This... what kind of weapon is this! It can actually harm me!" Balnazzar didn't dare to continue provoking; escaping was the priority. If he were attacked like that a few more times, even if he resurrected, his strength would be greatly diminished.
"I'm returning to the Void! You just wait! I will be back!" Balnazzar's soul gradually became faint.
Aiden quickly shouted, "Kill him, Kayle!"
Kayle naturally understood, flapping her wings and flying into the sky to continue attacking Balnazzar's soul.
"Useless. I've already entered the Void! Unless your weapon can tear space, even if it can harm souls, it's useless against me! I will remember you, angel!" Balnazzar spat out harsh words, but the truth was as it said. Its soul gradually disappeared from this world, or rather, from this dimension. Kayle's sword only sliced through the air, unable to cause any further damage.
Dathrohan's eyes were bloodshot. He watched helplessly as the enemy who killed his good brother and beloved teacher escaped before his eyes, and could only let out an unwilling roar of anger.
Just as everything was about to be settled, a pillar of light suddenly shot up from the house behind them. Archbishop Alonsus Faol's soul walked out of the pillar of light. He extended his translucent finger towards Balnazzar's soul, which was in the process of escaping. An irresistible tearing force dragged the demon back from the Void.
Balnazzar let out a terrified roar, "No, no!"
"Stay here, demon!" Archbishop Faol voiced his righteous decree.
Seeing the opportunity, Kayle immediately waved the Blades of the Anointed and charged forward, striking Balnazzar's soul form with one blow after another.
"Ah, no! Stop! I surrender, I surrender! No!" Balnazzar wailed and pleaded, but no one here would grant him forgiveness, until his voice and soul completely disappeared from this world.
It was likely that this dreadlord would never have the chance to resurrect again.
When everything was over, the three paladins surrounded the archbishop's soul and knelt on one knee.
Faol's gentle gaze swept over them. He tried to reach out and comfort his disciples, but his hand passed right through them.
"Don't be sad for me, my children. Death is a process that everyone must experience. I am embarking on a new path."
The archbishop first looked at his most beloved disciple, the paragon of paladins, the embodiment of the Holy Light, Uther the Lightbringer: "Uther, you will bear more responsibility in the future. You must remember that you are not only a paladin, but also a leader. If one day you encounter a question that even the Holy Light cannot answer, then please trust other answers."
"Yes, Teacher, I will remember." Uther did not understand the meaning contained in this sentence at this time. It seemed to be a warning, and also like a prophecy. He could only keep it in his heart.
Faol then turned to Dathrohan:
"Dathrohan, you must hone your character well and not be easily controlled by negative emotions such as anger and hatred. You must remember that we control emotions, not emotions control us. Think twice before acting! You must remember Gavinrad's lesson and not repeat his mistakes."
"I will, Teacher!" Dathrohan's answer could not hide his grief. This was his last opportunity to listen to the archbishop's teachings. He forced himself to remember every word, even the tone of his voice, and would never forget it.
Finally, Faol turned to Tirion:
"Tirion Fordring! Among the three of you, only you make me the most at ease. You must be brave to face your own heart, and also be brave to take on greater responsibilities. If you feel that something is right, then do it!"
"I will remember, Teacher!" Tirion's tears welled up in his eyes. Originally, he thought that he was the most inconspicuous of the five paladins. Turalyon was a talented commander who inherited the legacy of Grand Marshal Lothar, Uther was even more of a messenger of the Holy Light, Dathrohan was the commander of the Silver Hand, and Gavinrad was the deputy commander. Only he seemed the most ordinary among the five. But at this moment, he realized that he did not expect that in his teacher's mind, he was actually the most valued one.
Then the archbishop walked towards Kayle:
"Angel Kayle, Heaven exists. I have already seen her open the door for me." Faol revealed a beautiful longing expression, "I know that our brief human life is only a short moment for you angels. But please allow this old man who is about to leave to nag a few words: You should let go of the shackles in your heart and face your true self. Otherwise, eternal life is only an eternal shackle."
Kayle took off her helmet and saluted the archbishop with her sword: "I understand, Archbishop Faol."
Faol showed a gratified smile. Finally, he faced Aiden: "Aiden, I know that you are still a young man, but you are destined to bear responsibilities that are more important than anyone else. I only hope that in the future, you can consider the fact that you once took root in this new land, and try your best to help the kind people she has nurtured."
"I will, Archbishop!" Aiden said in a low voice.
"My time is up. Heaven is beckoning to me. Farewell, children..."
The archbishop's soul turned into starlight and dissipated into the air.