Old N's vengeful charge turned out to be quite short-lived, as Nefas was fast enough to deliver a potent blow to the crab-demon before the latter collapsed his armoured bulk onto him. Normally, such a strike would easily have sent Old N sprawling to the ground, not unlike an oversized beetle having fallen from a stalk of grass due to its unawareness of (or delusions concerning, in the case of a vainer insect) its own weight. However, there was at least one factor bringing circumstances from “normal” in this case, and namely that the crustacean was bearing down in the direction directly opposite to the blow. The combination of his ponderous mass and the momentum of his rush was sufficient to balance the two forces, with the result of reducing the effect of the warden’s blow to stopping him in his tracks and causing him to stagger backwards a few steps.

While Old N was recovering his balance, the knight, who had somehow managed to light his shield on fire, struck Nefas in the knee – a move which, along with the onslaught of the rioting prisoners, would at least be sufficient to divert the Cambion’s attention. Taking advantage of such a propitious turn of events, the crab creakingly bent over and once again charged at the warden headfirst. This time, would his target even be fast enough to react, he would find it more difficult to land a direct hit on the round top of Old N’s carapace; at all events, the demon was fully certain that the maimer of his pincers would not escape his righteous fury another time.