READ NOVEL ONLINE Chapter 158 - Burning Hell's Dungeons (3)
Chapter 158
Burning Hell’s Dungeons (3)
The structure of the second level is similar to the first.
There are several cells with criminals imprisoned in them.
An underground prison where one can never see the light of day.
There were dedicated prison guards in charge of managing the place, and their authority was huge, particularly in the 2nd level.
“He’s dead.”
Closing the eyes of the dead guard, whose neck was twisted. He stood up from his crouch and walked further down the corridor.
Security personnel and guards, including Vergo, were already in the process of rounding up the prisoners who had escaped from the open cell doors.
“Aaaaahhh!”
“Die!”
“Stop that guy!”
Most of the prisoners on the underground 2nd level are serial killers. They’re not exceptionally skilled, so the guards were able to subdue them adequately.
*Smack!*
*Creeak!*
Using their truncheon¹, they quickly subdued the prisoners and threw them back into the nearby cells.
The underground 2nd level was swiftly brought under control.
He kept watching for a moment in case any remnants of the Demon Church suddenly emerged, but he didn’t sense any indication of their presence, so he continued on his way.
The path leading down to the 3rd underground level in the middle of the corridor.
He headed there with Seria.
“From here on, we need to be careful. We could easily get lost and wind up stuck in the Labyrinth.”
“Got it.”
A red iron gate in front of them.
Flames were engraved on it.
Burning Hell’s underground dungeon consisted of a theme for each level, starting with the 3rd to the bottom.
The theme of the 3rd level was fire.
Extinguishing Hell
One may simply think of it as a volcanic landscape.
The floor is covered with flowing hot lava, and volcanic ash flies from the volcanoes scattered around.
The heat is so intense that it’s hard to breathe, but in order for the prisoners to remain alive, they had to move constantly.
This is because the only way they won’t feel the intense heat is when they are moving.³
Remembering the game’s hellish illustrations, he grabbed the door handle.
He turned the iron wheel to open the door. It was jammed at first, but as the wheel continued to revolve faster and faster, the mechanism released the latch.
A blast of scorching heat poured out through the slightly open gap.
Using his mana to ward off the heat, he pushed the rest of the door open.
Beyond the door lay a small world.
A space created by magic.
The sky was entirely void of the moon, leaving it completely black with darkness, and the floor was filled with scorching yellow lava.
Accompanied by a thick, viscous magic.
“We have to keep moving in here.”
He entered the depths of the 3rd level with Seria.
The floor felt mushy. Smoke rose from his shoes as he stepped through the molten lava. As he slowly walked, the smoke dissipated.
So was the suffocating heat that seemed to come from every direction.
A mystical magic circle designed by mages.
With slow steps, he surveyed the expanse of the Extinguishing Hell. There was a huge workshop where the prisoners were bound to be working.
But there were no prisoners to be found, working at the spinning wheel.
“Aren’t they all dead? With lava like this, I don’t think they’d leave any bones behind.”
Seria has a point.
However, considering the manner of the Demon Church, they wouldn’t have just killed them outright.
Most likely, they would have let the prisoners on the 3rd level out, just like the ones on the 2nd level.
It would be beneficial for them to stall for time.
“Let’s go to the infirmary for now.”
Burning Hell isn’t a place of judgment for sins rather, it’s a place for prisoners to reflect on their crimes and repent, correcting their wrongdoings according to the severity of their sins.
Also, because of the Holy Empire’s regulations, they could not take the lives of their prisoners.
So when a prisoner was working to the point of death, they were allowed to rest and recover before being put back to work.
They were pushed to the extreme, so that the prisoners could truly reflect.
“…Over there?”
At the end of Seria’s finger was the recovery area of Incineration Hell.
An otherwise ordinary looking residence.
Its exterior was made of stone and remained unaffected by the flames of the nearby lava.
“Hmm. It looks like everyone is gathered together there?”
The recovery room had the most energy out of the entire area. Sensing that, Seria nodded and gulped.
“What are we going to do?”
“We need to get to that recovery room to get down to the fourth level anyway, so let’s clear the path and get rid of anyone in our way.”
“Okay.”
Multiple infirmaries ahead, centered around their current location. As they approached them, the doors opened simultaneously.
He saw men in prisoners’ uniforms.
The cuffs that were supposed to be on them were missing, and their arms and feet were moving freely, while one of them was cracking his neck.
“What the hell, the girl next to him looks pretty
“Let’s play with her and then kill her.”
“Then I’ll go first.”
One of the prisoners lunged forward, drooling, summoning one of his shadow alter egos to deliver a swift blow.
*Thud!*
A blade of shadow sliced through the prisoner’s neck.
Absorbing the demonic energy that flowed throughout the area, Redin created a number of shadow alter egos.
“What the…… he doesn’t look like an ordinary prison guard?”
The prisoners on the third level are those who used to be notorious in their local areas.
Their skills were roughly low Expert level.
However, their abilities have skyrocketed due to demonic energy. They likely possess the power of around Intermediate Expert level now.
As far as prison guards are concerned, they’re at the level of a Department Chief, but currently he has surpassed that level.
Even if dozens or hundreds of people of their caliber came at him, they could never defeat him.
“Those who surrender nicely will be spared.”
“Ha? You’re full of shit.”
The prisoners sauntered forward in unison.
“There’s no business on this side. Let’s go!”
Several prisoners leapt forward at the same time, and Redin sent his shadow alter egos toward them, quickly tidying things up.
The prisoners wore desperate looks.
Their eyes were directed at the prisoners behind them, not at him.
Why didn’t they all rush at once?
It’s a question that carries doubt, but in a way, it’s obvious. The ones here all think highly of themselves.
They can never unite as a group.
Making them easier to subdue.
“I surrender.”
“I surrender too.”
While some surrender, others willingly shackle themselves with handcuffs around their wrists
“Stupid fuckers.”
“You go out and die.”
“Some are still rushing in without coming to their senses. He watched as they targeted Seria intently, just observing for now.”
“I guess they think I’m weak.”
“Show me what you got.”
Seria joined in with him, harnessing the power of the shadows and instantly subduing the prisoners.
After watching, all of the prisoners handcuffed themselves and surrendered.
“Hmph…….”
At least until the 6th level of the underground prison, the number of prisoners is significant. If they continue to subdue them like this as they descend…”
It’ll take a lot longer.
If they go any further down, they’ll find someone who’s at least an Expert, which will only slow them down even more.
Seria and him had to get down to at least the sixth floor quickly.
That would cause the prisoners to rush to the upper floors, and the overall security and guards would be overwhelmed.
If they did break through, he needed people to contain them.
“Seria, I need you to get Vergo.”
“Got it.”
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Vergo’s expression was grim.
Like when he risked his life to save Redin and expose Magnes’ true intentions during the Burning Hell bombing.
Repressing his pounding heart, he stood in front of the Warden’s office.
“How can I help you?”
“I’m here to deliver urgent news from Prison Guard Redin.”
“Just a moment.”
The secretary spoke to the warden and then opened the door for Vergo. At the sight of Warden Rukel in the doorway, he swallowed hard.
The man at the top of Burning Hell, the one that every guard wanted to be.
The Warden’s aura was overwhelming to behold, and Vergo walked towards him.
Slowly.
Very slowly.
His head suddenly felt dizzy and his stomach began to churn, but he forced himself to persevere and stood in front of the desk where Rukel sat.
“What’s your name?”
“I’m with Security, and my name is Vergo.”
“Redin sent you?”
“Yes.”
Warden Rukel stared at Vergo hard. Vergo gulped, clearing his throat and opening his mouth to begin simply.
“Firstly, we have secured the passage connecting the 2nd level and the Burning Hell. Currently, the suppression of prisoners on the 2nd and 3rd level is complete, and Warden Redin’s team has descended to the 4th floor.”
“Continue.”
“The situation is that all the prisoners currently in the underground prison have been released.”
Rukel paused for a moment, then nodded slightly, prompting Vergo to continue speaking.
“Now, I will convey the message exactly as Guard Redin has requested.”
“….”
“Warden, there isn’t enough time to suppress all the prisoners while descending. Furthermore, with the prisoners growing stronger through demonic energy, it will be difficult for security and guards to subdue them. We need reinforcements to help subdue them.”
Hearing Vergo’s words, Rukel snorted and thought for a moment, then called his secretary from outside into his office.
“I want you to summon the entire task force, except Cerberus, right now. As soon as possible, using special transport.”
“Understood.”
At the same time, he activated a communication orb.
He relayed a voice message to each kingdom.
“We need your help to secure the Demon Gate in Burning Hell.”
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Merika Falls in the north of the Resha Kingdom.
A tremendous waterfall with a width of over 1,000m and a height of nearly 100m. Beneath it, there was a woman with her eyes closed.
Crime Squad 3.
Isabelle.
Isabel opened her eyes wide, her blonde hair drenched and clinging to her face as she took a deep breath.
Nine tails appeared, accompanied by a pair of crimson eyes.
The circle gathering at her heart spun rapidly, drawing mana from the surroundings.
*BOOOOOOM!*
A huge explosion centered on Isabelle, and red flames engulfed the immediate surroundings.
The waterfall pouring from all directions dried up in an instant, emitting tremendous heat.
“Phew…..”
Isabelle closed her eyes, catching her breath.
Six rings emanated from the heart, accompanied by a faint sensation of the seventh.
She finally stepped into the beginning of the seventh circle.
“……If I had this skill then, maybe Redin wouldn’t have died.”
After seeing Redin die in front of her.
She was shocked by his skills, and from then on, she trained like a madman to become stronger.
With a bitter smile, she rose from her seat.
While tying her long hair into a single ponytail, she chanted a magic spell. Using teleportation magic, she moved to the building where the crime task force was located.”
A junior approached him.
“Senior, what a good time to meet you. Lord Cheongtap is looking for you.”
“Lord Cheongtap?”
“Yes.”
When she arrived at the Tower with the blue roof tiles on it, she knocked on the door and was welcomed inside.
Bowing, she stepped inside.
“You’ve stepped into the 7th Circle.”
“Thanks to Lord Cheongtap.”
“Come and sit down.”
The Blue Tower Master explained the situation to Isabelle, who had been unaware of recent events due to her training.
“Redin is alive?”
“He’s tenacious.”
Which meant he had faked his death and deceived everyone. All the things she’d been grieving and all the mixed emotions she’d been feeling stirred.
The corner of Isabelle’s mouth twitched.
“Burning Hell has requested backup, right? I’ll go there myself.”
** ** **
TL/N:
1. a short, thick stick carried as a weapon by a police officer.
2. Just recall Impel Down in One piece that consist of different “Hell”
3. Think of Along with the Gods Movie Scene of Hell of Indolence that was portrayed with Water. (minus the water and change it to lava and volcanic ashes)
Extinguishing Hell – The flames and scorching heat of the lava area purifies and “extinguish” the sins of the criminals on that level.