Deep in the Living
Chapter 116 - 110: Open Spine

Chapter 116: Chapter 110: Open Spine

Twenty days ago

Fifth Hospital, Punishment Room, Preaching Room

Luo Di met with the Angel Envoy representing H from the Order, Mr. Hawke, for the second time.

Mr. Hawke hadn’t been busy these days; or rather, the work in Hell’s Torture Room was always so straightforward that he had a lot of idle time.

The unexpected visit from an outsider like Luo Di just happened to relieve his boredom.

The main content of today’s meeting was merely a "chat",

Which in Mr. Hawke’s view, was a way to kill time, but for Luo Di, it was an important opportunity to understand True Hell and his own identity.

However, even the simplest chat is different within Hell’s Torture Room.

Mr. Hawke did not like to sit on a plush sofa with legs crossed, sipping tea, like humans do.

He had his own method of chatting, and Luo Di, as the guest, had to comply with his demands,

Whoosh!

The sharp tips of the hooks pierced into both shoulder blades, maintaining symmetry and balance, suspending both high in the air within the Preaching Room, exchanging thoughts face to face.

This manner of suspension was for Mr. Hawke, akin to sitting in the most ergonomic chair suitable for humans.

And Luo Di, experiencing "hanging" for the first time, clenched his teeth and persevered, not showing the slightest expression of pain, which earned repeated thumbs up from Mr. Hawke, who grew more and more appreciative of this human youth.

He even felt a private desire within to do something to this young man.

Even though the rules of Hell did not allow it.

"What are Spine Types? I’m completely clueless about these terms."

Luo Di had become a "Connector", but he knew nothing about True Hell or his own identity; the term Spine Types was introduced by Mr. Hawke himself.

"Not knowing is normal, after all, I’ve never seen such a remote ’Angel Envoy’ like you."

"What is an Angel Envoy?" Before he got an answer to the previous question, another new query emerged.

"A non-resident of True Hell, a creature from outside the realm, unrelated to True Hell, who through some opportunity, establishes a connection here and gains recognition from True Hell.

Granted an ’item’ by one of the forces within Hell.

The item you received is called ’Hell’s Spine’, which originates from one of the largest forces in True Hell. Anyone who has gone through a ’Spine Swap’ there and survived will be called ’Spine Type’."

"The largest force?"

"That’s right, a group made up of individuals who feed on killing and thrive on war. I don’t need to say more; as you grow, you will gradually come in contact with them."

"You belong to another force, right?"

"Isn’t that obvious? Otherwise, I would have started transforming you already. It’s a pity though, you have a great talent for enduring pain, but your thirst for killing needs to be stronger."

Luo Di eagerly threw out another question: "If I want to continue to grow and become stronger, what do I need to do?"

"Just like those guys, all you think about is this stuff.

Logically, this is something you should figure out yourself, but I’ll indulge you since you’re willing to embrace pain.

After all, among those I’ve tortured, there were Spine Types; I understand a bit.

As I just said, your Hell trait is connected to those who delight in killing; for your spine to quickly grow, you’ll need plenty of killing.

It’s like cultivating plants,

You need to provide it with sufficient nutrients through killing to foster its growth.

Killings differ, too: the more difficult the killing, the more heart-wrenching, the more it touches the deepest parts of the soul, the higher the quality of the nourishment, and the more the spine will favor it.

In short, start by working towards the first phase."

"What’s the first phase?"

"The spine on your back is in its most primitive and initial form and needs to be fed continually through killing. When it reaches saturation, you can try ’Open Spine’.

Only then can you be considered a true Spine Type, and you’ll be able to establish a deeper connection with True Hell, and those forces will also make contact with you.

Of course,

’Open Spine’ is not just about feeding the spine.

You also need a strong enough body to support it, and you need to harbor extreme thoughts of ’falling into Hell’.

Your body is far from ready now, but you can train here for the next few days.

After all, you have a talent for enduring pain; if you can withstand it, the baptism of pain will greatly increase your ’Body Tolerance Value,’ thus raising the likelihood of opening your spine.

I look forward to you reaching the first phase soon.

However, don’t maintain ’Open Spine’ for too long. Your human body is still very fragile, and carelessness could lead to the collapse of your fleshly form, losing your human shape."

Mr. Hawke’s words completely sparked Luo Di’s curiosity and desire, even making him forget the pain from the hanging, his eyes wide open in eagerness.

"What exactly is ’Open Spine’ like?"

"There’s no specific standard, really. Hell’s Spine will evolve a corresponding form based on the individual’s thoughts, and there are differences between each Spine Type’s Open Spine.

Not only in terms of appearance,

But the quality of the spine itself will also become apparent at the moment of ’Open Spine’,

This quality can almost determine how far you can go and what level you can reach in the future."

"I personally feel that you can present a high-quality Spine Type. After all, an Angel Envoy that can savor Pain is not likely to be too shoddy. You’ll have to come back and let me have a good look."

...

The non-existent nursing home - Mother Nest

Luo Di did not feed the Spine much since acquiring Hell’s Spine, committing only a handful of murders, including the Class Leader, Ghost Bride, and some inconsequential old wastes from the nursing home.

The Spine did not seem to be saturated, nor did it convey a state of being so.

However, Luo Di’s own status was quite strange.

His thoughts were generating a strong inclination to "fall into Hell," ready to kill the Pseudo-Person before him at all costs.

Watching his most cherished things being plundered and devoured.

Such an intense flood of emotions would likely have induced a "Thought Corner" in the average individual, but as a Connector, Luo Di had only one thought,

To fall into Hell and slaughter the evil.

This surge of emotion, transmitted via symbols to the depths of True Hell, was swiftly answered.

Luo Di’s back swelled severely, his entire spine peeling away from the flesh, and blood dyed his investigator garments a dark red.

The so-called ’Open Spine’ was occurring...

Different Spine bearers have distinctive Spine Types,

And the exposed Spine of Luo Di was also undergoing its initial transformation, its specific shape being constructed according to the essence of his thoughts.

Due to his current focus on slaughtering the enemy, only images related to killing could be retrieved from the depths of his mind.

An early image, both featuring slaughter and the Class Leader, became exceptionally clear at this moment. That image related to the first Simulation Practice, the first confrontation with non-human entities.

Even a faint mechanical buzz could be heard from within this imagery.

Swoosh!

The special material of the investigator’s clothing split entirely down the middle of his back,

It was not torn or sheared,

But sawn open!

A Spine, emitting dense white smoke and rotating like a chainsaw, with bone structures akin to sawteeth proliferating on its surface, was revealed.

"Spine Type - Living Chainsaw"

It is unknown whether it was rare or exceptional,

Unknown whether it represents high quality,

But to Luo Di at the moment, he only felt as if his body had ignited its engine, a continuous flow of Hell Power filling his entire being.

He could even hear voices from Hell in his mind - sounds about War and slaughter.

...

Isabella naturally noticed Luo Di’s transformation, too.

But in her view, since the Aging Potion had already been administered and taken effect, the opponent’s actions would be severely hindered, and the outcome decided.

Controlling the Huge Blood Hand of the Mother Nest, she attempted a finishing blow.

However...

The expected sound of smashing bones and flesh did not come.

Instead, Isabella felt her wrist being torn apart from the middle,

Swoosh!

The Huge Blood Hand was severed, falling heavily to the ground.

"Why isn’t the administration of the Aging Potion reducing his abilities, but instead making him even more terrifying? What the hell is going on with that rotating Spine?"

The three sisters sprawled in different positions were stunned by the sight before them,

Previously, Luo Di could at most chop off a few fingers, and now he had sliced off the entire palm.

More so, while the three sisters were still shocked by the severed Blood Hand, Luo Di had already moved in for the kill.

A butcher’s knife inserted into the wall,

Fingertips clutching flesh,

He achieved a quick wall climb!

In the blink of an eye, he was upon one of the sisters,

The latter had just thought of escaping with her agile body... Snap!

Her shinbone was grasped, the force crushing the bones within.

A yank back, followed by a downward slash!

One of the three sisters was killed.

Seeing this scene, Isabella’s main consciousness felt Fear spreading.

This was her lair, with more than five years of foundation, yet a complete advantage on home turf was being wholly suppressed by an infiltrator.

"What kind of Monster are you?"

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