Deep in the Living
Chapter 270 - 258: The Birth of Hell

Chapter 270: Chapter 258: The Birth of Hell

≮Luo Di (Lo’di)≯

’Prison Rank’: Ordinary Spine*

*The spine undergoes the first stage of saturation, initiating the formal journey on the path of Demon Ascension with the completion of the [Conscription Ritual].

’Spine Type’: Metal Chain Saw*

*A special product combined with the sequence group items from Hell, which does not affect the inherent characteristics of the spine, while also expressing the punitive traits of the sequence group, complementing each other, a perfect Spine Type.

*The specific quality of the spine will be provided after completing the [Conscription Ritual].

’War Attitude’: Killing Intent*

*Different War Attitudes will have a certain influence on the individual’s developmental direction.

’Physical Body’: Primordial*

*Outer Realm Apostles, unable to descend in their flesh to True Hell, can only perform Consciousness Projection.

The current individual’s consciousness is projected upon the shell of a Hell’s Primordial, unsculpted in any way.

Once the individual partakes in the [Conscription Ritual], the physical body will be forcibly matured during the process to form a stable [Hell Body].

This body will also serve as the individual’s permanent identity registered in True Hell.

’Remarks’: It has been detected that the individual’s brain structure contains some unknown Outer Realm configuration, related to the pituitary.

...

A Hell Engraving with personal information emerged within Luo Di’s mind.

This was the first time he received such detailed personal information in True Hell, which to some extent was akin to an official recognition from Hell.

However, various aspects of this document all pointed towards an important matter, which is also what the Spine faction has been persistently urging Luo Di to do.

[Conscription Ritual]

This time his projection came to True Hell, similar to the state after his Self-slaughter on a vacation island previously.

Thick and warm liquid enveloped Luo Di’s entire body, akin to the nurturing of a womb.

This time he wasn’t panicking at all, not in a hurry to remove the feeding tube inserted deep into his throat, but first tore apart the membrane in front of him.

His location was still atop a high wall, this flesh-and-blood wall fostering countless shells, seemingly dedicated to the use of Outer Realm Spines’ consciousness.

"Although I was recognized by the Spine initially, since my consciousness did not connect for a long time, they sent my body back to this ’Wall of Fertility’... Or perhaps, my previous shell had long perished, and my projection this time has shifted into a new body?"

As it’s a brand new, freshly nurtured Hell shell, to some extent it could be defined as an "infant".

Luo Di didn’t jump straight off from dozens of meters high on the flesh-and-blood wall, but as much as possible, chose to crawl down slowly, firmly stepping on the ground to avoid unnecessary damage to this newborn body.

And by doing so, also familiarizing himself with this shell during the process.

(Description of Hell body seen in Chapter 195)

Thinner skin, more varied and growth-capable muscle tissues, more exposed and similarly growth-capable skeletal structures, everything related to the physical body in its primal state, unsculpted.

The face only retained a mouth for eating and gnawing and eyes for observing enemies; all other organs were gone.

This is [Shell], it is the Primordial body.

Furthermore.

After Luo Di completed crawling, he immediately performed two special checks.

The first was the ’Spine’,

The second was the ’pituitary’ that Luo Di had been preparing for so long to obtain.

Perhaps due to the newness of the body,

Luo Di could feel the metallic spine protruding from his back, but was unable to mobilize any related abilities, let alone Open Spine, even basic heating was difficult to achieve.

However, as Luo Di raised his right palm, he could see a hint of gray floating in the center of his palm.

Just confirming this was enough, at least proving that Luo Di’s two months of preparatory work had not been in vain, the pituitary and the corresponding Corner system had also come with the projection to this side.

It’s just that he didn’t understand why now, having come to True Hell and being closer to a true Spine, he couldn’t use the abilities related to the spine.

Harboring doubts,

he once again moved his body to the center of this area, surrounded by ten huge Spinal Columns; it was here that he previously underwent the initial examination by the Spine faction’s power.

Indeed,

when Luo Di stood at the center, voices came from the tops of those huge spines.

"Outer Realm Apostle, you have finally arrived!

Given your excellent ’War Attitude’ delivered two months ago and the possibility of an unreliable connection due to the vast distance of your world, we will not hold you accountable for your tardiness."

The voice from the top of the spine remained authoritative, yet it was much gentler compared to the last time, clearly quite pleased with Luo Di, the Outer Realm Apostle.

"May I ask, why can’t I summon my spine?"

"The Primordial shell can’t bear your perfected and high-quality spine, so the spine capabilities are temporarily blocked to protect the body.

Next, you will head to the arsenal factory to formally commence the [Military Conscription Ritual], during which your ’War Attitude,’ spine shape, and self-consciousness will be used to ’Forge a Mature Body.’

Then you will be able to normally harness the related abilities of the spine.

As long as you retain your consciousness and maintain your overall structure throughout this process, you will obtain official Spine status along with the rights of Nest City citizens.

Subsequent assessments will be specifically arranged for you, to determine which legion you are suited for."

"Forge a Mature Body... Nest City... Legion..."

Luo Di is filled with anticipation for the upcoming hellish journey, disliking his current weakness and eager to return to a normal state of body.

"Can we start now?"

"The [order] concerning you has been sent to the factory. However, due to your dual Hell Items and Outer Realm status, they require some time to prepare. You just need to wait here for notification."

"Oh."

Luo Di didn’t stand idly during his spare time; instead, he used this opportunity to do his best exercise—’push-ups.’

While this so-called Primordial body may not suffice to bear the metallic spine,

in Luo Di’s view, it’s comparable to the physique of ordinary humans. The push-up exercise allows him to adapt faster and serves as a warm-up before conscription.

After fifty push-ups, the body started to falter, shaking and trembling all over.

Seeing this, Luo Di did not use his spine, instead he tried to slightly activate the pituitary gland that was also projected here.

Portions of Fear Essence, unique to the Corner, stimulate the brain, as the grey matter spreads throughout the body along with the blood flow, growing fine tentacles in parts of the body that are hard to support, thus aiding in exerting effort.

What was originally an unbearable push-up suddenly became easy, even transforming into one-hand push-ups and gradually decreasing the number of fingers used.

The maternal spine responsible for the Shell Park could naturally sense the changes in Luo Di’s body, and felt that something not of Hell was enhancing the body from within.

"Your native world is quite peculiar... Perhaps you will indeed perform well in the wars to come. The factory has given feedback, and the Military Conscription Ritual is about to begin."

Before Luo Di could stop his push-ups, the ground beneath him began to loosen, eventually turning into a soft channel that carried him as he slid down vertically.

Because the wall was soft and covered with lubricating secretions, there were no footholds to be found, leaving him to freefall.

The speed increased to the point that it was enough to shatter the Primordial body.

Just as Luo Di was contemplating how to deal with the situation,

it was as if he had been expelled from some intestinal tract.

Splash!

He fell heavily into the water without breaking apart.

But this was no ordinary water surface; it was inside a huge boiling cauldron.

If it were a human body, it would have been cooked instantly.

However, this Hell-born shell possessed extremely high heat resistance. The boiling water did not damage the skin tissue, but instead made the skin transparent, clearly revealing the muscle patterns and bone structures underneath.

Luo Di even felt as if he were soaking in a hot spring.

Indeed, one of the main features of True Hell is scorching heat, something Luo Di had deeply experienced when fighting with the help of his spine.

Even the bodies in the Human World had become heat resistant due to the presence of the spine; even the Killing Intent that radiated outwards was hot like magma, easily able to cover and engulf the colder Killing Intent of ordinary murderers.

The [Boiling] in front of him must be the prelude to conscription, heating Luo Di’s body to awaken it for the subsequent ’Forging.’

Standing beside the cauldron was a towering Blacksmith from Hell, over ten meters tall, who reached out and plucked the tiny yet heated Luo Di from the pot.

The forging of the body was about to begin.