Deep in the Living
Chapter 276 - 264 Killing Skills

It is a Huge Spine that encircles the Nest City, with a top speed of 300km/h, and its interior has been hollowed out and processed into a station bin structure.

Owing to the Spine, Luo Di can ride for free.

Not only is the Orbit train car soft and comfortable, but upon boarding, an individual-use straw is provided to each passenger. One can insert the straw into the wall of the car and suck on the free spinal fluid drinks, which, although not highly concentrated, still taste pretty good.

Encouraged by Spine, Luo Di also gave it a try. With the pineapple-like taste of marrow filling his stomach, the high-quality nutrition further supplemented his body, bringing it to its optimal state.

Furthermore, this Spinal Orbit does not come to a complete stop.

When approaching significant stations, the speed will drop to 70km/h, and passengers need to take the opportunity to jump out through the bone crevices.

≮We are approaching the Fifth Recruitment Ground, the bone crevice will open for 10 seconds. The Orbit is currently 37.3m above ground. Please wait at the crevice if you need to disembark≯

A figure wrapped in a pitch-black coat slips through the bone crevice, falling, without any deceleration.

Boom!

The ground is slightly dented, but it will soon self-repair.

Luo Di looks up at the street before him, no longer bustling with noise, and the air is filled with a strange scent that’s hard to describe, as though many odors are mixed together.

The source of the smell comes from the flesh and blood building directly ahead - "Fifth Recruitment Ground."

It appears to be a building material made from a mixture of spine and flesh, with the whole structure in a square shape, estimated to be about the size of two stadiums.

And in this region alone, there are a total of [13] such structures.

Each building has a numeric sequence and a special Hell slogan printed on the front:

≮All for the service of War≯

Recruitment Ground,

All Spines who have completed their Physical Casting and maintained independent Consciousness come here to participate in service assessments. The final assessment results determine which legion an individual will join.

Ordinary Spines won’t have the privilege Luo Di enjoys.

They are often sent straight over here after their Physical Casting. Only after winning a real legion identity can they possibly obtain the right to reside in the Central Nest.

Many Spines, even after enduring the Casting, will die in the assessment or fail to be recognized by any legion.

Upon entering the Fifth Recruitment Ground, Luo Di does not immediately take the field but is arranged to wait in a rest room, as other Spines are undergoing their service assessments on the field.

During the wait, Spine gives an explanation of the relevant assessments:

"Luo Di, the service assessment requires you to complete multiple battles here.

You will ultimately be recruited based on your characteristics. Generally, receiving 1 to 2 legions’ invitations is sufficient.

If more than one legion is interested in you, you will also be able to make a selection in reverse and choose the legion that best suits your style.

As for which legions are waiting for you after you finish the assessments, you will understand them all. Telling you everything at once would undermine your understanding of the Spine.

Besides, some special, recognized small battle groups will come to select people. However, they typically choose soldiers who are extremely unique in a certain area.

Anyway, just do your best, and when it comes time to make a choice, I will give you some reference advice."

"Are you going to take part too later?"

"Yeah~ After all, you are an Outer Realm Apostle and completely unaware of the situation in Chaos Nest City. I’ll be following you around during this time, and during the assessment, I’ll also explain the testing requirements and the ’enemies’ you’re about to face.

Of course, I have no combat power, so don’t mind me.

Generally, the first test will examine your basic strength after achieving Mature Body to see if you can meet the Soldier standard, with relatively simple difficulty.

You will likely be arranged to face a ’Lost Spine’.

That is, a Spine who has sustained a Spine Strike on the battlefield and lost Consciousness, turned into an unconscious war shell after being rescued."

"Hmm."

Luo Di rotates the Pig Slaughter Knife in his hand, which seems plain and unremarkable; his heart has been agitated since stepping into the building.

He also activates the recording function of his outfit, as such a novel and interesting process must be fully documented.

The waiting process is somewhat boring, and Luo Di is someone who doesn’t like to waste time.

He immediately starts doing one-finger push-ups, completing a thousand without receiving any notification to take the field.

Spine, seeing Luo Di’s sweaty appearance, can’t help but remind:

"The first test might be simple, but the difficulty will continuously increase afterward with not much rest time. Maybe you should save some energy?"

"Just warming up."

It’s about three thousand push-ups later when he finally receives a notification.

≮Spine Luo Di, please proceed to the inner field for your service assessment≯

Walking out from the corridor facing the resting room, he arrives at a Duel Arena even larger than expected, so immense that Luo Di, with his human physique, seems extremely small.

There are no spectator stands set up here.

Recruiters from different legions are merely informed about the situation here through the [Eyeball Monitors] on the edges of the field.

Of course,

Luo Di’s appearance and his attire, which is obviously not from Hell, soon attract special attention from many of the legion personnel. Several eyeballs extend through spines by the field side, eager to see what makes this Outer Realm Apostle unique.

Urged by Spine,

Luo Di slightly quickened his pace to reach the center of the huge Duel Arena.

≮The first trial is about to begin, please prepare for war≯

Boom!

The iron gate, opposite the Duel Arena, started to open, and a thick stench of blood wafted out, accompanied by the sounds of teeth constantly clashing.

The so-called "Lost Spine" walked out.

The opponent didn’t have an overly exaggerated physique, only somewhat taller than Luo Di.

The spinal teeth were exposed, various large teeth arranged chaotically on top of it, still grinding and chewing against each other.

Not only that,

the eyes of this Spine were also gone, the sockets stuffed full of tiny teeth.

The mouth was completely split open too, with the number of teeth inside more than triple that of a normal person.

The scent coming from Luo Di was quickly detected, the target locked in by the gnashing teeth.

Driven by an innate desire for the roots of war, he believed this place was still a battlefield and that Luo Di was the only enemy, who had to be entirely killed.

Chatter, chatter, chatter~

The rapid friction of teeth, rapidly catching Luo Di’s pheromones.

The Lost Spine quickly recognized the threat of the Pig Slaughter Knife in the opponent’s hand, sniffing out the danger of being chopped and beheaded.

Feeling the strength of Luo Di, he no longer held back.

"Open Spine embraced by the entire body"

As this person’s backbone ground teeth violently.

Layers of teeth erupted from the skin, replacing it. Especially in the areas of the neck and waist, teeth were most dense and solid, capable of preventing decapitation or being cut at the waist.

Even the soles of his feet and the palms of his hands grew dense teeth capable of chewing.

The increased grip strength made him faster,

and the palms’ teeth could cause deep chewing wounds as long as they could land on Luo Di’s body.

"Impressive..."

Luo Di was quite surprised,

not because his first opponent was this powerful, but marvelling at how the opponent’s "Open Spine" could express full body traits, something he couldn’t do.

As Luo Di observed this fully-embraced state of Open Spine,

the opponent had already dashed forward, closing the distance completely.

Staring as the densely packed teeth in the palm were about to sweep towards his face, Luo Di still stood still, without any motion, not even a sign of dodging.

He just looked at his opponent, watching those eyes full of teeth.

Watching...

When the distance was close enough,

Buzz! A flash of ash color swept across Luo Di’s pupils, a field related to fear transmitted directly into the opponent’s brain through this color.

Even though the consciousness of the Lost Spine had dissipated, his biological instincts could still perceive this fear.

The Spine suddenly froze in place, motionless, even the sweeping palms paused temporarily.

Although he quickly overcame this fear with his adoration for war, it caused a delay, and his target had already disappeared from sight.

The teeth chewed,

and the opponent’s scent was now behind him.

Woosh~hah~

A breath of ash was exhaled from Luo Di’s mouth.

He did not Open Spine

but assumed a special combative stance,

at the same time, wrapping iron wire around his left hand to provide enough hardness.

Mobilizing the spine solely to increase the power of his left arm, he struck with a powerful punch in an instant.

It wasn’t merely a simple punch,

it was an assassination technique learnt from the orphanage, known as "Spine Strike."

Though it seemed like a fist was formed, in reality, the middle finger was protruded to create an impact point, further reinforced by multiple layers through the nature of the Punishment Room and wrapped with iron wire.

A punch burst forth!

Landing precisely on the mid-section of the opponent’s spine,

the stance, the force exertion, and the impact, the entire process in one breath! Luo Di’s posture was also very standard, a technique not possessed by Hell Creatures.

Crack! A crisp sound echoed across the Duel Arena.

The first trial ended.