Opening the Spine

Twenty days ago

[Fifth Hospital, Torture Chamber, Sermon Room]

Luo Di and Hawke, representing H in the Prologue, meet for the second time.

Hawke wasn't busy lately, or rather, the work in the torture chamber had always been quite simple, so much so that he was mostly idle.

The unexpected visit of an outsider like Luo Di happens to help him relieve his boredom.

Today's meeting mainly consisted of chatting.

What Hawke saw as a way to pass the time, Luo Di saw as a crucial opportunity to understand the True Hell and his own identity.

However, even the simplest conversation is different inside the Hell Torture Chamber.

Hawke doesn't like sitting on a soft sofa like a human, legs crossed, drinking tea.

He had his own way of communicating, and Luo Di, as a guest, needed to comply with his requests.

Whoosh!

The hooked spikes pierced the shoulder blades on both sides, maintaining symmetry and balance, suspending the two people high in the air above the preaching room, where they communicated face to face.

For Hawke, this suspension is like a human sitting in an ergonomic chair that is most suitable for them.

Luo Di, who was accepting the "suspended body" for the first time, gritted his teeth and endured it without showing any pain. Hawke gave him a thumbs up and admired the young human more and more.

He even harbored selfish desires and wanted to do something to this young man.

Even if the rules of hell forbid him from doing so.

"What is a spine? I know absolutely nothing about these terms."

Although Luo Di became a "Connector", he knew nothing about the True Hell or his own identity. The term "Spineman" was coined by this Mr. Hook.

"It's normal not to know. After all, even I've never seen an 'Apostle' as remote as you before."

"What is an apostle?" Before the previous answer could be found, a new question was posed.

"The inhabitants of the non- True Hell, beings from outside the realm who have no connection with the True Hell, came into contact with this place due to some opportunity and gained the recognition of the True Hell."

It was given 'something' by some force in hell.

What you have obtained is called the [Hell Spine], originating from one of the most powerful forces in the True Hell. Any creature that has undergone a "spine transplant" there and survives will be called a "Spinebearer."

"The most powerful force?"

"That's right, Hell Faction composed of a bunch of guys who feed on killing and live off war. I don't need to say more about that; you'll come into contact with it gradually as you grow up."

"You belong to another faction, right?"

"Isn't that obvious? Otherwise, I would have started modifying you long ago. It's a pity that although you are very talented in suffering, your desire for killing is even stronger."

Luo Di couldn't wait to throw out the next question, "If I want to continue to grow and become stronger, what should I do?"

"Just like those guys, all they think about are these kinds of things."

To be honest, this is something you need to figure out on your own. But since you're willing to accept the pain, I'll talk to you about it.

After all, I've tortured some spineless guys before, so I know them a little bit about them.

As I just said, your hellish traits are related to those bloodthirsty guys; you need a lot of killing to make your spine grow fast.

It's just like plant cultivation.

You need to provide it with enough nutrients through killing so that it can grow.

There are differences between killings. The more difficult the killing, the more profound the killing, and the more it touches the depths of the soul, the higher the quality of the nourishment, and the more the spine will like it.

In short, focus on achieving your goal in the first stage.

"What first phase?"

"Your spine is the most primitive and basic form, and it needs to be continuously fed with killing. When it reaches saturation, you can try to perform 'spinal opening'."

Only then will you be a true Spine Breaker, and you will be able to establish a deeper connection with the True Hell, and those forces will also make contact with you.

certainly,

To "open up the spine," it's not just about feeding the spine.

You also need a strong enough body to support it, and you need to have the extreme idea of 'falling into hell'.

Your physique is still far from perfect, but you can train with me for the next few days.

After all, you have a talent for enduring pain. As long as you can withstand it, the baptism of pain will greatly increase your "physical endurance," thereby increasing the likelihood of you having spinal surgery.

I look forward to you reaching the first stage soon.

However, never maintain spinal extension for an extended period. After all, you are still a very weak human body, and you might cause your physical body to collapse and lose your human form.

Hawke's words completely aroused Luo Di's curiosity and desire, even making him forget the pain of being suspended, and his eyes widened in disbelief.

What does a spinal surgery look like?

"There is no specific standard. The Hell Spine will evolve into a corresponding form according to the individual's thinking, and there are differences in the spinal opening of each spinal person."

And it's not just the difference in appearance.

The quality of the spine itself will also be revealed at the moment of spinal surgery.

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

I personally feel you have the potential to produce a high-quality spinal shape; after all, an apostle who can taste pain is unlikely to be bad. Come back and let me have a good look at you then."

[The Non-Existent Nursing Home - The Maternal Nest]

Luo Di didn't feed the spine much. Since obtaining the Hell Spine, he only carried out a few killings, including the class monitor, the ghost bride, and insignificant old people in the nursing home.

The spine does not appear to be saturated, nor does it express a state of saturation.

However, Luo Di's own condition was very strange.

His mind was developing a strong desire to "fall into hell," and he was determined to kill the Pseudo-Human in front of him at all costs.

He watched helplessly as what he cherished most was plundered and devoured.

Such intense emotional fluctuations would likely have triggered the "Mind Corner" of an ordinary person's mind, but as the connector, Luo Di had only one thought:

He will fall into hell and slay evil spirits.

This emotion, transmitted through symbols, reached the depths of True Hell and quickly received a response.

Luo Di's back was severely bulging, and flesh and blood had been torn from his entire spine, staining the Investigator uniform dark red with blood.

The so-called "spinal opening" is happening...

Different people have different spinal types.

Luo Di's exposed spine was also undergoing its first change, its specific shape to be constructed according to the nature of his thoughts.

Because of his current focus on killing enemies, he could only retrieve images related to killing from the depths of his mind.

A scene from long ago, one filled with both slaughter and a class monitor, became exceptionally clear at this moment. That scene corresponded to the first simulation exercise, the first confrontation with inhuman beings.

You can even hear a faint mechanical hum in this image.

Whoosh!

The Investigator uniform, made of a special material, ripped completely off the center back.

It was not tearing or cutting.

It was sawed open!

A spine, emitting thick white smoke and rotating like a chainsaw, appears, with serrated bone structures growing on its surface.

"Spine-type live chainsaw"

I don't know if it's rare or unusual.

I'm not sure if it falls into the category of high quality.

But for Luo Di now, he felt as if his body had been ignited by an engine, with a continuous stream of Hell Strength filling his entire body.

He could even hear voices from hell in his mind, voices about war and slaughter.

Isabella naturally noticed Luo Di's change as well.

From her perspective, since the aging drug had been injected and was taking effect, the opponent's actions would inevitably be severely hampered, and the outcome was already decided.

The enormous Blood Hand controlling the mother body slammed down, intending to end it with a single blow.

However...

The expected sound of flesh and bone being smashed did not come.

Isabella, on the other hand, felt as if her wrist had been torn in half.

Whoosh!

The enormous Blood Hand was severed and fell heavily to the ground.

"Why did the injection of the aging drug not reduce his abilities, but instead make him even more terrifying? What's going on with that rotating spine?"

The Three Sisters, lying in different positions, were stunned by the scene before them.

Previously, Luo Di could only cut off some fingers at most, but now he cut off the entire palm.

Not only that, while the Three Sisters were still in shock from the broken Blood Hand, Luo Di had already arrived.

The butcher's knife was stuck in the wall.

Hands tearing at flesh,

A fast wall-climbing method has been implemented!

In the blink of an eye, they had arrived in front of one of the Three Sisters.

The latter was just about to use his nimble body to escape... smack!

The shinbone was gripped tightly! The force directly caused the internal bones to shatter.

He pulled it back and slashed down with the momentum!

One of the Three Sisters was killed.

When Isabella's conscious mind witnessed this scene, fear spread.

This is her old lair, with over five years of history and a clear home-field advantage, yet it was completely suppressed by an intruder.

"What kind of monster are you?"