Impel Down: Hell of Red Lotus

Chapter 12: Impel Down—Hell of Red Lotus

The ground was thick with needle grass, and even the lightest touch sent a stinging pain shooting up from his soles.

With every step Pirate World Fang Yu took, it felt like treading on a bed of sharp spikes. The needle grass easily pierced through the soles of his feet, driving deep into his arches, and the piercing agony instantly covered his forehead in cold sweat.

Even wrapping his feet in cloth did little to ease the discomfort.

Towering sword trees rose around him, their trunks covered in dense, razor-sharp thorns, forming a natural wall of blades.

The branches and leaves of the sword trees intertwined, casting eerie shadows in the dim light, like clawing demons reaching out from the darkness.

The Sharingan in Fang Yu's eyes spun rapidly as he scanned his surroundings with vigilance.

Here, even a single misstep could send him to the afterlife.

Every step had to be cautious, calculated, and deliberate.

Suddenly, a rustling sound came from all directions—the noise of Poison Spiders crawling!

Pirate World Fang Yu's heart tightened. He clenched his fists, lowered his stance slightly, and readied himself for battle!

Poison Spiders emerged from the shadows of the sword trees and the gaps in the needle grass, their bodies as large as calves moving with startling speed!

In the blink of an eye, they had surrounded Fang Yu!

One Poison Spider lunged suddenly, leaping straight at him!

Fang Yu dodged in a flash, narrowly avoiding the attack, but the spider's sharp Poison Fangs still tore through his pant leg!

He could clearly feel the venom on the fangs, carrying a pungent odor. Even a graze sent a burning pain spreading across his skin.

Fang Yu dared not be careless. His hands moved swiftly through Hand Seals!

"Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique!"

A massive ball of flame erupted from his mouth, sweeping toward the encircling Poison Spiders!

The fire collided with the spiders, producing a series of crackling and popping sounds!

The Poison Spiders shrieked sharply as the flames consumed them. Some writhed in the fire for a few moments before turning to ash.

But more of the spiders seemed unafraid of the flames. They skirted around the fire and continued charging at Fang Yu.

Fang Yu dodged the spiders' attacks while struggling forward toward the direction of Beast Hell.

His feet left bloody footprints on the needle grass. With every step, he endured the dual torment of the grass and his wounds.

The Poison Spiders gave no quarter, pursuing him relentlessly. They leaped and crawled swiftly between the sword trees, like messengers of death, refusing him even a moment to catch his breath.

While evading a swarm of spiders, Fang Yu accidentally collided with a sword tree.

The thorns on the tree instantly pierced his back, and a wave of Severe Pain nearly made him black out.

He gritted his teeth, enduring the agony as he pulled himself free from the tree.

By now, his back was drenched in blood, which streamed down and dripped onto the needle grass.

The Poison Spiders seemed to catch the scent of blood and grew even more frenzied. They accelerated their attacks, and Fang Yu began to falter under their relentless assault.

But the will to escape burned within him, driving him to keep struggling in this hopeless situation.

He spotted an opening and charged toward a weak point in the spiders' encirclement.

The spiders reacted quickly, swarming toward him.

Gritting his teeth, he snapped off a branch from a sword tree and used the blade-like branch to engage the spiders in close combat!

The tree sword traced arcs of cold light in his hands. Every swing struck a Poison Spider, but their hard shells greatly diminished the branch's effectiveness.

In the fierce battle, Fang Yu gained several more wounds.

Venom seeped into his body through the cuts. He felt his strength draining away, and his vision began to blur.

Yet he still refused to give up. A flame of defiance burned in his eyes.

Just as he was about to be overwhelmed by the Poison Spiders, a surge of immense power erupted from deep within him!

First Order Genetic Lock!

Open!

"This feeling..."

Pirate World Fang Yu sensed the change in his body, and light suddenly returned to his eyes!

He could feel that the Chakra within him had nearly doubled in volume!

Though it might involve overdrawing his Chakra and body, he had no other choice.

He cast the Great Fireball Technique once more!

This time, the fireball's power was immense, blasting a gaping hole straight through the swarm of Poison Spiders!

Fang Yu seized the chance and dashed through the opening, running forward with all his might as the spiders chased close behind!

His steps grew heavier and heavier, each one demanding every ounce of strength he had.

But his eyes remained fixed ahead—toward the direction of Beast Hell.

In this Hell of Red Lotus, he was like a lone boat struggling for survival amidst a raging storm, and the Beast Hell was now his only glimmer of hope.

After who knows how long, Fang Yu finally spotted the passage leading to the Beast Hell in the distance.

It was a massive stone gate, its surroundings carved with ferocious beast patterns, as if warning everyone who approached.

A flash of determination crossed Fang Yu's eyes as he dashed toward the stone gate, the swarm of Poison Spiders still hot on his heels.

Only by passing through this gate could he find a sliver of a chance to live.

Just then.

"Yo-ho-ho, not bad, not bad—there's actually a guy trying to go from the Hell of Red Lotus to the Beast Hell."

"If I arrest a prisoner like this, could it get me promoted to Warden?"

"Crap! I said that out loud!"

Pirate World Fang Yu's heart skipped a beat as he saw the demon jailer over three meters tall, wielding a demonic pitchfork, standing before him!

"Damn it! Why is this guy guarding this passage?!"

This man was a formidable fighter of Impel Down, and also the highest authority of Impel Down after Poison Man Magellan's demotion—Hannyabal!

This guy's strength far exceeded that of an ordinary Special Jonin.

He was simply not someone Pirate World Fang Yu could handle at his current level.

Without a second thought, he turned to flee!

"Trying to run?! No way! You're my stepping stone to the Warden's seat!"

"Whoosh!"

A gleaming blade blocked Pirate World Fang Yu's path!

"So fast!" Pirate World Fang Yu's gaze sharpened. "Since there's no retreat."

He glanced back at the gate, then clasped his hands together.

"Don't move! Or this blade will come down!" Jailer Hannyabal issued his final warning.

"Go ahead and strike if you've got the guts!" Pirate World Fang Yu kept his hands clasped, running toward the Beast Hell.

"I said don't move!"

"Whoosh!" The blade, carrying a gust of wind, swept past Pirate World Fang Yu's neck. Hannyabal wasn't bluffing—when he said he'd act, he showed no mercy! The strike aimed straight for the vital point!

"Courting death." Hannyabal clearly felt the impact through the blade. He eased off the force, ready to capture his prey.

"Bang!"

A burst of White Smoke engulfed Hannyabal!

"Wh-what's going on?!"

He quickly fanned the smoke away and looked at the object pinned under his blade.

It was, it was—

"Half a log?"