He strode down the spiral stone stairs and slammed his iron fist, covered in flowing gold-and-red light, into the Seastone gate at the end of the passage.
Boom!
The ten-meter-tall armored gate shattered, and the savage wind from his punch hurled tens of thousands of pounds of broken metal into the spacious hall.
"Lord Lorne, this is the first level, Crimson Hell!"
Denjiro kept one hand on the two swords at his waist as he hurried alongside Lorne.
Beyond the gate stretched a blood-red forest with no end in sight, where countless razor-sharp swords stood point-first in the ground as trees.
The soil underfoot was carpeted entirely with densely packed, sharp needle grass, and a strong, pungent stench of blood drifted through the air.
"The leaves here are all forged from refined-steel swords."
Kuina gripped Wado Ichimonji's hilt as she studied the swaying sword trees on either side.
"Prisoners running through the forest get sliced into chunks of flesh. This entire Crimson Hell is one enormous meat grinder."
Ryan raised his firearm, sweeping its muzzle toward the clearing in the center of the forest.
"Captain, there's movement ahead."
Carrot pricked up her long rabbit ears and pointed toward the towering wooden crosses ahead.
"Ooh-hoo-hoo~ What exciting footsteps."
A coquettish laugh echoed through the sword forest.
Chief Jailer Sadi slowly emerged from the shadows in high heels, holding a crimson whip.
On several enormous sword trees behind her, four young Marines covered in blood hung in midair, their arms bound behind their backs with refined-steel chains.
Sharp sword tips pierced deep into their flesh, and blood dripped steadily down the trunks.
"Chief Jailer Sadi, these are the intruders who smashed the Gate of Justice!"
Hundreds of jailers carrying giant axes followed close behind her, aiming their weapons at the assault team