Chapter 13

The Burning Hell workshop.

The entrance was between buildings 4 and 5. The stairs were locked with an iron gate. An operation officer and a prison guard opened the door with a key.

Clang!

The door swung open and the operation officer and prison guard standing beside it gave them a pitying look.

"Poor bastards, they get caught when they're full of toad venom."

"Senior Hop, did you do something wrong to deserve this kind of punishment?

Vergo groaned.

"No, but we're busy, and toad nerves are on high alert. We're trying to survive, too."

"Haaa…."

"If it sucks, it sucks. Think of it as stepping in shit. We'll just have to suffer through today."

The operation officer and the guard turned to Redin.

"Newbie, move on."

"yes."

"Good luck with that, then."

Vergo shook his head and led the way, and he followed. It wasn't dark, but there were luminescent stones everywhere.

They descended a long flight of stairs.

They began to hear pounding, grinding, and popping sounds, and then Redin saw the operation officers and the guards waiting for the two of them.

"Come quickly."

"yes."

When he arrived at the first basement floor, a huge space appeared.

On the left are unprocessed magic stones.

In the center was a workbench for processing gems.

To the right, the processed gems were stacked in storage, forming a tower.

"Follow me. Because you guys will be working in District 4."

Redin walked across the workroom, following the operation officer and the workshop manager.

Zone 1 at the entrance is the lowest-grade gemstone.

Zone 2 is for low grade gems.

Zone 3 is processing Mid Grade gems.

Zone 4 is processing High Grade Gems.

Prisoners were also segregated by district. The same organizations were tied together, and of course, the majority of Magnes members were members of District 4.

Shoulders, faces, chests, legs.

In the center of the room, a group of men with owls etched on their faces were churning out glowing gems.

"You're not going to be able to work on the gems right away, so do some chores to help speed things up."

Moving unprocessed gems, stocking up on supplies for processing, and stacking processed gems.

The workshop guard taught him a few things.

"There is a lot of work to be finished within today, so move diligently and– Drow!"

At the call of the workshop guard, a short hunchbacked man approached.

"Yes. Sir."

"Take the boys here and give them a chore."

"I see."

Drow smiled a rotten smile and gestured for them to follow him.

They moved to follow him.

Suddenly, the work in Area 4 stopped. The prisoners at work turned to look at me and Vergo.

Those with a murderous intent.

Those who smirk with mocking glee.

Each of them greeted us in their own way.

*bang! bang! bang!*

It was only when the operation and the prison guard signaled for them to get back to work that their focused gazes dispersed.

"You can come over here."

Where they traveled along the path was a pile of unprocessed gems. Before them were several carts.

"All you have to do is grab one of the carts and fill it with gems. When you're done, you can trade them for an empty cart, so it shouldn't be too hard."

"You'll have to be careful with it, it might explode if you throw it too hard, huff."

Vergo let out a small sigh as he watched Drow disappear with a sneer.

"Let's just get this over with.", Vergo voiced out listlessly.

"Yes", answered Redin

They each grabbed a cart and started pushing it along.

Redin grabbed a fistful of gems and slowly placed them in the cart. As he moved his hands, He kept his eyes on the workshop.

Several workbenches.

One of them is deeply carved. He blinked, activating the Eye of Arrakis.

Red and blue flashed in his vision.

Red light flowed from the processed gemstones, engulfing the workshop, and a blue path formed from the path they had just taken.

He swallowed hard.

He knew that in Zone 4, they would process gems into bombs. In the game's story, it was described as using gem bombs to escape Burning Hell.

But,

The amount of gem bombs produced was more than he expected. Redin wonders if he need to make more of them.

"Hey, you're not a slug. Don't you see we're out of gems here and can't do any work?"

"Tsk tsk. Dang. A slug to the great warden."

As they laughed and mocked him, Vergo drove the cart to where the prisoner was.

The prisoner giggled and stuck his face in Vergo's direction.

"Wow. This gem must be strong because you brought it to me. Thank you."

"…"

"Why are you giving me that look?"

"…"

"Are you pissed?"

"No…."

Vergo turned around with the empty cart, and the prisoner snapped at the back of his head.

"Idiot."

Vergo's expression was rotten as he staggered over. As a prison guard, being insulted by prisoners and not being able to do anything about it.

Vergo's eyes were suddenly furrowed.

Pride or qualification as a prison guard. None of this matters, but there's only one thing that pisses him off.

That trash is proud.

Memories of the past flashed through Redin's mind, and emotions threatened to overwhelm him. He breathed out calmly as his cold heart kicked in.

Huuuu….

Redin organized his thoughts.

Why did he and Vergo have to come here?

The natural link was the operations of the Magnes organization.

'Death to those who touch the organization.'

The toad had sacrificed us to appease the Magnus crew.

When Redin shifted his gaze, there were things he could make out.

The prisoners at the workbench were working furiously, and the prisoners doing odd jobs around them were relaxing.

It was a strange atmosphere.

Redin doesn't know exactly when they're going to detonate the bomb and get away with it, but He's pretty sure it's going to kill him and Vergo.

Because that's the only way Magnes' people get revenge.

"Senior."

"Huh?"

"If you look on the workbench, you'll see a vial of red liquid."

An ingredient used to make gemstone bombs.

"When I give you the signal, take it and go find Instructor Rohan.", Redin instructed softly.

"Instructor Rohan?, whispered back by Vergo with a questioning gaze.

"Yes."

Rohan's former subordinate from his time on active duty, now the leader of the Specialized 7th Division of the Burning Hells.

Daylon would be there.

"What do you mean?" Vergo asked for clarification.

"You must succeed at all costs. If you fail, a lot of people will die.", Redin replied back instead of answering the question to show the seriousness of their current situation.

"Hey… hey...."

He led the cart of gems to the workbench in the center of the room.

One workbench in the center.

A green light was emanating from underneath it. When Redin got close, He deliberately twisted the cart slightly.

*Thud, thud, thud!*

Some Magic gems were spilled.

He bent low, pretending to pick up a gemstone, and reached for the green inscription.

[You have earned Harungel's Heart 3].

[You realized some of Harungel's insights].

[Harungel's mana breathing technique is imprinted in your mind].

With the breathing method engraved in his head, He squeezed the magic stone in his hand.

*Whoosh!*

The mana resonated with your breath. The mana from the gem flowed into your body, creating a path.

Arms, then chest.

From the chest through the belly to the legs.

Spinning it around, the mana gathered at the base of his stomach, forming a small bead.

Mana Hole 1-star.

A stage that, on average, trainees who prepare to become a Knight take a year to reach.

He did it in one fell swoop.

"Hehehe, He's completely frozen."

"You've been getting beat up by an asshole like that? The guy who beat you up is a clutch."

Redin grabbed the other gems on the floor. Mana flowed to his hand, and began coursing through his body.

Normally, this would be insane.

Despite the fact that Harungel's knowledge says this is not recommended, there are always exceptions.

The profound realization of swordsmanship.

Redin's special powers.

The combination of this gave Redin complete control over the mana inside of him and enabled Redin to move it at will.

A steady stream of mana.

The mana hole that started out as small as a grain of sand grew and grew until it was as big as his fist.

Mana Hole 3 stars.

The ability to handle a Sword Aura.

Redin's lips curled upward at the feeling of accomplishment of making a mana hole, the realization that this was the beginning, not the end, and the fullness of power he felt in his body.

"Cackle. That's hilarious. You got beaten up like that by a guy who can't even control a wheelbarrow, that's bullshit."

Redin lifted his head and stood up.

The prisoner sitting on the workbench was giggling with his goggles on.

"Well, there's no such thing as normal, even for the bastards in our organization."

"I don't know if this is a prison or a cattle market, the criminal bastards are giggling about something good."

"Wha?"

There were those in the community.

The ones who heard it all and pretended they didn't.

If you stand still.

That's how they weed out fights.

"You fucker, what were you talking about!"

Seeing the prisoner about to get up, he stretched out his feet. Redin put strength on the soles of his feet and pushed hard against the workbench.

*Boom!*

The prisoner fell backwards with his chair.

"Bam!"

The moment the whistle sounded, all the nearby prisoners stood up and looked in his direction.

Each held something in their hands.

Out of the corner of his eye, he sees the operations officer in charge of Area 4, but his back is turned.

They're all in this together.

Walking slowly backward, Redin stood on the side of the processed gemstone, and the fallen prisoner stood before the others, pointing at him.

"I'm going to kill this motherfucker."

"You have the nerve to say you're going to kill a guard in prison?"

"Shut up!"

He yells, charging at Redin.

Eyes focused on his opponent's movements, Redin lowered his stance and curled his fists.

Mana raised.

hook!

The prisoner made a fist. A visible trajectory. A hand reached out and grabbed the fist. His right fist filled with mana.

He stretched it out with all his might.

*peoeog!*

The prisoner's sternum collapsed at once, and his mouth dropped open. He stumbled backward a few steps, dragging his feet, then collapsed of his own accord.

*Bam!*

At that moment, there was silence.

The prisoners never thought that it was possible for Redin to make such a move.

Caught off guard.

This makes it easy to dispatch one, but the number of enemies is ridiculous. Redin's sure there are some of them who can unlock their mana pools.

On top of that, they would have resolved the anti-killing brainwashing that all prisoners receive.

There is only one way to survive.

To make a mess of this place and force them to jailbreak out of Burning Hell.

Now is the time.

He grabbed a processed magic stone behind him and let the mana flow. A buzzing magic stone. He tossed it toward the prisoners, gesturing to Vergo with his eyes.

now.

Kaaaahhhh!

The ceiling of the basement level cracked, stone dust rained down, and prisoners caught in the blast fell to the ground, bleeding.

"Quaaaaagh!"

"He-… help me!"

"Shit!"

"Abandon the wounded. We don't have time for that! Those who are still alive, grab your gems and move into position!"

Limited vision.

Grabbing a worn sword from the floor, he stepped toward his enemies.