| WRIAWW | Pull Him from Hell to Earth | 99
Zong Le couldn't possibly stand by and watch another person suffer in front of him.
Without a second thought, he took three quick strides forward and arrived before the scale.
The massive scale towered at a height of five to six meters, forcing anyone below to crane their necks at the enormous silver tray above. For any other survivor, even if they were lucky enough to enter the courtroom, they would only be daunted by this height, leaving them helpless.
But standing there was Zong Le, someone who didn’t even blink at such a trivial obstacle. With just a slight push of his toes, his body shot upward like an arrow, landing perfectly on the tray.
Facing the raging flames ahead, Zong Le didn’t hesitate. He reached straight into the fire.
He had braced himself for the searing pain, but as he neared the flames, he felt none of the expected scorching heat. Instead, his hand passed through the fire as if it were an illusion.
BOOM—
The moment he acted, a deafening roar erupted from the high ceiling of the courtroom. The crystal chandeliers swayed violently, casting fragmented shadows across the room.
The colossal figure that had been resting during the trial had awakened and upon spotting the unexpected intruder, it became furious.
"Who dares trespass in this courtroom?!"
The ethereal and magnificent voice exploded like thunder, splitting into dozens of different voices and accents.
Zong Le quickly withdrew his hand and squinted upward. At the apex of the courtroom, where light converged, a hazy silhouette gradually took shape.
But rather than a human figure, it felt more like the courtroom itself had come to life.
During his last visit to the Taikang Yongle gathering, Zong Le had broadened his horizons considerably. He knew some weirds enhanced their power by binding themselves to a place, becoming something akin to a earthbound weird that stay in their domain to maximize their strength.
Now, it seemed the entire Central Court was the Judge’s manifested domain. No wonder everything had felt so surreal, and so out of place with the rest of Guiyi City.
"My apologies. I didn’t mean to interrupt the trial, I just came here to save someone."
Zong Le had a favorable impression of the Judge, who was widely recognized in Guiyi City for her fairness and impartiality, so he was particularly polite in his words.
But the Chief Judge remained unmoved. "No outsiders are allowed to enter during the trial. How did you enter?"
"Uh...I walked in? Through the side door?"
Wait, what did it matter whether he used the main entrance or a side door?
The Chief Judge was momentarily baffled, but her professionalism quickly overrode the confusion. Her voice remained calm.
"You are a resident of Guiyi City. This is a trial concerning outsiders."
The implication was clear, this case had nothing to do with Zong Le.
"No, he’s my companion, and I’m half an outsider myself. Of course it concerns me."
Originally, Zong Le had planned to simply take the man and leave, but now that the Judge had appeared, he had to show some respect.
So the black-haired young man politely asked, "Now that we’ve cleared that up, can I take him away?"
"No. Once a trial begins, it cannot be stopped."
"But you must be guilty to be tried by the Central Court, right?"
Zong Le asked in confusion: "Your court opened this trial just to judge whether outsiders will cause harm to Guiyi City, instead of judging them of their sins. If it were solely about judging sins, the criteria would be too vague. If you were to apply this standard even among locals, you wouldn't find a single truly flawless saint."
"Most importantly, the definition of guilt is overly vague. If someone harbors wicked thoughts but has never acted on them, are they guilty or innocent? If someone dreams of world peace yet commits atrocities, are they good or evil? Moreover, sins come in many forms. Crimes and moral flaws alike can be written into the laws of Guiyi City's, each accompanied by a firm verdict."
Seeing the Chief Justice fall silent, Zong Le couldn't help but cock his tail proudly.
Although this argument was completely copied and pasted from what Joshua said last time, he was just a simple logic porter, but he was secretly happy when he saw that it was effective after he said it now.
In the past, Zong Le could never have racked his brains to come up with such a response. Who knew the day would come when his words alone could logically corner someone?
Being sharp-minded really was exhilarating!
Unlike him, who always had to rely on brute force rather than persuasion.
"Your reasoning is indeed forward-thinking, but regardless, the trial cannot be stopped once begun."
The Chief Justice remained unmoved: "The Central Court will enforce the strictest judicial procedures against any outsiders that could potentially threaten Guiyi City."
"Many laws aren't written in texts, but the Holy Flame delivers the clearest verdict. People can disguise themselves with words, but the truth-revealing trial isn't governed by me, it's the Holy Flame's will that decides everything. Your companion likely belongs to the 'sinless' type you described, otherwise the Flame would've consumed him entirely upon contact."
Hearing this, Zong Le was relieved Joshua hadn't lied this time, or he'd be the one suffering.
"However, this does not mean that he is innocent, I've never seen Holy Flame burn this long without dissipating, this shows his inner darkness is exceptionally profound."
The Chief Justice's flat tone exposed Joshua's true colors : "Such a person is definitely a threat to Guiyi City. After all, there is no guarantee that he is completely harmless, or won't endanger citizens eventually."
"Having ascended the steps proves your resolute character. Risking everything for your companion shows your loyalty. But the law knows no mercy, nor does it permit mid-trial halts. His judgment is nearly concluded, You might as well sit in the audience and await the verdict."
"I can't do that!" Zong Le was anxious.
Joshua's current state looked bad. Based on Joshua's own admissions and Zong Le's observations, the man's inner darkness was anything but simple. If this continued, death by burning wasn't impossible.
Suddenly, Zong Le had an idea.
"The trial rules don't prohibit mid-procedure substitutions, right? How about this, let him go and I'll take his place instead?"
The other survivors had lost their abilities under the Central Court's weird domain, but he hadn't.
Since his abilities hadn't been stripped away, Zong Le figured the Holy Flame's intensity would probably have limited effect on him.
For a moment, the courtroom fell into silence.
This was different from ordinary trials, she was dealing with outsiders this time, and those who passed the steps did have the right to step onto the scales.
Zong Le couldn't wait for the Chief Justice's CPU to reboot. Interpreting the silence as tacit approval, he strode forward without another word.
By the time the Chief Justice processed his logic and looked down, the black-haired youth had already walked into the Holy Flame burning on the platform.
"...Wait!"
The Chief Justice's voice cut off mid-sentence, even dropping the usual voice modulation used to project authority. Perhaps after finally getting a clear view of the black-haired youth standing calmly on the scale with his hands still in the flames, the words died in her throat.
"...How is this possible? The Holy Flame has no effect on you?!"
"Huh?" Startled by the sudden outburst, Zong Le looked genuinely confused. "I don't know."
"Didn't you read the inscription on the courthouse archway?"
Perhaps because this intruder held too many mysteries, the Chief Justice softened its tone: "Under the Holy Flame, all things reveal their true form. It won't burn the innocent, but sinners will fall into its inferno, experiencing the ultimate agony of being burned by flames."
"Oh... So what is written on the archway true? I thought it was just a warning."
Zong Le nodded. "Then I guess I must be a good person, since it's not burning me."
For the first time in history, the Chief Justice was speechless.
Because she knew, this went far beyond just being "good."
The entire central courtroom was a manifestation of the Chief Justice's domain. Her gaze permeated every corner, observing all events from every conceivable angle.
Yet no matter how she looked, this black-haired youth had indeed passed unscathed through the Holy Flame's barrier to stand at the judgment platform's center. The flames that normally "purged all sin" now encircled him as docilely as sheep.
"This is impossible..." she murmured.
No one understood the Holy Flame's power better than the Chief Justice.
She had witnessed countless sinners screaming in agony within those flames, their bodies marked with charred wounds, yet they wouldn't die until their debts were paid. This was precisely how it had determined that Joshua is sinful, for the Flame's torment always corresponded to the weight of one's sins.
Only someone truly flawless, without the slightest blemish or inner darkness, could be accepted by the Holy Flame.
Could such a person really exist in Guiyi City?
As shock reverberated through the Chief Justice, sudden enlightenment struck.
She remembered something from the distant past.
......
Eight hours earlier.
Joshua had entered the courtroom with measured steps, his silver-white robes flowing like water behind him.
The heavy black doors boomed shut at his back, a sound like a judge's final gavel, severing all ties to the outside world.
Upon entering the central courtroom, his smile faded. He showed no fear, he instead surveyed his surroundings.
One glance was all it took for Joshua to understand the situation.
'So it's truly the materialization of a weird domain... This question mark-level weird is even more troublesome than I imagined.'
Even after reassessing the danger level internally, the silver-haired Patriarch expression remained unreadable.
He stepped forward, finally stopping before the silver scales.
"Outsider, please listen to the rules before the trial begins."
"Trial Rule One: Once it begins, it will not stop unless the Holy Flame extinguishes itself. "
"Trial Rule Two: The Holy Flame shall purify sins, including the body and mind, and will not extinguish until purification is complete. "
"Trial Rule Three: The Holy Flame will automatically deliver judgment, with verdicts ranging in severity from a painful warning, limb incineration, mobility deprivation, to completely burning into ashes."
"If you are determined and stand on the scale, you can start the trial. If you are timid, it is not too late to leave now. The Central Court will not pursue charges against outsiders without a proper trail."
After waiting, Joshua observed no forced trial procedures from the courtroom.
It seemed the Central Court truly lived up to its reputation and written principles—absolutely fair, absolutely just.
This was expected. After all, he had some impression of its chief justice.
Such unwavering commitment to ideals was indeed admirable.
"No need." Joshua shook his head with serene indifference. "Let the trial begin."
As he spoke, a large clock slowly emerged in the center of the courtroom.
Its black second hand ticked methodically, the majestic countdown concluding as it finally reached zero.
"The trial begins now. Please step onto the scale."
The massive silver platform descended gradually, settling level with the ground.
Joshua brushed nonexistent dust from his sleeves and stepped gracefully onto the platform's center.
The moment his feet touched down, countless runes surfaced across the scales, coiling around him like chains and immobilizing him completely.
"The trial begins."
A chorus of countless voices spoke in unison, their harmonies instantly filling the entire courtroom.
At the same time, countless fiery red buds suddenly bloomed in the void at the edge of the scale tray. These flames bloomed one after another, and the stamens of each flame were pure gold, and the petals were red. They spread and grew at a speed visible to the naked eye, and in the blink of an eye, the entire tray turned into a sea of fire.
Joshua lowered his eyes and watched the holy flame gradually envelop him. The heat waves generated blew up his silver hair, and he felt the surrounding temperature rise beyond human endurance.
In fact, this wasn't his first time that he knew that he walking toward certain death.
It was just that it took too long, and it slightly evoked some not-so-wonderful memories.
Under the higher ups orders, securing the Temple dungeon had been the absolute priority upon entering the Infinite Space.
At that time, most of the survivors were still novices, conquering an S-level dungeon was no simple feat. That battle exacted a bloody price. Even by the developmental standards of the Infinite Space's decades-long history, this was unmistakably the most brutal dungeon.
As agreed, Joshua succeeded the position of Patriarch, and the Temple made up for the resurrection ability that he did not have, which belonged to the true saint.
Because he was the last to join the Infinite Space and hadn't yet established his persona, it was hard to convince the survivors.
Additionally, the Eros Code required an extremely long preparatory phase, so for a period afterward, Joshua had to use his resurrection ability as a substitute for immortality.
Specifically, whenever he took on a mission, he served as the advance death squad, such as entering a weird domain and taking risks to find the key to the rules...
Only through these countless acts did he finally etch the image of "compassionate saint" and "selfless benefactor" deeply into every survivor's heart.
Yet few cared, although his soul lamp was bound in the chapel, it didn't mean Joshua felt no pain.
On the contrary, each "death" brought agony that carved itself into his bones.
The excruciating pain of every blood vessel bursting when thousands of arrows pierce his heart, the warmth of the internal organs flowing all over the ground after being cut off, and his vision spinning as his head was decapitated... These memories were like a thorn in his flesh.
After a couple of nights in the Infinite Space, he often had muscle spasms and woke up from his sleep for no reason.
Although he can be resurrected, every death is real.
Ordinary deaths meant experiencing unbearable pain before eternal darkness, but Joshua's "immortality" erased that release, turning this divine gift into something akin to a curse.
Especially when his heart contained a bomb that can blow up at any time.
Should he fail to save the world, the device would break into thousands of shards, and be stuck permanently in his heart, circulating through his bloodstream. With the blessing of immortality, it can definitely be written into a horror movie, enough to make anyone shudder.
Apart from that, the words of the survivors seem insignificant.
A typical example is that in the early years when he had not yet established his prestige, there were often comments in the forum asking him to take the lead.
[Just send Joshua first!]
[Exactly, he can't die anyway]
[How annoying, so many survivors are eager to inherit the temple, why did this privileged guy get it?]
[I am so annoyed by this unfair behavior, we conquered the Temple with every drop of blood and sweat. After so many deaths, we should get the most benefits in this battle, yet someone else reaps the rewards.]
However, although the survivors were hardened by the infinite space, they were obviously not driven to the point of extinction by extreme pressure.
At least if it were Joshua, knowing that the other person had the ability to be immortal, he would have planned to control him and use him as a non-consumable item.
As his thoughts wandered, the flames finally engulfed him.
Then came overwhelming agony.
"Hiss..."
Even Joshua had to press his lips tightly to maintain composure.
In that instant, his soul felt like it was thrown into a meat grinder.
Joshua realized almost immediately that this was not physical pain, but a tearing sensation that directly affected the soul. All his previous deaths seemed trivial by comparison.
Each flame on the scale writhed like living serpents, gnawing at his soul's core to purge his so-called "sin."
Unfortunately, fake saints like him was originally a product of a malicious artificial experiment, which naturally gave the Holy Flame an opportunity to add fuel. As a result, the flames burned more and more fiercely, carrying him up into the air.
Soon, Joshua had no time for contemplation.
When experiencing extreme pain, the human body activates defense mechanisms, forcing one into shock.
Regrettably, those undergoing judgment are denied even this mercy.
Despite the agony reaching unbearable levels, Joshua remained fully conscious.
Yet, even if this overwhelming pain doesn't snap one's sanity, it blocks most sensory functions. The roar of flames consuming ample fuel was enough to drown out all sound, filling his eardrums completely.
Admittedly, even for him, this was the first time to experience such pain.
So much so that after surviving the initial difficult adaptation period, he somehow regained enough clarity amidst the holy flame's torment to entertain vague thoughts.
‘What a big loss, I didn't expect that it would not give me a quick death, but also target my soul directly.’
‘Had I known it’d be like this, I would have prepared more thoroughly, and trick Zong Le into coming. That guy would’ve perfectly met the holy flame’s criteria. Truly, I still suffered from insufficient information. '
‘I wonder how this pain compares to when the bomb in my heart explodes?’
‘If breaking their imposed restraints means suffering this endlessly… it doesn’t seem so bad. Imagining the despair on their faces when their last lifeline crumbles, what a delight that would be.’
‘So, let it all burn. Let everyone taste my despair, and my pain.’
How long.
Time stretched unbearably long in his torment before erupting into overwhelming destructive desire.
It was so long that Joshua thought it would last forever.
Yet even as pain consumed him, one hand remained pressed against his pulse, using his body’s condition to roughly gauge the passage of time.
'The flame is getting more and more intense, and it will probably end soon.'
The moment this thought flickered through his mind, Joshua suddenly felt a faint tug at his robe.
“?”
The silver-haired man frowned slightly amid the inferno.
At first, the movement was barely noticeable, or perhaps it seemed insignificant against the holy flame’s raging torment.
But then, an undeniable force abruptly seized his wrist.
It was a real warmth of thirty-six degrees Celsius. So utterly out of place in this scorching hell, it yanked him back from the abyss.
Joshua suddenly opened his eyes.
Sweat had long drenched his silver bangs. The monocle over his eye had slipped, dangling helplessly from a lone silver chain against his chest, like the last string holding on between the kite and the earth.
Although dehydration from the flames left his blue eyes dry, their sharp intensity remained.
It looked straight at the lamb who dared to break into the altar of the Saint's self-sacrifice.
Yet the intruder remained oblivious, still basking in smug triumph.
“Last time, you asked me: ‘The ones you saved is already dead, how do you know if they care?’”
"Back then it wasn't that I couldn't argue with you, I just couldn't think of the right words to refute you. Now I finally have my chance! See? When you're in danger yourself, you'll care! People who haven't experienced it simply wouldn't understand!"
'If I ever witnessed suffering with my own eyes, I would definitely lend a helping hand.'
The indistinct chattering in my ears gradually overlapped with his bold declarations from his memory.
'Even if it's me?'
"Yeah, even if it's you."
What an idiot.
Joshua gazed at the distorted figure before him, warped by the intense heat. Above the young man's head floated two sets of numbers.
Apart from the lonely"1," the other number was surging wildly like a runaway stallion. An unprecedented weariness suddenly washed over him.
—Even the fire of the Holy Flame had never left him feeling so powerless.
So much so that the silver-haired patriarch had no choice but to close his eyes once more.
He only heard the sound of his heart collapsing under the huge irresistible force and realized that fate really existed.
He was smart for all his life, but he failed here.
TL: Aka, ML is developing real feelings here lol, just in case that wasn't clear.
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