THUD!

  Slayer landed heavily. Before the dust even settled, shrill screams pierced the air.

  The environment of this layer was extremely dark, the air thick with the metallic scent of blood. Countless torture racks were bound with ghosts, while a group of demons—upper body of a demon, lower body of a snake—were partying. These were the Whiplash (Long-Tongued Demons).

  Their forked tongues lashed out like whips. Every strike would coil around a ghost or stab directly into their mouths...

  "Help... my tongue..."

  Singularity landed closely behind, his stomach churning at the sight. "These beasts! The Tongue Ripping Hell is meant to punish liars, not for them to host a sadist party!"

  One of the Whiplash demons noticed the two intruders.

  Flicking its tongue, it slithered across the ground like a snake. Its speed was incredibly fast, even creating afterimages.

  Zzzzt—Snap!

  Its barbed tongue lashed out violently toward Slayer, attempting to wrap around his neck.

  "Careful! That's a throat-lock attack!" Singularity shouted. "If it grabs you, it'll drag you away!"

  Slayer stood perfectly still.

  Just as that disgusting long tongue was about to touch his helmet.

  Smack.

  Slayer raised his hand.

  Not to block, nor to dodge.

  He caught the tongue.

  The Whiplash demon froze. It pulled back with all its might, but the tongue felt like it was welded to an iron clamp—it wouldn't budge an inch.

  Slayer's helmet tilted slightly.

  [Achievement Progress: Head Strong (0/1).]

  He looked at this demon playing with tongues in front of him.

  You like to pull?

  Fine, I'll help you.

  Slayer's wrist suddenly exerted force.

  But he didn't pull the tongue out (that would be too easy on it).

  Gripping the tongue, he swung the entire Whiplash demon like a Meteor Hammer.

  Whoosh—Whoosh—!

  The Whiplash screamed as it flew through the air, its body becoming a weapon in Slayer's hand, smashing viciously into another demon trying to sneak attack.

  BANG!

  Two demons collided and exploded into a pile of meat paste.

  But he wasn't done.

  Slayer looked at the severed tongue remaining in his hand (still twitching). He threw it on the ground in disgust, then raised his foot.

  Splat. Stomped it flat.

  A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

  The surrounding Whiplash demons were enraged. Dozens of snake-like demons shrieked in unison, surrounding him from all directions. They moved in S-patterns on the ground, making them extremely difficult to aim at with guns.

  "Big Hero! They're too agile!" Singularity fired his taser wildly but missed everything. "Their movement is too slippery!"

  Slayer didn't panic.

  He holstered his gun.

  To deal with these loaches that liked to scurry around, the best way wasn't aiming.

  It was Freezing.

  He pressed the button on his left shoulder equipment launcher.

  Pfft—!

  An Ice Bomb exploded in the middle of the demon pack.

  Extreme cold instantly spread.

  The Whiplash demons, originally incredibly agile, had the slime on their bodies freeze instantly. Their movements slowed, their bodies stiffened, and finally, they were frozen into crystal-clear ice sculptures.

  Slayer walked over.

  He didn't use a gun, nor a knife.

  He simply, rhythmically... punched.

  Smash! Shattered.

  Smash! Shattered.

  Smash! Shattered.

  With every punch, an ice-sculpture demon was beaten into fragments. That crisp sound actually carried a sense of stress-relieving pleasure.

  [Glory Kill!]

  [Glory Kill!]

  The ground was littered with dropped blue health orbs.

  After clearing all the Whiplash demons, Slayer walked up to a ghost still being tortured.

  The ghost shivered in terror, thinking he was about to be executed by this even more terrifying demon lord.

  Slayer extended his hand.

  The ghost closed his eyes.

  Crack.

  Slayer tore apart the iron pincers locking the ghost's tongue with his bare hands.

  The ghost was stunned. He touched his intact tongue, but before he could even say thank you—

  Slayer had already turned and walked toward the entrance of the next layer.

  Singularity frantically picked up drops while recording on his tablet:

  [First Layer: Tongue Ripping Hell.]

  [Status: Cleared.]

  [Evaluation: The best way to treat these hyperactive demons is to cool them down.]

  [Achievement Unlocked: Cold-Blooded.]

  "Torture vs Execution."

  Demons torture for pleasure.

  Slayer kills for Termination.

  "Next chapter, Second Layer: Scissors Hell. Heard there are scissors everywhere? Singularity says: Perfect, I wanted to give my dog Wangcai a haircut."