Hell's Paradise (地獄楽)

Hell's Paradise

A faint flower was blooming unnoticed by anyone

Not a burning red, but flickering serenely in red

I've been pausing for a long time dragging my past at my feet

If I break free from this ambivalence,

will I be able to bloom by its side?

The future is slipping away between my fingers

What mistake did I make to pay this price?

Always hurting myself

and hesitant even to a small joy

I want to stop now

The flower just bloomed in dignity

and that was all I needed to be happy

I just wanted to protect this one flower

Wishing to be strong, I

picked up the vulnerability I had once cast away

Can't break free from the ambivalence

In ambivalence, I become myself

Like rooting strongly into the soil

like swaying ephemerally to the wind

I'm slowly loosening myself to bloom

Hell's Paradise

Humans and Sages

The situation is complicated, but what we must do remains the same.

First, acquire the Elixir of Life.

Second, escape the island alive.

Let's begin by reviewing only the information we need.

We won't consider the mysteries of the island.

What's most important is how we'll escape the island.

So, how do we escape?

Mei-san knows.

Yes, yes. I see.

Horai is a massive citadel.

It's apparently modeled after the Epang Palace in China.

It was built to complete the Elixir and receive the first emperor.

In other words, entering or exiting the island itself isn't impossible.

However, there are monsters in the surrounding waters.

Their purpose is to ensure the island's creatures don't leave.

That's those big guys I saw.

Surely they're less dangerous than the Tensen.

Would humans on small boats stand a chance against monsters at sea?

Not even the greatest swordsman could kill or escape from them.

The assumption is that we won't be fighting the Tensen.

We'll quickly steal the Elixir while avoiding detection

and leave the island by boat.

Our goal is to escape the island.

There are boats and a sluice gate beneath Horai.

The monsters have been taught not to attack boats leaving from there.

A sluice gate...

That must be the presence I detected by the shore.

Do you know where the Elixir is?

Probably.

Rien and my research lab.

Either way,

we'll be passing through enemy territory.

We don't have much time, but we should prepare as much as we can.

So, Gabimaru and Yuzuriha...

Teach us your stealth techniques.

Who, me?

You mean my charms?

No, regarding tao.

We'll start with

dampening your tao during substitution.

Substitution

Why?

Those were Sen-chan's! Give them back!

Now, now, students.

A picture is worth a bunch of words, or something. Watch this.

See? It ends when you speak, though.

Dampening your tao is equivalent to dampening your existence.

It worked on the Tensen, so it's perfect for sneaking in.

Okay, everyone. Take deep breaths and focus.

Ow!

What was that for?

Your tao was agitated.

Keep your mind still, no matter what.

Tao works in a surprisingly physical way.

As in sumo wrestling or judo, forces can be deflected.

You can even turn an opponent's tao against them.

I even came up with a strategy that utilizes compatibilities.

The similarities between hua jin in martial arts and the rotation of tao

strongly suggest that any force can be neutralized.

He's rather logical, isn't he?

You mean he's just a nerd.

Start by dislocating your neck.

We can't do that!

Those who can't will be first to die.

That's how we trained in the village.

Okay, focus.

Don't react, no matter what's done to you.

Dislocate all the joints in your body.

Don't react, don't react.

Stop your heart without killing yourself.

Why aren't you guys tired?

Good tao control reduces exhaustion.

How come you have good control right away?

Who knows? Talent, perhaps?

I feel different since then.

I bet I could easily score a hit on you right now.

Those are fighting words, man-woman.

But if you're tired, we don't have to.

If you want a fight, I'm game.

It's strange. At first, our statuses were different.

But now, we're working together to achieve the same goal.

I can't believe I don't want anyone here to die.

If you fail to land a blow on me,

I'll make you wear a Chinese dress, man-woman.

I'll kill you.

The same...

Interesting. Can you even do that?

Kill me if you can.

Wait, wait.

Huh?

Let's assign groups first.

Fire

Blade Dragon, stand there.

What? Don't tell me what to do.

Don't argue!

Gabimaru, you, too.

Earth

Yuzuriha and Toma, stand there.

Yeah, yeah.

Nice braid, missy.

I'll kill you.

Fuchi.

Mei.

Wood

Fire

Earth

Metal

Water

We should know our tao's attributes for when we encounter the Tensen.

Sagiri, like me, your attribute is wood.

Wood

Gabimaru and the Blade Dragon are fire.

Then there's water, metal, and earth.

Each of these attributes influence the others.

Restoration

Hindering

Restoration

Hindering

Enhancing another's tao is called restoration.

Weakening it is called hindering.

Do we know the Tensen's attributes?

I do.

I remember.

Wood

Fire

Earth

Metal

Water

Ju Fa, fire.

Tao Fa, wood.

Zhu Jin, Ran, water.

Gui Fa, metal.

Mu Dan, Rien, earth.

If your tao hinders your opponent's, your attacks will be effective.

But in the opposite case, you cannot win.

Abandon everything and run.

I assigned groups based on compatibility.

One group to secure an escape route, and one group to acquire the Elixir.

Speed and stealth are key to the Elixir group.

It should be a small group proficient with tao.

Wait, are you for real?

The Elixir group's way more dangerous!

No objections.

The escape group will need people to secure a boat beneath Horai

and open the sluice gate.

Three people for each task should be enough.

Sensei...

It's just, well...

It's all right, Nurugai.

I haven't forgotten.

Okay.

According to the bonsai guy...

Not bonsai.

You want to leave the island, too, right?

Yes.

Then instead of waiting for the Elixir group, you could leave before us.

Wait.

Huh?

Are you sure this is what you want?

What?

Gabi!

Exactly. The Elixir group is just so danger...

Do you want to leave the island?

Isn't there something you want to do first?

You could've escaped the island by yourself.

But you didn't.

We didn't get to hear the whole story last time, but tell us now.

I'll translate.

I think what Rien doing bad.

Killed lots and lots.

Why Grandmaster Shufu not stop them?

I want to leave island. Everything scary.

But I want to see Rien and Grandmaster one more time.

Want to ask why they changed.

They used to be nice.

They were nice, but then...

So you'll put yourself in danger to speak with the Tensen,