Just as the two powerful attacks were about to hit the group, two figures leaped out from the crowd, positioning themselves in front of everyone.
One of the figures extended a hand forward, and countless insects with hard shells and armored warriors wielding massive shields continuously appeared before them. They all used their hardest carapaces or weapons to form a shield wall in front of the group, serving as a barrier for those behind.
When the two fierce attacks struck, the monster army that had become a shield was utterly obliterated. A violent gale and blinding flash swept through, momentarily forcing everyone to shut their eyes. However, Quinn could sense through his Cosmos that many living beings were departing from this Forest Hell.
Quinn and Starving Venom Fusion Dragon looked towards the spot where the shield monster army had been. Only two people stood before them now: the Hero Faction's Joan and Leonardo.
A smile played on Quinn's lips as he said, "Oh, leaving you two to cover the retreat while the others head to the next Hell, is it?"
"Yes. As long as we hold you and Starving Venom here, the others can proceed safely and without error to the next Hell," Joan said, creating a holy sword with dragon-slaying properties using her Sacred Gear 'Holy Sword Creation'. She gripped it in her hand, looking at Starving Venom Fusion Dragon and Quinn.
"..." Leonardo remained silent, but the fighting spirit in his eyes was undiminished. 'Monster Creation' activated once more, summoning countless dragon-type monsters. This was the strongest monster army he could currently create.
An intense Cosmos erupted from Quinn's body once again. He sneered at the two before him, saying, "A witch hiding behind the name of a saint, and an artist who hasn't even matured yet. Do you two really think you're worthy opponents for us?"
"We won't know until we try!!" With that, Joan, wielding her dragon-slaying holy sword, charged at Quinn.
"Hmph! Foolish woman!" Quinn snorted coldly and then charged towards Joan. The metallic thorny vines on his underworld armor came to life, wrapping around Joan's holy sword like whips, wrenching it from her grasp and flinging it aside.
Seeing this, Joan hastily retreated several steps, then created two new holy swords in her hands, adopting a dual-wielding stance to face Quinn.
Meanwhile, Starving Venom Fusion Dragon used its five mouths, tail, and sharp claws to tear through the dragon-type monster army assaulting it. To prevent the dragon from using its power to plunder abilities again, Leonardo created some additional eagle-type monsters, specifically to block the four carnivorous plant-like mouths from extending.
If Starving Venom Fusion Dragon acquired Leonardo's 'Monster Creation' ability, it would create a massive army of [Predator Plants], which would cause immense trouble for him and Joan.
The Forest Hell continuously echoed with the roars of Starving Venom Fusion Dragon and the snarls of various beasts.
As the group made their way to the next Hell, Azazel was fuming, recalling what Starving Venom Fusion Dragon had said to him in the Forest Hell.
Countless "#" symbols seemed to pop up on his head as he angrily shouted, "Damn it!! That purple dragon!! Who does it think it's calling a virus-carrying crow?! Next time, I'll make you pay!!"
By this time, Azazel had already cleaned his body with magic and had even sprayed on a bit of perfume.
"Alright, Azazel, calm down. Our goal is to defeat Hades and rescue Gabriel and the others," Michael stepped forward to comfort Azazel.
"That's right, Azazel. Don't let Starving Venom's words affect you," Sirzechs also came over at that moment to offer consolation.
"But... Ah! It's so hot!!" Just as Azazel, comforted by his two friends, was about to say something else, he suddenly felt an intense burning sensation under his feet, as if they were being roasted alive.
The heat was so severe that Azazel immediately spread his Twelve Black Fallen Angel Wings and flew into the air. The group also came to a halt. It seemed they had arrived at the next Hell: a vast, endless desert where white smoke rose from the sand, indicating the extreme temperature.
With practiced ease, Benniah pulled out the underworld map. Looking at the desert section and its description, she said:
"This should be the Third Valley - Blazing Sand Hell. It's the hell for those obsessed with depraved and lewd pleasures. The souls who arrive here must walk barefoot on the scorching desert sand. Some will even be dragged into the desert by quicksand, forced to swim through the blazing hot sands."
Just as Benniah finished speaking, a hand emerged from the desert, reaching out to the group for help.
The kind-hearted Michael moved forward to pull the soul out, but before he could even grasp its hand, the soul was immediately sucked back into the quicksand, returning it to its endless swimming.
On the sand, many souls walked barefoot. The skin on their feet was completely scorched away. Once the skin was gone, the muscle was burned; once the muscle was gone, the bone was seared.
The cruelty of the scene left the group at a loss for words.
At that moment, Azazel landed on a safe patch of ground. He tried to fan the heat away from his feet with his hand, somewhat angrily making excuses:
"Really! How did Hades come up with a hell like this?! My feet were almost gone too!!"
'Have you ever considered that the reason you got burned is because your sins happen to match the criteria for punishment in this particular hell?' Listening to Azazel's excuses, everyone looked at him with dead-fish eyes as he frantically fanned his feet with his hands.
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