554 Why does it feel a little perverted? (1/2)

After making their preparations, the two of them set out and began their game quest… whoops, clearing out the Inner World.

Soon after setting out, they were attacked by several octopus monsters.

Mika used her dark-red mist to block the monsters' attacks and then to instantly slice the monsters to little pieces! She then absorbed the monsters.

”How do you feel?”

”I can feel as if my power became slightly stronger… the difference is barely noticeable, though.”

”Probably because these monsters were just weak mob monsters. At any rate, it's fine as long as you can control your power. If you feel like anything's off at all, tell me immediately,” Seiji warned her.

”Okay.” Mika nodded.

Next, they met additional small groups of monsters. None of them were very strong, and Mika easily took care of and absorbed them by herself.

Seiji watched over her as something flashed in his eyes.

The ghost named Sakura that gave Mika the Mashiro egg had called the unhatched egg at the time a ”Spirit Egg” which contained a guardian spirit.

But Natsuya inspected the egg and said that it wasn't a guardian spirit at all, but she was uncertain whether Sakura was lying or not.

Guardian spirits were a special type of spirit that Yin Yang Masters could use for themselves, and had to be personally raised. They were a special type of Spiritual Creature that were capable of increasing the Yin Yang Master's own powers. From what Natsuya could tell, Mashiro was an abnormal existence rather than a guardian spirit. The student council president was unable to comprehend why Sakura had stated that Mashiro was a guardian spirit.

But judging from things now, Sakura calling Mashiro a guardian spirit might have been referring to the fact that the ”best way to use her” was similar to a guardian spirit! Basically, Mashiro could also combine with her host and strengthen Mika.

In other words, Natsuya might have been overthinking things at the time. Perhaps Sakura was expressing a very direct meaning—that Mika should simply treat Mashiro like a guardian spirit, raising and using her the same way!

As for what exactly Mashiro truly was, and if something unexpected would happen with her, Seiji didn't know.

He tried asking his own bonded female spirit, Yomi, about Mashiro. However, she appeared to have gone to sleep again as she didn't reply.

The two of them kept continuing onward in the Inner World and arrived at a relatively open area.

”Be careful. This type of place tends to spawn powerful monsters,” Seiji warned her.

He and Mika carefully glanced all around them. Then, they say that a huge dark gray shell was descending towards them from the water above them. It jumped out of the water and landed before them with a boom!

This was a clam… no, some type of gigantic shellfish monster!

Mika used her mist to create a barrier which blocked these disgusting tentacles.

However, she immediately felt pressured! These tentacles were far stronger than any monster she had encountered so far.

”Argh…”

Mika grit her teeth and counterattacked with her mist, yet… her attack was ineffective!?

Seiji also wielded his longsword and sliced through the tentacles. But even though he sliced through them, the tentacles instantly reformed. It was as if he was only slicing through liquid.

”Slice-type attacks won't work!”

Seiji sheathed his sword and started attacking with the scabbard instead. Only by using blunt attacks did he managed to smash a few tentacles!

”It seems that blunt attacks are effective.”

The moment he finished speaking, those tentacles speedily reformed themselves!

”…Or maybe not.”

Seiji cast [Evolved Body-strengthening technique] on himself and transformed into his golden state before he started wielding his shield.

*Smack!!* He instantly managed to smash numerous tentacles.

”Mika, stand back. Leave this to me.”

”Seiji…”

This was the first time she had seen his golden form. It looked really cool to her. Even her eyes were about to begin sparkling.

She listened to him and retreated back down the path they came from and left the effective range of the tentacles' attacks.

After making sure that Mika retreated safely, Seiji cast [Evolved Mana Shield] on himself and began attacking!

He used his shield to rush through and crush all tentacles blocking his way, and viciously slammed it against the gray shell!!

The shell remained completely undamaged.

This monster's shell had incredibly high defense power! Forcefully breaking through its hard outer shell would require too much effort. Seiji felt that it would be much better to directly attack what was inside.

[Spiritual Blade, ”White Lotus”]!

Seiji once again pulled out his sword and enchanted it with a spell. The sword transformed into a white light that extended over a dozen meters. Seiji forcefully pierced the sword through the small opening that the shell had as it spat out its tentacles!!