"That's true." Asuna Yuuki also realized she had lost her composure. After sorting out her emotions, she let out a long sigh and said, "Since she voluntarily signed up for this dungeon, it means she has the corresponding resolve and preparation. Even if she dies in this dungeon, that's her own choice. We should still focus on our immediate goal, which is clearing this dungeon."
"That's right." Asagiri Utsunomiya agreed with this sentence, then followed Asuna Yuuki, walking down the dimly lit stairwell, which felt somewhat eerie.
During this process, Asuna Yuuki chose a very detailed position, which was slightly ahead of Asagiri Utsunomiya by half a body length, while also ensuring that each time they went down a floor and were about to continue, she was on the outer side, which was the direction near the door connecting the corridor and the stairwell.
This was based on rational consideration.
Judging from the public hints, with only a weapon of ordinary material, it was almost impossible for Asuna Yuuki to defeat a vangeful spirit one-on-one. Otherwise, there wouldn't be a hint telling her to try to avoid fighting vengeful spirits.
But Asagiri Utsunomiya was different; the hint given to him by the system was to finish the fight quickly.
Asuna Yuuki's idea was simple: she was a melee combat class, while Asagiri Utsunomiya's class was a support-type Diplomat. Although he could use the power of Persona, it would take at least nearly two seconds from forming the pistol-shaped summoner to completing the summon.
If Asagiri Utsunomiya were ambushed and lost his combat ability, it would be a party wipe. Therefore, when a vengeful spirit attacked, it was the most reasonable choice for her to act as the first line of defense, gaining time for Asagiri Utsunomiya to summon his Persona.
"You don't need to be so nervous." Seemingly sensing that Asuna Yuuki's nerves were too tense and that she was constantly guarding against potential vengeful spirits, Asagiri Utsunomiya said softly, "It's still that same saying: in a good game, what should be avoided the most is a Player being punished without making a mistake. Between the elevator and the stairs, we chose the latter. This couldn't be the wrong option, so it's unlikely we'll encounter a vengeful spirit. The dungeon has just begun; if you stay in such a highly tense state, your spirit will reach its limit in less than two hours."
Asuna Yuuki nodded, forcing a smile as she said, "Okay, I understand. I'll try my best to relax..."
Just as Asuna Yuuki was halfway through speaking, a strange sound suddenly came from below the stairwell, making her body feel like it had fallen into an ice cave, instantly stiffening.
"Uuuuh *hiks, hiks*... Uuuuuh..."
Hearing this sound, which was like a woman crying and mixed with the sound of a sharp object scraping against the wall, Asuna Yuuki's face instantly turned pale. She tremblingly turned her head to look at Asagiri Utsunomiya's profile, her lips trembling as she said, "Captain, what should we do?"
"Per... so... na!"
Asagiri Utsunomiya didn't hesitate at all and directly summoned Hitoshura. The moment the massive black figure appeared in the stairwell, it rushed downwards with him, even seeming quite impatient.
"You like to cry, huh? I'll make you cry your fill today!"
Asuna Yuuki was slightly stunned for a moment, then immediately followed. She thought, (Isn't this a bit too reckless? According to horror movie plots, after hearing such a strange crying sound, shouldn't you quickly retreat? How can you not retreat but advance, rushing forward bravely?)
"Those who trespass on my territory, I will strike and shatter them!"
Hearing this sentence from Asagiri Utsunomiya, even in such a tense moment, Asuna Yuuki almost couldn't help but blurt out a retort.
"No... isn't this a dungeon? Isn't this the vengeful spirit's territory? How did it become yours?"
When Asuna Yuuki turned the corner of the stairwell and reached the next flight of stairs, she saw an incredible scene.
She saw that Asagiri Utsunomiya's Persona, Hitoshura, was currently using its large hands to press down on a female spirit wearing blood-stained red pajamas, with bare feet, long black hair covering her face, only revealing a pair of eyes filled with malice, and with fingernails of exaggerated length.
And Asagiri Utsunomiya himself wasn't idle either; he had already lifted a foot and stepped on the female spirit's head.
For some reason, Asuna Yuuki suddenly felt that this scene was a bit like a wicked young master doing evil, bringing his burly bodyguard to bully a weak, defenseless woman.
"Uuu..."
*Crack!*
The Bloody Pajamas Vengeful Spirit was just about to let out a cry, but Hitoshura tore off one of her arms and then handed it to Asagiri Utsunomiya, who, under Asuna Yuuki's horrified gaze, directly stuffed the vengeful spirit's torn arm into her mouth.
"Mph..."
Using her own hand to gag her?
Asuna Yuuki had truly never seen a scene like this.
"Violet, equip your weapon."
"Oh... oh, okay."
After Asuna Yuuki equipped her rapier and walked closer, Asagiri Utsunomiya pointed at the Bloody Pajamas Vengeful Spirit.
"Stab her, but don't aim for vital spots. I still need to use her later."
Asuna Yuuki felt that sounded a bit strange, but she still followed Asagiri Utsunomiya's instructions and quickly stabbed the Bloody Pajamas Vengeful Spirit's body with her rapier.
The next second, when she pulled the rapier out, Asuna Yuuki found that the other party's wound wasn't bleeding, and it had healed completely in the blink of an eye. However, the severed arm ripped off by Hitoshura showed no signs of recovery.
"So that's it. Ordinary weapons can't completely eliminate vengeful spirits. That's what it means..."
Asuna Yuuki thought that her rapier seemed unable to completely eliminate vengeful spirits, but it could still damage them. Although they could recover in the blink of an eye, at least if she encountered a vengeful spirit alone, she could completely rely on the agility bonus from 'Wind Protection' to quickly sever its legs and escape during the opening.
"*Mumble, mumble*..."
"You're still mumbling here? No mumbling!"
At this moment, Asagiri Utsunomiya, stepping on the vengeful spirit's head, looked like the real demon between the two.
He first released his foot, then squatted down, reached out, gently stroked the Bloody Pajamas Vengeful Spirit's hair, and then leaned in to smell it.
Seeing his actions, Asuna Yuuki was dumbfounded, recalling what he had just said about needing to use this vengeful spirit later...
(No, you... isn't this a bit much?)
Could it be that the moment Asagiri Utsunomiya heard the crying, he rushed down impatiently because he had a special... preference for female spirits?
"Smells like shampoo, and there are water droplets on her hair. Is she a drowned spirit? If I'm not mistaken..." Asagiri Utsunomiya looked directly into the Bloody Pajamas Vengeful Spirit's eyes and slowly said, "You drowned in a bathtub when you were alive, right?"
After hearing this sentence, the venomous hatred in the Bloody Pajamas Vengeful Spirit's eyes dissipated slightly, but she still watched Asagiri Utsunomiya warily, not knowing what he intended to do.
As for Asuna Yuuki, she already knew what Asagiri Utsunomiya wanted to do.
The Diplomat was about to begin his diplomacy.