029 Persona, Activate!
"That's true."
Yuuki Asuna 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 the instance, it means she has the corresponding resolve. Even if she dies in the instance, that's her own choice. We should still focus on our immediate goal, which is clearing this instance."
"That's right."
Asagiri first agreed with a sentence, then followed Yuuki Asuna, walking down the dimly lit stairwell, which felt somewhat eerie.
During this process, Yuuki Asuna chose a very detailed position, which was slightly ahead of Asagiri 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 instance's hints, with only a weapon of ordinary material, it was almost impossible for Yuuki Asuna to defeat a Banshee one-on-one. Otherwise, there wouldn't be a hint telling her to try to avoid fighting Banshees.
But Asagiri was different; the hint given to him by the system was to finish the fight quickly.
Yuuki Asuna's idea was simple: she was a melee class, while Asagiri'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 gun-shaped summoner to completing the summon.
If Asagiri were ambushed and lost his combat ability, it would be a party wipe. Therefore, when a Banshee attacked, it was the most reasonable choice for her to act as the first line of defense, gaining time for Asagiri to summon his Persona.
"You don't need to be so nervous."
Seemingly sensing that Yuuki Asuna's nerves were too tense and that she was constantly guarding against potential Banshees, Asagiri 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 Banshee. The instance has just begun; if you stay in such a highly tense state, your spirit will reach its limit in less than two hours."
Yuuki Asuna nodded, forcing a smile as she said.
"Okay, I understand. I'll try my best to relax..."
Just as Yuuki Asuna 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.
"Wuwuwuwu..."
Hearing this sound, which was like a woman crying and mixed with the sound of a sharp object scraping against the wall, Yuuki Asuna's face instantly turned pale. She tremblingly turned her head to look at Asagiri's profile, her lips trembling as she said.
"Leader, what should we do...?"
"Persona!"
Asagiri didn't hesitate at all and directly summoned his Human Asura. The moment the massive black ghostly 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!"
"Damn..."
Yuuki Asuna 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 he not retreat but advance, rushing forward bravely?
"Those who trespass on my territory, I will strike and shatter them!"
Hearing this sentence from Asagiri, even in such a tense moment, Yuuki Asuna almost couldn't help but blurt out a retort.
No... isn't this an instance? Isn't this the Banshee's territory? How did it become yours?
When Yuuki Asuna turned the corner of the stairwell and reached the next flight of stairs, she saw an incredible scene.
She saw that Asagiri's Persona, Human Asura, was currently using its large hands to press down on a female ghost wearing blood-stained red pajamas, with bare feet, long black hair covering her face, only revealing a pair of eyes filled with malevolence, and with fingernails of exaggerated length.
And Asagiri himself wasn't idle either; he had already lifted a foot and stepped on the female ghost's head.
For some reason, Yuuki Asuna 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.
"Wuwuwu..."
"Crack!"
The Red-Clothed Female Ghost was just about to let out a cry, but Human Asura tore off one of her arms and then handed it to Asagiri, who, under Yuuki Asuna's horrified gaze, directly stuffed the female ghost's arm into her mouth.
"Mph..."
Using her own hand to gag her?
Yuuki Asuna had truly never seen a scene like this.
"Violet, equip your weapon."
"Oh... oh, okay."
After Yuuki Asuna equipped her rapier and walked closer, Asagiri pointed at the Red-Clothed Female Ghost.
"Stab her, but don't aim for vital spots. I still need to use her later."
Yuuki Asuna felt that sounded a bit strange, but she still followed Asagiri's instructions and quickly stabbed the Red-Clothed Female Ghost's body with her rapier.
The next second, when she pulled the rapier out, she 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 the Human Asura showed no signs of recovery.
"So that's it. Ordinary weapons can't completely eliminate Banshees. That's what it means..."
Yuuki Asuna thought that her rapier seemed unable to completely eliminate Banshees, but it could still damage them. Although they could recover in the blink of an eye, at least if she encountered a Banshee alone, she could completely rely on the agility bonus from Wind Blessing to quickly sever its legs and escape during the opening.
"Mumble mumble..."
"You're still mumbling here? No mumbling!"
At this moment, Asagiri, stepping on the female ghost's head, looked like a true demon.
He first released his foot, then squatted down, reached out, gently stroked the Red-Clothed Female Ghost's hair, and then leaned in to smell it.
Seeing Asagiri's actions, Yuuki Asuna was dumbfounded, recalling what he had just said about needing to use this female ghost later...
No, you... isn't this a bit much?
Could it be that the moment Asagiri heard the crying, he rushed down impatiently because he had a special... preference for controlling female ghosts?
"Smells like shampoo, and there are water droplets on her hair. Is she a drowned ghost? If I'm not mistaken..."
Asagiri looked directly into the Red-Clothed Female Ghost's eyes and slowly said.
"You drowned in a bathtub when you were alive, right?"
After hearing this sentence, the venomous hatred in the Red-Clothed Female Ghost's eyes dissipated slightly, but she still watched Asagiri warily, not knowing what he intended to do.
As for Yuuki Asuna, she already knew what Asagiri wanted to do.
The Diplomat was about to begin Diplomacy.