New Novel
Chapter 14: You’re So Stupid

Chapter 14: Chapter 14: You’re So Stupid

Confused, Xu Qingsui slowly got to her feet. She didn’t dare move recklessly in the darkness, so she could only feel her way forward, shuffling her feet.

[Host, you’d best not move again. Otherwise, you really will be taking a once-in-a-lifetime bath in stomach acid.]

The Golden Octopus appeared, and Xu Qingsui’s vision suddenly cleared.

She glanced down instinctively. Her heart clenched, and she stumbled back several steps.

She had been standing right on the edge of a platform. One more step, and she would have been doomed.

Taking a few deep breaths to calm her unease, she finally took in her surroundings.

’So it wasn’t that the turtle’s stomach was small. On the contrary, its sheer size was what had saved her.’

Because it was so enormous, the folds in the stomach lining were also exceptionally large, forming a small platform.

She had landed squarely on one of these small platforms, which was the only reason she hadn’t taken a bath in stomach acid.

Xu Qingsui patted her chest, thankful for her incredible luck.

But before she could even lower her hand, a tremor ran through the ground beneath her. Caught off guard, she nearly fell.

Thankfully, the tremor wasn’t severe. She quickly adjusted her stance, lowering her center of gravity to keep from falling.

[This big guy is getting overwhelmed. Host, seize this chance. Devour its spirit body, and you can get out of here.]

Although she didn’t know what was happening outside, an opportunity was right in front of her. There was no reason not to take it.

Xu Qingsui first found the most stable spot she could, making sure she wouldn’t be forced to ’take a dive,’ then gathered her focus and waited for the right moment to act.

Outside, Lu Jingyu was still repeating the same motion.

The aura emanating from him grew thicker and more intense.

A thin film had formed over his facial features, completely sealing off his five senses.

Every one of his attacks landed on the exact same spot. Even a shell as hard as a turtle’s could not withstand such a barrage.

At first, only a crack appeared. Then, the point of impact began to show signs of shattering.

Thanks to his relentless assault, with a loud CRACK, the turtle shell finally split open.

Even though the opening was small, Lu Jingyu’s dagger plunged into it with unerring accuracy.

"AOOO—!"

A torrent of blackish-purple blood sprayed from the crack as several turtle heads emerged from the shell, letting out ear-piercing wails.

The giant turtle began to thrash violently, trying to fling the dagger from its back.

But no matter how it thrashed, Lu Jingyu remained fixed to its shell, as if glued in place.

Ignoring the gushing blood, Lu Jingyu raised his dagger again and stabbed down viciously.

At that moment, it was as if Lu Jingyu was in another world. Nothing could affect him. His only thought was to kill the giant turtle beneath him.

The violent thrashing and agonizing wails woke the unconscious team members.

Amid the violent swaying, each one found something to brace against to steady themselves.

Sensing the strange aura, everyone’s attention was drawn to the change in Lu Jingyu.

Fear flickered in their eyes.

’He’s gone into a frenzy?’

’Once the giant turtle is dead, we’ll be next.’

At that moment, they wished they had never woken up.

The end result would be the same. It would be better to die thinking a Mutant killed them, rather than one of their own.

In their desperation, someone thought of Xu Qingsui.

Though no one had ever heard of a guide being able to soothe a Sentinel who had fallen into a complete frenzy...

... just because they hadn’t heard of it didn’t mean it was impossible. Besides, Xu Qingsui was the first person ever capable of soothing Lu Jingyu.

Perhaps she could soothe a frenzied Lu Jingyu, too. Then they wouldn’t have to die at the hands of their own comrade.

But as their eyes scanned the area, Xu Qingsui was nowhere to be found. The spark of hope that had just ignited was instantly extinguished.

Their despair was even greater than when they had first realized they might die at the hands of one of their own.

Watching Lu Jingyu strike the giant turtle again and again, they felt not a shred of joy. For the first time, they found themselves hoping the Mutant would take a little longer to kill.

Inside the giant turtle, Xu Qingsui had fallen to a platform below.

The turtle’s thrashing was violent and jarring. It was a miracle she hadn’t already fallen to the stomach floor.

Even from inside the stomach, she could hear the giant turtle’s agonized cries.

Analyzing the situation, she guessed that Lu Jingyu must have the upper hand.

’It’s about time,’ she calculated. ’More importantly, if I don’t make a move soon, a few more jolts from the turtle and I’ll be taking that acid bath after all.’

Deciding it was worth a shot, Xu Qingsui placed her hand on the platform.

She released her spiritual power. After a moment of disorientation, the golden light before her eyes was replaced by a brilliant white.

The white light was blinding. Xu Qingsui raised a hand to shield her eyes. After letting them adjust for a moment, she lowered her arm and saw the source of the light.

She slowly looked up, her mouth falling slightly agape.

Before her was an enormous shield.

Behind the white, translucent shield, she could faintly make out something swimming around.

’This is the giant turtle’s spirit body?’

’A turtle... with a shield?’

’It’s actually pretty fitting!’

After a few silent complaints, Xu Qingsui reached for the shield.

’As long as I absorb this big shield, the giant turtle will be done for.’

She had thought the rest would be easy, but just as her hand was about to touch the shield, it shimmered, and her hand passed right through it.

Xu Qingsui’s pupils constricted as she quickly tried to pull her hand back.

But a force coalesced around her wrist where it met the shield, yanking at her and preventing her from pulling free.

Xu Qingsui’s heart clenched. She tried again several times, but her hand was locked in place, utterly immobile.

"System! What’s going on now?" With her hand trapped and no idea what was happening, Xu Qingsui didn’t dare to do anything else rash. Her only option was to ask the Golden Octopus for answers.

[Host, you underestimated your enemy!]

[I’ve explained this before. Mutants are also divided between spiritual and physical types. The ones that lean toward the physical are relatively simple-minded. To devour their spirit body, you usually just have to seize the right opportunity.]

[The ones that lean toward the spiritual, however, usually have minds of their own. They understand the importance of Spiritual Power and are often on guard.]

[In other words, this giant turtle just doesn’t have the energy to deal with you right now. Otherwise, you’d probably have been ’reformatted’ by now.]

Xu Qingsui frowned. She could clearly feel the mockery from the stinking seafood.

The stinking seafood might as well have added, ’You’re so dumb!’

Xu Qingsui wanted to snap back, but she knew when to pick her battles. She still needed the stinking seafood to explain things, so she decided to hold her tongue this time.

Mulling over the Golden Octopus’s words, Xu Qingsui took another look at the giant shield before her.

Her gaze kept returning to the figure moving about behind the shield.

"So, you’re saying this shield is just a defensive measure the giant turtle left behind? And the thing behind it is the real spirit body?"

[That’s right! And this is just one tactic used by Spiritual Mutations. You’ll encounter all sorts of other tactics in the future.]