Qian Li suggested, “Should we split up?”

Asagi Hasegawa nodded, “Sure. Let’s keep in touch from time to time.”

Everyone picked a direction and proceeded through the way. As Ye’s team marched a few kilometers away from the town, there were some mutated monsters. Ye had tried to avoid engaging with the mutated monster. But, Ye had no luck on the last one. Ye stood back and let the students take command. 

Along the way, Kotaro Fuuma had a basic understanding of Zhu Nai's ability. Thus, Kotaro Fuuma asked Zhu Nai to stand back. The reason was that Zhu Nai could one-shot the mutated monster. Ye cast a debuff on the mutated monster for them to handle.

Ye, “Well, with 5 levels dropped. You all should be able to defeat it.”

Kotaro Fuuma, Hebiko Nohara, and Shikanusuke Raiden answered, “Yes, sir.”

Kotaro Fuuma gave an order, “Hebiko, try to slash it.”

Hebiko Nohara answered, “Okay~.”

Hebiko Nohara’s lower half transformed into a snake's body. Both hands held a katana. Hebiko Nohara was slithering with her snake’s body. When the No.999 was in range, she launched with her tail and spun rapidly. This action allowed her to attack and keep a distance from the enemy.

The first engagement ended, and Hebiko Nohara retreated.

Hebiko Noharo gave a remark, “The enemy had some resistance on the slash.”

Kotaro Fuuma nodded, “Okay. Nice work. Seems like it's not totally the same with the mutated monsters on the outskirts.”

“Since it is an iron. It is a conductor. Shikanusuke, you will use your electric to slow and soften it. Hebiko, change to blunt weapons. I will try to use Emission. If it works, Hebiko and Shikanusuke will take turns to use Emission on it. Hebiko will control it by wrapping when Shikanusuke attacks.”

Kotaro Fuuma’s katana on the right and a gauntlet on the left were coated with a Yuan Li in dark blue.

Hebiko Nohara and Shikanusuke Raiden answered, “Got it.”

***

Ye smiled when he saw Kotaro Fuuma’s action.

Ye, “The kids nowadays are really daring.”

Zhu Nai asked, “Sir, what led you to have this opinion?”

Ye replied, “Kotaro Fuuma, he is using this enemy as a stepping stone. To polish their combat efficiency.”

Zhu Nai asked, “Is that the reason that he asked me to stay back?”

Ye replied, “Well, your skill could one-shot these mutated monsters. They couldn’t get any effective training.”  

***

After repeated attempts, Kotaro Fuuma and his friends defeated the mutated monster. At the time, Kotaro Fuuma and his friends cheered for their effort. Ye approached the corpse and inspected it. Zhu Nai noticed and followed Ye. 

Ye asked, “Why are you following me? This is not something suitable for a youngster.”

Zhu Nai chuckled, “Umhehe~ I thought we were here to experience these kinds of things?”

Ye, “Just don’t vomit on the corpse.”

The corpse of the mutated monster was an ant. Having six legs and a stinger. The exoskeleton was iron-like. There was a face on its gaster.

Kotaro Fuuma approached them and asked, “Sir, isn’t this maze easier than what you have said?”

Ye shook his head, “No. I don’t think this is the maze’s real appearance.” 

Kotaro Fuuma thought that Ye was overthinking and asked, “Sir, is it edible?”

Ye shook his head, “The mutated monster’s meat contained high purity of Corroded Yuan Li. Even you could remove it. I’m not advising it, unlike those mutated monsters on the outskirts. They are really mutated monsters. But I’m not sure about this.”

Kotaro Fuuma asked, “Sir, what do you mean?”

Ye replied, “Well, a maze will use some tricks to lure mutated monsters to come in. But this maze doesn’t have it. The creator doesn’t even try to hide the fact that this maze is an artificial one.”

Every student was shocked and raised their voice, “WHAT !!!???”

Ye split the corpse in half and took a diamond-shaped crystal from it. A metallic dragon’s head emerged from Ye’s shadow. The dragon's head had two antlers, whiskers, and a mane. The eyes were midnight blue. The material used was a kind of shapeshifting metal. It was not in the current era. That’s why Ye seldom used it.

Ye ordered, “Ming (冥), analyze the crystal.”

Ming answered with a metallic sound, “Master, the order is received.”

If Asagi Hasegawa were here, she would recognize the metallic voice. It was the other voice in the recording. Ming crushed the crystal and consumed it. Ming's eyes turned red, and hovering beside Ye. 

The eyes returned to their original color after being completely analyzed. Ming voiced, “The crystal had the effect of providing exp to whoever consumed it. It contained various souls, Corroded Yuan Li, Positive Yuan Li, and Negative Yuan Li.”

Ye replied with a smile on his face, “Hor… So it was an artificial, mutated monster. Humans are a primary material. Whoever consumed the crystal will have a higher chance of demonification?”

Ming replied, “Yes, master.”

Ye maintained the smile on his face, a smile that didn’t seem gentle or warm. For Zhu Nai, Kotaro Fuuma, Hebiko Nohara, and Shikanusuke Raiden, the smile was wicked, as if from a devil. 

Ye asked, “Ming, can you analyze the percentage of humans contained in the host?”

Ming answered, “Master, your wish is my command.”

Ming bit the corpse and started to analyze the body.

After a few seconds, Ming answered, “The body contained 85% of humans and 15% of demons.”

Ye nodded, “I have some guesses. I need some more bodies to verify it. Then, continue to march forward.”

***

After the incident, Ye’s team had marched without avoiding the mutated monsters. Along the way, the mutated monsters they had faced were similar to the stages of human evolution. The mutated monsters were more similar to humans. For Ye, it was the traces of artificial monsters.

Zhu Nai had joined the battle, while Ye remained the same. Zhu Nai had two Types, but for some reason, she used only one. The type she used was the element type, Water. 

Her Trait was Thermoregulation. This allowed her to control the temperature of the water. Along with the magician role, she could take down any mutated monster, single-handedly. 

After a few battles, they were taking a short break. Since Zhu Nai wished to contact her leader, Rias Escarlata. After a few minutes, Zhu Nai returned with a worried face.

Ye asked, “What happened?”

Zhu Nai answered, “Sir, I’m unable to contact anybody. It seems like my device is malfunctioning.”

Ye shook his head, “Maybe not the case. I will try my side.”

Ye used his bracelet and dial Asagi Hasegawa. However, Asagi Hasegawa had not answered the call. Ye’s expression went dark, and he took out a magic stone. Ye inserted his Yuan Li into the stone, and the carved pattern glowed with light.

Ye then spoke to the stone, “Asagi Hasegawa, can you hear me?”

The stone replied, “Ye!!?? What is it? How are you able to have a conversation in my mind?”

Ye replied, “Clam down. Asagi, I have some bad news to tell you. Listen to it. First, the communication devices were not functioning. Second, the mutated monsters are artificial. Lastly, those exp crystal don’t consume it. It had a chance for demonification.”

Asagi Hasegawa replied, “Got it. I will figure it out.”

Upon Asagi Hasegawa’s reply, the stone scattered, and that was the end of the conversation. Ye’s expression didn’t ease up.

Zhu Nai asked, “Sir, can I use it to contact my leader?”

Ye nodded and gave Zhu Nai a new stone. Then Zhu Nai began to contact Rias Escarlata. Ye was deep in thought.

Ye asked, “Ming, could you find out the location of Asagi Hasegawa?”

Ming emerged from Ye’s shadow and answered, “Master, as you wish.”

For a while, Ming successfully located Asagi Hasegawa. Ming projected a holographic map. The map directed Ye to Asagi Hasegawa’s location.

Zhu Nai, who had returned, asked, “Sir, may I know where the location on the map is directed?”

Ye replied, “The current location of Asagi Hasegawa. Do you contact your leader? Is she in the same situation as us?”

Zhu Nai nodded, “Yes. She had the same situation.”

Ye continued, “Then we should head to where Asagi Hasegawa is now. They seemed to be able to use the bracelet. It seemed like they were targeted.”  

Kotaro Fuuma asked, “Maybe just some area that lets the bracelet malfunction?”

Ye shook his head, “I don’t believe in coincidence. Everything that occurs has its own purpose and motive.”

Ye headed in the direction shown on the map. The students were following behind and having a different impression of Ye. At first, they felt Ye was a knowledgeable person. But now, they felt Ye was stuck by the knowledge he had.

Hebiko Nohara asked Kotaro Kuuma, “Kotaro, do you find it weird of Ye?”