() thinking bubbles.

(this is the deepest part of the forest) the shield hero wonder to himself as he traversed deeper thought the ocean of trees.

The plantation had change as walked turning in to more jungle.

Other adventures couldn't go in these parts because their was a slow acting poison in the air that took the shape of a fog.

Unlike poison status this one can make your HP go below the zero and kill you, it couldn't be block but the damage hardly does anything.

His shield gave him the ability to nullify damage if it was small enough like how he did whit his orange balloon.

Significantly stronger adventurous could go into this part but they had no reason to, no Monster could live here and there wasn't any point of Guild to quest anything around here.

There wasn't anything else except him and the plants that live here.

Eventually he would find something.

apron the earth of the forest their was a marble square floor made out of tile covered in moss and vines.

But what really stood out was the clear crystal gem like structure in the middle of the tiles.

Even covered in ivory and plants it stood out like a sore thumb with its clean crystal blue shine.

(did someone forget this here) he asked himself as he went to observe the marble tapestry.

He thought it could of be some historical structure that was abandoned after status effect or when the wave happened.

Slowly he approved the crystal stage hoping that their might be a few stay shards to add to his shield.

"nothing" he spoke to himself somewhat disappointed.

He knew that the stronger or more valuable the material is the more power his shield got form them but obtaining them is the difficult part.

This (pad) if you could even call it that was definitely worth something.

Finding that their were no shards he wonder if he could pry it off the ground and absorbed parts of it in by one.

He knew he couldn't use any weapons but the rule was a longs as he didn't intend to use it as a weapon its fine.

Maybe he could find a pick axe but he had none.

For curiosity sake he stepped in the pedestal to see if it leaned in any direction so he could pull it off, unknown to him the green he had on his shield started to glow.

The alter stage below him started the glow and made a humming sound like the starting noise of a Computer turning on.

"What Th-" he wasn't able to finish his sentence because he was cut off by the warp pad activating sending him elsewhere.

Xxx

far out into space and isolated from other Masters of lands or planets there was a single structure that alone stood their standing the passage of time.

The warp pad although old still worked and would activated brining somebody here, the light would come form the depth of space hitting the pad and would reveal the from of Naofumi Iwatmi.

The Shield hero was on his arms and knees and was slowly panting trying to regain his breath on all fours.

"What the hell" he eventually managed to save for a long breaths of air visible of anyone was around him, it wasn't the force of flying across what look like deep space and landing in what he assumed to be a outer space platform but more the shock of moving that fast.

After a recollecting himself he would stand up and try to figure out where he was.

The floor was made out of marble in a temple like fashion while he presumed he was standing on the top of by the stairs that that led down and a plaza area whit marvel pillars.

Moose had covered most of the plaza and ivory had clawed up the structure and grass and weeds had grown in between the floor uplifting the tiles, alga had completely raided a small pond and lily pads were blooming whit flowers.

It look it has been forgotten by time.

The accused shield carefully walled down the Steps form the temple getting closers to the abandoned jungle to explore.

He wonder why he was even bother searching the forgotten area since it has no benefit, did he still have a sense of adventure in him and to find exciting prospects.

He hated the idea that he could be anything like those idiots.

His fist tighten.

( I'm leaving, this is just a waste of time) he quietly took to himself as he turned around.

Until he noticed something.

What look like a pink statue of seven year girl whit her buns of hair shaped like hearts and a heart-shaped gem in her chest.

The statue looked like it was about to come to life any moment but the roots going around her legs prove that she wasn't real.

Naofumi have no real taste in art, not anymore.

But the gem she had was quite admirable.

The Shield hero checked if anyone is behind him or if there were any places someone could be watching him from afar.

When he realise there was no one he was satisfied.

"good".

cautiously walking towards the pink statue he held out his right hand and open the pouch he had his belt with his left.

He still felt like the statue was going to move, he looked into the eyes of the figure and to him it looks like a real thing.

He was no longer in his own world and so expressive forms of art like this which probably involve magic were of course going to seem foreign to him.

It was quite smaller to him coming to about his waist so he had to bend down on own knee to get a better look.

His entire right hand now had the gem against his palm as he twisted it to break it off.

Most people are wary of statues and keep a eye on them just encase it somehow came to life.

It was a primal and illogical fear that a lot of people had like being afraid of the dark.

So when he saw the eyes of the face move in his direction and stare at him it was very off putting.

Suddenly whit all the force he had in his legs he jumped back off as far as he could and used his legendary weapon.

"Change shield"! he shouted out as his Naofumi regularly bass shield changed to a orange whit the same green gem in the middle.

This was the orange balloon shield that granted him + 2 defences, he got it by killing many orange balloons and feeding the remains in the shield.

For a while he just stood their waiting for it to make the first strike and move even the smallest bit.

After a while he slowly approached the creature again and waved his hands in front of its eyes to see if they would follow.

No response.

Checking the status screen menu he saw how much power she had

Name:?

HP:?

Level:?

Is she broken.

He wounded if this was not a monster that randomly appeared and re-spawned but instead a man made creature that was defective and left here.

It had to be made because if it wasn't then it would show up in his data bass.

If it was made then it might not give him any XP.

That left him whit only one option.

He grasped the statue by the feet and pulled it of the ground snapping the roots and vines whit force, he then hoisted the creature on his shoulder like she was a axe.

(She be more valuable if she still alive, I could maybe use her as a circus attraction) Naofumi contemplated as he walked back to the alter.

Even without her moving he could somehow tell that she felt against the idea of being carried.

Not that he cared.

But in his screen something popped up on his left that he thought something he would never see ever again.

A NEW MEMBER SPINEL HAS BEEN ADDED TO YOUR PARTY.

The writing appeared only to him in bold text.

He looked once again to the creature know as spine,(you can make someone a party member even if it's not voluntary) he made a note to remember that.

He highly doubted that she could be of any use without the ability to move but maybe he could use her like weapon like the orange balloons.

A cruel and childish looking weapon.