Awakening to a Special-Grade Explorer
Vol. 4 - Ch. 163 - Before the battle

The bright light that melted the blanket of pitch black darkness died as soon as it appeared. The time was 1 a.m., just after midnight, not exactly the optimal time given the dim lighting for explorers.

The only source of brightness in this floor was the starlight or the waning gibbous moon in the distance far away. Though, the blinding light that the black cocoon, located at the epicentre of this dim-lit floor, released somewhat served to aid explorers there to secure the sight, even if just by a bit.

Tenji and Fuyuki also swiftly tried to make their way toward the Chariot's camp. However, right before they could---it was born.

Crack

Fissure spread all over the cocoon shell from inside. The next moment, a white, jagged hand jutted out, violently breaking through the upper section of the cocoon. The porcelain-white like slender arm and long rectangle shaped fingers gave off an inorganic---or metallic, if you may---impression.

To describe it, it was like an artificial construct; as if someone had mashed together varying lengths of cuboids to give it an human-like shape.

Tenji confirmed this unusual scenery at the end of his periphery and unconsciously gulped.

"......So, huge."

The black cocoon was already of an intimidating size, however that arm, too, was not something to sneeze at. From a rough estimation, the arm was at least two metres long. Furthermore, it was also releasing a sharp, skin-piercing, unpalatable aura. And that was all when it was just one arm. And yet, no matter who, everything on the floor could sense that needle-like prickly sensation right through their skin.

"Tenji, speed up."

"......Just right."

Tenji replied to Fuyuki's strained voice, and both further increased their speed.

In just a few moments, both Tenji and Fuyuki arrived at the area between Northeast and Northwest, the planned gathering spot for Chariot. The two noticed the elites of Chariot, who had already started preparing for the battle at one end of a cliff overlooking the circular depression, and hurriedly joined them.

It seemed like everyone aside from them were already there,

"You're late, student group. Hurry up and take your position. You must have read the strategy guide, right? You're not a part of the preemptive strike unit, so wait for further order."

" "Roger." "

Ordered Kirei Kujou. Not even once did she turn to look at them from her daunting pose. She just stood there, gazing at the black cocoon direction, as her porcelain-like white, feminine arms rested on the hilt of her sheathed sword, using it like a clutch of sorts. Gallant and majestic; no better word than them could capture her current visage.

Tenji was thoroughly awed by her acute spatial awareness, which wasn’t something that could be simply brushed off with the word ‘peripheral vision.’

He hurriedly joined the team that he had been filled about beforehand, all the while his senses were strained to maximum. At the aforementioned spot, fully armed Chisato and Tomohito Fukuyama were waiting for him. Neither of them said anything, except staring at the sky, tension visible on their faces.

The signal for the preemptive strike had yet to be given.

With the current size of black cocoon, it was apparently going to take some time for it to be completely hatched. They know the time a monster showed the sign of hatching to the time it is completely hatched was proportional to its strength,

The grim atmosphere surrounding professional explorers seemed to have rubbed off on Tenji as well as he felt his spirit slightly stirring.

(So this is the world of professionals...they truly are on another level. Would I truly be able to stand shoulder to shoulder against them one day? I am on par with them...not quite right. I feel like no amount of experience or effort would be enough to give me that confidence.)

Tenji was slightly overwhelmed by the spirit of Chariot's elites, who were there, awaiting for the signal.

Well, considering where he started, he wasn't particularly undermining himself.

The very people before him were used to his idols just some few months ago, and to stand right to them on a battlefield? It was a faraway dream. From an ordinary person's perspective, explorers standing here were like heroes.

An enthusiastic fan of explorers would have long had their blood pressure soar at the honour of witnessing such a momentous occasion.

Chariot in itself was a S-rank team, and they even had as much as eight first-grade explorers on-board. Originally, there should have been a total of nine first-grade explorers, but one had chosen to withdraw. There were also ten other members from Team A, each one the holder of comparable might and skill to sufficiently back them no matter the situation. It was a formidable lineup.

And then, there were these three new additions to the line-up---the fledgling explorers.

One of them was a former member of guild <Loafer>, boasted to have incomparable talent by none other than Leon, and also a teacher in the world famous school Mallorca Escuella---Chisato Shiranei. While no more than a second-grade explorer on paper, she was a prodigy who could easily give even first-grade explorers a run for their memory.

Another was a well known zero-grade explorer in this world, Fuyuki Kuro.

And the last one was some no-name youngster.

"It's been a while, Tenji. Certainly, we haven't met since the hospital, huh."

Tenji had been waiting for the signal with a tensed expression when one of the explorers noticed this clumsy student and called out to him in their signature gentle voice.