Awakening to a Special-Grade Explorer
Vol. 4 - Ch. 174

“Is there.…..no end to them?”

Tenji murmured while mowing down any approaching underling with his Flame Demon Sword.

The area was already crawling with underlings earlier, but their number had especially increased even more ever since President Limey was sent flying here. He kept slashing, salshing and more slashing but to no avail. Underlings kept swarming in from the depth of the forest.

He couldn’t really tell how many enemies he had taken down at this point, and even the subjugation log record in Book of Enma was updating rapidly at inconceivable speed.

(What in the world is going on at the centre battlefield? I hope they’re not facing any problem in President Limey’s presence.)

His thoughts had just drifted to the battlefield when his Orelia made a ‘buzz’ sound, signifying an incoming notification.

The suddenness actually caught him by surprise. And soon, he got his answer to what it was all about.

<Chief Monster subjugation impossible. I repeat. Chief Monster subjugation impossible—>

A cool, icicle sharp voice echoed from the Orelia. He recognised that voice.

It was the voice of the Russian guild’s guild leader whom he had seen talking with President Limey on equal terms when he first arrived on the 75th floor. But unlike before, the man’s voice was feeble, a hint of resignation could be felt from that tone.

Nevertheless, a short message was enough to tell the whole tale.

“It can’t be……”

Subjugation failed. It wasn’t as if he hadn’t realised it earlier already. A stifling sensation swirled inside him. An omen of something.

President Limey and Alex—both were the cornerstone in this battle to subjugate the chief monster, but now, one was lying unconscious beside him, all worn out while the latter's voice couldn’t have been any more feeble.

(N-No wait……did Orelia always have this function?)

It wasn’t that he knew, but more like he was never made aware of it.

He just thought of Orelia as a convenient translation tool at best, yet now he realised it could also be used to relay messages. He even doubted if a monster was using its skill or abilities to create an unrest between their rank.

The battlefield, which was now shrouded in obscurity, was exuding an eerie atmosphere.

“Ruuuuuuu!!”

A monster with camouflage ability suddenly jumped from the tree and toward while taking an aim at his Tenji’s neck with the sharp claws.

It was an irregular one, with more developed arms than any other underling present. In fact, its arm was probably longer than its body and the five nails at the end of its arms were just as abnormally developed.

He immediately deduced using his sword to parry that strike would jeopardise his position. Opponent had a bigger reach compared to his Flame Demon Sword.

However experience shows. Tenji showed not a single bit of hesitation as he calmly analysed the up and down of this attack.

“Slashing Bond.”

Fwoosh

The burning crimson flame flared into an even more intense inferno. Tenji used this technique to forcefully bridge the gap and managed to land his strike first than the looming arm.

He had just used three times the usual mana to further flare up the burning fire—it was a derivative of ‘Slashing Bond’, a trick that brought out the hell fire attribute dormant inside the blade to its stronger ferocity which he had mastered it under the supervision of Chisato.

This was the perfect chance to throw the enemy off-guard just when the enemy thought they got him down. The skill however wasn’t without its drawbacks.

First of all, perhaps it was the special characteristic of hell fire for abusing it to extremes, the hell flame acts like a light coming from a lighthouse, except it wasn’t to guide the lost but to make him the target of all.

He could use it to take on the role of tank but the last thing he wanted to do was become an easy target in this chaotic state that would disturb President Limey. A double-edged sword truly.

It didn’t take long for the drawback to rear its ugly head.

“Ruuuuuu!”

“Ruuuuuuuuuuu”

“Ruuuuuuuuuuuuu!!”

The situation was taking a grave turn, especially when there was someone behind him that he must protect at any cost. The sight of unending underling caused Tenji to swallow on his breath.

(What to do? Should I use it? No......it’s still not the time. But then—)

As a matter of fact, he had already thought of a slew of ideas that could get him out of his predicament easily. The hell beast summon was just that powerful of a weapon.

However it wasn’t something he could use without reservation in a chaotic battlefield. As a matter of fact, he never realised that until Fuyuki taught him around the time he was still acclimating to Mallorca.

Yes, there was no way he could straight use it when the line between the foe had been blurred in this chaotic field.

(My physical prowess are on par with underling but they can’t compare with my attack, defence or technique. Alright, I can only push through this situation by myself. The time just hasn't come to use it.)

Tenji tightly gripped the Flame Demon Sword in his hand and prepared himself to face the horde of underlings. At a glance, it was clear their numbers were more than 30.

He wouldn’t have minded before, but the time was of the essence that he couldn’t afford to waste it right now. He would be shooting himself at his shoe if he decided to use <Slashing Bond> and over spent MP. The trick, for all intent and purpose, was there only when there was an emergency. Not for everyday use.

Tenji was just preoccupied with the conflict when it happened.

“<Azure Howl>.”

A pretty blue colour circle of light assailed the underling present there.