Awakening to a Special-Grade Explorer
Vol. 4 - Ch. 188 - A Battle of Will

For the second time of the day, curtain raised on yet another fierce struggle.

The white monstrosity channelled all its strength on its geometrical shaped arm to push back the flaming blade trying to invade its own body. Tenji, too, condensed all the willpower he could muster in that one blow and desperately pushed the blade closer to the monster's nape.

It was their battle to overcome the adversary, a battle where they couldn't give up at any cost.

"Haaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!!"

"Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu!!!!"

The cry of their souls enveloped the air in that rhythm as the sparks blossomed like a firework to display their fleeting struggle.

Tenji obviously wasn't a match against that monstrosity originally. However his conviction lied on the newly awakened flame blade.

He didn't know what the name, ability or power that blade boasted, as if all was hidden behind a frosted glass door. All that he knew was this was king's blade---as the words goes by Shuten-dōji. 

The blade of hope---it shall respond to the desire of its king.

He also grasped that reality the instant he grasped the blade.

Compared to Red Demon Blade and Flame Demon Blade whose abilities were, at least superficially so, displayed in the Book of Enma, the mysterious flame blade was leagues above the. It was like a match between a simple tree branch vs sword made of diamond.

He could feel the power from the flame blade, and of course he also indeed felt that the blade of hope could grant a wish but that wish wasn't omnipotence.

It demanded an equivalent 'feeling' to barter for that wish.

It sought a 'compensation'.

It asks of him to show the 'the will behind that wish.'

He was a rookie, he knew, but even then that was something he was sure wouldn't lose. Tenju wished from the bottom of his heart---

"Shuten-dōji! More......my wish demanded more poweeeeeer!!"

Tenji let out his soul stirring shout from amidst the dreadful confrontation he was having.

The dreadful wasn't just some flowery word. Just the spark scattering from their clash had taken the shape of a storm. The repeated exchange of blows was creating such drastic pressure that no ordinary person could ever hope to pierce that barrier.

The words had left Tenji's mouth when, kukuku, the earlier giggling voice made itself known.

«You're still steps away from reaching that height.»

Denial...was the response he got. Tenji couldn't help feeling the vexing frustration inside him from the reply, he bit on his lips and thought of his next idea. Though his expressions were yet twisted in lamentation.

He was somehow trying to force the blade but if this situation continued, that guy's abnormal regeneration power would kick in and make all his effort for naught.

He was unable to see the future. He wasn't yet strong enough.

If only, if---he had more  power. There should be some way, yeah. He was no longer his former frail self from that day. That was the day he had decided to quit the whining for good.

Just as the memory of that day flashed past before his eyes, Tenji's eyes faintly widened. Yes, maybe this...do. It was a baseless inspiration, nonetheless the much needed light amidst the moonless night.

"It's a pact, Shuten-dōji!"

What he recalled was the still undefined term of «Contract» he had bound with other hell beasts. So far, the one he had formed the pact with was goblins, Flame Demon and Snow Demon. Yes, what if he made a pact with Shuten-dōji?

The next thing followed was the Shuten-dōji thunderous laughter that he threw hearing Tenji, the future king's absurd remark. It also accompanied with a thump-thump sound as if he was clapping his hand against something.

It was clearly meant to make a mockery of his delusions. As if laughing at Tenji's abysmal ignorance. Tenji turned a blind eye to ridicule and shouted once again.

"Take any of my internal organs or anything! Just lend me your strength!"

After seemingly having his fill of laughter, a drunken sigh escaped out of Shuten-dōji's mouth. Seemingly to prove that, a gulp~gulp sound echoed inside their mind. It was a moment after that when Shuten-dōji opened its mouth again.

«Insufficient.»

It was a flat rejection without a shred of consideration. His sigh was apparently to tell 'you just haven't realised the true price.'

Tenji sensed that as well and tried to hurriedly deduce what it was while keeping the monster at bay.

Just what was it that Shuten-dōji wanted from him? He might have laughed at him but Shuten-dōji didn't utter any word to deny forming that pact. The only time a party is ready but a contract isn't signed yet was mostly when one party was lacking something.

Then the question was what Shuten-dōji wanted from him?

Perhaps the hint lies between the time he had spent with «Hell Beast Summon». He started sorting all the details he had analysed and started from the very first step.

There should be some kind of hint for sure. And just as he was doing that, suddenly, everything he had experienced till so far since the day of awakening started playing as flashback, uncovering even the words he had once forgotten.

Words just come pouring in his brain like an uncontrollable deluge.

------O' Future Kind.

------Will become the king.

------Hell King Factor

------Alright, I will lend you my strength, O' Future King---no...little boy.

Tenji had yet to become a 'King'. If anything, he didn't even know what was that being king about. In that case, Tenji must have to be a king if he wanted a hell beast of Shuten-dōji level to serve him.

Unfortunately, even millions of him were unqualified at this moment. Besides, Shuten-dōji also corrected his words midway, changing from king to 'boy.'

He was far away from reaching that spot.

(Then the question: why did Shuten-dōji appear before him now of all time, at such a convenient timing?)

Though the answer seemed distant yet, Tenji just couldn't give up on the confrontation in front of him as he kept pushing his blade at the nape of the monster to make sure the power balance for now remained.

Tenji was giving his all when he suddenly noticed a faint scar like something on the forehead of a monster.

(This...is!?)

A scar like this shouldn't have been present on the body of a just born monster. Perhaps the only one who could have achieved that in this country, in this battlefield was President Limey.

Perhaps Limey's name was the trigger, Tenji's eyes widened seemingly stuck by a realisation.

He finally understood what Shuten-dōji sought from him.

------joy, anger, grief and pleasure......I have lost four of my emotions that make a human a human.

------Tenji, when he's on the verge of death, had unknowingly activated something similar to 'compensation.'

Ah, compensation... no doubt it must have to be that.

Everything was like the re-enactment of that day. Tenji perhaps couldn't be any more clear about Shuten-dōji's intention.

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