Awakening to a Special-Grade Explorer
Vol. 4 - Ch. 192

It was a bright red door depicting the scene of hell that suddenly manifested itself.

However, unlike the fiery crimson projection that the earlier door had shown, this one was a projection of a calm green colour, reminiscent of fresh verdure. The being that emerged out of it surveyed the surrounding, as if it care not a bit about the situation, and then stopping at Ibuki Douji.

"It's been a while since our last meeting, huh, Shuten Douji? I wonder how long it has been. The last time you---"

"Stop blabbering and perform your healing quickly. We would be seeing this King in the afterworld else."

As if covering up for something, Ibuki Douji fired his command without showing a shred of amicability.

Seeing the usual appearance of Ibuki Douji, Spirit Tree floated a faint warm smile like a mother looking at her son.

"Oh dear me, did you go in for another quarrel? Seesh, you're really hopeless without me huh."

The cute hell beast, called Kodama, walked up to Tenji with unsteady gait and made a tap-tap sound, almost like a penguin.

Gently, Tenji felt like he had taken a mouthful of the scent of nature. He felt himself slightly healed just by taking a whiff of that scent.

"Yes, yes......hmm, it will take some ten odd seconds. Shuten Douji-san."

"Like I said, say a few words and focus on healing. This little boy's life is no more than a guest of three minute at this point."

"Geez, I know of course. I didn't want to waste the power of the present world's forest much, but that can't be avoided if it's the King in question. ---«Breath of the Forest King»."

Fwoosh

Suddenly, a cool, refreshing gust of wind blew in the surrounding area.

At the same moment, a pleasant wind---like the breeze under a tree's shade in summer---and scent hugged the body of Tenji. The pain aching all over his body had started receding at the blink of an eye.

It was faint, but the scent also made its way to Fuyuki, Chisato, Kujou and Honnou.

The drifting smell was like an all-powerful cleansing elixir, they felt like all sorts of impurity was exorcised from the bottom of their heart just by taking a whiff. The damage they had accumulated so far had suddenly vanished amidst the pleasant wind they felt from the root. Like the underground well, they felt a surge of limitless stamina.

They were overcome with a sudden sensation of omnipotence, as they could even fly to the moon if asked.

With the simple action of Kodama, a soothing circle like something had spread into the surrounding area.

Yet, breaking in that ephemeral scene was---

"Ruuuuuuuu!!"

The White Monster suddenly flailed around, kicked the ground with all four limbs and blitzed for a mad dash in Tenji's direction.

It was like it threw away any and all of its dignity as the strong and with blood trickling down from its one eye, it swirled around in brutish manner in all four while charging for a surprise attack as drool and saliva dripped out of its mouth.

It tried as much as it wanted, but it couldn't raise its head to an altitude higher than Ibuki Douji's chest. It couldn't find a place to escape from the binding of Ibuki Douji.

In that case, if it can't achieve that---

What if it could just kill the centrepiece of all this charade, Tenji?

The white monster had lost all of its rationale as it cared not a bit for who Tenji was at this moment.

All that mattered in this moment was if there was any survival route left for it.

"Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuoooo!"

It will cleave the Tenji---and whatever that Kodama was beside, in two with its own claw.

"Bygone, hindrance."

It had happened all to fast to be perceived by eyes. Ibuki Douji was suddenly in front of itself, with the heel of his geta crashing down on its face. (T/N - Geta, Japanese wooden sandals.)

It was a posture of nonchalance, with no intention of raising a hand, and an expression of calm composure. Ibuki Douji just stood there, looking down at the monster with one foot raised.

Yet, that was enough to make a corner of the king to bite the dust and deal with its surprised attack effortlessly.

'Are you fucking with me,' Monster howled as if wanted to shout so at him.

"Ruoooooooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!"

"Kukuku, what a petty pride. I wonder if you can even become a side dish for sake."

Ibuki Douji giggled in amusement and abruptly slammed his heel of geta into the ground.

Immediately, Monster found itself suddenly crashing into the ground with a huge force. Just like, while being toyed around by an unknown force, it continued to show its unsightly dance in front of Ibuki Douji.

"You can at least choose the place to play around. What will you do if King breaks down?"

Ibuki Douji then kicked the stomach of the monster almost like he was kicking a soccer ball.

The monster teared through the ground, the trees and even the air as it was blown to somewhere far away.

At the very least, it was clear not even thousands of those monsters were a match---or to put into other words, mere toys in front of him.

The explorers present, including Tenji, had their eyes widened to the limit as if they couldn't believe what they were seeing.

Until a while ago, they were having a bitter struggle with that monster with their life on line, but everything was suddenly changed to the same monster getting bashed, toyed around or even treated as side dish for sake one sidedly.

If anything, they just feel like they have seen a sort of power that they shouldn't.

They probably had rested their sight the visage of hell beast that they probably shouldn't have ever.