Awakening to a Special-Grade Explorer
Vol. 4 - Ch. 212 - Collpase, Torment and the Determination

"Sky's......fragment?"

A mirror-like fragment something, reflecting the colour of sky, dropped from above Tenji's head.

It wasn't just a single or two piece either, they poured down incessantly like rain, akin to snow in the snowstorm.

Out of curiosity, Tenji extended his hand toward one of the fragments but couldn't touch, seemingly a non-tangible existence. He even doubted if he had started hallucinating from the exhaustion and blinked his eyes repeatedly.

Limey, who saw that, murmured quietly.

"Dungeon is falling down."

Dungeon Breakdown Phenomenon---it was a scene that had been reported across history multiple times.

There was no one concrete theory as to what led it to this. Sometimes, it could be after reaching a certain node in the dungeon, sometimes the trigger was defeating the strongest monster. In other cases, the catalyst could be retrieving a certain item, or even just abruptly, with no prior warning it could happen.

The explorer called Ursula Limey had once, and only once, subjugated a monster that triggered the dungeon collapse phenomenon. Right now, it was the same sequence once again.

"Hey, hey. Do you have any plans, old hag?"

Leon said as he walked toward them from a slight distance, his hand in his pocket while awkwardly scratching his head. Leon Hyakuse, too, was someone who had experienced the same phenomenon.

"You have the guts to come bringing that repulsive face of your in front of me, you scummy trash."

"Come now, you know it's not the time for you. Strain your brain, not the tongue, old hag."

"Hah? Are you itching for a fight?"

"S-Stop there, you too. Please!"

Just as it seemed like the spark would take the shape of a firestorm between Leon and President Limey, Tenji interrupted them, flustered. But the two still showed no sign of stopping so he had to take Snow Demon and Flame Demon help and somehow separate them by force.

"This isn't the time to pick a fight, Leon-san! What in the world is happening?"

"Haaa?! Get off me, ya!"

"Get away from me. I am going to smash that pea-size brain of his today for sure."

Blood surge seemed to have crossed the threshold in their brain that the two showed no sign of stopping even as Tenji tried to stop them.

While he had heard President Limey seemed to hate Leon till his bone. he was at a loss on how to handle them right now. Just as he was his wits end---

"Haa, do you see this time to quarrel? Give me a break."

"Yeah, please save that ugly quarrel for another time."

Aubraka and Jay, the two other zero-grade explorers, intervened.

Finally, with their effort, Limey and Leon let go of each other, though not before clicking their tongue to show their distaste and looking up at the sky.

Leon spoke first.

"Dungeon Breakdown lasts for 30 days at the very least, and since this is the 75th floor, the breakdown will most likely continue at 2.5 floor per day rate."

"You truly are creepy when you are calm, you know."

"Buzz off, Aubraka. Common populace is only limited up to the 5th floor, so even by a small margin, it's expected to take 28 days. Right, old hag?"

However President Limey shook her head as she listened to Leon's level-headed analysis.

"This is correct by the records we know and observed so far. However---"

"I know, I have considered that as well. The breakdown rate here is perhaps incomparable to the past."

Rare enough, the two were on the same wavelength for once.

They both had experienced multiple dungeon breakdown so far, but the situation here was occuring at a faster rate than before.

"My gut feeling tells me it would last around 10 days. No further than that."

"Not that I want to agree with you, but alas."

"So far, there's no danger to the populace. Residents have already made to evacuate gradually. The sole hassle is the remaining asset and personal items."

"Well, then we know what to do. We need to act separately and quickly, time is running out."

---10 days.

It was the deadline projected for the «Mallorca Resort Dungeon», the sole dungeon to harbour residents, before it completely breaks down.

For the professional explorers, it was like being out of one fiery pit and put into another gruelling task. Rest seemed as far as the horizon.

President Limey cut her words short and wasted no time as she began instructing the explorers present at 75th floor. All to save everything from this dungeon before the collapse.

†　†　†

"Speaking of......You never told us you have an illegitimate child."

After President Limey had left the spot, Aubraka abruptly asked Leon. The end of his gaze was pointing at Tenji, who was sitting on the ground.

Though, he also agreed that there just seemed no resemblance that could hint at their blood connection. On one hand, there was a haughty, doing-as-he-please and smelly pervert. On other hand was a kind looking young man, wearing clean clothes, showing his aesthetic with the way he carries himself in the clothes.

Though by the time he drew out comparison, Aubraka found himself chuckling.

"Pfft, never mind. The difference between you two is like heaven and earth apart."

"My genes only give birth to unparalleled beauties."

"Wow, the height of your delusions is really something. Anyway, who's he really?"

Aubraka and Jay's sharp gaze was pointing at Tenji.

Tenji, on the other hand, knew them very well. He had seen them appearing on television so many times and even read about them in textbooks. The idols everyone looked up to.

Ba-dump 

His heartbeat roared as he came face-to-face with his idols.

On the other hand, Leon just ruffled his hair out of hassle, annoyed.

"These two are alright, and would surely be helpful. Tell them."

"E-Err, I am---"

Tenji had just started speaking when his words suddenly cut off.

Suddenly, a flash of darkness covered her vision. Unwittingly, he fall to both his hands on the ground as cold sweat poured out from all over his body.

"Hey, what's the matter?"

Aubraka's gentle voice reached into his ear. But that was all he was capable of.

(......Cold, so hot, it's so cold.)

He felt a coldness biting on him through his skin, yet, at the same time he felt a scorching heat from the core of his body. Belated, but Tenji connected the dots to his current situation.

(This is......compensation effect. Ah...alright. Bring it on, Ibuki Douji. I will take it all, so don't hold back..)

A smile crept up to his lips as he prepared himself for the imminent hell.

All along, he knew it was just a matter of time. Maybe the next second, the next minute. And at this juncture, there was nothing much left for him to do as well. The threat had been resolved.

So, Tenji also firmed his will. He would make it out alive no matter who or what attacked him.

"Hiccup."

Suddenly a familiar burping sound echoed in his mind. At last, the hell flames sleeping inside his body started their long-awaited rampage.

"Ahhhhhhhhhhhh!?!?!!?"

Eye socket, ear holes, the gap of claws. Flames spewed out from all over his body where there was even a tiny bit of gap. The hell flames, endlessly gushing out of his body, continued to burn his body again and again. And when the flames had left behind his whole body charred, he started regenerating.

It was an endless cycle of torture and regenaration.

«Compensation» had begun to bear its fang. There was no clear answer as to how long this torment would continue. At the same time, Tenji held an ember of hope, maybe this might turn into the trigger to a change within himself.

"H-Hey, what in the world is happening!?!"

Aubraka was perplexed by the sudden happening and tried to reach out to Tenji.

Tenji replied back with a sharp gaze, even as all that was left in the name of eyes of charred skin, even as the flames rampaged to snatch away his consciousness over and over.

"Don......Please refrain from touching."

Maybe Tenji's intention had made it through to Flame Demon as he quietly approached him.

Flame Demon knew what he needed to do next and gently wrapped his arm around Tenji, while replying to Aubraka who was about to touch him.

"Only we can touch these flames. Please take care of the rest."

Flame Demon turned his back to the three once he had finished speaking.

Leon, Aubraka and Jay silently watched their backs, as the situation was completely happening out of their comprehension.

(Thanks, Flame Demon.)

"Yes, we will take care of you, Lord. No matter the means we have to deploy, we will make you sure you make it out alive. A new king is our desperate hope."

After that, Flame Demon took Tenji and teleported to another floor, privy only to them.

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