Defense specialization and event start.
Draw the blue panel for the final status check.
Maple
Lv20
HP 40/40
MP 12/12
【STR 0】
【VIT 160〈＋66〉】
【AGI 0】
【DEX 0】
【INT 0】
Equipment
Head 【Empty】
Body 【Black Rose Armor】
Right Hand 【Crescent: Poison Dragon (Hydra)】
Left Hand 【Nightshade: Evil Eater】
Feet 【Black Rose Armor】
Boots 【Black Rose Armor】
Accessory 【Forest Quinbee's Ring】
【Empty】
【Empty】
Skills
【Absolute Defense】【Giant Devour (Giant Killer)】【Poison Dragon Devour (Hydra Eater)】【Bomb Devour (Bomb Eater)】【Meditation】【Provocation】【Utterly Evil】【Shield Mastery IV】【Body Maneuvering】【Attack Deflection】【Shield Attack】
"Good! Fully prepared. Hope I don't take any damage…"
She has not yet grown accustomed to the sensation of taking damage, having suffered few injuries.
Moreover, this is her first time engaging in combat against another person. It is natural she feels tense.
After waiting a short while in the first plaza, participants began arriving one after another.
Above, a massive screen floated in the air. It would broadcast interesting players live. This would mainly be viewed by those in production roles and those who had not joined the event.
"Then, the first event! Battle Royale begins!"
Roars erupted from all directions. Maple raised her hand slightly, as if embarrassed, and shouted along with the others.
A loud announcement echoed through the air.
"Let us once again explain the rules! The time limit is three hours. The stage is a newly created map designed exclusively for this event!"
Points are calculated from four factors: number of players defeated, number of times defeated, damage taken, and damage dealt. Rankings are determined from these. The top ten players will receive commemorative gifts! Do your best!"
Having finished speaking, a countdown to transfer appeared on the screen. At zero, Maple was enveloped in light and transferred.
"…Where am I?"
Maple noticed the glare had faded and slowly opened her eyes.
She appeared to be in the central plaza of a crumbling ruin.
No one was visible in any direction.
"Even if I move, no one will catch up… I’ll wait here!"
Maple sat on a large stone brick and waited for other players to attack.
After some time, drawing shapes in the dirt with a stick, she heard rustling sounds coming from various directions.
"They’re here!"
She looked up, and already the attacker’s sword was within striking range.
“Got you!”
The old Maple would not have survived this. But the current Maple possessed the 【Mastery of Great Shield IV】. Her body moved smoother than before. The great shield caught the sword.
Swallowed it. Disintegrated it.
“Wha—w-w-w-w-waaah!”
The attacker, unable to deflect the blade, drove it forward into the shield. His hand, then his arm, then his torso, was drawn in—reduced to particles and vanished. Without his main weapon, he could not return to the fight. He would now only watch.
And his life formed a clean, crimson crystal, floating above the shield as ornament.
“Back to the drawing!”
Maple once again revealed her vulnerable form, kneeling in the dirt to sketch anew.
Maple draws her sketch with apparent ease. She is utterly without guard. It is not intentional. Yet the result is this: three players caught in her trap.
Forming a party is not forbidden. They are likely bound together, striving to place one of their members in the top ten.
A male warrior dashes forward. A straight-line charge, without artifice. Still, to Maple with 【AGI 0】, it is a swift motion.
Yet the distance of ten meters closes far too slowly compared to the sound of her new moon sheathing.
【Paralyze Shout】
A sharp, clean chime. The three players collapse.
The red crystal on the shield cracks with a soft ping. Maple rises, standing tall with the great shield.
Mmph… I win!
She positions only her head against the great shield, avoiding damage to the main weapon. At that moment, the knight player dissolves into particles of light.
The same occurs with the other two.
Three new crystals rise above the great shield.
“The great shield… stronger than I thought!”
She nods, as if to say such misfortune is impossible, and returns to her original position.
No one in this place would claim she is the only one wielding such a monstrous shield.
The Black Rose Armor, being full-body armor, is applied to both the leg and foot equipment slots.