Defense specialization and escape maneuver.

"Accelerate!"

Sally and Kasumi accelerate sharply, dragging Maple forward toward the door. Three snails appear from each side, and two more loom ahead at an angle.

Those two will not allow the three to pass unimpeded. They spread slime across the path, blocking their way.

"Damn… left!"

"Ah!"

Sally and Kasumi veer instantly toward the clear ground.

Maple, being dragged, cannot change direction. She avoids danger by processing the clinging slime on her body with her ability, Corrosive Appetite.

The snails move faster than Maple, but far slower than Sally and Kasumi.

If they dodge the slime, reaching the door is simple.

"Good! Kasumi!"

"Got it!"

Kasumi draws the key swiftly from her inventory and thrusts it toward the lock.

At that moment.

"Uwaah!"

A wet squelch. Something extends from the snail.

A tentacle, perhaps. It brushes past the key and takes it.

The tentacle places the key atop the snail’s head with a soft *plop*, then withdraws into the snail’s body.

"Can’t let it stay like this!"

"【Leap】 won’t reach...!"

Only Sally could reach that height. With Maple and Kasumi alongside, it is impossible.

"Can’t stay here! It’s coming!"

The snail creeps closer, inch by inch. Staying would mean being coated in slime. And the tentacle might extend again.

"Kasumi! What about 【Lone Moon】?!"

"No gap. Impossible! I’ll be struck during the僵硬!"

The ground grows ever more covered in slime.

Little time remains.

“…Sally! Go straight through the side tunnel!”

It was Maple who spoke. Sally looked toward her, and in Maple’s eyes was unmistakable confidence.

“…Understood. I’ll try it!”

Dashing forward with Kasumi.

To return to the side tunnel, they must pass through the snails’ gap.

The snails already surrounded the three.

“Leave this to me! 【Six-Blade Flame】!”

The blazing blade descended, splitting the flames through the space between the snails.

Damage was absent, but the intimidation had proven effective for a brief moment—something learned during the journey. Just a moment, but enough time in this situation.

The snails followed after the three had dashed through.

“Exactly! Their movements are predictable!”

Maple was right.

The snails followed along the route the three had taken.

Without speaking, the other two understood what Maple intended next.

[Leap]!

[Three-Edge Sword: Lone Moon]!

[Poison Dragon (Hydra)]!

The three skills activated in sequence, each fulfilling its role.

Maple startled the snails. In that moment, Kasumi and Sally reached the part of the shell.

Maple’s skill had bought time until Kasumi’s paralysis ended.

“This place—no slime here… and”

Sally looked ahead. The snails approached in the same manner.

One of them carried a key on its head.

The path they had run straight had aligned almost perfectly with the door.

By fortune, the snail with the key lagged behind, its body slightly askew.

Now the shell won’t get in the way. I can take the key alone!

[JUMP]!

The shell rose higher than the head. I reached down and swept the key free.

Good!

Hurry!

But the ground was too uneven. Loss was unavoidable.

I reached the door, but the snail’s tentacles began to stretch and its slime began to spread.

Even so.

[COVER]!

Maple’s great shield blocks them.

Maple holds the defense. Not a single blow passes through.

Won’t be hit twice!

Good! It’s open!

Sally rolls into the room as the door opens.

The door vanishes the moment she enters. No danger from the snail now.

At the same moment, the chains binding the three of them crumbled to dust and vanished.

It meant they had cleared the dungeon.

“Phew… survived…”

“Ah… tired…”

“Don’t wanna see a snail for a while…”

Four treasure chests and one magic circle occupied the room.

“Treasure chests… shall we open them?”

“Yeah! Let’s do it.”

The three of them each opened one chest.

“My one’s a spear!”

“My one’s a great shield.”

“My one’s a staff.”

They held up their finds to show each other. Of the three, only the great shield might be useful to someone.

“Maple, take this. I’d just be carrying dead weight…”

Kasumi handed the great shield to Maple.

“Are you sure?”

“Yeah. It’s fine.”

Maple passed her spear and Sally’s staff to Kasumi, though they wouldn’t replace the shield.

Hmm... decent gear.

Kasumi murmurs, examining the equipment’s properties.

It possessed performance enough to tempt any player who could wield it.

"One more chest remains."

Sally moves toward the final chest.

The two follow, peering over her shoulder as she opens it.

Hmm... three scrolls, that’s all.

She checks for a medal, then lifts the scrolls from the chest.

All three are the same. Skill: Encourage, can be learned.

Sally hands the scrolls to the two of them.

Stowing them in inventory ends their work here.

Then, shall we go?

Yes... this cave was difficult. Tired.

The three step onto the magic circle and leave the cavern.

They escaped the cave safely because each had found a way to use their own nature.

Without compensating for what was missing, the outcome might have been different.

The three returned to the original desert.

"Hah… the night sky…"

"Not so long a time, yet…"

"Yes… I don't know why, but I feel glad."

The night sky, unseen within the cavern, felt full of release.

"That's right… we were going to fight Kasumi… now, I have no will for battle."

Sally could not bring herself to resume combat after having worked together.

Maple felt the same.

"I have no desire to fight… well, never did, from the start."

"Then let's register as friends!"

"Fine by me."

They each completed the friend registration and lay back, gazing upward.

Whether from exhaustion or relief, they wished to remain so for a time.

"What about Kasumi… what will she do next?"

That’s true… I think I’ll part ways with the two of them for now. We’re friends, after all. We can meet again after the event.

You’re welcome to come with us…

Yeah, sure, that’s fine!

Heh… I’m glad, but I’ll pass this time. Two gold medals in one place might increase the number of battles we face.

Kasumi’s point was sound.

Kasumi and Maple both carried gold medals that others could see.

Naturally, many sought them.

Two medals in one place would only draw more attention.

I see… that’s disappointing, but unavoidable.

Yeah… well then, I’m off.

Kasumi rose, brushing sand from her clothes.

Good luck.

You two too.

Kasumi waved one last time, then stepped away from the two.

Thus, this strange alliance came to an end.