Defense specialization and night.

The dagger plunged deep—another player turned to light.

Three hours after sunset.

Maple and the others held the orb unshaken, accelerating their point gain.

Sally, having exited defense early, now raced across the field once more.

Two orbs seized within three hours.

Players fallen—too many to count.

Just now, another player lay fallen.

“Fuh… already nine o’clock… how many more orbs can we take before tomorrow’s dawn…”

Sally checked the map.

Ink covered it—vast quantities of notes.

Locations of weapon repair items, terrain features, guild sizes, minimum defense numbers, paths frequently used by scouts, places likely to hold ambushes—varied and detailed.

Nine hours since the event began.

She exploits the guilds' weaknesses, using information gathered from relentless scouting.

Sally pushes herself to the limit from the first day because she wants to seize the orb while smaller guilds still remain.

The争夺 over the orb intensifies as the days pass.

By the final day, the complete annihilation of small guilds is possible.

If that happens, the orb will be unattainable.

"Cutting ahead—this is the only path to victory..."

Thus, Sally keeps running.

Knowing it is reckless. Knowing it is dangerous.

"Next... yes, here it is."

Sally begins to run again.

At that moment, alliances forming across the field learn of Sally's presence from the scouting units she has defeated.

Elsewhere, at the 【Maple Tree】, Yui and Mai speak.

"Hey, Mai. We really can't avoid regular attacks, can we?"

That’s true... but I’m still familiar with Sally’s short sword. Maybe I could dodge it once or twice?

The motion of Sally’s weapon—its slash—was the one she had seen most often in training.

Compared to other weapons, her usual attacks were easier to read.

Not that it was easy to dodge them consistently.

“I was thinking… is there a way we could use our individual traits to the fullest?”

Yui had seen everyone in the full team fight with their unique abilities. She wanted to try something similar.

To others, they might seem like nothing but their traits. But they were at an age where they wished to express themselves and be of use.

Hmm. I see.

“Well, I had an idea…”

Yui leaned close to Mai’s ear and whispered.

The idea was so sudden it made them both widen their eyes. And yet, it felt like a tactic only they could execute. They glanced at each other, and without speaking, smiled.

"Amazing! I think it’s good!"

"Right? I hope we can pull it off when the moment comes."

"Indeed."

They began discussing the finer details of the plan.

Watching from a distance, Sally, Maple, and Crom spoke quietly.

"I’ll go on a brief reconnaissance. About two hours."

"Is that so? Understood."

Maple granted Kanade permission to leave.

Defense forces were sufficient. Two hours would still allow for a shift before bedtime.

No reason to stop him.

Kanade stepped out of the guild for the first time, checked the map, and began walking.

"Following the information Sally gave me, this way seems right."

Kanade stepped out half in search, half in pursuit of the orb.

The map, cluttered with Sally’s notes, is fully memorized—seen after the battle involving eight.

Too much effort. Must help her.

Sally cannot move without limit.

Kanade must take the orb, to give her time to rest.

Kanade walks toward the target direction. Through the gaps in the hidden forest, the orb glimmers in the night.

Medium-sized guild’s... that one.

Kanade materializes a bookshelf. She examines the volumes. Eventually decides on two grimoires.

Perhaps return sooner than expected... Then, 【Giant’s Arm】.

The grimoire leaps from the shelf at Kanade’s voice.

Effect: Right arm mutates.

A spell to lengthen and thicken the arm, just for a moment.

The grimoire leaps from the shelf at Kanade’s voice. Effect: Right arm mutates. A spell to lengthen and thicken the arm, just for a moment.

However.

She can still grip the orb seven meters away and slam it to the ground at her feet.

“Flare Accelerate.”

Kanade surges forward in a burst of flame, one orb in hand, racing toward the guild.

“H-hey! Catch her! Now!”

The voice behind her fades quickly.

Too slow to react to the sudden strike, they have allowed her to carry the treasure back from the magic realm.

“May this help, even a little.”

Thinking of Sally, still running somewhere ahead, Kanade dashes into the heart of the Maple Tree.