Defense specialization and release.

Maple spoke with Sally on the way back to base.

It was the release of one ability over the next two days.

She chose the skill most practical and least taxing.

Maple activated the skill immediately upon facing Dread.

"Predator!"

From the ground rose two grotesque creatures.

Dread had no way of foreseeing this public debut.

"Hah!? What is that!?"

"Shiroppu—Great Nature!"

At Maple's voice, vines erupted from the ground, sealing Dread and Maple within.

The vines formed multiple layers of wall, shrinking the inner space.

Dread slashed at the vines, attempting escape, but it seemed futile.

Dread ceased attacking the vines and turned toward Maple.

……Okay, this time I lose. Next time, I’ll be ready… right?

The sudden ambush from Maple, who should not have arrived in time.

The result: Maple succeeded in sealing Dread.

This time, circumstances favored Maple by chance. Next time, it may not.

Facing her directly would surely allow Dread to escape.

I’ll counterattack every time!

The Predator advances on Dread.

See you again. Next time, I’ll hunt Maple…!

With that, Dread dissolved into light.

A fierce grin, as if concealing some final plan, remained etched in Maple’s sight.

Maple released Shiroppu from Great Nature and returned to Sally.

Only Maple and Dread had been isolated by Great Nature.

Maple approached Sally and immediately tugged at her cheek, twisting it gently.

“You pushed too hard.”

“…Sorry.”

“For now, apologize once Yui and Mai are revived.”

“Uh… yeah.”

After a pause, Yui and Mai stirred back to life.

Maple and Sally apologized at once, but Yui and Mai seemed not to mind at all.

Rather, they seemed pleased—having protected the orb from a strong enemy until Maple arrived.

“For now, I’ll place all the orbs.”

Ten orbs rolled out from Sally’s inventory.

“Sally, why did you push yourself so hard? You could’ve come back a little earlier.”

“Ah… well… for now, can you call Kanade?”

“Just as well— I’ll go fetch her!”

Mai hurried toward the back and returned with Kanade.

"Kanade, quickly— memorize this."

Sally held out her own map.

"This... is incredible."

The entire field, nearly its full extent, filled the eyes of everyone present.

The map, painstakingly drawn over twelve hours, detailed guild locations, sizes, and more.

"I... I'm reaching my limit... Kanade, copy it onto Maple's map."

"Uh, got it. Already memorized."

Kanade effortlessly cleared the challenge with her usual superhuman memory.

"Thank you... Maple, activate Plan B."

Plan B was the contingency action intended if the vanguard unit collapsed.

The event had unfolded differently than expected, prompting its early activation.

Plan B.

Also known as the Maple Liberation Strategy.

The chains of defense are removed. She is released beyond the walls.

Nearly every guild has already been exposed by Sally.

The true monster comes next.

"If the defense weakens, call me. I’ll fly back."

"Any limit on how many times?"

Maple calculates the consumption in response to Sally’s question.

"Depends on distance... perhaps two round trips per day, if it's the same distance as when I went to rescue you?"

Flying requires destroying weapons. It cannot be used at will.

Moreover, if all the energy is spent on travel, none remains for attack.

It must be used with care.

"I’ll fly back after collecting them one by one, starting from afar."

Thanks to Sally’s map, Maple no longer needs to search for guilds. She can move the shortest possible route.

A significant saving of time.

"Let me... rest a moment."

"Right. Baton pass."

From Sally to Maple.

Preparations are complete here.

Then I'll start tomorrow morning.

I'll hurry and copy the map too.

Kanade wrote information onto Maple's map one after another.

The next morning.

One mid-sized guild stretched awake, unharmed, into the dawn.

"Haa... finally morning."

"Being free of night raids makes it twice as easy."

"...Enemy attack! Enemy, one!"

The quiet morning air split with the report of an enemy sighting.

All eyes, having casually looked toward the direction of the one enemy, stiffened with tension.

A girl in pitch-black armor walking straight forward, hiding nowhere.

Embodiment of injustice.

Symbol of death.

Manifestation of madness.

Yes, Maple walked without a thought for defense.

"Y-yeah! We're defending this place!"

"Ou!!"

At the moment of rallying.

Maple entered combat readiness.

“[Predator]”

The sole newly unlocked offensive technique.

It carried power enough to break the mind.

Advancing step by step, devouring the approaching player.

Crushed head-on by pure violence.

Enemy position. Attack method. General status—known.

Yet still, it could not be stopped.

With each step Maple took, clear death crept closer.

No hope remained.

For the guild targeted, death was absolute.