Defense specialization and disadvantage.

Mii immediately uses [Flame Emperor], then follows with [Explosion Flame], striking Yu and Mai as they close in.

The knockback effect applies only to Maple, however, so it does not directly halt their advance.

Yet if Maple’s position shifts, her invincible space shifts accordingly.

Then Yu and Mai cannot proceed across the field, now a minefield by Markus, and must retreat.

Mii’s instinctive, well-practiced defensive maneuver achieves perfect effect.

[Explosion Flame]!

—[Cobr Move]!

When Mii knocks Maple back, Maple instantly dashes to rejoin Yu and Mai.

Yu, Mai, this way!

Maple calls Shiroppu, mounts her, and carries the two high into the distant sky.

The reason she cannot protect Yui and Mai is because of the powerful knockback user present.

"Flame Spear! Flare Accelerate!"

Mii begins attacking, using her mid-range Flame Emperor strike, then switching to a close-range assault with the flaming lance in her hand and accelerated speed.

Maple swings her left hand, now a blade, but cannot keep pace with Mii's speed.

The Predator fails to catch Mii.

"Not even Flame Emperor is enough...!"

Yet Mii still inflicts no damage.

Mii thinks that if she uses her maximum firepower, she might pierce through—but it proves otherwise.

"Mizari! Markus!"

"Yes!"

"Un!"

"Explosion Flame!"

"Wah! No way!"

Maple, knocked back by Mii, is struck by Mizari's piercing attack.

Further, Markus's trap wraps around Maple's limbs.

“Mm…”

Maple cuts through the plant binding her limbs with a swing of her sword and frees herself from the trap. She raises her great shield to block the piercing strike.

The size of the great sword and the great shield make it difficult to land a hit on Maple.

Add to that the fact that she remains outside the attack range of the clearly dangerous [Predator], and even Maple’s reaction speed is sufficient to defend.

But if the distance becomes too great for the [Predator] to attack, Maple’s own offensive options vanish.

Her short blade’s skill is already at one use remaining—she cannot afford to expend it yet.

“What should I do…? Hmm!”

The repeated knockback attacks from Mii disrupt Maple’s stance.

Even if the [Predator] strikes elsewhere, the impact still inflicts a knockback effect upon Maple.

And if there is another trap ahead, this will be dire.

"Enough!"

Mii, Markus, and Mizari are at a sufficient distance from Maple. All three are faster than Maple, and the ground above is saturated with traps meant to halt Maple’s advance.

The actions of the three Rankers, fighting Maple, are entirely unlike those of a monster.

They do not approach from the front. Instead, they exploit their superior mobility, disrupting her rhythm while waiting patiently for an opening.

For Mii and the others, a single piercing strike would be meaningless. They lack the initiative to press forward.

"Mizari, use it! Adjust our defensive positioning after this."

"Yes—!"

At the moment Markus’s trap activates once more, Mii unleashes a single skill.

"【Flame Cage】"

"Huh? What…!?"

Flames rise upward from Maple’s center, encircling her completely in a wall of fire.

The upper part is open, yet quite tall.

Maple swings her sword at the wall of flame, but the enclosure does not break.

“Uwah!? Damage…?!”

Maple realizes the damage is incoming at regular intervals, regardless of defense. She retreats the 【Predator】 skill, drinks a potion for now, and waits for the skill to end—but it does not cease easily.

Mii’s once-a-day trump card, reluctantly used. It will not end so easily.

“Wha… now what…?”

Maple begins to consider what to do.

Outside, Mii empties MP potions one after another.

The duration of 【Flame Cage】 lasts until MP is depleted. The limit is sufficient.

But to maintain it for even that long, she would need to drink dozens of MP potions.

The nature of this event made it something to be avoided. Yet, facing Maple, such words could not be spoken.

"Then... what now?"

"I'd prefer you just collapse right here."

"Uh... it's getting quite the strain on the traps, isn't it..."

As they spoke, the black mass rose into the sky above the scattered flames of Mii, falling beyond the cage of fire.

Three strong ones, yet they had pressed the one switch they should not have with Maple.

"【Full Armament Deployment】"

Before them, Maple's form shifted. Standing in full armor of black-lit weapons, her presence exuded overwhelming pressure.

The realization that victory was impossible in her current state had shattered another restraint, releasing new power.

"Now it's my turn... to attack!"