Defense specialization and the visitor.
With only an hour remaining of the second day, Maple and her companions were about to decide tonight’s defense rotation when the final visitor of the day arrived.
Maple and the others halted their conversation. Each took up their weapons.
The one who appeared was no one to be careless with.
Fifteen players entered.
But not only that. Among them stood Pain, Dread, Frederica, and Drag.
There was no reason for them to attack 【Maple Tree】.
If pressed, one might say they came to eliminate a guild that threatened their ranking, but even without that, the point gap between 【Gathering Holy Sword】 and 【Maple Tree】 was already wide.
The reason four of them, led by Pain, had come here was simple: they wished to defeat 【Maple Tree】.
They had, somewhere, longed for battle against a guild equal to, or even greater than, their own.
The attack was carried out only after confirming that all members were present.
Yet it was an unwilling necessity for them to choose the time when Maple would be at her weakest, in order to convince the guild members that the assault was not pointless.
Thus they had come at this hour, at the end of the day.
The battle began when Maple extended her angelic wings toward the sky and summoned abominations.
“[Multiple Acceleration]!”
Frederica’s magic increased the movement speed of the Gathering Holy Sword.
Dread and Pain stepped forward, followed by Drag.
“[Flight Strike]!”
“No second chance.”
Yui and Mai’s attacks missed Dread.
Facing Dread head-on was the worst possible match.
Dread had experienced Yui and Mai’s abnormalities firsthand, at the cost of his life, and brought that knowledge back to the guild.
The greatest weapon of Yui and Mai—their very unknown nature—had been stripped away.
No fool would attempt to block with a shield.
Attack from Drag struck Yui and Mai, who stood at the front line.
“[Earth Wave]!”
The ground cracked and shattered beneath the axe strike, sending shockwaves toward Yui and Mai.
Though damage was nullified thanks to Maple, Drag’s inherent trait—[Knockback Application]—remained.
Maple stepped back. Yui and Mai withdrew from the range of [Love That Offers the Body].
This was no accident. Drag and Dread charged forward toward Yui and Mai, confirming the intent.
Maple and the others had made a spectacle over these two days. The battle against [Flame Emperor’s Kingdom] was especially one where Maple, Yui, and Mai’s abnormalities had been fully unleashed.
Maple did not notice the reconnaissance unit of Gathering Holy Sword quietly observing the scene.
Thus Gathering Holy Sword knew.
The weakness of Love That Offers the Body.
Maple’s weapon deployment.
That her great shield had a limited number of uses.
They had planned accordingly and come with intent to take Maple’s head.
“Cavalry Move!”
“Not on my watch!”
“Magic Barrier!”
Kasumi stopped Dread, Crom stopped Drag, Kanade reinforced the defense with magic.
Even if Maple fell, Crom and Kasumi were top-tier players.
They were accustomed to deflecting attacks.
“Maple! Better to disengage!”
“Y-yes! I understand!”
Hearing Sally’s voice, Maple released Love That Offers the Body.
Knowing their countermeasures were in place, it was no surprise that piercing strikes would follow in rapid succession.
And indeed, the magic from Frederica behind them was almost all piercing through defense.
The magic aimed directly at Maple was blocked by the large shield, but it slowed movement—difficult to endure.
In that instant, as the four were drawn toward Drag and Dread, Pain advanced further. Straight toward Maple, shield and sword in hand, running.
“Not allowed.”
Sally stepped between them, focused, ready to intercept any next move.
“Dread!”
Pain called out. The response came from Dread, Drag, and Frederica.
“[Divine Speed]!”
“[Berserk]!”
Dread vanished, his form erased by the skill. Drag’s post-skill stiffness disappeared.
As the two unleashed their powerful aces, Frederica’s voice rang out.
“[Multiple Teleportation]!”
Frederica’s ace spell transferred all effects from Dread and Drag onto Pain.
Pain’s form vanished. His speed surged.
“[Hyper Acceleration]”
Accelerating further, Pain outpaced Sally.
Sally could sense Pain’s position, but not catch up.
It was a gap in level.
Pain’s level exceeded Sally’s by more than double. His base stats were higher to begin with.
In combat, he might match her in reaction and evasion, but without being engaged, it meant nothing.
“W-where!?”
Maple, searching for Pain, held her large shield aloft. She guarded the side without it.
The shield, taller than her, would protect her.
Thus, hearing a voice from behind it came as a surprise.
“[Judgment Holy Sword]!”
Emerging from the shadow, Pain’s glowing sword was drawn back—then swung in a single, swift arc.
Four blades converge at a single point, aiming to sever her head.
“Ugh… ahh…”
Maple’s thoughts halt for an instant, struck by a sensation she has felt only a few times before.
Pain’s sword cleaves through the approaching monster and Maple’s great shield in one stroke, shatters the armor, gouges deep into Maple’s body, and sends her flying back into the wall—reducing her HP to one.
Next time, it ends.