Defense specialization and encirclement.
One hour after the first assault.
The two hundred or so players entering in a steady stream forced Maple’s unit to surrender their non-allied orbs and retreat inward.
“Ah… well, a guild of just the right size has come to take them?”
“Ah… yes, here it is.”
The inner chamber.
Listening for footsteps behind them, wondering if the intruders would pursue.
If they came, they would wake Maple—but the intruders, treating the sleeping as sacred, did nothing more than depart without touching anything.
Taking an orb from Maple’s unit always exposed their location.
It was not worth the cost of one orb.
Five minutes after the intruders left, Crom led the return to the chamber with the pedestal, reinstalling their own orb.
Now then... whether large-scale guild battles will erupt somewhere now...
Sally murmured. Kasumi approached, showing her the current rankings.
Looking at the rankings... mid-sized guilds are being eliminated one after another. The pace is undeniably increasing.
The number of destroyed guilds made it clear that by the fourth day, few but large guilds would remain.
If we could protect the orb, we would have wanted to. But without Maple, that would be impossible.
Even without accelerating the point, there would be another course.
Sally walked toward the exit.
I’ll follow the guild from earlier. If a large-scale battle seems imminent somewhere... then that will be...
Sally turned toward Kanade.
Yeah, with my skills and Sally’s.
Bring Maple along too.
Yeah, I know.
Alright. I’m going.
Sally stepped out from the base.
The time to wake Maple will be either three hours from now or when Sally contacts us—whichever comes first.
“Then again, no guild will be attacking us now. We can afford to rest.”
“Indeed.”
Yui and Mai still have important duties remaining.
They must rest slowly, prepare carefully.
Sally located a group of nearly two hundred people relatively quickly.
When moving in groups, speed decreases. Directions favor terrain that does not expose their numbers.
Though not certain, this time the prediction based on that assumption proved correct.
“Still haven’t encountered any guilds…”
Sally watches the group from afar.
Not to be seen. Not to be lost.
They remain known to many large guilds.
Sally watched from afar, eyes fixed on the distant horizon. Two spheres of flame appeared in her vision.
Unexpected… coincidence?… yes, they hadn’t attacked there.
Flames scorched the earth, reaching skyward, erasing players in their path.
Amidst the barrage of counter-spells, one player dodged with overwhelming mobility, wreathed in explosive fire.
“[Empire of the Flame Emperor]… I see. With the remaining guilds dwindling, those aiming for top ten must attack this one… perhaps? Sorry, Maple…”
Sally sent a message to Crom. All gathered at her position.
Mii, having effortlessly dismantled a major guild, returned to base, holding all orbs.
[Empire of the Flame Emperor] now ranked fifth.
Without the ordeal of Maple’s ambush, the ranking might have risen further. Due to Maple’s reckless expenditure of Maruk’s traps, the defense lay in ruins.
Many players had perished as a result.
“If we can hold onto this orb… perhaps we can survive…”
Mii returned to base, securing the orb, and set it down. Her shoulders relaxed.
“Well… fortunate we managed to reclaim it…”
“Though we don’t know which guild it is, they’ll likely come to reclaim it.”
Mizari continued, standing beside her.
The number of guilds and their timing remain unknown. But they will come before this orb becomes a focal point.
“Ah… bring Shin back.”
“Understood.”
She gathered all members. Prepared the defense. Awaited the coming storm.
Shin arrives in time. Reports pour in from the reconnaissance unit, one after another, into the silent waiting of the Empire of the Flame Emperor.
The reports all spoke of a large guild advancing upon them.
Many guilds, aware of the strength of the Land of the Flame Emperor, aligned their movements in unison, each seeking only the most profitable spoils in the end. This resulted in numerous large guilds encircling the Land of the Flame Emperor.
They’re coming! Everyone, prepare!
Yes... I’ll try my best...!
It’s alright, it’s alright—Mii will take care of it.
Leave healing to me.
The four, resolute, receive a new message from Mii.
There, a creature resembling Maple approaches—dangerous.
And so it was written.
Maple’s complexion pales abruptly.
"Lies... enough already... no, no, no..."
Sally, Velvet, and Yui ask what is wrong with Mii, who reacts without restraint.
Mii relays the message’s contents to the three.
“Very painful.”
“I… I’m behind Kasumi too… behind her too!”
“Yes… yes…”
Markus lies down on the ground, unmoving.
He has the greatest aversion to Maple, who is immune to traps.
“Very painful.”
As he speaks, a large guild approaches.