Defense specialization and dragon slaying.

Sally retrained evasion. Maple completed quests for passage permits.

The fourth layer held much work. Many players raced between Town and field.

The members of [Maple Tree] were no exception. Those at the forefront moved busily, each with their own purpose.

And within several days of the day Sally confirmed her information, the moment arrived.

The entire [Maple Tree] group decided to set out against the dragon.

As long as Maple was present, the risk of increased damage to the party was nearly eliminated.

Using Sally’s information, they devised a procedure to defeat the boss that would drop the [Dragon’s Reverse Scale], leveraging each member’s skills.

From the information… it spits electric orbs from midair. Attack with magic or bow when it lowers altitude. Magic attacks are mitigated; bow is recommended. Once HP drops below a certain threshold, it descends to just above the ground for a charge or claw attack—breath attacks are not piercing. Only claws deliver piercing damage. After a time, it returns to the sky. It does not adopt a dungeon form. That is about it.

This is nearly a guaranteed victory.

The effectiveness of Maple’s attacks directly determines the enemy’s chances of winning. Crom’s assessment was sound.

I have the 【Dragon Slayer】 skill. I will take the role of ground assault.

Kasumi’s skill increases damage against dragons and similar creatures.

Yui and I will also attack from the ground when it descends.

Yui and Mai join the ground assault team. The formation is complete. The dragon cannot survive once it lands.

If they do not break through Crom and Maple and defeat Yui and Mai, death is inevitable.

"Should we attack the sky dragon together, Maple and me? We’re not strong at long-range attacks."

"I suppose so... but it seems to be the only option."

Even if magical attacks are mitigated, Kanade’s magic remains a valuable source of damage.

"It will take some time... but we won’t lose."

The plan settled, Sally summarized the strategy. The air turned to departure. At that moment, Maple spoke.

"Hmm... I’ve thought of a tactic. Is it alright?"

"Go ahead."

Maple began explaining the plan she had conceived.

The group known as 【Maple’s Tree】 ascended the mountain, where a magical array led to the dragon’s location.

Monsters that lunged from the path were repelled by Maple’s protection, then scattered by the remaining seven.

"Arrived!"

Yes, that’s the magical array.

Before them, the array blazed with light.

Mounting it would bring them straight to the battlefield.

Then, following Maple’s plan,

Sally’s words ended. All seven vanished into the array’s glow.

They arrived in a wasteland resembling the place where Maple had once fought a demon.

A dark sky, high and distant. From within it, a dragon with pure white scales soared toward them.

At such a height, even magic attacks would not reach. From above, the dragon unleashed brilliant white orbs, crackling as they fell.

They struck precisely where Maple and the others stood.

Yes, I’m fine.

Alright. Then, Maple, proceed as planned.

Yes. Cass, are you ready?

I’ve got it.

The dragon-slaying preparations advance, undisturbed by the falling attacks.

Maple deploys her gear. Kasumi avoids the weapons with practiced ease, clinging to Maple’s back, and uses the 【Doping Seed】 received from Iz to raise her 【STR】.

Maple looks up, confirms the dragon's position, then angles the cannon's muzzle toward the ground.

I’m off, then!

Flames and blast wave raced across the ground, Maple

And Kasumi ascends into the sky.

It pierced through the orb and reached the dragon's maw at high speed.

Kasumi leaps onto the dragon's head. Maple flies alongside the body, activating her skill.

[Seeping Chaos]! [Poison Dragon (Hydra)]

“[Final Blade: Hazy Moon][Violet Illusion Blade]…!”

Maple’s attack slips past the dragon’s massive form. Kasumi’s strike races along the back, toward the tail, each chipping away at the monster’s HP.

Reducing the creature’s HP to a set value was easy—standard procedure for a magical assault.

Maple reaches the tail side first. She calls Shiroppu, floats him into the air, and uses his self-destruction to fall safely onto his back.

“Maple! ……[Leap]!”

Shaking off violet smoke, Kasumi tumbles forward, nearly falling. Maple catches her.

The sword, unheld, begins its descent with the falling dragon toward the ground.

“Hah…… maybe [Violet Illusion Blade] wasn’t needed after all.”

The cost of this skill was shown in advance to her guild members. No one is surprised anymore.

"Leave the rest to everyone!"

Crom lowered the shield he had held since Maple’s absence, watching the dragon descend.

"Here it comes!"

"It's fine. We're ready."

Yui and Mai stood on either side of the dragon’s charge path, each gripping a massive mallet.

The injected 【Doping Seed】, Kanade’s maximized 【STR Boost】 support magic, Sally’s rarely used 【Inspiration】 boosting them from below.

The dragon charged forward with a roar.

There was no choice but to proceed straight toward death, as preordained.

"【Sonic Strike】!"

Four shockwaves burst from the swung mallets, striking the dragon’s face and erasing nearly eighty percent of its HP.

"Maple’s in trouble… but those two are flying apart too…"

"Yes…"

I wonder if I overdid the support magic… Ah, Maple and the others are coming down too.

Within a minute, the boss was felled. The participants secured their 【Dragon’s Counter-Scale】.

Kasumi adjusted her attire atop Shiroppu, then descended to the ground and picked up her blade. Once that was done, she returned to the original summit via the magic circle. The dragon hunt was over.

Since Kasumi had not yet grown accustomed to her smaller form, all of them rode Shiroppu down the mountain.

How does Maple manage to run in that form…?

Kasumi’s “that form” referred to the unnatural shape of a human.

Something just clicked.

…Is that so.

Kasumi spoke only in a tone of sudden understanding.

We still have time until Kasumi returns to normal. Shall we keep moving? Let’s go hunt the demon too.

Crom’s proposal to fill the gap created by shortening the originally planned time directly into the next boss was met with unanimous approval.

“The demon is on the ground. If we can strike Yui and Mai before its behavior changes… both of you able to do it?”

““We’re fine!””

“I’ll hold onto the Love That Offers the Body for now.”

The group moved on, continuing toward the demon’s destruction.

The demon showed its凶悪 appearance for about ten seconds, then turned into light.