Defense specialization and strongest three.

Two monsters face off, closing in, unleashing attacks against each other.

Where before it was a clash of techniques, now it is a clash of force.

There is little room for evasion. They continue to counter each attack with an attack.

"I won't lose!"

Maple’s flames burst from her mouth, wrapping around the demon.

The demon’s crimson fist strikes Maple’s body.

At the moment the demon’s HP bar drops below twenty percent.

“Ugh…!”

The outer layer shielding Maple collapses, and she falls to the ground.

Though Maple’s attack power has increased, it still cannot match the demon’s.

Thus, it was inevitable that the outer layer, enduring repeated blows with piercing effect, would break first.

“【Poison Dragon (Hydra)】! Shiroppu! 【Awakening】! 【Gigantification】!”

Maple calls Shiroppu again, restraining the approaching demon with the Poison Dragon.

The demon, no longer evading, takes the damage but still hammers forward with its fist.

【Oozing Chaos】! ……gah, Shiroppu! 【Great Nature】!

Spewing skills in succession, she maintains the restraint, then leaps onto Shiroppu’s back and rises into the air.

Hurry—! Uwa!?

Below and to the side of Shiroppu.

The demon’s fist, as large as a boulder, flies like a bullet, piercing through the vine barricade Maple had attached to Shiroppu.

Shiroppu!

The impact strikes Shiroppu directly, felling it in one blow, and sends Maple crashing to the ground.

The demon’s fist pierces downward, impaling Maple as she falls.

The large shield, just barely raised in time, caught the blow, but in midair, it could not hold its position.

Maple is sent flying with force beyond mere knockback, yet suffers no injury. She was never adept at guarding, even before this.

She cannot be certain she will block the next strike.

Lying prone on the ground, she sees the demon approaching.

If caught, she will not escape this time.

Then, her eyes find something on the earth before her. She flinches slightly.

“Quick Change!”

Blue light envelops Maple. In an instant, her gear transforms into pure white.

“This…!”

She grabs the scattered potions lying near, unused and scattered, and consumes them. Her HP surges, fully restored.

By then, the demon’s fist is inches away.

“Eagle!”

The crimson damage effect is smothered by white light. A dome of light envelops Maple.

A ten-second absolute defense zone.

All attacks directed at Maple are nullified.

"Quick Change, Acid Rain!"

She pushes every skill she can to the limit, just to gain a fraction of damage.

The demon's HP is reduced to a tenth, but Maple grows anxious, watching the droplets of poison spill from the short blade.

Maple has no defensive skills to deploy after Evasion ends, nor any offensive skills left.

The demon's speed offers no time for a second use of Poison Dragon.

She cannot endure it, she thinks. From the farthest corner of her mind, a forgotten skill surfaces.

"That's it... I remember!"

As the memory returns, Evasion ends, and the demon's attack closes in again.

"Frozen Ground!"

Extended life. Three seconds worth a thousand gold.

A forgotten skill emerges from Maple’s lips.

“……[Break Core]”

A small sphere, glowing red, bursts from the center of Maple’s chest.

It floats two meters away from her, suspended in midair.

Five seconds until activation complete.

Having endured the final, more powerful piercing attack with [Unyielding Guardian], Maple smiles faintly, dissatisfied, using the ground potion she has grown accustomed to in this battle.

Immediately after. Maple, the demon, and the sphere all rise into the air, freed from gravity, circling the sphere in slow, steady motion.

“Demon-san… this time, it’s a draw. But! I’ll be back again to reach the fifth layer!”

A skill once contained within the [Machine God].

The only skill requiring no equipment in exchange.

Yes. The skill Maple had forgotten was, in truth, a true self-destruct ability.

The phrase written in the description—attack impossible within the target area, self-destruct. Great damage to self and others. The word "self-destruct" alone was enough to make Maple forget this skill.

See you later!

Maple squeezed her eyes shut. She waited. A moment later, a blazing inferno pierced the sky—consuming Maple and the demon whole.

Ah… I don’t know… it’s just so frustrating.

Maple lay collapsed, eyes closed, and murmured.

She was so mentally exhausted she wished she could simply sleep forever. Maple felt the defeat more deeply than she had expected.

No… I’ll log out today.

Maple pushed up from the ground and opened her eyes.

"What? Why?"

Before them lies a wasteland scarred from battle with demons.

At her feet lay the demon that had fought moments before.

Mmm? Hmm? Why?

Maple doubted the demon had truly exploded. She glanced at her own HP bar. Half remained. She hesitated. Perhaps…

“Is it because of my defense…? Yes. That’s it. Hmph. Of course. Defense matters.”

Maple smiled. She felt relief. Her overwhelming defense had saved her. She finally spoke to the fallen demon.

“Um… are you alright?”

She crouched. Tapped it with a finger. The demon stirred. Rose. Opened its mouth.