Defense specialization and thread manipulation.

Short. Will provide tomorrow.

After the battle ends, the threads binding Sally gradually vanish.

With her upper body free, Sally lifts herself up before the threads fully untie.

Immediately after, the threads vanish. Sally falls to the ground.

"Yok… to!"

Sally skillfully regains her balance in midair and lands successfully on the ground.

"Should have acquired a skill... it was there."

Sally checks her status.

There, the skill 【Thread Manipulator I】 has been added.

Sally reads the description.

【Thread Manipulator】

Controls spider silk.

Stretchable at skill level 5.

Range: five meters. Can be emitted from both hands and feet.

Using it again cancels the 【Thread Manipulator】 state.

"Wasn’t an Eater. Ah— but the condition is the same."

Sally wanted to reach Maple’s position, but not by the same method Maple had used.

It was something like pride, in her.

Yet, she also felt the limits of her own ability.

“What does this feel like… 【Thread Manipulator】?”

The words caused a change in Sally’s displayed status.

The text 【Thread Manipulator】 appeared beside her name.

Sally read the skill description more carefully, then extended her right hand.

“【Right Hand: Thread】”

From the palm of her right hand, threads like those that had bound her moments before stretched out, striking a tree a short distance ahead and adhering perfectly.

Sally pulled hard, but the thread did not detach from the tree.

She paused, thinking.

“…Maple, I’m borrowing your strength, just this once.”

Sally muttered it, then erased the thread she had extended, moving deeper into the jungle to raise her skill level.

She walked through the jungle, extending and erasing the thread in repetition, but after a short while, she stopped.

“Better to reach level five first. Then I can see if I can use the stretch thread.”

She decided it was too dangerous to level up here, and chose to leave the jungle for now.

Her interest had shifted from the jungle to her skill.

“Yeah, I can’t die yet. Time to go back.”

Her form dissolved into light and vanished from the jungle.

Thus, with one skill acquired, Sally returned to the guild home in the fifth layer of Town.

When Sally entered the guild home, there was Kanade and Crom.

They spoke with Sally. Both seemed intent on challenging the jungle as well.

"I’m going today too… but I’ve only managed to gather materials similar to what Izu requires."

"I have something I need as well. I’m not certain I’ll reach it, but I must go this time!"

Each had their own purpose. If things went well, the guild would advance another step.

"Safe journey. May it succeed."

"Ah, something will come back."

"See you later!"

They waved their hands, stepping out into the town as preparation.

At the same moment, two others departed from the Kingdom of the Flame Emperor toward the jungle.

They had entered the jungle and begun their exploration just ahead of Crom and Kanade.

Before them, the two appeared with a sudden pop—less by chance than by system.

Regardless, Kanade met Markus. Crom met Mizari.

Players who used magic, such as MP, seeking the MP increase skill they had targeted.

To obtain the MP increase skill. Kanade and the other moved, united by shared purpose.

Crom, with no particular aim, began searching the area alongside Mizari.

And Maple, thinking little, ran through the jungle carrying Pain, arriving at their side.