Defense-oriented, with a twisted great tree.

Among the three groups converging toward the source of MP increase, Crom and Mizari collided with a horde of monsters.

"Take this!"

Crom’s sickle bites into the moss-covered golem.

Unlike Maple, Crom possesses a moderate degree of attack power, allowing him to inflict meaningful damage.

Yet the enemy is not only the golem.

Taking advantage of Crom’s momentary opening in combat, animal-type monsters—wolves and apes—launch attacks.

"Not on my watch!"

Mizari fires a burst of light, sending several approaching monsters flying.

Thanks to this, Crom manages to raise his shield in time.

In this area, the inability to heal reduces both of their effectiveness by several tiers.

Without this pairing, Mizari’s healing magic and Crom’s self-repair would have made Crom an impregnable fortress. That possibility failed this time.

They must proceed with heightened caution, far beyond their usual state.

“Damn it! No end to this!”

“Let’s run! There was an item for fleeing monsters… somewhere!”

Mizari swiftly accessed her inventory, pulled out a white ball, and immediately threw it to the ground.

A wide cloud of white smoke rose, filling the monster’s field of view.

In that moment, the two departed hastily.

“Phew… my ability is reaching its limit.”

“Huff… I’d find it easier with an attacker by my side.”

“Maple or Yui would be useful.”

“Mii-san or Shin-san would make things much more secure.”

Walking as if speaking, the two followed the path toward the heart of the jungle, shaped by repeated exploration.

At the same moment the two struggled through combat along the way, Kanade and the other also encountered monsters.

"Here they come..."

Marx did nothing in particular, simply walking straight ahead.

Kanade beside him unfolded a bookshelf, but made no move to draw out a spellbook.

Just as contact was made, thick vines surged from the ground, wrapping around the monster.

Above Marx's head, several monsters flailed their limbs, struggling to escape the vines, but without success.

"Yes, detonation..."

A red magic circle appeared around the vine, exploding violently and scattering the monster.

Marx delivered a follow-up spell, finishing off the monster already severely wounded.

"Wow, impressive."

It'll be fine if we catch it, it'll be fine.

Marx showed a slight, smug expression despite his restrained demeanor.

Ahead of Marx's gaze, a moss-covered stone golem appeared—several times his height.

Red eyes locked with Marx's.

No... that's impossible... that's impossible.

Hmm, then perhaps something with limited utility... [Voice of the Reaper].

A black book floated gently out from Kanade's shelf.

Pages of the book, stained with dark spots, fluttered open. A low, resonant sound vibrated from deep within the body.

Soon after, the large golem was swallowed by endless darkness. Then, it dissolved into faint particles of light.

Oh—worked, it seems. Low-probability instant death.

Lucky...?

Not bad.

They resumed their steps.

Crom and Mizari, by comparison, advanced with far greater ease.

Elsewhere, in the noisiest part of a jungle lined with trees.

Monsters passed by were leapt over, burned, crushed. Light-cutter slashes flew at those attempting to flee.

There, amidst the jungle’s roar, Maple raced forward—Pain riding atop her—unconcerned whether monsters approached.

“Hmm? Maple, stop. Something’s seen.”

“Huh? Yes!”

Maple halted after felling another monster.

A short distance ahead, trees bent unnaturally, as if melted mid-growth, curving in a strange arc.

The two moved toward them.

Deeper into the warped grove, a massive tree emerged—formed from numerous thick trunks intertwined.

At the base of the tree, an entrance lies visible—wooden steps ascending into the trunk.

"Ah… this…"

Maple compares the size of the entrance to her own body.

The discrepancy was impossible to ignore.

Reluctantly, Maple releases her state of 【Violence】.

The monster’s abdomen splits open. Maple collapses onto the ground with a wet thud.

Pain watches silently. Then checks the safety around the entrance.

"No issues."

"I will go first."

Maple grips her great shield tightly, declaring it. Pain nods quietly.

The two ascend the wooden steps with careful steps.