Defensive specialization and the King of Light.
As Maple approaches the throne, white light gathers upon it, contracting.
It forms a human shape of sufficient size to match the grand throne.
A crown glimmers upon its head. A beard of light sways upon an aged face.
The ornate garments it wears evoke royalty itself.
Magic circles unfold one after another around the king. The white light spreading from the throne creeps across the ground.
No words spoken.
A spear of light is fired from the magic circle directly at Maple.
"Alright... [Ruthless]!"
The outer layer enveloping Maple deflects each incoming spear of light.
"Let's go!"
Maple dashes across the earth.
When Maple stepped through the white glow spreading from the throne, the solid outer layer dissolved like melting wax.
"Wha!? Uwah!"
Maple was suddenly thrown forward, rolling across the ground.
When she finally came to a stop, she looked around, trying to understand what had happened.
The arrows of light continued to be fired without pause. The king remained seated upon the throne.
"Then... [Poison Dragon (Hydra)]!"
Maple called out, but the familiar stream of poison did not emerge from her thrusting dagger.
"Wha...? [Predator]! [Seeping Chaos]! [Full Armament Deployment]!"
She activated her reliable skills. The weapons deployed, but everything else failed.
The glowing ground spread further.
It was a sacred field, sealing the wicked skill of anyone standing within it.
Compared to the Light King, Maple’s arsenal was far too wicked.
“[Attack Initiated]!”
Maple fires bullets, shells, and lasers, but the arrows of light outnumber her attacks, deflecting nearly all of them.
Then, just as Maple’s assault finally lands, it fails to inflict any damage at all.
Maple’s gunfire relies on volume over single-shot power. Against opponents with even moderate defense, it proves ineffective.
Since her damage output is fixed, the longer she persists, the less effective her attacks become.
“Hmm… what now? I’m not taking damage… and [Bad Eating] hasn’t activated either.”
Maple stares at the large shield, watching it casually deflect the arrows, utterly at a loss.
A state of neither losing nor winning.
Neither side showed sign of exhaustion, their long-range attacks continuing without change.
"Let me try approaching, just for now."
Maple walks forward, deflecting arrows that strike her entire body, aiming for the unmoving king upon the throne.
She reaches the foot of the throne.
"Attacking… won't work, will it…"
Maple pokes the king’s toe with her short blade. No damage registers.
Hitting with the shield. Summoning Shiroppu to attack. The situation remains unchanged.
Maple stands still for a moment. Then she claps her hands once, turns sharply, and faces away from the boss.
"Retreat! Tetta-i!"
Understanding there is no other way, Maple turns her back to the arrows and retreats into the storm-wracked sky.
Maple returns to the normal field, struck by lightning, and stops. She begins to consider a way forward.
Something… no… wait—yes! That sound I heard while walking through the Town—there must be somewhere it’s stored!
Maple remembers something. She rides Shiroppu slowly toward the Town.
There was a place with shops lined up. I’ll look from there.
Maple dismounts from Shiroppu at the Town’s edge, checking her remaining coins.
Will it be here… will it be here… I think they said it was in the upper tier…
Maple walks from shop to shop, checking each one’s stock.
After one hour of circling the shops.
Maple spends most of her money, buying many items.
Good. I’ve gathered a few things. Some may not help. But I’ll try again tomorrow.
Maple confirms the final items packed into her inventory, then logs out and returns to the real world.