Defense specialization and the rainy zone.

They encountered monsters several times along the way, but did not struggle against them.

They moved straight toward their destination and arrived without issue.

“Hmm, still raining. Maple, open your umbrella.”

“Yeah. Got it.”

Maple withdrew an umbrella made of cloud from her inventory. The others did the same.

“The umbrella protects us from rain above, but avoid the droplets that bounce off the ground nearby.”

“Got it! Then, let’s go.”

The three stepped into the area where rain fell steadily, holding their umbrellas above them.

“Good. It’s repelling them.”

Maple listened to the sound of raindrops bouncing off the umbrella above her head, and spoke with a slight ease in her voice.

Though it did not resemble a proper umbrella, it fulfilled its purpose exactly.

"Then, as long as it's in that shop, the effect is guaranteed... There's still a little time left. I should tell Maple what I want her to do in the boss fight."

Sally spoke, relaying the strategy for the boss battle to Maple.

"Uh-huh, got it. Don't worry!"

Maple nodded, replying after hearing the entire plan.

"Both of you, just in time. We've arrived."

Kasumi said, folding her umbrella.

The sky above remained overcast, but no rain fell.

Maple and Sally folded their umbrellas, confirming what each would do.

Final checks complete, the three stepped into the boss area.

"Here he comes—the boss!"

Ahead of the trio, a mass of water seeped from the cloud-covered ground, slowly taking human form.

Within the wavering body, a patch of deeper blue floated, distinct and clear.

That was the core of the boss. That was the weakness.

As the boss’s form solidified, a change appeared in the clouded sky.

"Rain’s coming again, Maple!"

"Right! Just as planned!"

"Count on us both!"

The three moved, each taking their assigned role.

In response, the boss reshaped its liquid body into a blade-like arm.

It advanced toward them, splashing water with each step.

And beyond that, a large mass of water descended slowly from the sky—perhaps a meter in diameter.

"Then, first—[Great Sea]! Follow with [Ice Binding Zone]!"

As Kasumi dashed toward the boss, Sally activated two skills in place.

The water she summoned froze instantly, a pale glow spreading across the ground.

"Good... [Thread Weave] [Ice Pillar]"

Sally activates two more skills.

An ice pillar rises. In Maple's sight, Sally shoots a thread from her palm and ascends the pillar at high speed.

"Ooh... amazing... right, I need to prepare too—[Full Armament Deployment]!"

Maple points her weapons upward.

Maple's task is twofold.

One is to destroy the frozen water mass Sally has suspended in the air. The other is to withstand the boss’s counterattack, which will come now that it targets her.

Maple begins firing into the sky. She shoots through every ice mass Sally has frozen.

The ice does not fall, so destruction must be done this way.

Like the earlier rain zone, this water also carries a debuff that slows movement.

That was the purpose of the attack.

"Sally’s amazing—flying all around..."

Maple murmurs.

In her vision, Sally moved at high speed between pillars far above, freezing droplets midair.

"Awesome!"

Maple’s eyes sparkled. But beauty always concealed effort beneath the surface, and Sally was no different.

"【Right Hand: Thread】【Right Hand: Contract】【Left Hand: Thread】【Left Foot: Thread】【Left Hand: Contract】【Right Foot: Thread】【Right Hand: Thread】【Right Hand: Contract】【Left Hand: Thread】"

Sally spoke without pause.

She extended threads as a skill, contracted them at times, vanished them at others with precise timing.

She ran through the air, managing each thread without error.

Sally landed on an ice pillar and took a breath.

"Phew—first stage done. If I drop to the ground, I’ll be soaked in debuffs… and the next part will be tough. Gotta push through."

After destroying a set number of raindrops, the boss shifts in form.

The core within the boss, which had been striking Maple’s head with its blade, moves and slips into the cloud-covered ground.

From the cloud ground, multiple imitations of the boss emerge, each bearing a similar core.

The more raindrops they drop onto the ground, the more these imitations multiply. Attacking the cores becomes increasingly difficult.

"Good—worked as planned. Then, 【Crimson Blade】!"

As Kasumi speaks, indicating it is my turn, the demon blade in her hand melts into red liquid.

At the same time, Kasumi’s HP drops by more than half.

The effect is sufficient. The blade formed of red liquid stretches wildly through the air, races across the ground, and dyes the cloud earth red as it attacks every core.

"If you don’t know the right answer, just pierce them all."

The blade returns to its original form and settles into her hand.

A skill only safely activated because Maple holds the core.

"Right. Three more repetitions, was it? A worthy boss indeed."

"Kasumi! Potion!"

"Ah!"

Thus, the final boss battle of this level transitions into its tense second phase.