Defense specialization and Rain Area Two.

Yet, upon advancing to the second stage, the course of action remains fundamentally unchanged.

Maple aside, Kasumi and Sally’s minds are precisely filled with the boss’s attack patterns and stage-specific alterations.

Thus, victory was already foreseeable upon breaking through the first stage.

“The fall speed has increased. Sally… is managing it.”

The fall speed rises with each stage, and the volume increases incrementally.

Since Maple nearly permanently draws the boss’s attention, Kasumi watches the sky, preparing for when Sally might fall short.

Kasumi, increasingly focused on Sally’s actions rather than the sky itself, shifts her gaze accordingly.

“Sally has begun flying through the air… no, compared to Maple, she might just manage it.”

Sally is leaping between ice spires, not flying through empty space.

“Sally could move freely through the forest. Perhaps her mobility would even improve.”

As Kasumi thinks this, the boss’s core shifts again. A slightly greater number of copies of the boss appear, this time.

“[Crimson Blade]!”

At the cost of her HP, the red blade spreads once more. This time, too, she successfully strikes all the cores.

“There’s still room. Yes, it’s somewhat more manageable than [Violet Phantom Blade]. Slightly weaker in power… but still.”

Having fulfilled her purpose, the boss finally detaches from Maple and turns its attention to Kasumi, nearby.

The attack is too slow. Even with her relatively high AGI, the boss fails to catch her.

Only because Maple cannot move at all—only moves slowly—does the boss manage to attack her unilaterally.

Sooner or later, she’ll start using long-range attacks.

She had already anticipated the patterns of movement. There was nothing that could be done.

In the end, Sally deflected every raindrop without letting a single one touch the ground. She prevented the boss from creating a favorable field.

Maple’s ammunition did not run out. Kasumi was not felled.

Everything concluded as planned.

The final blade of blood pierced the boss’s core. The boss dissolved into a slurry, collapsing.

“Ah… the secret weapon’s throne… couldn’t be used.”

Sally descended from the ice column, sliding down its surface, in front of Maple, who looked slightly sorrowful.

“Haa… first time using it properly in combat. Ah… tired. Not designed for constant aerial maneuvers. Can’t be helped.”

She muttered, walking toward Maple, then stretched her body tightly.

“Sally, you were amazing!”

Hmm… really? Glad. Now I can fly beside Maple… that’s still impossible, but maybe we’ll fight in the air together someday.

Hey—both of you! Drop item’s here!

Called by Kasumi, the two move toward her, accept the item, and confirm its effect.

A crystal that fires the same substance as the falling rain… up to three at once. Reuse after one minute.

Sally speaks, nodding slightly.

But it vanishes if it takes any damage. Hmm… Sally, could you use it as a platform?

That’s what I was thinking. Only way to know is to try.

She considers combining it with Ice Spikes to stay airborne longer.

That’s why she came here.

What about me… I’ll try it when someone appears in front of me.

If used when already close, it would be troublesome. Whether Maple has the composure to activate it on impulse remains uncertain.

Having finished what was to be done at this level, Maple and the others pass each day, awaiting the next event or the implementation of the next layer.

"Shall we go back?"

"Right. Let's do that."

"……[Throne of the Heavenly King]!"

A white throne appears behind Maple, as her voice rings out.

"Wha—!?"

"Huh!?"

Both turn to look at Maple, then glance around.

"Ah, I wanted to show you this. Well? Surprised? Isn’t it lovely?"

Maple smiles.

"Not in the way you mean. I was startled—on another level."

"Ah. But it’s just like always. Slightly reassuring."

"……?"

Maple does not grasp what Kasumi means.