Defense specialization and poltergeist.

It has taken quite a long time.

I apologize.

Still, I’ve passed through that difficult period, so I believe I can post tonight as well.

Slightly earlier in time, Maple flees the mansion, walking away from it while glancing back occasionally.

Nothing seems amiss… Good… Ah! In the end, I didn’t need that skill after all.

Maple had been searching for the skills 【Iron Body】 and 【Heavy Body】, as told by Mii, but found neither within the mansion.

But then… I did bring something back… Hmm, what was it… Ah, this one!

Maple checks the inventory, pulling out the item obtained inside the mansion.

It is the green dress worn by one of the twins in that house.

【Ghost Girl’s Dress】? Hmm, an outfit. Ah, it has a skill.

Maple notices the equipped skill and verifies it.

【Ghost Girl’s Dress】

【MP +30】

【Poltergeist】

Consuming 10 MP allows free control over magic and certain skills.

Up to ten objects can be controlled simultaneously.

Effect lasts five minutes.

Only objects belonging to the user may be controlled.

"I don't have much MP, so I won't be able to use this much... But this dress might be useful!"

Maple changes her equipment and equips the 【Ghost Girl’s Dress】.

The frills and ribbons flutter gently as Maple’s attire fully shifts to the green dress.

She confirms the change and lifts Shiroppu to near her face.

"Hehe, matching colors with Shiroppu."

Maple smiles warmly at Shiroppu.

The equipment did not suit Maple’s abilities well, yet she wore it with evident delight.

“One can be forgiven for one such thing!”

Maple decided not to give the gear to Sally, but to use it herself.

“Hmm… remove the shield… then… yes!”

Instead of the shield, Maple placed a small silver crown upon her head.

Gained during the battle in the jungle with Pain, it increased her MP by fifty percent.

“This feels right. Now, if I think through the fighting style, I can match Shiroppu’s color in battle!”

Maple began considering what kind of combat she might employ.

Though nearly stripped of equipment, leaving her a mere girl, her defense remained unmatched.

As long as she planned her offense, she was no different from her usual self.

“Hmm… fighting alongside Shiroppu… hmm… hmm…”

Maple hesitated, unsure how to fight. Then she remembered the equipment she had just acquired included the skill [Poltergeist].

"Ah... can I control things like the [Poison Dragon (Hydra)] too?"

Maple fired the Poison Dragon and activated [Poltergeist]. The poison mass froze in midair, encased in blue light.

"Oo! So, to move it... like this?"

Maple swung her hand downward. The Poison Dragon accelerated sharply, slammed into the ground, and exploded outward.

"Whoa! This is harder to use than I thought..."

Maple startled, instinctively leaping back.

After a moment of thought, she deployed weapons instead of the one-time-use [Poison Dragon (Hydra)].

"Let me practice with this."

Maple practiced the manipulation, but could only move two objects simultaneously at present.

The skill’s capacity allowed for ten objects to be moved at once, but the day when Maple would master it completely seemed distant.

Moving objects in sync with her hand was simple enough... hmm, she would have to practice if she ever had the time.

Maple sat atop the enlarged Shiroppu and resumed her training.

She guided a single bullet toward a distant monster, but the damage inflicted was negligible compared to the cost and effort.

Maple sipped an MP potion, reconsidering and adjusting her approach, continuing her practice.

Maple trained at the edge of the field, though players did not arrive completely absent.

And just then, Crom and Kasumi arrived at this very area.

With Sally, Yui, and Mai not present on the sixth floor, the active members were unevenly distributed.

“Hmm, is that Maple?”

Kasumi narrowed her eyes slightly, confirming as she spoke.

“Yeah, that’s her. Shiroppu’s there, and weapons grow from her back—no doubt about it.”

There was no other player with such distinctive features.

As Crom and Kasumi prepared to approach Maple, four pale blue lasers shot upward from the weapons on Maple’s back.

That alone was a scene they had seen before, but these lasers did not vanish. They remained suspended in place.

A short while later, one by one, they began swinging—like swords being swung in arcs.

“……”

Both halted their steps and looked at each other.

“Shall we go see? Will you come too, Kasumi?”

"Very well, do not go. Now, what will come forth?"

They walked toward Maple, as if heading to a boss battle.