Defense specialization and the first floor of the tower.

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Maple and Sally have arrived at the front of the magical array set in the town square.

They will use this array to head toward the tower.

"Um, the hardest one, right?"

"Of course! I'm ready!"

Maple speaks with high energy, and Sally begins to walk, her steps light with anticipation.

"Hehe, then this way! Let's quickly clear the first floor?"

"Yeah, that's right!"

Sally says with confidence, and Maple responds with a smile.

Thus, the two step onto the magical array leading to the highest difficulty tower, vanishing into white light.

The light fades. Before them now stands a towering structure piercing the sky.

The upper part of the tower vanishes into the clouds. The width of each level is substantial.

"This will take time."

"Indeed. If the appearance is accurate, it may be a quarter the size of a normal field... or less. But there might be teleportation points along the way."

"O-oh... we’ll have to push forward!"

"Yeah. Let’s take it easy."

They move straight ahead. Pushing open a large door, they enter the tower.

Inside, a corridor stretches wide enough to fit four people side by side. Even within sight, several branching paths appear.

The ceiling rises four meters high.

"For now..."

"Yeah. It’s like a maze. We must be cautious at every intersection."

"Um... then, Love That Offers the Body!"

Maple activates Love That Offers the Body first, as if preparing to protect Sally should anything go wrong.

White feathers extend from the back of Maple’s black armor.

Having prepared, the two begin walking through the dungeon.

“By the way, Maple. Why aren’t you equipping those extra shields?”

“Huh? Oh, that’s still under practice. Getting used to handling multiple things at once will take a bit longer. Plus, Sally looks unwell about it?”

“Ugh… well, just a little. Just a little, okay?”

Setting Sally aside, Maple decided to set aside items like the 【Poltergeist】 for now.

She judged it better to change equipment one piece at a time when needed.

Maple would not be unable to gain the time she required.

“I’m not used to it yet… ah! Maple, watch out—!”

“Huh? Ah…”

Maple, mid-sentence, steps through a patch of ground that has changed color.

The floor splits open with a crack. Maple tumbles straight down.

Sally, reacting instantly, shoots a thread toward the wall and stops dead.

"Maple! Are you alright?!"

"I'm fine! Just a poisonous marsh!"

Maple's voice returns from the dark bottom of the pit.

After a moment, Maple floats upward—cradled between two floating shields, her body suspended in midair, light as down.

"Ha. With gear like this, a pitfall's no threat."

"...Good. You're safe. Still, be more careful with your steps."

Sally narrows her eyes slightly. She looks away as she speaks.

"...Right! [Hair Growth]!"

Maple freezes in place, then transforms into a ball of white fluff. A face and a pair of angelic wings poke out from the sphere.

"Maple?"

This way, no need to plan traps. Sally won’t be afraid either. A single stone, two birds. We did it like this before.

Maple floats smoothly toward Sally. Sally enters the ball of fluff.

"Shuppaatsu!"

"O-oh?... Is dungeon exploration really like this...?"

Maple flies through the corridor, light as down. Sally remains bewildered.

"Um, Maple! Monster!"

A bird with crimson wings floats into view from the corner. Two meters tall.

"Fufufu. Come at me from anywhere! — Full Armament Deployment! — Attack Initiated!"

Black poles extend from the fluff. Guns and cannons unfold.

Maple begins her attack proudly. But her shots pass straight through the bird. The creature shifts into flame and charges forward with full force.

"Maple!"

"Ah! E-eh, that, that can't be right!"

The floating clump of fur has no power of motion. The bird passes through, burning all its hair away.

The presence of Love That Offers the Body means Sally suffers no damage, yet she cannot return to her former state as a tangle of fur.

—mhm…

I will fight! Cover me!

"Alright, provocation accepted!"

Maple steps down from the floating shield and uses a skill to draw the flame bird’s attention.

And while Maple endures the impact to conserve her strength, Sally strikes with a direct water spell from the side.

The flame bird cast a clear crimson damage effect.

The flame diminished, reduced to a mere red bird.

Water really does work, I thought—yes, that’s what I thought!

Sally slashes with both daggers, and the damage increases further.

Maple!

Sally signaled to Maple upon seeing it.

"Revenge—[Poison Dragon (Hydra)]!"

The purple main stream swallows the red bird and blasts it away.

A death effect from [Poisonous Curse Magic] flashes—no trace remains of the bird.

When the battle ends

"Remove [Healing Hand]... phew."

"Hmm, well done. Still just a minor oddity, just a common monster, but it ended safely."

"Can't use [Hair Growth] anymore."

"Can't use the same trick twice, right? Come on, you should practice spotting traps."

"Yeah, you're right. Let's try it?"

Thus, Maple stepped on traps several times, but the two continued deeper into the passage.