Defense-focused and fourth floor of the tower.

I'll reply to comments all at once on Friday night.

Sorry for the delay.

The two rest on the rocks, fishing for a while. Monsters do not seem to be catchable. No dangerous fish are caught either. Sally continues to gather materials suitable for Izu.

Maple, as always, catches nothing.

"Ugh, no good."

"Status hasn't changed. So, how are you feeling? I still think we'll have to ride Shiroppu."

"We don't have a boat."

Having bypassed underwater monsters by riding on Maple’s back, they no longer need a boat.

To try the direct approach, they must first leave the tower.

"Ugh... those water arrows... are they piercing attacks?"

Maple can fly without fail. The odds are high. They’re shaped like arrows, after all.

It’s unlikely there’s no piercing attack or anti-air defense. Still, Sally had tested it. A blow of moderate strength caused it to shatter and vanish. It could be forced through.

I don’t want to use Love That Offers the Body, but if I don’t, Shiroppu won’t be safe…

Ride on the shield? Though, if we don’t defend properly, we’ll get hit. Ah, but it might not even be a piercing attack.

Let’s do it! As long as we avoid being struck entirely…

I’ll make a path somehow. Ah, but you too, Maple—try to strike back?

Leave it to me! Hehe, let’s settle this with bullets and arrows!

Maple switches her equipment. She deploys weapons. Two white hands float in the air, holding a large shield.

The footing is 'Nightshade,' I suppose. Would be troublesome if it broke.

Maple sets the high-durability, self-repairing 'Nightshade' parallel to the water's surface, then steps onto it beside Sally.

The next one... behind Sally!

Maple sits cross-legged atop the great shield, holding it before her.

Gunports and cannon muzzles face the water on both sides of the shield footing.

Oh... fully equipped.

If we shoot them all down, we won't have to worry.

Even if some get through, we'll handle them. Don't fret.

Yes! Then, let's go!

Maple slowly slides the shield away from the rock.

In response, water arcs upward from the surface, and bullets fly from Maple's side in return.

Go! Keep advancing!

Our suppression power is stronger here!

The two advance steadily, piercing the underwater monsters with their shots.

Their descent down the river continues, unbroken, Sally still silent.

"Arrows this weak? No problem!"

"Would’ve been different on Shiroppu. Still… hold on! It’s getting rougher?"

Sally speaks, deflecting the water arrows that now slice past her.

"Maybe. The platform’s shield is splashing loudly."

"Yeah… wait, Maple! Something’s ahead!"

"Got it! I’ll shoot through them!"

Maple aims her rifle. A cluster of fish, each about fifty centimeters long, leap from the surface and dive back repeatedly, closing in.

"...Flying fish?"

"River, though. Enemy… maybe?"

The fish dodge Maple’s bullets with precision, pressing closer.

"If only I had arrows, I could hit more!"

From beneath Maple, a monster leaps, slashing with a fin that glints like a blade.

Most are deflected by shields and vanish back into the water, but some sever Maple’s gun and cannon, passing through.

“Ahhhh! M-my weapon!”

“Maple, arrows!”

With Maple’s weapons broken, the restrained water arrows surge toward the second target.

Sally barely hesitates, binding spider silk to Maple, ascending into the air as if climbing an invisible staircase.

Countless new arrows launch in pursuit.

“Maple, redeploy! Just a moment….”

“I know! 【Toxic Dragon (Hydra)】!”

Maple’s toxic mass swallowed the tiny water arrows whole, sinking the great shield—its former foothold—into a sea of poison beneath.

“Good. 【Attack Initiated】!”

As Sally lost her footing, the two fell directly toward the shield.

Maple intercepted the returning water arrows with her re-deployed weapon, then landed on the shield’s surface with Sally cradled against her back.

“The shield is poisoned too…”

“Maybe rest on a nearby rock. The poison here is worrying.”

Sally wanted to recover the stats she’d lost by creating a platform in midair.

“River travel is tough…”

“But we’ve come far already. Look, the waterfall’s so distant now.”

“Oh, then the finish might be near?”

“Possibly. Which means the boss battle awaits.”

“Ugh… so we must push on one more time.”

Maple slid the shield forward, moving toward the nearby rock as if it were a relay point.