Defense specialization and escape.

The two arrived at the fifth floor the next day.

To conquer the tower while Sally could not walk properly, Maple needed to regain the ability to use [Cruelty] again.

Having prepared on the small island on the fourth floor without incident, the two transferred to the fifth floor.

"Alright! Let's sprint through it all at once!"

"Just... please hurry..."

Maple, transformed into a creature with the form of a beast and wings of an angel, carried a large wooden crate tied to her back with rope.

Sally curled inside the crate, hidden from view.

As soon as Maple took her first step toward the challenge, a pale, translucent ghost emerged from a blue-glowing tombstone.

"Whoa! Already here!"

"Please... don't say that!"

Maple accelerated, breaking away from the ghost, and dashed across the wasteland.

Limbs of rotting flesh and bone rise from the ground as if to halt her steps, but Maple kicks them apart and runs through.

"Whoa—ghosts are multiplying now... burn up!"

She exhales flame, inflicting damage, but the ghosts do not fall. Instead, they counterattack.

Caught off guard, Maple takes the black mist they emit directly.

"Damage... none! Then, goodbye!"

She ignores it, continuing forward, unthreatened.

Yet her strength wanes. The distance closes slowly.

"...? Ah! Status effects!"

A drop in 【STR】 and 【AGI】—normally irrelevant—matters now during 【Rampage】.

【VIT】 drops mean nothing. Still, Maple cannot shake free of the ghosts.

Amidst this, one ghost slipped through the wooden crate with a soft motion.

"Y-yeah! W-what's—?!"

"Sorry! I'm leaving right away!"

Maple spat fire while dodging the ghost’s attack, then bolted forward.

A slight drop in stats meant nothing to Maple.

But the rope—just an ordinary item—was different.

"Ah…"

The weight on Maple’s back vanished. The crate rattled and tumbled to the ground.

"Wait—hold on—ahh!?"

As she reached to lift the crate containing Sally, a hand erupted from the earth and gripped her firmly.

"Ugh… can’t… pull free…!"

The ground cracked with a dull thud. Maple fell into the widening fissure.

The field fell silent. Only the crate remained.

"M-me… Maple…? H-hello…?"

Sally’s unease broke the silence. She turned her head and pried open the crate’s lid just enough to see. Black eye sockets. A face.

“F-faugh!?!”

Sally flinched violently. The lid flew open. She tumbled out.

What she could not avoid seeing: countless hands rising from the ground. Ghosts closing in.

“Uuu… Why… Why…?”

Sally ran, eyes blurred with tears. Not here. Not now. That was all.

“Escaped from the sixth layer—why now!? Why!?”

She ran without thought, forgot her skills. Only one goal.

“Log out! Log out!!”

In desperation, she fled across the wasteland. Maple forgotten.