Defense specialization and Tower Fifth Floor 2.

Iz sends a message, ensuring all understand the current situation. After sharing their status, they agree to continue exploring until someone falls.

"Still, I would prefer to avoid combat if possible…"

Though she can attack, by the time they reach the turning point of the latest event, holding a small hammer is futile.

Yet she does not intend to overlook Iz. From the ground around her, swarms of zombies rise.

"This number… ugh… the materials won’t be recovered."

Iz sets her resolve, unfolding her 【Magic Workshop】 and entering mass explosive production.

"Enhancement crystals and… how about a flamethrower?"

With her funds convertible to materials at will, and production possible anywhere, Iz’s attack supplies never run out.

So much of what we gathered… ah, even the money is vanishing…

Amidst the flames and blast waves illuminating the thick mist, Iz throws a bomb with distant eyes.

Just as Iz had been left alone, Mai and Yui now stand alone within the mist.

"W-what should we do, sister! Crom-san—gone somewhere, disappeared!"

Crom, just moments ago, vanished into the dense mist. They hurried to follow, but ahead only mist stretches.

"For now… let’s just survive? We’ll surely meet up again soon."

As they speak, a message arrives from Iz.

"Message from Iz… um… Yui! Stay alert."

"Got it. Leave it to me."

Mai sends a reply to Iz and exchanges quick words, sharing information.

“Yui, um… Kanade and Kasumi are together, Crom and Iz are separate. Might be a trap.”

“What should we do?”

“Keep moving until someone falls. So we’ll search for everyone… the exit too.”

Now that Crom, who was guarding them, is gone, they must protect themselves.

They use the item Iz gave them—granting fire attribute to weapons for a set time—and further boost their STR with a [Doping Seed], preparing to strike down monsters in one blow.

Back to back, pressed tightly together, they raise two great hammers.

“Back is yours, sister!”

“Mm… I’ll do my best.”

Holding their flame-wreathed hammers ready to strike, they inch forward through the mist, step by step.

“Yui, watch your feet.”

Mm… I know, but if it suddenly appears, there’s nothing we can do.

They must not be caught off guard. To avoid a single attack is to lose the initiative. The balance shifts instantly.

Umm… Ah! Sister, I’ve got it!

…What?

Mai watched Yui’s confident expression, feeling a flicker of unease at Yui’s sudden idea, and listened.

At that moment, Kanade and Kasumi advanced with calm ease, cutting down monsters without hesitation.

With so many coming at once, my left arm can finally be useful!

As Kasumi swung her blade, the armored arm raised a massive sword in reply.

Even the left arm, without any attribute, could cleave through ordinary monsters with ease.

Leave the defense to me. Kasumi, you’ve plenty of attacks to spare.

Kanade moves with precision, prioritizing the nearest monsters, halting them one by one while focusing on Kasumi’s recovery and defense.

Originally the two attackers stationed on the fifth floor. Being surrounded by monsters is no great concern.

Kanade’s responsiveness is unmatched even among the 【Maple Tree】. Kasumi is steady, capable of enduring prolonged battles.

She possesses the strength to crush swarms of zombies or ghosts, even when outnumbered.

“If they increase, I’ll rely on area magic.”

“Okay. Heh, now, which one should I pick…?”

Kanade gazes at the floating bookshelf, smiling faintly at the books arranged upon it.

“Pick something that doesn’t involve me.”

“Of course! I wouldn’t use something like that.”

Kanade glances briefly at a book bound in pitch-black leather, nestled in a corner of the shelf, and replies.

Then it’s fine. I don’t know where to go, but for now, we’ll explore until a new message arrives.

That’s right. I hope everyone is safe.

This looks bad for Crom. He’s alone—difficult, but he won’t die.

Kasumi speaks as she cuts down undead monsters one after another.

As expected, Crom is struggling against the zombies.

Ah, troublesome! They keep coming!

He blocks attacks with his large shield, cleaving each one with his war hammer, and is soon surrounded, barely escaping each time.

Not very agile—perhaps that’s his saving grace.

Still, though he struggles, Crom is far from death.

Healing can’t catch up. Now what to do?

Wound after wound, he regains strength slowly, regaining his footing, advancing as the numbers dwindle.

His form was more undead than any undead monster.

"Need to catch up soon... worried about the two of them."

He cuts off the heads of approaching monsters, thinking of Mai and Yui, separated from him.

His HP replenishes again to full.

Crom, who resists damage and recovers fully, is not easily felled by common enemies.

"...I'm not so bad at this, am I?"

Crom recognizes anew that he can fight, and reconsiders that Maple's combat style is not that of a great shield-user.

Thus, each pair presses their strengths forward, passing through the swarm of monsters.

Minor adjustment to skill description.