Defense specialization and fifth floor of the tower.

Divided into four groups, each advances through the thick fog.

Eventually, Kasumi and Kanade were the first to emerge from the mist.

"Finally made it through."

"Ended up not needing magic after all."

Kanade needed only to heal and support Kasumi, who alone dealt with monsters without hesitation.

No need for wide-area attacks. Monsters fell one by one.

"Attack power has increased significantly. Status reduction is troublesome... but we can manage multiple targets, and it fits into our tactics."

In 【Maple Tree】, the most important factor is increasing attack power.

No player or monster has ever broken through Maple’s impenetrable defense to defeat one of the guild members—this was to be expected.

Even if it weren’t for that, watching the battle now, she seems safe enough… but what now? No one’s been hurt yet, it seems.

Let’s wait. Everyone might come out here soon.

Yes. Hmm, no monsters are appearing either.

After they stood there a while, a deep explosion rang out from within the mist.

From the mist, Iz emerges rolling, clutching a bomb under one arm, breathing hard, sipping a health potion.

Ha… ha… got through it, I think.

Looks safe—amazing!

All the materials and money taken… ah, crafting the new item growing ever more distant…

Iz sits flat on the ground, glaring resentfully at the thick fog spreading behind her.

She ran through the fog, scattering explosive devices crafted in the Workshop, exchanging gold for missing materials, and driving back the swarm of monsters with sheer volume of items.

"Ah, well. As long as you're safe, that's what matters. I'll gather the supplies myself. Your items have been a great help."

"I'd appreciate that..."

"Um, Kasumi. Someone else is coming."

Kanade turned her ear to the sound of wind splitting through the air, eyes fixed on the other side of the fog.

Four red shapes tore through the dense mist.

"May-chan, Yui-chan!"

"Ah! We did it! Sister! Wah!"

"Yui, wait—wah!"

The two spun in place, arms outstretched, back-to-back, then tumbled forward, distracted by the trio, crashing face-first into the ground.

They advanced like a typhoon, swinging the flame-imbued great mallet without pause, as monsters ahead fell without their own effort.

If unable to react, if unable to strike in time—then resolve it with a single, instant-kill blow, always.

"Are you two alright?"

"Uuu... my head spins..."

"Izumi-san... I think I pushed myself too hard, too."

Yet every monster that charged toward the deathstorm created by Mai and Yui was blown away without exception, never reaching the two.

"Remaining are Crom. Well, Crom should be fine."

"Yes. His endurance is legendary."

Just as Mai and Yui finally recovered. Crom emerged from the thick fog, far behind the other five.

"Hah... so I'm last."

"There, see? Still alive."

"Remarkable. Full stamina, as if nothing happened."

"Hmph... managed to push through, all things considered. Level rose just from having to fight through the encirclement."

Crom says the 【Maple Tree】 members have long since outgrown the difficulty of one against many.

Even Iz, who should not be suited for combat, had broken through — the eradication capability is as Crom describes.

One can infer as much from their actions during the fourth event, where they fought large guilds as if it were routine.

"Still, you're abnormal in your own way, Crom."

"Right. It's not meant to be broken through while surrounded."

The trap meant to split the party had not proven a significant obstacle either. The six, safely reunited, continued the progression.

"Monsters ahead use instant-death magic. Take these."

Iz handed each member a ring set with a crimson gem.

"Here. A ring of substitution. It will absorb three instant-death effects on your behalf."

"...Did such an item even exist?"

Crom tilts his head, unfamiliar with the artifact.

"New gear, crafted from the material dropped by the zombie just now. Hehe, I collected the material as payment for the explosive."

Iz, empowered by the 【New Realm】, can create items impossible under ordinary conditions. From countless options, she selects gear and tools of superior quality.

"With this, we'll be much safer."

"True. We can preserve the protective spellbook as well."

"Then let's move. We can still manage if they're divided, but if they attack from below with traps, we won't be able to defend. Stay alert."

Cautioning against unseen traps, Kasumi and Kanade advance together, handling the monsters ahead.

Mai and Yui remain behind Crom, with Iz.

"Kasumi, you've improved your maneuvering again. That was quite the cut through the mist."

Crom watches Kasumi's movements from his position, keeping Mai and Yui firmly protected, as no monsters approach him.

"Almost to the boss battle. Are you ready?"

"I'm ready! Oh, and the fire-elemental infusion item Iz gave me was helpful!"

"I saw you dodge out from the front. That attack pattern... I'll admit, it surprised me."

The slight surprise in Iz's tone matched her familiarity with the spinning, two-handed mallet maneuver she had just observed.

Meanwhile, progress on the fifth floor continues.

Even without Maple and Sally, the monsters along the way did not impose significant strain on the members of the [Maple Tree].