Defense specialization and the eighth tower floor.

The next day, the two prepared as promised and finally stepped into the eighth floor.

"What will it be like?"

"Something to discover on the spot, perhaps."

Together, they took a step forward, transferring from the seventh floor's magic circle to the eighth.

As the light before their eyes faded, a deep forest spread out before them.

The place resembled the jungle area from the event—no clear path, only forest identical in every direction, ahead and behind.

"Um... which way should we go?"

"The direction we faced when we arrived... maybe?"

Neither was certain, but standing still would lead nowhere, so they began walking forward.

At that moment.

"!?"

"Sally!?"

The effect of 【Empty Cicada】 activated from Sally. It was proof that Sally had been struck with her HP reduced to zero by some unseen force.

Sally spun sharply, drawing two daggers and scanning the trees and thickets with sharp eyes.

"Th-the Love That Offers the Body!"

A moment later, Maple deployed a field to protect Sally.

For a time, the two stood back-to-back, watching their surroundings, but no further attack came.

Sally sheathed her daggers and exhaled.

"Hah... thank you, Maple."

"No, you're the one who should be asking— are you alright?"

"I'm managing... I didn't sense anything at all..."

"Could it be a trap?"

"I don't know... I can't say for sure. But I think that attack was unavoidable..."

"Then leave it to me! I'll protect you properly!"

As long as Love That Offers the Body had activated, Sally would be unharmed even if struck again.

She avoids each attack as if it were natural, yet she would die from a second strike, no matter the assault.

"I don’t want to be hit without retaliation. I want to find the culprit."

"I’ll stay alert too!"

Maple unfolds her weapons without pause, ready to strike at any moment, and moves forward.

As she does, a monkey monster hurls a bursting fruit, and roots surge from the ground, but they are powerless against her.

"Being free of monsters would make searching easier."

"Yes. And I still can’t identify what attacked me…"

Sally remains on high alert, unable to settle. The monsters attack only from afar. She cannot counter.

No monster stays long.

Yes... that’s right. No experience points either. Hmm, it’s frustrating not being able to cut through anything.

Without knowing the boss, there was no reason to attack unnecessarily. The two ignored the enemy’s assaults and searched for a place resembling the Boss Room.

Then, before the two of them, an ancient stone monument overgrown with vegetation came into view.

Ah, Sally! Something’s here.

No magic circle. Not likely a Boss Room. Still, let us go see.

As the two approached the stone monument, they realized characters were inscribed upon it.

A path appears before one who has defeated the cunning lord of the forest.

Could it be the boss?

That would be so.

Then I must bring it down!?

Mid-conversation, Maple suddenly staggers forward, her face striking the stone monument with a sharp impact.

An attack came from behind.

Sally glances in that direction. A massive chameleon clings to the tree, retracting its tongue and slowly fading into transparency, vanishing entirely.

“That one…!”

“Wha—? What was that? Something there?”

“Yeah. Probably the chameleon that attacked me first. And… this is just a guess. But I think we’re already inside the Boss Room. Or rather… the boss is moving through the field?”

“Then we have to chase it?”

“Likely. But… it’s fading out. Looks difficult. That last one was probably just a show, like an event display.”

Maple’s long-range attacks are halved by the thick trees. Sally cannot avoid the chameleon’s strikes—no trace, no presence—nor can she use her speed for reconnaissance as usual.

“Then we’ll go after it.”

“Have to try a few things… uh…”

With resolve set, Maple’s eyelids slowly close. She slumps against the stone monument, asleep.

……Maple?……Ah, [Sleep]!

A powerful status effect. It cannot be removed by damage, but lasts twenty seconds, rendering the target immobile.

The invisible attack earlier must have inflicted it.

And as if waiting for that moment, a shower of exploding fruit rains down from above.

Clever……neat. [Love That Offers the Body] saved us…

Yet this will not harm Maple. [Sleep] remains unbroken.

Only one choice—wait.

Sally watches Maple sleep soundly, her breathing soft and deep. She considers how to catch the chameleon.