Defense specialization and Tower Eighth Floor 3.

"Let's reduce their numbers first."

"Okay! I'll try it."

They bite into the fruit that breaks the transparency, and Maple scatters a barrage of bullets toward the chameleons nearby.

Yet, as if sensing it, they quietly slip behind trees and dodge effortlessly.

"Ugh, no good."

"They're avoiding it perfectly. Maybe we need area attacks?"

As the attack stops, several more slither out and attack from afar.

"Ugh, now they're spitting poison!"

"Since Maple's protecting us, it won't work—but the kind that lingers on the ground is troublesome."

"Can we only take them down one by one, like before?"

"It's hard, but searching for the real ones seems even slower. No choice."

"Yeah... area attacks... wait!"

"What's wrong?"

"What about something like 【Paralyze Shout】?"

One of Maple’s abilities was a powerful skill that induced paralysis across a wide area.

“Resistance might not apply… still, I think it’s worth trying!”

“Then, hold on tight—Sally, grab on!”

Maple embraced Sally tightly, then launched into the air, leaving behind a burst of flame as before.

Arriving at the location where three chameleons were present, she activated the skill.

“【Paralyze Shout】!”

A crackling effect erupted, and two of the three collapsed to the ground.

The two did not miss the opportunity—precise magic and gunfire ended them.

They did not vanish as usual, glowing into light. Instead, their forms wavered, then faded gently.

“This feel suggests they are the true ones.”

“Hmm, not guaranteed to work, it seems.”

“It’s enough. This makes things considerably easier.”

"Hehe, glad I could help!"

"Fufu, I'm really grateful."

Two chameleons down, yet the forest remained unchanged. As Sally had foreseen, it seemed the main body had to be destroyed.

"Alright! Next one! Whoa!?!"

"Maple!?"

As Maple charged forward, something transparent struck her head-on, sending her flying backward.

Sally, connected by thread, was flung back as well. Both had been nibbling on berries, which obscured their view of the incoming attack.

"Uuu... I hate it when you scare me like that..."

"Y-yeah, let's get out of this eighth floor soon..."

Invisible attacks never became any easier to handle.

Still, the course of action was simple: eliminate every chameleon that came into view.

The paralysis item from Izu should work too. I’ll scatter it. Maple, focus on flying.

Paralyzing Shout cannot normally be cast with Maple’s MP. One use of the skill slot that substitutes for MP has already been expended.

That directly affects how many times 【Poison Dragon (Hydra)】 can be struck.

“I want to finish climbing this tower this time! Save it, save it.”

“Yeah, but… we might need to prepare again before the tenth floor.”

“Oh, right. The tenth floor is really strong, huh?”

“I don’t want to lose.”

“Then let’s get through the eighth floor quickly!”

Maple accelerates. Sally handles the minor adjustments, avoiding trees. Sally bites into a fruit that reveals the chameleon’s position, guiding Maple. With high mobility, once in motion, attacks rarely land on either of them.

The chameleons diminish rapidly. Ten icons remain, marked by the fruit.

"Th-there's no real one at all!"

"Where could it be...! Maple! Right! Right!"

"Wh-where? Where?!"

For ten seconds, Sally sees icons floating in empty space, the effect revealing the chameleon's position.

From her inventory, Sally retrieves two fruits that break invisibility. She pushes one into Maple's mouth.

There, only one chameleon remains—visible, not concealed.

"That's definitely it!"

"B-but it'll run away!"

"Leave it to me. I'll catch it."

Maple cannot stop abruptly. She crashes into the tree and lands with force.

Sally slips free of the thread and moves directly toward the chameleon.

[Super Acceleration]! I won't let you get away! [Leap]!

Sally drives the dagger into the chameleon’s tongue as it attempts to cross the branch, the blade piercing with a sharp snap. It lets out a single cry, then goes still. A soft *p-link* echoes as it vanishes.

“S-Sally! Are you okay?”

Maple pushes through the underbrush, rustling the foliage. The trees tremble. They shift, as if guided by thought, parting to form a single path through the forest.

Ahead, a column of light stands. A sigil lies beneath it. No doubt.

“We’re safe. It’s over.”

“You did it. I was startled… but it wasn’t so hard, really.”

“Yeah. With Maple’s defense, and no obstacles along the way.”

“Then let’s go to the next one right away!”

“Yeah. Let’s.”

They step forward together into the sigil. The world shifts.

What awaited the two, who had wondered what the next boss and the journey ahead might bring, was a sky filled with stars.

The one flaw was this: they were above, falling through the air.

“E…?”

“H…?”

They looked at each other.

““Eh!?””