Defense specialization and the ninth tower.

"Maple, call Shiroppu!"

Yes, I understand!

Maple attempts to summon Shiroppu, but the skill fails to activate. Similarly, Sally’s 【Threadweaver】 remains inactive.

I can't do anything!

There is no choice but to fall...

They accept, with quiet resolve, that there is no way forward. Yet slowly, their speed diminishes. In midair, they halt completely.

"Floating?"

Looks like it does.

Looking again with calm focus, several more star-shaped platforms floated nearby, shimmering with light.

Their bodies glowed in unison. They floated because of the substance enveloping them.

Look, Maple. Buff active. Seems 【Star Power】 only lasts two minutes... but if you stand on that star-shaped platform for twenty seconds, it can be reapplied.

One must rest to avoid falling.

Skills can activate now too. This is finally a combat field.

Good. Shiroppu, do your best this time.

Maple enlarges Shiroppu, gaining the advantage of free movement.

Sally could draw Shiroppu into threads and extend them for emergency evasion.

As if waiting for the two to finish preparing, the sky shifts.

Something is coming.

Yeah. It’s fine.

From the star-strewn night sky, a black cylinder of impossible thickness descends. From it, two long arms—ten meters at least—extend, tipped with hooked claws.

The connection to the sky snaps with a sharp crack. Two lights ignite where a face might be. The lower half opens wide, letting out a deep, echoing roar.

It does not look like a common enemy. Tension runs through both.

...Boss?

"Likely... the floors beyond the eighth are boss battles."

The creature does not have a special gimmick like the one on the eighth floor. A health bar appears above its head. The two tense their weapons, sensing a true battle.

"First strike, victory!"

"Directly to the boss!"

Unlike the eighth floor, nothing blocks their path. With no need for [Star Power], Sally recklessly detonates, carrying herself and Sally forward in a burst toward the boss.

But the boss does not ignore this. A sweeping arm swings toward Maple.

"Yoi-sho, too!"

Maple twists her body, blocking the arm with her large shield enhanced by [Evil Feast], taking damage but holding firm. She is still knocked back, sliding sideways.

"Knockback included!"

"Nothing fatal if it's not defense penetration!"

The distance was not so close, but she relaxed at the lack of damage, regaining her stance.

"Then—[Full Armament Deployment]! [Attack Initiated]!"

"Wait—!"

"Wha—?"

Just as Maple began firing, the light from both their bodies flickered out, and they began accelerating toward the ground.

"Leave it to me!"

Sally tugged on the thread connecting her to Maple, lowering her status and creating a transparent platform beneath her feet. She stepped onto it, hopping forward, and landed on a nearby star-shaped platform.

"Phew... If we fall, even Maple would die instantly. Be careful."

"Y-yeah. It was two minutes, right?"

"Here it comes!"

"Uh, uh—wait! [Heavy Body]! [STR] below [VIT] means movement is impossible, but for one minute, knockback is nullified."

With this, she could avoid being forcibly blown back and instead defend using [Love That Offers the Body].

"Nice response!"

"Hehe, I’ve got to make good use of what Mii taught me!"

"Better keep an eye on things—no sense in getting caught off guard. Keep Shiroppu close."

"Roger that."

"If Maple looks steady, I’ll take the offensive elsewhere. That way I can dodge, and it’s better if they target me."

They had been advancing steadily from the eighth floor. The explosives Maple had detonated earlier had dwindled. So, to preserve them for landing care, Sally, equipped with thread and aerial mobility, took the lead in attack.

"Be careful!"

"Yeah, you too—don’t fall!"

"I’ll do my best!"

Sally released the thread from her eye, drifted gently into the air, and tested the sensation of movement.

Aerial movement was slow. Precision in reading attacks was essential.

If I draw its attention, Maple’s [Poison Dragon] should be able to pass through… Oblivion! [Awaken]!

Sally calls out to Oblivion, mounts her shoulder, and moves directly toward the boss.

If the target is this large… [Wind Cutter]!

To redirect Maple’s focus onto herself, Sally casts a spell first. It strikes the boss precisely, chipping away a small fraction of HP.

At the same moment, the boss shifts, black blades flying toward Sally.

—Ah… a counter of the same kind.

Of course, such a strike would not land on Sally. She avoids it with ease. She casts several more spells, confirming the counter pattern.

At the same time, she feels Maple can no longer be provoked so easily.

It mimics attacks directly! It may even include knockback. Time your shots carefully!

Got it!

Sally’s Sword Dance had scarcely ever been dodged at the eighth floor, so its effect remained weak.

The boss’s HP was high. Its defense was clearly substantial, visible in the slow rate of HP reduction.

Maple understood better than anyone that she must begin attacking.

“Not having solid footing is troublesome… hmm, wait—yes!”

Maple clapped her hands sharply, as if an idea had just struck her.