Defense specialization and the tenth floor of the tower.

The day turns. As Sally’s 【Empty Shell】 and Maple’s 【Mechanical God】 skills become usable once more, the two stand before the tower.

"Let’s conquer it today!"

"Of course. There’s also the event window. We can’t fight repeatedly in a single day."

Maple’s skills are mostly limited to a set number of uses per day.

They are ill-suited for repeated battles against powerful monsters.

"Then, to the ninth floor—go!"

They return to the ninth floor. At the magic array leading upward, they perform a final check. Then, at last, they step onto the tenth floor.

The light before them fades. The scene sharpens. Before them lies a stone hall, sunlight streaming through. A circular field beneath a domed ceiling. No path leads anywhere. At the center stands a human clad in silver armor that glimmers in the light.

The face is hidden behind a full-face helm, but the intent is unmistakable—draws sword from hip and charges toward the two.

"Coming."

"Right!"

As Maple raises her shield, the boss accelerates sharply and closes the distance in an instant.

Maple scrambles to brace the large shield, but the boss veers aside and strikes her from the flank, slashing down.

"Ah—!"

"Maple!"

Maple flies backward with a loud crack, slamming into the wall and kicking up a cloud of dust.

Before Sally can check her HP, the boss lunges at her.

"…Huff!"

Dodges the slash by a hair’s breadth, counters with a swift cut.

The boss parries with the blade, deflecting the strike with no damage done.

"Damn…!"

Sally refuses to yield, parries again, and steps back to regain distance.

The boss presses forward without pause, matching her backstep with a wider, sharper arc of the sword.

"Cover Move! Cover!"

Maple cuts in, sliding beneath the blade as it devours the attack, then rakes her body open.

"Nice one!"

Sally lunges from behind Maple in that instant, slashing the boss’s flank with her dagger, then vanishes behind the enemy.

The boss does not flinch. It pivots to Maple’s side, launching a rapid barrage from the unshielded flank.

"Full Armament Deploy! Attack Initiated!"

Maple deploys her weapon instantly, countering the assault. The boss’s HP drops sharply, but it does not halt.

Three strikes—upward slash, downward chop, thrust—shatter Maple’s weapon and graze her body, HP plummeting.

"Uuu…!"

"Maple, this way…!"

Sally snaps a thread forward, dragging Maple in force.

The next attack slices through the air. The boss raises her sword, observing the two.

“[Heal]!”

“Thank you… what should I do!?”

“I’ll slow the boss’s speed for now. Maple, stay clear of the attacks!”

Against this boss, who offers no opening and maintains flawless defense, Sally finds almost no chance to counterattack.

Fighting one-on-one, she is gradually edged into disadvantage.

Maple must land damage somehow.

Sally charges forward, closing the distance, then blocks the descending sword with two daggers, deflecting it.

“Oboro [Awaken] [Phantom Flame]! [Great Sea]! [Ancient Sea]!”

Blue-white flames erupt from Oboro. Water surges from Sally, eroding the boss.

Each skill reduces the target’s [AGI].

The fish born of the Ancient Sea also spread water that lowers [AGI] across the area.

Though movement slowed, Sally analyzed: whether she could still fight on equal terms.

“Ku!”

Ducking to avoid a horizontal sweep, she lost balance—three strikes landed in succession.

Sally’s eyes widened. She tried to dodge, but the three strikes severed her body.

Yet her form vanished. She reappeared behind the boss.

“Double Slash!”

Seizing the opening, she struck with a powerful skill and retreated to Maple’s side.

“Without using Mirage… I’d have been cut.”

“…Um, I’ll protect you with Love That Offers the Body!”

“But if I do that…”

“It’s fine! I don’t really want to take damage… but I have to protect Sally now! And I want to win!”

“You can cancel it if it looks bad, okay?”

Ready!

Maple activates Love That Offers the Body and Heavenly Emperor's Throne, then uses Encouragement on Sally, boosting her stats.

Until the action pattern changes, Maple's skill won't remain!

Do your best, Sally!

Yeah, leave it to me!