Defense specialization and Tower Tenth Floor 2.

Sally faces the boss once more, thrusting her dagger in sync with the boss’s charge. If she does not dodge, the attack will reach the boss unblocked.

Sally abandons evasion. She presses forward, seeking to deal as much damage as possible.

"Ugh... uuuu! [Meditation]!"

The damage is absorbed by Maple, but even with [Heavenly Emperor's Throne]'s damage reduction, it strips away roughly thirty percent of Maple's HP.

Maple uses a healing skill and a potion to maintain her health.

"I’ll take the strain, so I’ll take the hit in return!"

She steps back, then steps forward again to attack. Since Maple is not being struck directly, the potion and healing skill take effect in time.

Facing the boss head-on without strategy would be futile. But this way, damage can be dealt.

[Triple Slash]!

The boss’s triple strike cleaves through Sally’s body. Sally’s flurry of attacks scatters violent damage effects from the boss.

“This is impossible—finally, only twenty percent!?”

“I’m fine! Iz’s potions still remain!”

“Damn… so simple, yet—!”

A straightforward barrage, swift follow-up strikes, flanking maneuvers—no gimmicks, no tricks. Just raw, relentless pressure.

Even so, Sally shows no sign of ease. The boss’s pattern may yet grow more complex.

“This time, my damage output is at maximum—huh!?”

The blue aura of Maple’s Sword Dance dagger and longsword clash, sparks flying.

Sally fires a spell in feint, but the boss evades with perfect precision, just as Sally always does.

…Perhaps Maple’s Poison Dragon (Hydra) won’t work either.

Sally turns her thoughts, calculating how to inflict damage before the boss’s pattern shifts. Maple’s attacks are mostly single-hit damage. If they are evaded, the damage output from both of them will drop sharply.

Further, if the boss’s damage increases, the current strategy will fail.

—Fuu… Oblivion [Shadow Clone]!

Sally summons clones, each launching an attack. The boss’s sword flares in response. A spinning slash cleaves through every clone.

Sally barely avoids it. Her expression hardens.

She sorts through possibilities in her mind—what skills work, what do not. She considers tactics combining Maple’s abilities.

—Good. Maple! I’ve devised a strategy to deal damage. Listen! Attack until I finish speaking. Change the pattern only after I’m done.

—Got it!

Sally speaks the strategy to Maple while engaging the boss. Maple listens, memorizing the skills and timing required.

"Okay! I've got it!"

"Then, Triple Slash!"

Sally's dagger strikes, reducing the boss's HP to seventy percent. The boss shifts its attack pattern.

It swings the sword wide, creating distance from Sally, then holds its hand over the blade. Flames erupt from the blade, blazing fiercely.

"Maple, observe. For now, focus only on healing in case of emergencies!"

"Got it. I will!"

The boss hurls a fiery blade straight ahead, then charges at Sally.

Sally dodges the incoming flame, blocking the sword with her dagger. Flames scatter across Maple's armor, draining Maple's HP.

"U...gh!"

"Is this thing burning too...?"

Sally avoids the attack entirely, shifting her body just enough to keep Maple from taking damage.

Every strike from the boss carries flame. To dodge at the last moment is to be burned by the lingering flames. Maintaining distance makes avoiding damage difficult.

"Really... the openings are vanishing."

When she keeps her distance, a continuous barrage of flame blades flies toward her. Maple cannot summon Shiroppu.

Seeing little change in movement, Sally sends an instruction.

"Ready, Maple! I'm attacking!"

"Got it!"

Sally launches her attack, drawing the boss's focus while Maple deploys her gear. She detonates, closing the distance in an instant.

"【Frozen Ground】!"

The ground freezes violently around Maple. The effect reaches the boss, who is still touching the ground, and freezes its movement for three seconds.

【Power Attack】!

【Poison Dragon (Hydra)】! 【Oozing Chaos】! 【Predator】!

In those three seconds, a wide opening, an attack easy to dodge, is delivered.

The boss’s status drops further from 【Predator】’s attack, but three seconds is brief—soon the boss moves again.

As the two begin to pull back, the boss drives its sword into the ground.

At the same moment, a massive crimson magic circle unfolds, centered on the boss.

First—!

【Ruthlessness】!

Maple shouts at the same instant the ground erupts with a towering pillar of flame.