Defense-oriented, tenth floor of the tower.

Short.

When the raging flames subsided, Sally remained unharmed. Before her, [Ravage] crumbled to pieces. Maple rolled out toward Sally.

Sally held Maple close, putting distance between them and the boss.

The boss had a long recovery time after its heavy move, but neither of them had time to spare.

"Ah, that was close..."

"Sorry, I didn't know it had hidden techniques like that."

"Attacking all at once might be dangerous. [Ravage] is gone now..."

"Release [Love That Offers the Body]. If a wide-area attack comes, Maple will be hit before she can recover."

"Right, I'll dodge it!"

"Leave it to me. That's my strength."

Maple re-deployed her weapon, raising a large shield.

Sally readied her dagger, focusing once more.

"Let's go, Maple—[Phantom World]!"

"Attack Initiated!"

Maple's form splits into three. A torrent of bullets scatters toward the boss.

The boss, maintaining distance, cannot counter the clone formation. Yet, a wall of flame rises before him, blocking Maple's assault.

"Uu… break!"

The wall of flame begins to fade, as if answering Maple's plea. The boss leaps diagonally upward to dodge the bullets—then surges forward, crashing into Maple.

"Pierce Guard!"

Maple raises her weapon slightly, aiming upward, preparing to strike the [Evil Feast] directly.

The flames surge, coalescing into a colossal pillar of fire—a blade that cleaves through the clone and Maple alike.

The flame damage cannot be blocked, as it is not a piercing attack. But the blade's impact is nullified. Maple endures.

Maple does not concern herself with the disappearance of the clone. She swings the great shield, carving a wide gash from shoulder to torso.

"One more time!"

The great shield swings again, deflected by the flaming blade, and the boss charges forward with full force.

Maple has no way to counter this.

Yet she smiles, as if following the plan.

"Sally!"

"Quintuple Slash!"

Taking advantage of Maple's attack, Sally steps back, vanishes into the shadow of Hinata’s Instant Shadow, and disappears entirely from the boss’s line of sight. She waits behind, ready to strike.

Sally’s maximum consecutive attack, pushed to the limit with the use of Dopin Seed. Combined with the additional effect of the skill Follow-Blade, twenty strikes—ten per hand—pierce the boss’s unguarded back. The sword that was about to strike Maple comes to a halt.

The boss, struck by grievous damage, shifts priority and drives its sword into the ground.

A magic circle reactivates, summoning the same consuming flame that incinerated the two earlier.

“Quick Change!”

“Heal!”

“Aegis!”

Maple swiftly drinks a potion. Sally restores the remaining HP. A dome of light unfolds, nullifying all damage.

A great technique meets a great technique. An instant-kill attack meets absolute defense.

Outside the dome, flames roar with thunderous force.

“Chance!”

“Got it!”

This time, they do not miss the opening. Maple fires, Sally strikes in rapid succession. The boss’s HP drops to roughly thirty percent.

A shockwave erupts. No damage, but it pushes the two apart.

Sally immediately returns to Maple’s side. She restores HP. They watch the boss’s movements.

Maple restores her equipment. She calls forth Shiroppu to secure her offensive power.

"Did well, didn't we?"

"Can't let up now."

Before them, the boss draws flame from the sword plunged into the ground. The earth cracks. Pillars of fire rise in number, transforming the field.

Five flaming swords hover behind the boss. The flames wrapping them grow stronger.

"...Feels like the real fight starts here."

"We won't lose!"