Defense specialization and the serpent two.

Believed it had been posted. It had not.

From Iz, she received replenishment of items, and Kasumi visited the frog again on another day.

Conversation had progressed. The frog began speaking of new things.

"Going there, truly reckless... won't listen even if stopped. I'll tell you one thing. Heh, I remember now. I escaped because I struck the head just right. Aim for the space between the brows."

Kasumi's expression brightened as if hearing good news.

But she cannot attack after being glared at. So this information will help only if she attacks first.

"Would rather not get near the face, but I'll remember this."

After confirming no further information, Kasumi turned once more toward the Seventh Layer.

"Shall we try once more?"

Kasumi activated her 【Mind's Eye】, confirmed the position of her head, and moved forward through the forest shrouded in thick mist, silent as a shadow.

If she could keep her head clear of the fog, she would avoid the instant death.

"Could it be the source point, after all?"

Kasumi followed the narrow stream, now barely flowing, upstream.

Each time the 【Mind's Eye】 faded, she retreated into dense undergrowth, small caves, or climbed onto trees, securing safety until she could use it again.

Step by step, she advanced toward the stream’s origin.

……! What is that……?

Kasumi slipped behind a tree and watched. Before her, a scene unfolded: snakes of various sizes moved around a single cave, as if on guard.

A large white snake coiled around the cave’s mouth, blocking most of it.

The river flows within it, suggesting something lies inside.

Kasumi’s 【Mind’s Eye】 reveals the attacks of numerous snakes without pause.

That meant, regardless of strength, any movement would be halted upon detection.

“If I can break through here… what then?”

The sound of slithering ceases. The white snake shows no intent to move from here. That left time to wait, to think, until the 【Mind’s Eye】 could be used.

“Up… I can go. Good. Then… I’ll make my resolve!”

Kasumi leaps onto the tree, parts the leaves, and checks below. From above, no gap remains. The white snake must be moved somehow.

“Here I go…! 【Super Acceleration】【Leap】【Third Cut – Lone Moon】!”

Kasumi leaps from the tree, accelerating further through skill mid-air, then swings the blade downward without pause.

The Third Cut – Lone Moon is not merely a tool for double-jump—it is followed by a precise, high-impact slash.

Kasumi cuts deep into the white snake’s brow with exact precision. Not a flurry, so her movements remain free—but before her feet touch ground, the white snake lifts its head to glare at her.

Yet this shift in the head’s position also means the cave entrance is now exposed.

“That’s exactly what I was waiting for!”

At the moment she speaks, a massive explosion erupts. Kasumi is blown backward into the cave, taking significant damage. She rolls forward, deeper into the cavern, and escapes the white snake’s sight.

“Damn… Maple really is good at this kind of thing…”

Kasumi rises, healing her HP with a potion. The action was simple. Like Maple detonating the Machine God’s weapon to fly through the air, Kasumi detonated Iz’s small, high-yield bomb—accepting the damage—then forced a new trajectory by self-destructing.

There might have been other ways. Hah. But waiting until one could choose the best option was not possible.

Kasumi advances deeper, watchful. Ahead, a stream begins, bubbling steadily. And there, a small white snake. It bears a mark indicating it could be allied. As Kasumi hesitates, the snake slips forward, wrapping around her body, climbing upward. It settles at her neck. Still. Tongue flicking out, quick and light.

As the water gushes, a ring rises into the air, glowing.

Kasumi picks it up and grips it tightly, her face brightening.

"Name... wait until we reach the Town. Now, outside..."

Kasumi glances out. The thick fog has vanished. Only a quiet forest remains, the serpent nowhere in sight.

"Phew... this makes the return easier... will you grow that large too?"

Kasumi strokes the serpent’s head at her neck, her chest holding both unease and hope for what comes after growth, and turns back toward the Guild Home.