Defense specialization and infernal flame.

The three approach the crater's edge and peer into the mouth from above Ignis.

"This is it. The dungeon's entrance should be inside."

"Ah, leave it to me. I know this place well. Ignis!"

Mii sends a command to Ignis and descends into the crater. Midway, a ledge juts out, from which a narrow passage continues.

"Here it is. Ignis is too large to fit through. We'll have to go on foot."

Mii lowers the two onto the ledge and returns Ignis to its original size.

"Um, what do we need again?"

"Various ores and plants along the route, and materials from the lava dragon."

"Huh, so there are plants even here…"

"Unusual, really. The one we're after is a red plant—easy to miss. Be careful when searching."

The three move forward in single file through the cavern. Maple activates Love That Offers the Body, making the search safe.

Inside, the layout resembles an ant nest—composed of several chambers and narrow passages. At the farthest depth lies a magma pool, where the lava dragon resides.

"Mei, won't fire-element monsters be a disadvantage?"

"Ah, yes. But I am growing. I’ll show you."

Izu diligently gathers ore and plants. Maple and the others lack the skill levels or tools for such collection, so they could not obtain the rare materials Izu seeks.

Thus, their role here is to focus solely on escort duty.

As they mined, several large fireballs appeared with the crackling sound of flames. They possessed will. Their mouths split open, and began producing smaller fireballs.

"Settle this before they multiply. [Emperor of Flame]! Ignis [Flames in Sequence]!"

"Right! [Full Armament Deployment]! [Poison Dragon]!"

Maple fired her coordinated barrage and unleashed poison attacks as usual. Beside her, Mii dashed forward, launching fireball assaults. The difference from their past battles was clear to see. Flames released at regular intervals from Ignis danced through the air. Each time they touched Mii’s fireballs, an orange aura, like flame itself, rose from Mii’s body. Her attack power increased with every impact.

The force was far greater than Maple’s gunfire. It burned through the flame monsters—creatures that should have been ill-matched to fire.

My firepower is stronger! [Flare Inferno]! [Azure Inferno]!

A crimson and azure flame, reaching to the ceiling, extinguishes the fireball monster without resistance. The monster falls, despite MP being depleted entirely. Maple had barely begun to attack.

Iz, having finished gathering, stands wide-eyed, then rushes over with quick steps.

Oh—amazing power!

Of course. Maple’s main strength is defense, after all. Compared to that, her attacks have grown quite potent.

Mm… true. I’ve been using these since I started with [Poison Dragon].

Incredible power… Ah, right. Here. My special potion. As a thank-you.

Hmm, helpful. I’ll take it.

When Mii drinks it, her MP fully recovers in one go, and it grants additional effects: accelerated MP regeneration and a temporary boost to magical attack power.

She checks the duration, then frowns slightly.

“Hm… good, then? It’s a rare item. I’ve never seen such effects.”

“I told you. My special brew. Heh. I can make as many as I like.”

“I see… yes. Iz is a member of [Maple Tree], after all.”

Mii recalls how Iz’s contribution had ensured surplus supplies during the fourth event.

“Usually I’m the one providing support… It’s strange to be on the receiving end for once.”

Seven players who normally rampage with full power, their gear, even Maple’s bombs—those that pack a dangerous but controlled explosion—are all Iz’s creations.

As if unable to fight, she merely enhances item effects and scatters bombs at random. Still, enough players and monsters meet their end.

"Regardless, this makes any dungeon conquerable. No need to worry about MP or HP anymore."

HP remains untouched thanks to Maple’s area defense. MP recovers through Iz’s potions.

Her weakness vanishes entirely.

"I’ll leave the attacks to you, Mii!"

"Affirmative. The boss will be no trouble."

Mii leads, familiar with the dungeon’s depths, advancing deeper while collecting the target item. As promised, every monster encountered is dispatched with unnatural speed, fire meeting fire with no apparent disadvantage.

The three reach the deepest chamber. A lake of glowing magma fills the far end. From the walkable ground, magma bubbles up in constant bursts.

"Here it is. Coming!"

"Uh-huh!"

"Yes!"

Mii conjures a fireball. Maple deploys her weapon. Yui prepares her bomb.

As soon as their preparations finish, the magma surges upward and bursts open. A grotesque, black dragon forms, its body oozing molten rock from every crevice.

This time, as Mii charges forward, Maple and Yui close the distance in tandem.

A boss demands greater firepower.

"Me too—new technique… [Beneath the Surface's Call]!"

If moving in a straight line, Maple, propelled by the explosive force of her weapon, outpaces Mii.

Mii’s eyes widen as Maple’s left arm, flying at an angle directly toward the dragon’s head emerging from the magma, transforms into a massive tendril emitting black mist.

“Woooh!”

Maple snaps open the entangled tendrils. They split into five, spreading like a monster’s gaping maw, converging to envelop the dragon’s head.

At the same moment, a torrent of damage effects bursts from within the tendrils. The dragon’s HP plummets.

Maple’s attack power remains unchanged. Yet the previously difficult-to-maintain effect [Gluttony], now activated five times simultaneously through the tendrils, causes an immediate spike in damage.

The advantage was not in binding or paralysis. It was in this single point.

“Maple! One more! [Burning Flame]!”

Mii launches Maple again into the air, using the blast wave from the attack’s aftermath.

Maple steadies herself and extends her tentacles toward the dragon once more.

"Ghahhh!"

"It won't work!"

The dragon opens its maw wide, spewing a searing beam. Yet the tentacle, bearing the curse of [Gluttony], swallows the beam and latches onto the beast's face again. Crimson damage effects burst forth, like heat waves.

"Better than bombs!"

Izu swiftly pulls an item from her pouch and hurls several vials near Mii.

They shatter, etching countless magical sigils onto the ground, amplifying Mii's magic within range.

"Then... [Magic Boost] [Chain Fire]!"

Mii increases the power of the magic. The fireballs, conjured by the Flame Emperor, burn the dragon's body one after another. The flames, fed by the Chain of Flames, grow fiercer—each strike amplified by Chain Fire. The heat, drawn from fuel, delivers damage rivaling Maple’s fivefold curse of destruction.

The dragon, shaken by the damage, attempts a counterattack. But Maple intercepts every blow with Love That Offers the Body. Around the fractured spot, Iz throws potion after potion, restoring MP. Mii’s assault never ceases.

“This ends now!”

Within flames fiercer than magma, Mii burns the volcano’s master to ash—without effort.