Defense specialization and floating rocks.
The next destination is an area where stones float as if buoyant, with strong winds blowing. Massive boulders hover as though torn from the earth, their shadows blocking many angles. Players too are affected—movements feel light, as if gravity has weakened.
"Still, it'll be harder to dodge... Maple, shall we get used to it before moving on?"
"Sure! It's amazing here—feels strange, doesn't it?"
Maple bounces upward, then drifts down like feathers falling, floating gently through the air.
"This place has no power like the stars from the last event, so we must limit how long we stay afloat."
After a pause of testing movement, Sally begins to walk, satisfied.
"Wind's strong. If we don't walk on the ground, we'll float away."
"Speaking of which, I just floated here!"
“Eh? W-what?!”
A massive rock hurtled toward them at breakneck speed, borne by a fierce wind from their direction of travel.
Sally managed to dodge with a quick motion, but Maple had no such agility.
The rock struck her head-on with a thunderous crash, sending her flying. She bounced several times before splatting into another rock and finally dropping to the ground.
“Maple! You—really flew far...”
“B-b-badly startled me... I didn’t expect something like that to come flying in like that.”
Seeing Maple rise as if nothing had happened, Sally relaxed, as usual, and reached out a hand.
“Since it’s flying on the wind, maybe just watch out for the direction the wind’s blowing.”
“Yeah, got it! But I’m glad it wasn’t defense-piercing. I can use Love That Offers the Body safely now!”
Thank you. I’ll dodge as much as I can, but having a safety net helps. This area’s movement is cumbersome.
The wind’s blowing from the right—over here!
Coming again—this time, gravel!
Sally readies her two daggers, focusing. She has evaded stone shards before—straight on, head-on. One she deflects with her short sword. One she shifts her body to avoid. One she leaps clear.
Each time, her blue aura grows, and her 【STR】 rises.
Fuu…
Impressive, Sally!
Well, I’d like to max out my stats before the boss. Just focusing a little more now.
She moves with ease through the area’s shifting terrain, gliding past flying rocks and stones. Contrasted sharply with Maple, who takes direct hits with a thunderous crash.
Wait—monster.
Before the two, a wolf and an eagle formed from gleaming white wind appeared.
Only the eyes glowed red. It was certain it was no ordinary creature.
"Oboro — Shadow Clone — Illusion!"
Under Sally’s command, Sally’s form split into five, then doubled again.
They advance toward the wolf and the hawk, one pair trembling their forms, summoning blades of wind that slice through their doppelgängers.
A moment’s opening is enough! — Point-Strike!
Sally moves beside the wolf. The dagger slips into its throat. The body, made of wind like unraveling thread, disperses into mist.
Weaker...? — Leap!
Sally leaps high. The hawk, distracted by its own doppelgänger, does not see the dagger descending.
The hawk too dissolves into mist in an instant.
"Then, by number—they come!"
If each is weak, then gathering enough to be a threat is natural.
At the moment Sally realizes it, wind swirls from all directions. A pack of wolves covers the ground. Hawks descend from the sky, aiming at the two.
"Maple! Handle the numbers!"
"Got it! [Full Armament Deployment]! [Attack Initiated]!"
Maple spins in place, firing at every incoming blade of wind and stone shard, covering all angles without gap.
Yet the number is great. A few blades of wind still slip through.
"Ow! Ah—pierced! Uh—[Pierce Guard]!"
"I'll reduce the numbers too! Oblong [Crossfire]!"
The flame launched by Oblong bursts with a crackling sound upon hitting a nearby wolf, spreading to other monsters nearby. It lacks great power, but scattering wolves made of wind is easy.
Thank you~! Then I’ll do this side too…
Maple changes her outfit to green and activates [Poltergeist], swinging the laser like a beam saber with wild, chaotic motions. Enemies in the air that were hard to hit now fall easily.
Even though there are many, they become manageable once they lose penetration, and with Maple present, they pose no real threat.
Phew… startled me a bit, but not as strong as I thought.
Yeah, just right—managed to dodge enough times.
Oh, right! Hinata can summon more clones again! Ten of them is impressive.
Well, the five she made with [Phantom] are more like illusions—[Mirage]-like, completely harmless and just decoys.
But [Shadow Clone] can deal damage.
Then let’s move quickly—don’t want to get surrounded again.
Three… two… one!
The two moved swiftly deeper into the interior.