Defense specialization and floating rocks 2.

Leaping from one floating rock to the next, they narrowly evade another wolf assault. Collecting Maple when she is blown off course by a large stone, the two press on toward the innermost chamber.

On a plateau where countless rocks float, wind spirals around, converging at its center—a giant formed entirely of wind.

"Can't just finish it in one strike, I suppose. Time to bring my full focus."

"Un! Leave it to me!"

As Maple aims her weapon, the giant assumes a combat stance. The wind swirling around it intensifies, and the floating rocks begin to shift.

"Wait! I can't avoid that—!"

A metallic clang as Maple is hurled backward. Naturally, the incoming rocks are not one but many. She bounces from one rock to the next, then another—like a pinball.

"W-w-w-wah—!"

"Maple! That... maybe I can't help with that... wait, I need to focus too!"

Sally crouches, stops, accelerates—dodging the rocks advancing today.

Maple is flung wildly across the field; the effect range of Love That Offers the Body cannot be relied upon.

"Ogura, Pyre! Fire Child!"

Sally commands Ogura. Blue flames scatter from her body, amplifying damage. Flames extend from the dagger, lengthening reach.

She spins sharply, slicing through the giant's gust. The extended arm splits deep.

Red damage effect and Ogura’s blue flames burst simultaneously.

"Ogura’s MP is still fine...!?"

Sally leaps back, startled by the laser fired from behind the giant.

Yet the damage effect rises—apparently not from Sally, but from the giant.

"Maple? Oh, you're really going wild here..."

Maple is flung by the rock, but takes no damage. She uses the momentum to move erratically at high speed, swinging the laser wildly around the center with a phantom ghost. Occasionally she forces weapons to explode, directing them toward the rock, but the boss's wind mass avoids her strikes.

"Field gimmick? Hmm. I'll do what I can."

Now that Maple is drawing the enemy's attention, she can afford to use skills with greater openings.

Sally locks onto one leg and activates her skill, delivering a sudden burst of damage.

"Quintuple Slash! Power Attack!"

Additional damage from 【Fiery Demon】, follow-up strikes from 【Afterblade】, and the buff from 【Sword Dance】 affecting all—these turn the short sword, a weapon of swift strikes, into something that delivers unexpected devastation.

As the damage effect fades, one of the giant’s legs vanishes. It collapses onto the ground.

“Chance!”

Sally dodges flying stone shards, closes in on the head, and slashes again with reckless speed.

A massive boulder rushes toward her at high speed, blocking the path.

“Haze! 【Divine Concealment】!”

Sally gives the command. Her form vanishes. Not transparency like 【Instant Shadow】, but a skill that renders her entirely absent for just one second.

An absence cannot be struck. At the instant before impact, the skill activates. The boulder passes through the space where Sally stood, as if she were never there.

“Good—success! Haze 【Binding Barrier】!”

Sally accelerated her assault, confident in the success. The damage from Maple’s laser, still violently lashing across the battlefield, had accumulated. The boss could not endure Sally’s relentless strikes.

A final gust of wind swept through. The floating boulder ceased its motion. As it did, Maple was flung to the ground, tumbling toward Sally.

Maple, unharmed, staggered slightly but walked steadily toward Sally.

"Good work! You’ve mastered the Mist Flame too. Hmm… like Mii."

"I handle water and ice. You think the sword enhanced by Mist Flame looks good?"

"Yeah! Ninja-like. You slipped right through the rock!"

Thanks to Mii, I can now avoid disaster when there’s no other way out. Now, the important part—this!

Sally lifts a red gem from the ground. It is the eye of a giant.

All that remains is to go to the ruin she showed us.

I hope this is enough. Defeating the boss will be no small task…

There is nothing else to gather for now. The two of them decide to head toward the ruin. Without arriving on site, they cannot know what is missing.

Then let’s go, go quickly! I can’t wait to see what’s there!

Yes, yes. Then we’ll ride the horse again.

Yes!

Having finally gathered all they needed, the two set their horses toward the ruin.