Defense specialization and three.
Before the event, they had all agreed to reveal their partnered monsters during the event itself, while each trained to level up. Maple also trained Shiroppu’s level.
“Hm! I thought losing 【Bad Appetite】 would be inconvenient, but it’s actually quite useful.”
Maple spoke, swinging her left arm—now a tendril—around. If it struck, paralysis would set in. Even just swinging it wildly served a purpose.
Shiroppu’s attack power was low. Maple would immobilize a monster, then strike it with 【Poison Dragon】 to drain its health, piling the corpses before her like a parent feeding its young. This was how they raised levels.
“Shiroppu! 【Spirit Cannon】!”
Maple’s prepared monsters’ HP dropped to zero. Experience points poured into Shiroppu.
Chasing it down and bringing it down is troublesome… but maybe getting caught by those tentacles again isn’t so bad! That cave will come to us on its own, after all.
As she stood at the threshold of entering the octopus’s lair, Shiroppu’s level rose. Another skill unlocked.
"Wow! Evolved! And the skills are piling up! Let’s see… "
Maple checked the new abilities.
A new skill, befitting Shiroppu, had appeared—one that drew power from nature.
【Red Garden】? Feels promising already!
【Red Garden】
All entities within range take an additional 5% damage whenever they receive damage.
"Yeah! Easy to use! Just like Shiroppu!"
Maple runs her fingers over Shiroppu's head, praising her. Normally, such a blade would increase damage to both friend and foe, a double-edged weapon. But for Maple, the disadvantage of taking damage is not a disadvantage at all.
When protecting allies with Love That Offers the Body, this skill becomes a buff that increases damage dealt by all allies by five percent. For the 【Maple Tree】—which often fights with Maple at its center—the area-wide buff is a significant advantage.
The reason Maple can use Cover Move—a technique with the major drawback of doubling damage taken—is because her exceptional defense prevents her from taking damage in the first place.
"Shiroppu — Crimson Garden!"
Maple gives the command. Roses erupt from the ground in abundance. The thorny vines creeping along the earth extend with a quantity that makes the skill’s added damage effect entirely plausible.
The garden moves in tandem with Shiroppu’s motion. Centered on Shiroppu, just as Maple’s Love That Offers the Body is centered on her.
“Shiroppu, you can bloom flowers even on normal days now! Could you make other flower gardens too?”
Depending on the type, they might support allies. With this drawback, one could ignore it entirely through Love That Offers the Body and fight without consequence.
Shiroppu has grown into a monster more skilled at trapping and inflicting status effects than attacking directly—truly a kindred spirit to Maple. The only difference is that she does not take on a fearsome appearance.
"Alright, onward to the next target—forward, forward!"
Maple finds another monster, just as before, and immobilizes it with her tentacles and the [Paralyze Shout], then pushes it forward toward Shiroppu, repeating the process.
Doing this in the middle of the forest, even if it is a dense wood, is bound to attract attention.
"I thought I felt something stirring, so I came to check. It's Maple, isn't it?"
"Uwaa... she really has tentacles growing out of her... why?"
"If I hadn't heard from Mizari, I might've attacked. Even fallen angels don't behave like that."
A rustling in the undergrowth, then three figures emerge—Mizari, Markus, and Shin.
Maple waves her tentacle-hand frantically at the familiar trio.
"Ah! The [Empire of the Flame Emperor]... Is Mizari not here today?"
"Mizari said she had something to attend to. Today's about leveling up our monsters."
"I see..."
At Maple’s feet, Shiroppu unfolds a rose garden. Markus, deeply impressed by Maple, notices Shiroppu’s change immediately.
“Shiroppu… you look different?”
“Hm, you noticed? But details are secret! …Is that alright?”
She mimics Sally’s manner—evasive, withholding. Yet her tentacles shift. The rose garden blooms. Too late for concealment.
“Anyway, we’re leveling up for the next event. I don’t want to meet in qualifiers. But if we fight together somewhere, show me your strength.”
“Mii said those tentacles are dangerous.”
“Dangerous? In this shape? Impossible.”
Hiding behind Mizari and Shin, she watches the tentacles writhe.
“Still… a face, at least. Mii deserves kindness.”
“Isn’t that fine?”
“If you’re showing them… then… release.”
The three step forward, revealing the monsters they have paired with. The air shivers in time with Marks’s voice. Color bleeds into the space. A chameleon, shifting hues, rests atop Marks’s head. A hawk perches on Shin’s shoulder. A thick-furred white cat sits at Mizari’s feet.
“Eh? Eh!? Amazing—where did they come from!?”
Maple stares, eyes wide, mouth open, at the sudden appearance—not from the ring, but from nothing. Shin chuckles softly, amused.
“This time, just a glimpse. Heh. It’s satisfying when you’re startled like that.”
“Hmph. Next, let’s see the monsters of the 【Maple Tree】 group, shall we?”
“Bye-bye… hope we don’t meet again at the next event.”
“Let’s both do our best at the next one!”
The three of them seemed to have plans of their own. They waved briefly, startling Maple a little, then departed.
Maple watched the various monsters around her, nodding once to herself, and continued feeding Shiroppu.