Defense specialization and mimicry.

The members of [Maple Tree] were each steadily increasing their kill count. Indeed, the summoned monsters had dramatically altered everyone’s fighting style. This was especially evident in Kanade’s case.

“Even if the effect diminishes, being able to use it freely is nice.”

The [Mimicry] ability had a long cooldown, but Kanade and this summoned monster were perfectly matched. No matter how many times Sousa used his spellbook, as long as Kanade left the original spellbook on the shelf, it would reappear on the shelf each time she used [Mimicry] again.

Thus, the primary role was Sousa in combat, while Kanade remained hidden in the trees or in shadows, cloaked in her robe.

If Sousa were ever attacked, Kanade could safely exploit the opening without risk.

The dread of Sousa’s spellbook is dwindling, I suppose… wait, Sousa — Dormant.

Kanade felt a presence approaching and briefly returned Sousa to the ring to conceal her hand.

She smiled wryly at the player who emerged from the undergrowth.

“Haha, I’m the unlucky one, aren’t I?”

It was Dread and Drag. Beside them stood a wolf with black fur and a golem of stone. Two top-tier players, each with a summoned beast—chance was slim.

“Oho, just one… sorry, but no mercy.”

“Ah, Kanade. Haha, lucky you!”

“Still… I’m outmatched. Wood Wall!”

Kanade raised a wall of wood between the two, preparing to retreat.

She had just enough space when—

“Earth! The King of Sand!”

Hearing Drag command it, Kanade glanced back— the wooden wall dissolved into sand in an instant, rendered useless. The wolf and Dread rushed forward together.

[FIRESTORM]! [TORNADO]!

[SHADOW] [Shadow Hide]

Flames and a whirlwind surged from Kanade’s side, but just before impact, the wolf called Shadow darkened its fur to an even deeper black and vanished into the ground with Dread. It lasted only a breath, but that was enough to pass through the storm.

[ULTRA ACCELERATION]!

[GREAT NATURE]!

EARTH! [Earth Control]!

Kanade activated Shiroppu’s skill to halt Dread’s acceleration, but the skill struck empty air.

There! [Crack Earth]!

[Shadow Clone]!

Kanade could not afford to stop. She activated her clone skill.

Yet.

[SHADOW] [Shadow Swarm]

A host of wolves, far exceeding Kanade’s shadow clone in number, surged from the shadows beneath Shadow’s feet and scattered her clone in an instant.

Dread’s short blade severed Kanade, who had been halted by Drag’s [Crack Earth].

“[Triple Slash]!”

Kanade, lacking enhanced HP or defense, could not withstand the attack. She dissolved into light right there.

Dread and Drag confirmed her defeat, sheathing their weapons.

“Yeah, [Maple Tree] is a rival. Can’t let her have an easy field.”

“…That was quick. She still seemed to have usable skills.”

“True. But thinking about it won’t change anything. She’s dead—look, the death effect even triggered.”

“Yeah. If we don’t hunt monsters, our rank will drop… clinging to players is just wasting time.”

There is little benefit in actively defeating players. The key is how many monsters they can eliminate. The two depart from the scene.

After a short while, a player in a robe, Kanade, returns.

“Phew... that was close. I couldn’t have handled that alone. But well done, Sou.”

Kanade parts the nearby brush, lifting a Sou reduced to half its original size, now in slime form.

“[Fission] and [Mimicry]... thanks to that, no casualties.”

Kanade conjures a wooden barrier, vanishes with a spellbook, swaps places with the summoned Sou, and uses [Fission] to create a duplicate of Sou to fight in their stead.

The original body must remain near, so whether it would be found was a gamble—but it seems to have worked out.

She had seen the two Teamed Monsters. The harvest was worthwhile. But… that one was strong. Perhaps I’ll discuss it with Sally next time.

Dread had learned, in only a brief clash, that the wolf he had taken as ally—Shadow—possessed a troublesome ability. Drag’s Earth Golem also revealed a similar threat. Sou’s magic dealt damage that demanded serious preparation. Its range was excellent. The hindrance skills, though mimicked from Maple and Sally, shattered easily. A countermeasure would be necessary. Otherwise, danger would come.

Then—perhaps a monster next time.

Kanade placed the shrunken Sou atop her head. She walked on, searching for the next monster.