Defensive specialization and mistress of the mist.
Of course, many players are present on the field. Finding a place entirely free of others proves difficult. The three players, steadily defeating monsters and continuing to survive, step into the thick fog of the forest.
Having eliminated a sufficient number of monsters, they seek to spend time apart from other players. The dense fog increases the risk of ambush, making it an undesirable location. Precisely for that reason, they intend to turn the enemy’s psychology to their advantage.
“This area should do.”
“Ah, good. It was fortunate to meet a guild member.”
Numbers alone confer strength. Even without forming a party, having allies who can communicate and coordinate is a significant advantage.
“Yeah, that’s right. You think so too… huh?”
“Something wrong… wait?”
They had entered the misty forest as three, yet now find themselves reduced to two. They search the surroundings separately, unable to believe their companion has vanished without a word.
“Hey! She’s not here… This can’t be real.”
In the moment he looked away, the third companion had disappeared. The man flinches, scanning the fog.
“Ah… what is that…?”
Beyond the mist, two red lights appear. The moment he sees them, a paralysis effect courses through his body. He cannot move.
“Damn it! This is bad…”
He accepts death. He strains to move, but the paralysis will not end. Then, parting the mist, a massive white serpent emerges. He prepares himself. But the shock comes unexpectedly—from behind.
“[One Flash]”
The blade slices horizontally with a crisp sound. The man is split deep. His HP drops to zero.
The one who struck. Kasumi walks to the white serpent, Hak, and mounts his head, settling onto it.
"Another monster has appeared. Let's go that way."
Hak glides silently between trees, moving through the forest. In truth, this mist is produced by Hak himself.
"Ah... Hak, you've grown quickly. A reliable ally, that's good."
Upon leveling up, Hak learned a skill identical to Shiroppu's Gigantification—called Ultra Gigantification.
Activating it, and using his mist-generation ability, he can crawl across vast areas, claiming territory.
Kasumi found players entering the forest and paralyzed them with Hak’s power, then severed them. Monsters met the same fate. She circled the forest, claiming each creature she found, burying them with Hak.
Movement was left to Hak, effortless.
After some time, a large monster emerged from the forest—a boar five meters tall—and players battling it. As time passed, more players communicated through messages and joined the fight.
“Good. Found it… let’s go, Hak!”
Kasumi accelerated Hak, driving him straight at the boar’s side, biting deep into its flank.
“[Warrior’s Arm][Blood Blade]!”
Still unable to react to Kasumi’s sudden emergence from the mist, the boar is cleaved apart by a blade turned liquid. As it staggers, Kasumi’s blade and the twin slashes from her arms strike down, severing each player in a single blow.
“Hak! [Paralysis Poison]! [Fourth Sword Technique: Whirlwind]!”
Kasumi turns toward the boar, driving her blade repeatedly into its head, now paralyzed by her bite.
Hak does not know many skills. His high stats and massive frame are his weapons.
Hak moves smoothly, wrapping around the boar, squeezing it, inflicting damage.
With the three of them weakening it, its HP drops to zero swiftly.
“Good. This time went well. Wait—buffs… can I tell where the nearby player stands…?”
Kasumi climbs onto Hak’s head and moves toward the player icon on the map. Defeating a nearby player raises the rank of the 【Maple Tree】.
"Haha, this is our territory. Anyone who enters shall be brought down. Yes, Hak."
A white serpent slithers through the fog, dragging itself with a rasping sound. For a time, screams do not cease within the mist.