Defense specialization and directly below.

"Yott! Tōchāku!"

"Below ground... feels like directly beneath that small island. The ground and ceiling are both damp, muddy."

"Indeed... wow, an incredible number of branching paths..."

The place the four arrived at was unmistakably like a subterranean dungeon, entirely surrounded by brown. The starting point was circular and slightly widened, from which six paths extended. The width of the paths seemed unimportant, but as Sally said, every direction was damp, and puddles formed in places.

"Mannequins made of mud might appear. We might have to defeat them this time!"

"That's right. If you could finish them in one strike, that would help."

"Leave it to us!"

Though the number of paths was great, no clear answer came from deliberating which to take. The four decided to simply choose one path and proceed.

"Ugh, the ground beneath our feet is slick."

Yes… it’s good it doesn’t actually get dirty.

Whoa, they’re coming up fast!

As Sally said, mannequins rise from the puddles and mud with a wet, splashing sound.

Their movements are slow. Mai and Yui can easily catch them.

“Double Strike!”

Before the mannequins can act, both attacks land. The swarm erupts in front of them, blocking the passage. They burst apart with a splash, spraying water and mud across the surroundings.

Oh! That’s some skill!

…No, it’s not over yet!

The splashed water and mud do not vanish as light. Instead, they form new mannequins. The number doubles instantly. The swarm charges forward. Mai and Yui hesitate, caught off guard—then take the blow.

Maple! Are you alright!?

Since attacked by both types of mannequins, something should have happened to Maple if the effect of Love That Offers the Body were active.

"Um... just a moment? Hmm..."

Sally looked back and forth between Maple and Mai and Yui, both being pummeled between them, then relaxed her shoulders.

"Ah! Can't move anymore! After that... the time until the skill can be used again stops progressing."

"Movement disabled and cooldown frozen... that's enough to wipe out a party entirely... Damage from the attacks is significant, and there are many of them."

"Sally-san! H-how do we defeat this!?"

"For now, let's try a few things..."

Maple is immobilized, nothing more. She could still do much even without movement. Now, with Love That Offers the Body, that is enough.

While Maple holds back time indefinitely, they search for a way to deal with the mannequins. They discover that striking the clay mannequin with fire-element attacks, and the water mannequin with lightning-element attacks, causes no splitting—only damage, and eventual collapse. Any other attack results in immediate splitting.

Reliant on Maple’s protection, they test every method in turn. The mannequins multiply uncontrollably. Some fill the corridor completely, piling up to the ceiling, leaving no room to move.

Clinging beneath a landslide of mannequins, Mai and Yui crawl free, careful not to strike any by mistake.

“Alright, confirmed everything… now, let’s deal with these insane numbers of mannequins…”

““Yes…””

“…this got really out of hand…”

Attempting to take another path proves futile—Maple cannot move, so the immobilization is reapplied once more.

The day will not come when Maple can move unless every one of them is brought down.