Defense specialization and convergence 2.
—Hmm... on schedule, but... I wish someone would come soon...
Maple rides atop Shiroppu, a shadow barely distinguishable in the dark, ascending into the sky through repeated explosions from weapons. After a while, simply exploding grew dull. She now uses items that react to explosions, bursting into light, making the blasts resemble fireworks. Still, anxiety lingers—wondering if everyone is safe, unsettled.
—Alright, one more time! [Attack Initiated]!
Maple leaps from Shiroppu’s back, soaring higher. She closes her eyes and covers her ears as bombs ignite and detonate in the air.
She does not notice the demon-shaped monster flying in from the side until it grips her firmly in midair.
—Eh!? No, don’t—stay there…!
Immediately after the creature lunges in from the side, Maple’s explosive body detonates in full, scattering the monster’s form into splinters.
"W-w-wah—shift…! Shiroppu—!"
Maple is thrown sideways. She tries to move Shiroppu, but Shiroppu, already floating in a chaotic manner, cannot shift quickly.
She will fall straight down to the ground. She considers whether to fall as-is, or attempt another explosion to leap onto Shiroppu. Suddenly, she is gently caught from below.
“Mm… uuh? Huh…?”
“Are you alright…?”
“Honestly, you never fail to surprise me. You always do something odd, Maple.”
Maple lands on the back of Ignis, now greatly enlarged. There, Ignis’s master, Mii, stands beside Mai—unexpectedly.
“Mii! And… Mai? Why are you together?”
I have no intention of forcibly kicking down the 【Maple Tree】. I happened upon it by chance on the way, so I brought it along.
That’s right! Thank you!
Take care, Maple. It seems the map is being swallowed by darkness from the edges outward. The farther out you go, the stronger the monsters become. My party was overrun, it seems.
Yeah, got it! I’ll be careful. Hmm, I should thank Mii properly sometime.
...Then, if you insist, I have a request.
What is it? Anything at all!
Maple speaks, and Mii draws a note from her inventory, showing it to both of them.
Hold onto this. It will vanish by the time this event ends.
Is that really all? Um, 【Seal Note】...?
The two stare at the note, puzzled, its effect unmarked. Mii says nothing more. She dismounts from Mai, climbs onto Ignis’s back, and with a single leap, takes flight into the sky.
We might meet again. I hope it’s not over a medal.
Yeah, see you later! Thanks!
Ah, thank you so much!
Mii waves to the two of them, then flies off without pause. She has met Mai in an unexpected way. Now only six remain.
Mai is safe now. Progress is smooth. Mai and Yui have low HP. It’s good they’ve met so quickly.
Yes. We’re fortunate… The people from the Flame Emperor’s Country seem to be able to communicate somehow.
Huh. That’s nice. Then I could just fly over and join them!
For now, Maple resumes her role as guide.
Meanwhile, Mii, having entrusted Mai to Maple, remains mounted on Ignis, soaring through the sky.
Phew. I managed to lead them well. They both seemed happy. Now, no time to waste!
Mii pulls a crystal from her inventory and shatters it. It was given by Marks, a counterpart to the 【Marked Token】 forged by Marks’s skill, which reveals the location of the bearer.
— Gah. Only three party members left… This will make clearing the dungeon tough… Ugh. Forced teleportation’s pulling us apart fast.
She directs Ignis toward the nearest allies, prioritizing those whose marker moves erratically—likely engaged in combat—moving swiftly through the air.