Defense specialization and the final confrontation.

After a pause, monsters begin to flood in. Using the open moments, Mii and Pain arrive at the screen’s origin, confirming the growing number of incoming foes.

This… might be more dangerous inside the cave.

Yes. I think so too. And there might be a significant change in the final monster’s enhancement timing.

Even now, we can’t avoid a substantial number of them.

On the second day, Mii and Pain could clear them all at once with their great techniques. Now, we must proceed more carefully, with buffs, disruptions, and slicing through clusters of monsters that come together. We must cooperate.

As Sally feared, both of them fear being overwhelmed by sheer numbers within this space.

Fortunately, we have several emergency evacuation spells. We may choose to exit, depending on how things develop.

Ignis, Ray, and Shiroppu can fly through the air. Monsters born from the gate can fly as well, but their number lessens significantly if left unattended.

"Sally, let's discuss this together. It's definitely better for all sixteen of us to stay together to survive."

"Yes. Let's do that."

After gathering the group to discuss their next steps, the sixteen—Maple and the others—decided to exit once they had survived the next assault.

Their destination was a mountain near the center of the map. Reaching the summit would allow them to see any approaching monsters clearly and make evacuation straightforward.

"Then we’ll take them down quickly and head out right away!"

Maple spoke the final words and waited. The attacks came at regular intervals, so Izu collected the items used to build the living space while the cave still held form. When the cave returned to its original state of emptiness, the expected attack arrived.

The swarm, though numerous, had not yet reached a scale sufficient to injure the sixteen. They were destroyed entirely.

"Now."

"Yeah. Let's go."

The fastest moved first. The three with extreme weight distribution hurried to escape, aided by Tsukimi and Yukimi.

They emerged outside. The Gathering Holy Sword moved as Rei. The Flame Emperor's Country moved as Ignis. The Maple Tree moved as Shiroppu.

Shiroppu could not fly by nature. No matter how fast she moved, she could not avoid approaching monsters that flew through the sky, unlike Rei or Ignis.

So long as Maple rides, monsters without penetration defense swarm but pose no threat.

They may approach, but cannot inflict harm. Flying forward while dealing with them, the eight who reached the summit ahead appear.

"Then let's take down the monsters and descend!"

Maple switches her gear, activates 【Poltergeist】, and directs the laser extending from the weapon, burning each monster precisely, one by one.

The remaining members assist. Once all monsters are defeated, they lower Shiroppu to the summit.

"Phew. Now we just need to survive here."

"Yeah. If anything unusual happens, we’ll notice it right away. And we can respond easily."

The dim light still reveals a varied terrain. Open sightlines allow immediate reaction if anything unnatural appears.

"I’ll place a few items around. Can’t let anyone approach unguarded."

"Then I’ll guard your back."

"I’ll come too. That way, being surrounded won’t matter."

"Appreciate it. Thanks."

Crom and Kasumi move forward as guards, setting defensive traps for Iz. Marks follows, preparing the defense.

Traps are placed in narrow passages and unstable areas.

The first wave advancing on foot will roll down the slope, one by one.

While some members prepare, the rest watch for anomalies in all directions, awaiting the monster reinforcement time.

No anomalies—? Sally, are you unwell?

No, just... check the map.

As Sally instructed, the map is opened. The player icons have diminished. Red dots representing special monsters have increased.

They’re fleeing, that’s all. The red dots don’t diminish.

We must survive.

Yes, we haven’t dealt with them yet. But... something feels wrong.

Should we ignore the special monsters marked on the map? Doubt rises in Sally, but no certainty follows.

We can only wait.

I’ll protect you if anything happens!

Maple raises her shield firmly.

“Fufu… thank you. You’re reliable.”

Having reached the summit, the basic strategy remains the same as during the cave encounter—ambush from a favorable position.

Sally concludes there is no use in pondering the peculiar monsters that cannot be approached directly, and focuses solely on intercepting the creatures flying toward them alongside Maple.

Clear visibility is a significant advantage. Detecting monsters early allows for a more straightforward response.

Thus, the sixteen survivors, unharmed thus far, arrive at the final monster reinforcement period.

One hour. The time is considerably shorter than before, evoking unease rather than reassurance among the players.

Something will happen. And it does.

At the instant the reinforcement period began, purple flames erupted from various points across the map, shooting upward into the sky. Sally immediately checked the map, noting that the flames corresponded precisely with the locations of the special monsters.

There were dozens of them, scattered across different areas.

The flames converged at a single point, forming a massive gate. From within the gate emerged a monster familiar to Maple and the others.

"Sally! That doesn't look like the one we defeated before!?"

"Size-wise, it's incomparable!"

It had multiple arms and shot flames from its wings—very similar to the boss that had emerged from the cocoon conquered on the second night. The difference was in its thicker limbs and body, as if fully matured. Its sheer size was overwhelming, visible even from the mountain peak, wreathed in flames.

"Fifty... no, maybe a hundred?"

"Seems stronger than the real thing, doesn't it?"

Maple and Frederica react to the likeness and difference in their forms. Their bodies fully emerge from the gate. They spread their arms wide. A roar tears through the air, sharp and crackling, as if the atmosphere itself shudders.

At the same moment, its massive form shifts, enveloped in violet flame.

Something’s coming… up!

“Wha—what’s that!?”

From a sky devoid of stars, a massive purple fireball descended, like a meteor shower.

It falls as though designed to strike the player's location, descending even toward the mountain peak.

"Maple!"

“Yes!”

If that is the same boss Maple encountered on the second day, it will inflict damage that her defense cannot nullify.

Communication with Sally was flawless. Maple understood Sally’s intent instantly and adjusted her equipment.

"【Heel】!"

Maple, having received Sally’s recovery, steadied her gaze upon the approaching fireball, the archangel armor encasing her frame.

"Shield!"

The dome of light, deployed just before the fireball struck, nullified all damage and shielded Maple and the others from the downpour of fireballs.

"Earth! 【Earth Control】!"

Even so, the blazing ground was addressed by Drag before 【Aegis】’s effect expired. By restoring the scorched earth to its original state, the flames were entirely extinguished.

"Nice work, Maple!"

"Yeah... but..."

The same tactic would not work if another came immediately. From the mountain peak, the rain of fire consumed the field below. Closer inspection revealed that even this single attack had already eliminated many players from the map. Worse still, pillars of flame erupted from the special monster, feeding a massive demon that stomped through the field, seeking players, its body now blazing with fire.

"Pain, Maple. We won’t last another hour like this. We must hunt the special monster—knowing the risk."

"Yeah, yeah, that’s right!"

"Not just that. Likely within this hour. Simply fleeing won’t sustain us. We must hunt the special monster—knowing the risk."

A giant demon appeared, its health displayed as a bar. Unlike the snail from the second event Maple once chased, this was a creature that could be defeated.

"Possible, then. Regardless, we must move quickly. First, sweep the field and eliminate the special monsters. Markus, Mizari, Sin!"

Mii calls the three. Mounts Ignis. Similarly, Pain gathers Dread and the others, mounts Ray. Separated, they avoid being targeted by fireballs descending in turn. They decide to split now, each group advancing to eliminate the numerous special monsters.

We’ll go too. The fastest among us should strike first.

Let’s meet again alive, at the foot of that great demon.

Eight split apart, advancing to eliminate the swarm of special monsters. Maple and the others must do their part.

“W-what do we do, Sally!?”

“With our speed, circling the ground to clear every monster is impossible. But Shiroppu moves too slowly… then the only option is to keep the giant boss from defeating other players.”

Each fall of flame reduces the number of players. This delays the elimination of the special monsters. If we can frighten the boss, or slow it in any way, that helps.

“Look, we’re better at fighting the boss than running around.”

“Yeah, that’s fine. Let’s just take what we can from it.”

If fleeing serves no purpose, then confronting it head-on with full force might be another option.

If they are to act, then with full force. Maple nods firmly. All board Shiroppu and fly toward the giant demon.