Defensive specialization and beneath the sand.

The location shifts. Beneath the sand. Smooth walls and floor made of sandstone. Light sources spaced at even intervals. The arrangement indicates they are within some kind of structure.

“Should’ve said something earlier.”

“Uu… sorry. Dragged you in. I knew about this kind of place back then. I fell into a dungeon like this before.”

Maple had been swallowed by quicksand during the second event, falling into a labyrinth where snails wandered. Some puzzles and boss monsters appeared to be reset under certain conditions. Since access to the second event’s field is currently impossible, it is convenient to reuse the puzzles.

“I knew it existed. But we’ve never entered it ourselves…”

“If we defeat the boss, experience points should increase accordingly… so let’s not worry. Let’s go.”

“Yes!”

The information on monsters within the dungeon was already known to Velvet and Hinata, so there was no need for undue tension. They began their advance.

"Throughout the journey, we’ll face nothing but golems like the ones we saw above. Let’s move quickly."

According to prior intelligence, the goal lay below. They walked straight toward the lowest level. Overall, the dungeon resembled an ant’s nest, composed of numerous corridors and spacious chambers.

Maple continuously maintained her ability, Love That Offers the Body. When monsters appeared, she launched coordinated volleys from her weapons ahead, combining with the two others’ magic attacks, felling monster after monster.

Upon reaching the first chamber, three golems rose—unlike the ones on the surface, their bodies entirely made of sand.

"Attack initiated!"

Maple turns her body, firing bullets and beams at the approaching sand giant, but they pass through the sandy form without effect.

“Mm… no good.”

“Seems we’ll need attacks with elemental properties.”

Velvet and Hinata prepare their magic, but before they can act, the giant dissolves into the ground like sand, vanishing instantly. A moment later, it reforms before the three of them.

Three of them launch attacks. Within Maple’s range of Love That Offers the Body, surprise is meaningless.

A sand fist strikes Maple’s crown—only a dull thud echoes. Hinata, aware she remains within Maple’s defensive range, abandons evasion and strikes with water and wind magic.

“…! [Water Spear]!”

Velvet, having reflexively tried to dodge, now realized the need had passed. She planted her feet firmly, halted, and unleashed her magic—yet the unnecessary motion cost her precision, and the spell struck clean, but not cleanly.

"Safe for now! Focus on offense!"

Having confirmed the need to evade was gone, Sally refrained from shielding and stood motionless, using only [Taunt], to avoid wasting effort. Her fist, as tall as her own body, struck again and again at a single point.

"Phew. Would’ve sunk into the ground if it weren’t so hard."

Maple sat down where she stood. She waited, motionless, as the two would bring down the golem.

The golem attacked Maple with skill, spewing sand from the ground, summoning sand-formed minions, and halting her movement with sand, yet achieved nothing beyond burying her. It was toppled by magic.

"Are you... alright? You're buried."

"HP seems unchanged, at least."

Before them lay a mountain of sand, and Maple, her hair poking up like a sprout. With the danger gone, the two began digging her out, brushing away the sand.

"Thank you! The monster was..."

"Yui and I defeated it safely."

"Thanks for drawing it... well, I mean, it helped."

Monster spawns decreased compared to aboveground, but experience gain increased, and leveling progressed smoothly.

The monsters should change if we go a little further down.

What is it like?

"Mummy?... Well, it looks like someone wrapped in bandages, all wrapped up."

Change is spoken of, but not all attack patterns are known. Be cautious.

Understood!

The three advance deeper underground, having defeated numerous sand golems. As Velvet said, the monsters that emerge now differ. Instead of sand forming golems, a humanoid monster appears, entirely concealed beneath aged bandages. Red eyes gleam from gaps in the wrappings. The impression is unlike that of the golem-like power fighters.

"...an opponent like this... is the Heavenly Throne!"

Maple sits upon a pure white throne, summoned as if she had mastered it at the sixth level, and unfolds a glowing field across the ground. Velvet’s eyes widen at the sight of Maple still wielding a skill so uncommon it defies common classification.

“This should block most monsters like zombies or ghosts!”

“Indeed. That will be helpful.”

The monster, expected to unleash some dangerous attack, now only scratches at Maple’s form.

“Normally the throne can move, but here it’s too confined…”

Once dispelled, it cannot be used again for a time. In an environment where Shiroppu’s back is unsuitable for carrying it, keeping it active is impractical.

“Um, I understand its usefulness… It’d be great to have it during the boss battle.”

The boss here fights while summoning monsters along the way— a colossal mummy. If Maple can disable not only golems but also mummies, the battle would end swiftly, and they could return outside. Maple prepares to activate her skill, aiming to eliminate the swarm of mummies.

"Alright— [Predator]… no, not that— [Full Armament Deployment]!"

As Maple deploys her weapons, the mummies are thrust backward by the extending barrels, crashing onto the ground. Their movements are sluggish. Even Maple can land shots beyond mere scattering.

"Ugh… they’ve got more HP than expected."

She presses the barrels directly against the mummies, firing point-blank. Even the tough ones finally collapse, dissolving into light.

"Slow movement too. Ranged fire… should be fine."

The three—Maple included—will dispatch the enemies along the path with coordinated ranged attacks. They move toward the Boss Room. The Heavenly King’s Throne cannot be used repeatedly, but with Love That Offers the Body, the battle becomes effortless. The three reach the Boss Room without taking damage once. They wait until Maple’s Heavenly King’s Throne becomes usable again, then enter the Boss Room.