Defense specialization and the ninth event two.

At that time, Crom, Kasumi, and Izu rode atop the massive head of Hak, repeatedly moving across the terrain and hunting limited monsters.

"Ah, it seems Maple and the others are coming this way. The materials dropped almost immediately."

"Wow, impressive. We've been running over tropical fish nonstop since just a moment ago."

They circled the area, crushing tropical fish that swarmed up on Hak’s enormous form, but nothing of note dropped. They encountered no other types of limited monsters. Izu had acquired combat ability, but it required preparation, so they decided to continue hunting together safely until other targets appeared.

"Ordinary monsters aren’t appearing any less. Still, it’s uneasy to be alone."

"I think we could manage now. We’ve grown strong enough to craft cannons. If we can draw them out quickly, even solo combat would be feasible."

"Items aren’t free anymore. Skills that restore after use are different. They’re not the same."

Iz returns, though solo combat is not impossible. It was proven during the last event, when they reached the highest difficulty.

"Kills can be accumulated, but still… it feels insufficient."

"Well… dispatching them is quick enough. Still, gathering materials is always easier when it’s simple. Strong monsters, players—anyone you seek, you can find if you go looking."

"Hmm… true enough."

Kasumi, following Haku’s instruction, efficiently dispatches tropical fish one after another—crushing, biting, adding to the kill count.

And as Kasumi continues to drag Haku along the edge of the field, Maple and the others arrive as expected.

"Hey!"

"Two of them have come. Haku, stop."

Kasumi halts Haku and lowers his head close to the ground.

"Are you two doing well?"

"Yeah! We’ve taken down plenty on the way here—on horseback, no less!"

"Looks like you’re doing well too."

"Ah, with this kind of fragility, there’s no real difficulty."

"Then, Maple."

"Yes, sir! Iz, here it is."

Maple hands the lump of water to Iz, who immediately checks the item newly unlocked through the acquisition of a new material.

"Um... this is something that extends time spent underwater. Stronger than anything we’ve made before. Should make underwater exploration much easier, I’d say."

"Ah, I see. There are plenty of seas and lakes around..."

Maple nods slowly. Sally had also considered water-related items as material sources—this was roughly as expected.

"Exactly as said. We can't tell when we'll be able to gather again. Let's shift focus to hunting monsters other than tropical fish."

"Yes. That would be helpful. The total kill count is rising steadily."

This was as expected—some player was amassing kills at an incredible pace, pushing the total toward the goal. Making kill-count accumulation a secondary objective while searching for materials would not be an issue.

"Besides, with Hak, even if we don’t target them, common enemies get swept up. Plenty of kills can be gained as a side effect."

"Let me inform the other three… Alright. For now, we’ll search for sharks and travel around."

"Ah, this area is ours to handle. No need to worry—we’ve encountered nothing beyond our reach so far."

Maple and Sally signaled they could be called at any time, then mounted their horses and galloped off. Kasumi ordered Hak again, and began searching for the sharks Maple had mentioned.

"Nothing too difficult here. No need to use the new skill we acquired."

"Indeed. I haven’t used mine yet either."

Crom and Kasumi’s skills, obtained through medals, were combat-oriented. They would remain unused unless a fierce battle arose.

"My skill increases the number of completed items at random during crafting. Not combat-related, that’s for sure."

"Ah, but this does improve the cost efficiency we were discussing earlier."

"True. What about your skills, then?"

"Hard to say… We’ll just have to wait for a suitable monster to appear."

……? Fufu, it seems Maple has shared her fortune. It has appeared.

Kasumi’s gaze fell upon the manta drifting lightly through the air. The three of them were certain this was the creature resembling a shark Maple’s group had described. There was no way to let it go.

“Kasumi, go intercept it!”

“Aa!”

Kasumi accelerated, matching Hak’s pace, and rushed straight toward the manta. As it sensed the approach, a blue magic circle unfolded at its mouth, and from it burst a torrent of water—identical to the wave that had flung Maple skyward earlier.

“If you’re going to use it, now’s the time! Leave it to me, Guardian!”

Crom raised his shield, and the current that sought to swallow them whole was absorbed entirely by his body. He endured it without breaking.

Reduces damage taken for a brief period after activation, shields allies, and nullifies status effects as a bonus! A common version of Love That Offers the Body, designed for ordinary users!

Unlike Love That Offers the Body, this reduces damage taken by the user, making it practical even for Crom’s defensive capabilities.

Then I shall show you mine. Art of the Warrior — Third Sword: Lone Moon.

Kasumi leaps using her skill, landing atop the mantis that has exhausted its water spout. She slashes forward, her twin arms floating at her sides. The mantis staggers, but its HP does not drop to zero.

As she falls toward the ground, Kasumi rights herself and readies her blade once more.

First Sword: Mirage!

Even in descent, the skill enables movements impossible for a human. Kasumi uses the skill to teleport instantly before the Manta’s eyes, slashes forward, and inflicts further damage. Mid-fall, Kasumi activates her newly acquired skill.

“[Battlefield Rakshasa]”

A crimson light rises from Kasumi’s body. Crom watches, using [Provocation] to draw the Manta’s attack once more.

“[Third Sword: Lone Moon]!”

Kasumi reactivates the skill just used, ascending once more through acceleration unbound by physical law, slicing through the Manta and piercing upward into the sky. She will fall again, as before. The Manta’s HP bar is nearly depleted. Kasumi is certain of the finishing blow.

“[First Sword: Mirage]!”

Before any new movement could begin, Kasumi vanished again and swung her blade. The Manta dissolved into light without resistance. Kasumi caught the lingering water mass in one hand, called out to Hakku, and adjusted her posture midair with practiced grace, landing atop her head.

……You’d think you’d changed jobs to acrobat.

Fufu. That was exactly how it feels in the game.

Ah, ah. That kind of movement took some time to master… My acquired skill drastically shortens cooldown time for abilities. The downside is, if I fail to defeat anyone during the effect duration, all skills enter cooldown.

Oh… that’s really peak… Still, it’s stronger for it. You couldn’t have done that aerial movement without the skill, could you?

With better use of movement abilities, even more impossible jumps become possible.

“U—wild movements….”

“Everyone’s grown stronger. More reliable. Makes helping you all the more worthwhile.”

“Hmm, did I go too steady with it?”

“Fufu, I think that’s just right for Crom.”

“Agreed.”

Crom’s expression was one of reluctant acceptance—neither fully convinced nor entirely dismissive.

Two figures rode apart from Crom’s group, galloping across the field on horseback. Maple clung to Sally with one hand, gripping her tightly to stay upright, while the other hand held a Gatling, picking off scattered schools of fish along the way with steady bursts.

“This is… cavalry archery.”

“Not a hundred hits out of a hundred, but—after a hundred shots, I’ll hit something!”

“Your shooting’s really improved. It’s strange, though. You’re not even using a shield anymore.”

“Fufu, I’ve got to aim for a hundred hits out of a hundred, just like Wilbert.”

"Fufu, that’d be impossible, really. Well, the ones I miss… Cyclone Cutter!"

As Sally spoke, a blade of wind struck the fish school that had barely survived Maple’s gunfire, finishing them off.

"Un, hit."

"Wow!"

Guiding the reins at high speed, attacking monsters was difficult. Avoiding obstacles ahead, Sally occasionally glanced back, sometimes turned sideways, precisely eliminating the fish school Maple had failed to finish. She confirmed there were no material drops.

"I’ll fill in the gaps. But aim for a hundred hits out of a hundred?"

"Okay!"

After some time of moving about, they encountered several large monsters—sharks, manta rays, octopuses, and squids. None posed a significant threat, however. Each attacked only with torrents of water.

Sally, growing certain she no longer needed to dismount, continued to direct Maple’s shooting while evading attacks at full gallop, maintaining distance and relying on Maple’s fixed artillery to destroy each foe.

“Hmm. No need to get off. Convenient.”

“Amazing. Even on horseback, you can dodge.”

“Attacks are simple. Once you read the pattern, it’s manageable.”

They repeated the process—defeating monsters, collecting drops. Though only one large monster was counted per kill, they had confirmed the material Iz wanted was certain to drop. They prioritized defeating them before other players could.

It’s only the first day. After a while, we’ll probably figure out where we can appear more easily.

Then it might become easier to gather, wouldn’t it?

Hmm. When more people gather, competition increases. Can’t say for sure.

Ah, right. Then we’ll have to find a hidden spot, won’t we?

That’s the best approach. That’s why we’re running around like this.

Choosing the Seventh Layer also included the fact that we had a suitable means of travel that two people could share. And the Seventh Layer, being wider than the others, made it less likely to encounter competition, as Sally said.

Still, horses are available to anyone. Naturally, there are other players thinking the same way as Sally.

Ah.

Oh—Sally! How’s it going?

The two riding toward them were Frederica and Drag, members of the Gathering Holy Sword.

Hmm, more or less like that. Just scouting good hunting grounds, taking it easy. You?

Same sort. Took down some things besides fish, but not much.

Frederica looks at Drag. Drag speaks.

The monsters from last event were worth the effort. This time, nothing to it.

Too weak.

Maple and Sally feel the same. The monsters from last event were clearly designed stronger. Even accounting for that, their HP and attack patterns are nothing remarkable.

We feel it too.

Yeah. We’re out here, checking for hidden elements.

The Gathering Holy Sword has many members. If every guild member has searched and found nothing, a hidden element becomes likely.

Yeah. But we don’t have any information we could trade yet. That’s true.

Missed my mark. Frederica.

Thought Sally and Maple would have found something by now.

Then I’ll let you know when I do. Right, Sally?

That’s right. Oh, of course—exchange information then.

Got it ready. Looking forward to it. See you.

Keep me posted. And I’m looking forward to the personal combat.

We won’t lose.

Yeah. Neither will we.

Frederica waved lightly to the two, walked beside Drag’s horse, and faded from sight after a while.

Information, huh… Though there’s nothing specific to go on.

That’s right. Maybe we should change our search location?

…? Going to another layer?

Maple speaks. Sally shakes her head. No sign of anything new appearing, even as they race through the field. Then, perhaps, another district—another layer—might yield something.

"Try the dungeon. How about entering it a few times?"

"Ah, right! Maybe something's changed!"

"Exactly. Might not be clear in just one try, so we should go more than once."

"Then let's head straight to the boss, if we can."

"If nothing shows up, we can always return to hunting sharks. It's still early. First, we must take stock of everything."

"Un!"

Maple and Sally have already cleared several dungeons in the Seventh Layer. They choose one where reaching the boss is straightforward. They spur their horses toward the dungeon.