Defense-oriented and seeking change.

In the Seventh Layer, the colosseum-style mid-boss rush that Velvet and the others cleared becomes accessible.

Difficulty adjusts to the number of participants. Only combat without interference occurs. The path ahead can be conquered repeatedly without issue.

"Let's enter once."

"Yep!"

Maple and Sally step into the dungeon. They defeat the mid-boss and advance. They notice a difference from last time. Previously, no monsters appeared in the passage between mid-bosses. Now, however, tropical fish—limited monsters—appear sporadically.

"I see. Truly, they appear everywhere."

"Last time, nothing showed up at all!"

"That's right. This spot makes it clear. Though..."

Sally steps forward smoothly, slipping through the advancing swarm of fish and slicing them apart with ease.

"Uh-huh. Strength seems unchanged from outside."

"Wow! Amazing, Sally!"

"If it doesn't show up, maybe only mid-bosses or bosses appear—some special place?"

Maple and Sally move forward, carefully scanning for any change along the path, slaying the limited monsters until they reach the Boss Room. When they enter, unlike last time, two stone figures stand there—each holding one axe in both hands.

"Should be weaker than last time... right?"

"Velvet said so. But matchups matter—stay alert!"

They cannot afford to lose here, after coming all this way. Each raises her weapon, assuming battle stance.

"Attack will be wide swings—just dodge and cut!"

"Good luck!"

Sally dashes forward. At the same instant, Maple deploys her weapon and begins firing. The massive axe in her right hand swings down as Sally closes the distance.

"That's it! — [Hyper Acceleration]"

Sally slows for a moment, then leaps sideways to dodge the axe. She rises into the air through a cloud of dust, landing with practiced ease atop the descending blade. She slashes through the stone arm, ascending at blinding speed to the shoulder. Using the giant monster’s attack to strike back. With Sally’s signature tactic, she inflicts heavy damage in an instant. The statue hurls its left-hand great axe toward Maple, who continues firing.

"Wha—!?"

The axe struck without warning, catching Maple unprepared. She was thrown backward, the weapon rebounding into the air with a loud clang. The damaged weapon exploded as it broke apart, sending Maple rolling across the ground.

… startled.

She checks herself, brushes dust from her body, and begins to unfold her weapon to resume firing.

Maple!

…!

Maple recognizes Sally’s call. She halts her attack and switches to self-destructive flight. The statue swings its empty left hand to knock Maple down, but just as the distance closes, Sally activates her skill.

[Change Body]!

Sally and Maple exchange positions—the statue’s head, Sally; the air, Maple. Sally stabilizes her stance and lands on the ground. Maple twists her hand into a tendril and swallows the statue’s head.

“Good!”

Before her, the statue—its body writhing within black mist, its head held fast by writhing tendrils—pulses with torrents of crimson light. Sally confirms the success of the plan. She uses her proximity to create space for Maple. Exchanging positions allows Maple to unleash her highest-damage technique—[Carnivore]—in one strike. If Sally closes in, the statue’s only defense is its point-to-point movement, which leaves it vulnerable to Maple’s sudden lateral lunge.

Maple squeezes the head with her tendril, crushing it. As the final damage effect bursts forth, the statue dissolves into light, vanishing entirely.

Sally catches Maple as she falls, unsupported. She lowers her gently to the ground.

“Good work.”

"Uh-huh! Perfectly done!"

"...And I found something a bit different, too."

"...?"

Maple looks at Sally with a curious expression. Sally gestures toward the ground around them. Pools of water spread across the earth—clearly not created by her.

"Nothing dropped, no special event triggered... but the water remaining like this—might be tied to the event, too."

The statue had not interacted with water at all. Given the monster tendencies of this event, Sally’s theory holds. Something here is connected.

"Alright, let's take it down a few times! Might get special materials then!"

"Right. Not too strong. Let's keep going."

The two stepped onto the appearing magic circle and immediately began their second attempt at the challenge.