Defensive specialization and Layer Eight.

Crossing a bridge linking structures that rose above the water, Maple and the others arrived at Layer Eight’s guild home. Part of Layer Eight’s guild home was submerged, with stairs that sank completely underwater, leading further downward.

“Is it alright to go this way?”

“Since it’s inside the guild home, it shouldn’t be dangerous… but let’s take a look?”

As Sally, skilled in swimming, stepped forward, a window appeared—announcing current entry was denied.

“Ah—no good. But… this feeling suggests we just need to meet certain conditions?”

Much remains unclear. Exploration will be necessary first. Sally rereads the message delivered from the administrators. The previous event’s cumulative kill count must have unlocked a player-supporting element in the eighth layer.

“Could it be related?”

“Then let’s begin exploring right away!”

Following Maple’s lead, everyone proceeds as usual—each heading to the Town to quickly assess the situation.

The Town itself is mostly submerged. NPCs are seen moving by boat. If traveling on foot, bridges spanning between buildings will need to be crossed.

This time, Maple and Sally together decide to inspect the eighth layer’s Town. They exit the Guild Home and walk through the submerged streets.

“Can we enter the buildings underwater?”

“Hard to say. It goes quite deep….”

The water, clear and deep, reveals foundations beneath the current buildings. As Sally said, they appear layered, stretching far downward.

The Town extends underwater beyond sight. There must be a way to explore beneath the surface.

Otherwise, they would only be searching the few buildings that rise above the waterline. That cannot be. Walking through the Town, the two find what they seek without delay.

It resembles the NPC who sold flying machines at the three-tiered market. Rows of diving suits stand in place—each one speaks plainly of underwater exploration.

"Let’s take a look."

"Okay!"

As the two examine the items, the NPC begins speaking without prompting.

"Essential for underwater exploration—these! Depending on the treasures recovered from the depths, we may even enable deeper dives."

At the same time, a window appeared before the two. A message from the administrators was conveyed.

The diving suit, released early at the eighth layer, was intended to aid underwater exploration. The goal of this layer was to advance exploration by combining it with items acquired in the previous event, descend deeper, and retrieve equipment resting on the ocean floor.

"Let's dive deep and collect components that might strengthen us—then we can go even further and search for rare gear. It looks like we'll be able to reach beneath the guild now."

"Wow... if it's this deep, all sorts of things must have sunk here!"

"Maybe there are treasures from a sunken ship? We'll have to salvage them!"

Buildings eroded by water, remnants of a long-dead civilization. Perhaps treasures lie within, as Sally suggests. Four layers, each requiring time to unlock. There is no time to waste.

"Then let's buy it right away!"

"Yeah, let's do it. Let's try diving in."

"Ready!"

Maple and Sally select diving suits. They move toward the field, now submerged, with no solid ground to stand on.

Sally places Maple onto the boat and rows out into the field.

The eighth layer resembles the fourth in character. Without upgrading the diving suit purchased earlier, movement will be impossible. From the suit's description, it is clear that time available underwater diminishes rapidly beyond one's aptitude limit. Thus, the plan is to explore several shallow zones, salvage materials, then proceed toward deeper regions.

"Really feels like the sea now."

"Right. No solid ground, so monsters aren't wandering about. This will be a new kind of exploration."

"I'm not good at swimming... I have to push myself to collect items!"

Diving suits and underwater exploration gear acquired during the previous event are merely tools to aid exploration. Maple, lacking the skills of 【Swimming】 or 【Diving】, can stay submerged for less time and move with less agility than Sally, who possesses those skills. To conduct thorough exploration, she must gather the proper equipment to extend her time underwater.

Since the conditions beneath the surface remain unclear, the two do not venture far from Town. They arrive at an area accessible with their initial diving suits.

Sally stops rowing the boat and dons the diving suit. Though not an equipment item, the suit overrides her appearance. Instead of her usual blue attire, she now wears a wetsuit.

This type provides a mobility boost underwater, but does not significantly extend the time one can remain submerged. It is suited for swift exploration, ideal for Sally.

The appearance changes… but yes. The equipment itself remains unchanged.

This is the first time something like this has happened! Previously, I just changed clothes…

Since we’re heading into the field now, the equipment’s skills and stats must stay the same. Otherwise it would be difficult. If such things become more common, they could be added to strategy…

Altering Maple’s black gear’s appearance could allow her to use unexpected skills. The diving suit is limited to eight layers, so future potential remains.

In any case, for now it is exploration. Maple dons the diving suit. It covers her body completely, like a spacesuit, with what appears to be an oxygen tank strapped to her back. Only the face is transparent. Her expression is visible through that opening.

Sally’s version allows longer submersion, but the initial mobility underwater is inferior. She intends to abandon swift movement and instead walk slowly through the underwater exploration.

“Huh—judging by the way it’s attached, this seems quite serious.”

“Is it?”

“Yeah. It looks like it’ll stay under for a while.”

“Alright then, let’s test how long it can stay submerged!”

“Right. Ready… set… dive?”

“Yeah!”

They leap into the water in unison. A spray rises. A torrent of bubbles passes before their eyes. Then, clear before them, unfolds a world of transparent blue water and a cluster of structures—ancient, eroded by water, so ruined they might be called ruins.

Around them, small fish swim—non-monster life—while various seaweeds sway. Among them, scattered glimpses of monsters appear. Not approaching now, but caution remains necessary.

“Ready, Maple?”

“Gah!? Sally?”

They are underwater, yet Sally’s voice comes naturally. Maple had not confirmed it thoroughly, but the octo-layered diving suit is specially designed.

“Eight layers, as you see—this is how it feels. Designed for comfortable exploration, so communication remains possible.”

“Huh… I didn’t know that. Feels strange.”

“Just keep the activity limit in mind. Let’s explore a little. Movement’s harder than usual.”

Voice reaches her, but the water remains. Swimming is the only way forward.

"At least around here, monsters won’t attack unless we approach from the other side. Let’s go inside the building first."

"Uh-huh!"

It’s better to enter a place where they can’t surface easily while they still have room. Sally leads, moving into the submerged structure. Doors and windows are gone, so entry is simple. They begin exploring the interior at once.

Furniture is absent. Instead, water plants, small fish, and large clamshells are visible.

"Doesn’t look like there’s a treasure chest here?"

"Still just a few meters below the surface. The real prize might be further in."

"Oh wow, I’m excited!"

"Still, we’ll need to gather materials to upgrade our diving suits… "

They part the water plants, searching for anything promising.

"Sally, there’s a staircase over here!"

Let’s go down. From the outside, it looks like we could escape through windows or openings if something happens.

The structure rises upward from beneath the water, with additions stacked on top over time. The placement of stairs, windows, and doors differs slightly from a normal house. Since every floor becomes ground level as the water rises, it’s no surprise there are multiple entrances and staircases.

They are on the most recently submerged level. Rooms continue downward still.

Yeah! If a monster comes out, it’ll be fine!

…Just no poison. You know, it might dissolve in water.

Uh-huh. I’ll be careful.

If the poison spreads through the water as it did during the second event’s giant squid battle, the sight would be unbearable. Everyone—monsters, some players, even Sally—would be killed indiscriminately. Should that happen, Maple would have no way to recover the poison. The consequences could be catastrophic.

If it must be used, best to end it with Paralyze Shout—immediate effect, no risk of contaminating the surroundings.

No problems should arise if they remain cautious. The two descend deeper, searching for what appears to be enhancement materials. Even in their initial-grade diving suits, exploration of a single building poses no difficulty. After descending several levels, they spot something shimmering within the seaweed. It does not glow from reflected light. Rather, it appears to be artificially lit, as if enhanced for clarity.

“Sally, there’s something here!”

Maple approached the seaweed not by swimming, but by walking directly through it. She parted the long strands, and there lay a blue-glowing sphere, and screws and bolts resembling mechanical parts.

“Looks like materials… what could it be?”

“Probably all of them. Remember, in the last event, there were water masses among the drops too.”

Sally handed the collection to Maple and they examined the obtained item together.

“Huh, yeah—definitely all materials.”

“Maybe the others are glowing to make them easier to find?”

“Could be. Not sure yet, but it doesn’t feel like random glowing. We can gather them quickly.”

To surface every few minutes would make exploration of the eighth layer prohibitively time-consuming, even for someone with Maple’s baseline. The diving suit grants considerable duration and mobility underwater. Yet the inherent limitations of the suit for underwater exploration remain undeniable. Still, it is a relief that the materials were found sooner than expected. As the suit’s performance improves, the disadvantage of lacking skill will diminish further.

“We could manage one more, maybe?”

“Then let’s go a bit further. Be careful not to drown, okay?”

“Yeah… the eighth layer is probably the hardest for that.”

One cannot afford to be caught unawares, already drowned. Considering that, perhaps the true adversary of Maple is not lava or water, but terrain itself.

We’ve kept you waiting.

Apologies.