Defense specialization and the second eye.

The boss’s form vanishes into light. The current and fish vanish. The gun muzzle no longer fires light projectiles. Sally releases her body’s tension, relaxes, lowers the focus she had heightened, and exhales in relief as the battle ends safely.

She still has time to remain underwater. Calm now, she scans the surroundings. The monitor that activated first glows again.

She braces, expecting another monster. But it is not so. Light gathers in front of her. A chest appears.

“Oh— so it can produce anything. Could it… produce more?”

Sally approaches and taps the monitor lightly. It remains dark. Nothing responds. Though a boss was present in this room this time, the machine itself might be the true source of the problem.

"Then, now. Something good inside, yes!"

Sally opens the chest. There it is—the thing she wished for.

A single-edged short sword, larger than the one she currently uses. A gray hooded coat with multiple pockets and belts. A simple choker. Sturdy short pants. That was all. The distinctive feature was the equipment itself, glowing with yellow polygons. This, too, was likely from the same monitor that had produced the boss.

"Well, how does it feel?"

Sally immediately checks the equipment's properties, eager.

『Phantom Coat』

AGI +30 DEX +25

【Unbreakable】

【Disguise】

Alters the name, appearance, and visual form of skills, magic, and equipment. Actual effects and abilities remain unchanged.

『Invisible Blade』

STR +50 AGI +20

【Unbreakable】

【Shape Shifting】

Allows free alteration of weapon type. Weapon handling remains as that of a short sword, and available skills follow suit.

【Non-Physical Manifestation Device】

DEX +20 INT +30 MP +50

【Unbreakable】

【Hologram】

Can replicate any skill or magic used within a set time frame. No effect beyond visual manifestation occurs.

【Cloak of Reality】

AGI +40 STR +30 DEX +20

【Unbreakable】

【Reality Reversal】

[Hologram] — Select one skill from those that do not inflict damage. The object generated by it will then inflict damage, but the user will no longer receive damage from other attacks. Duration: fifteen seconds. Available again after thirty minutes.

"Ah— the stat increases are decent. Skills… interesting, aren't they?"

Sally rechecks the skill. These items, true to their unique series, possess sharp, unusual properties. Though skills are attached to each, most do not readily enhance the user’s strength. Only [Reality Reversal] directly affects damage, and with its cooldown, it can only be used once per battle. From the phrasing, it is clear that support skills that do not inflict damage are excluded.

Still, potential remains. The significance of expanded skill usage becomes evident when one observes Kanade.

With proper use, the tide of battle could be turned.

"Depends on how you use it, really. Need to test a few things first."

One cannot rely on instinct alone to wield it well without having considered good applications in advance. Unlike Maple's skill set, which is simply powerful when activated, this is different in kind.

Regardless, having acquired new gear, Sally immediately tests its effect.

"Then, first... weapons."

Sally activates Shape Shifting. The short sword in her hand becomes a gathering of light, then solidifies a moment later. In her grip now is not a short sword, but a spear as tall as she is.

"Interesting... the fact that I've used other weapons for Mai and Yui might prove useful after all."

Sally shifts the short sword into various weapons without pause. Longsword, axe, bow, shield—each with different reach, different handling. Yet she turns them over in her hands, as if watching something fascinating. To change weapons freely in battle, and wield each perfectly—such a thing could be a grave threat.

She finds it enjoyable, though the practice has increased.

“Perhaps I’ll see how others view it later, after returning to the guild. How it appears to others matters, too.”

Sally restores her gear to the original unique set. She exits the dungeon and rises to the surface, breath still steady.

Upon returning to the guild home, she finds Maple handing materials to Iz.

"Ah, Sally! Welcome back. You went deep, didn’t you? How was it?"

"Fufu, perfect. First, the parts."

Sally hands over the part she retrieved from a deeper level.

"Unhun, definitely more than before. I must push harder, get everyone deeper still."

The quantity is clearly too high for one person to gather alone. It is clear that reaching deeper levels faster is now essential.

"There was quite a bit scattered inside the dungeon. Might be worth entering."

"Understood. I’ll tell the others."

"Entered the dungeon? How was it?"

"Fufufu, told you, didn’t I? It went well. Watch closely…"

Sally quickly changes her gear and spins on the spot, presenting her equipment to the two.

Oh! Totally different feeling! Looks cool!

Is that right? Does it have a skill too?

Yes, the skill. That’s why I came back. Perfect timing. Maple, I need a favor.

What is it?

Sally explains what she wants to try with her skill and what others need. She walks toward the training hall with Maple and Izu.

Maple’s skill should be especially clear.

...?

Hehe, curious, aren’t you?

They arrive at the training hall. Sally immediately asks her favor.

Then, please step back a bit… Maple, could you try shooting the [Poison Dragon]?

I… I understand! Um, [Poison Dragon]!

Maple releases her skill toward the wall. As always, a torrent of poison spreads, turning the entire area into a toxic swamp.

Is that enough?

"Uh, then Maple, hold the shield steady and face this way."

"...? Uh, got it."

As Iz watches, Maple raises her shield as Sally instructs.

"Here we go. [Poison Dragon]!"

A large purple magic circle unfolds, responding to a voice that should not come from Sally.

Both girls widen their eyes. A torrent of poison, identical to the one moments before, surges toward Maple. It strikes the shield Maple holds. Normally, it would be absorbed by [Malevolent Feast], but this time it passes straight through.

"Wha—!?...Huh?"

Maple stumbles back in shock. The poison cloud passes through her body and scatters across the ground.

She tilts her head, looking at Sally, puzzled. Sally, in turn, seems impressed, as if witnessing something unexpected.

A skill that mimics the appearance of another skill used within a set time limit. It’s entirely fake, so there’s no damage.

It doesn’t mean it hits and explodes without damage. Like the fish in the dungeon, what [Hologram] creates cannot be touched at all. Izu reaches out, testing Sally’s poisonous swamp, but her hand passes through with no resistance. Still, to look at it, it is no different from Maple’s real poisonous swamp.

“Huh. Really felt just like mine!”

“Could possibly confuse the opponent. This gear feels mostly built for PvP. Might not be very effective against monsters.”

“Monsters don’t hesitate or waver. But… still tricky. Sally-chan might handle it well.”

It is also possible to materialize these illusions in this manner. Only one use per battle, though.

You could use it like a copy skill.

That sounds incredible! You’d actually be able to use a [Poison Dragon], right?

Yes… I’d like to incorporate it into coordination next time.

Mm-hmm! What else? What else?

After the experiment concluded, Maple approached, her eyes bright with curiosity as she asked Sally if she had other skills.

“This weapon is interesting too. Watch closely.”

The weapon in Sally’s hand shifted, glowing, then changing form one after another.

“Oh—this isn’t an illusion!”

It can transform into other weapons. I tested it briefly on the way back. It works in battle too.

You can keep transforming it into the right weapon. Ah… I wish I could make a weapon like that myself…

A unique trait of the Maple series. If even Iz could not craft it, it is beyond the reach of current forging techniques.

This confirms the ability to adopt a fighting style unseen by other players—unimitable.

"I plan to keep this for use only when not with the guild. If no one knows of it, the element of surprise increases."

A short sword suddenly becoming a greatsword makes evasion difficult. Reacting to the unexpected is hard.

"Then, there's one more."

"One more!? Amazing! What is it?"

"Here it is. Disguise."

As Sally speaks, her equipment glows. Her attire shifts to the familiar blue coat and scarf.

"Like Quick Change?"

"No. Only the appearance changes. Look."

Sally says this and reshapes the dagger using Shape Shifting. The effect ceases, and a gray longsword appears.

"Ah, so there are such gear pieces! I’d like to make one… perhaps I could learn how?"

"Skills, spell names, even appearance can be changed. For example… Fireball!"

She speaks, and a green magic circle unfolds at her hand. A wind blade streaks toward the training straw bundle. It does not slice through the bundle. Upon impact, it splashes water everywhere.

"?????"

Maple stares, expression unreadable, unable to grasp what has occurred. Sally explains.

"That was changing the skill name to Fireball, and altering the appearance to Wind Cutter."

The object flying through the chaos was labeled Waterball, so it burst into water upon impact.

"Ah... I see."

"This too could be advantageous depending on how it's used, but I'll need more practice. I know how to apply it, but it requires thinking in a way different from before."

"Haha... I wouldn't manage it well, but Sally could."

"Leave it to me. I'll get used to it before the next player battle."

"You're dependable. Let me know if you need anything. Do your best in exploration and combat."

"“Yes!”"

Thus, Sally began training in secret, striving to master her newly acquired power.