Defense specialized. Light from above.

As it swims forward, responding to movement in the water, the monster changes visibly. Where once only creatures made of water had appeared, now most are golems composed of lifeless stone and metal.

They move with agility in the water, attack with precision, and handle both magic and physical strikes with skill. Yet they have lost the ability to deflect attacks. To Maple, they are now easily defeated.

"Initiate attack!"

"Even so, taking every hit would be too much..."

"The passage has no current, and is straight. It can be hit."

The golem approaching, engulfed by the barrage of weapons deployed without restraint, transforms into light.

The damage dealt remains unchanged. As levels increase and monsters grow stronger, it becomes increasingly insufficient. Yet still, few can survive a direct charge through the barrage.

The monsters are not weak. They do not pose a serious threat to either of them. Without special tactics, they could advance straight ahead.

"Good! This should be fine!"

"...Normal combat would be different—water-based, wide-area attacks—but against Maple, it's another matter. If the temple is connected, perhaps the boss on that side was the main target. Bosses aren't always at the end of events."

"I see."

They ascend further into the mountains. The exact location remains unknown, as they do not exit outward. But the direction is clear—rising steadily.

They defeat every monster that appears before them, reaching the summit of a mountain within the range. They survey the surroundings.

The peak, obscured from afar by shimmering effects, shows no particular feature. Yet it spreads flat and wide, as if struck from above.

“This isn’t much like a peak… We can’t move directly to another place from here. Maple, how’s your reaction? Maple!?

Sally turns. Maple’s chest glows. She rushes to check if she is unharmed.

“I’m fine! It suddenly started glowing…

“Could be strong reaction. Might be something here. Let’s walk around.”

“Yeah!”

Maple begins walking from edge to edge, examining the wide summit carefully.

Sally followed behind, prepared for emergency evacuation should anything occur. She had predicted no danger, no enemy presence, no threat at all. Yet, in an instant, Maple vanished before her eyes. Her breath caught.

“Eh…!?”

No teleportation circle. No monster’s aura. The terrain offered no cover, no opportunity for ambush. Sally rushed forward to inspect the spot where Maple had stood. She halted just in time, barely avoiding a sudden presence emerging from empty air. She stepped back, eyes fixed on the figure.

“M-me, Maple?”

“Ah! Sally! You okay?”

“Y-yeah. Just for a moment… not a monster’s signal, that’s for sure. But… what’s going on with that?”

Before Sally’s eyes, Maple’s severed head floated in midair. Not quite a full figure—only the upper half of her head, suspended as if pinned to the wall like a mask—but still, unnerving.

“Can you come this way? Uh… reach out… yes!”

Then, as before, Maple’s arm extended, mirroring the face. No sign of a counterfeit. Maple would not drag Sally into danger without warning. There was no risk in taking this hand.

“It’s fine. Take it.”

“Then come forward, just like that!”

Stepping forward as instructed, Sally’s legs vanished beyond an invisible barrier. No pain. The sensation of her feet remained—solid ground beneath her, pressing up through the unseen threshold.

Sally walked forward, passing through the invisible barrier. Light poured down, intense and blinding. Her eyes snapped shut instinctively, reacting to the contrast with the underwater dark. She opened them slowly, adjusting to the brightness.

“This is….”

“Isn’t it amazing?”

Before her stretched a landscape unlike any found in the eight levels. The ground was covered in grass and flowers. Animals darted across the field. Birdsong drifted through the air. Most striking was that the place was not submerged. Looking up, she saw an open sky, unbroken by any obstruction.

It did not feel like the underwater realm. Maple had already removed her diving suit. Sally followed, unfastening her own.

“It’s a fully isolated space. Not a transfer, but a transition.”

“Looks like it connects outward from behind Sally!”

It is evident from Maple’s face poking out and calling Sally.

The creatures show no hostility. They notice the two, yet make no move to attack.

“Anyway, that aside… there’s something clearly suspicious here.”

“Yeah, that one! The odd shape…”

Beyond the familiar landscape and its inhabitants, unchanging from other layers, one thing stands out unmistakably.

A large wooden vessel, though ruined, still retains its recognizable form. Cracks split its side. Vegetation has taken root, transformed it into a dwelling for animals. But one could climb in or slip through the fissures to explore its interior.

“The light’s gotten stronger again?”

“A bit blinding, maybe…”

Something is approaching. The atmosphere here is unmistakably different. Distance to that thing is no longer great.

“We can’t turn back now. Let’s go.”

“Of course!”

Both still have their limited-use skills. Resources remain intact. Unless something extraordinary occurs, neither will fall here. No reason to hesitate.

“Where shall we enter?”

“A proper entrance would be better. That cracked section feels wrong… perhaps from above?”

“Then above it is. We could tie a thread, but it’s quite high. Can you do it?”

“Yeah! Shiroppu—Awaken!”

Maple calls forth Shiroppu and immediately performs Gigantification, suspending it in midair.

If no monsters are present, there is no need to rush. Ascending atop Shiroppu, the deck comes into view. No signs of monsters there either. Only animals sleep upon a carpet of grass and flowers.

It is safe to land.

I’ll descend carefully.

Maple lowers her altitude slowly to the deck level, then transfers to the ship and returns Shiroppu to its ring form.

Then let us enter without delay.

Yes!

They descend the stairs leading inward, observing the interior. The ship’s interior, like the exterior, overflows with plants. Furniture of any kind has vanished completely.

No monsters inside either… still, I’ll remain alert.

Thanks! Anything interesting?

Probably deeper within. Places not connected to other rooms or corridors.

Let’s look there!

"Un, so it is."

Though a large vessel, the areas accessible for exploration were limited. Maple moved in response to shifts in her reaction, and so she did not stray far.

Thus, the destination was soon found.

A faint light, responding to the glow at Maple’s chest, emanated from a wall relief located at the ship’s center—still intact, untouched by decay.

"Doesn’t feel like a boss…"

"Shall we approach?"

"Go ahead. No enemy presence detected."

While Sally remained alert, Maple stepped toward the relief, prepared for anything. The moment her hand touched it, the light radiating from her body flared sharply, flooding the interior of the ship with brightness.

A deep rumble followed. The ship itself trembled, shifting violently.

It seemed not the mountains shaking, but the vessel itself attempting to move—propelled by unknown force.

"W-w-wait!?!"

"It’s… moving!?"

In light so thick neither could see the other, each adjusted their stance to counter the tremors. After a time, the light subsided. The ship’s shaking ceased entirely.

“…It’s stopped?”

“…We can’t move it anymore, I think. Look, even from outside it’s clear it’s broken.”

“I see… probably.”

If this ship could be moved, it would make a fine treasure. But that was not possible.

“Wait! Maple, anything changed? The shaking was fierce—couldn’t hear the announcements at all.”

Asked whether anything had altered in her items or skills, Maple checked them again.

“The light from above is gone. In its place, a skill has… yes, one new one!”

“Figures. What’s it like? I’d like to see it, if you can.”

Provided it is something usable here and now, the item’s aura suggests it carries no great danger. Maple reads the effect carefully before attempting activation.

“Residual Light of Salvation!”

At the same moment the skill is declared, a strong light erupts as before. A ring of sharp, unfamiliar light forms above Maple’s head, unlike anything seen before. Her hair turns gold, her eyes shift to blue. Four white feathers sprout from her back. The ground beneath her begins to glow. Sally stares, wide-eyed at the extent of Maple’s transformation. She steps closer, observing with quiet scrutiny.

“Similar to Love That Offers the Body… but evolved?”

“No, different entirely! Look—Love That Offers the Body!”

Maple declares another skill, and two more white feathers extend, forming a circular ring inside the existing ring of light as before.

The effect?

—Um, well… allies within range gain resistance to status effects, take less damage, and gradually recover.

A skill like the movable throne of the Heavenly King… so I’d be fine with that for now?

Sally’s damage reduction does not change the fact that she is still one-hit. Since she cannot exist in a state where her HP is reduced yet still alive, healing effects would not take hold either.

Moreover, if the effect of Love That Offers the Body extends within range, Sally—who often travels with Maple and the party—would not need to clear this path again to obtain it.

Without Maple, the overlapping range-reduction skills would be tremendously powerful... but she just cancels them outright.

The area is already untouched by damage thanks to Love That Offers the Body and her innate defense. It’s true she doesn’t use damage reduction or healing much, unlike Sally. Maple mostly relies on the sealing effect of Heavenly Throne.

“Still, the appearance is impressive. Feels like she’s risen in rank.”

“Her wings grew, you know!”

“If she could fly, she’d be even stronger…”

“That’d probably rely on explosion.”

She tries to move the wings on her back. No sign of flight.

“Was the harvest worthwhile? Only those skills?”

“Hmm… another one, like a poison dragon! And—definitely! I can do Reversal Rebirth too!”

“Ah. I see.”

Let everyone see it! It’ll be easier to understand if all of you are here too!

Maple said, showing Sally the window directly, making her confirm the skill contained within.

Indeed… that might be true. When used, it would likely be in the presence of many people.

Exactly!

Isn’t that fine? Oh, keep the new wings stowed. Even if not extremely powerful, revealing them at the right moment could freeze movement for a breath.

Right! Like a trump card, yeah!

Precisely. Heh, you’re catching on.

Hehe.

The purpose here was fulfilled. She decided to return immediately. She contacted the guild members currently logged in, summoned those who could reach the guild home, and began the journey back.