Defense specialization and crack two.

They descend for a while. At first, the monsters that attack startle the two. Once revealed, however, the outcome becomes one-sided.

Their combat ability is high. Without a surprise strike in the dark, their low stealth stats are exposed. Still, it is nearly impossible to land an attack on Maple that bypasses Sally’s vigilance. That is unavoidable.

"Progressing smoothly... hmm."

"Not showing any sign of reaching the bottom."

"Oxygen levels okay?"

"Diminishing, but thanks to Iz’s item and the diving suit, we’ll manage!"

"Tell me when it drops below half. We might not be returning through the magic circle..."

"Got it!"

Ascending now, cautious in the dive, focus only on reaching the surface—returning will take less time, but better to descend with room to spare, just in case.

Descending further. Though dark, ahead lies a place of tall rocks standing in rows, illuminated by Maple’s Love That Offers the Body—like a forest of stone.

"Can we see the bottom?"

"Something other than water, behind the wall!"

The rocks before them still hide their roots, but unlike earlier, they are solid. Touching one, it does not move. Firmly rooted in the ground. If these are not floating by some strange force, the seabed must be near.

"…! Maple, over here!"

Maple exhaled, as if the end were near, when Sally suddenly tugged her hand and pulled her into the shadow of a rock.

“What… what is it?”

“…Something’s there.”

Maple trusted Sally’s judgment. She released the 【Love That Offers the Body】 swiftly. Whether monsters could be detected by light was unproven, but she knew well enough that reducing the chance of detection was better than none.

Back in darkness, they both peered slightly from the rock’s shelter, eyes fixed on the other side of the gloom.

Across the dark, a pale blue light slid through the dense forest of stone. Within it, a slow-moving pair of eyes scanned the space—no prey in sight, yet searching.

Something large, drifting through the water. It felt unlike any ordinary monster.

“…It’s big.”

We should move without being seen. I don’t think it’s a foe worth fighting. More like… remember the snail from the second event?

Ah! The one we couldn’t defeat!

Yes, that one.

We can fight strong monsters, but if we don’t know how to defeat it, the situation changes.

It might have just been too brief—the HP bar didn’t show. But we don’t have time to spare, so we’ll avoid combat.

Yeah! We’ll hide!

That’s what the terrain suggests. If it comes near, I’ll sense it.

Got it. Leave it to me.

Hmm. Left to me.

With so many rock overhangs, hiding while exploring is easy. With Sally noticing approach even on first visit, and now aware of us, it won’t be easy for it to come close unnoticed.

After adding the roaming giant fish to the list of threats and diving a little further, they reached the seabed as expected. From here, they would begin searching for anything of note. Still, oxygen reserves were not plentiful, so constant attention to remaining supply was necessary.

"Can we proceed through here safely?"

"Staying against the wall won't help. Let's go this way."

They moved between the standing rocks. Sally remained alert for monsters. Maple watched for items or signs of events, ready to defend at once with her Cover.

"...It's to the right."

"Then we'll go this way."

Even in darkness, if not perfectly concealed like the anglerfish had been, a slight change would be noticeable. Still, Maple could not sense it. Sally's ability to detect threats was not something everyone could manage.

Avoiding combat was necessary, though the reason was uncertain. It slowed their progress.

There was no choice, yet the time limit drew near.

"Maple, anything found?"

"No... nothing yet. It's too wide, too dark. It might be anywhere."

Without her usual range of sight, something close might be missed entirely.

"Still, we'll have to go through it again and again..."

"But this really does feel like treasure hunting!"

"...That's true. Yes, we'll keep searching until we find something. This place is so large, and yet no reports have surfaced. There must be something here."

Even without hidden event conditions, something was concealed here.

There might be something found if they wait long enough, but the pleasure of discovering it themselves is real enough. Sally smiled faintly at Maple’s enjoyment.

Still, they would pull back soon. Combat could erupt at any moment. Unforeseen things happen.

Yeah, that’s true. Need to reinforce the diving suit again soon…

The reinforcement was nearly complete. The suit was already near peak performance, but a little more was possible. It worked fine for normal fields, but if they dive here again, extending their active time by even a little is necessary.

Maple checked her oxygen supply while pressing forward. Nothing notable appeared. The time limit approached.

Mm, disappointing.

Come again when you can. Maple has good luck. Maybe you’ll find it next time.

Is that so? I’d be happy if we did.

Then let’s rise up… Wait!

As she began to rise, a large shadow slid into view from behind the rock. Sally quickly pulled Maple into the rock’s shadow, but the space was too open to hide completely. The shape of the great fish shifted.

Sally, Sally—its eyes turned yellow.

…Alert mode? At least it’s not attacking directly. That’s something.

Like a signal, you mean?

More or less. Danger levels often show up this way. If it turns red, it’ll be bad.

…Understood.

Two stand still, whispering, then resume their former posture and depart elsewhere. But the giant fish shows no such behavior. The oxygen, which Maple has reserved for a safe ascent, dwindles even as they wait. Their earlier caution—having explored with ample margin—has saved them, yet the situation grows worse. Not a favorable state.

“Hard to leave, isn’t it?”

“Not much time to stand still… Shall we force an exit? Or try something else…”

Sally thinks. Beside her, Maple considers whether she has any skill or item that might help.

“Sally.”

“Anything?”

“If I vanish completely… could you give up searching?”

“Hmm. Not impossible. But how?”

“Look! Shiroppu’s [Cradle of the Earth]!”

They have reached the bottom of the fissure. Unusually, here they can use the skill that burrows into the ground beneath their feet.

"Perhaps it’s worth trying. If it fails, so be it. It’s not a skill I absolutely must use during this exploration."

Regardless, since they are retreating from here anyway, there is no harm in using a skill now.

"Understood! Shiroppu—[Awakening]—[Cradle of the Earth]!"

At the moment of declaration, both sink into the ground. The gaze of the great fish is now completely severed. But what happens until the skill’s effect ends remains unknown.

"Did it work?"

"Hard to say. It would help if it did."

After a short time, the skill’s effect ends. They are thrown back into the original water. Maple and Sally burst forth from the same spot they had been in. They press against the rock, checking the giant fish and what has become of them. There, as before, floats a yellow light within the darkness.

“Uuu… didn’t work.”

“Looks like time passed. Maple, how much oxygen do you have left?”

“Already decreased a lot… uh… wait?”

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s recovering, Sally!”

“Huh? Really?”

Sally checks Maple’s oxygen level. It is indeed fully restored. She looks at her own, then confirms it as well.

“I’m recovering too.”

“Really?”

“…Is that place outside the water?”

If she has a thought, it is of having burrowed into the ground. She had never had cause to activate the skill while standing on solid earth, so she did not know. But the only possibility is that.

This should still be manageable to dive deeper!

Unexpected, but a pleasant surprise. Let’s keep watching for now.

Agreed!

Maple’s oxygen issue was resolved. There was no longer need to worry about staying here a while.

With caution lifted, they remained still, watching the giant fish. The light returned to blue. The circular motion resumed as before.

Oh!

It’s gone. Seems it’s given up.

Then let’s continue the exploration!

Oxygen has recovered. It won’t be worth the effort to return. Let’s go as far as we can.

Thus, Maple and Sally advanced further, guided by chance and the unexpected restoration of oxygen.

Beyond the stone forest, beneath a sandy seabed, hidden in the shadow of rock, they watch for the massive fish that had drifted nearby moments before. It does not approach. The territory seems limited to the rocky zone. They wait. The blue light does not reappear.

“Phew. It won’t come here.”

“What if it finds us?”

“Don’t know. Nothing good would come of it. If you’re curious, wait a while. Then we’ll check that place together. Someone might have written what happened after being found.”

“I see.”

“Finding things yourself is enjoyable. Watching what others encountered is interesting too.”

“Maybe next time we’ll do it that way?”

When Maple examines information, she only checks what skills are needed and where they can be found. She does not look at anything else.

“There are many ways to enjoy it.”

"Then I'll have Sally, who seems knowledgeable, explain it to me."

"Uh, I'll look into events or dungeons involving unexpected occurrences."

The unknown threat having temporarily passed, the two walk through the dark water, their headlamps illuminating the sandy ground, in a relaxed mood.

"Unlike before, it's open here. There won't be much chance of missing something, even if something happens."

The environment also makes surprise attacks less likely, allowing Sally to focus on finding events. Therefore, the chance of missing anything within the headlight's reach is low.

"Seems like there's nothing in particular?"

"Right. I don't think I missed anything...?"

"Sally?"

Sally stops walking, sensing a faint tremor at her feet. After a moment, Maple turns back, having noticed it.

"What's wrong...? Ahh!?"

Immediately, sand swirls upward as if swallowing Maple, and a long-bodied fish resembling an eel emerges from the left middle.

"There wasn't nothing...!"

"Alright! No damage!"

"Got it! But it's coming!"

Maple, still caught by the eel-like creature that had grabbed her from above, is located by the headlight’s beam. A voice is called into the darkness.

Immediately, sand rises from all directions. A large number of colossal eels—large enough to swallow two people whole—appear.

"Really... everything is just on a massive scale."

Since Maple is farther away, half come upward, the rest head toward Sally. Though exact numbers cannot be confirmed in the darkness, they are approaching from every direction.

"Then follow if you can!"

Sally kicks up sand and surges upward, sharpening her focus as she narrowly avoids the approaching moray’s gaping mouth. A bite from that massive maw, lined with sharp fangs, would be fatal. But by dodging, she exposes the creature’s bulk, its size now a liability.

“Hah!”

In the water’s freedom of movement, Sally slides along the side of the mouth, slashing from jaw to tail with her dagger and breaking free.

“Felt that, didn’t you… next!”

Each time she attacks, two red lines flare across the moray’s long body, flaring with damage effects.

“Many of you, but slow and clumsy—no fear!”

The darkness offers no advantage. They cannot reach her. Even if they had attacked in unison, there might have been a chance. But the moray cannot coordinate such precision.

As she moves, crimson lasers tear through the darkness, raining down in thick waves onto the ground.

Rain falls even beneath the sea… though it is laser fire.

The moray had lifted Maple high, granting her the advantage of position. The lasers, fired downward, seared through the air, burning the moray that gathered above her as they descended.

The relentless rain of lasers scorched the moray’s entire body, inflicting continuous damage.

All living things within this domain, except for Risa, endured damage beyond tolerable limits.

This is enough to avoid—just avoiding is sufficient!

Even if left entirely to Maple, the moray would be defeated. Yet the weapons of the Machine God are finite. The extent of the fissure, the nature of the enemy—unknown. There is value in Sally delivering damage without pause.

Running out of ammunition at such a moment would be disastrous.

Sally slashes, building damage. Maple descends from above, unleashing wide-area indiscriminate attacks that steadily erode the collective HP of the eels descending upon them.

Time is required to reduce their numbers, but that is no significant issue.

After a while, the individuals hit most often by the laser begin to deplete their HP, vanishing in bursts of light. The damage is roughly equal across all targets, as no single eel was specifically targeted. One death follows another, and the eels fall in succession.

In the darkness illuminated by the light of death, Maple’s headlight, high above, begins to descend.

“Welcome back. Nice damage.”

“Got quite a few hits. Wasn’t sure I was aiming right.”

“Their size worked in our favor.”

“Yeah! Wow… still, seeing that many fall at once is impressive.”

The death effects faded in sequence, but the sheer scale and number of them meant sparks still drifted down like falling snow.

"Like marine snow."

"Yeah, I've heard of that before!"

"Of course it's not actually like that in reality."

"Nothing else should come out now, right?"

"Probably not here. It felt like everything had already emerged."

As Sally had predicted, all threats had attacked at once, and now that they were eliminated, quiet was assured for the time being.

"This area doesn't feel like there's anything left. Let's go a little further."

"Maybe something's sunk down somewhere."

"Nothing to do but look carefully."

"Let's push on!"

Maple moved ahead of Sally, checking both sides at each step for anything that might have rolled away.