Defense specialization and the Cube.

The light had been blinding, yet the event itself seemed no different from previous transfers—two figures were cast into an unknown darkness.

"Phew, that felt different from usual..."

"Hmm, wasn't that how transfers used to be in the old Town?"

"Bad for the eyes..."

"...This place is dark too, and nothing is visible, but there's no water, seems like."

"Ah, you're right!"

Moving limbs gave no sensation of submersion. Jumping upward produced the familiar feeling of falling back down, as on solid ground.

"Then we’ll take off the diving suits."

"Visibility will be limited, but that’s acceptable."

They removed the diving suits and rechecked the darkness with their headlamps.

"Solid floor, definitely. Made of stone, like the ones before."

"Maybe we’re inside somewhere? Can’t see the sky at all."

Air is present, but not a single star is visible above. If the floor is artificial, this place is more likely a building than a cave.

"Shall we walk until we hit a wall? That might tell us how large it is!"

"Good idea. Let's do that. It's quiet for now. It's important to map our surroundings before something emerges."

They step back momentarily. This is a reversal of their usual tactic—previously they had often teleported directly toward bosses.

The spot behind them quickly becomes a wall. Solid black stone, unbroken by door or opening. No way out.

"Looks like we've teleported to the edge of a room. So the opposite side might be..."

"Something's there?"

"Yeah. This feeling... a bit like a boss."

"Exactly! We need to be careful..."

The presence within is not attacking immediately, but something is likely there. This space, broad and open, resembles the Boss Room they have entered many times before.

Whatever it is, if it is an enemy, it would be preferable if it waited until we are ready.

The two walk sideways now, testing the width of the space. Footsteps echo through the unbroken silence and darkness. Nothing happens in the middle. They reach the wall.

It is wide.

That means...

A boss of considerable size is likely.

Room size generally determines boss size. A mismatch would hinder movement—natural enough.

Moreover, this is not underwater. The boss’s patterns are numerous, and with no prior information, prediction is difficult.

The battle will be a direct assessment—judging ability from appearance alone.

"Going backward means we're ahead, right!"

"Let's get ready—just in case anything happens."

"Uh-huh!"

They walked to the opposite wall. After confirming nothing was there, they returned to the center and turned to face forward.

"Shall we?"

"Whenever you are—fully ready!"

They advanced with utmost caution. The room brightened gradually, as if responding to their presence, revealing its full form.

They stood at the edge of the chamber, as expected. The space stretched forward for dozens of meters.

Beyond halfway, along the walls, lay a dense array of crystals, rocks, and plants—materials unfamiliar in the eighth layer.

"A storage room?"

"Still, it’s messy—like something else stands out more."

"That one, right!"

Maple pointed to a black cube, each side about two meters in length.

It hovered in midair, untouched by the other scattered materials, its presence distinct.

"Reminds me of something we saw underwater earlier?"

"Monsters of that kind would have limited attacks. And the way they approach—it's almost the same."

The one from underwater had used water as a weapon, but there is no water here. As they stepped closer, the black cube reacted. Complex blue lines flared across its surface. The body split in half, just as it had when they entered.

"Here it comes!"

"Right!"

Before them, as they braced for whatever spell might fly, the cube snapped open all at once. From within, several stone pillars made of the same material emerged.

It began to rotate slowly, gathering energy with sharp crackling sounds, then released it all at once as a barrage of light projectiles.

“Gatling!?”

“Cover!”

Maple stepped before Sally, hiding her shield behind her back as she took the light projectiles with her body. No damage, but the explosion effect blinded her completely. The firing speed surpassed even Maple’s weapons—normally, such a rate would turn a target into a sieve in an instant.

“Different than I thought, Sally!”

“I expected something more... mystical...!”

The nature of the projectiles and their source differed from ordinary firearms; whether they could run out of ammunition remained unknown.

“...Let me observe a little longer!”

“Got it! No damage, so it’s fine!”

After several minutes of staring intently at the light projectiles emitted from the cube, Sally nodded slightly, convinced it posed no further threat.

It’s fine. I’ll dodge it. Draw it in, then shoot back during the opening.

Leave it to me!

If she says she can dodge it, Maple has no reason to doubt. She knows that ability better than anyone.

—Quick Change… then I’m going!

Good luck!

Sally lunged forward from behind Maple, closing in on the cube. Neither had yet attacked, so the targeting shifted entirely toward Sally as she drew near.

The light projectile nearly struck Sally, but just short of her speed, it passed through the spot she had occupied a moment before. She had declared she could dodge—her calculation of speed and timing was flawless.

—Water Path!

Floating in midair, direct strikes are harder than in water. Sally surged forward through the current, finally finding her opening.

If there is no water, create it.

“[Point-Target Strike]!”

As she passed, she thrust her short sword forward. The blue lines on the cube’s surface flickered, and a shield unfolded across its surface.

“Pierce!”

Sally drove the sword into the shield, as the skill’s motion demanded. A sharp crack echoed, but the blade passed through unimpeded, reaching the cube and chipping away its HP.

“…Not quite the same as being blocked?”

A sensation she could not name stirred. But she could not pause to confirm.

Movement is the absolute condition for evading the Gatling. Maintain maximum speed, or the evasion calculation fails.

“[Attack Initiated]!”

Instead of Sally, who strikes once and retreats into the water, Maple’s gunfire flies. Though slower than the Gatling emitted by Cube, the range of attack favors her. Cube, barely moving, cannot escape this range. As if repaying the earlier blow, a torrent of bullets assaults from the front.

It strikes the thin wall as before, cracking and snapping, then scoring the surface of Cube.

“Working, isn’t it!”

“Good damage, but…”

Sally notices the change occurring to Cube because of Maple’s barrage. Beneath the HP bar, a new gauge appears—one she has never seen. It grows slightly each time the Cube responds to attack.

“Maple! Can you see that gauge?”

“Um… yeah! I see it!”

“Fills up with each hit! Be careful!”

“Got it!”

Without knowing what the gauge signifies, one can only remain vigilant. Whether filling completely brings advantage or disadvantage remains unclear. Yet in a boss battle where the goal is to eliminate HP, avoiding damage entirely is impossible.

Thus, the only path is to face every attack head-on and prevail. Fortunate, the abilities of the two are suited to such a situation.

The cube, as hard as it appears, sustains damage from Maple’s bullets. Yet it shows no sign of falling. Though it resembles the individual encountered in water, the difference between boss and mid-boss is vast.

"Will it be halfway full soon?"

Sally, evading the gatling fire while maintaining hit-and-run strikes, keeps watch on the mysterious gauge— the single point of concern at this moment— as she studies the cube’s movements, preparing for its next action.

It was only because of Sally that she noticed the gauge falter—jolting downward even as countless effects detonated, even as she was under attack.

"Maple!"

"...! [Cover Move][Cover]!"

A brief exchange of intent. Maple reached Sally’s side, where two more attacks—flashes and shockwaves from either side—struck the gatling.

"[Love That Offers the Body]!"

Reacting to an attack that had not been there a moment before, Maple instinctively raised a greater defense, wrapping her arms around Sally and forcing the weapon to explode, creating distance.

"Ooh...! Nice, good call!"

"Hehe, uh, what happened?"

Both turned to the cube. Two smaller cubes orbited the main body in slow circles. Where the boss’s center held rows of stone pillars, this one featured a single spiked ball floating above it.

A bomb? Given the atmosphere just now.

The blast radius is wide. Avoiding it grows riskier for Sally.

Then I’ll protect you.

That helps. I’ll guard Maple’s weapon, then.

Love That Offers the Body does not shield Maple’s weapon. That is why, now, Maple defends while Sally becomes the additional shield—this is their usual tactic.

Also, it’s still growing. Probably. It generates when consuming the gauge acquired upon taking damage.

True!

Seeing the gauge deplete, Maple grasps the situation. No one knows how many more weapons will appear before the boss’s HP reaches zero.

The boss’s base defense is high. That shield reduces damage and converts it into gauge. These factors raise the boss’s durability far beyond expectation.

This will be a long fight.

"Not underwater, so it's fine!"

"Right. If it were underwater, it might break too, wouldn't it? Probably."

No need to worry if it favors them. Sally, yes—but Maple fights better on solid ground.

"Stay back a little, you can relax now!"

"No piercing attacks seem to be active right now."

The real fight has just begun. The two resume combat stances and close the distance once more, stepping forward toward the boss.

With Love That Offers the Body reinforcing defense and Residual Light of Salvation activated, creating an emergency evasion posture, Sally steps into the range, absorbing the gatling fire and explosions to secure her safety.

"Maple, keep an eye on the gauge too—though you'll notice the weapon upgrades are coming through."

"Got it!"

Maple advances to within range, conjuring multiple massive laser cannons. She lowers her center of gravity and aims their tips toward the cube’s core. Should she halt there, Gatling fire and bombs would strike her directly. Sally steps forward in that moment.

“[Cannonwater]!”

Sally erupts a torrent of water from the ground, deflecting the bombs. She reshapes her weapon into a great shield, blocking the Gatling barrage.

“[Attack Initiated]!”

Red light flares from the deployed laser cannons. The beam strikes the cube directly. No shield. No guardian. It is inevitable.

As the laser hits, the gauge beneath the cube extends. Once it reaches a threshold, it depletes, and a new weapon manifests.

“A long tube!”

“Maybe a cannon… hard to tell. Looks similar enough.”

Continuing the attack, a slender beam extends from the long tube toward Maple’s forehead. It moves like a pointer.

“Sniper...!”

Before Sally can speak, a thunderous roar erupts. A bullet strikes Maple’s head at impossible speed, sending her flying far away. The skill effects of Love That Offers the Body and Residual Light of Salvation remain active. No damage effect appears at the moment of impact. The attack is single-target. The status of Unyielding Guardian persists. She speaks only, focusing ahead.

“Resume fire if you’re unharmed!”

Even Sally cannot avoid an attack while looking away. Whether she can block it depends on how much freedom she has to move, which in turn determines how much HP the boss retains. Now, with 【Mothwing】 still active, is the chance to test it.

“Good…”

Sally confirms the cylinder above the cube gathering energy, then steps back. For a single instant, the gatling shifts angle to follow, hesitating. A brief gap in the attack, too small for Sally to be caught even if she stops.

The cube fills that space. Sally draws it in. A bullet slices through the air with a roar, approaching her. Yet its path is known—premarked by a pointer.

“Hah!”

Time slows. Feels like it stops. Sally’s eyes hold the bullet. Half reaction. Half prediction. The short sword swings—cleaves the air—strikes the bullet sideways. Sparks fly. The trajectory shifts. The bullet passes just above her forehead.

The force of impact knocks Sally backward. Still, she rights herself midair. Touches ground with precision.

The bullet streaks past, unimpeded. Hits the wall. Cracks the stone.

Success…!

The brief clash ends. Time uncompresses. The Gatling opens fire. Sally runs again.

It will explode… But I’d rather leave it to Maple.

It would not be possible to repeat this so often. Sally glanced at Maple through a gap in the Gatling, just briefly. As expected, she was unharmed. The weapon had been shattered completely, yet her HP had not dropped at all.

Sorry, Sally! You’re alright, right!?

Yes. You, on the other hand, taking that directly and feeling nothing—impressive.

This time, I’ll catch it properly!

The symptoms are present. Maple can bear them if she prepares properly. She may swallow them whole, as if they never were, or halt them with Heavy Body. She does not take damage at all. This is far from the worst outcome.

Strike hard and keep going. That’s the safest way to wear it down.

"Alright—full readiness!—chaos seeping through!"

"Cyclone Cutter! Fireball!"

Boss’s HP diminished, unimpeded, through the layered safety nets. No means to wound the two who attacked from one side. The monster, lacking countermeasures, could do nothing against them.

A compatible opponent is utterly crushed. That is the nature of their skewed abilities.

"…Two more have appeared all at once!"

"Watch only those two!"

One hovered above both, the other halted near the torso. As they braced for what came next, a thick laser shot from the newly added device, spanning from one end of the room to the other.

"Wha—?!"

"Whoa—! It’s moving! Dive or jump—get out of the way!"

"S-say that to me now…!"

The lasers moved across the room, requiring precise leaps to avoid. Sally could manage it. Maple could not.

Maple’s flight abilities lacked finesse in small motions.

"Then… how about…"

……Got it!

Amidst the oncoming laser fire, Sally holds the gatling at bay with her large shield, then proposes an idea to Maple.

It is a move to end the prolonged clash.

Maple, under the approaching laser fire, detonates her weapons, launching herself skyward in a sudden surge carried by the blast wind. Not straight up, but diagonally forward.

The rifle with knockback effect remains charging. Though she can destroy the remaining weapons with the gatling, there is no way to reject Maple’s approach.

[Call of the Abyss]!

Just before impact, Maple transforms one arm into a tentacle, spreading it wide to enclose the cube. Even with the shield's mitigation, damage effects burst forth from the gaps in the tentacle—like crushing a fresh fruit, overwhelming in volume.

It's working! More… [Barrel Deployment]!

She reverses the motion, turning her other hand into a massive cannon barrel, firing a laser at zero range. Damage effects rise like steam from the red light—the boss’s HP plummets, yet the gauge surges at an impossible rate. The shockwave knocks Maple off her feet, sending her tumbling.

“Wah!? Aaah! Just a little more! Uwaaah!?”

Maple lands on the ground, immediately caught in a barrage from the gatling and rifle. She rolls through the scorching, moving laser beam near the ground, her body wrapped in heat, until she reaches Sally.

“…You’re alright, right?”

“Yeah!”

“Thank you for the cheerful reply.”

Maple had said she was just short—she should have fallen with a few more hits. But before either can move, the accumulated gauge is consumed. A light erupts, far beyond anything seen before.

When it ceased. The Gatling tube at the cube’s center was gone. Replaced by a barrel nearly ten times thicker. To one who knew nothing, it would seem no more than a stone pillar. Yet both understand it is a cannon of terrifying power.

It begins charging the instant it manifests. The boss deploys multiple layers of light shields to protect it.

“What now, Sally!?”

“If I could, I’d destroy it before it fires. But…”

Its power and range remain unknown. Yet it is unquestionably the final gambit.

It would be best to prevent it from firing. Yet the boss’s defensive strength remains unmeasured.

To press forward as before, or to close in all at once—either choice carries risk.

“Then, Sally… how about this?”

This time, Maple offers the suggestion. Sally hears it. Nods in agreement.

All right. Then I’ll wait for the attack. I trust Maple’s skill and defense.

Yes! It’ll be fine!

With Maple present, it is safer to hold formation than to scatter and risk failing to defend against a sudden assault.

As long as every incoming attack can be rendered harmless with Maple’s defense and Love That Offers the Body, there is no risk in waiting—until the moment the attack comes.

I think it’s about to be fired!

Sally, watching closely, senses the warning—light intensifying at the weapon’s core.

For safety… [Pierce Guard] [Unbreakable Shield]!

Maple activates her skill, releasing her tendrils, raising her great shield. Moments later, a high-pitched tone signals readiness. Then, a blinding white light erupts—filling nearly the entire room in a thunderous rush.

In an instant, the two figures were gone—only water remained, spilling over the scorched ground. Yet this meant neither that the two had fallen, nor that the room had collapsed and flooded.

"Timing perfect!"

"Hehe, worked out nicely!"

They stood directly above the boss. By synchronizing their teleportation via the Ark with the laser's activation, they had passed through the attack unharmed.

Maple’s precaution had been a fallback, should the plan fail.

In exchange for the grand technique, the Gatling that had always targeted them vanished, and the other weapons could not immediately strike back. Before them, the perfect opening for attack.

"Maple, now!"

"Got it!"

"“[Barrel Deployment]!”"

Their left arms transformed into massive laser cannons. The barrels locked onto the cube below. Sally activated her ability, [Reality Inversion], manifesting her attack in kind—matching the opponent’s final gambit.

““[Attack Initiated]!””

The twin lasers merged. They struck the boss’s shield with force equal to the earlier barrage. The shield shattered. The body burned. Movement ceased entirely.