Defense-oriented, with blue light.

The conversation paused. Pain turned again to the most critical matter.

"Consider the alliance. I’d appreciate it."

"Yes! I’ll discuss it."

"Then let’s go, Maple. If there’s somewhere you want to see, I’ll show you."

"Uh-huh."

A short while later, as the two left the room, Dread entered in their place.

"Frederica’s got Maple with her, did she?"

"Yeah. Rumors spreading already?"

"That armor stands out. I heard from a guild member. So, what’s the deal? I need to know."

"I proposed an alliance. It’s the closest path to victory."

"...Unexpected. What about the revenge talk?"

Hahah, Frederica said the same thing... but this time the scale of battle is beyond anything we’ve faced in past personal events. I’ve prepared as best I can, even with just the power of the Gathering Holy Sword... but it’s undeniably difficult. For the guild’s victory, I cannot afford to act on mere personal will.

I see... Pain, you really are the guildmaster.

Of course. I will lead us to victory.

The guild’s victory. The Gathering Holy Sword was preparing for that goal.

The day turned. Maple sat in the guild home, lost in thought.

What should I do...

Maple’s concern was this: how would the Maple Tree proceed with the event?

The Flame Emperor’s Kingdom intends to let each individual choose their camp, Shiroppu said. The Gathering Holy Sword plans to stand united within the guild and strive for victory. Even now, offers of alliance have come from the Gathering Holy Sword. With the Maple Tree gathering players of unmatched strength, further such invitations are not unlikely.

Consultation with guild members is possible. Yet the final decision will rest with Guildmaster Maple.

“Must be decided before the event…!”

With that resolve, Maple exits the guild home to advance her quest.

As she is in the land of flame and wasteland, opposite to the other guild members, she explores alone once more.

“Shiroppu, keep watch—don’t forget the sky!”

Maple rides atop Shiroppu, now under the effect of Gigantification, and flies toward the vast forest where jet-black leaves stretch like a carpet.

From above, the forest interior is invisible.

Branches extend far sideways, darker than any forest she has explored, uninterrupted by gaps.

The forest interior must be nearly as dark as night.

Is there a place to land?

The quest’s destination lies near the forest’s center, but no space suitable for setting Shiroppu down is visible. A direct path from the forest’s edge would reach it, but that would waste time if only completion matters.

Can I descend just barely in time?

Maple lowers Shiroppu’s altitude, halts just above the treetops, adjusts her posture, and returns Shiroppu to her ring.

The object she had been riding vanished. Naturally, Maple fell straight down, piercing the forest floor through the dense canopy of black leaves.

Crashing through branches, she landed with a wet slap onto the ground, her form crushed and mangled.

“Fh… got through… uh, now then!”

Maple rose to her feet, scanning the surroundings. The place was, as expected, a pitch-black forest. No lanterns. No light. She stood so far from the forest’s edge that, without touching, she could not tell if a tree trunk stood nearby.

“Love That Offers the Body! Predator!”

In the narrow woods, a predator that attacks automatically, even one she cannot perceive, is more adaptable than the mechanized god, whose size hinders movement. For protection and as a source of light, she deploys Love That Offers the Body. Preparation is complete.

The glowing ground illuminates a wider range than any headlight.

There will be no collision with a tree trunk ahead, unnoticed.

"Nobody around... perhaps I should test it."

Maple summons a blue panel and changes her equipment. She equips Lost Legacy instead.

As the equipment shifts, a cube with black and blue patterns floats gently near her, following her movements.

"Alright... ready whenever."

After walking for a while, the target of this quest reveals itself.

It is shadow made flesh— a monster that shifts and stretches like a slime, reshaping its form at will. One part of its body twists into the shape of a blade and thrusts forward swiftly at Maple.

Maple raises her shield against the attack coming from the front. Yet without notice, shadows stretch from behind as well.

Maple herself still fails to react in time. But the predator does not. It strikes quickly at the intruder in its territory, severing the shadow blade and consuming it whole.

"Whoa!? From behind too!?...Thanks, I didn’t notice."

Maple strokes the predator gently, commending its action. She returns her focus to the front, shielding herself. Any attack from ahead is self-destruction so long as the glutton remains.

Not only is it out of reach for Maple, but a powerful counter awaits—swift enough to swallow her whole and erase her existence in an instant.

She continues the fight for a time, waiting quietly as the energy gauge of the 'Lost Legacy' fills.

"Alright, I think it's time! Yes—[Ancient Weapon]!"

As Maple speaks the skill name, the previously floating black cube shatters into multiple smaller black cubes, scattering outward.

Like fragments splitting apart, they soon begin to emit blue light in sharp sparks. A moment later, blue lines of light extend from each, connecting them like bars of a cage.

The lines pierce the monsters in their path, propagating damage to those nearby.

"Whoa—this is amazing! They can't get close now!"

To approach, one must slip through the laser grid, a web of intersecting lines. The monsters are not weak. A single hit will not fell them. But to draw near is certain to inflict grievous harm. That is a crushing disadvantage for the monsters.

To be torn apart by a beast after breaking through is unbearable.

"Before the effect fades... [Seeping Chaos]!"

Maple joins the assault, supporting [Predator]. The [Ancient Weapon] appears harmless to its wielder. Shielded by the spread of lasers, it presses long-range attacks from within, one-sided and relentless.

They cannot approach. Even if they do, the resistance is too great. The ability to repel and shatter such unyielding offense and defense—something no common monster could possibly possess.

—Fuh, gotta make sure to use it properly, or it’ll be useless when needed… better save it for when no one’s looking!

The ancient weapons possess multiple forms beyond the laser cage used this time— Gatling guns adept at suppression, long-range sniper rifles capable of striking distant targets.

Their activation relies on a special resource, energy, which diminishes over time. Without use, the skill may never activate, no matter how long one waits.

Even if fire power doesn’t scale with stats, being a rare skill, its base power remains high. If Maple strikes accurately, most fodder monsters are defeated before their energy even runs out.

That is why, this time, attack was limited solely to the Predator and Gluttony abilities.

Maple walks deeper into the forest after defeating the monsters here. This quest requires the complete eradication of creatures from the black woods. The number to be slain is not measured in tens or twenties.

Which weapon shall I try next?

Since the fourth event, Maple’s skills have increased significantly. Yet, her defense remains so high that the monsters’ attack power has not caught up. As long as she attacks relentlessly, her foes fall first. For now, she manages combat using the same skill set from the fourth event.

But against other players, it does not work so easily. Her weaknesses—and her flashy offensive skills—are known to other players far more thoroughly than any rival could match.

That is why newly acquired skills and equipment become the decisive factor in victory or defeat.

It is difficult to respond perfectly to the unknown. Maple must understand her own abilities well, if she is to apply the newly acquired skill—whose misapplication carries severe consequences—correctly against an opponent.

First the Ancient Weapon, then the skill derived from Reversal Rebirth. Though Sally has taught her much, after so little exposure to the game, Maple is nearing her limit.

"Take it slow, now!"

Yet Maple’s forward attitude is unmistakable. For a time, the Dark Forest echoes with the occasional blue flash and the final cries of monsters.