Defense specialization and reconnaissance range.

The outcome of the battle reached the enemy camp as the complete annihilation of the sortie members.

An instant event. One after another, without pause, each falling in succession—confirmed by the guild member list displayed on the blue panel. One by one, their names vanished from the field. The unnatural, terrifying nature of it was undeniable.

"...? They seem to be stirring up a fuss over there?"

"I'll check on it. Velvet, please wait here."

Hinata returned after questioning the restless players.

She learned that Velvet, who had been acting in concert with the other players, had suddenly suffered mass casualties.

"Opposite side from where the Gathering Holy Sword emerged."

"Yes. It's certainly possible with Pain and the others..."

After fighting Lily and the others, it is not impossible to reach the opposite side if one redeploys quickly. Gather swift players and apply Frederica’s buff; movement speed would increase significantly.

“Hmm… I’m not sure that’s right. I’ll ask Lily what she thinks!”

Belvedere contacts Lily, assuming the two are not currently redeploying.

When Lily and Wilbert arrive, Belvedere relays their conversation exactly as it happened. The two react with the same unease Belvedere felt.

“Given their condition, the king’s attack likely caused no damage. If the Gathering Holy Sword’s ranks are as thick as claimed, redeploying should be simple…”

“Everyone died at once. That’s troubling. The Gathering Holy Sword is strong, certainly—but this style of combat feels different.”

The Gathering Holy Sword wins each battle carefully, relying on appropriate buffs and defensive skills, and the high levels of its members. A guild that fights with steady, conventional strength. For this reason, it has few openings or weaknesses. It does not collapse suddenly. This stability makes it ill-suited to battles decided in an instant.

“More… like Mii, or Velvet herself. A need for area damage and support that matches it. Frederica and Drag could have fulfilled that role, perhaps…”

Lily’s instinct says otherwise.

“I think it’s the Maple Tree. Maple is wielding a weapon she does not recognize. If that weapon surpasses the defensive capabilities she confirmed… then it must be a skill of unknown origin.”

It feels possible, then, as Lily says. The three agree. The explosive power that leaves no player untouched—what it suggests is not the Gathering Holy Sword, but the Maple Tree.

“I heard you dodged it well, Miya. But the enemy strikes back quickly. We’ll need to fight further.”

Even when gaining advantage, a moment’s opening allows reversal. Then we must press forward. More efficiently.

“We can maneuver easily. Let’s go as four.”

“Understood!”

“Hinata, as always, I’d like you to hold the enemy’s feet.”

“Yes. I’ll manage.”

“Then, Lily, which way shall we go?”

“Wil. Use your ‘eye’ to find the player at the center of the enemy. The top of each guild, preferably. Eliminate those who can shift the tide before our losses grow too great.”

“Understood.”

“Hnn! Feeling the heat!”

Precisely. Appropriately. Take down the players sustaining the enemy camp. Four of them—this is within their reach.

Not only large-scale battles shift the tide. The four leave the Town.

“Then let’s move quick—【Electric Accelerate】!”

Velvet increases the movement speed of all. Wilbert adds further buffs. Hinata floats beside Velvet, as always, manipulating gravity. Velvet glances toward Wilbert, considering direction.

“Still no one within range. The central battlefield is held by 【Emperor of Flame’s Country】. It won’t collapse.”

“Then what now?”

“…Yes. Let’s head straight to the location of the previous mass death. With Wilbert’s scouting, we won’t be ambushed.”

The threat remains unknown. They must confirm whether the assumed [Maple's Tree] continues its advance. At present, Lily and the others have no idea what forces annihilated the entire unit.

To prevent further casualties, confirmation must come soon.

"Someone was told to keep people away from that area since we left town."

With few members, Wilbert can detect enemies first, and Hinata can hold them back. No one will be injured. The four begin their movement.

"Uh-huh, means they slipped in cleanly. Not that there weren’t other players around."

"Perhaps. A skill to vanish, something like that."

"Dread also used a tamed monster to vanish entirely with her party. It’s possible she used a skill to pass through areas with weak surveillance."

Be alert.

No enemy players near the Town, as expected. The area in question draws near.

The four walk through a region dotted with intermittent geysers leading toward it. No enemies appear, for now.

"Dead bodies lie within the fog ahead..."

"An ideal spot for ambush... Stay vigilant."

"Yes. Prepare your skills for immediate use. I will confirm whether enemies are present or not."

Wilbert speaks, his gaze fixed on the misty stretch just ahead.

"Ah... this is..."

"Did you see something?"

"...Traps lie ahead—bombs and others, scattered everywhere."

"I see. If anyone comes, we’ll turn them to ash once more."

"Inside the fog ahead?"

"Yes. But... I wish to confirm something. I will go first. No enemies are present. Follow me closely."

Wilbert seemed certain the trap was set. Velvet, though originally from a different guild and fundamentally a rival, had not asked for details, but Wilbert spoke as though he had already confirmed the presence of the trap with his own eyes, not through guesswork or speculation.

“Mmm, doesn’t look like any skills are being used…”

“How’s that? A good eye, isn’t it?”

“Yes. Avoiding traps… truly helpful.”

In the fog, they followed as instructed, stopping in unison with Wilbert.

“With this type, touching it won’t trigger an explosion… now then.”

“Nothing here at all…”

Wilbert reached into empty space, lifted something unseen, and flung it skyward before swiftly drawing his bow.

“Hinata. Be ready, just in case.”

“Y-yes, understood.”

The arrow, released immediately after the reply, struck something in midair and detonated, scattering mist before exploding with force.

“Doesn’t seem to have ignited.”

“Ooh—got me jumpin’.”

“Bombs are scattered all around here. The fuses are connected. If we trigger one by accident, the whole area—”

“Can’t approach without Wilbert.”

“Indeed. Whether there’s a way to detect them… unknown.”

The area becomes impassable unless the bombs are either dismantled or vanish upon reaching their time limit. If the enemy detonates one at will, damage will be certain.

“Then let’s clear them all! We found them, so we gotta do it!”

“Haha—this is the brute-force kind of spirit, isn’t it?”

“Only way I know!”

“Alright. Then let’s step back for now. Getting caught in the blast wouldn’t be funny.”

The four stepped back from the explosive zone. Lilie and Wilbart changed their gear and deployed a wall of soldiers. Hinata added an ice wall to brace against impact from the front.

"Ready whenever."

"Divine Thunder's Return!"

Velvet activated her skill. Lightning surged across her body in sparks.

"Violet Lightning!"

A violet bolt shot straight from Velvet's outstretched fist. It vanished into the mist. Then, flames engulfed the entire field, searing everything in a single, all-consuming blaze.

"Marionette Wall!"

"Ice Wall! I—this power... it's beyond anything an item should have...!"

They hastily reinforced their barriers, shutting out the advancing flames and shockwave. The force was unlike anything caused by mere equipment.

Had the explosion struck from all sides, they would not have survived unscathed.

"...seems to be over."

"The bombs all detonated in sequence. Safety should be secured now."

"I'll send a message. We should inform the others that such traps might lie ahead when we advance into enemy territory. Their pressure is considerable, that one."

The possibility that Wilbert awaits ahead remains a deterrent to Maple's advance, yet this explosion carries a force that rivals it.

"Wil, continue reconnaissance ahead. Engage combat directly upon entering the enemy lines."

"Understood."

"Finally, then!"

"I'm... a little tense."

"Strike only when we hold the advantage. Stay relaxed."

To pass this section safely, the four continue forward, led by Wilbert, processing the remaining explosives with steady hands.

Before them stretches the terrain, forced forward by Maple’s defensive strength.

The four are strong in attack, but in defense, Maple surpasses them. Some obstacles must be bypassed—there is no other way.

“This area is too predictable due to the terrain. Few have ranged attacks beyond Wilbert’s reach… but we are nearing the enemy camp. Stay alert.”

“Huff… yeah.”

Velvet feels the moment of confrontation approaching, her focus sharpening.

They advance a short distance. A player enters Wilbert’s detection range.

“Here. A ways ahead. Two of them. Likely scouts from some guild.”

“Think we can handle it?”

“If we get buffs.”

“Okay. [Royal Talent] [Tactical Guidance] [Supernatural Strength] [Sage’s Command] [Sacrifice of Self] [Advice]”

Wilbert, his body radiating an aura from Lily’s skill, shifts slightly, adjusts his stance, and draws his bowstring taut.

【Long Range】【Taut Draw】【Full Force Shot】!

A fatal arrow streaks through the gaps between trees, trailing a crimson effect. Wilbert nocks another arrow and releases it toward an enemy beyond sight, unseen by the others.

“Phew… It’s done. I’ve taken it down.”

“R-really? Is it over?”

Velvet feels no certainty. To her, an enemy vanishing without sight is impossible to believe.

“If Wilbert says so, it’s certain.”

“Being taken down so easily… the enemy has no chance.”

It is hard to believe. Yet Wilbert claims he struck the enemy the instant it peered from behind a tree for a forward check.

“If the enemy is weak and few in number, I will eliminate it. If not, I will cover the retreat and secure the path.”

“That’s our chance, then!”

“Yes. That’s precisely it.”

Wilbert continued to eliminate distant enemies—visible only to him—through attacks of unnatural precision.