Defense-oriented, overcharged storage.

After a while. Wilbert halted his advance.

"Velvet. Your turn."

"…!"

It meant a powerful enemy, distinct from the many players ahead, awaited.

"I will strike first. You follow in response."

"Got it!"

With Velvet beginning from where Wilbert's arrow struck, one follow-up strike would finish the foe.

Wilbert took position on a nearby ridge, aligning his line of fire. Velvet waited, closing the distance to the edge of detection.

Wilbert detected first: Dread and Drag, guarding the thick pillar of a ruined structure's remains within the ruins.

"Frederica, I hope she's handling things on the other side."

She’s the type who acts when it’s time—probably doesn’t need worrying about. If she goes all out, even as pure firepower, she’s effective.

That’s true…?

Something wrong?

No, no certainty. But I think we’re being watched.

Oh—okay.

It was only instinct. Nothing to confirm it. Yet Dread’s instinct had kept the Gathering Holy Sword alive this many times. It was worth trusting.

A rare skill compared to Frederica… We cut here.

Yeah, careful now.

Shadow [Prey Pursuit]

From beneath Shadow’s feet, wolf-shaped shadows emerged one after another, instantly sprinting forward.

Long cooldown. But wide range. Safe reconnaissance.

One of them, moments later, let out a single, deep howl.

[Thunder God’s Return]! [Thunderfield]!

Immediately afterward, a tremendous surge of lightning struck the area, recognizing the presence of those within.

"Huh... troublesome."

"Damn, that one's here."

Only one player would do such a thing. Only Velvet.

"Shadow reported— at least two are within range. Her and the one beside her... Hinata. Just that debuffer."

"Let's send a signal. Then, what now? She doesn't seem likely to charge in right away."

Though the lightning struck with great display, no attack came from the other side. Both recognized the approaching footsteps were not coming from the thunder's sound, and quickly formulated a plan.

"...Encircle her. Risky, but acceptable."

"Fine! That was the plan all along. What's this if not the finest prey?"

"Huh... alright. Get Earth ready on your side."

Dread signaled one final time to Drag, then readied himself. The two launched from behind the pillar.

A high-speed arrow descended in response. It pierced Drag’s body without granting even a moment’s reaction.

At the same instant. The golem Earth’s form exploded. HP reduced to one.

……Ah. So he’s here after all.

[Earthquake]! Earth [Rock Dome] [Barricade] [Reconstruction]!

Drag rejected Velvet’s approach with a skill that included knockback, then summoned a wall of stone to cut the line of fire toward Earth.

Haha, that instinct’s spot-on! Dread!

…Wished it had missed.

Thanks to the prior use of [Substitute] on Earth, Earth absorbed the attack. Even a passive that allowed survival was invoked. Better than death, by far.

Left ridge. Can’t reach it. Use the wall.

Got it!

Wilbert is at a distance. Fortunately, cover is plentiful where they stand. Use the wall. Avoid the supporting fire. Deal with the two ahead.

"Quick reaction... incredible! Couldn't dive in!"

"Exactly! Return the favor—move out! Berserk!"

Drag applies the buff, then grips the great axe in one hand and charges forward. The weapon's reach is overwhelming. Now that both opponents are drawn into the same space, Rapid Fire will strike before the next action begins.

"Center of the Storm!"

Lightning erupts from Velvet, surging toward Drag as thunderbolts descend.

"Earth—Lightning Rod!"

"Shadow—Shadow Swarm!"

Yet he did not charge blindly. Using Earth’s skill, he draws the area attack into the stone pillar and advances, flanked by Dread’s summoned pack of wolves.

The lightning rod is shattered almost instantly by Velvet’s high-powered lightning, but that one moment is enough.

Just before the next few steps bring the great axe within range.

“Cocytus!”

A violent cold blast sweeps through, freezing every presence near it solid, stitching them to the ground.

“Electromagnetic Leap!”

At the moment Velvet’s defense drops to near zero, having taken Hinata’s debuff. She lunges forward.

“Thunderclap!”

An electric pillar erupts around Velvet, dragging Drag and the pack of wolves into the sky, illuminating the air.

The light fades. Velvet turns forward.

“Nice one! You said you’d burrow into the ground, right?”

“…huh, tough. Seriously hard.”

“Nice work, Dread. Well, let’s use one more?”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

Drag can be driven underground even if movement is not possible. Avoidance is achievable. Only retreat after Cocytus breaks.

"Restraining skills are strong. Cooldown long, aren't they? I’ll make you spit it all out."

"...I won’t lose."

Considering cooldowns of both enemy and ally skills, Drag and Dread switch roles forward.

"Rain of arrows coming!"

Drag reinforces the rock wall while calling to Dread, but Dread is already in motion.

"No problem."

With short swords, reach difference is minimal. Velvet matches pace. Hinata’s defense reduction debuff cannot be avoided. A hit means instant death. But this is routine for Dread. Not as much as Sally, but Dread still operates under the assumption of not being hit.

"Can’t handle this much—then it won’t start at all...!"

Dread dodges the rain of arrows, then avoids Velvet’s lightning storm.

A brief pause before the next strike. Not enough to advance straight ahead like Sally, but enough to avoid if focused on evasion.

If faster, then no pursuit possible.

【Top Speed】!

Dread accelerates sharply, seizing an opening to press forward with a firm step.

【Frozen Ground】!

【Stance Spark】!

Then I’ll retreat.

Dread activates the skill and quickly flees beyond range. Once restrained, it ends. He lets the opponent use it, then strikes during the cooldown.

Mmm, clever.

That’s right. If you’re wielding a short sword, you don’t survive without dodging.

Drag and Dread excel in fine maneuvering. Velvet and Hinata possess formidable skills in return. It proceeds well now, yet remains a constant balancing act.

"Then... let's push it further!"

Velvet exhales once, then repositions herself as if resetting.

"【Overcharge】!"

"……!"

As Velvet activates her skill, the yellow gem at her chest emits a violent electric surge. The descending lightning grows unnaturally thick, its range expanding. The electric aura around her crackles more fiercely, burning the air with a blinding blue-white glare.

"With this range, it's impossible to dodge easily, isn't it?"

"Indeed."

Watching the ever-thickening pillar of lightning from Velvet, Dread decides to retreat.

A strength so violent it could not be countered by subtle advantages in exchange. Velvet’s hidden skill was a grave disadvantage for the two who relied on close combat.

"Drag, regroup! Shadow [Shadow World]!"

"Earth! [Quake]!"

To reject approach, Drag casts another immobilization skill, then slips into the shadow expanded by Shadow, instantly creating distance.

"Need Maple to handle that."

"Uh-huh. Last time it looked like another glowing pillar."

No space to avoid. No room to maneuver. Velvet needs only to press forward until she closes the distance.

"Attack will come as planned. Encircle. Time is all we need here."

It was sufficient merely to confirm the skill. The two retreated swiftly, avoiding entry into Hinata’s restraint range, and before the 【Rapid Fire】 could descend.

Velvet, who had pursued them for a time, released the skill once they disappeared from sight.

“I wish I could’ve had a moment like that…”

“Let us rejoin Lilie and the others. Continuing the pursuit alone would be dangerous.”

They turned back along the path they had come and met up with Lilie’s group.

“Escaped from us…”

“Regrettable, but unavoidable. Their retreat and immediate response were well-executed.”

“Not a skill, it seems… They noticed us even while we were separated.”

“Perhaps experience accounts for it. Their attack was impressive. Retreating here suggests they felt the odds were too unfavorable.”

Wilbert did not pose a significant threat this time, having been dealt with swiftly. He retreated because he judged it too difficult to overcome Velvet and Hinata.

"Next time, I hope we can fight at a moment when the enemy finds it harder to retreat."

"Until then, I’ll recharge the lightning! I’d like to take down a few monsters first..."

"Ah, Wilbert, is this area suitable?"

"A little further east should be just right."

Velvet’s Overcharge was not a skill that could be used at will. As the name implied, it required charging.

"It’s necessary. At present, it’s the greatest threat to our enemies."

The destructive power that forced even two members of the Gathering Holy Sword to retreat instantly should always be ready. The four of them turned eastward, for Velvet’s charge.