Defense specialization and rescue.

Hearing the plan from Sally, the group split into three, each rushing toward their respective pillars of light. Crom and Kasumi, Iz and Kanade, Mai and Yui. Each path carried risk, but they had agreed upon it.

"Splitting up is uneasy... but we can't afford to be picky!"

"Yeah. Let's trust and move."

It would be best if they moved as one, but the others had devised a strategy that would not allow it.

They cannot always act according to their own will. They circle the battlefield, entering where they are most needed.

"Haku, charge straight through!"

Cutting across the battlefield, they sweep aside both soldiers and the enemy player with sheer mass.

"Whoa! W-what's this!?"

"It's Kasumi's serpent! Watch out!"

Kasumi rides Hak across the battlefield, holding position ready to charge, then dismounts with Crom to the ground.

We’ll join in, one by one. I’ll draw the summoned ones. Kasumi, you handle the player.

【Warrior’s Arm】! 【Blood Blade】!

【Spectral Armor: Fortitude】!

Without this, the enemy numbers won’t decrease. Crom is confident—uninstructed summons, even in quantity, can still be fought.

Crom dons Necro in defensive form, blends into the group of shieldbearers who absorb attacks. Kasumi hardens Hak with 【Hardening】, charges forward, swings the blade liquefied above its head.

【Mind’s Eye】【Battlefield Rakshasa】!

Kasumi’s vision shifts. The incoming attacks become visible. She is inevitably targeted by the first strike, charging alone as she does. Yet she sees where the attacks come from, guiding Hak with precise commands to dodge.

“【Tornado】!”

“【Area Expansion】【Flame Lance】!”

“【First Strike: Mirage】!”

Anticipating the assault, Kasumi vanishes from the enemy’s sight and reappears instantly before them. She strikes with a single, sharp blow, her blade joining the force of the warriors on either side. The sword carries the full weight of every buff applied through items during the movement. A single blow. A killing strike.

“Gh—damn…”

“【First Strike: Mirage】!”

Too many players to judge who was targeted. One by one, they fall beneath Kasumi’s blade, appearing suddenly before them due to the cooldown of 【Battlefield Mahākāla】 being broken.

“M-me, what the hell…!”

“Fortify defenses! We must endure first!”

“【Sword Mountain】!”

Kasumi shifts through space with a single strike, cuts another, then drives her blade into the ground.

Immediately, red liquid spreads in a circle, like blood. Purple blades surge upward, piercing the surrounding players.

The demon sword’s skill carries a cost. Even so, the temporary reduction in status is sufficient for this moment.

“…Even this…!”

“Snakes come too! Regroup!”

Amidst the unnerving mobility—different from mere speed alone—the summoned soldiers ignite with flame.

“Burst Flame! Provocation! You lot—don’t worry, they won’t kill me so easily! Go ahead, charge the player! I’ve got this!”

“Got it!”

“Thank you!”

With Crom taking on the soldiers, the freed front line regrouped, shielding the mage as they steadied themselves.

“Activation! Shock Reflection!”

“Multi-Heal!”

“Yeah, that helps!”

Guarding with the shield, maintaining health through multiple healing skills. Watching Crom take the soldiers, a healing spell flew from behind.

This was not a fight of just Maple’s Tree alone. On this battlefield, whatever was missing in her, one of the many allies would fill the gap.

“Hope they’re doing well… wait—no time for that! Concentrate.”

Believing the rest of Maple’s Tree were managing, Crom turned his focus entirely to the enemy before him.

On the opposite side, Iz and Kanade arrived at the battlefield.

"Thanks, Sou. That got us here quickly."

Sou, whose form had shifted to that of Hak, lost the 【Mimicry】 ability as time expired and reverted to the original slime form. Still, having provided Iz and Kanade with the mobility they lacked was sufficient.

Unlike Kasumi or Crom, who might charge forward and wreak havoc at the front lines, the two positioned themselves behind the battlefield and began their support.

"Let's set up a barrier here first."

"Yes. We must counter Markus's traps."

The enemy had shielding and an endless supply of soldiers. Without addressing this, the damage from magical attacks would remain uneven. Something had to be done about it.

"Here's the barricade."

"Right. Keep placing them."

Kanade and Izu reshaped the battlefield to suit their advantage, dividing their efforts. Seeing this, several others came to assist, recognizing it as the priority.

She has confidence in its strength. Place it where needed.

"Okay, I appreciate that!"

If a place to hide can be found at once, defense skills may be spared.

"Fei—[Item Enhancement]!"

Izu pours several potions into Fei, enhancing her. The effect is, of course, a powerful buff.

[Area Spread]!

Iz uses her ability to extend its range, applying multiple buffs across the entire area. From stat increases to damage reduction and sustained healing, these buffs, granted by rare items, are equal in power to those from magic or skills.

I will take the defensive role. Barrier—Massive Magic!—Power Dampening!

Kanade joins the defense. Gradually, recovery catches up—barrier reduction, sustained healing from buffs, the overall condition improves.

After the buffs are set, Izu loads the cannon with a new round.

The projectile disperses black mist upon impact. It applies a debuff: increased damage taken, reduced healing.

"Kanade! Can you stop their movement?"

"Leave it to me—Gravity Control!"

Using Hinata's skill, Kanade floats lightly upward, then soars forward.

"Earth's Restraint! Slow Field!"

"Uooh!? W-what is this!?"

"My feet—!"

Voices rise from all around—shock, confusion.

Kanade and Izu had quietly joined the rear. Their presence on the battlefield had not been clearly recognized.

The skill, unleashed without warning, warped space. The ground seized at the ankles, restricting movement.

A technique that, if available to players on the battlefield, would have been used long ago. Its sudden arrival now caused confusion in the enemy ranks. Yet this was no surprise. Kanade had not been on this field until moments before.

Seeing Kanade’s skill effect bloom in the sky, Izu activated the arranged cannons at once.

“Let’s go!”

A thunderous roar. Multiple shells struck the enemy lines. Screams rose. Buffs to our side. Debuffs to theirs. By the time the enemy realized, the disparity in abilities had grown stark. Even with an endless supply of resources, the tide of battle turned in our favor. This was what improved quality meant.

The battlefield shifted from disadvantage to near even. While the four achieved this, Mai and Yui arrived at the same field.

An area where breakable rocks stood as cover, their regeneration occurring at regular intervals, yet the intensity of combat would reduce them all to bare earth. If attacked unilaterally, only their cover would be lost, making continued fighting untenable.

Pressed by soldiers, their cover shattered by magic even as they endured a downpour of spells, players struggled through a grueling fight. From behind them, two voices called out.

"Everyone!"

"Is there anything we can do...!?"

"...hey! Listen!"

"Yeah! I know!"

"We can't keep going like this!"

Multiple figures resembling guildmasters, recognizing the two, swiftly aligned their intent. Each used a skill to unsettle the enemy, raising barrier after barrier, and rushed toward the two together with all survivors.

"Mai and Yui, can you fight!?"

" Yes! "

If we continue like this, we will suffer one-sided losses. We will support with full force. Give it everything you’ve got!

“Understood!”

The two mount Tsukimi and Yukimi, raising four weapons in the air and one in each hand—deadly great hammers. Support through iron spheres is no longer suitable here. What is needed now is something more direct, something incapable of being countered, something with devastating, fatal power.

“Destiny Mode!”

A crimson aura envelops their weapons. Ahead, the battered shield-bearer charges forward.

The power of their attacks—capable of felling raid bosses with a single blow—descends like a beam of light upon all present. Yes, they were already recognized by everyone as worth risking one’s life to protect.

Crush them! Crush them! Do not let them near!

Crimson Flame Wave!

Tidal Wave!

The enemy feels the same. If that great mace reaches, all small tricks become meaningless. Not even iron balls—no, the sheer pressure of a true weapon, wielded by the core itself, is incomparable. It floods the enemy lines with sudden tension.

““Cover!””

The water and flames approaching are absorbed. One by one, the large shield bearers, unable to block with their shields, vanish and collapse.

“Go! Don’t stop!”

“We can’t hold this forever!”

They have chosen to bet on the two. If they stop, it must be either because the enemy is utterly crushed, or because their allies have died too many to protect the two.

““Impermeable Barrier!””

The magic from above is deflected by the barrier. Mai and Yui advance, meeting the lifeless soldiers.

““Aaaaah!””

The moment the great mace, wielded by the hand of salvation, swung through the air. A crimson trail remained. All things along its path vanished without trace. As if brushing dust from a shelf. Without hesitation, without pause, They advanced straight toward the soldier before them, Turning him into light.

“Monster…!”

“Stop them somehow! — Rain of Arrows!”

“—Consecutive Magic!”

It struck every person present anew with the reality of how utterly unnatural these two were. Never touch. Never approach. Even in strategy discussions, it had been said plainly.

“—Multi-Cover! — Break through!”

“—Protection!”

The reason for keeping the two together at one point was here. As long as these two were together, Crom need not follow. Someone would always guard them. To scatter them would weaken their power. To concentrate it was the path to victory.

“Thank you!”

“Yui, let’s go!”

Breaking through the line of soldiers, the two fangs finally reach the vanguard held in reserve. They leap from behind Tsukimi and Yukimi, each aiming to strike with all their might.

"Quick Change!"

Within range. Returning Tsukimi and Yukimi to their rings, replacing them with two additional maces. Maximum capture capacity now eight.

"Double Impact!"

"Spirit Light!"

"Guardian Radiance!"

Basic skills or not, a shield held or not—irrelevant. The shield itself may shatter into fragments. Those with damage immunity use it. Those without rely on survival skills like Unyielding Guardian.

Those with nothing at all vanish in the blink of an eye, as if they had never been. The mace approaches the player who has nullified damage.

"Guh… what!?"

"Wha—!?"

The thing awaiting beyond the nullification of damage is the same as what occurred when Maple was shot into the sky.

That is, a conclusion of high-speed flight toward the heavens. A landing is not assured.

“H-ha…!?“

Stunned by the force before them, disbelief freezing their blood. Mai and Yui continue swinging the great mace. No cooldown on normal attacks. Yes, that is common knowledge.

To claim invincibility is necessary to stop a mere attack—such logic makes no sense.

“Pierce through! Cut them down! One hit is enough!”

“Withstand! Their damage will be greater than ours!”

Every incoming spell. The barrier of magic and the human wall. At the center, both girls channel all their defensive resources, dancing as they swing the great mace.

Each passing strike shatters bodies. Each block sends them vanishing. Like an unrelenting storm. Spinning, grinding all in its path to dust.

Attack. Attack. Mai and Yui pour every ounce into annihilation.

And when the end comes, only a few players remain, and the soldiers keep surging.

Some may have fled mid-battle. But here, no enemy player moves.

"I'm sorry... being protected like this..."

"Should've ended it sooner..."

"No, nothing faster than this, really."

"Haha, I'd gladly die in your place."

"And anyway, we were all going to be wiped out anyway."

"Right, we need to regroup quickly. Those soldiers won't stop. Can they still follow?"

"「Yes!」"

To be felled now, after coming this far, would be foolish. Mai and Yui, carefully guarded by the surviving players, move away from the continually summoned soldiers.