Defense specialization and pursuit combat, part three.

Though 【Maple】 is handling incidents at various points, it is not enough. The groundwork laid by Lily and Markus is extensive. Scattered across the map, many areas are overwhelmed.

The main battlefield, amidst this, is locked in a ferocious clash.

Markus’s pillars have mostly collapsed. The waves of monsters bursting forth crush soldiers beneath their massive forms and charge the players. Then, waves of flame and bullets obliterate the monsters, and the overflowing soldiers surge forward like waves toward Pain and the others.

“【Poltergeist】!”

Maple halts the laser fired from the 【Machine God】’s weapon midair, gripping it like a sword, and wildly swings dozens of thick lasers in chaotic arcs.

It consumes the soldiers, and again the monsters pour down like a landslide.

"Reports indicate we are holding our ground!"

"...Let's go!"

Hearing Sally's report from 【Maple】's front lines, Pain makes the decision to press deeper into the enemy ranks.

Going further risks no end to casualties on either side, and withdrawal will be difficult. Victory is possible, but with others under heavy attack, the risk must be justified.

The news that 【Maple】's defense is holding was exactly what was awaited.

"【Azure Flame】!"

"【Volley Fire】!"

Behind the endless tide of soldiers, mechanical troops summoned by Lily raise their weapons and unleash a storm of bullets, while Mii's flames scorch the entire area.

As the flames and gunfire subside, Maple and the others surge forward in a sudden offensive.

"Frederica!"

Yes yes! Look here, Sally! This is my finest trick—【Sea of Mana】!

Gleaming effects swirl around Frederica. Sally had thought that was all—until, the moment Frederica raised her staff and cast her spell, she understood the true purpose.

【Hyper-Multi Fireball】! Notes【Chorus】!

A vast array of crimson sigils unfurls behind her. Scorching torrents of flame descend upon the enemy lines—more intense than Maple’s【Machine God】’s barrage, as if the【Multi Fireball】 had been holding back.

【Hyper-Multi Waterball】! 【Hyper-Multi Windblade】!

Eh… what’s happening with my MP…?

Combined with Notes’ skill, it feels as though she’s firing single spells, yet torrents of magic erupt in impossible volume.

Yet Frederica’s MP shows no sign of depletion. Sally grasps now that this so-called【Sea of Mana】 sustains her.

Not something she can use at will, then.

That’s right. That’s why we press forward here!

If she could, she’d do it from the start. But as Frederica said, this is her trump card. Something not to be used lightly.

“Everyone! Gather!”

Each time the monsters rise, Frederica’s magic strikes them down instantly. In sync with this fierce assault, Maple summons the remaining creatures and directs them toward the 【Night Castle】.

“【Awakening】!”

“【Path of Water】!”

Avoiding the ground choked with monsters, Pain rides the ray while Sally swims through the water, rising above.

Close enough for both enemy and ally attacks to reach. A high 【AGI】 player would not be struck merely by approaching.

“Ray 【Meteor】【Full Mana Release】【Flow of Light】!”

Pain moves straight toward the 【One Night Castle】 alongside a radiant ray. He knows the 【One Night Castle】 is a kind of trap. Then he will strike it with full force—shatter it and cut it down, stone by stone.

“【Holy Dragon's Light Sword】!”

“【Puppet Wall】!”

The bodies of endless soldiers dissolve into light, reforming as a wall before the castle.

Yet Pain’s strike, amplified by the ray’s power, pierces through. The 【One Night Castle】 collapses. Mizari and Markus are thrown out, tumbling into the open.

“Not a chance… Ignis! What—!?”

Mii sees Sally, glowing with light, leap from the water behind Pain. She raises her sword high.

“Just one more. Try to block it!”

“What—!?”

Mii and Lily stare, stunned. Sally’s sword grows brighter, intensifying its light.

“[Holy Dragon’s Light Sword]!”

“[Angel’s Protection]!”

A torrent of intense light. Seeing the same attack as Pain’s, Mizari activates her skill to erase all enemy attacks within range. Powerful, but restricted in use—another hidden technique.

Yet the light does not vanish. It continues straight toward them.

“Impossible!”

“Wha—? What…?”

“Ignis!”

Ignis grabs Markus and Mizari roughly by the feet, using their bodies as shields, and retreats into the air. Sally’s strike hits Ignis, who shields them—but Ignis rises unharmed into the sky.

“Ignis took no damage… a phantom!”

Like Mii, Lily and Wilbert realize the possibility upon seeing no harm done to their surroundings.

Recalling Sally’s skill set, there are several such abilities.

“Markus. Mizari. Counterattack now!”

Mii checks for Pain’s pursuit before attempting to land safely on the ground.

"Okay. Maple, I’m counting on you."

Coincidentally, the moment Mii became aware of it matched exactly the moment Sally had entrusted it.

Ahead. On the back of the floating giant turtle, Maple crouches, one hand thrust forward. A massive black tube, emitting blue sparks, hovers around the 【Machine God】’s laser weapon—positioned directly toward them.

Recognition comes instantly.

"【Ancient Weapon】! 【Attack Initiated】!"

As Maple declares it, blue and red sparks intensify visibly, then unleash in an instant.

The scale is overwhelming—enough to consume Ignis and everyone else. They have felt it before, in past battles.

"Damn!"

"Airborne—traps are…"

Mizari assesses the situation with calm precision and makes her decision before the worst unfolds.

"Velvet! [Awaken]! [Final Prayer]!"

She summons her bonded monster. The skill Bell had never possessed until now—activated only before the event—was, in truth, a final prayer. It grants invulnerability and healing across a wide area, at the cost of sacrificing both Bell and the player who bonded with her. She had wished she could use it more effectively, but it was better than being overwhelmed.

"Mizari!"

"J-just a moment... no, but..."

The skill cannot be undone. She knows this. There is no other choice. The laser engulfs the three, yet inflicts no damage. In that moment, Mii escapes. Mizari fades away.

"Mii, Markus. Do your best."

Mizari's collapse stripped away the powerful regenerative ability, worsening the situation. Yet most of Maple's summoned creatures had already fallen.

Mii felt a slight advantage from the presence of Lili's summoned soldiers. She descended toward Lili, who had stepped back, putting distance between herself and Pain.

"Attacking further..."

Mii hesitated, about to consult Lili, when her eyes widened. Before her, Sally, riding on Rei's back, aimed the mechanical god's laser weapon and the massive cannon that sprayed blue sparks directly at them. It was identical to the one that had just pierced through Maple.

"Frederica!"

"【Multiple Transposition】!"

Sally's body absorbed an unnatural surge of buffs, amplifying the attack's power and range by dozens of times.

"If you think it's illusion... then endure it!"

"Lili!"

Wilbert called to Lilie. To convey intent only the two of them could understand.

"If I could do it easily, I wouldn't be in this trouble! Sorry, Mii—my decision—[Formation Change]!"

"[Ancient Weapon][Attack Initiated]!"

The blue light unleashed did not rise into the sky like Maple’s, but spread across the ground, covering it entirely. The illusion vanished, dissipating only after wreaking havoc in the enemy formation where players had already withdrawn.

"Advance to defense! We’ll flank them!"

As signal, Pain ordered the retreat of all. Pursuit would only risk the base unnecessarily.

The front-line clash, massive in casualties across both sides and the entire battlefield, ended for now. The field remained, silent, its scars speaking of the battle's ferocity.

[Formation Change] It functions like Maple’s ark. It shifts the positions of players within range, allowing Lily to push many players back toward the rear.

“Lily, thank you. I’m sorry.”

“Huh? Ah, no—sorry for deciding to retreat on my own.”

“Whether that was illusion or reality is unknown. It was safer to avoid it.”

“Before we fight properly next time, it would be good to confirm it once with me and Wil. Relying on Wil’s eyes is unavoidable, but testing it firsthand is far better.”

If it was real and someone died, there would be no talking about it. To probe more safely and prevent such a thing from happening, Wilbert is the best choice.

“Soldiers are nearly out of time too. Marks’s trap is probably similar.”

“Yeah. We’ll reinstall it where needed again…”

The number of players has diminished considerably since the start. From here on, large-scale battles will give way to smaller skirmishes—ambushes, raids, and the like.

"Night is coming. We’ll thin the numbers again then."

"Agreed. Wilbert sees well in the dark."

"Mii stands out too much. Defense might suit her better…"

"...Yes."

Fire is visible in the dark. Mii’s fighting style draws attention regardless. Even her summoned monster, Ignis, stands out—unsuitable for stealth.

"It seems they won’t pursue us. Ah, perhaps the king’s advance has halted too?"

From a distance, the magic array spread across the sky, and the torrents of magic descending from it. Lily exhaled. They had made the right choice not to press forward.

"Still, it tires you, doesn’t it?"

"Perhaps."

Yes... too many attacks come that I can't afford to take.

That’s right. One mistake, and it’s all gone.

She might have done more. Regrets remain from the earlier battle. Still, with so many skills in this game, each holds powerful moves as their final card. Predicting every move is impossible.

They must not be caught with the same hand again. Oh—have those two returned as well?

In the sky where magic falls, thunder roars as Velvet descends with lightning. At the very edge of the ground, she slows to a stop—halted by Hinata’s skill—and lands precisely.

How was it!?

Mizari has fallen. The player took a heavy toll, but the Gathering Holy Sword and the Maple Tree should remain standing since that time.

Uuu... that so, is it...

Sorry. Even if it is for the sake of the strategy, you said you wanted to fight, Velvet.

No, that’s unavoidable! Overstepping like that would be unfair to the guild members!

Well, there were complications afterward. I thought I should’ve kept you around at that time.

Really!? Something interesting happened!?

Interesting… maybe.

Hinata replies with a wry smile, watching Markus grimace as he recalls the battle.

“I suppose… it must have been difficult for Velvet-san.”

"Yeah, that’s right."

The six of them return toward the castle as they speak.

"That’s right. How did the strategy go?"

"Perfect! I took out the enemies along the way too!"

"Good. Then the damage we suffered was worth it."

Had Velvet and Hinata been at that battlefield, the outcome might have changed. Still, the decision to withdraw them stemmed from a shared understanding—this mission held greater importance for the six of them. The seed had been sown. Now only the right moment remained to wait.

"Rest for a while, then."

"Yes. We must prepare for the night's ambush."

Remaining on the battlefield long enough drains the body. A proper rest maintains performance.

Thus, as the royal castle came into view, the six relaxed. A true sense of distance from the battlefield settled into their limbs.