Defense specialization and awareness.

A brief exchange.

The day has passed.

"Then, Maple, take a rest for now."

"Ah, yes!"

Sally delivered Maple to the innermost chamber of the castle, closed the door behind her, and exhaled with relief.

No matter how powerful the enemy’s assault, breaking the castle to reach Maple is impossible.

"The town should not become a battlefield yet."

Outer walls, the town below, and the castle itself—all have durability thresholds set.

Final confrontation. Break the gates, then the outer walls, and pour into the town. That is all they hope for.

"Seems to have gone well."

"Oh, Pain."

Pain had received a report from Frederica; the outcome of the earlier ambush had already been shared.

"They shouldn’t have been found. Though I suspect who did it."

"Yes. I’ve heard they used the [Poison Dragon] at the end. Only one player can generate poison of that magnitude."

"What about after this?"

"It’s complicated. Many players are resting. Large-scale battles won’t happen often. Even if we launch an attack, success will be rare."

Pushing forward without reason only increases fatigue. If the enemy does not move, there is no need to act recklessly.

Still, any sortie must have a clear purpose.

"I cannot conduct reconnaissance through skill. Efficiency would require Frederica."

Frederica moves across many battlefields. She shows no sign of fatigue, maintains her usual pace. Yet rest is still necessary at times.

She had thought she could launch an attack at night if Dread were present, but the situation has grown difficult. Especially Shadow’s skill—there is no substitute. Maple?

Honestly, I believe a defense-focused approach would be preferable… We’re not at full strength with Maple here.

We can’t afford to fall here. Understood. We’ll minimize direct combat and focus on restricting the enemy’s movements.

That helps.

If Maple were her usual self, she could reach the battlefield through self-destructive flight powered by the Machine God. Without the Unyielding Guardian, however, uncertainty remains about fighting once she arrives.

Thus, the strategy settled, a fierce light struck the glass windows lining the corridor.

Far off, lightning flashed. In this land of flame and wasteland, monsters bear the traits of lightning and fire. The terrain itself is scarred—magma gushes from fissures, lightning races across the sky, common as breath.

Yet.

"Pain-san"

"...Ah, let's go see."

Unease.

Not the kind caused by the terrain.

Rhythm. Direction.

Cannot be certain, as even the terrain itself is not fully understood, but if this is not natural, then only one person would do such a thing.

Like Maple leaves behind a poisoned marsh, someone in this game leaves behind lightning.

"Ray, please."

Sally and Pain step quickly outside and mount Ray, soaring through the sky.

"Even if it's a thunderstorm, there's no need to make it so ostentatious."

"Yes. And if so, it would be incredibly fast. How...?"

"Could be a trap. In the worst case, have Ray shield us. Safety first."

Understood.

The effect of Hinata’s skill, [Isolation Field], which sealed away Drag and Dread, remains incompletely understood. Since it is unclear who or how they are sealed, sending only the two individuals—those who fight independently and rank among the strongest—reduces risk.

Pain and Sally each possess skills capable of enduring a single strike. A single mistake is acceptable.

Reduce the risk as much as possible. Observe. The threat may be a large group approaching.

Withdraw immediately upon sensing danger. That is their intention. The two move through the air toward the outer wall.