Defense specialization and the calm before the storm.

Maple and Sally walk through the night field. No sign of enemy players yet. Sally keeps two daggers in hand, ready for attack.

"Nobody around?"

"Hard to say. We won't know until they set a trap."

They walk across open ground with few obstacles. Few places to hide. No sudden mass appearance of enemy players.

"Time limit's approaching..."

Sally checks the time again. Little time remains before the date changes. This plan depends entirely on the opponent's response. If the opponent doesn't notice Maple moving about, nothing will happen.

Just as she begins to think they'll return to base as planned. A cluster of lightning splits the night darkness, striking forward like a bullet.

"Didn't expect you to show up!"

Before them appeared Velvet, leading Hinata.

The exploding lightning was a declaration of combat intent.

"Same to you. You've been moving around quite a bit, but you're still in good shape."

"Still got plenty of strength!"

Fatigue should have been building, yet she still smiled as if unburdened. Not from lack of weariness, but from anticipation of the fight to come.

Velvet planted her foot hard and surged forward, closing the distance in an instant.

"【Aurora】!"

A violent storm of lightning centered on herself.

Even Sally could not evade it if there were no openings.

"【Love That Offers the Body】!"

But that was different with Maple. As the 【Love That Offers the Body】 unfolded to overlap with Velvet's skill range, Sally could survive even within the 【Aurora】's core.

Now Sally could counterattack. Maple understood her role perfectly.

Yet, slipping past Velvet’s side, a crimson flash from behind. A high-speed arrow arrives, hidden within the light of the 【Aurora】.

The 【Aurora】 dazzles. The true strike was Wilbert’s single shot.

“Hah!”

A sharp crack. Still, Sally deflects the arrow.

Thanks to 【Love That Offers the Body】, she could strike back. Yet, defense remained the priority, in case of failure.

Even as combat began, Sally’s awareness fixed solely on Maple.

“Whoa! Actually hit it! Nice shot!”

“Still… not by chance, it seems.”

The arrow missed its mark. Both step back, creating distance.

Predicted from Velvet’s landing in front of them. Without an observer to confirm, Velvet and Hinata would never have come here.

That indicated with high likelihood that Wilbert was present.

"Maple, shield ready!"

"Got it!"

Sally hid behind Maple, swiftly manipulating her inventory and launching a flare.

It was the signal to begin the operation.

The number of flares. That would indicate the direction Wilbert was in.

Far behind. Rei, accelerated by powerful buffs from Frederica and Kanade, Izu, flew through the night sky like a meteor.

Multiple layers of increased movement speed. Wilbert perceived the approaching figure closing in rapidly.

The light in the sky, rivaling Velvet’s holy sword.

The radiant torrent unleashed surged toward Lily and the others.

The two immediately switched their equipment and braced to intercept the attack.

"【Marionette Wall】!"

Lily’s hastily summoned soldiers managed to shield the two, but then Pain, Kasumi, and Crom descended upon them from above the ray.

“Bold reconnaissance. If you clear the entire area, you’ll have to respond. Did you deduce my position from the damage?”

Lily reformed the shattered soldiers while raising her weapon.

“We can’t afford to let the two support us.”

“This side’s side’s fight—let’s go!”

“There’s no retreat.”

Given the speed of the approaching ray, the two with limited mobility could not escape. Even if they could, withdrawing now would leave Velvet and the others exposed. That was not possible.

“Okay. Wil, go with full force.”

“Yes.”

The two also raised their weapons.

At the same moment, more soldiers were summoned. The battle began in earnest.

A meteor streaked past overhead. The sound of battle from behind reached Velvet and the others.

“Support won’t be easy.”

“We won’t let them through.”

Sally repositioned her weapon. No attack came from Wilbert. That meant they could advance.

“Aha! But this is simple! We’ll take them both down, then flank them!”

“Yes.”

Velvet’s group had settled on their plan.

There would be no retreat from either side.

“We won’t lose!”

“Same here!”

Maple’s group had brought the fight exactly as planned. The remaining members, having sent Pain forward, stayed in the rear, ready in case of need.

“Nothing…? Not likely to be that convenient.”

A report came from the members of the Gathering Holy Sword, spread out to scout and confirm the situation. Frederica grimaced.

“Huh… Mii’s here too!”

The coordination between [Thunder Storm] and [Rapid Fire] is tight. But if absolute readiness is required, contacting [Empire of the Flame Emperor] is natural.

"Ah… So they did call them after all."

"If that’s the case…"

"Big sister."

"Yeah. We have to go!"

"Everyone’s going! That’s why we exist!"

"“““Ooooh!””""

Frederica, Kanade, and Izu raise the movement speed of everyone present.

Frederica and the others have been waiting for this moment. To prevent further interference, to stop [Empire of the Flame Emperor] from joining, they move toward the battlefield.