Defense specialization and the final battle.

As Maple and the others prepare for full-scale combat before the outer wall, a torrent of magic strikes toward Mii, moving toward the royal castle.

"Too fast…!"

Not all can fly. On the ground remain guild members who came to aid in the assault on the castle.

Mii lowers Ignis’s altitude, knowing one alone would be insufficient against the fortress. She lands upon a scorched plain, where volcanoes belch smoke and molten rock spills across cracked earth.

Awaiting her are players gathered from each guild—selected for immediate suppression should a surprise attack occur.

They have confidence in their advantage in group combat. They have already withdrawn from the battlefield, staying in the rear, watching enemy movements for safety.

"Bad predictions always come true, don’t they… I wish it were just overthinking."

"Buff me, please."

"I’ll go first. If things get bad, protect Frederica."

"Okay, okay."

Frederica raises her staff. She is the core of the defense—skilled in long-range attacks, adept at applying buffs and debuffs, healing, and reinforcing defenses.

She casts a buff, fires off a multi-phase translocation, and immediately retreats from the battlefield. She is not present for this defense. If she had anticipated it, she would have prepared accordingly.

"I'll push through."

"I'll stop that flame with my barrier."

Frederica’s role is the same as Lilie’s—to buy time. Without reaching the royal palace, there is no victory.

"I have to keep an eye on Velvet too—!"

A brief message arrives from Pain. It reports Velvet’s rapid movement.

First, Mii. Then, a straight retreat to the palace.

"Hah—alright, everyone, let’s go!"

"Ooooh!"

Frederica calls out, releasing a combat skill designed for full engagement.

【Sea of Mana】

【Great Flame】

A searing fire erupts straight ahead—touching it would mean incineration. Yet Frederica steps forward, not the shieldbearer.

【Super Multi-Barrier】! Notes【Amplify】【Chorus】!

An immense number of barriers unfold.

One. Ten. If one can shatter a hundred, then how much more?

Frederica’s barriers remain intact, unbroken by Mii’s flames.

“Good. Come on, it’s safe—go ahead!”

【Super Acceleration】!

【Battle Roar】!

Seeing Frederica withstand Mii’s assault, all move forward. With Frederica defending, there is no need to worry.

【Rain of Arrows】!

“Fufu—【Super Multi-Barrier】【Super Multi-Fireball】”

She halts the rain of arrows descending from above with a wall of barriers, then immediately deploys a vast array of magical sigils behind her.

The fireballs, doubled by Notes’ support, strike the enemy with force equal to Mii’s flames.

Even in close combat, Frederica’s barriers obstruct. Though the duration of her 【Sea of Mana】 enhancement is limited, the endless supply of MP allows her to deploy barriers without cooldown, making damage trade impossible.

“Mii-san!”

“This is difficult!”

“Our attacks can’t reach her…”

Frederica’s magic is meant to release an immense quantity of single-target spells simultaneously.

Like Pain and Sally’s coordinated attack exploiting a gap in the damage immunity skill, this magic is extremely hard to block.

“【Scorching】! Moving now—hold on a moment!”

“““Yes!”””

She pushes back the enemy with Mi's flames, initiating a circumventing movement to distance herself from Frederica while maintaining healing.

Yet Frederica and the others have no reason to let it pass.

"Velvet is interesting too... but what do you think?"

"Being indecisive is unwise."

"Your time limit is real, isn't it? Otherwise, wouldn't Mi suffer?"

"Alright, true enough. Then let's go—【Hyper Multiple Acceleration】!"

They move as one, unified in intent, toward Mi. The distant thunder's rumble lingers, but haste is forbidden.

The gap, opened by the wall of flames, closes quickly—exactly as Frederica's buff allows.

"We won't let you escape."

"Yes... I believe the same."

"...?"

Not resignation. Something different. Frederica grips her staff tighter, unable to name the uneasy sensation.

"Marx. It seems, after all, no one knew."

Flames surge from Mii’s body, rising behind the volcano. No reason. Still, Frederica feels a hammering alarm in her mind.

“[Inferno]!”

“[Super Multi-Barrier]!”

Frederica unleashes a barrage of barriers to counter Mii’s flames. Yet, contrary to expectation, Mii’s flames head not toward her, but toward the ground.

Mii grips the flames and slams them into the earth. The flames, meant to rage across the surface, are swallowed by the ground. Crimson cracks spread widely, rippling through the soil.

A massive pillar of fire erupts, painting the sky red. It smashes through the barriers Frederica has raised without mercy.

When the pillar subsides, Mii floats above the ground, commanding a serpentine torrent of flame, a blazing fireball burning at the center like the sun.

“It took me far too long to reach this point.”

“…What is that?”

“The terrain effect Markus found. Didn’t know, did you?”

Markus alone distinguished himself in setting and detecting traps. Only Markus could have noticed this living flame.

The flame wraps fire around the weapons of players beneath it. The ground igniting around Mii speaks of its wide reach.

“Haa… come on! Everyone’s going wild!”

“Haha. You’re the one saying that, Frederica?”

The effect has a time limit. That is why the Kingdom of Flame chose this land of water and nature for attack. Pressed back, they arrived late. But if this flame brings down the castle, no one will complain.

“Keeping to the promise—push through.”

“If it looks bad, head to Velvet!”

“Got it!”

To burn together as one is the height of folly. First, assess the threat. While preparing barriers, Frederica watches for Mii’s move.

“[Flame Emperor]”

Mii spreads her hands wide. A fireball forms before her palms. It swallows writhing flames, swelling to several times its size, descending to fill the entire sky above Frederica and the others.

“[Super Multi Barrier]! Notes [Amplify] [Chorus]!”

It is Frederica’s duty to stop Mii. Two massive fireballs descend like meteors, striking the countless barriers in succession, shattering them one after another.

“[Azure Flame]!”

Blue flames mix with red. A new fireball follows the first, flying toward them.

“Wait—sorry, cover me!”

“[Spirit Light] [Cover]!”

“Charge forward!”

Frederica cannot block it. The massive fireball scatters flames across the area. Seizing the moment, the attacking [Empire of Flame] swings weapons wrapped in fire, cutting toward Frederica.

“[Cover]!”

“[Flash Spear]!”

Defending Frederica, she strikes back at the approaching player. Yet the fire buff erases the advantage Frederica’s status had gained earlier. It no longer works as before.

“[Super Multi-Fireball]!”

“[Scorching Heat]!”

Frederica counters with her own flames, but Mii’s inferno swallows them whole.

Like a volcano itself. The fury of the flames rages beyond control—no longer mere combat, but disaster.

The great shield-user moves with the same [Cover Move] as Maple. The one who can run uses whatever ability they can—[Super Acceleration] or any other—grabs Frederica and barely escapes the spot.

“That guy’s seriously too dangerous!”

"Can't you do something, Frederica!?"

"Impossible, impossible, impossible—That’s impossible!"

Stopping here to block the advance gains no meaningful time. Within a few more exchanges, the flames reinforcing the entire [Empire of the Flame Emperor] will consume Frederica and the others without exception.

"Run to the Town—Velvet’s in trouble too, so we have to go!"

"I know!"

The enemy’s assault is fiercer than expected. There is no chance of victory through reckless gambles or suicidal charges. Frederica and the others press forward toward the Town.

Focused solely on this single point, their final chance.

By the time they return to the Town, the effect of the [Sea of Mana] will have ended. Defensive strength remains uncertain, but lamenting it serves no purpose.

"Buff will be applied—just have to make it work! Or rather, there’s nothing else we can do!"

"Still have work for you to do."

"We’ll shield everyone with the great shield until it’s destroyed!"

Leaving the core body imbued with flame aside, the guild members of [Emperor of Flame's Kingdom], having received buffs, can now counteract with Frederica's buffs.

"【Super Multi-Fireball】【Super Multi-Wind Blade】!"

Frederica, borne upon her back, turns and continues casting magic behind them as long as the Sea of Mana extends.

The flames wielded by Mii are strictly for offensive power; defense does not improve. But the act of maintaining pressure holds meaning.

"Damn, this responsibility is heavy."

"If we protect everyone, we must be praised."

"Please, just win properly on the other side!"

With flames piercing the heavens at their backs, Frederica and the others press forward. No matter the situation, the enemy will not retreat now.

If they can protect even the throne, then everything else is acceptable.

Velvet vanishes with the surrounding players before her, replaced instantly by Lili's summoned troops filling the space.

Soldiers rise endlessly, even as they fall. They form a living wall, blocking Maple’s path.

And directly before them, the outer wall of the Town stands—truly, the greatest barrier of all. No one can leap it. Breaking through the weak gates might create a large enough gap for all to enter, but the wall of soldiers refuses to cling to the structure.

“[Holy Dragon’s Light Sword]!”

“[Puppet’s Citadel Wall]!”

Pain attacks each soldier, and the front line rebuilds instantly, taking the blow in place.

The thick barrier of soldiers shatters under pressure, but the wall itself suffers no damage.

Crom watches for openings, shielding Yui and the others from the enemy player’s desperate, life-or-death attacks—meant to reduce firepower.

If possible, he wants to get Yui safely to the wall.

A faint unease settles over all. Behind, a monstrous pillar of flame pierces the sky. No need to look.

That is undeniably Mi’s doing.

“Sally, what do you think?”

“Might be trouble.”

Even as the remaining players, led by Frederica, hold the defense, the scale of Mi’s flames—greater than ever before— and Velvet’s arrival make it impossible to say they can hold.

“What should we do? Should we retreat?”

Maple could fly with her [Machine God] and reach safety. Yet.

“Maple must attack. Everyone else relies on damage reduction and that weapon.”

“Kanade…”

The vast black tube unfolding above Maple. The ancient weapon’s laser, fired periodically toward the front, is essential to destroying the summoned soldiers.

“But… will it be enough?”

“Then I have a question.”

Kanade pulls a single white book from the shelf.

"If I go alone, I can return. Though I won't be able to come back."

He is speaking to Maple, the guildmaster of the 【Maple Tree】.

If he returns, he might buy time for them to win.

"Leave it to me! I'll do my best!"

"Alright. Let's try it. I'm worried, after all."

Sally, who has learned all of Kanade's skills, understands what she is about to attempt.

"If I can break through the wall, I can pass."

If the town collapses, movement paths will open. Obstacles will no longer hold as firmly.

"Then I'll go back too. There's another way, isn't there?"

Crom cannot contribute greatly to the assault on the castle. If he can return, he wishes to return to his own side.

There is always a way, if one chooses the method.

"That's what you mean, isn't it?"

"I am always ready."

Six move quickly to exchange words, then call to the shieldbearers around them. They decide how much risk to accept, what the final objective of the plan shall be, and act immediately.

There is no time for hesitation.

Lily watches from above. She notes the suspicious movements of the 【Maple Tree】 group in the rear.

White magic circles unfold beneath Kanade’s feet. Players step one after another onto the massive black sphere Izu has drawn forth.

“That is….”

Lily does not understand exactly what they are doing. But she knows they mean to do something.

She sends soldiers forward. Other players follow in turn.

“Stop, Maple!”

“Right! 【Predator】!”

Izu vanishes into the group first. Maple and Sally remain to protect Kanade, still chanting, and Crom, who is boarding, as well as Yui, who stands before them.

"Attack initiated!"

"Obfuscate—Shadow Clone!"

"Gh...!"

"Never flinch!"

The faces of Rapid Fire, having dodged Maple's shot, are seized upon by the Predator.

Fleeing halfway is futile. The role has already shifted—survival is no longer the purpose.

Damaged players. Fallen summons. All used as shields. A wave of assault surges toward Yui and Kanade from every direction.

If she uses Body Offering Love to block piercing attacks, then it would be better to take down Maple instead.

Yet just before that, Kanade and Yui complete their preparations.

"Un. Then win, Maple!"

"Leave it to me!"

"Teleport."

Kanade vanishes, swallowed by light.

Beside her, Yui raises the great mallet.

"Mr. Crom! Please help!"

The mallet swings high and strikes the sphere prepared by Iz sharply.

Boom. Shock. Inside the great shield, the rescue unit flies through the air. All buffs applied before the operation are shattered—Crom and the others are blown into the sky.

Even so, the launch is possible only for Yui. Players swarm Yui, left behind. Yui cannot face all opponents. Without action, death is inevitable.

Even so, one final task remains for Yui.

Gripping the great mallets with both hands, she turns and faces the towering wall. Maple and Sally will come to defend. Time is balanced against odds. She decides to turn that calculation against itself.

“[Ancient Weapon]!”

“[Cannon Water]!”

A sharp crack. Maple’s weapon transforms. Maximum firepower, matched by energy cost. Maple hurls a soldier forward. Sally’s water follows—unbalancing the soldiers, pushing them back.

A brief moment before the next summoning. Yet a single, unobstructed path had formed.

“【Weapon Throw】!”

Yui did not miss the instant. She clenched both arms, hurling the eight iron masses alongside the great maul held by 【Hand of Salvation】.

The weapons struck the outer wall head-on, leaving trails of effect. At the same moment, the blade sliced through Yui—she had chosen neither evasion nor defense.

Still, the sound was unlike anything that had lifted Crom and the others into the sky.

The weapon Yui had thrown struck with a force no single player could have wielded. It fulfilled the role of a battering ram.

The towering outer wall exploded outward. Beyond the swirling dust and smoke, the town beyond became visible.

Here, the path for Maple and her companions was clear.

“Now, please—do your best!”

A move that brought victory close. Watching the player dash past the fallen soldier, through the broken outer wall, into the Town, Yui exhaled— and dissolved.