Defense specialization and final battle two.

Even if the walls are broken, players as well as monsters can enter.

Finally within the town beneath the castle. The long avenue stretching from the hilltop where the castle stands is packed with Lilie's summoned soldiers.

The soldier spawn points set by 【Full Army Deployment】 were placed throughout the town as well. Analyzing their own forces and calmly deciding that defeat was likely, this preparation had indeed prolonged the time until defeat.

The monsters, not fully under control, push back Maple and the others, darting through alleys, leaping across rooftops, rushing toward the castle ahead of one another.

Such monsters vanish one by one—paralyzed, pierced, exploding into fragments.

"Stay alert—someone's hiding!"

"Traps are set too—watch your step!"

Voices rise from all sides. Traps set. Ambushes from cover. The town below, compared to the open field where large-scale combat raged, allows fewer to fight effectively. Clearing every corner is necessary to move freely. There is no time for such luxury.

"Isu-san!"

"Breaking through by force!"

"Understood. I’ll show you something special!"

Isu opens her inventory and pulls out an item. A cannon, fixed to the ground by multiple supports, its barrel aimed skyward.

"Three... two... one...!"

A deafening explosion. The cannon roars. A crimson shell launches into the sky, then collapses into light and vanishes. One shot only. A lavish item, requiring long crafting time and vast materials.

Even if it breaks, an item shines only when used. After a moment, the shell explodes midair, raining down countless small red lights toward the ground. Wide area, indiscriminate attack. As always, Iz's method—impossible to control precisely.

"Defend!"

"«««【Massive Magical Barrier】!»»»"

There is no distinction between friend and foe in item-based attacks. Allies must defend too, or suffer catastrophic damage. The barrier expands to protect everyone. Immediately after, flames and shockwaves strike.

Traps activated by the impact detonate. Players who focused solely on stealth and failed to notice the attack receive fatal wounds. Monsters sprinting about fall lifeless to the ground. Still, the city below burns in scattered places, and the number of summoned soldiers decreases.

"Truly, Iz-san!"

"Thank the stars."

"Follow Pain—everything will be fine! I can do nothing more now."

Focus on the castle ahead. Maple and Sally sprint down the burning avenue toward the distant fortress.

When Maple and the others entered the town, Kanade bursts from the guildhome door.

"Is the town still intact…?"

Teleportation allows the user to warp directly to the guildhome. Essentially, it means the town can be returned to. This time, that was a benefit.

Kanade reaches the town at top speed. She exhales, relieved, seeing the castle town untouched by battle. Mii and Velvet have not arrived yet.

The Maple Tree Guild maintains its guildhall near the outer wall. As Kanade turns toward the gate connecting the outer wall to the field to check the outside, a player tumbles in, cradling Frederica. The number of players has dwindled noticeably. Even counting the survivors who ran in afterward, fewer than a third remain of those who had gone to defend alongside Frederica.

"Frederica! Are you—?"

Kanade rushes forward, calling out. Frederica blinks, startled.

"W-what!? K-Kanade? How did you—? Wait, this place is bad...!"

Before Frederica finishes speaking, the outer wall flares red. Flames burst forth, melting the wall like butter.

"Made it in time."

From the vertically split outer wall, Mii emerges. The flame she carried, spent after melting through the wall, still managed to break the final barrier that had delayed Maple and the others.

One after another, players tumble through.

"Just need to reach the castle now!"

"Ah."

The allied forces centered on [Thunder Storm] and [Emperor of Flame's Kingdom]. Fewer in number than Maple’s group pressing from the opposite side, yet sufficient to take the castle.

"Frederica, hold the castle."

"What now?"

"Buy time. We can't afford to drag others in."

Kanade pulls a black-covered grimoire from the bookshelf.

"Then I’ll gather nearby allies too. You win, you win, okay?"

"Haha, we’ll see."

Frederica steps back. The enemy forces have finished breaching the town and now move toward them.

Seeing it, Kanade opens the grimoire she has kept shelved for years since the day she acquired the 【Arcane Archive】.

【Forbidden Art: Storm of Cataclysm】

The sky darkens swiftly. Clouds spiral into motion. Black sparks, burning even allies racing past, shatter nearby homes and scatter black flame.

A skill no one has ever seen. The enemy cannot afford to fail now. The threat before them is not one to be rushed into, not even for victory.

"This one's interesting. The more you use the skill and magic, the stronger it grows."

"……!"

Truth is uncertain. Whether it is real or false—Kanade manifests a bookshelf packed tight with grimoires behind her.

"No holding back this time."

From behind Kanade, who declared it, shelves burst open and a flood of grimoires surged forth. A vast number of magic circles unfolded in the air.

"Truly, the 【Maple Tree】 is... "

"Really a gathering of monsters!"

Water rises from the gale. Black mist that brings death. Curses that scatter status ailments.

All of them are trump cards—bait for the storm above. The skill count advances at terrifying speed. Sparks intensify. Burning black flames blaze, no less fierce than those wielded by Mii and Velvet.

"Time to give it everything!"

"No retreat. We win!"

"「「「Ooooh!」」」"

They came here with the intent to surpass all.

Mii and the others press forward, throwing themselves at the threat before them—the destruction of Kanade.

The defense is fully entrusted. Maple and the others advance toward the enemy’s core.

"【Path of Water】!"

【Ancient Weapon】【Attack Initiated】【Seeping Chaos】【Venomous Dragon】!

Unable to detonate without engulfing allies, Sally guides her through the rising path of water into the sky, gaining height. From the cleared vantage, Maple scatters attacks across the surrounding area.

Area attacks are Maple’s strength. She coats both sides of the main road with poison, reduces the front to scorched earth with dual fire-based assaults.

The sustained healing and damage reduction from Residual Light of Salvation increase stability, yet this remains the enemy’s heartland. Magic rains down, one by one claiming the lives of allies.

Yet the advance does not halt. Only one remains—should that one reach the throne at the heart of the palace, it will be enough.

“Ray!”

“We’re flying too! Those who can, follow!”

The only path leading to the palace atop the high platform is a long, endless staircase. Formation must stretch vertically, so players who can fly ascend from above toward the palace.

Rising into the sky, scanning ahead, the plaza before the palace entrance reveals Lily standing with soldiers drawn in a line, planting flags into the ground while holding firearms.

"Sorry, but you'll be falling. [Additional Summon]!"

As Pain watches, the staircase begins to glow.

"Wha—?!"

"Kyaa—!"

Midway up the steps, soldiers rise from beneath their feet.

"Wah—!"

"Maple!"

Sally swiftly pulls Maple up with thread, creating a transparent platform in midair for escape. But not all can be saved. Soldiers thrust upward, one after another, sending players off-balance, tumbling far below.

A one-to-many, exploiting terrain. Only Lily, who commands summoned soldiers, could create a fleeting opening beyond expectation.

A clatter. Soldiers raise their rifles in unison.

[Piercing Ammunition Loaded!]

[Maple, piercing attack incoming!]

Maple attempts to activate Love That Offers the Body to prevent mass falls. From Pain, who checks Lily’s skill, comes a voice.

If bullets match the number of soldiers, the count of piercing rounds is substantial. Timing Piercing Guard, then Love That Offers the Body—such calculation is beyond Maple. She is not Sally.

Knowing Maple’s hesitation, or not, voices rise from the falling players.

[Don’t worry!]

[Can’t catch up if you fall anyway!]

[So…]

Better to die from the fall than to waste this life. There is only one way to use it meaningfully.

“““Eat me!”””

“……! Sally!”

“[Cannon Water][Icebound Domain]!”

Maple understands Sally’s intent instantly. Sally, in turn, understands Maple’s intent without hesitation.

Sally creates a platform from frozen spray and guides the remaining players who have not yet fallen. Maple activates a different skill instead of [Love That Offers the Body].

“[Rebirth’s Shadow]!”

It is black. Black mud spreading across the ground. Shadow spreads from Maple, ignoring height, spreading across the earth—darkening even the distant ground far below.

As the players, trapped in their fall, barely dodge the oncoming bullets, the ground approaches them.

What followed was not the impact of the fall, but darkness—deep, bottomless, swallowing all, pulling them down and down, as if into a swamp without end.

Players fell—perhaps a hundred, perhaps two hundred. From the ground, grotesque shapes slithered out, one after another.

“Everyone! Please!”

Hearing Maple’s plea, those still human climbed over the growing tide of abominations, hooking claws into the cliff face and scaling upward toward the castle.

And so, before Lilie’s eyes, the end of the players emerged.

“Haha. Never thought I’d become a character in a kingdom destroyed by monsters while still alive!”

Facing the abominations breaking through the gate and fountain ahead, Lilie retreated into the castle.

She had bought time—until the limit. That was why she headed straight for the throne room.

The aberrations, massive in form, fell despite their size, breaching the castle walls, shattering windows, dismantling the fortress from outside inward.

Flames and black smoke rise from within the keep. The end draws near.