Defense specialization and daily routine.

Time passed slightly. The cold grew more severe. Changes had come to 'NewWorldOnline'.

"Snow!"

"Snow, huh."

Maple and Sally looked up. White snow fell steadily from the sky.

Snow had begun to fall across each area since the start of December.

Though not a numbered large-scale event, seasonal events were running concurrently—gathering items dropped by monsters and exchanging them.

Snow awaited at every level, from the first to the current ninth.

"Looks like it'll keep falling until Christmas. Some parts of the eighth level are even freezing over the water surface."

"Could make exploration easier?"

"Can't dive directly beneath frozen patches. So it's a trade-off, really."

"True."

That aside. The purpose this time is leisurely gathering drop items. The time frame is ample. Logging in daily and defeating monsters makes exchanging all items effortless.

Though medals are out of the question, potions, materials, gold, and this time only exclusive stylish attire are obtainable. In the end, a guild member status-up item for guild installation is acquired as well—purely a bonus.

For that reason, Maple and Sally head toward the ninth floor field.

Event items drop in every floor, but the ninth floor is optimal: monsters have no particular quirks, exploration is easy, and leveling progresses smoothly.

Arriving at the town’s exit, the two waiting there wave their hands.

“Maple-san!”

“Over here!”

“Mai, Yui—let’s go right away!”

“Yes, Tsukimi!”

“Yukimi!”

“Alright, I’m getting on.”

Maple and Sally mount the gigantified Tsukimi and Yukimi, then launch directly into the field.

“Destination as agreed.”

“Understood!”

The two guide Tsukimi and Yukimi forward. Two is the maximum number who can ride at once, but they move faster than Shiroppu ever could—forcing something meant to stay grounded into flight. This, at least, is how things should be.

They arrive at a place where flames erupt from every direction, creating multiple damage zones across both ground and air. A place of extreme danger.

“Monsters spawn here without pause… but you can see for yourself. Water magic can suppress the flames temporarily… right?”

The meaning is clear to the three.

“This is my turn!”

Maple activates Love That Offers the Body, assuming a defensive stance for all. The downpour of flames, the blazing earth—powerless before Maple’s defense.

“Uh-huh! We’re fine!”

“Saved!”

“This way, we can enter…!”

“Only if we apply fixed damage and return.”

Lava, not flame. Lava—once a torment for Maple—is her true adversary.

As the three step inside, flames erupt from all around, coalescing into floating fireballs with red eyes.

“We’ll draw them—your turn.”

““Yes!””

Mai and Yui return the rings to Tsukimi and Yukimi, then raise eight great hammers.

“[Great Sea]!”

“[Provocation]!”

Flames fade as water spreads beneath their feet. The monster charges toward Sally, attempting to halt the water’s advance.

From the opposite direction, the monster affected by Maple’s [Provocation] approaches, determined to strike down Maple.

All of them revolve around the four. They vanish like mist into the six great hammers wrapped in crimson light.

The great hammers, enlarged in size by the [Decisive Combat] effect, become walls that completely block the monster’s advance. No counterattack is possible. Size, type—irrelevant. One strike, one kill.

“Uh, we’re okay, I think.”

“Let’s keep moving while rotating!”

“More keep coming!”

“We still have water skills left—keep eliminating them. This place is a perfect spot, only Maple would deliberately use it. Others probably won’t come—stay alert.”

A direct hit from the spinning great maul would not deal damage, but would still send one flying.

How far one would fly is unknown. But it would not be comfortable.

"Ah! Dropped it!"

Items fall like rain beneath the maul, reduced to pulverized fragments.

A bright red Santa hat lies among them.

The drop item from this event.

"I'll gather it here—focus on defeating it."

"Defense is secure!"

"Yes!"

"Forward!"

Mai, Yui, Maple.

Three who excel in monster combat, especially against foes that do not strike at their weaknesses, can achieve extraordinary speed in hunting—provided the monster enters their range. No player surpasses Mai and Yui in the rate of elimination. If defense holds and monsters can be summoned, and no one else is nearby, perfection is achieved.

This place meets all conditions. It is the ideal hunting ground. Sally collects the drop item while watching the great mace circle.

"Already used to it, huh."

"The mace? Or your hand?"

"Both."

The [Hand of Salvation], once feared, has become part of routine through constant observation. Though she never enters the sixth layer, the [Hand of Salvation] now means nothing.

"Then how about you, Sally? I think you'd use it even better!"

"Ah, yeah... I'll think about it."

"Always here to help!"

Fufu, thank you.

As if collecting all items today, monsters exploding in scattered fragments, drops falling like a waterfall.

They watch the devastation wrought by Mai and Yui—truly dependable now.