Defense specialization and daily life 8.
The roaring black flames subside. Eight figures emerge unharmed from within.
The passage behind them is sealed by a wall of fire, but the room-wide preemptive assault did not inflict fixed damage—unlike expected.
"【Water Cannon】!"
Sally generates a torrent, launching Mai and Yui upward. Their destination, naturally, is the king’s side.
"【Final Battle Mode】【Double Stamp】!"
Sixteen massive hammers swing toward the king. In response, a barrier of flame unfolds in midair and absorbs all of them.
"…Wait!?!"
The attack normally carries destructive force sufficient to pierce average defenses without question. The two, having never before endured such a blow, stare in disbelief.
"【Path of Water】!"
The moment Mai and Yui’s attack fails, Sally dives through the scattered flames, passing by the two in stunned disbelief. As long as Maple’s defense holds, there is no risk in advancing with a frontal assault.
“【Water Wrap】【Double Slash】!”
Sally’s short sword, imbued with water-based follow-up damage, cleaves through the king’s body. The bursting damage effect confirms the attack’s success.
“Did it land!”
“Seems he doesn’t block everything after all!”
“Then…”
“We’ll carve a path ourselves!”
Use the defense wall as bait for the enemy’s attack, allowing Mai and Yui’s strikes to pass through. Rather than chipping away at the foe through constant exchange, a single decisive blow proves more efficient.
“Alright… 【Full Armament Deployment】!”
Maple deploys her weapons and begins firing into the air. Bullets fly, yet the King moves with agility, evading Maple’s barrage and instead launching multiple flaming lances.
That won’t pass.
Sharp things do not pass. The iron rule of 【Maple Tree】. Crom steps forward, shielding Maple with the enlarged shield formed through Necro’s metamorphosis.
Maple’s weapons have limits. Unlike Maple, they break upon impact and cannot become the target of 【Love That Offers the Body】. They must be protected.
Thank you!
Leave the attack to me!
Yes!
Iz, let us block the path.
Yes. Together!
【Tornado】!
Fei 【Item Enhancement】!
Kasumi closes the escape route with area magic, synchronized with Maple’s barrage. Iz follows with area detonations, restricting the king’s movement. The king lowers altitude to evade, and Kasumi closes in.
“【Warrior’s Arm】【First Sword: Mirage】!”
A strike that instantly teleports Kasumi to the front, regardless of the target’s speed, impossible to dodge. The flame defense activates.
“Now, Sally!”
“【Ice Pillar】!”
An ice pillar rises from the ground, crushing the king’s escape. The king counters Kasumi, but cannot pierce Maple’s defense.
“Leave the rest to you!”
The stage is set. Kasumi leaps sideways as, behind her, two figures grip their great mauls tightly, facing the king.
““【Weapon Throw】!””
Sixteen great mauls strike like ice spears, filling the gaps between them. One after another, the openings are sealed by eight skills. The coordinated attack lands perfectly. The king’s HP gauge drops to zero.
Before Mai and Yui, who smile with satisfaction, the pile of great mauls collapses with a clatter. The king rises.
“Good strike… Keep that up and this place will blow apart. Wait in the back. Play a little longer.”
He vanishes, wrapped in black flame.
“Ooh, a mid-boss, huh?”
“Looks like it.”
“But now we’ve got a sense of the boss.”
“Mm. That’s what it means when they wait.”
“Don’t worry! We’ll support just like this next time!”
“Right. Leave the main attack to the two of them. We’ll handle the preparations here.”
““We’ll do our best!””
First, reconnaissance. One door leads onward. It does not directly connect to the boss’s chamber.
They must not be caught off guard by monsters along the way, even while focused solely on the boss.
Aware, yet concentrated on the immediate, the eight open the door ahead.