Awaiting the day when defense is paramount.

Time passes. The chill deepens. The shift of seasons settles into the air. Maple and Mizari walk toward school, breaths rising in white clouds.

“Next weekend, really… how about it?”

“I think it’ll be fine!”

“Good. Then we can all go together.”

Yes. The tenth layer is scheduled for implementation this weekend. If possible, they would all synchronize their plans and go to the tenth layer together. If they complete the dungeon route to the tenth layer in one session, they could begin exploring the layer sooner.

“Have you started studying, Maple?”

“Yes. If I do well on the next test, I might be able to add a little more time to gaming!”

“Never thought I’d hear those words from Maple…”

“Mizari, you’re really okay with that?”

“I was briefly forbidden at first, but since then, I’ve kept improving my grades.”

“Ooh! See? You can do it if you try.”

“Yeah, I guess. Can’t just stop now, can I?”

The time to play without worry will not last long. The coming months are more important than ever. No matter the reason—real life or the game—studying cannot be neglected.

“How about you, Risa?”

“Hmm… I’d like to spend time this weekend, so I’ll show you I’m studying today.”

“Then let’s study together tonight.”

“Good. Don’t get sick by the weekend.”

“Yeah, I’ll be careful!”

They hurried to school, chatting idly.

No one was in the classroom yet. They set down their bags and began to talk.

“What are you planning, Risa?”

“Not really going far right now. What about you?”

“I’m not either. But I might end up apart from you…”

They have spent so long together. Even the absence of her by the side feels slightly unnatural.

“What’s strange. Do you remember the first time we met?”

“Of course!”

Maple answered brightly. Mizari smiled faintly, recalling those days.

“I never thought we’d play this long.”

“Hehe, yeah.”

“Even now, we’re together in the game.”

“In the game, we can meet even if we’re in different places.”

“Mm. That’s the good part of online games.”

Distance means nothing online. As long as they log in at the same time, they can meet anytime. Yes. Simple.

“Even if we’re not together all the time, meeting once a week is easy enough.”

“Yeah! But that’s still far off.”

"Right! Maple, study hard and make sure you get into the school you want!"

"Yes! So don’t forget about tonight’s study session, okay?"

"Of course!"

As they looked forward to their promise, time passed swiftly. After leaving school, the two finished their preparations and connected via voice chat.

"For now, until dinner."

"Yeah, let’s do that."

Each opened their text and began studying.

"Risa, your grades keep getting better."

"It’s like a score attack. Can’t afford to stop now, not even if it’s banned."

"Hehe, that’s very Risa."

If one is going to do it, aim for a good score. Risa’s mindset was working in the right direction.

Risa’s grades rose steadily. It was because she did not want to waste even a single moment of this happy time with anything unnecessary.

"But you seem fine now, though."

"Still pretty tough. And once you rise, it's more noticeable when you fall."

"True enough. Then we'd better push harder."

"Exactly."

Maple and Risā continued studying for several hours. As dinner time approached, they closed their texts and paused.

"Tired... but I think we did well!"

"Well done."

"Next weekend, we’re finally tackling the tenth floor! We’ve worked hard—gotta enjoy it properly!"

"Agreed. That’s my plan too."

Hearing those words from Maple. Something unthinkable just a short while ago. How many games had they played? One thing was certain: this was the first time they’d both seemed so happy.

Risā smiled, a hint of longing in her eyes, and made a suggestion to Maple.

"The tenth floor. Let’s explore it together, okay?"

"With Risā?...Of course I’m planning on it!"

Let’s find many hidden areas, defeat strong bosses, and see beautiful views.

The tenth floor is said to be large… there must be all kinds of places!

I’m looking forward to it.

Yes, yes!

We should enjoy ourselves as much as possible.

If there’s no next time.

No, I believe there likely won’t be.

…We must enjoy ourselves to the fullest now.

Can’t wait at all.

Heh, yes. That’s right.

A voice calls from below. Dinner time. They end the call and exit their rooms separately.

The day after the study session. Amid the approaching weekend, thunderous echoes ring through the training hall of [Maple Tree].

[Plum Rain]!

[Shroud]—[Black Smoke]!

In the training hall, Velvet and Sally are locked in combat. Sally avoids Velvet’s storm of lightning as if it were natural. Hidden within the smoke screen that wraps around Velvet, Sally emerges suddenly at Velvet’s side.

Velvet does not respond. She allows the approach. Does not move to defend, even as the blade nears her body.

Sally’s strike connects—then her form flickers and vanishes.

“Can’t be hit the same way twice!”

As the black smoke clears, Sally retreats, distant now.

“If I don’t know if it’s real, I’ll counter only after taking damage.”

“True. Velvet could make that work.”

Velvet’s skill grants Sally movement speed equal to, or exceeding, her own. Her HP and defense are maintained at a level sufficient to penetrate the enemy line.

Though Sally uses illusions to execute one-sided damage trades, she must close to strike with her short sword’s decisive blow.

She waits still until the enemy is within range. Only when certain of the true form does she strike.

Cut flesh, break bone. When damage is exchanged, Sally—the one with the lowest HP—will fall first.

“How’s that!”

“Then I’ll try something different.”

Sally sheathes one short sword and reshapes the other through her skill. Her hand holds a bow. If she cannot close, she will not close. Her weapons are no longer limited to one.

“Meaning… all of them become weapons?”

"That's right. If you're going to wait, I'll pierce you with this—Ice Pillar, Water Path!"

With Sally's declaration, multiple ice pillars and streams of water coursing through the air materialize.

"Here I go!"

Sally extends threads from her hand, moving at high speed through water, air, and ground, leaping around Velvet.

"…!"

Even now, it remains hard to believe. The storm of lightning will not strike her. Still, she does not wish to initiate an attack. An attack leaves openings. That is exactly what Sally wants. Velvet avoids each incoming arrow and spell with precision, watching Sally closely.

"Hurts, doesn't it…!"

Each time Sally dodges lightning, the aura of Sword Dance around her grows stronger. Velvet cannot fully grasp the effect, but the abnormal damage from arrows that strike her directly makes it clear—she cannot allow this to continue unchecked.

Sally will not approach any closer. Velvet dashes forward, forced to strike instead.

“—Aurora!”

If a gap must open, make it as small as possible.

Lightning erupts from her like a pillar, striking all within range.

No resistance. Yet Velvet aimed precisely. Aurora is Sally’s worst enemy. The cylindrical damage zone cannot be avoided, no matter how high her evasion. The cooldown begins. This becomes one reason Sally might close in.

If Sally is cautious, she may keep attacking from range and not close. Still, Velvet has thrown one element to provoke a different response.

The light pillar vanishes. Sally transforms her bow into a dagger and lunges forward. Velvet, momentarily startled—unexpected—considers the possibility this is not real, and swallows the skill she was about to release.

One strike. Still bearable. She watches closely, senses alert to the surroundings.

Closer now. Sally swings the dagger. It cuts from Velvet’s chest to abdomen, scattering damage effects.

“……!? [Stance Spark] [Violet Lightning]!”

A frontal charge. Velvet is caught off guard, but does not let her escape. Stepping forward to maintain distance, she unleashes an electric shock, and from her outstretched fist, a bolt of lightning shoots ahead.

It strikes Sally—definitely—and at the same time dissolves her form into mist.

“……!”

What appeared next in Velvet’s vision were two blazing spears piercing through her back and emerging at her chest, and an unadorned greatsword.

When. At what moment did it change. No answer comes. The attack, enhanced by Sword Dance, struck Velvet’s HP and shattered it.

This is a duel within the training hall. Losing means immediate revival, and skill cooldowns reset instantly.

That is why she fought with full force.

When! When did it happen!? When did you switch!?

Of course I won’t tell you. What do you think?

Hmm… up until the moment of attack, it was real. So after that…

Avoiding the phantom, evading Stance Spark and Violet Lightning, slipping through the rain of thunder, circling behind to strike.

Said aloud, it sounds impossible. But Sally could do it.

"That spear—it's magic, right? Quite the power it had."

"Ah, well."

Behind her. In the curtain of water. In the pillar of ice. Distracted by illusions. Nothing in Velvet's view was clear. Only that something had happened.

It pressed against her with the undeniable weight of Sally's skill.

"Again, nothing makes sense."

Sally sees Velvet's expression. Understands she has not grasped the core.

Since the event began, the use of 【Reverse of Illusion】 at crucial moments. A brief illusion formed as 【Mirage】—now capable of damage.

For Sally, counting down the timer until the date change, managing the duration of the effect was no burden.

Too skillfully used, a trump card designed to obscure the truth. Thanks to this, only members of the 【Maple Tree】 guild possess accurate knowledge of 【Mirage】.

The answer is one. 【Aurora】 immediately after, it was swapped. That is all.

Yet reaching this answer requires overcoming unknown skills that stand in the way.

Until Sally reveals the information, the truth will remain in darkness.

"Should be a good match, though."

"Agreed."

"Hinata should be called too!"

"Then we should call Maple over here as well."

"Haha, that sounds fun too!"

Sally cannot fight under movement restrictions. Even she is no match. Velvet and Hinata together can unleash full power. A rematch so soon after the event is not unwelcome. Maple and Sally’s strategy edged slightly ahead, but that night’s battle could have ended either way.

“Is 【thunder storm】 ten floors?”

“Can’t say for sure without trying… I plan to dive in as fast as possible!”

Of course, Velvet adds, bringing Hinata along. With Hinata, gravity becomes irrelevant. No place would be unreachable.

“Could we head straight to the final boss if it’s not a quest?”

“Doubtful, but not impossible. After all, many tame monsters can fly.”

Flying through the air. This has already been confirmed during the event. Riding a turtle was possible for only one person, but besides Pain and Mii, various riders were already soaring through the sky.

Therefore, measures against that possibility must have been taken.

“About that… how about you?”

“Maple and I are definitely going to ride together. It’s easier to coordinate schedules.”

“What about the event? You’re going to participate in player battles, right?”

“That’s right. That’s the plan.”

“…You mean you’re going to do it?”

“That’s… uncertain.”

“Huh!?!”

Velvet’s eyes widen. Sally understands what is being asked.

To enter the player battle, and fight against Maple?

That is the question being posed.

“The real world is getting busier around the event time. It might be hard to log in.”

“Then even more so…!”

...Velvet seems to like duels, but when did that start? Why?

Huh? Well, that's... um. I suppose it's just that I've always liked competing, not because I play games much.

I feel the same. I've always liked that kind of thing. But not everyone feels that way. That's natural enough.

Yes, that's right.

Maple doesn't dislike it, but she's not as fond of it as we are. So... it's uncertain whether this will be a joyful experience for us.

If this is to be our final event, Sally wishes only happy memories to remain with Maple.

To leave her with joy until the very end—just one battle, since the moment we met.

It doesn't matter if it never comes to pass.

You're kind. No... clumsy.

...

There's still time. We can decide at our ease. Until then, I'll be your opponent.

That’s just Velvet wanting to fight, isn’t it?

That’s part of it! Come on, one more match! I’ll take revenge, building on what happened earlier!

Okay. I’ll return the favor.

For now, it remains a distant dream.

Decision postponed a little longer.

The two faced each other again. At the signal to begin, they dashed forward.