Defense specialization and the tenth layer.

A single broad path stretches ahead, unbroken by branches. From the depths, the mage from before reappears. This time, accompanied by three front-line warriors—each bearing a large shield, a lance, and clad in heavy armor.

"Maple, try it!"

"Uh—[Barrel Deployment][Attack Initiated]!"

From behind Maple, poles extend like branches, deploying a battery of cannons forward. They ignite instantly, firing a barrage of shells at four monsters.

A direct hit would reduce the mage to splinters. Yet the three front-line warriors react swiftly, stepping in between.

A sharp clash of metal echoes. The shells strike a solid defense.

The front-line warriors sustain little damage.

"Seems it won't work that easily."

Sally exchanges a glance with Kasumi. The swirling torrent strikes again. Hak stands as a wall, shielding the eight.

Amidst the roar of water, all remain free to move— save Maple, struck and thrown back by the relentless knockback.

Izu extends the tube, aiming to draw Hak close, one by one.

At that moment.

Maple’s HP begins to plummet, marked by a damage effect.

“W-what!?”

““【Heal】!””

Sally and Kanade react. Their magic restores Maple’s HP. Yet it drops again, instantly.

“Damn it— that lance!”

“I’ll keep healing. Think of something, all of you!”

“Ugh… feels like I’m under constant attack.”

Iz pulls a large number of potions from her inventory and restores Maple.

Basic healing—【Heal】—is no longer sufficient. Kasumi has other healing spells, but that is not her specialty. This is Iz’s powerful item’s moment.

The potion restores HP directly and immediately generates a sustained healing area.

Maple abandons offense and focuses solely on self-recovery through 【Meditation】.

“Kasumi, block the rear. Leave the front open.”

“Ah.”

Haku slides smoothly into position, blocking the passage to support Maple.

The wall between enemy and party vanishes. Three front-line enemies, wielding lances, charge forward with the surge of water.

“Mai, Yui. Stay calm. Maple will protect us.”

““Yes!””

Three figures sway in the torrent, eyes wide open, submerged beneath the surge of water upon which Tsukimi and Yukimi ride.

““【Double Stamp】!””

Amidst the roar of churning water, a harsh clanging of metal. The three remain unharmed, struck by twin great hammers. From past experience—having vanquished countless monsters—their strength is not lacking. The two understand clearly: so long as the large shield holds, damage received has a limit.

“Sister!”

“Mm…!”

Then. Their weapons are not limited to the two they wield. While the great hammers strike, the other pair—placed within 【Rescue Hand】—slips smoothly behind them.

One shield. Not enough to block every great hammer.

““Aaaah!””

They drive the hammers in, closing in like a vice.

The front line does not account for attacks from two directions. A direct hit would shatter it. Sally catches the splintering vanguard at the edge of her vision and steps forward.

"Let me try it—Wave Ride!"

A new skill acquired through the upgrade of Water Manipulation. Like a fusion of Cannon Water and Water Path, this skill generates a wave that carries Sally forward while pushing aside the torrent before her.

Emerging from the whirlwind-like current, Sally locates the mage in the rear.

"Ice Column!"

A massive pillar of ice rises behind the target. She extends a thread toward it and pulls it in, closing the distance at high speed.

Avoidance is no longer possible. But within Maple’s defensive range, it does not matter.

"Quintuple Slash!"

Sally’s rapid lunge closes the distance too quickly. Evading is no longer possible. The spellcaster cannot endure the barrage and dissolves into nothing.

"Thank you, everyone!"

"It was our thanks to you."

"We were saved because of Maple-san."

Love That Offers the Body has no time limit. Only Maple, who withstands every attack and does not fall, can fully wield this skill.

Thanks to that, the Maple Tree can execute strategies only the Maple Tree can perform.

"Kasumi and Kanade, handle healing. Crom, take responsibility for attacks Maple cannot counter. Mai and Yui, take the front. I and Kasumi, we’ll dive into the rear."

"Understood. Knowing there’s a piercing attack means victory isn’t guaranteed. To avoid unnecessary risk, we’ll have Haku stay in reserve and aim for an early resolution."

“Monsters may still increase. We must proceed without complacency.”

As Kanade said, the enemy may not be limited to two types. They must adapt flexibly, and if the moment calls for it, they must deploy their hidden skills without hesitation.

In any case, having repelled the monsters that returned, newly reformed and more powerful, Maple and the others advanced deeper with confidence.