Defense specialization and three-tiered zones.

Maple and Sally, having made a promise to meet in 'New World Online,' logged in and arrived at a town brimming with machinery, its character deeply shaped by the third tier.

Large gears. Machines humming in every corner. Mechanized transportation used by every player. The ability to fly freely through the sky was another defining feature.

"Feels nostalgic!"

"It's been a while since the third tier. And so much has happened since then."

"Yeah."

So many joyful memories had accumulated that the third tier felt deeply familiar to the two. For Maple, this was the first time she had formed such a wealth of memories in a game.

"Let's go see the machinery first!"

"Good idea. It might help with exploration too."

Securing mobility is the top priority.

Thus, the two decided to head first toward a nearby shop, fulfilling their primary purpose for arriving in this area.

A shop that every player who has reached the third floor is certain to use. Several such shops exist throughout the Town, allowing them to examine the machinery at their leisure in an empty store.

A short distance from the central district, they chose a shop where they could observe calmly. They began inspecting the machines lined up in order.

"Vehicles for multiple passengers, backpack types... ah! There it is!"

Before Maple’s eyes stood a boot-type flight machine. It frees both hands, offers superior mobility, and is the most popular type—supported not only by Sally but by many players.

"Would you like this one, Maple?"

"Hmm, I tried it before, when Mai and Yui showed me how to use it in the third floor..."

In the end, they could not complete it. The third floor relied on the flight abilities of the 【Machine God】 and Shiroppu.

Popular, yet requiring time to master. The operation was difficult, no matter how one looked at it.

"Want to try once more? I’ll teach you."

"...Yeah! Then let’s do it!"

"Exactly!"

They immediately purchased the machine. As they did, a quest window appeared abruptly before them.

"Quest?"

"‘Flight Machine Improvement Proposal’... A series of quests, numbered and similar in appearance."

The rewards included extended flight time, increased altitude, and attachments that could grant elemental properties to weapons—clearly quests meant to improve flight machines.

"It seems we must complete these quests if we’re to use the full capabilities this time. Flying for short durations might be possible without them, but..."

After verifying the current performance of the aerial machinery, it appeared the maneuvers Sally would execute in combat—sharp turns and three-dimensional movements—were manageable even without upgrades. Still, the prospect of longer flight durations and beneficial effects during flight remained appealing.

"Since we're at it, let's try this then!"

That was what I expected. It’s the most characteristic feature of the third layer. This might connect to the artifact for the Demon Lord.

"Indeed."

According to Mai and those who had explored here beforehand, the connection of this quest to any other place or purpose remained entirely unclear.

The two imagine that, with so many quests branching out in every direction, and with countless players exploring from other regions, even all players combined would require considerable time to unravel the full picture.

Excluding the portions already explored by Mai and the others, progressing with the two of them will allow for a more efficient search for the Demon King’s power. Yet above all, the initial objective remains the enhancement of the airship. Once they agreed on this, they set out from Town without delay.

Maple and Sally, having left Town, headed straight for the foothills of the towering mountain. The cave at this mid-slope would be their destination. Beyond the forest of trees, a cave containing rare ore awaited after the climb.

“First, let’s boost output!”

“Let’s clear this quickly.”

Increasing flight speed would benefit both Maple and Sally.

Their agreement settled, they began with this quest.

The two step into the forest. Though called a forest, this is a three-tiered zone. Gears occasionally visible are not mere discarded debris—they rotate steadily, half-buried in the ground.

Among the trees, faintly glowing lights hang suspended. The environment differs from the natural forest of the first tier.

Thus, the monsters that emerge must differ as well.

“Maple, be careful.”

“Mm-hmm!”

As Sally speaks, sensing the approach of enemies, three mechanical humanoid monsters burst forth. Upon spotting the two, two of them dart through gaps between trees, accelerating rapidly, their arms transforming into gun barrels aimed directly at the pair.

The third activates thrusters on its feet, surging forward at full speed, raising a sword in its hand as it closes the distance in an instant.

“Maple, handle the guns!”

“Love That Offers the Body, Barrel Deployment!”

Responding to Sally’s call, Maple activates her skill. She nullifies the blue energy blast launched by the monster with her renowned defense, then locks onto the target with a barrage of cannons—multiple times the number of the enemy’s own.

“Attack Initiated!”

A flood of lasers pierces through the forest. Even with high mobility, the enemy cannot evade the unbroken assault within the dense woods, where flight is already difficult.

Maple’s crimson lasers strike the monster directly, detonating it and staggering it backward. The counterattack’s energy blast reaches Maple—but in a fight where the disparity in numbers and defensive capability is so great, it is meaningless.

While Maple engages two opponents, Sally, unburdened, cuts through the creature holding a sword in front of her.

“Fast…”

Even at ten layers, the speed-type enemy keeps pace with Sally’s motion.

Maple’s dominance comes only from her abnormal defense—on standard stats, such an edge is not easily surpassed.

Yet.

The enemy’s sword clinks sharply, deflected. Sally’s dagger slices deep at the neck.

When stats are equal, skill determines the difference. The absolute gap between Sally and the monster—between her and any player. That gap does not close. Each time she cuts, each time she enters range, one more wound appears.

It seemed as though the enemy marched toward death.

“Can’t lose to something like this.”

Sally sidesteps a casual slash, slips past, and beheads the foe in a single motion.

“Phew.”

Looking back, Maple too had just absorbed gunfire from two monsters, and was in the process of shooting through and detonating both at once.

"Looks like you're alright too."

"Yeah! No problem at all."

"Good. Then let's keep going. If monsters appear, handle them the same way."

"I'll take the long range!"

As usual, the two were not to be halted by a few low-tier monsters.

They cut down everything approaching, and steadily advanced up the mountain's midsection.

Having safely reached the middle, they stood side by side before a large cave mouth carved into the mountainside.

"Here?"

"Seems right."

Reconfirming the quest destination on the map, and certain it was the cave before them, they entered cautiously, alert for ambush.

Though called a cave, this place is a site for gathering materials related to the machinery of the three-tiered area. Evidence of human hands is present—lights are evenly spaced along the walls, and the ground has been leveled, providing a stable footing.

It is, in essence, a quarry for rare materials within a town that lives alongside machinery.

"Nothing suggests traps here."

They remained cautious, as a precaution, but found no traps worthy of the name. Monsters encountered were no different from those found in the forest. Neither faced difficulty, and they reached the innermost chamber without strain.

There, blue-glowing ore extends from walls, floor, and ceiling in scattered veins. This was undoubtedly the material their current quest required.

"First, let's clear one quickly!"

A quest meant for all to pass through. The ore could be harvested even without skills or tools. When Sally touched it, the blue stone cracked with a sharp snap at its base and settled into her hand.

"Take only what we need."

"Agreed."

The true purpose lay ahead—upgrading the machinery. To finish the quest swiftly, the two collected ore and hurried out of the cavern.

Having cleared the quest, they immediately began reinforcing the flight machine.

The blue ore, freshly gathered, was now affixed to the boot-type flight machine. It glowed, supplying energy within.

This modification increased flight speed and, in effect, extended the practical range.

They decided to proceed with further enhancements, but first, they headed to a secluded spot where no one else was around.

“This place will do.”

“No monsters here!”

No obstacles. No monsters to interfere. Here, wherever Maple landed, she would only hit the ground.

“Did I use this before?”

“Yeah. Mai and Yui taught me. Back then, we ended up using the Machine God instead, so we stopped practicing with this.”

Maple was a rare player who had possessed multiple flight methods since early on.

Her combat style—steadfast and ready to meet enemies head-on—did not demand high mobility. Thus, it was not surprising that flight machines held less appeal for her than for other players.

Yet the enemies had grown stronger, and the fields had expanded, now holding diverse and complex mechanisms. Demands had increased. Now Maple too found herself needing sudden bursts of speed and three-dimensional maneuvers in battle. If so, aerial mobility should shine even for Maple.

“Just watch me for a moment.”

Sally rose gently into the air before Maple’s eyes.

“Mainly, it glides like this. Once you get used to it, you can do things like this.”

She inverted, accelerated, stopped abruptly, moving swiftly through the air with ease.

Water Manipulation, Thread Manipulation—combined with Ice Pillar and Step into the Underworld for platform creation—airspace had become entirely Sally’s domain.

“So, this is the final goal.”

“Think you can do it?”

Beyond the intricate movements, the core remains flight through mechanical means.

If Sally could master Maple’s method, the disadvantage of low 【AGI】 at the tenth layer would nearly vanish.

"I’ll teach you how to do it."

"...Yeah! I’ll try my best!"

Sally takes Maple’s hand. Together, they activate the machine and float gently into the air.

"First, let’s try flying slowly. Ah, activate Love That Offers the Body, okay?"

Still holding hands, they fall toward the ground. Unlike Maple, whose body is made of steel, Sally would shatter apart.

"Keep me steady. Now, move slowly to the left. Apply force gradually."

"I understand."

With Maple’s help, Sally does not fall. They glide slowly through the air, hands still linked.

Well done, well done! Keep it up like this.

Please guide me—thank you!

Yes, yes.

They hold hands and glide through the air, moving like dancers. Since they chose a place where no player nor monster had ever been, they can practice without restraint, endlessly. By the time Sally’s lesson ends, Maple has become quite skilled at flight.