Defense specialization and warped space.

When light settled and all machinery ceased, Maple and the others stood within a complete separate space.

"Uwaa... what's going on here?"

"If we fall... it might be bad."

The space they occupy is dark, like the void of space. No ceiling. No floor. Only scattered rocks and the remains of structures float in the endless expanse, their limits unknown.

Peering over the edge of their footing reveals only an abyss of absolute black.

"Yes. Falling too far results in instant death. Be careful. We don’t know exactly how far is too far."

"Understood. I’ll be careful."

"Maple too. Defense won’t help at all."

"Yes!"

"I think you two might remember... the boss we fought with Mai and Yui? The one whose gravity direction changed?"

"Yes, there was one."

"Uh... the boss who gave us the 'Demon Lord's Power,' right?"

"Keep an eye out—the place where gravity shifts like last time."

"Understood."

"We'll be careful."

The presence of airships allows for greater flexibility this time, but a sudden forced descent in an unintended direction could still cause errors in control.

Acknowledging the prior warning, they proceed with caution. The two re-examine their surroundings, searching for the path forward.

"I’ll guide us to the boss. I’ve been there before. Can you two handle the monsters? I’ll also be able to provide more active support than usual."

Iz returns the airship to its original size, takes her seat in the cockpit, and adjusts several weapons while speaking to the others outside through a speaker.

"Leave it to us!"

"We’ll follow your lead. Beyond that, we only know the locations of the gravity-shift zones and what we’ve seen of the enemies."

Yes, I’ll share it. I’ve compiled the data in advance.

Iz places the gathered information into a message and transmits it.

The dungeon, as expected, presents formidable enemies and bosses along the route. The area itself is a battlefield designed to hinder their movements.

Stay alert.

Understood.

They memorize the shared data before the monsters appear, then follow Iz’s flying machine as they begin moving forward.

No need to panic at sudden shifts in gravity—she has already warned them.

They remain cautious of unseen mechanisms, using the flying machine’s capabilities to leap lightly from one floating platform to another, navigating the uneven terrain.

Right here… we’re here!

The words. The two raise their weapons. As before, the monsters emerge at the same place Iz and the others have met. Three points of shadow twist, like hollows in the dark, then split open—monsters burst forth.

Their bodies transparent, like glass. Inside, machinery drives with sound. The long-bodied mechanical fish swim through the air, as if they were water, drifting freely. They vanish into darkness at times, slipping through the thin places between dimensions, circling the three, closing the distance.

When they have drawn near enough, they accelerate—frequencies of concealment increase, movement sharpens. They enter combat mode.

Small gears, like scales scattered along the fish’s path, shimmer. Then, without warning, they accelerate—firing like bullets straight toward Maple and the others.

Maple, knowing from Iz’s prior knowledge that each of the projectiles possessed penetration defense, raised the pure white shield she had equipped without invoking Love That Offers the Body.

Unusually, she could not block them directly with her body, so she held the shield aloft. She wished to preserve her ability to consume.

The trajectory of the launched gears remained strictly linear. Even if they approached, a measurable distance still separated them. As long as they came straight, Maple could deflect them without difficulty.

But the gears vanished into the rift between dimensions mid-flight, scattering in all directions, attacking at staggered intervals.

She scanned her surroundings to eliminate blind spots. Calculated the order of impact. Deflected each in sequence.

If she succeeded, no harm would come. Yet this was no simple task.

"Fine."

"Provocation!"

Maple is flanked by the last fortress, the strongest, the inviolable shield.

It draws the attack in—too much for Sally to handle. Yet only the front needs protection.

Gin-gin—sharp, precise, flawless. Sally’s dagger strikes the oncoming gears from multiple directions, shattering them.

Thanks to Izu, Sally knew the attack in advance. Facing her skill—evading even first-time assaults and striking them down—revealing her tactics would not suffice. The defense remains unbroken.

“[Deployment: Right Hand]!”

While Sally holds the defense, Maple fires反击 bullets. But the enemy’s guard is firm. Staying at a distance that deflects attacks, they retreat into the gap between dimensions at the moment of impact. Maple’s attack misses.

Still. It is a fact that Maple, capable of sustained long-range attacks, can easily provoke the enemy’s evasion.

"Amazing. If that’s the case…!"

A long-range attack with minimal delay to impact. Difficult for Iz to execute under normal circumstances, but different now that she rides atop this airborne armored vehicle, refined through repeated modifications.

With swift motion, she locks on to the mechanical fish revealed in form. She pulls the large lever with a clank.

The mounted cannon muzzle glows red. From it, a directed flame surges forth—straight toward the fish swimming into view.

The flame illuminates the distant darkness, delivering damage comparable to a high-powered spell conjured by a mage.

"Wow!"

"How much have they改造ed it, anyway…?"

The way it behaves suggests its range and power go beyond a mere cannon attachment.

"Wait—no time to worry about that...!"

"I've got this, Sally!"

"Fine. I won't miss."

Sally is the key to this defense. Though it seems absurd when looking only at her stats and skills, the truth is this front holds steady because of Sally's skill.

"Truly... I couldn't imitate that."

Confirming Sally’s operation from the cockpit—her handling of the extradimensional threat, eliminating damage with precision—Iz then readies the next round, coordinating with Maple to target the mechanical fish the moment it appears.

"Iz-san!"

"Yes, leave it to me!"

The mechanical fish advances with gears shot forth while evading Maple’s laser—offense and defense in one motion. Yet it is steadily targeted from the rift’s narrow gap, struck down one after another. Still, the glowing gears it continuously launches number well over a hundred.

It penetrates defenses and ignores damage. The barrage carries considerable pressure—undoubtedly a threat to any player.

“Yeah. I think we’re safe now.”

“The last one!”

Still, the monster that shoots down every single one renders all attacks ineffective.

Precise, flawless—more so than the mechanical fish itself. This entity beyond measure, Sally, nullifies the damage trade that the mechanical fish should have exploited for advantage.

Each time a body fell, the barrage thinned. It was not inevitable that she would pierce a defense that could not be breached at maximum output. Eventually, the barrage grew so thin that Maple alone could block it with a shield.

The storm blast unleashed by Izu struck the final mechanical fish, shattering its head and sending it flying upward into the abyss. The first battle ended in a decisive victory for Maple and her companions.

After safely repelling the enemy, a voice comes from Iz.

You're impressive. But are you sure? That was quite a demanding role.

I am fine. I could endure this many more times.

Iz knew the battle had been excessively taxing, yet Sally’s words carried no hint of deceit or forced effort.

That must mean she has become so accustomed to this that it now comes naturally.

Sally had continued this game for a long time. She had always possessed high skill, but combat experience had honed it further.

It was not unreasonable, then, that she could sustain this performance.

"I understand. But don’t push yourself too hard."

"Yes. The boss battle is the true test."

They had reached this point without Maple’s aid. The moment when their strength would be truly needed was still distant. To arrive here only to run out of energy would defeat the purpose of their coming.

Concerned for Sally’s burden, the group advanced steadily deeper.

In the end, despite Iz’s worry, Sally fulfilled her declared role—defensive support—exactly as promised. There, before them, stood the door leading to the boss.

The door floats above scattered rubble. Behind it, only darkness continues. Yet it is undeniable—the proof of the Boss Room, seen countless times before.

This dungeon is not one with ordinary walls or floors. The Boss Room is expected to lie beyond the door, in a space severed from the rest.

She shook her head, a quiet breath escaping. Even so, she was surprised. She had thought it impressive—truly impressive—but not this.

"Truly remarkable... how many did she fire, I wonder...?"

She trains every day to grow stronger. Also, her dueling opponent attacks with many strikes or long-range techniques. She is accustomed to that style.

Frederica, then Velvet, occasionally Wilbert.

Winning against these faces, again and again—this alone showed how adept Sally was at countering the barrage.

"Now, let us first confirm the parts we already understand."

Yes.

First, confirm the enemy’s attack patterns before the boss battle. The boss within is made of machinery, much like the monsters encountered during the journey. It appears as a large bird, white in color.

Unlike the 'Silver Wings' previously fought, it does not soar gracefully or engage in close combat. Instead, it distorts space, firing metallic feathers from all directions. The feathers vanish into the rift between dimensions mid-flight, then reappear from every side. They are capable of sudden stops and rapid accelerations. Deflecting them is therefore even more difficult.

This is why it stands apart from common enemies.

"Understood. It is clear why Izu and the others would find it difficult to clear this with only four of them."

Kanade still requires time to fully restore her spell capacity to pre-combat levels, and the magic barrier cannot be summoned repeatedly. To delay the impact timing by such margins is too dangerous for Mai and Yui, who cannot afford to be struck.

"Still, the great shield-user is not necessarily suited either... She seems a formidable boss."

The boss, like the common monsters, possesses penetration defense.

Maple cannot rely solely on Love That Offers the Body to fully negate the attacks—this foe does not grant an advantageous matchup.

"Since Izu has that reliable flying machine, we’ll use it to our advantage."

"Got it!"

Since penetration defense is assumed, Izu inside the armored vehicle will withstand attacks more steadily than Maple.

Should the need arise, Izu will take hits on her behalf, but the fundamental strategy remains unchanged.

Maple or Izu will provoke the enemy’s evasion, while the other penetrates with attack.

Sally focuses all her resources on defense, dedicating herself to nullifying enemy strikes.

The operation remains unchanged from the journey’s start. Sally is the key.

“Hoo…”

Before the anticipated escalation of combat, Sally takes a deep breath to sharpen her focus.

“Are you alright?”

“Leave it to me. And… I’ll show you something I’ve been practicing.”

“Do your best!”

“Mm, you too.”

No need to doubt Sally’s confident tone. Maple trusts her, as she has yesterday, today, and will tomorrow. If told to leave it to her, there is only her own duty to fulfill.

“Let’s apply the buff last. Lifting the base is always important.”

Izu lights several incense sticks, crushes crystals, and hands out potions, ensuring all three receive the effect.

Amidst the shimmering auras flickering from all three bodies, the trio wrenches open the door before them and plunges into the Boss Room, urgency pressing against the need to prolong the buff’s effect.