Defense specialized. One step forward.

The march continues—whether graceful is uncertain. The aberrations shielded by Maple’s Love That Offers the Body tear through and crush the enemy without pause.

Each time the alarm fades, Maple and the others feel the certainty that every foe they faced has ceased to breathe.

“Ah, we’re done.”

“Oh? Made it?”

Before them, the aberrations writhe against the wall, squirming as if lost, their movements unsettling.

“Step back, please!”

At Maple’s command, the aberrations shift and retreat backward.

Then, the door marked Boss Room appears. The swarm of aberrations has delivered them precisely to their destination.

“Right, let’s descend for now.”

“Yes. In this form, it’s awkward to maneuver during combat.”

Izu sets down on the ground, lowering the eight of them. She retracts the aircraft into its compact combat form.

“Should we go ahead for now? The boss might disappear from sight.”

It is unwise to be unaware of a boss’s movements, even if the lesser monsters are manageable.

“Can we pass through the door?”

“Individually, it seems possible. Let’s try letting in as many as we can. It won’t be easy to summon them again.”

Maple and the others enter first. Immediately after, Izu calls forth the aberrations.

The plan is set. Mai and Yui receive buffs. The two routes are the focus. The one-shot kill route with Mai and Yui, and the swarm route. Either can secure victory with sufficient output. Maple opens the door with confidence.

Maple calls the aberrant figure inside with polite composure. Just as she does, the boss notices Maple and her companions. The door closes. Only five can enter.

Maple turns forward again. No matter. She checks the boss’s condition.

The boss shares features with the common monsters seen earlier. A display panel is affixed to its face. Red light pulses—angry expression rendered. Six long arms extend from a body like pure white porcelain. No legs. It floats slightly, swaying left and right like an aircraft.

A deep hum, like startup. The conveyor belt mounted on the wall behind the boss begins to move.

At once, a sharp tone rings out. The same red light as the boss’s face spreads through the room. It envelops Maple and her companions.

The light erases the buffs of Mai and Yui. It dissolves Maple’s Love That Offers the Body and the aberration.

Removal of sustained effects and active skills. This was the boss’s declaration of superiority, made clear to Maple and her companions.

“This one…!”

“Proof of strength. Stay focused!”

“Maple, take care of Mai! Crom, handle Yui!”

Without Love That Offers the Body, they must protect the two through conventional means. Two great shieldbearers stand beneath the Maple Tree. The enemy has acted well—but the formation does not break.

“Residual Light of Salvation!”

Maple activates damage reduction and sustained healing, certain no more canceling strikes will come.

Durability for all, led by Crom, is now raised.

As preparations on this side advance, the enemy completes theirs. From the belt conveyor behind them emerges a weapon identical in color to the boss’s body—pure white. With six arms, it grasps two of them, raising them toward Maple and the others.

One is a square box riddled with holes. The other is unmistakably a gatling gun.

The gatling gun fires. From the box, small missiles streak forth, trailing smoke.

At the sight, the two who form the core of defense react.

““【Provocation】【Cover】!””

Maple and Crom draw attention, absorbing the attack. 【Bad Feeding】 activates, but there is no concern for firepower this time—no issue.

“It’s fine! Go, Sally!”

“Kasumi! Set up on my mark!”

Sally and Kasumi launch forward, passing the boss’s assault as entrusted to them.

In response, the boss seized two more weapons from the rear conveyor belt.

One was a blue, glowing cord stretching toward the ground. The other was a large bell.

"I'll go first. Jump in if it looks safe."

"Understood."

"【Mind's Eye】!"

Unlike the first two weapons, these next two were unknown. Kasumi lunged into range before Sally, who could not afford a mistake, to observe the boss’s movements.

The bell rang. The hand holding the cord snapped forward.

In Kasumi’s vision, enhanced by 【Mind's Eye】, the enemy’s attacks glowed red. Objects streaking chaotically through the air. Large circular lights flaring across the ground.

"【Tenno Tachi: Diamond】!"

Feeling evasion impossible due to range and speed, Kasumi layered her own defense over Maple’s damage reduction, preparing for the attack.

The blue ribbon extended with the motion of the arm, curving like a whip and striking Kasumi with force. Velvet designated several points on the ground, detonating them and accelerating damage, enveloping Kasumi in the blast.

"Kasumi!"

"Nothing to worry about."

HP was dropping, but the blow was not unendurable. Having seen it once, the next time would be handled more skillfully.

"【Ancient Weapon】!"

"【Crimson Wave】!"

"Lock on, fire!"

Support fire from behind. Maple, Kanade, and Izu, piloting the machine, joined in, inflicting heavy damage on the boss.

Taking advantage of the boss's stagger, the two leapt forward and unleashed a sudden barrage of attacks.

"【Quintuple Slash】!"

"【Warrior's Arm】【Fourth Sword: Cyclone】!"

The twin strikes carve deep wounds into the boss’s body. Their attack power is first-tier—damage not to be ignored. The bell rings again. The whip lashes out.

Even so, Kasumi avoids the whip and explosion using 【Mind’s Eye】, her one prior experience. Sally evades them with her innate agility.

Maple and Crom draw the boss’s attention through 【Provocation】. The four continue their high-damage assaults. The two who stand idle, protected only by the others, gradually fall out of the boss’s line of aim.

Only someone who has played before would recognize what is truly dangerous.

Crom and Maple advance slowly, blocking each attack as they go.

They have fought together countless times before. Each now knows the range of the others’ primary skills.

A glance between Maple and Crom. No words are spoken. The meaning passes between them, clear and precise.

From behind Maple, Mai bursts forth. Eight great maces held in readiness. The strongest spear, forged through countless strikes against monsters and powerful bosses alike.

“[Weapon Throw]!”

The boss, even now, resists the eight falling masses that herald death. With two open hands, it pulls two shields from the conveyor belt. Before it, a hexagonal barrier forms—numerous transparent blue panels linked together.

Immediately after, Mai’s maces strike with thunderous force, shattering the barrier. Yet the barrier’s effect remains formidable. The boss withstands the impact, unharmed.

But.

The bringer of death. The embodiment of destruction—two exist.

“[Weapon Throw]!”

Because the enemy is respected, Mai and Yui have staggered their attacks.

Seizing the instant when the barrier is gone, Yui’s mace pierces the boss.

The HP bar, which should have been completely depleted, had diminished significantly but remained intact, conveying to Maple and the others that it had not yet received damage above a certain threshold.

Yet this was anticipated. No surprise. No hesitation. 【Maple Tree】 advances into position.

"Get on!"

"Got it!"

"Both of you, this way!"

Iz’s flying machine, carrying Kanade atop the roof, glides just above the ground. As it slows, the four of them leap aboard. Iz accelerates immediately toward the boss.

【Quick Change】!

【Heal】!

Necro: 【Weight of Death】

Maple switches to white gear. Kanade is instantly healed, regaining the necessary HP. The enemy’s movement is hindered. Combat is not permitted.

Mai and Yui, with practiced motions, remove and re-equip their gear, returning their thrown weapons to hand.

Preparation complete. The boss attempts to counter by switching from shield to cannon and sword, but it is too late.

“[Aegis]!”

The greater the enemy’s variety of attacks, the more reliably [Aegis] integrates into the strategy.

It nullifies all attacks for a fixed duration. Though brief, it is absolute defense.

And when it comes to burst damage, [Maple’s Tree] is unmatched.

Mai and Yui leap from the aircraft, joining Kasumi and Sally, who are already clinging to the boss. They raise their weapons.

“[Double Impact]!”

The attack is nullified outright and delivered with force. For the boss to prevail, it would have to cancel the skill once more.

The boss collapses, leaving only wreckage behind. The quest is cleared. The item they sought finally comes into their hands.

"Properly obtained. 'Demon Lord's Power II'!"

"Ah, so this is the second one!"

"Progressing well. At this rate, we'll finish before the others are exhausted."

"We must hurry to collect the rest. We'll give our full strength in battle... but we can't be certain we'll defeat the Demon Lord in one strike."

Using 'Demon Lord's Power' consumes it. If forced to retreat, they must gather it again. To fail once and never try again would leave regret. The quest must be advanced with room to spare.

"The Demon Lord... is no ordinary foe."

"He must be quite strong!"

"But together with everyone, I believe we can win."

"Yes. I believe too. Let's quickly secure our next challenge."

Uhn!

One more step forward. Gazing contentedly at the acquired 'Demon King's Power', Maple and the others had completed their conquest of the third-layer area.