Defense Specialization and Re-entry 2.

The two stepped once more into the labyrinth of clouds, pushing through as if parting them with their hands.

"This isn't the time to swing a weapon. Maple, keep your footing."

"Ugh, like when I used [Hair Growth] before."

She pushed the pure white wall ahead with her hand, a crack forming. They slid through it. Naturally, the moment they released their grip, the wall snapped back shut, pressing in on them from both sides.

As Sally said, in this state, they could not properly wield their weapons, nor could they create space to react if something burst out of the cloud unexpectedly.

Monsters here had previously demonstrated high-impact piercing attacks. Though they did not wish to use it actively, [Love That Offers the Body] was already deployed.

Residual Light of Salvation activated to suppress damage as well—this was Maple’s six-winged form, now familiar to them both.

The necessity of using both simultaneously made it clear once more that the enemies they faced were no longer so easily overcome.

“Nothing so far…? Hm?”

A rumbling sound echoed from afar. It was the same kind of noise Maple had recently heard. Before she could finish the thought, the clouds above, once as white as snow, darkened like ink soaked into paper.

The meaning of it arrived before she could think—then a sudden crack split the air, thunder striking down upon Maple and her companions.

“Ah!”

“Thunder’s been common lately.”

“Mm-hmm.”

Their conversation carried the air of two people strolling indoors on a stormy day, gazing out the window. They walked on, as if unaware they were caught within a thunderstorm.

For Maple, currently immune to paralysis and stun, and nullifying damage entirely, thunder is a welcome opponent.

Thunder is typically designed with speed, range, and accompanying status effects prioritized over defense penetration—making it largely unimportant to consider.

The only minor drawback, if pressed, might be its slight noise.

“Feeling pushed from the wall?”

“O—maybe. More like clinging to me!”

“Ahh…”

Maple’s form ahead was swallowed by storm clouds. Sally narrowed her eyes at the spark of lightning, observing the clouds clinging to Maple. Several small, round eyes were visible—indicating multiple storm cloud creatures.

“【Gourmand】’s gone, right?”

“Yeah, no need to worry!”

“Let’s peel them off as we go.”

“Please do.”

Sally slices through the storm clouds attacking Maple with her dagger. Removing them—this is death. There is no help for it.

They must move forward.

“Stan no longer works. Maybe it was better this way. I should thank Kasumi again. That snake battle took forever.”

“Yeah. But thanks to that, we’ll be useful in many situations!”

“The fifth layer area—it’s easy to imagine using thundercloud attacks. There’ll still be plenty of moments when that comes in handy.”

“I think so too!”

This monster is overwhelmingly suited to Maple. With the leeway gained from taking no damage, she confirms carefully that the attack pattern does not shift to other methods due to HP reduction, and safely passes through the thundercloud zone.

“Pfuh…!”

“Fwuh…! We’re finally out into open space!”

Maple tumbles out of the thundercloud, rolling down the slope until she comes to a stop at the bottom.

“Fhew… walking here is tough.”

“Mm. Hehe, I think Maple walks easier than others, though—”

Sally slides down the slope and scans their surroundings. The place they stand is a circular chamber, with three paths extending from it.

This time, each path has a clear distinguishing feature. The outcome is not entirely random. Choices remain, allowing them to select a better opponent based on their decisions.

“This one has strong winds.”

“This one seems to be hail.”

“And the last one, heavy rain. Which one shall it be?”

Standing before the passages, the differences are clear at a glance. The monsters that emerge will likely differ as well.

“Hmm… ice… I’d rather not.”

A piercing attack, like ice spears launched through the air.

That's right!

So, storm or rain? Which one?

...Rain! Rain doesn’t feel like a knockback.

Just saw a wind-element knockback. Alright, then let’s go with that.

They chose the rain passage. The path was made of storm clouds—dim, heavy with rain that fell like a waterfall, blurring the view.

Let’s use umbrellas, since we’re already here!

The one I bought on the fifth floor.

Still have it?

Of course.

Great!

Maple unfolded her soft, cloud-made umbrella. Sally pulled out her own, a blue one matching her gear. Side by side, they stepped forward into the passage.

It’s raining harder than during the rainy season.

Like a typhoon. No wind, though.

The downpour is too intense. The passage ahead is indistinct—walls, ceiling, floor—all gray clouds. Distance is impossible to judge.

Rain strikes, but no harm. Visibility is low. Attack from concealment is most likely.

Maple extends a hand beyond her umbrella. Rain hits. No status effects. No damage. The enemy likely uses the rain. The path stretches straight. With her shield held firm, a frontal assault is nearly certain to be blocked.

She advances. A mass of water slams into her shield with a splat—recoils.

“Oh?”

“Something’s there. Maple, try attacking.”

“[Barrel Deployment][Attack Initiated]!”

The red laser fired by Maple cuts through the falling rain, streaking into the depths of the passage.

…It might not have hit.

No resistance?

Yeah.

Maple’s weapon has a long range… so either it’s an extremely long-range target, or it’s teleporting away.

Still, as long as we keep our shield up, we’ll be fine!

Hmm. That’s true. No need to overthink it.

The water projectiles, no more than what a large shield could easily block, were nothing to the two who had already defeated countless strong foes.

They had decided to finish off any enemy that revealed itself immediately, and resumed walking.

Water clumps flying occasionally were blocked by Maple and ended there. The two had been progressing smoothly, assuming this cloud labyrinth had only weak foes at its start, when gradually, a sense of unease began to rise.

Sally, what is it… hmm.

That’s right. Hard to put into words, but something’s happening.

It was only unease. Whether the endless rain, blocking sight ahead, was causing it, or something else, remained unclear. Still, the two began to feel they were not moving forward.

We’ve walked far enough. Always in a straight line—it feels off. Let’s carefully check our surroundings.

You’re right! The most likely place… is when that water flies?

Good instinct. If anything’s here, there might be a clue.

Start with the obvious. They hurried through the rain, stopping where Maple was struck again by a water mass.

Is there something here?

Let’s look for it!

They searched the area together. The crack in the wall, hidden by the downpour, was found with unexpected ease. Maple pressed her hand against it. The rain poured through like a waterfall, revealing another path.

— Probably been circling the same place all along.

— Couldn’t notice at all, with the rain masking everything…

— Still, we know what’s expected now. We’ll check the walls and floor as we go. We got a clue from the water this time, but that won’t always be the case.

— Yeah! We’ll look closely, no mistakes this time!

— The umbrella was the right choice. It keeps the rain off, makes things clearer.

— Rainy days really do call for an umbrella!

— Huh. Maybe that’s true.

Having solved one mystery, the two moved forward into the new passage, navigating the rain with careful steps.

The shield, too, had been shaped to deflect rain, allowing clear visibility around them. This enabled early detection of the hidden true path. After the initial confusion, progress became smooth.

As for the two, they paused at a rainless depression, set aside for rest.

— Fū, no monsters. This path’s not so bad.

— Water volume increases, but even so…

— Not at all a problem!

The space, formally meant for shelter from rain, shows no sign of clearing.

They rest. Speak idly. Time flows calm. Sally turns to Maple.

— Maple, what about the tenth layer? Nothing truly new in each, but…

— A sense of familiarity… like, ah, this place existed too.

Maple closes her eyes as if recalling the past, her fingers tracing memories through the air. She suddenly lets out a soft, sleepy smile.

“Maybe… fresh.”

“…But nostalgic?”

“Yeah. Nostalgic. Fresh. Like I’ve made so many memories in this game.”

For Maple, who had long since distanced herself from the game before the memories remained, the act of recalling happy moments—just that—was itself a new sensation.

“Nice.”

“Mm. Really nice.”

“I want to hear them. Every memory you have. I want to share in that ‘fun’ you felt.”

“Eh? Well… um… maybe I’ve told you all of them already?”

They spend most of their time together, just as they do now. Sally would appear in most of Maple’s memories.

“Still. I want to hear them from your mouth.”

“Okay! Then… first…”

Maple speaks with quiet delight, recalling moments long past. The stories shift and drift, rarely ending as expected. Yet sometimes Sally answers with a soft nod, her voice threading through the tale— as if no moment could be more pleasurable than this one. The conversation deepens.