Defense specialization and the five-layer area.

With three 'Demon King's Power' acquired, the party's exploration of the ten-layer 【Maple Tree】 was nearing its climax. Maple and Sally had arrived within the clouds of the fifth-layer area.

The fifth-layer area was a great labyrinth whose progression resumed from the position matching the slowest player in the party. Since the two had begun together, they would end it together—otherwise, it would be twice the effort.

Within the cloud town serving as yet another checkpoint, Maple and Sally prepared for their re-entry.

"Right then, shall we go?"

"Yep! Let's do our best—will this be the end of it?"

"Mm, still seems like it'll take a while… but it all depends on our pace and resources, really."

If progress continued without pause, completing the fifth-layer area in a single expedition might still be possible.

Yet, considering past events, the boss is undoubtedly a formidable foe. The Great Labyrinth, as expected, sees boss-level monsters appear repeatedly along the way.

Given the limited number of times daily resources may be used, fighting strong enemies in succession carries risk. There is no opponent unbeatable if one prepares fully. The key is knowing when to withdraw.

Having decided not to push too hard, the two stepped once more into the Cloud Labyrinth.

They were met by rain.

More precisely, something resembling rain.

“Oo…”

“Feels like it’ll hurt if it hits.”

The rain falling ahead with each step pierced the ground like spear tips. After a moment, it splashed and was absorbed into the floor.

Even if it were a piercing attack, it would not be unexpected. Yet, even Maple would not think to face it directly.

Yet, having thoroughly explored every corner of the checkpoint—the Town in the Clouds—the two had secured the necessary items to counter it.

"Isn’t this the perfect timing?"

"Yeah!"

Equipping the purchased rain shields, they stepped forward. Maple, whose recovery via [Unyielding Guardian] and [Ruthless] was assured even if something went wrong, moved first into the rain.

"Alright… hey! Oh—fine! It’s okay!"

The rain shield’s name held true. The sharp drops falling directly above Maple veered sharply, missing her entirely, and struck the ground at her feet.

"Good thing we bought it. We should keep checking the town carefully from now on."

"True. There’s a world of difference between having it and not."

There is no choice but to block with shields or barriers, yet the freedom of this item, unbound by movement restrictions, cannot be matched.

“Since the gear Izu made for you comes off, just keep an eye on your HP.”

“Got it!”

The equipment slots being insufficient, Maple’s HP takes a slight dip, but being able to ignore the rain is still a significant advantage.

Having thanked Maple for risking her body to confirm safety,

Sally steps forward into the rain.

“Even if it’s not a piercing attack, this isn’t just regular rain… a fairly strong boss might be coming.”

“Be careful. Sally’s predictions are usually right.”

“Better safe than sorry.”

“Yeah!”

With their countermeasures fully utilized, the two advance swiftly through the spear-like rain. Their vision finally catches sight of something moving—distinct from the rain. They halt abruptly. Stare. Watch.

“Eh… um… what is that?”

“Probably a monster… but its movements are hard to predict.”

In the depths of the corridor, two masses of water floated. They drifted aimlessly—now spiky like sea urchins, now flat like boards—bouncing off walls with no clear direction.

The HP bar above confirms it is not a common trap. Yet, as Sally said, its motion gives no hint of how it will attack.

If it held a weapon, one might predict its actions—this is how it would strike. The fewer clues an enemy offers, the harder it is to fight.

“Seems it won’t attack all at once. Maybe we should secure safety first, then provoke it?”

“Yeah! Just like always—keep our distance!”

“Please do.”

Maple, for precaution, activated her unyielding weapon—the ancient device—by affixing the drill to her body and burrowing into herself, gathering energy before releasing it all at once.

“[Ancient Weapon]!”

The obsidian cube transformed with a sharp crack, emitting blue light, splitting into multiple tubes that formed a ring around the outer edge.

As blue light burst within, the ring became a cannon mouth, and a glowing blue laser shot forward.

Maple held her shield steady, reinforcing her defense. Sally focused behind her, observing the enemy.

The monster shattered instantly upon impact with Maple’s attack.

Yet—

“……!”

“W-wait!?”

Immediately after, sharp raindrops like needles flew in, as if to counter. At the same time, thin films of water spread out across the ground, forming a barrier around the two.

……fuu, startled me.

Her habits resemble a trap. Leaving an ill effect at death, perhaps.

Explosion in thorn form: indiscriminate attack in all directions. Explosion in plate form: vast deployment of water membranes that immobilize upon contact.

Even if they spoke modestly, they exchanged glances. A monster they’d rather not see explode.

We should leave it be?

It might activate like a time bomb. Or self-destruct on approach.

Uwaa, that’d be bad.

Let’s check it first. We don’t want to get caught in the boss’s attack.

Got it! I’ll prepare 【Pierce Guard】 too!

Other forms should be checked too. There was one that looked like a stick.

The journey was a valuable opportunity for gathering information. Even if this investigation proved useless in the boss battle, the act of performing it reduced risk, one step at a time.

With time, proceed with care. No urgency. The two recorded the enemy’s movements as they advanced deeper into the passage.

As they observed, the enemies neither attacked aggressively nor approached closely. To Maple and her allies, who could detonate them from a distance safely, the journey became remarkably calm.

The spiky, sea urchin-like ones proved troublesome. Their spines pierced surrounding water masses, triggering chain reactions.

But as long as attention was paid to their large-scale effects, the two could manage them.

If only two or three floated at a time, detonating them casually presented no issue.

The thought of a large-scale summoning in the Boss Room is unpleasant… but overthinking it serves no purpose.

We must defeat it without fail.

That is correct.

The enemy’s assault is relatively calm. Conversation becomes possible.

Where would you like to go after the fifth-floor area, Maple?

Hmm… maybe the sixth-floor area first…

Why is that?

The sixth-floor area is Sally’s weak point. It would be best to explore together at the end!

Even if we travel together there, it will likely be inside the mouth of the [Ruthless] or blindfolded, clinging to Shiroppu’s back. In that case, we could hardly say we explored together.

It might work well to go through them in order.

It just so happens the order in which we obtained the Demon King’s Power matched as well.

In the ten-layer dungeon, where the order of conquest could be chosen freely, this path was not intentional. After the fifth-layer area comes the sixth-layer area. The familiar sequence, once followed, stirs the vivid memories stored in mind. Such things happened. Such things occurred. This order suits reflecting on what has passed.

"Maple, you've learned many skills. How are you doing? Do they all feel natural now?"

"I can't use them as well as Sally can. But... I think I've gotten better with the ones I use often?"

The first skills acquired—Poison Dragon, Malevolent Feast. Love That Offers the Body, Machine God, monstrous abilities such as Tyranny, and recently, Ancient Weapons, which aren’t bad. Conversely, her defense is so high that most attacks are nullified, making it hard to summon skills like Unbreakable Shield or Earth’s Cradle when needed.

Maple fights using multiple skills at the center of her combat style, so she may be busier than an ordinary shield user.

That diversity of application made it unavoidable.

Sally, why don’t you use my skills?

Huh? You mean [Illusion Reversal]?

No—well, the Demon Lord is supposed to be incredibly strong, and if I want a skill, I know how to obtain it.

Ah, that’s what you mean.

If I could grant Sally a power like I did with Mai and Yui, then—just before the final clash—giving her access to Maple’s skills would not be a great matter. Sally could master any skill immediately, faster than Maple herself.

Still, Sally shook her head.

It’s better to refine my current skill than to add more. I don’t need new abilities—this is my greatest weapon.

She paused, then smiled faintly, turning back to Maple.

“Well, the real reason isn’t that, really. I’m just… attached to it.”

Maple was right. If there were no drawbacks to the skill itself, adding more options in combat would only bring advantage.

Sally knew that.

"Just like how Maple focuses only on defense, I want to face challenges with what I have. That kind of focus makes the game worth playing.”

“Maybe I get it.”

“Really? Huh. So Maple’s beginning to understand too?”

“Yeah! Then let’s keep it this way!”

—Hmm. Ah, of course. I don’t intend to lose. That’s why I’m holding to this. I believe the output from 【Maple Tree】 is sufficient.

You’re Sally. I trust you.

Leave it to me.

Who to play with. How to play. The shape of fun varies. Then, toward the one that feels more enjoyable.

Strengths and weaknesses remain as they are. They refine their strategy anew, complementing each other. The two move forward through the cloud labyrinth.