Defense specialization and Demon King Five.

High-damage area attacks are terrifying. Parties often collapse from a single strike.

Yet Sally spoke without hesitation.

"If we focus only on that, we can't fight properly. So... Maple, let's go."

"…! Yes!"

The strength of [Maple's Tree] lies solely in its unparalleled defense. It assumes taking damage as inevitable. To truly exploit its power, avoiding risk is impossible.

"We'll go in. If it becomes dangerous, I'll pull us back immediately with the thread."

"Understood. We'll prepare healing. With [Unyielding Guardian] active, we should be able to endure and return. Frederica."

"Mizari, we'll support from here as well."

"Got it. Leave it to me."

"Yes. Of course."

Healing is applied the instant damage is taken.

Quickly stack damage cuts on Maple, then thrust Sally and herself toward the Demon King.

Once Maple confirms the damage is nullified, the battlefield can be utterly dismantled by exploiting Maple’s protection.

“Love That Offers the Body!”

Positioning Sally—minimal number of protected, highest coordination, best suited for withdrawal—beside her, the guardian angel descends before the Demon King.

With each attack the Demon King launches, Maple confirms the damage. The ritual transforms the Demon King—a being still largely unknown, a great threat—into something contained, sealed by Maple.

“Let’s do it, Maple. If it gets truly dangerous, I’ll consider the Brutality too.”

“Yeah! I’m fine!”

Upon stepping onto the magic circle, the Demon King readies his dual blades. At the same moment, the magic circle beneath his feet slowly brightens.

The Demon King spreads his wings and flies toward them. From here, it is time for Maple to use her steel body to forcibly measure the enemy’s power, laying the groundwork to bring each party member into combat.

“Alright! Here we go!”

Maple stops holding her great shield. Instead, she abruptly extends her arms, preparing to block the Demon King’s attack with her body.

The Demon King approaches at a speed surpassing Sally’s, swinging his blade ablaze with aura toward Maple.

Immediately after the strike lands, Sally cuts in, blocking any further attack, and checks Maple’s condition.

“How are you?”

“I’m fine! 【STR】 halved!”

“Got it!”

The debuff was heavy, but since Maple had not taken damage directly from the blade, her 【Love That Offers the Body】 rendered it meaningless. Even if the debuff stacked with each hit, the burden fell entirely upon Maple—its effect negligible to her performance.

Yet Sally did not miss the sudden intensification of light from the large magic circle beneath Maple’s feet the moment she was struck.

"Damage taken still advances the count...!"

If that was the case, the area attack from the magic circle was impossible to avoid. Sally faced the Demon King once more, this time drawing her familiar dagger.

The Demon King’s strike was heavy. To block it directly was to lose one’s stance.

Sally slid her dagger along the arc of the swift twin blades, deflecting them, weaving evasion, and pressing close to the enemy’s front.

Magic falls from behind like rain, but it dissipates into mist just before striking the Demon King.

A sustained barrage of long-range attacks is rejected. Combat is forced onto the magical array. This will significantly affect the battle ahead—【STR】debuff.

Without Maple, even the twin swords with aura might be beyond tolerable.

"Sally! The light's getting stronger on the guard!"

"Got it!"

Sally is certain the energy will build the moment her blade touches the Demon King’s. She prepares to disengage, waiting for that moment not far off.

After several exchanges of steel, the crimson glow reaches its peak. As Maple and the others sensed, a pillar of red light shoots upward. It engulfs Maple and Sally.

"Maple!"

"...I'm fine! This—won't work!"

Maple’s firm reply. She demonstrates the reason behind the invincibility of her greatest shield. The red light pillar consumes her and Sally. “Maple!” “…I’m fine! This—won’t work!”

“Come on!”

From among the players guarding the front line, a few break forward at Sally’s call.

Now that Maple fully restrains the Demon King, a full-scale assault is unnecessary. If they can reduce his HP unilaterally, defeat is impossible.

To minimize damage when the attack pattern shifts again, only those capable of striking the unusually swift Demon King are sent to the battlefield.

Joining them are Kasumi, Pain, Dread, and Velvet.

“This bonus time is only for Maple, huh!”

“Attack, please!”

“Leave it to us.”

“Ah… hurry up, next one.”

“Let’s go, Kasumi! Surround and strike!”

“Flank him!”

Six attack the Demon King together, shielded by absolute defense. Against this Demon King, the odds of victory are one hundred percent. The certainty of defeat is entirely eliminated. How reassuring that is.

【Electric Acceleration】! 【Rapid Advance】!

【Eight-Blade • Gale Wind】!

Velvet casts a speed boost on all, then enhances her own movement. Kasumi follows, activating her skill to accelerate. The two close in on the Demon King from both sides.

【Sword Mountain】!

No defense needed. Kasumi closes the distance instantly, accepting the Demon King’s twin blades with her body, then unleashing her skill.

Dodge it...!

【Sword Mountain】 summons countless blades from the ground. The Demon King flares the wings sprouting from his back and retreats into the air, just before impact.

【Electromagnetic Leap】!

Only the air remains as escape. Velvet reads the Demon King’s retreat, leaps upward with a bolt of lightning, and strikes from behind.

“【Heavy Double Strike】!”

The storm of lightning is negated by the Demon King’s long-range attack, but the heavy twin punches are not.

The Demon King spins in midair and blocks Velvet’s fist with his sword.

“Fall—right now!”

Velvet drives the Demon King into the ground.

Sally and Dread approach from below.

“Gloom【Shadow Clone】!”

“Shadow【Shadows Swarm】!”

The wolf formed from Sally’s clone and shadows encircles the Demon King, cutting off all escape.

The Demon King spins, slashing outward with his blade, clearing the surrounding area. Yet the clones advance unharmed, having absorbed every attack through Maple’s Love That Offers the Body.

Sally and Dread join the assault alongside the clones, their numbers alone chipping away at the Demon King’s HP. The Demon King deflects both attacks with precision. No critical blows land. He leaps into the air, creating distance.

“【Cobalt Move】! Shiroppu 【Wall】!”

Maple intervenes. Using 【Cobalt Move】, she closes the distance to Sally at the Demon King’s side. She commands Shiroppu to raise a towering wall of stone.

The stone wall encircles the Demon King. His only escape route is now the sky above.

“Rei 【Meteor】!”

From that single opening, Rei rides the light-wreathed form of Pain, launching a charge.

She blocks the escape route, raises the radiant holy sword, and charges toward the demon lord.

"Shiroppu! Great Nature!"

Maple weaves roots along the 【Wall】 to form a foothold. At present, the demon lord nullifies long-range attacks—neither 【Machine God】 nor 【Ancient Weapons】 can be used. Maple focuses solely on defense and support, sending Sally and Dread toward the demon lord.

"【Tornado Slash】!"

"【Quintuple Slash】!"

"【Holy Sword of Shattering Wall】!"

The simultaneous three-pronged assault finally strikes the demon lord. A violent damage effect erupts. The demon lord swings both swords, countering each attack with equal force, then activates the magic array beneath his feet. A crimson light envelops all three—perfect timing, a counter that should have been fatal.

But this attack cannot break Maple’s defense.

The city wall collapses. Vines vanish. The three descend to the ground, each taking further damage.

"Nice work, Maple!"

"Yeah. Without airships, being able to fly freely is a nuisance."

"The demon we defeated earlier didn’t take status effects properly. Appearance changed, but no real weakness was exposed."

"Let’s draw it in again and chip away. And... while Maple holds the defense perfectly, now’s the time to prepare! I’ll set up the lightning path—useful for sudden approaches!"

"Just watch for shifts in attack patterns. I’ll stay ready to use my Heart’s Eye."

"Got it! Please!"

No issues while the pattern remains unchanged. They continue fighting, updating buffs and making minor preparations.

What matters is the demon’s next move.

Every shift in movement demands Maple check her readiness.

She must not fall—certainly not due to a misjudged response.

They tighten their focus, considering the next step.