Defense-specialized and Demon King Nine.

Having confirmed the destruction of the duplicates, and with the enemy’s patterns and changes now certain, Sally gave the order to retreat.

“Pull back before moving!”

Creating distance would grant time to respond to the next attack. Meeting up with Maple and Hinata took precedence, for observation of the enemy’s movements.

While watching for attacks from behind, Sally and her companions returned, battered but intact, to the 【One Night Castle】 that had protected the players within.

“Mai! Yui! That was amazing—awesome attack!”

“Thanks to that, we barely held on… The unexpected slash caught us off guard, so the traps are no longer functional….”

“Most of our items were taken. Only potions remain in usable condition.”

The Demon King steadily erodes our resources, yet not through prolonged attrition. Instead, seizing openings, they unleashed a burst of overwhelming power, shattering the Demon King’s HP. Maple’s team still holds several strong skills, both offensive and defensive. Enough strength remains to continue fighting.

The Demon King’s HP stands at roughly thirty percent. Yet, means to deliver sudden, massive damage have clearly diminished. The most practical option, by far, would be to have Mai and Yui launch attacks.

Thirty percent. Still thirty percent. With the Demon King’s power, even a momentary lapse could lead to collapse. Relief is possible only at the instant of victory.

Ha ha… ha ha ha! You fools shall not live to return! I shall cut you down myself this time, with my own blade!

A voice echoes. The world blinks red. Before Maple and the others can act, a faint light envelops them all—and vanishes.

The change is understood instantly by all.

The【One Night Castle】, barely holding form, dissolves without trace. The area of healing and damage reduction set by Mizari loses its light. The rain of lightning sustained by Velvet ceases. Necro, wrapped around Crom, is forcibly severed. Maple’s【Love That Offers the Body】unfurls, returning her to her true form.

A light that cancels all active skill effects. The Demon King, who has repelled every buff and effect until now, unfolds a spherical red barrier around his body. He draws twin swords, their blades blazing with crimson aura. He steps forward slowly.

No signs of aberrant summoning. Only that the twin swords in his hands match the shape of those wielded by the duplicates. The blades radiate a crimson aura. They are unmistakably imbued with a piercing defense.

"Lily!"

"Ah! Now's the time! [Flying Machine] [Servant's Chair]!"

Lily summons a flight-capable machine. With the next skill, she reshapes it into a floating platform.

All but Maple board it and rise from the ground. Not for travel. To escape the area affected by the party member's skill.

[Rebirth of Darkness]!"

A thick, viscous shadow spreads from Maple.

The moment she activates her ultimate technique, it feels certain to decide the outcome.

This endless hunger for sustenance can summon an aberration equal to a demon lord—if the price is paid.

And with this party member present, there will never be a shortage of the offering needed.

"【Toy Soldiers】【Sands of the Horde】【Army Without Life】!"

"【Deployment: Floral Cavalry】【Deployment: Waters of the Army】"

"「【Ancient Sea】!」"

Materials poured in darkness reconstitute. Monstrous forms rise one after another. Crawling forth as if it were their turn, the obsidian aberrations advance toward the Demon Lord.

The Demon Lord calls Maple and the others heroes. Yet Maple’s skill set more closely resembles the Demon Lord’s than any other.

Human-side Demon Army. Proof of this, Maple summons an array of aberrations equal to the Demon Lord’s own.

"This is it—battle!"

Maple directs the aberrations, urging them toward the Demon Lord. The massive form moves like a wave of blackness, surging forward to engulf the Demon Lord.

【Rebirth in Darkness】 summons vast numbers of aberrations, consuming the space needed for Maple and the others to fight.

Strength enough to compensate for it, in full.

Maple stares at the aberrations, prepared to crush them beneath the weight of this 【Rebirth in Darkness】.

Just before the aberrations collide with the advancing Demon Lord, Wilbert—possessing eyes that see all—recognizes the anomaly alone.

"Disappeared...!?"

The crimson light radiating from the Demon Lord’s form, a barrier expanding around him.

Wilbert’s eyes widen as he watches the lead aberration strike the Demon Lord and, upon contact, dissolve into dust and vanish.

No damage is apparent. The aberrations summoned by Maple are not felled. They are eradicated—erased—before they even touch the Demon Lord.

"Maple-san, something is wrong! The Demon Lord is eliminating the aberrations...!"

The situation shifts instantly, cut short by the Demon Lord’s next move, as if to silence Wilbert’s words.

The red light enveloped Maple and the others instantly once more. It dismantled the airship, unfolded the Rebirth of Darkness, and erased the aberrations along with it.

"Eh!?!"

"Consecutive…!? No, sustained skill suppression…!"

The fact that the Rebirth of Darkness had activated proved clearly that the effect was not constantly nullified. Sally did not indulge in false hope. She concluded the Demon Lord would continue suppressing skills.

Yet that red light could not be avoided. If suppression did not end there, many skills would lose their strength. No countermeasures existed.

Indeed, the Rebirth of Darkness—used with the intent to secure victory—had failed to activate.

"Maple! Then we must all attack together! Focus on those with low defense!"

"Got it!"

Mai and Yui can deal damage even without skills. With Love That Offers the Body gone, protecting them requires reacting precisely to attacks and defending. Shielding those with low durability—those in the rear line—this is the role of the great shield bearer in this moment.

And while all prepare for the Demon King’s assault, weapons drawn, the Demon King’s form, which moments ago moved slowly, vanishes.