Defense specialization and revenge, part three.

Having ended her battle with Frederica, Sally dashes forward once more. A sudden fight erupts from encounters with aggressive players during multiple forced Battle Royals. Time ticks away, inch by inch. The event’s remaining duration is not long.

One task remains unfinished.

A crimson light rises before her, wall-like, as the Battle Royal begins. It envelops Sally as she runs.

"Close… that was a near miss."

She has no time for this. Sally, barely outside the range, thanks her luck and runs along the outer edge of the red wall.

Then, one effect halts her foot.

On the other side of the glowing crimson wall, unmistakably clear, a white pillar pierces the sky.

"Velvet…!"

That was unmistakably the glow of the aurora. Running about at random offered little chance of finding the target. It was better to contact the one player who knew the situation and could cooperate. Two were better than one. The more searching, the better.

After a moment, Sally saw the crimson light fade. She ran toward the last place she had seen the lightning strike.

Velvet was no player to yield easily. She knew the strength of her opponent well—she had fought her repeatedly, second only to Frederica.

There, rushing into the clearing, was Velvet, just stepping away from the end of a battle.

“Huh, Sally!”

“Velvet!”

Velvet halted, stepping forward to meet Sally as she burst through the undergrowth. Her eyes held no usual battlefire. Instead, concern and unease were clear in her expression.

“How’s it going!?”

“Not yet. Haven’t seen her. Did you?”

“No. Not me. Which way were you fighting?”

“Um…”

The event field map existed. The fact that the two had met here meant that, by comparing their paths, an unexplored area emerged.

That place was where the player who had not yet met them stood—Maple, most likely.

“So this area, then.”

She wouldn’t be moving aggressively. Shiroppu and the Machine God hadn’t seen her either.

Given her personality and mobility, she wouldn’t be darting about. Now that Velvet had found her, the possible locations narrowed significantly.

"Going around from this side! Sally, you go from the other—spot her, strike with lightning to signal!"

"Thank you. That helps."

"I’m the one who lit the fire—I’ve got responsibility too! Come on, let’s move quickly!"

"Uh-huh."

Sally and Velvet bumped fists once, then split apart to resume the search.

Maple, having finished her battle with Mii, walked at a leisurely pace, repeating the so-called slaughter.

Indeed, this system—where every skill’s cooldown resets after each fight—was an overwhelming advantage for Maple.

She had always been strong in one-on-many combat. Now, since she had the chance, she took it as a commemoration, mercilessly destroying every player who dared challenge her, until she became an irredeemable raid boss.

The fact alone that she had defeated every opponent in one-on-one combat made it obvious how few players could stand against her on equal terms.

“Tōū!”

“Uaahh!”

With Piercing Guard nullifying any chance of survival, the touch of Maple’s limb meant instant death—unstoppable, irreversible. Another player is seized, shattered to splinters, and sent back to the spectator area.

From the stands, voices rise again, each one reinforcing the truth: Maple was beyond defeat.

“Every time it starts with Rebirth’s Shadow.”

“Wouldn’t want to face that if it’s still active… but this time… well…”

“Win this, and you’re a true hero. Might even surpass slaying the Demon King of the tenth layer.”

“True enough. No one’s ever heard of someone who beat Maple.”

“But even Mii couldn’t manage it.”

“Then only one other remains… Pain.”

The Demon King has already been slain. Rumors speak of his true form, but no tale has reached even the level of rumor that Maple was slain.

And yet, if I’m not mistaken, something seems to have increased.

There’s no way one could mistake the size of that.

Behind Maple stands a monstrous figure of appropriate size, wielding a massive double sword.

It cuts without mercy at the player near Maple, spewing laser from its mouth.

A new servant, unknown to her, serves Maple. She considers the matter, formulating a plan.

Defeat the monster of [Rebirth’s Darkness], defeat the monster of [Predator], defeat the monster of [Hundred Demon Procession], defeat the monster of [Demon King]...

Perhaps the main body is too far away.

Too many companions must be felled before reaching Maple.

Yet the main body swings two weapons, extends tentacles that kill instantly upon touch, creates zones of damage reduction and continuous damage, and can transform into a monster that cannot be felled in a single blow.

Said aloud, it is clearly not something to face one-on-one. It also makes clear just how strong Mii truly is.

“We’d need a full party to handle this.”

“Mm.”

“The skill check was sufficient. We no longer die instantly on first sight of that aberration on its back. That alone is not so bad.”

They do not know that this information will not be used.

This event is a good opportunity to assess the skills and positioning of many players, practice included.

They watch Maple’s movements for a time. When the battle ends and the screen shifts to the next battlefield, each slowly returns to the event field.

The male player paused, glancing back at the spectator monitor as he prepared to return to the battlefield. Something caught his attention.

The monitor showed Pain dominating the center of a brutal battle royale. Yet it was not Pain that drew his eye. It was the scene reflected in the screen.

Maple is close, he thought.

They might meet by chance. But unless an event-triggered combat was activated, a fight was not inevitable.

Pain and Maple did not attack on sight. They might never meet at all.

Still, something felt certain. He halted his steps toward the event field. His gaze returned to the spectator monitor.

Maple walked on. After a time, she paused. She leaned against the summoned Predator on flat ground, resting.

Maple had fought enough already. She would not seek combatants actively.

Still, she intended to end the final event within the event field. For now, she would only react if combat were forced upon her.

Time remaining was dwindling. If she entered the battle royale, it would be just once more.

PVP could occur at any moment on this field. But even if an opponent attacked without warning, she need not worry—the Predator at her back would detect the threat and respond automatically.

She relaxed, nibbling on a sweet from Iz. The Predator at her back stirred.

“Stop—ah!”

She halted the Predator’s advance. She turned to identify the approaching figure.

“Pain-san!”

“Maple. It’s been since the Demon King battle.”

Maple disengages the Predator and rises. No one approaching Maple, recognizable from afar, would do so without purpose.

“I was surprised when I heard you’d joined PVP.”

“Velvet said she’d welcome you if you came. But…”

“I see. This event field is quite spacious. It’s not odd we didn’t meet. Still… perhaps you should try marking your position with a signal?”

“…! Yes, you’re right! Um, could you step back a moment?”

“Ah.”

Maple steps away from Pain, then slowly wraps something around her body, unfolding weapons without pause.

“[Attack Initiated]!”

Maple bursts through the inferno, launching into the sky. There, using the shield held by [Rescue Hand] as a foothold, she propels herself higher still. At the farthest height, she wraps something around herself, igniting the wire.

A moment later, a massive explosion erupts centered on Maple. Colorful light scatters across the surroundings.

Maple’s signature method of marking position.

Known colloquially as human fireworks, she descends directly to the ground, rising again with a cheerful posture, kicking up a great dust cloud as thunder cracks overhead.

Pain, having retreated earlier, observes Maple’s descent and returns.

"...Well, in any case. If it piques your curiosity, you’ll come close enough."

"Yes! Ugh, I should’ve set a signal beforehand..."

"Velvet could’ve suggested it, but she tends to leap forward too eagerly..."

Maple did not know that Velvet’s true intent had been different, and thus did not realize the proposal for rendezvous had been omitted.

“Are you joining the PVP with everyone, Pain?”

“No. Drag and Dread are observing the PVE side. Frederica was supposed to participate in PVP.”

There was certainly a desire to enjoy the event. But as the Gathering Holy Sword, their guiding principle remained information gathering.

Checking whether any exceptionally strong player had emerged recently. Confirming the level of the monsters prepared here.

This was the move required to maintain their position as the top guild.

“Are you here like Mii… to fight, Pain-san?”

There was no reason to make contact on the PVP event field other than to fight.

“I have some hesitation about this. I thought the best condition would be if I were to fight Maple one last time. But…”

“Wouldn’t the predator ability return if we began a duel?”

“No. That’s not it. I thought the best condition would be fighting Maple and Sally together.”

“Together, you mean?”

“Yes. I don’t underestimate either of them. The way we see each other has changed—opponents, allies, the events we’ve faced, the number of times we’ve worked as one. The moment Maple is strongest. The moment I feel most driven to defeat her. That moment, I believe, comes when I fight alongside Sally.”

Even as one entity, that remains the goal. The strongest form must be the one challenged. Pain saw that strength in the synergy between Maple and Sally.

“Sorry. This time, I’m alone.”

“Ah, don’t worry. Talking like this, I’ve come to realize I’d rather face you both together. I don’t know when, but I’ll wait for the next chance.”

Understood.

Convey this once more to the members of the 【Maple Tree】—if anything should happen, we remain ready to assist as we do now.

Yes! We’ll be there without fail, whenever needed!

Then I am relieved. Few but strong—those words were made for the 【Maple Tree】.

Even after Maple and Sally have left, the 【Maple Tree】 remains a compelling alliance. The shortage of numbers, now more evident, may be eased somewhat by our coordination with the 【Gathering Holy Sword】.

The two remain, speaking quietly of what comes next. It was also a vital duty of the departing Guildmaster, Maple.

Having concluded their meaningful exchange, Pain bids Maple farewell and prepares to leave, mounting Ray.

At that moment.

A figure, moving with terrifying speed, bursts from the forest and charges across the plain.

“…!”

They drew their weapons quickly, aiming them toward the incoming figure. At that moment, they recognized who had rushed in. They lowered their weapons.

"Sally!"

Ha… ha… Maple, you were here all along.

Maple’s signal, directed toward Velvet, whom Maple had launched.

It did not reach Velvet, but it reached Sally exactly.

That signal was originally devised during the eighth event for the gathering of the 【Maple Tree】.

Maple’s signaling here at the same time, and her being in a place where it could be seen—none of it was chance.

Yet that chance was everything.

Fate brought the two together on this day.

Yes! I was speaking with Pain.

"Combat now?"

I do not wish to fight. We were just discussing this. If you can manage the coordination between Maple and Sally, then—

……! That's right, Sally! Hey, hey, since you've just arrived, how about fighting Pain together?

Maple claps her hands suddenly, as if struck by an idea upon Sally's unexpected arrival.

Huh?

But we can't form a party anymore, can we?

That's true, but… it's the last chance, and she said she wanted to do it…

Sally scratches her head, watching Maple speak in quiet, hesitant tones.

Even now, perhaps especially now, she wishes to honor Maple’s wish.

After all, that had been the very thing that had troubled her until this moment.

"If Maple wants to, I’m fine with it."

"What do you say, Pain?"

……Objectively speaking, this is a 1-on-1-on-1 by system design. The two of you are not a party. Maple, you understand what I mean, don’t you?

Yes!

The fact that Maple and Sally do not form a party means Maple’s Love That Offers the Body and Residual Light of Salvation have no effect on Sally. The Machine God and the Domain of Annihilation would destroy Sally.

They said they wished to fight both. Yet without coordination, their strength would not manifest. It is no exaggeration to say they would be powerless.

“Sally. Shall I take this seriously?”

“……Yes. Of course. I often fail. But I will not lose.”

“……I do not understand. Yet precisely for that reason, their confidence intrigues me. If they say so, then this moment—their movement, their stance—can only be seen now. I must see it.”

The instant they act as allies while being enemies. More precious than facing two who form a party. The opportunity has come to them. There is no reason to let it pass.

Understood! Sally!

That’s right. Pain-san, just a moment—let’s hold a brief strategy meeting.

Ah. Stay back and face away. I’ll handle the duel setup. Call me when it’s ready.

Pain waits. Maple and Sally begin their discussion.

So, Maple. Any top-tier ideas?

Eh… um…

I expected as much.

Huh!?

…There is one plan. But it’s a one-time, decisive move. Don’t miss your chance. Can you do it?

…! Yes!

Heh. Good. Now, Maple—another thing. Can you trust me completely?

Of course!

I trust you, Maple. Pain is sharp. Above all, we must not let him sense our aim.

Sally then begins explaining the one-time, decisive move to Maple.