✦ ✦ ✦
With no major clashes occurring, the nighttime field was cloaked in silence.
Next to no players were wandering around, so the quiet was only natural.
Wilbert was moving through that field, monitoring it with his unique vision, accompanied by Lily—who doubled as his bodyguard.
“Less players makes all the difference. We’re a good ways from town, too.”
“The daylight hours must have taken quite a toll on you.”
“It was a necessary price to pay. We needed to know where those red sparks were coming from.”
Early detection on Maple’s surprise offensive during the big midday battle had minimized their losses. Had they wasted precious moments there, it could have changed the tide of battle.
“Still nobody?”
“No one so far. All quiet.”
They were being vigilant in the event of enemy pursuit. They’d made a big splash and fled—most players would want to give chase.
But to their surprise, they’d yet to spot a single foe.
Just as they were about to pack it up—
“.…………!”
“Found someone?”
Just as he’d spotted Maple earlier that day, Wilbert was scanning far beyond his usual scope. And a group of players had just entered the outer limits of that range.
“Maple and Sally, coming our way…and only the two of them in range. I’d know them anywhere.”
“Have they lost their minds?”
Lily could not believe her ears. Their plan had come up short, but they’d still been a hair’s breadth away from eliminating Maple altogether. Sending her back into battle before Indomitable Guardian came off cooldown, with barely any guards?
That must be the point.
“Will, you’re sure they’re alone?”
“Yes, I’d hardly miss that.”
“Fair. So they’re trying to lure us out.”
“That is likely their goal, yes. What say you?”
They could ignore it, and return to their base as planned.
Their foes clearly had a scheme in mind, but hardly one that would take them all the way to the enemy castle.
If they chose to do nothing, there’d be no battle here.
“Can you hit her?”
“……They’ll be in effective range soon enough. But I doubt I’ll land a clean hit.”
“Yeah, they’re counting on Sally to block that. Genuinely terrifying that she actually can.”
Defeating them from a position of safety was unlikely—if Wilbert couldn’t do it, nobody could.
Their only option would be to take this bait, and close in for a fight. Both agreed on that point.
“Will, just to be absolutely sure, there really isn’t anyone else?”
“……Yes, I swear upon the eye.”
Lily thought for a moment, then nodded.
“Okay, let’s go for it. If they can prep a whole army outside your range and get here in time, I’d like to see them try.”
“Very well.”
“I’ll send word. If we call in too many, they’ll likely bail—and they’re counting on us knowing that.”
“Perhaps so.”
Lily contacted her camp, requesting reinforcements.
They’d have to do their part and lure those two as far in as they could. Waiting patiently would make it that much harder for them to escape.
“Once our allies arrive, surround them. That’ll help block their backup. But if they act like they’re leaving, attack.”
Their enemy was serving up this chance, and no matter how fishy it smelled, it was still a viable opportunity. It was one they wouldn’t get again, and couldn’t afford to let slip away.
“Let’s see if they can really keep her safe.”
“I’ll stay vigilant, and if I see any other foes, I’ll let you know.”
“Yeah, hang in there.”
Their course was set. Now they merely needed to await the start of combat.
✦ ✦ ✦
Maple and Sally were walking across the darkened fields. There were no signs of enemies, but Sally had both daggers out, ready for anything.
“Anyone out there?”
“Not sure. We won’t know till they come at us.”
This was a wasteland area without many obstacles and nowhere to hide. At the very least, they weren’t about to get swarmed.
“The time limit’s coming up,” Sally muttered, checking the time. The date was getting ready to roll over. This was a plan that hinged on their opponent’s choices—and if they never noticed Maple out for a stroll, nothing could happen.
Just as it started to feel like they’d have to turn back—a bullet made of crackling electricity split the night, landing right before them.
“Didn’t think you’d, like, come to us!”
Before them stood Velvet, with Hinata in tow. That lightning signified she was ready to throw down.
“Same. After all you did earlier, you still got more left?”
“You betcha!”
Anyone expecting Velvet to be exhausted from the previous battle would no doubt feel betrayed by the smile she now wore. If anything, she seemed excited about the fight to come.
She took a bold step forward, speeding toward them.
“Polar Flash!”
A powerful bolt of lightning filled the air around Velvet. Even Sally couldn’t slip through that.
“Martyr’s Devotion!”
But Maple’s presence changed everything. As long as Martyr’s Devotion covered the area Velvet’s skills hit, Sally could soak Polar Flash and live to tell the tale.
Maple knew her part. If she kept Sally safe, then Sally could fight back.
✦ ✦ ✦
But a red flash from behind shot past Velvet. A high-speed arrow had been hidden by Polar Flash’s glare.
The lightning was meant to blind Sally—and let Wilbert seal the deal.
“Ha!”
There was a schiing—and Sally knocked the arrow out of the air.
Martyr’s Devotion let her go on the offensive, but her priority was always this type of defense.
Even in the thick of combat, Sally’s mind was focused only on threats to Maple.
“Yikes, you actually did that?! Hot damn!”
“Clearly…that was no fluke.”
Their initial plan thwarted, Thunder Storm backed off.
Sally had seen this coming before they even arrived. Without someone to spot them here, Velvet and Hinata would never have shown up at all.
That alone suggested Wilbert was nearby.
“Maple, shield up.”
“Got it!”
Sally hid behind Maple, quickly searching her inventory for some flashbangs, which she threw up high.
That was the signal.
The number of flashbangs told the others which direction Wilbert was.
✦ ✦ ✦
Far to the rear, Frederica, Kanade, and Iz had buffed Ray so much that the dragon streaked across the sky like a shooting star.
Even with the countless speed boosts, Wilbert could tell exactly what was flying directly toward him.
A holy sword, glowing every bit as bright as Velvet’s lightning.
A torrent of light rocketing toward him and Lily.
They swiftly swapped gear and got ready to soak this hit.
“Retainer Rampart!”
The soldiers Lily summoned just barely saved them, but an instant later, Ray was right on top of them—with Pain, Kasumi, and Chrome aboard.
“A bold way to find someone. If you blow half the vicinity away, it forces us to deal with it. And my skill let you pin down our location.”
Even as she spoke, Lily was replenishing her armies.
“We can’t afford to have you backing up Thunder Storm.”
“So we’re here to bust it up!”
“And you can’t retreat this time.”
Given the speeds Ray could reach, and Rapid Fire’s low mobility, they’d have a hard time escaping. Even if that weren’t the case, it would mean leaving Thunder Storm surrounded by enemies. Hardly acceptable.
“Okay, Will. Full power.”
“Indeed.”
Both raised their weapons.
And as they did, innumerable troops spawned—signaling the start of the true battle.