In due time, a patch added the seventh stratum.
Maple Tree wanted to meet up and run the dungeon to it ASAP. The eight of them
gathered at the sixth-stratum Guild Home, read up on the boss's moves, and were
ready to roll out.
"…Are you gonna be okay, Sally?" Kasumi asked.
Sally was flat-out on the couch, her scarf tied round her head, a deathly gaze peeking
out between the folds.
"She's normally so strong…"
"We'll just have to make it quick."
They headed out of town. Maple immediately activated Atrocity.
"Sally?"
"Please."
Maple's maw opened wide, and Sally climbed in. The remaining members' faces were
a sight to behold. But Sally's mind was made up.
"This is much better than me cowering in a corner," she said.
And with that, the maw closed around her.
Figuring speed was of the essence, everyone climbed onto Maple's back, and she
charged them across undead-laden fields and through the dungeon itself.
With the combined might of Maple Tree, this was nothing.
And once they actually reached the boss, things got even simpler.
"Non-element attacks don't work, so we'll use these skills first."
"I pulled a good buff skill today."
"I'll stack paralysis on it!"
Their fight prep always started by buffing Mai and Yui. Maple activated Martyr's
Devotion, and they got ready to paralyze the boss.
"When you're ready!"
"Mm… go get it…"
"Make it quick—for Sally!"
They opened the boss room—and found a titanic ghost within. Its hollow eye sockets
shed ink-black tears. Its translucent arms dangled before it, and darkness yawned
below. It was readying a magic attack. A ghoulish sight—this was certainly far stronger
than your average field boss. But the eight of them—well, presently seven—had all
cleared that tower, so it wasn't very impressive.
Maple Tree was far more terrifying.
"It's paralyzed!"
Kasumi's slash applied the status effect, and Maple ran the twins forward. They
jumped down.
""Here we go!""
Powerful blow after powerful blow hit the immobilized foe.
Nothing capable of withstanding that would ever be implemented here. The ghost
shattered into light less than a minute after they entered the room.
"Got the drop materials."
"Then up we go! Sally, you still with us?"
Everyone looked worried. Once they were in sight of the next stratum, Maple let Sally
out and canceled Atrocity.
"You okay?"
"I'm never going back there…"
Sally staggered upright, looking nervously out at the new stratum.
"It's gonna be different, right?"
"We think so! Let's go find out!"
Sally took a deep breath and steeled herself. They stepped into the seventh stratum.
Before them was a vast expanse of land. Natural splendor. Monsters running across
the fields.
This was where the monsters lived. Some of them were even friendly.
This was a stratum about making friends with monsters.
"Sally, does this mean… everyone can have pets like Syrup?"
"Mm-hmm. Wonder what we'll all pick!"
"Gotta start by examining the options! This oughtta be fun."
Excitement lifting their spirits, they set out into the new zone.