"Clang, clang, clang"
"Bang"
The tips of their weapons clashed, training blades sparking violently with every strike.
Under Fron's overwhelming skill, experience, and mastery of combat techniques, Ais struggled desperately to keep up.
As the battle dragged on, her situation grew increasingly disadvantageous.
Again and again, she unlocked more of her own power, frantically boosting her strength, but Fron always responded by matching her power exactly.
Even so, she could feel it clearly, the vast difference between them.
"Hard to believe I was the one who trained you in the beginning."
The golden-haired girl stood in place, her sword in hand, hair clinging to her forehead with sweat. She looked utterly disheveled.
Fron glanced down at the weapon in his hand, its edge chipped and nearly useless. He gave a helpless shrug.
"Ais, you're too impatient."
"No, I have to do this. If I don't push myself, I'll never reach that place..."
"..."
Understanding the unshakable resolve in her voice, Fron knew there was no point in trying to dissuade her.
All he could do now was look after her as best he could, protect her body, heal her wounds with magic, and make sure she wouldn't be left with any lasting injuries.
After quickly healing her, he looked at her trembling limbs and sighed quietly, realizing she'd already pushed herself beyond her limit.
With a resigned sigh, Fron turned around and lifted the girl onto his back.
"Y-you don't have to... I can still walk..."
Even someone as expressionless and airheaded as Ais couldn't help but blush when she felt Fron's broad back and the warmth coming from him.
Carrying her like that, Fron headed toward the dining hall.
"T-that's!"
Along the way, a few girls froze in place, their eyes wide open in shock.
When Fron passed by with Ais on his back, their minds hadn't even caught up yet, their bodies stiff like statues until reality finally sank in.
Creak,
A slender, pale hand clenched around a metal cup so hard that the steel warped.
The sharp sound startled the others, who turned to see Lefiya's face twisted in frustration, it was both pitiful and strangely amusing.
"Lefiya, what's wrong? Hehehe, " Watching Fron and Ais so close together, Lefiya felt like a volcano was about to erupt in her chest.
Why... why did Miss Ais abandon me... for that stupid man?!
Ais should be the one I'm carrying!
Anger, sorrow, jealousy, and disbelief all swirled together inside her until her chest ached and tears filled her eyes.
Her friends tried not to laugh, they wanted to, but they couldn't without hurting her pride.
After all, everyone in the Loki Familia knew how much Lefiya wanted to be close with Ais.
And now... Ais was being carried by someone else right before her eyes!
"No way! Tomorrow I'm training too!"
With puffed cheeks and a furious pout, Lefiya ran off, or rather, charged straight in the direction Fron and Ais had gone.
...
Meanwhile, the Loki Familia was preparing for their second assault on the Knossos.
After some behind-the-scenes negotiations between Finn and the Guild, the upcoming expedition was a massive joint operation, gathering the best elites.
Among them were allies like the Ganesha Familia, guarding the surface routes; the Hephaestus Familia and Dian Cecht Familia, supplying weapons, armor, and potions; and even the Hermes Familia, offering aid as an apology for past actions, though their true motives remained unclear.
The Dionysus Familia had also volunteered, claiming a desire for revenge for fallen comrades.
Altogether, more than ten familias of varying size were involved.
Information about the Knossos had not been made public; only familias trusted by the Guild and Loki Familia were allowed to participate.
During this period, preparations were made with meticulous detail, from mapping and target identification, to attack routes, division of roles, and fallback paths.
Every possible contingency had been considered.
And their ultimate target, the ticking time bomb lurking within the artificial labyrinth: the Corrupted Spirit.
...
A week later.
After this period of intense training, whether due to mental growth or Fron's exceptional guidance, Ais' abilities had dramatically improved, surpassing her previous limits by nearly 500 points.
Even Loki herself was stunned when she saw the updated status sheet.
Before long, word spread among the familia, and rumors exaggerated the truth, soon, everyone was saying Fron had "maxed out Ais' level in one go," like some sort of "full-level, every-hit-999" cheat character.
As a result, wherever he went, Fron could feel the burning stares of admiration, or curiosity, from his companions.
Feeling awkward under all the attention, he hid himself away in the magic workshop, using the remaining time to repair and refine his weapons and armor.
...
During the strategy meeting, Finn calmly presented his plan.
"First, reconnaissance and mapping of the mist zones will proceed simultaneously. Our main objective against the remnants of the Evilus is not extermination, but expulsion, driving them back rather than exhausting ourselves in battle.
As the vanguard, conserving stamina is key."
"Next, once the signal is given, we'll launch a full assault. All executives and elites will participate. The top priority target, of course, is the Fallen Elf.
This will be a blitz operation. We must strike swiftly and end the battle before the enemy can react. Time is of the essence."
Finn's plan was bold, perhaps even reckless, but sound.
Fron stood silently in a corner, arms crossed, stroking his chin as he considered his role. As expected, he'd likely lead the vanguard team.
With him there, the margin for error in exploring unknown areas would increase dramatically.
And just as he predicted, when Finn began assigning roles, he turned to him and said,
"Fron, the vanguard will be in your hands. Protect them well."
Fron nodded, expression steady. "Leave it to me. I'll bring them all back safely from that den of monsters."
No one doubted his words, because he truly had that strength.
Even if surrounded, he could carve open a path for his comrades to retreat, holding the line alone if needed.
A true all-rounder, Fron was capable of handling any situation, whether in short bursts of intensity or prolonged endurance battles.
Entrusting him with the most dangerous mission gave everyone confidence.
"Then, everyone prepare yourselves. The expedition begins tomorrow!"
"Yes, sir!"
...
Early morning on an empty street, fully armed adventurers marched in unison toward a single destination.
Their expressions were solemn, entirely unlike the usual atmosphere.
At a tea shop near the main street, two gods sat facing each other in silence, neither speaking. They simply watched quietly as their children passed by below.