And this guess just so happened to answer… how Revis was able to summon so many Violas to invade Rivira on the 18th floor.
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"Do it. Since we already guessed their goal, there's no reason to keep them alive anymore."
As soon as Fron's words fell, Ryu's figure had already disappeared from his sight.
"Already can't wait, huh." He whispered softly, his eyes showing a trace of complexity.
"Y-you… who are you!?"
In just a few seconds, the surrounding area erupted in chaotic shouts and screams.
To call it a battle would be putting it nicely , in reality…
"Bang, bang, bang, bang…"
The wooden blade at her waist danced endlessly in the hands of the Avenger. Also crafted from the branches of the Sacred Tree, the wooden sword not only amplified magic but was also one of the strongest secondary weapons.
Against a group of Lv.1 and Lv.2 small fry, the Lv.4 Gale was nothing short of a one-sided massacre.
With a single slash, she tore through the enemy's chest, cutting down the man before her in a spray of blood.
"Remnants of the [Evilus]… I never thought you insects would dare appear before me again. Now go and pay tribute to my fallen friends!"
"Squelch…" Blood splattered as her fairy-like figure turned into starlight, flickering in and out of the enemy ranks.
Each flicker claimed another life, absolutely cold, merciless, ruthless.
"N-no, stop!!! Don't kill us!"
"Hold on, don't you recognize her!? That's Gale, the one who destroyed us five years ago! Quick, get the Flame Stones!"
[Flame Stones]?
Hearing that name, Fron's pupils shrank sharply.
He no longer let Ryu vent alone, he instantly took action.
"Stop them!"
"What?"
The few remaining enemies, their eyes turning wild, no longer fled but instead rushed at them like madmen!
"[Fire Bolt!]"
Wrapping his arm around the girl's slender waist, the two quickly pulled away, and Fron immediately unleashed a fast-cast spell to detonate the dangerous items in their hands!
"Boom!" The deafening explosion rang out, shaking the entire forest and its vegetation.
...
"What was that sound?" In camp, Bete froze mid-bite into his roasted meat, his ears twitching.
"Hey, Anakitty, did you hear that!?"
"Yes, Bete, it sounded like an explosion."
"That direction… it's where Fron and that elf were…"
"Tch, what the hell are they up to?"
As they spoke, Tiona had already dashed off.
"Hey, hey, hey!? Ais? Wait for us!" And behind her, Tione and the others followed.
...
By the devastated lakeside, the corpses of their enemies were nothing but charred husks.
At the center of the Flame Stone explosion, they were completely reduced to blackened remains.
Forget identifying them, even the blessings on their backs were unrecognizable.
"These guys… still so decisive."
"Fron, have you encountered them before?"
"Yeah, when I was commissioned to investigate the monster riot on the 24th floor, it was these bastards' doing."
"That incident? I heard Asfi mention it."
That surprised Fron a little, the 24th floor incident should've been confidential. How did Ryu know about it?
[T/N: Above line, Asfi mentioned it, next line how did she know? Hahahaha]
Or… did she have her own information network?
Thinking of the goddess atop Babel Tower and the tavern's poster girl, Fron suddenly understood.
'So that's it.'
"The clues are cut off again, these bastards…" Compared to Ryu's sorrow, Fron's mood was more bitter.
'These guys didn't even have "that" on them? And they carried Flame Stones? Damn it, they were clearly abandoned pawns! Their leader never intended for them to return! Did they already know [Loki Familia] was here, so they sacrificed them to reduce risks?'
"Fron, what happened here?" Not long after the explosion, the others arrived.
"Ah, just a few small fry." Seeing the broken white-hooded cloaks on the ground, Ais' gaze instantly sharpened.
"[Evilus] remnants?"
...
Originally, after the 59th floor incident, the expedition team should've returned to the surface immediately. If not for the poisoning that delayed them, they would already be enjoying food and drink.
Once everyone returned to camp and reported the situation, Finn immediately decided to set out at once.
Unexpectedly, Bell Cranel's party, along with the group that had come to rescue them, ended up accompanying their expedition team back.
When Fron heard this, he couldn't help but smile bitterly.
As expected… things turned out like this, and the entire plot was changed due to him being there.
...
The return journey was without incident, a stark contrast to the life-threatening struggles and near-death hardships they faced reaching the 18th floor before.
Clinging to [Loki Familia]'s powerful protection, even with two deities in tow, the trip back to Babel Tower was smooth and easy.
"This is my first time returning from the Dungeon so effortlessly." Bell Cranel gazed enviously at Loki Familia's team, sighing.
"I thought Fron was already a monster, but it turns out the whole Loki Familia is like him. That troublesome Minotaur couldn't even last two moves against them!" Compared to Bell and Welf, Lili remained calm.
"[Loki Familia]'s expedition team is made up entirely of high-class adventurers. In other words, their lowest members are Lv.2, while their captains and leaders are Lv.5 and Lv.6. For them, exploring the middle and upper floors is basically no different from strolling through the streets. That's the strength of Orario's strongest Familia."
"But Bell, don't be discouraged. You're already Lv.2 now. In Lili's eyes, one day you'll surely reach their level."
"Ahaha, don't say that, Lili. Compared to Brother Fron, I've still got a long way to go!"
...
Without obstruction, the team made it back to the surface before nightfall.
"Though I say this every time we return from expedition… Still, it feels so good, the sky, at last!"
"This enticing smell of alcohol… I want to drink until I drop!"
"Hmph, I'm going to eat tons and tons of meat… Ugh, the food in the Dungeon was too depressing."
Compared to the Amazoness sisters, Fron looked up at the twilight sky and sighed in relief.
The suffocating atmosphere of the Dungeon really could drive someone mad. Being able to see the sky again made him feel at ease.
"Well then, everyone. We'll be parting ways here."
"Thank you for saving Bell and the others, adventurers!"
Just as he thought so, the two deities bid farewell, offering their gratitude to Fron.
"No need to thank me. In the Dungeon, if you have the ability, saving your fellow adventurers is an unspoken rule. I believe anyone else would've done the same." With that, Fron waved at them, then left with the others.
A small point worth noting, he and Ais made a slight detour, heading toward West Main Street.
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T/N: Bonus chapter for crossing 150 power stones; next one at 200 power stones~