That unpredictable variable... was the man named Fron Argon.
-----------------------------
The sudden appearance of this man was like a catfish thrown into a still pond, stirring up all her carefully laid plans and leaving her completely on the defensive.
Left with no other choice, Ishtar ordered her subordinates to lure the remaining Loki Familia into the predetermined battlefield, to draw them into the trap and then reveal her trump card early, forcing Fron into a decisive battle with "that one."
Coldly watching the golden-haired figure in the projection once again using healing magic, the purple eyes of the goddess gleamed like a venomous snake hidden in the grass, waiting for her enemy's slightest mistake before delivering a long-prepared, fatal strike.
"Hmm?"
Standing at the heart of a massive magic circle, staff in hand, Fron spread his arms and suddenly raised a brow. Opening his eyes, he looked around suspiciously.
Under the glow of his healing magic, faint white motes of light fell like stars upon the wounded, their injuries mending visibly, flesh and skin knitting together before everyone's eyes. The comfort was so intense that some even let out sounds that made Fron rather uncomfortable, though thankfully, it was limited to the men.
"What was that feeling just now, as if someone was watching me?"
Relying on the amplified mental power granted by Reader, Fron's mind raced through calculations and analysis. After a brief moment, he seemed to realize something.
"Thanatos, the God of Death? No, it shouldn't be him. Given the strength and methods I've displayed so far, they should have enough self-awareness not to provoke me. Their cards aren't nearly enough to counter a game-breaker like me. So… who could it be?"
As he thought of this, his mind flashed back to the clues from the previous Dungeon incident, and soon, a graceful, alluring figure surfaced in his memory.
"That ambitious, ever-scheming goddess of beauty… Ishtar, huh? So she's finally noticed me. Looks like she plans to make an even bigger scene this time."
A faint smile tugged at Fron's lips, a moment caught by Anakitty, who stood guard beside him.
Watching as everyone's wounds gradually healed, Anakitty stepped closer, lowered her eyes, and whispered softly, "Fron, every time you smile like that, someone ends up having a bad day."
"..." His expression stiffened. He glanced sideways at Anakitty's elegant profile and blinked twice.
"How could that be? I'm just happy everyone's recovering."
"Heehee, when Fron lies, your eyes always spin around. You're so easy to read!"
Now fully recovered, Tiona giggled mischievously, hands clasped behind her back, standing on tiptoe to grin up at him. Fron's scalp tingled at her teasing gaze.
He couldn't help thinking to himself, had he really grown so careless around his teammates that even someone as scatterbrained as Tiona could read him like a book?
At least, in front of strangers, Fron could still keep a straight face.
After a bit of playful banter, the group's mood brightened once more.
Now, besides Fron, they had Tiona, a level 6, along with three level 4s, and a few level 3s. The confidence and morale of the Loki Familia began to rise again.
Especially with the reunion of Fron and Tiona, two level 6s, the team's spirits were bolstered even further.
"Alright, I've healed everyone enough that your injuries won't affect combat. For full recovery, we'll need to wait until we're back at base."
It wasn't that Fron didn't want to completely heal them, but the cost would be too great.
Deep within the artificial dungeon Knossos, possibly under enemy surveillance, every bit of stamina, and mind was precious.
Fortunately, after reaching level 6, Fron had chosen the development ability Healing, which had significantly improved his endurance. Without it, this prolonged high-intensity battle would have drained him dry.
Thinking back, from his days as a rookie level 1 adventurer, Fron had come a long way.
He could fight at close, mid, and long range, serve as both a Mage and a Healer, wield the spear techniques of the Braver, the swordsmanship of the Sword Princess, the close combat techniques of the Amazoness Sisters, and the battle rhythm he'd learned from the Creature Revis, refining them into his own combat style.
On top of that, his devastating fast-cast spells in Normal Mode and his area-destroying magic in Final Mode made him a near-perfect fighter.
Fron Argon, the Nightweaver, possessed both the raw "stats" and the honed "skills and strategy" to be called a true all-around warrior without equal.
On the battlefield, he had no real weakness.
His only flaw, the long-standing issue of endurance, had been mostly covered by a variety of potions.
From his novice days to his current status as a powerhouse, Fron had always personally taken on the role of supporter.
This went against the usual unspoken rule among adventurers, where the weakest member handled support duties, yet Fron had always brushed off questions with a clever excuse about using his backpack as a shield.
The real reason, of course, was his lack of stamina.
Now that he'd become level 6 and gained Healing, he could finally fight without restraint.
Though using magic too efficiently could still lead to mind down, at least it was better than before.
…
Fron was the core combat force of the team, so everyone fully understood his need to conserve mind.
"Tiona, where exactly did you get separated from Tione, Gareth, and Ais? Do you remember the map?"
The path ahead was unfamiliar to Fron, since his group and Gareth's had taken different routes.
"I remember." Tiona nodded seriously.
"Good. Everyone, follow her lead. Tiona, you guide us. Cruz, Anakitty, keep an eye on the front. If anything happens, report immediately."
"Got it."
"Move out!"
With Fron's commanding presence, the others obeyed without question. Compared to Raul, who was tasked with protecting Finn, Fron looked much more like a true leader.
Seeing this, Anakitty couldn't help glancing at Tiona.
The two exchanged a smile.
"Looks like Fron's more dependable than Raul in everyone's eyes," Anakitty remarked.
"Heehee, of course. It's Fron, after all," Tiona said brightly.
Thanks to the adventurers' formidable abilities, the group moved swiftly through the narrow passages under Tiona's lead.
Even the toughest metal doors were no obstacle, under Fron's sharp gaze and calm commands, they broke through with ease.
The sight made everyone's blood surge with excitement.
"Didn't expect you to actually get your hands on the key, Fron!!!"
Tiona's eyes sparkled with admiration.