Chapter 121: Man vs Xenia

Chapter 121: Man vs Xenia

Pericles once said: What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.

He had missed the mark.

The lives of the ancient Greeks had ended thousands of years ago, yet one couldnt take two steps into their homeland without stumbling on a monument theyd left behind.

One of the many, many archeological dig sites of the Boeotia region was called Orchomenus. Perhaps it had once been an ancient city of great influence or a temple for long-forgotten gods. Basil couldnt tell. All that remained of Orchomenus today were dusty ruins, desolate atriums, and ghostly streets of stone. The archeological site mostly occupied a hill overshadowing ruins of a different kind: the crumbling remains of villages wiped out by monsters, raiders, and warbands.

Two of the culprits flew right above the region under the apocalyptic skies.This chapter is updated by nov(e)(l)biin.com

After confronting Ashok in Shumen, Vasi had collected some broken power armor left behind by his soldiers. Though Basil had been unimpressed beforehand, seeing them in action was something else entirely. There was something mystifying about watching a pair of jetpack-wielding armored hoplites fly among the clouds. If Iron Man had Greek ancestors, they would have looked the same. Their thermal spears and energy shields added a certain primitivo-scifi je ne sais quoi to the whole ensemble.

Jai DasguptaLevel 50 [Humanoid] ([Mecha Pilot] 20/[Technomancer] 10/[Shielder] 15/[Mercenary] 5)Faction: Metal Olympus (Team 3-B)Kana SenLevel 50 [Humanoid] ([Mecha Pilot] 20/[Mercenary] 10/[Shielder] 5/[Priest of Zeus-Ashok] 15)Faction: Metal Olympus (Team 3-B)

Basil and Plato watched these two run circles above the hill while hidden under a bed of dirt and the cover of invisibility. The rest of the team was spread around Orchomenus, ready to spring an ambush should the enemy patrol detect them. Steve had been the hardest to hide, but as a monster, the Steamobile could benefit from Plato and Vasis illusion spells.

Ready and waiting, Plato whispered.

Not now, Basil whispered back. Well only engage them if they detect us.

After a few tense and restless minutes, the two mooks above finally retreated south empty-handed. A massive thunderstormthe manifestation of Ashoks God-Fieldcovered the horizon in that direction.

Theyll be back, you know? Plato said, his tail wagging in irritation. Its the third patrol weve avoided so far.

Unfortunately, he was correct. The Bohens had made as much progress over the last few hours as WWI soldiers moving to take one trench after another.

We can take them, Plato suggested. Easy.

We could, Basil agreed as he exchanged messages with his other allies through the Logs. These patrols were around level fifty. Potentially dangerous with the right setup, but nothing the team couldnt manage.

But we wont? Plato shrugged. They wont have time to raise the alarm if we hit them hard and fast.

Im worried that engaging them at all will broadcast our position, Basil replied. These guys arent monsters running around at random. Theyre professional soldiers following a patrolling schedule. They must be constantly communicating with handlers.

Ah, let me guess. Plato sighed in disappointment. An absence of an answer will be enough to trigger an alarm?

Even if Shellgirls amulets prevent Ashok from sensing our essences, I dont think theres any way we can approach Athens without being seen. Basil clenched his teeth. I guess well have to force our way in.

Plato licked his paw. Must we?

Do you have a better solution? Basil shrugged. Cause Im drawing a blank right now.

Of course you do, your human mindset is limited. You think in 3D, we cats hunt in 4D. Plato smirked smugly. Hear me out. We have not one, not two, but three armies on speed summoning dial.

Basil raised an eyebrow. Yes, we do.

So instead of besieging Athens as we first intended, why not split those armies, have them spread around Lightning Butts field, and then enter it all at once from different directions? Plato suggested. We make Ashok spread his forces while our small, but incredibly competent elite team infiltrates the dungeon.

Ashok will immediately suspect the ploy, Basil pointed out as he received a message from Bugsy.

BUGSY: I sense another patrol coming from the west, guys.SHELLGIRL: The west? Isnt that the wrong way?VASI: They could have noticed us and called for back-up.BASIL: Could be stay hidden for now.

Heres the genius part, Plato continued while ignoring the messages. Some of us will follow the armies. Without any protection.

Which will let Ashok detect them, Basil replied as he looked west with his binoculars. Though the golden circuits in the sky troubled his visibility, he was certain no enemy came out of Ashoks territory. Did Metal Olympus maintain bases as far away as the Ionian Sea?

Of course he will, Plato replied with a grin. But unknown to him, you will sneak close to the dungeon under protection. When Lightning Butt has spread his army around, you teleport us in and we pounce him together. A genius plan, Im sure youd agree.

Its a nice one, Basil replied while studying the western horizon. Except you failed to account for two things. One, I would need to cross an eighty-five kilometers long distance to Athens undetected. Thats awfully risky, especially without backup.

Have more faith in yourself, Plato chided him. I believe in you.

And two Basil sighed. Faction members can teleport back to their dungeon at will. The moment were detected, Ashok will summon reinforcements or evacuate Kalki elsewhere.

Plato opened his mouth to argue, closed it upon realizing he had no counter to this, and then grumbled in defeat. Killjoy.

BUGSY: Theyre coming straight at us. They know were here.VASI: Are you sure?BUGSY: Im sure. Theyre flying in a straight line.

Basil cursed as he scanned the horizon. He finally noticed the enemy vessel flying under golden lights.

He mistook the shape approaching Orchomenus for a plane until it came closer. Basil should have known the enemy would stick to their antiquity theme. The vehicle approaching their location resembled a Greek galley ship with wide sails and feathered wings instead of oars. Strangely, the hull appeared to be made of reptilian scales rather than metal. Half a dozen winged creatures escorted the vessel like a flock of birds.

ROSEMARINE: Mister, can I shoot now? Snipy snipy?VASI: Wait, look at the escort!

Basil squinted behind his binoculars, until he identified an angel among the flyers.

Although he had gained four more wings since they last saw each other, the medical angel Zachariel hadnt changed much. He still wore the same plague doctor mask and hat as he always had. He had however traded his former yellow clothes for a modern, silvery hazmat suit.

Another familiar face rode a griffin at the angels side: a black-haired young girl no older than eight wearing an antiquity-styled Greek tunic. Her gray eyes stared back at Basil with a flash of recognition. She somehow noticed himwithout any binocularsand waved a hand in his direction.

Little Nessia, Basil whispered as he lowered his binoculars. What is she doing here?

Wait, isnt that the oracle girl we met in Bordeaux? Plato squinted at the horizon as the flying vessel came into sight. Is she still riding that awful bird?

What was she doing here on the other side of Europe? Basil had heard Nessia had returned to her world after the second Incursion. From what he had understood, she was some kind of princess in a universe where the Greek gods were still aroun

Ah, I see what happened. Basil opened the map in his Logs and confirmed the presence of an Incursion portal far to the west in the Ionian Sea. The multiverse is such a small place.

Itll be even smaller soon, Plato mused. Im sure the patrols wont notice the giant flying ship heading towards their territorys border.

Realizing their attempt at sneaking in was now more or less doomed to fail, Basil dropped the invisibility spell and swiped dust off his clothes. His party members emerged from their hiding spots one after another before gathering around him.

Cassandra Bato-Plutus, Fires WidowLevel 75 [Humanoid]Faction: Psychompomps.

Basil frowned. As if the situation couldnt get any worse. What kind?

The portal works both ways when it does not have to, Cassandra explained. Additionally, they weaken our own protections as much as they lower this worlds.

Seems natural to me, Basil pointed out.

Its not, Handsome. His girlfriend shook her head. The whole point of Incursions is to bring in new souls to fuel the Trimurti System.

Now that you say that, Vasi, it is odd indeed. Shellgirl crossed her arms, a thoughtful expression on her face. The first rule of economic development is to prevent capital flights. Make it easy to put cash in, and hard to get it out.

It could be just Maxwell covering his rear, Bugsy suggested. I mean, Im not a coward, but if I were I would prepare multiple escape routes too.

Could be, Basil conceded. Or he needs to make the portals two way to form one at all.

Our mages believe otherwise, Cassandra replied. According to them, your worlds System uses Incursions as a mechanism to durably interlock with ours.

To what end? Vasi asked.

We dont know yet, Cassandra admitted. But we would rather stop the process before we find the answer.

Mom says its causing some of her spells to go haywire, Little Nessia added with a firm nod. She stayed behind to investigate. Dad would have come too, but the barrier wont let him through.

Basil blinked in shock. Hes over level eighty-five?

Worse. Cassandra chuckled. Hes a god, so he cannot leave our world at all.

She said that so casually that Basil instantly believed her. By now, it sounded about as credible a statement as gravity pulling things down.

Vasi scoffed and exchanged a knowing glance with her boyfriend. Looks like deities are more common than I thought, she said with a grin. Youre sure you dont have a god somewhere in your ancestry too, Handsome?

Maybe you descend from this Jesus Christ? Little Nessia suggested innocently.

That seems unlikely, Basil replied with a deadpan tone.

Didnt he have a child with a prostitute? Shellgirl asked. I read it in a bo

Basil gave her such a potent glare that she dared not mention the heretical text further.

One of the good things about the apocalypse is that Dan Brown is almost certainly dead, Basil thought while struggling to keep a calm face. I hope so. I dearly hope so.

You actually remind me of our king, Lord Basil. From the way Cassandra said it, it must have been the highest of compliments. From what I heard, your ascension was even faster than his. His was counted in years, yours in months.

Basil looked away. I hope your king didnt pay the price I did.

Sensing he wasnt in the mood to elaborate, Cassandra diplomatically changed the subject. The frontiers between worlds are now so porous that our diviners can now scry on other neighborhood worlds and exchange messages with locals, she explained. We are currently coordinating with General Leblanc, Lord Simeon, and King Branio to provide you with military support. Hopefully, we can rescue this Avatar and settle things once and for all.

I do not support an alliance with Maure Hellcorporated, I might add, Zachariel said with a snort. Their CEO is not to be trusted.

Sorry, Zach. Vasi smiled sheepishly. I hope you dont mind the fact Im related to him.

So is his sister, who is our worlds second-most celebrated Paladin, Zachariel replied. If anything, I see it as proof that the healthiest bastions of good can spring even from the most diseased demonic stock.

Basil crossed his arms. All troops are welcomed, but Im afraid numbers might be a detriment rather than an advantage in this case. Metal Olympus keeps our ally hostage in a fortress eighty kilometers from here. Approaching it will be a challenge; infiltrating it is likely impossible.

Dont you know, Basil? Little Nessia grinned wickedly. If you pray for a miracle, sometimes the gods answer.

Basil opened his mouth to joke that the Lord had yet to send him one, before suddenly realizing this troupe included a goddamn angel.

We have done our research, Cassandra explained. Metal Olympus stole their power from the gods of this land. They think it is the source of their strength. We believe it will be their downfall.

The gods within you all are angry, Little Nessia added with a dark, terrible scowl. They were enslaved by greedy mortals and want revenge. They will help us.

Could it be? Basils heart shone with hope. After hubris, comes nemesis?

Cassandra nodded sharply, much to his delight. I am not certain if things work the same in your world, she said, But in ours, gods with a similar nature and objectives form alliances called Pantheons.

You mean Guilds? Shellgirl asked.

In a way. A Pantheon connects its members, helps prevent infighting, and lets these deities summon help in a pinch.

So like a Guild,Basil confirmed. The Greco-Roman gods of Metal Olympus belong to the same pantheon. Benjamin mentioned Ashok wished for the power of Indra, but it was simply easier to call essences from the same mythology.

Vasis eyes widened as she put two and two together. The essences are still connected. Thats how Ashok can sense ours.

They are, Zachariel confirmed. Additionally, the enemy has turned a center of the Olympians faith into his lair. This created a very powerful spiritual connection we can exploit.

You thought you would have to invade this Parthenon, Cassandra told Basil. We believe we can be invited instead.

The more he heard, the more pleased Basil became. Forgive me if I have forgotten my mythology, but wasnt Zeus the god of hospitality?

We call it Xenia, Little Nessia corrected him with a wicked grin. Shall we pay him homage in person?

Ashok was about to learn the meaning of divine punishment.