Chapter 78: Chapter 71: A Drop of Water in Need, Shall be Repaid with a Spring in Deed

Crete Island, coastal fortress.

After the sturdy defense lines, which were built from clay, volcanic ash, granite, and rubble and layered with densely packed defensive spells, were in place, a burly young man with bronze armor and a classical Greek face, characterized by brown-black curls, surveyed the sea where a dark line of Sea Beasts was steadily advancing amid a rain of arrows and long-range Magic Power beams, methodically giving out commands.

"At 800 meters, crossbowmen retreat and reload! Casters, move up to suppress!"

With that resonant voice, amplified by a series of resonance spells, spreading throughout the entire army, the male priests and female priestesses arrayed along the narrow defense line began to assemble in an orderly fashion.

Some chanted in the ancient language of Hermes to lay the groundwork for magic arrays that would attack or disrupt, while others sang rites composed in divine language to pray to the goddesses they worshipped, exchanging their spiritual faith for divine blessings and protection for the entire army.

For a moment, intersecting halos of light ignited among the poised ranks of troops.

Frantically amassing and surging Aether Magical Energy Particles coalesced into forms like magic projectiles, flames, wind blades, and Rock Spears, raining down like meteors upon the area where the sea met the shallows.

"Boom, boom, boom, boom!"

In an instant, the first wave of Sea Beasts that made it to shore didn't even have time to scream before they turned into flying limbs and splattered flesh.

Crimson blood pooled into streams, and bits of flesh scattered across the ground.

However, the initial victory did not drive the following Sea Beast tide to retreat; instead, the spreading scent of blood further unleashed their ferocity.

Even more creatures, driven by a desire to devour, to feed, to slaughter, heeded the call of the Divine Blood kin in the sea. They embarked upon this small island, traversing over the bodies of their kin, pressing on toward the visible coastal defense line despite the bombardment of magic and divine spells.

Gradually, the priests and priestesses could no longer withstand the tremendous spiritual and Magic Power expenditure, and the frequency of their attacks noticeably decreased.

In just a quarter of an hour, numerous Sea Beasts had passed the range of the casters' focused fire, dragging their blood-drenched, slimy bodies toward the coastal fortress.

The brown-black curled young man tasked with command concentrated deeply, fixing his gaze on the advancing positions of the creatures, silently counting the distance in his mind.

700 meters, 600 meters, 500 meters...!

"Boom, boom, boom, boom!"

As the Sea Beasts navigating the forebeach entered within 500 meters, a series of pre-set magic traps explosively detonated one after another.

Finally, after sacrificing thousands of sea beasts, those amphibious deep-sea monsters had at last piled up a blood path with their comrades' bodies, getting close to the towering coastal fortress.

However, after several rounds of decimation, their numbers were lamentably few, and virtually all of them were injured, their movements sluggish and stiff.

"Imperial Guard, shields up, spears ready, prepare to meet the enemy!"

With the change of command, a series of solid shields rose on the city walls, and long spears thrust out from the gaps, skewering the handful of sea beasts that had climbed up onto the high walls, one after another.

Instantly, the monsters, already on their last legs, could not withstand the assault and fell from the walls, wailing as they plummeted, smashing into a pile of flesh on the ground.

Seeing how easily this formidable wave of beasts was held back in front of the fortress, the soldiers, originally anxious, settled down with traces of joy on their faces. Continue reading on m|v-l'e-NovelFire

And watching the slowing and even retreating rhythm of the beast tide in front of the defensive line, the young commander with the brownish-black curly hair also couldn't help but let out a sigh of relief and slowly relaxed his clenched fists.

Luo En, from the rear, watched the young commander's outstanding performance at the forefront, and couldn't help but nod silently.

—Androgeos.

He was King Minos's eldest son, the designated heir to the throne of Crete Island. Although his abilities didn't surpass those of his sister, the high priestess, he possessed considerable talents in leading and governing the military and could be regarded as the one somewhat commendable offspring in the hands of King Minos.

Facing the overwhelming tide of beasts, King Minos, in a time when the life and death of Crete Island hung in the balance, naturally couldn't afford to consider issues like checks and balances, and decisively put his eldest son in charge of the army.

The other two somewhat capable sons, Catreus and Lykaithos, were assigned to the flanks, under the command of their elder brother Androgeos.

Despite their father's violent ascent to power serving as an example and the brothers' constant rivalry, both open and covert.

Yet when faced with a formidable enemy invasion, they all understood the basic principle that there are no whole eggs under an overturned nest.

Therefore, the brothers in arms, fighting side by side, managed to coordinate well and successfully won the first round.

Only...

Luo En's gaze swept over the three princes in the military formation, finally settling on Androgeos, the eldest prince, with a barely noticeable wistfulness in his eyes.

This prince was somewhat capable, but his fate didn't seem all that great.