"How dare you!"
Inside the big tent, behind the table, when Iapetus' voice fell, Priam's face changed immediately.
Death is imminent? It's a joke.
Now the coalition forces are besieging the city, and the gods are about to come to help.
Even if he can't win for a while, there is absolutely no possibility of a big defeat.
Moreover, as the king of Troy, there is a capable heir as a replacement, and Priam didn't intend to go to the battlefield in person.
In this case, who can kill him, and who dares to kill him?
Clang——!
"Father?"
The silver-handled sword was slightly unsheathed, and Hector asked with his eyes.
With just one order, he could kill this madman.
However, under the prince's gaze, although Priam was furious, he hesitated to nod.
Few people know that as the king of Troy, Priam is actually a person who believes in fate.
Maybe it's because of the education since childhood, or maybe it's his nature.
Anyway, in the original myth, his second son Paris was like this.
Just because of a nightmare of the queen, she dreamed that the child turned into a beam of fire and burned the entire palace. He would bring disaster and misfortune to the kingdom.
So the king ordered the slaves to kill him... Of course, the final result is self-evident.
No one can reverse the fate that has been said, and everything he does will only make the end come faster.
So Paris not only did not die, but became the fuse of the ten-year war, and made the prophecy finally come true.
The high walls built by Poseidon, the sea king, failed to protect his people after all. Under the tall wooden horse, the entire kingdom turned into a sea of fire.
Of course, the story has changed now, and Troy is no longer a city-state facing other countries alone. However, when Iapetus's words were so rampant, Priam still hesitated.
Because in legends, even in nursery rhymes, there have been more than one prophet who glimpsed the future and predicted the fate of the king, but the king turned a deaf ear to it, which eventually led to rumors of disaster.
Even if the king knew that these were just stories, so what... After thinking it over again and again, Priam was finally ready to listen to what the visitor had to say.
"Death is imminent... Athenian, I can give you a chance, a chance to convince me."
"But if you can't convince me... then death is your only fate."
"Haha... OK."
"Since Your Majesty still wants to hear how he died, then I will tell you one by one."
With a slight smile, Iapetus was not surprised.
As long as he was allowed to speak, no mortal could refuse to communicate with him.
At least to this day, he had not seen such a human being.
...
"Come, both of you, take a look."
Without delay, he casually drew a sketch on the ground.
There was no background or characters, only the symbols of the allied countries and gods.
Picking up a wooden stick, the god of speech was unrestrained and wanton, wielding a powerful force.
"I heard that since ancient times, when two countries confront each other, there is no war without a name."
"Whether it is national hatred or family feuds, or coveting gold and silver, whenever a war is provoked, there must be a reason."
"And this time the coalition forces gathered and the army attacked, nominally because Athens allowed witchcraft to exist, but in fact it was because of the disputes among the gods."
"A golden apple banquet led to the gods' mutual filthiness."
"As a result, this coalition siege took place. I wonder if your majesty has any objection to what I just said?"
"..."
Silent, Priam neither denied nor admitted.
But deep down, he did think so.
Strictly speaking, Troy and Athens had no hatred, and if there was no will of the gods, they would not have come.
"It seems that your majesty agrees with my statement... Then next, let's talk about why Troy joined the coalition forces."
The wooden stick drew an arc in the air and finally fell on the symbol of Troy.
Under the king's slightly changing expression, Iapetus drew two crosses, which fell on the marks of the two gods respectively.
"Because of the will of the gods?"
"No, if it is other countries, it may be possible, but not Troy."
"Because of interests or grudges?"
"This is even more impossible, because Troy and Athens not only have no grudges, but have a long history."
"Since these two are impossible, there is only one result."
"The Kingdom of Troy actually had to come here, and the reason you chose to come here was completely forced."
"...I don't know how to call this sir?"
Priam asked the name of the visitor for the first time after taking a long breath.
And Iapetus just smiled, the other party's reaction was completely within his expectations.
"Your Majesty, just call me Ilos, but it seems that I am right again?"
"..."
Silence again, Priam had to admit that the Athenian in front of him said it word for word.
Be it him or the Trojans.
The reason they came here was not to please the gods, or to have any feud with Athens.
On the contrary, there is a statue of Athena standing in the city of Troy (in the original novel).
If in the original mythology, the Trojans offended Athena because of the choice of the second prince Paris, this is not the case now.
The statue of the goddess has always protected the city and blessed them with good weather and good wind. If possible, Priam did not want to attack Athens at all.
As for pleasing the gods, that was even more ridiculous.
Although Priam was reluctant to admit it, he actually knew very well that Troy had been blacklisted by the gods long before his father did such a thing.
Laomedon, the famous "deceiver" and "mad king who enslaved the gods", was also Priam's father.
When he was in power, Poseidon and Apollo, who had fallen into the human world for some reason, happened to come to Troy.
Maybe it was for faith, or maybe it was for something else. In short, the two main gods served the king at that time for a period of time, just asking for some rewards that were useless to them.
Laomedon agreed, so Apollo grazed for him, and Poseidon built him an unbreakable wall.
However, what Priam could never understand was that his father flatly refused to pay the reward at the end of everything.
The gods were furious, and Laomedon's name also resounded throughout the world.
From then on, few Troy clergy were willing to join, and the mad king was punished by the Olympian gods.
"It seems that you have understood what I mean, but I have more to say."
"After all, the reason why your majesty came to attack Athens is actually to wash away the sins committed in the past."
"Perhaps in your opinion, as long as you can stand out in this war and make contributions, then everything in the past can be written off, right?"
"Troy will rise again in your hands and become a powerful kingdom at that time... But in the final analysis, Your Majesty Priam, do you really believe in such a future?"
He stretched out the stick and drew again.
This time, the king of Troy saw it clearly.
Iapetus cut the place where Athens was, and they were divided into three places.
One is close to the countries, and part of it will become the spoils after the victory.
One is the edge of the ocean, which will become the territory of the sea god.
These areas are also painted with the marks of different gods, symbolizing the main gods believed in by these kingdoms.
As for the last piece, it belonged to the prince who stabbed his father in the back, and it was also the remaining territory of Athens... However, as Priam watched, he could not help but sweat.
Because he had realized why Iapetus said he would die.
Yes, he was right. If Athens was destroyed, Troy might really be spared by the gods.
After all, it is better to incorporate a kingdom into one's own beliefs than to destroy it.
So the question is, what else needs to be done before this kingdom becomes the property of the gods?
"As you think, the gods need Troy, but not the son of Laomedon."
"The gods need faith, but they also hope to deter future kings before that."
"However, the gods cannot kill you directly, after all, that will hinder them from establishing faith in Troy."
"But they cannot let you go either, because there is nothing they cannot do as long as they want."
"So, Your Majesty Priam, when do you think you will end your life?"
"...Of course, soon, in this war with the Athenians."
After the last sentence, Priam looked solemnly at the mortal transformed by Iapetus.
Strictly speaking, what the God of Speech said is not flawless.
Or in some places, Iapetus did not intend to delve into it.
He is the God of Speech, not the God of Strategy, the Goddess of Wisdom.
Moreover, the bystander is clear, and the person in charge is confused. Priam may not be unaware that he is very dangerous, but he cannot solve it, so he subconsciously ignores these problems.
And Iapetus only considers the problem from the perspective of God, and then naturally finds many things that are overlooked by others.
But even though there were many flaws, at this moment, Priam was still convinced.
He was shocked by the wisdom of the god of speech from the bottom of his heart, and he also deeply understood how he was in danger.
Looking around, the only person who could help him at this moment was only one person.
"I was so rude before... Please save my life!"
The king bowed and was convinced.
"Okay, after all, Troy has also been protected by the goddess."
"In this regard, we can be considered a family."
"Although the Olympian gods are numerous, Her Majesty Athena is not without means to deal with it."
"Your Majesty, do you still remember Achilles?"
"What!"
Hearing this, Priam was shocked. Although he had never seen the real person, he was not unfamiliar with this name.
Achilles, the man who severely injured Agamemnon with three moves and two styles, was actually Athens' trump card?
"Haha, it's good that your majesty knows."
"So don't be anxious. Although the coalition forces of various countries are numerous and powerful, the final winner will only belong to Athens."
"By then, I'm afraid that Athens alone will not be able to occupy the territories of the Western countries."
Smiling without saying anything, Iapetus did not acknowledge Achilles' relationship with them, but the hints in his words were so clear.
Make a good first move, then exaggerate, and finally describe the prospects to lure them.
This is enough to deal with a mortal monarch.
"It's a pity... That person is definitely blessed with great divine power."
"Otherwise, how could I not be able to see through his psychology and influence his judgment..."
Seeing that the mission was accomplished, Iapetus was relieved.
But at this time, he thought of the human who represented the abyss.
Great divine power... If there was such power, why would there be such a need to rush around.
The next day.
Outside the Aigario Fortress, at the center of the interlaced camps of the coalition forces of various countries.
In the temporary meeting room, the king and the generals gathered here again.
Noises and arguments came one after another, and from time to time there were sounds of shields colliding with each other.
It was the heroes of various countries wrestling with each other. Since words could not distinguish the superiority, the problem could only be solved with fists.
After a long time, accompanied by a dull shout, the meeting room was quiet for a moment, and then the noise returned again.
However, after a while, Odysseus strode out of the side door of this temporary building.
There was nothing unusual on his face, as if he had chosen to leave only because of something.
However, as a friend of Odysseus for many years, Mod, who had been waiting for a long time, saw something wrong at a glance.
"What's wrong, are you injured?" Mod
stepped forward to greet him, and his expression was also ugly.
But Odysseus just waved his hand to stop his friend's unwarranted suspicion.
"Nothing... It's just some conflicts of interest, it hasn't developed to this point."
"But I have to say, there are so many heroes in the world, and I'm not the only one with extraordinary talents."
Nodding in agreement, Mo knew that Odysseus probably did suffer a little loss, but he could understand it.
After all, he knew very well how good Odysseus was at speaking, and if it came to sophistry and strategy, I'm afraid few people could match him.
However, this is Chaos, and if they can't get the upper hand, most people will choose to resort to force.
And in this regard, Odysseus is indeed not at an advantage.
"It doesn't matter... Relax, it's just some fruitless arguments anyway, it doesn't matter whether you participate or not."
"Although the Aigario Mountains are not an insurmountable natural barrier, if you want to conquer it by force, I'm afraid everyone will have to bring their elite troops to the table."
"But who is willing to do that? Instead of attacking by force, it's better to wait for the help of the gods."
"However, some people are also reluctant to make this choice... For example, the King of Mycenae, Agamemnon, has the title of leader of the coalition forces, but has achieved nothing so far. He doesn't want to just wait for the help of the gods.
"And those stupid Spartans... Other countries have more or less enough conscripts, but they don't have any."
"It's funny to think about that tradition that can be regarded as suicidal. But what's even funnier is that when everyone thinks that such a style can only be achieved by worshipping the god of war, who would have thought that they are actually believers of the sun, hahaha..."
Mod couldn't help laughing out loud. It was really a bit difficult to understand.
The madness of the Spartans has a long history. It is said that they will start to eliminate babies when they are first born.
Newborn babies will be soaked directly in wine. If they have convulsions or die, then the child is not worthy of growing up.
And if they don't have a healthy enough body, their end is also death.
As for those who are qualified, it doesn't mean they can sit back and relax. They will be trained as warriors.
Starting at the age of 7, these children who are just beginning to know the world are taken away from their parents and put into militarized education. .
Whipping, physical fitness, obedience... When they were 12 years old, at an age when they could not leave offspring, these teenagers were required to make a living alone in the wild.
In the end, most people died because of this, and only a few survived to adulthood.
Only after such elimination can they be recognized by the Spartans and become real soldiers.
Such a cruel system brings wildness and strength to every Spartan, but it is also inevitable that some people regard it as a laughing stock.
There is no need for outsiders to do it. The number of people killed by their own people is much more than the sum of natural disasters and man-made disasters.
Of course, the most discordant thing is that compared with Ares, the status of the sun god Apollo in Sparta is actually higher.
Whether it is culture or festivals, he prefers to sacrifice to the sun, rather than the god of war who also likes cruel killing.
"Hehe... Mod, don't talk nonsense."
"The Spartans are not easy to mess with. If they really come to the door, I can only advise them to beat them lightly. "
Odysseus shook his head with a smile on his serious mouth.
In fact, to be honest, he didn't quite understand the Spartans' way of thinking.
After all, for a kingdom, isn't population the most valuable asset?
But it's none of his business. Although the Spartans have a small population, no one wants to provoke them.
What really bothers him at the moment is what happened in the tent just now.
"Okay, Mod, I'm not really worried about these."
"In fact, the countries have reached a consensus just now."
"The king of Troy has relented. He is willing to take the lead in the attack... Although he also requires the countries to show some real strength to wear down the Athenians' defenses, this still makes me difficult to understand. "
Speaking slowly, Odysseus raised an objection to this.
He thought that it would be better to wait until the gods arrived before launching a real offensive, but the result was not satisfactory.
Because even if the gods came, the real siege would still require the countries to pay a heavy price.
Since someone is willing to take the lead now, there is no reason to refuse.
So Odysseus's idea was refuted on the spot, and some people even mocked his cowardice on the spot.
So Odysseus simply came out for a walk. Since he couldn't change the result, he chose to reserve his opinion.
"Troy?"
Maud raised his eyebrows slightly and was a little surprised.
However, the name only flashed through his mind and was immediately thrown aside.
"I remember you said that the former king of the Trojans had enslaved the gods. It's not surprising that they choose to atone for their sins now." "
Priam is not a fool after all. What does what he does have to do with us?"
"..."
"Maybe I think too much."
"After all, no one can really see through everything about another person. Perhaps my understanding of the son of Laomedon is indeed a little shallow. "
After a moment's silence, Odysseus still had a bad feeling, but he couldn't put his finger on the specific problem. If it is simply interpreted as 'this is not a choice that the king can make', it seems a bit too arrogant.
Why should he judge what others will choose?
This is also one of the reasons why Odysseus did not continue to talk, but left decisively.
"Okay, let's do it. Let's prepare what we should do."
"A real siege requires more than just the main attack."
Odysseus spoke in a deep voice and turned away.
The Trojans are willing to be the main force, and they must also cooperate well.
In addition to this... he also has to instruct his troops.
Whether there is a problem or not, it is always right to take more precautions.
…
"…Hahahahahaha…"
"…Well said!"
"…Yes, if you ask me, he was probably scared out of his wits by that lunatic who came from nowhere, and now he has to back off a bit."
"…I've heard of his name. When he was still a prince, his reputation for wisdom had already spread."
"But now it seems that intelligence does not equal courage, and knowledge may not necessarily lead to correct judgments."
"His Majesty Priam is willing to take on the heavy responsibility, but he has to deny it… Is it possible that without the favor of the gods, we really can't do anything to the Athenians?"
"What a joke, if we can't even get through here, how can we break through the more dangerous Athens?"
"…"
In the hall, people were toasting.
Odysseus's departure did not affect the atmosphere inside at all. The kings and heroes of various countries were drinking wine to celebrate their long-lost agreement.
As for Odysseus, who left, he naturally became a joke in the conversation and was sneered at.
After all, there is no shortage of heroes in Chaos' world who act on impulse. Those who must be cautious in everything will be regarded as the benchmark of cowardice.
"Your Majesty Priam, the bravery of the Trojans really surprised me... But as long as you successfully break through this fortress, you will be the first credit for this battle."
"I believe that by then, the gods will also see your piety and give Troy the due reward."
"... That couldn't be better."
Priam raised his glass and drank it all.
Sitting in the main seat, Agamemnon finally relaxed a little.
As the king of Mycenae, Agamemnon did not doubt this 180-degree change in attitude.
However, as long as he thought about it, he knew that there was nothing to worry about.
On the one hand, although Priam did not come here voluntarily, it was precisely because of this that he had the motivation to establish merit.
On the other hand, no matter what results he would bring, what does it have to do with him?
If it succeeds, then as the nominal temporary commander of the coalition forces, it is a manifestation of his ability.
If it doesn't work... Anyway, when the gods arrive, it's not his turn to decide, so why bother about the consequences.
Anyway, the worst result won't be too outrageous, unless the Trojans want to betray the Olympian gods...
"Heh."
Thinking of this, Agamemnon shook his head secretly.
This is impossible. After all, there is only one Athena, the goddess of wisdom.
How can she win when the number of main gods is so different?
"Everyone."
Standing up from his seat, Agamemnon raised his glass.
The tall middle-aged king was solemn and dignified at this moment. He slowly swept over everyone present.
Boosting morale is the last thing he needs to do.
"Everyone, I know... the strength of the Athenians is no secret."
"On the contrary, my own men suffered a defeat not long ago."
"He failed to anticipate the Athenians' tricks and eventually failed. Our siege in recent days has not been successful... But what I want to say is... it's different now!"
The voice gradually rose, and Agamemnon himself felt a little excited.
If the fortress was breached, perhaps he would also personally put on armor and mount his horse to try to capture the newly succeeded king alive.
"A few months ago, we were originally from different countries, but on the same morning, the oracle of the gods came to the world."
"Since then, the coalition has gathered and pointed its sword to the east.
" "In comparison, the former king of the Athenians is dead."
"And their soldiers may be elite, but they are outnumbered and can't stand alone."
After drinking the wine in the cup, Agamemnon drew the long sword from his waist.
The strong blood ignited in him, spreading his voice to all directions.
"No matter what, this battle is a battle between many countries and one country, and the advantage is mine!"
"As long as you try your best, the final winner will naturally have no second choice."
Agamemnon said this and thought so.
If everyone had not been unwilling to give their all before, how could it be possible to drag it until today without breaking the city?
Listening to the shouts that followed outside the tent, Agamemnon slowly sheathed his sword.
Listen to these countless voices... How many people in Athens are defending the city.
Even if it's ten against one, they will definitely win this time.
After many days of delay and waste,
the siege strategy finally came to fruition.
So when the kingdoms dispersed, they immediately returned to their positions to reward and encourage their soldiers.
Although the Trojans were willing to take the initiative to undertake the most critical tasks, it did not mean that the other kingdoms would be free.
The large number of recruited troops would become the most tragic forerunners of this battle, paving the way for the offensive launched by Hector, the son of Priam.
So when the sun rose from the east again, countless black dots approached the pass on the Aigario Mountains from afar.
There was no communication, no extra movements.
The sound of shouting and killing penetrated the clouds and slowly approached the fortress.
Under the watchful eyes of the church priests, the soldiers with loose formations hit the stone walls like a tide hitting a dam.
The rain of arrows attached to the elements fell from the high walls, and then was weakened by 90% by various spiritual lights and the blood energy that soared into the sky.
Only the remaining force hit the scattered soldiers, leaving dozens of corpses on the ground.
"..."
"Sure enough... It seems that just as Lord Ilos said, the coalition forces are really ready to launch a real offensive."
"At least with the current posture, they really no longer care about suffering some casualties."
Dressed in military uniform and with a sword hanging from her waist,
Andrea stood on the sentry tower of the fortress, looking down at the entire situation.
Unlike the previous times, this time the coalition forces obviously no longer stopped at testing.
Just looking at these charging soldiers, they are different from the previous ones.
"Our knights are also ready. As long as there is no problem on the other side, we will follow as soon as possible."
"Of course, the Trojans are not stupid, and their current king is not a madman like his father."
"It's just that between the life of his own line and the kingdom, he will eventually choose himself."
"After all, only if he is alive, Troy will belong to his country."
Also looking far ahead, as the proposer and executor of the entire plan, Iapetus is naturally also here to observe.
Everything was just as he said, the coalition was moving in the direction he wanted.
However, while responding to Andrea, the God of Speech also saw the caution and suspicion in her words.
Yes, suspicion, but this is also very normal.
After all, even if we don't mention myself, it is difficult to determine Priam's position.
No one knows whether he has really made a decision. Except for Iapetus, who is sure that his words have taken effect, even the wisest monarch will doubt whether this is a false surrender.
The Trojans can change their positions again at any time, but Athens has no chance to try and make mistakes.
"Your Majesty, please wait for a while. Priam is not a person who is ready to die."
"Otherwise, he could have apologized to the gods with his life on the day he ascended the throne, which would be enough to redeem the prejudice of the Olympian gods against their kingdom."
"But since he didn't, it proves that at least he doesn't want to die."
Iapetus said slowly in a gentle voice of comfort.
"Anyway, both sides of this battle were unprepared and had a good plan. I have the advantage."
"As long as we find the right time to go out of the city and fight, although it is impossible to completely defeat the armies of various countries, we can make them suspicious of each other from now on and never trust each other again."
"Yes... indeed."
"What Sir Ilos said makes sense."
He nodded gently. After all, in various senses, the God of Speech, who was incarnated as a human being at this time, was a vassal of Athens.
So Andrea decisively expressed her trust and recognition, but also silently tightened her grip on the sword.
The relic of Theseus, the symbol of the future king of Athens.
The feeling of blood connection came from the hilt of the sword, and the power of inheritance continued to surge.
No matter what the result was, Andrea would go on the battlefield in person today.
If Priam acted as promised, it would naturally expand the results of the war.
She would go to the battlefield in person and do things she didn't like to do in the past.
But if it was fake in the end, it would make no difference.
After all, as a monarch of this era, no matter success or failure, there was no reason to sit back and watch the soldiers fight for their lives.
…
"Sigh…"
"Quiet."
He shouted in a low voice, releasing his breath slightly.
A few miles behind the coalition army, Hector reached out to soothe the horse with the blood of the sixth generation of gods.
The young hero looked at the ongoing battle in the distance with his eyes sparkling.
It won't be long before he will fight there.
"Father, have you really made up your mind?"
Thousands of the most elite knights followed behind Hector. Strictly speaking, they were all blood relatives of the same origin. After all,
most of the nobles of this era had the blood of gods flowing in their veins, but there was a distinction between strong and thin.
The blood of the same origin and the training day and night brought about the momentum and indestructible power of one body.
Hector was not surprised. If he did not care about the lives of the knights behind him, when he led them to launch a desperate charge, the fortress built on the Aigario Mountains would also be breached by this powerful force.
This was exactly what the coalition army wanted him to do, but it was also the place where they had been shirking responsibility.
After all, the effect of power is never one-way, so when the ground veins of this high mountain are broken by the power of the demigod blood at all costs, the feedback that follows is definitely not something that ordinary people can bear.
Hector may not die, but he will definitely be injured.
And the one who is injured on the battlefield is often the most dangerous one.
And the knights behind him will not be better either. The momentum of unity will be completely broken up in a short time.
And the scattered knights are just ordinary soldiers who can fight a little.
"Father, I rarely question your decisions."
"But you have to know that the kingdom is far away from Athens, but very close to the sacred mountain."
"If we really take this step, then unless the goddess of wisdom and Athens really win the final victory of this war, no matter what the result is, Troy will definitely pay a price..."
"I know."
Priam spoke in a low voice, looking at his son.
The armor and helmet covered his body, and his original appearance could no longer be seen. But through the gap in the visor, Hector's eyes could still be seen.
"My child, I hope you remember that we are descendants of gods."
"The God King Zeus is our ancestor, just like those other kingdoms."
"We are therefore able to become monarchs of a country and rule them until today."
"But what does this have to do with-"
"Of course it does, because there were descendants of gods first, and then there was a kingdom!"
The voice was not loud, but very powerful.
Taking a deep breath, Priam told his inner thoughts.
"There were gods first, and then there were people."
"So if people cannot give faith to gods, then their existence is meaningless to gods."
"And as an existence between humans and gods, there were descendants of gods first, and then there was a country."
"If the kingdom cannot be used by me, then what is the point of having it?"
"So my child, ask yourself, if this is not your kingdom, if it is for Phoenicia, Qatar, or some other country."
"Are you still willing to fight to the death until the end of your life?"
"..."
There was no response, and Hector's eyes under the visor looked back at his father.
He didn't know whether Priam really thought so or simply cherished his life.
But in any case, if he could give up even his father's life, how could he be qualified to fight for Troy.
If he could give up his father for the kingdom, then he could give up the kingdom for mankind.
Hector thought he was not a man with such noble sentiments, so he just nodded and tightened his weapon in his hand.
"I will bring victory, father."
"Go."
Nodding with relief, Priam promised: "Go, go and win the glory that belongs to you."
"Victory will eventually belong to us, but I will eventually grow old, and you will be crowned king."
Without replying, Hector wanted to say that he was not for the throne, but after thinking about it, he did not refuse.
He raised his spear slightly, and the next moment, the surging blood flames ignited around him.
As if receiving a signal, almost at the same time, the uniform sound of metal collisions sounded in an instant.
Thousands of knights in heavy armor put down their masks and raised their weapons.
Even without extraordinary powers, even in the future.
When thousands of heavily armored knights began to advance, few countries in the same era could match them.
The disordered fate allowed this scene to be staged in this classical mythological era, and the battlefield under the Aigario Mountains was their platform for galloping.
"[Justice]——!"
"[Mercy]——!"
"[Fearlessness]——!"
"[Sacrifice]——!"
"..."
Seven consecutive divine lights fell on thousands of people. At this moment, the priests sent by the coalition forces of various countries had no idea what the knights in front of them would do.
They just followed the requests of the kings of various countries and gave them the gifts of the gods.
Until all the blessings were over, Hector's eyes finally turned cold.
Because he knew very well that these priests were not gods, nor were they the few priests who could communicate directly with gods.
Although they could use divine arts, they were limited to manipulation rather than perfect control.
They could guide the effects of the divine arts before they took effect completely, healing pain or causing death.
But when the divine arts really acted on the recipients, they lost their ability to control.
After all, these were just some priests who had not even entered the realm of "Legends".
In the realm of priests, there were not many more "Legends" than demigods among the descendants of gods.
"... Kill."
So the horses began to trot and kept accelerating forward.
Thousands of knights followed behind Hector and started charging in a cone at the same time.
The priests of the gods were right in front of him. At this moment, Hector felt that what he was doing was no different from what his grandfather did.
One refused to pay the reward given to the gods, while the other was ready to slaughter the servants of the gods.
"...May the goddess of wisdom protect me..."
There was nothing wrong with the servants of the gods slaughtering the servants of other gods.
The next moment, a sharp spear slashed across the throat of a priest.
Hector saw the unwillingness and disbelief in the other's eyes, and he also saw more priests struggling to release divine arts.
But when the charge began, the only thing waiting for a knight was to move forward.
"Charge..."
"-For Athena!"
Shouting a slogan that he didn't believe in, Hector stepped over the corpses of the priests.
Thousands of knights went eastward, heading straight for the coalition forces under the fortress.
The coalition forces probably didn't know what was happening here at the moment, and Hector didn't intend to give them a chance to react.
Ha... No wonder from ancient times to the present, there has never been a shortage of monarchs and heroes who challenge the gods.
Because only monarchs and heroes have the possibility of getting close to gods, and getting close also means the occurrence of grievances.
No matter whose problem it was in the beginning, when Laomedon blasphemed the face of the gods, perhaps what he did today was destined.
As for his final fate...
"..."
Warriors don't need to think too much... So Hector continued to move forward.
Under the pass, the coalition forces attacked like ants.
People died every moment, and there were also panicked deserters who shrank back.
However, the dense gun array blocked their retreat without mercy, cutting off their only retreat with blood.
Die behind, or die under the city wall.
For the rulers of various countries, these cannon fodders composed of conscripted troops or slaves were not worth caring about.
Their only role was to consume the enemy's strength so that they could give a fatal blow at a critical moment.
"How are the Trojans preparing?"
"It's past noon. If it drags on for a while, even if we succeed in breaking through this pass, it will probably be night."
"And the battlefield at night... you know what will happen."
Watching the battle in the distance, Agamemnon's tall body had already been covered with heavy armor.
Beside him, the king of Sparta, Menelaos, held a spear and a strong shield, and the gaps in the leather armor revealed his scarred body.
The battlefield at night is an ominous symbol, and he certainly knows this.
Because the souls of the newly dead will wander the earth, trying to make the living go with them.
The magic of the priests can certainly disperse them, but no one can pay attention to this in the fierce fighting.
So few people are willing to launch an offensive on Chaos' night, which makes this situation that is very easy for both sides to suffer losses a reality.
"Hehe, so he'd better hurry up, of course, it doesn't matter if he's late."
With a sneer, Menelaos waved his arms.
Sparta did not send troops to follow up, but when the Trojans opened a gap, they would be the ones to charge after them.
"After all, Spartans will never shed the blood of warriors in meaningless places... But since your slaves are willing to die, it's not bad to build a high wall with their bodies." There
was no explanation of the difference between slaves and conscripted soldiers, because Agamemnon knew that there was really no difference for the Spartans.
Because in order to support their cruel offspring selection, these barbarians conquered a large number of people, let them farm for their masters, and transport various necessary materials.
Servants or slaves, they are all the same to the Spartans.
Even for the city-states that obeyed them, they never showed mercy.
Every once in a while, the Spartans would select the most powerful vassal force and then slaughter it without hesitation.
They claimed that this was to deter other slaves... but Agamemnon would rather believe that this was just to satisfy the cruel and bloodthirsty souls of the barbarians.
Trample...
"Hmm?"
"Just talking about them, it seems that they have arrived."
With a slight change of expression, Agamemnon and Menelaos turned around immediately.
With their strength, the slight vibration of the earth naturally could not hide their perception.
Located behind the coalition army, the movement of this knight's charge was so clear.
Coupled with the faint divine power, it all proved the identity of the visitor.
So the king of Mycenae immediately signaled to separate the coalition army's formation to both sides.
As far as the army is concerned, this is a flaw.
The formation that changes on the battlefield cannot be easily changed without thousands of trainings, not to mention the coalition army of various countries that already has multiple orders.
However, they were the attacking party at the moment, and the Athenians had no chance of seizing this gap... Agamemnon looked up at the top of the pass, and he noticed that the defenders there seemed to be making some changes.
Did they discover it? Yes, the Athenians' skills have always been extraordinary.
Perhaps they have noticed the Trojan knights, but so what.
The coalition forces already have an absolute advantage, even if the gods have not been eliminated.
I just don't know where the next line of defense of the Athenians will be after this battle...
"--Agamemnon, did you make the wrong position?"
"What?"
Somewhat puzzled, the King of Mycenae withdrew his eyes from the fortress.
He looked at the rear of the coalition again, and the position pointed by the gradually rising smoke and dust seemed to be a little crooked.
If it goes on like this, the other side may directly crash into the coalition forces on the right.
And where he is now is just on the left side of the army.
"Priest!"
"Contact the army on the right, let them make way, and then send a signal to guide the Trojan knights."
There was no doubt that Agamemnon did not think this was a sign of rebellion at the first time.
After all, Priam couldn't make such a choice, as it would only bring about the downfall of his kingdom.
"It seems that I misjudged them... I thought Hector was a powerful successor, but now it seems that he is simply overrated."
Shaking his head slightly, Agamemnon was a little disappointed, but he should now prepare for the street fighting in the fortress.
However, just as he was about to turn around, the king of Mycenae's eyes suddenly froze.
Because he seemed to see dripping blood on the tip of the spear of the leading knight.
"..."
"Quick-defense!"
A loud shout, in an instant, like a pot exploding, the loud voice seemed to overwhelm the fighting on the battlefield.
At almost the same time, the gate of the fortress slowly opened a gap, and the Athenian army was preparing to go out from behind.
Like a prey caught between two sharp arrows, the coalition army, divided into two sections, had no place to retreat.
And its softest abdomen was about to be pierced by an arrow.
"Priam... is he crazy?!"
Unbelievable, but at this moment, Agamemnon almost imagined the blame of the gods.
Without time to say anything else, he casually ordered his deputy to stabilize the situation while heading towards the army on the other side.
The royal family of the Trojans, only by capturing them.
Only in this way can he offset some of his guilt.
·······
Trampling...
"——Puff!"
The sound of wind passed by his ears, and the long spear easily picked up the miscellaneous soldiers blocking the road.
The power of thousands of people was integrated, making Hector move forward at this moment.
For ordinary people, cavalry charges are often in waves.
This is not only to accumulate momentum, but also because they often consume a prepared lance in one attack.
After all, in a real charge, the strong impact is enough to tear the knight's arm, so they use fragile and easily broken lances to solve this problem.
However, this is only the reason of ordinary people. In front of the knights of the mythical era, nothing can stop them from moving forward.
Boom!
A violent roar, not a collision of matter, but so shocking.
The condensed blood and energy use Hector as the blade, as smooth as a hot knife cutting butter.
Almost in an instant, the hastily formed defense line collapsed directly.
"Kill!"
Hector continued to move forward with a concise and to the point.
Three consecutive powerful warriors tried to slow down his speed, but in front of Hector at this moment, none of them could match him.
The arrows pierced the center of the army, and the right wing of the entire coalition was almost torn in half in a short time.
And until this moment, Hector finally encountered an enemy worthy of his attention.
Patroclus, a prince of a small country, whose country was not even as well known as himself,
at this moment, this foreign hero was standing in front of him, and he seemed to be angrily denouncing his own treachery. However, Hector only sped up again and pointed directly at the obstacle that blocked his progress.
Buzz!
Hiss!
The spears rang, as if they were also mourning the death of the enemy.
If it was normal, in the battle between the two armies, even if he could win, Hector would probably have to fight the opponent for a while.
But at this time and place, when the sharpness of thousands of knights gathered on him, a clean forward stab killed a hero of the nations.
"Stop!"
With a loud shout, another figure leaped out of the army.
Hector swung his spear away, but this time, he failed to kill the enemy again because he had lost momentum.
Clang!
After a brief collision, the comer was finally repelled.
Riding on the warhorse that was finally forced to stop, Hector asked loudly:
"Who are you and what is your name? In my impression, there is no warrior like you in the coalition!"
"I am Prince of Salamis, Ajax of Achaea!"
Responding loudly, the young hero drew his sword and stepped forward.
"You don't know me, just because I haven't done anything really big, but I won't do it later."
"Today, I will defeat you here, and from now on, my reputation will spread among the nations."
Ajax and Hector, heroes who were supposed to fight outside Troy a few years later and then admire each other, met unexpectedly here.
And even though the camps rotated with each other at the beginning, at this moment, they finally met each other in battle.
...
Hua La La...
The mountains are endless.
In front of the fortress of the Aigario Mountains, the bloody fight shows no sign of stopping.
And outside a mountain stream dozens of miles away from the battlefield, it is as peaceful and harmonious as ever.
The battle in the mountains did not affect this place, and the spring water kept flowing.
Some birds were flying in the mountains, making crisp chirps.
The fragrance of flowers floated in the wind, and fallen leaves swirled in the air.
And in such a quiet environment, Ryan was climbing up the mountain little by little along the path trampled by animals in the mountains.
The mountain is steep and uninhabited, and there are all kinds of dangers at ordinary times.
As a place where mountain gods once existed, it attracts all kinds of creatures.
But coincidentally, for some reason, Ryan did not see any beasts or monsters along the way.
It was as if they had not been here for a long time, or had left their hometown for some reason.
Coincidence, or rather, it was a coincidence that was destined to happen.
But Ryan did not care about these, he just kept climbing up and along the road.
As time passed, the sun set, and the woods began to thin out.
Indistinctly, he seemed to see the open space and the pool in front of him.
Wow...
The sound of water gurgling, raising a slight wave.
However, at this moment, Ryan slowed down his pace, as if waiting for something.
"..."
Shasha...
"Ahem..."
"Young man in front, please wait a moment."
The slow footsteps came from far away, as if trying to attract attention, but Ryan never responded
. After a long time, an old voice finally sounded from the woods.
Smiled slightly and looked back.
Under Ryan's gaze, an ugly old woman was leaning on a cane, also climbing up the mountain step by step.
The person who spoke just now was her, and seeing Ryan noticed her presence, the old woman also subconsciously quickened her pace.
But at this moment, Ryan's mouth corner smiled again.
Ka...
plop——
"Ouch..."
As if she stepped on a piece of gravel, the old woman fell directly to the ground with an unstable step.
She didn't get up immediately, and subconsciously froze for a moment.
The old woman never thought that she would fall.
Although her body was already fragile, this kind of low-probability event should not happen to her... Struggling to stand up, the old woman was going to say something.
However, when she looked up again, she only saw Ryan's eyes that seemed to be watching a show.
"..."
After a moment of silence, the anger in her heart rose instantly, but in the end she suppressed it in her heart.
The old woman tried to squeeze out a smile, as if what happened just now had not happened.
Good... very good.
Originally, I wanted to use a beast, but since I met a human, it would be better to use a human.
But I had planned to give this lucky mortal some rewards afterwards, but I didn't expect that he would dare to blaspheme my dignity like this.
Although he didn't know his identity, his behavior had already doomed his outcome.
Holding back her anger for the time being, the old woman 'smiled' and said, "Young man, what are you doing here?"
"Waiting for someone."
Ryan said briefly, no longer looking at her, but turned around to admire the clouds in the sky.
"... Waiting for someone is good, I'm waiting for someone too."
The old woman spoke word by word, as if she didn't feel the indifference, and continued: "Young man, what's your name?"
"..."
The corner of her eye twitched. I didn't expect that I would meet such a human being after finally going down the mountain. If there were no important things to do, how could I tolerate him until now... After thinking for a moment, the old woman made another note in her heart.
"Ahem... I'm sorry for being rude, old man. But young man, why keep people at a distance?"
"My name is Atropos, a cloth cutter who has been cutting cloth all my life. I have two younger sisters, one spins silk and the other weaves cloth... So, I wonder what you do for a living, young man?"
"Atropos?"
Turning his head back, meeting the old woman's expectant gaze, Ryan thought for a moment and replied calmly, "It's indeed quite ordinary, otherwise I would not have heard of it."
"As for me..."
"Maybe a little better than you, just an ordinary craftsman who is always busy."
"I have worked for many years and finally saved up some wealth."
"There are several servants in the house, some are responsible for lighting, and some are responsible for planting trees and flowers."
He did not hide anything, but told his situation truthfully.
After all, there is nothing wrong with telling others... Besides, there is nothing wrong with this answer itself.
The female workers who cut cloth can work part-time to cut fate, and the sisters who draw silk can decide the length of life of all things.
The ordinary craftsman casually builds the order of the world, and the servants who light up the world illuminate the light.
In comparison, there is no difference.
"Huh - I knew it..."
Aigalio Mountains, next to the nameless pool.
The old face stiffened again. Although she had been mentally prepared, when Atropos heard "I've never heard of it" with her own ears, she still found it difficult to accept.
Yes, she has always been very clear that in Chaos's world, the goddess of fate has never been liked by people.
Whether it is mortals on earth or immortal gods, even Zeus, who treats them with courtesy, still instinctively hates and rejects them.
After all, fate cannot be changed, and this is even more true for the three goddesses of fate.
They never bring good news, but only bad news that makes people sleepless day and night.
A prophecy, the king of the world will kill his father and marry his mother.
In order to avoid fate, three generations of gods and sons killed each other.
Atropos understood this, no one would like the inevitable disaster.
But every time she came to the world, she was still willing to say her name.
The goddess of fate once promised in her heart that anyone who could recognize her at a glance would be rewarded.
Unfortunately, no one in the world has ever received this honor.
"... Ahem, a craftsman... To be able to earn such a family business at such a young age, I think he has worked hard."
"It seems that I, an old guy, am really useless, ahem..."
The coughing continued, and the body destroyed by the backlash of fate was so fragile.
Atropos had no doubt that although she was also a god, under the terrible erosion, her body might not be able to match that of a stronger mortal. After
a few simple humble words, the goddess of fate turned the topic and prepared to get to the point.
However, what she didn't expect was that Ryan on the side took over her words in a serious manner.
"That's right, after all, you look like you're not far from death."
"You're so old and you still have to crawl here... It seems that there is really no future for the textile industry outside of Athens."
"..."
Before he could finish his words, he was choked. Atropos took a deep breath and barely calmed down the scolding that he wanted to blurt out.
From a mortal's perspective, there was actually nothing wrong with what this human said.
After all, Athena is the goddess of wisdom and a bright-eyed girl with skillful hands.
The fabrics she weaves are so beautiful that even the stars in the sky are moved. The Athenians have always paid attention to the inheritance of textiles.
No country can compare with Athens in this regard. Even Atropos admits that in terms of skills alone, even Clotho, who weaves fate, is far inferior to Athena.
"... Young man, I think you may have a misunderstanding."
"Although we do only make some fabrics, the fabrics we sisters weave are not ordinary things."
The goddess of fate spoke in a deep voice, leaning on a cane.
At this moment, Atropos's reason told herself that she didn't need to debate such things with a mortal.
Lifespan is only a hundred years, born in the morning and dead in the evening, the weak are not qualified to have any perceptible impact on fate.
The goddess of fate really couldn't think of why she should care about his opinion.
But for some reason, Atropos felt particularly competitive today.
It seemed that no matter what, she didn't want to be surpassed by the mortal in front of her.
"Our silk thread is visible, and it changes into thousands of colors in my sister's hands; our silk thread is invisible, and no one can drag its true shape except Clotho's skillful hands."
"No matter how long or narrow or wide it is, Lachesis can always draw the most perfect shape; not a foot or a millimeter off, my hand holding the scissors never wavers."
"The people on the earth and the gods in the sky, as long as it is the finished product I weave for them, there is no one who does not want to see its face... We are also respected for this. Young man, let the sun, moon and stars bear witness for me that every word I say is a true fact."
"So now, do you still think you are stronger than me?"
Atropos' voice fell, and his old face raised.
Something was shaking slightly in a bush not far from the pool.
Here it is... the person I am waiting for is there.
However, at this moment, the goddess of fate stared straight into Ryan's eyes, without the slightest deviation.
The appearance of this human was an accident. According to the original plan, she should not have argued about these useless things here.
However, at this moment, Atropos wanted to hear this mortal bow his head and recognize him... Even if it was unreasonable, as the god of Chaos, she had to do this.
The god of Chaos was like this, as long as she wanted to do it, she would do it well.
Even if the recognition of mortals was meaningless to her, she would still do so.
"Well... It sounds like you have some skills, but even if you say so, it doesn't make any difference."
"As a craftsman who has worked hard for many years, how can I be surpassed by a weaver?" He
smiled and spoke, as if he regarded Atropos's words as boasting.
There was no more movement from the bushes in the distance, and Ryan pretended not to notice it.
Anyway, it would be his turn to appear in a while.
·······
Swish...
The breeze blew, and the sound of the pool was crisp and moving. The scent of the rosy rose surrounded his nose, but Paris was not in the mood to enjoy it.
Paris, the second son of the King of Troy and the brother of Hector.
He was also recognized by the world for his handsome appearance, which could easily make others fall in love with him.
However, at this moment, hiding in the bushes beside the pool, Paris was particularly excited.
Perhaps it was because of the unevenness of the constant, or perhaps it was some other influence.
This mortal who originally influenced the whole world in his destiny has not been very famous so far, at least no god has favored him.
He should have been chosen by the goddess as the person who decided who the golden apple belonged to; he should have faced three rewards and made a choice between wisdom, power and beauty.
Helen, who smiled and made hundreds of thousands of troops eliminate their murderous intentions, should have been his wife. After Hector's death, he was once qualified to inherit the throne of Troy.
However, Paris now has nothing, and in order to keep him away from the dangerous battlefield, he was even sent away from the fortress in advance.
This seems to be protection, but it is also a shame.
No heir of a kingdom would escape war and life and death, at least on the surface, no royal family of this era would do so.
He was angry but powerless to change, after all, he really had no strength.
So the angry Paris left the camp prepared for him and wandered aimlessly in the mountains.
Perhaps it was a coincidence, when he woke up after a nap, Paris unexpectedly found that there seemed to be two more extraordinary guys beside him.
"..."
"...The people on the earth and the gods in the sky, as long as I weave the finished product for them, there is no one who doesn't want to see its face..."
Every word was so clear that Paris couldn't help but lie down in the gap of the bushes to peek out.
An ugly old woman, and a young man in black clothes and silver ornaments.
But no matter which one it was, Paris knew that this was probably not an ordinary person.
In the old woman's body, in Atropos's eyes, he clearly felt a familiar taste.
It was arrogance and disdain, just like the nobles looking at the common people under their feet, or the king treating the servants around him.
It does not mean cruelty or evil, it can also be tolerant and kind.
But this kind of "mercy" reason is definitely not kindness.
"I never thought that I would encounter such a thing just during a nap..."
"Who are they? Could this man be a famous demigod hero, but I have never seen him."
"As for this old guy... could she be an evil wizard?"
Hiding silently aside, in Paris's impression, the wizards described by the priests are like this.
Some are arrogant and arrogant, trying to compete with the gods in some aspects.
Or hide evil intentions under their cold and ugly faces.
Or they are dirty and lonely, not taking a bath for decades, and eating mud and filth.
Sniffing with his nose, the faint decay and the stench that goes straight to the soul in the air once again confirmed this possibility.
No wonder they appear in these remote places. Sure enough, wizards are so evil.
"... But no matter who they are, what does it have to do with me."
"It would be great if gold could fall from the sky."
Trying to hide, Paris silently pricked up his ears.
He has heard of the skills of this old witch, what about this young man?
Even if it was just to flatter and compete with each other, it was just to kill time.
"..."
"...As for me, since you claim that your weaving is so excellent, how can my work, as an excellent craftsman, be inferior?"
The voice spread from Xiaotan to the bushes, and Ryan's voice was clearly audible.
"Put eyes on the clay figurines, and the gods cannot separate them from the living."
"Draw a plate in the sky, and light will really come to the world at night."
"Build a house that belongs to me, and everyone in the world who knows it will follow suit... Atropos, this is the skill I have worked hard for many years."
There was still no lie, just like the goddess of fate just described her own truth, and Ryan was the same.
It was only when the first "clay figurines" were born that life existed in the world.
If there were no plates he painted, there would be no light in the night sky in ancient times.
As for the house he built, there is only one replica built in the world so far, but Atropos probably didn't have it, and it couldn't be seen from fate.
"...Young man, sometimes it is better to seek truth from facts."
Atropos's eyes gradually could not maintain the false gentleness. He was sure that the human in front of him was talking nonsense.
Just kidding, let alone achieving the extraordinary skills described in his words, even if he was just a well-known craftsman famous in a country, it was impossible for him to have a weak sense of existence in fate.
"Respecting the elderly is sometimes not a bad thing."
Atropos glanced at the bushes beside him and said slowly:
"Speaking more modestly may help you avoid unnecessary troubles."