No one should have to feel concern or pain for the sacrifice of someone who doesn't truly exist.
Night had already chosen his own way to fall, even if it meant facing an unbeatable monster, even if the price was his life.
But for him, death was merely the end of a simulation, the start of something new, not the end of everything.
However, he couldn't explain this to them.
He needed a way to convey it that the people of this era could understand better.
After pondering for a moment, Night thought about what Hector would say in this situation.
Finally, with a raspy voice, he slowly said, "Honor your gods, love your women, and defend your homeland!
This is what a friend taught me.
As long as the fires of war still rage on this land, our fight must continue.
Someone has to face that monster. Here, I am the only one qualified to do so. If you believe in me, then pray for me."
!!!
When Night's words fell, they struck the hearts of everyone present like a thunderous explosion.
Everyone looked up, their gazes fixed on the young man's face as if they wanted to engrave his heroic image into their memories.
Some might dismiss his words as "a friend's teaching," thinking it was a fabrication, but to them, it felt like it came from Night's own heart.
Those simple words revealed an incredibly vivid character—a person deeply in love with his country and his loved ones, and equally loyal to his gods.
This grand image etched itself into the people's minds.
At that moment, countless emotions surged within them.
They could only grasp one word to describe this feeling: "Responsibility!"
They felt the will to protect others, the essence of a true hero.
'You are the only true hero of this era,' they thought.
At some point, amidst the refugees protected by a group of soldiers, the girl whom Night had saved earlier witnessed this scene.
She was deeply moved, captivated by the soul of this man.
In ancient Greece, all heroes fought for honor, women, and wealth.
These were their reasons for battle.
They were self-centered, indifferent to the gods, and cared only for themselves.
They were more like bandits with grand names and monstrous powers beyond the reach of ordinary people.
But no one had ever spoken such words before.
Especially not the heroes who changed women like they changed clothes, held wild parties, and even participated in unrestrained festivals.
They admired women's beauty but never truly cared for their hearts.
'To be this man's wife must be an enviable position', the girl thought, feeling a pang of envy for the woman Night spoke of so fondly, placing her second only to his love for his country and gods.
"May the light of the god of light guide your path! Bring the dawn of victory!" the girl suddenly stepped forward, kneeling in sincere prayer.
A ripple of emotion spread through the crowd.
Many civilians and soldiers, already moved by Night's words, also knelt and began to pray for him.
In unison, they chanted, "May the light of the god of light guide your path! Bring the dawn of victory!"
At that moment, a miraculous thing happened.
In the darkness, a beam of light seemed to flash across the sky, illuminating Thebes as if it were daylight.
Night was stunned: "What...?"
As the light faded and darkness returned, it felt like a fleeting illusion.
But Night quickly realized it was no illusion.
[Under the pure-hearted prayer of the god's maiden (in training),...
You have received the attention of, the god of light!
A fraction of Apollo's divine sight was cast upon the mortal realm.
Through divine power and temporal retrovision, Apollo quickly understood and witnessed everything you had experienced from Troy to Thebes.
The god was moved.
Even in a nation deemed ignoble, a truly pure flower could still bloom.
Because you have saved Apollo's maiden, the god's attitude toward you have subtly shifted.
No longer did he harbor the same hatred for you as he did for other Trojans. Instead, there was a faint hint of favor.
Apollo, the god of light, bestowed his divine blessing upon you, responding to the prayers of his believers. ]
Night felt the divine blessing but couldn't comprehend its full effects.
He could only sense a pure light within him—a light of divine power.
So quickly had he drawn the attention of a god!
According to many tales of Greek heroes, this might mark the beginning of an irreversible journey down the hero's path, witnessing countless tragedies until death.
While some heroes did end their journeys with fulfillment, the chances were slim.
Embarking on the hero's path was akin to taking on a perpetual curse.
If this were the actual mythic age of Greece, being noticed by a god could be either a blessing or a curse.
But since this was the simulated universe, the risks were less dire.
As long as he didn't push his luck too far, he could test his limits.
Night had a momentary lapse of focus due to the unexpected blessing, but quickly regained his composure. He decided to treat it as a 'fortunate accident.'
Just as he was about to leave,
Both Hector and Achilles, who were in different parts of the small city of Thebes, witnessed the blinding flash of light.
"What was that?!" both exclaimed simultaneously.
A light that could turn night into day could only be the power of the sun god or the descent of the god of light, Apollo.
Connecting the dots to the city's patron deity, they realized...
Achilles: ...!!!
This could be serious...
Could their actions in this war have provoked the wrath of Apollo himself?
Despite being distantly related to the gods, Achilles couldn't shake off the feeling of dread.
If Apollo was angry enough to descend, it could spell trouble for him.
Originally, he intended to display his martial prowess by killing and capturing the city's leaders, especially the prominent ones like the city lord or high priest.
But upon seeing the divine sign,
He immediately calmed down a lot. After hesitating for a moment, he immediately decided... to capture rather than kill, and to send the prisoners to Agamemnon.
If Apollo was indeed angry, let Agamemnon deal with the fallout.
After all, Achilles was not inherently bloodthirsty and was only following Agamemnon's orders to slaughter the surrounding cities of Troy.
Now, he preferred to leave this mess behind and focus on what he truly enjoyed: battling renowned heroes on the battlefield.
To be honest, venturing away from the main battlefield to bully ordinary people had been a disappointment for Achilles.
There was no one here worthy of his full strength.