Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

Chapter 171.5: The Steel Abomination

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Chapter 171.5: The Steel Abomination

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Though there were fewer soldiers than anticipated, the remaining forces were still sufficient to maintain the city’s defense system. What was truly lacking, however, was the crucial magic firepower- the mages.

These mages, who held a high social status, were never in danger of lacking places to take refuge. As soon as the crisis began, they had already fled without a trace.

Of course, the teleportation array to other cities had already been altered by Babron to a one-way passage- entrances only, no exits.

When Athena took control of the city’s defense system, she received a notification from the system. It was the city’s blessing.

[ Congratulations! You have acquired the temporary skill: Battlefield Map! ]

[ Congratulations! You have acquired the temporary skill: Mobilization! ]

A strong, high-energy entity was approaching: [Special Entity Detected: Mechanical Flying Dragon, Iron Behemoth!]

Before she could even fully process the temporary skills she had received, her attention was drawn to the purple text that appeared before her eyes. She had only three hours left to prepare.

The Mobilization skill, without any level requirements, fired up her spirit with impassioned words, rallying the troops' emotions. The courage value of her team spiked by 5!

As for the Battlefield Map, how could a competent commander ignore the layout of the battlefield? With this map, she could conjure a three-dimensional representation of the surrounding terrain and discern the enemy’s distribution.

Courage, as intangible as it was, could unexpectedly bolster one’s strength. To acquire those 5 extra courage points, Athena quickly composed a mental outline.

Gathering everyone around, she spoke words she never thought she would say in her lifetime.

"I am the representative sent by the Babron family, a warrior from the Imperial Capital, and I now officially take charge of this city."

"I cannot promise that no one will be sacrificed, but I can promise that every sacrifice will be meaningful!"

Taking a deep breath, she continued, her tone steady, "We are about to face a terrifying monster, one perhaps even more dreadful than we can imagine. But we must remember, we are not alone. There are stronger powers supporting us from behind."

Though her speech was stiff and devoid of emotional depth- only rising and falling in pitch- it still managed to boost the courage of the team by 5 points.

The soldiers, initially anxious, found their confidence restored. Their morale, once wavering, had risen to an all-time high, all thanks to her fiery rhetoric.

Had it not been for the prisoners who accompanied her, and the traitors brought along by Babron, knowing the truth of the situation, they too might have been swayed by her words.

But as it stood, they were in the same boat now. If Athena truly succeeded in fending off this onslaught, they might indeed take control of the city- at least, that was the hope for now.

With the speech concluded, Athena activated the Battlefield Map. Only she could see it, displaying the layout and an overview of the various locations.

This was the first time she had truly realized that this was a tower defense game, and that their previous experiences in the shelters had only been minor skirmishes.

In fact, her strategy was entirely different from the usual- others relied on defense towers to deal with the monsters. Yet due to a misstep in skill selection, her individual combat abilities far exceeded those of most defense towers. In their shelter, she was the main force, with the towers serving as mere support.

Now, the situation was quite the opposite.

The map slowly materialized, and their location was revealed as a small city-state. By clicking, Athena could view her side’s combat strength and setup.

Not far off, a dense cluster of blue lights shimmered, with one particularly prominent blue orb standing out.

She focused on it. This was a military force slowly advancing toward them- a horde of Iron Behemoths.

These monstrous creatures were covered in thick metallic shells that gleamed coldly, as if assembled from countless iron plates into towering giants. Their heads were grotesque, twisted, with eyes glowing red- eyes filled with malice and a hunger for slaughter.

Each of these behemoths wielded massive weapons- sharp greatswords, heavy shields, and enormous war hammers- marching forward with a heavy, thudding gait, sending a chill through anyone who heard their footsteps. Their presence radiated an oppressive, chilling aura, as if demons from the very gates of Hell, bringing with them unrelenting death and destruction.

Above them, a mechanical dragon circled ominously.

The dragon was enormous, its body composed of metal and electronic components, emanating a terrifying power. Its wings, when fully spread, could obscure the sky. Its eyes, red and unblinking, fixed upon Athena, as if aware of her gaze.

[ Battlefield Map Deactivated! ]

Due to their mechanical nature, fire-based attacks were nearly useless against them. Currently, only water-based and ice spells, which could slow the enemy's movements, were effective.

Although physical attacks were difficult to penetrate their defenses, repeated strikes could still cause some damage.

While the thieves who had fled with the city's wealth might have escaped with their treasures, the defensive measures were beyond their reach. Therefore, the war reserves remained intact.

Without hesitation, Athena ordered the fire-based towers to be replaced with other elemental ones.

The absence of the mage team put them at a disadvantage. Since Athena needed to remain in a high command position, she couldn't join the battle directly.

Her gaze fell upon one of the prisoners, a woman with a graceful form- an enchantress.

Enchantresses had the unique ability to bypass enemy armor, shields, and other physical defenses, directly affecting their foes.

Her abilities were especially useful against the Iron Behemoths, but she was but one, while the monsters numbered in the hundreds, if not thousands.

Yet, she could still prove to be the key to victory. Behind her stood a magic-enhancement tower that amplified the power of magic for fifty mages. Though this effect applied solely to her, the boost could be pivotal in this fight.

Time wore on, and the fearsome army drew ever closer.

The rallying speech had proven invaluable, for when the enemy finally reached the city walls, the sheer force of their presence was undeniable.

Their march was in perfect unison, each step resounding with ominous weight, shaking the earth beneath them. The pressure bearing down on the defenders was palpable, threatening to crush the spirits of any who lacked resolve.

Far off, Athena continued to monitor the sanctuary shields. One by one, they began to crack, their integrity fading for reasons unknown.