Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

Chapter 173: The Queen of War, Athena!

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Chapter 173: The Queen of War, Athena!

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Among the throng of archers, Athena's eyes landed instantly on an unmistakable figure.

The boy stood out sharply amidst the others, his ragged prison uniform still clinging to him. His short hair was an unkempt mess, but it was his eyes that captured her attention. One was an ordinary brown, while the other glimmered an unsettling green hue- a trait that marked him as exceptional.

The elder among them, a weathered man with an air of knowing, had once explained the boy’s peculiarity. That green eye wasn’t his own; it had been transplanted, taken from some unidentifiable monster. The details of the creature remained a mystery, but its legacy was clear- it granted the boy extraordinary vision. This unnatural gift had honed his skill with firearms and bows alike, yet for reasons unknown, he had been cast into the same grim prison as the rest.

Even before Athena reached him, the boy tensed, his sharp instincts kicking in.

“Hey...” she began, momentarily faltering, unsure of his name.

“Noxus,” she finally said, her voice cutting through the din like steel. “Come here.”

Noxus hesitated for only a heartbeat before slinging his bow over his shoulder and stepping forward. There was a wariness in his movements, a cautious tension borne from a life of mistrust. As he approached, Athena produced a sniper rifle seemingly out of thin air and placed it into his hands.

The boy’s brows furrowed as he glanced up at her. But her eyes, cold as winter’s breath, betrayed nothing- no warmth, no malice, only an unyielding purpose. Swallowing hard, he nodded and lowered his gaze.

“Use it on the shield-bearers,” she commanded, her tone sharp and efficient.

Noxus didn’t waste words. Orders like these didn’t require explanation. With practiced ease, he inspected the rifle, his hands deft and sure, adapting to the weapon as though it were an extension of himself. Athena, despite her system-bestowed expertise with firearms, recognized his mastery; his proficiency was leagues beyond hers- perhaps even at a master’s level.

He didn’t fire indiscriminately. Each shot was calculated, targeting the key members of the shielded formations. As the shield-bearers collapsed, their carefully constructed defenses crumbled into disarray. The remaining monsters, unprotected and exposed, fell swiftly under the coordinated assault of the other archers.

Noxus’s speed was breathtaking, his aim unerring. Each shot was a precise execution, and his eerie green eye gleamed with an otherworldly intensity that sent shivers down the spines of those who dared glance at him. Inspired by his efficiency, the surrounding archers adjusted their strategies, working seamlessly to exploit the gaps he created. Within moments, their combined efforts began to turn the tide.

Without the protective barriers of the shield-bearers, the enemy forces faltered. The soldiers on the wall, emboldened by the momentum, rained down artillery with renewed fervor. The relentless barrage of cannon fire reduced the monstrous horde to smoldering fragments of steel and ash.

If only they had ballistae, Athena thought bitterly. The battle could have been won decisively, without this exhausting struggle. But the city was no fortress- it hadn’t been outfitted with the defenses of a stronghold.

Still, they were fortunate. The archers, disciplined and well-trained, wielded enchanted bows that pierced even the most resilient of foes. Yet the sheer number of iron behemoths overwhelmed even their best efforts. Some had already reached the base of the wall.

The barrage couldn’t touch them now. Cannons were useless against the enemies directly below, and it was up to the defenders to adapt.

“Fall back,” Athena ordered sharply. Her archers retreated, switching roles to allow the heavy artillery to continue suppressing the advancing waves in the distance. The iron behemoths below, however, required immediate attention.

The creatures began scaling the walls, their razor-sharp claws gouging into the stonework as they hauled their hulking frames upward. Some displayed rudimentary intelligence, forming teams to boost each other’s ascent. Others abandoned the walls entirely, charging toward the city gates. Their battering arms and crude weapons thundered against the wood and steel, echoing with alarming force.

When their weapons splintered, they scavenged replacements from the fallen, never ceasing in their relentless assault.

“Release!” Athena’s voice, though calm, carried with unerring clarity.

At her command, the defenders hurled massive boulders down the walls. The makeshift projectiles crushed the climbers beneath their weight, shattering steel-like bodies and sending shattered limbs cascading to the ground. Hooks and chains followed, tearing into the creatures and dragging them upward before dropping them unceremoniously back to earth, where they were crushed again by falling debris.

For a moment, it seemed the chaos was under control.

"...?!!"

But then, the air shimmered with a sinister energy. Directly ahead, on the battlefield, a strange portal began to manifest.

It swirled like a black void, tinged with streaks of crimson and violet, a pulsating anomaly that radiated malevolence and decay!

A sinister clump of energy that makes all forms of life recoil!

Athena’s eyes narrowed, her gut twisting with unease.

The map displayed on her system interface blinked furiously in red. The icon representing the mechanical dragon- a fearsome foe that had remained stationary until now- flickered ominously. Athena’s mind raced. The appearance of the portal and the dragon’s activation could only mean one thing.

A boss-level threat was imminent!

The portal was dangerously close, so close that Athena could almost feel its malevolent heat of terror.

Its proximity threw the defenders into disarray, and panic rippled through their ranks. The once-impenetrable network of firepower faltered, leaving a gaping vulnerability.

[ Skill Activated: Mobilization! ]

“Do not panic!” Athena’s voice rang out, steady and commanding. “The creatures from that portal won’t emerge immediately. We have time to deal with them. Focus your efforts on the enemies below!”

Her words were simple but effective. The trembling soldiers steadied themselves, gripping their weapons with renewed resolve.

[ War Queen, Detected! ]

The system notification blazed across her vision.

War Queen: Cannot upgrade. When allies number greater than 3, grants +10 mental fortitude and Courage Buff. When commanding over 500 soldiers, soldiers gain immunity to mental attacks, Courage Buff, and +1 Strength.

Though the system’s calculations were precise, Athena’s situation was anything but straightforward. The soldiers were not officially her subordinates, and the prisoners- Noxus and the others- hardly saw her as an ally, let alone a leader. But desperation had a way of shifting loyalties. In their moment of fear, the defenders instinctively looked to her for guidance.

For now, that was enough.

[ War Queen Buff Applied! ]

A surge of calm swept through the soldiers. Their panic dissipated, replaced by an unyielding determination. The firepower resumed, the walls once again becoming a fortress of unrelenting destruction.

Athena stood tall, her fierce gaze fixed on the ominous portal ahead.