Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

Chapter 174: Speed Scrolls

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Chapter 174: Speed Scrolls

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With the power bestowed by the War Queen skill, a strange force began to spread through the ranks of the army.

This force was like a spring breeze, gently caressing the bodies and minds of every soldier, bringing them a sense of comfort and relaxation they had never felt before.

The previously tense and weary expressions slowly faded, and they attributed this miraculous change entirely to Athena.

In truth, they were not wrong.

"Quickly, re-establish the fire coverage!" Athena's gaze was fixed firmly on the iron behemoths that relentlessly scaled the cliffs, as another barrage of rubble rained down.

At the same time, the artillery officers, tasked with providing covering fire, quickly readjusted themselves. Although the monstrous creatures had managed to close the distance considerably, it was not yet a desperate situation; the renewed barrage made their progress sluggish once more.

The creatures that were struck by the rocks crashed to the ground with dull thuds, yet none of them were slain.

They scrambled back to their feet with astonishing speed, continuing their relentless charge. These creatures possessed an almost unnatural resilience, as though they could never be defeated.

But it was all an illusion. They were already battered and broken beyond recognition.

"Damn it! These bastards are far too resilient, and they have too much vitality," Athena cursed under her breath.

Though she knew the futility of it, her brow furrowed in frustration as she rubbed her temples.

Relying solely on the rubble and iron hooks would not stop these monsters; in the end, the victory would come only through combat.

"Cease the rockfalls! Arm yourselves!" Athena barked, her voice carrying a palpable authority.

At once, the soldiers seized their weapons, gripping them tightly with firm hands. Their eyes widened as they involuntarily swallowed, attempting to suppress the growing anxiety within them.

Their gazes were filled with vigilance and wariness, their hearts pounding, breaths growing shallow. Yet they fought to maintain composure, ever prepared to confront the danger that loomed ahead.

The strange force continued to soothe them, bolstering their confidence and reinforcing their belief that they would emerge victorious- alive.

At that moment, the first monster’s hand had silently reached the edge of the wall, its grotesque palm seemingly brimming with malevolent power.

However, at the critical moment, a brave and fearless artillery soldier leapt forward. With a sharp sword in hand, he fearlessly plunged it into the creature's arm.

A flash of iron, and the monster's arm was pierced through. The soldier swiftly jerked the blade upward, sending the beast plummeting from the wall to crash heavily below.

Before he could savor the moment of triumph, before he could even boast to his comrades, a second hand, emerging from below, pierced through his chest.

In an instant, blood sprayed from his wound as he coughed up a mouthful of crimson. His sword clattered to the ground, and the blood splattered across the face of a nearby soldier.

But that was just the beginning. More hands reached out, flooding the area and catching the soldiers off-guard. There was no time for reaction, no time to think of a strategy.

These hands surged from every direction, as if an unrelenting tide, overwhelming them without mercy, intent on drowning them in a sea of bizarre terror.

The first monster successfully climbed over the wall. Its eyes blazed with a red light so intense that it seemed to burn the very air. Even without weapons, its fists and body were more than a match for any human.

The soldiers roared, hoping to muster courage. They threw themselves into battle with the monsters, and the prisoners led by Athena did not shy away from the fight either.

The scene above descended into chaos. Only the defensive towers remained steadfast, continuing their barrage at the front. But without coordination, the fire fell aimlessly, scattered and disorganized.

The frail man and Carlit weaved through the monster ranks, moving like bolts of lightning- swift and precise.

One wielded a dagger, the other a massive greatsword, cutting down their foes with unrelenting efficiency, easing the pressure on the soldiers.

Yet, even with such skill, the soldiers struggled against the relentless iron monsters, and pools of blood began to accumulate.

But there was no turning back now. They no longer had the luxury of retreat. Fear was the only thing they had left to conquer. Victory, or death, was their only choice.

Desperation was humanity’s greatest catalyst.

The number of monsters continued to swell, and the casualties on their side mounted in direct proportion.

The longer the battle dragged on, the worse it became for them.

The boss fight had not even begun, and the creature with intelligence lurking behind the scenes seemed to be biding its time, waiting for Athena and her forces to be further weakened before revealing itself.

This thought suddenly reminded Athena of the scrolls she had purchased from Potato earlier- the Speed Scrolls.

Having used one before and found its effect satisfactory, she had instructed Potato to keep an eye out and had bought more.

She now possessed ten in total, but this wasn’t a system-triggered mission, so she wasn’t certain whether they could be used. There was no way of knowing whether they'd be useful now or in the future.

She had no time to ponder such things. Every opportunity counted, for every life was precious.

She drew out a scroll and tore it open in an instant.

[ Speed Scroll in use... Failure! ]

Though she had expected the result, Athena still couldn’t suppress the chill that ran through her. However, she noticed that the massive teleportation array above had stirred slightly.

With furrowed brows, she pulled out the remaining nine scrolls, holding them together, and ripped them all open in one swift motion.

[ Speed Scrolls in use... Success! ]

A long-lost smile spread across her face.

The enormous teleportation array above spun into life, seemingly pulling something in as it absorbed the surrounding energy. Below, the creatures were drawn into its vortex.

The iron monsters, sensing the shift, turned their gaze toward the array. Unfortunately, few soldiers could capitalize on this opportunity, for they too were drawn to the strange, overwhelming movement.

The difference was that the monsters were excited, eager, while the soldiers were filled with anxiety- though the strange unease was quickly suppressed.

The old man, hiding at the rear for safety, tirelessly tended to the injured soldiers. Based on his experience, he knew such teleportation arrays would not activate immediately. But whatever madness Athena had unleashed, she had somehow triggered it.

In an instant, he felt the urge to flee, but then realized that the teleportation array was sealed. Where could he possibly escape to?

A massive dragon claw reached out from the array, and before the creature could fully emerge, Athena was already charging forward, her black axe raised high.

A large hole appeared in the wall from her explosive strike. The Black Abyss Axe sank deep into the dragon claw, cutting through bone. A flood of blood poured out, as though a torrential rain had begun to fall.