Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

Chapter 135: The Performance

Before the guards behind the Emperor could even react, they saw him collapse to the ground, writhing in agony.

These guards were once the late Emperor’s death-sworn followers, accomplices to all the dark deeds he orchestrated, including this soul-switching affair. They knew that once the Prince took the throne, they would be the first to face his wrath.

Caught between a rock and a hard place, with the Babron army ahead and monsters at their back, they were well and truly trapped.

After expressing his sorrow and fury, the Prince turned to Babron and the citizens.

"Your Grace, Duke Babron, esteemed citizens, I grieve for the deeds of my father. Now, allow me to put an end to this farce.”

With just a nod of his head, the army stationed to protect the people moved forward in perfect synchrony, launching a full-frontal assault. They did so only after receiving Duke Babron’s own subtle signal, allowing the Prince to assume command.

Curiously, the monsters and the guards shared the same thought: to flee this accursed battlefield. A guard who had once summoned Athena sprinted forward, scooping the barely-breathing Emperor onto his back before retreating.

The monsters, too, wisely separated themselves from the chaos. They had realized the Black Robe had betrayed them. Black Robe had promised them a plan—an opportunity to converge inside the palace and destroy the defense towers from within.

Their orders were to eliminate the palace’s elite. If anyone else had suggested it, they wouldn’t have believed them. But Black Robe, one of the highest-ranking members of their council, was beyond reproach—he had established the entire ‘Rat’ organization. Even now, they couldn't fathom why he’d turn on them.

However, they had no choice but to flee, taking all they could carry, for a drawn-out battle would only work against them. With the Ratman's mass attack neutralized, the Eagleclaw Agency and the royal guard could now spare reinforcements.

Their instincts were sound, but this was no place for easy exits.

The explosion earlier had caused a section of the ground to cave in, revealing the underground chamber from which they had initially teleported. Now, it seemed their only escape route lay there.

But soon, Witty swooped in, clutching a volatile explosive orb and dropping it beside the formation. Then, with a swift movement, it returned to Athena’s side, guiding her to her next vantage point.

By now, everyone noticed that Athena had circled far from the battlefield's centre, and had readied her bow from a distance.

She loosed an arrow, with a precise trajectory that sliced through the air, striking the underground chamber where Wit had placed the explosive. This was no ordinary explosive—it was a failed creation of hers, notoriously unstable, and sensitive to the slightest energy disturbance.

As the Moonlight Arrow struck the vicinity, the ensuing energy surge triggered the precarious orb.

In an instant, a brilliant flash lit the area, followed by a searing blast that spread shockwaves at a terrifying pace.

The confined space magnified the explosion's destructive force, reducing the teleportation array, along with the entire basement, to rubble.

They had wanted to stop Athena, but none could match her speed. All they could do was watch in horror as the explosion unfolded.

Neither Duke Babron nor the Prince truly wanted to kill the monsters. It was all for show—a calculated move to give the impression of a final stand. After all, cornered beasts are the most dangerous, and forcing the creatures into a desperate battle would only end badly for them. These monsters cared nothing for human lives or the destruction of buildings.

Now, however, with their escape route obliterated, both the Emperor’s faction and the monsters had no choice but to flee through the palace and out into the city—an ordeal that would prove perilous.

For a fleeting moment, Athena sensed the murderous glares from all sides. If looks could kill, she would have been torn apart by now.

But she had no choice; her mission was not yet complete.

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Objective: Defeat the Monsters Difficulty: Lv 10

Objective: Repel the monster invasion!

Reward: Black Iron Armor (Set 3), 2000 Experience

Failure: Severe Debilitation for one day!

Current Progress: 39%

Warning: Success requires 60% completion or higher!

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The progress was abysmally low. Given the monsters' weakened state, her mission should have been much further along. If she let them escape now, her task would be impossible to finish.

A full day of severe debilitation wasn’t necessarily life-threatening—if she could remain within a safe haven for its duration. But the system had never played by conventional rules before and even slightly change the words and contexts of the missions. In the span of one day, there were plenty of opportunities for her to meet a grisly end.

Moreover, the Black Iron Armor intrigued her greatly.

Naturally, the monsters shifted their focus to Athena, aware that she was now their primary threat. No one particularly cared for her anymore, that much was clear.

The soldiers, however, remained unaware of the true meaning behind their orders. They blindly charged ahead, engaging in a savage and bloody battle with the enemy. Their only thought was to press forward, no matter the cost.

On the chaotic battlefield, their vision was clouded with rage and hatred, their minds consumed by the grief of losing loved ones. Their single goal: annihilate the guards and monsters in their path!

With unyielding determination, the soldiers threw themselves into the fray. Wielding their weapons with fierce cries, they engaged in brutal hand-to-hand combat, using their bodies as shields against enemy assaults.

One must admit, Babron’s conditioning of these soldiers was impressive. They no longer feared death. At his command, they would charge headlong into certain doom.

Among them were several individuals of exceptional skill. Without them, even these well-conditioned soldiers would be nothing more than fodder for the monsters.

Athena, however, had no intention of being swarmed by this rabble. Who knew when Babron might suddenly turn on her with some underhanded scheme, then nobly declare her a martyr for the kingdom?

Gathering all her strength into her legs, she darted into the crowd with lightning speed. Babron had brought these men along merely to lend credence to his words and to ensure the Prince’s smooth ascent to the throne. Of course, there was also the possibility that he wished to tarnish the late Emperor’s legacy.

Now, however, these men had become Athena’s perfect shield.

Previously, people viewed Athena as a cunning, unpredictable official with a volatile temper. But now, seeing her fight to thwart the Emperor and the monsters, they had begun to see her in a new light.

More than that, she had cornered the monsters, leaving them with no escape. It was a truly satisfying spectacle.

Standing openly beside Babron and the Prince, Athena even managed a polite bow and a professional smile.

Babron may have been smiling, but Athena could tell he was seething inside. The Prince, on the other hand, seemed calm, as though he genuinely regarded her as a national hero, full of admiration.