Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

Chapter 185 | A City of Monster Nests

A colossal deluge surged forward from the horizon, akin to a tsunami in its scale and ferocity. The torrent, carrying an aura of unstoppable destruction, seemed intent on consuming everything in its path.

This overwhelming scene resembled a legendary flood, a catastrophe of mythic proportions. But amidst the roaring waters churned countless monstrous forms, grotesque and nightmarish.

These creatures were a patchwork of horror: some had limbs twisted into unnatural shapes, while others bore deep gashes from blades. They tumbled and flailed in the waters, struggling against the torrent's force, but escape was futile. Their anguished screams mingled with the thunderous roar of the flood, creating a cacophony of despair. The illusions they once projected had shattered, revealing their true, hideous selves to all.

Chaos reigned. Even the most seasoned mercenary troops, hardened by countless battles, wore grim expressions as they faced this surreal spectacle. The hideousness of the creatures defied description—an ugliness so profound that it made one wish to look away, not out of fear but revulsion.

Yet, at the command of Athena, the soldiers' resolve did not falter. Their steel-eyed determination cut through the repulsion.

The metallic missiles previously loaded into their turrets were swiftly swapped for ice-infused ammunition. With precision, the frost-laden shells erupted in a volley, each projectile streaking through the air like bolts of wrath. They raced toward the encroaching waters, striking with unerring accuracy.

Upon contact, the furious floodwaters froze solid in an instant. The rolling waves transformed into glistening sheets of ice, halting their advance entirely. Struggling monsters within the waters were caught mid-motion, their writhing forms rendered immobile, encased in ice as if petrified in time.

The ice spread relentlessly, creeping outward with an insatiable hunger. It devoured every drop of water it touched, crackling and snapping as it grew. The frozen tide fused with the surrounding icebergs, forging a seamless glacial expanse. What had been a maelstrom of chaos now lay silent, a frigid wasteland.

The icy plain sparkled like a massive mirror, reflecting a blinding brilliance under the sun. Beneath this glacial veneer lay the grotesque forms of countless monsters, their bodies frozen in their most pitiful states.

From high above, Athena and her troops looked down, stunned by the sheer magnitude of what they had achieved. It was an unprecedented feat, the kind of phenomenon that could only occur in this extraordinary world.

The dark elves, stripped of their illusions and numerical superiority, now posed no significant threat. Without waiting for further orders, the artillery crews reloaded their weapons, their efficiency honed by the urgency of war.

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The battle was no longer an act of survival but one of inevitability. Time alone would finish what they had started.

As the artillery fire once again lit up the skies, the scene took on an almost surreal beauty. The vibrant explosions painted the heavens in fiery hues, evoking the image of a celebratory fireworks display rather than a desperate struggle.

The battlefield lacked the presence of a boss-level entity; the only anomaly had been the masked creature glimpsed at the beginning. Yet, that enigmatic figure had vanished without a trace, leaving behind a foreboding sense of unfinished business. This battle was not the climax but merely the prelude to a far greater conflict.

When the fighting finally subsided, silence descended like a shroud over the field. The only evidence of the ferocious struggle lay in the battered city walls, riddled with bullet holes and stained with blood, and the scorched earth outside the gates, left ravaged by relentless bombardment.

The air was thick with the acrid stench of gunpowder, a suffocating reminder of the carnage that had unfolded. Victory, though achieved, felt heavy. The jubilance of triumph was tempered by an undercurrent of unease.

The city, once a secondary outpost, had now become the nation's first line of defense. This newfound responsibility meant that battles like this one would only grow in frequency and intensity. The monsters would come in greater numbers, with higher ranks, and with new, unpredictable dangers.

For the soldiers, this victory lacked the exuberant joy of their first triumph. Instead, it carried the weight of grim determination. They had succeeded today, but the war was far from over.

Athena silently tallied the gains. If she survived the final stages of her current mission, the shelter's upgrade to Tier 5 would no longer be a dream. The corpses of high-level monsters collected during the last round of fighting had already exceeded the required quota. Adding today’s harvest, the total would be astronomical.

But the limited capacity of her inventory forced her to make tough decisions. Some lower-grade items would have to be discarded to make room.

When her shelter was rebuilt, it would stand as a monument to unparalleled achievement. Yet, a pang of regret gnawed at her. If she had managed to secure the dark servant sigil during her earlier encounter, her gains would have been even more staggering. But survival had been her priority then, and preserving her life had been victory enough.

The upcoming repairs to the city would require a massive effort. The one small consolation was that their next battlefield lay beyond these beleaguered walls. At least the already crumbling defenses would be spared further devastation.

Yet, the task ahead was daunting. They would have to assault the monsters’ stronghold directly.

[Clash of Peaks]

Difficulty Level: ??

Final Phase: Clash of Peaks

Mission Reward: All that was lost shall be reclaimed.

Mission Penalty: None.

Description: 

Seize the mountain buried in darkness. Capture it, and victory shall be yours! What lies beneath the peak that has summoned such hordes of monsters? Claim it, and all shall be revealed. The darkness will once again yield to the light.

[ Prepare well. The mission will commence in three days! ]

...

As Athena retreated from the battlefield, the system’s quest panel updated. The map revealed the towering mountain that had birthed countless dark elves. Remarkably, the peak now appeared unscathed, as if its earlier fractures had never existed.

But beneath the mountain loomed an unsettling revelation: a city, once vibrant with monstrous activity, now eerily desolate. Its emptiness exuded a quiet dread.

The city was not filled with traditional buildings but sprawling nests. The largest, carved from wood, stood at its center, serving as a base.

As the masked creature entered, a shadowy figure emerged beside it. A single tentacle, twisted and imbued with malevolent intent, coalesced into a humanoid form amidst a swirl of black smoke.

"Ah, our defeated stray returns. Ross, your subordinates have all been annihilated, haven’t they?" The figure’s voice dripped with derision, its words a dagger of mockery.

The masked creature, Ross, turned sharply. With a swift motion, he grasped the tentacle and crushed it, erasing its existence in an instant.

Yet, as the tentacle dissipated, its master’s voice lingered, taunting. "Don’t forget the main event. Plenty of new recruits have joined lately. Who knows? You might be replaced."