Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

Chapter 186 | The Puppet

The tendril grasped in his hand disintegrated, dissolving into wisps of black smoke that seeped through his clenched fist. The masked figure's grip did not waver. Instead, it tightened further, knuckles whitening under the strain before he slammed his fist violently against the wall beside him.

"Those despicable leeches! How dare they think they can replace me!" he snarled, his voice a guttural rasp, dark and oppressive.

This muttered declaration seemed to rekindle his resolve. After all, they were merely subordinates. Replaceable. Expendable. One batch gone meant another could be summoned—only a matter of time. It was nothing worth fretting over.

He moved cautiously to a wooden table nearby and picked up a small carving knife. The mask concealed any expression, but his eyes gleamed with an unusual intensity. Lowering his head, he fixed his gaze on a half-finished wooden puppet lying on the table, devoting his full attention to the work.

With precision, he gripped the knife tightly and let its sharp tip skim the puppet’s surface. Each stroke reshaped the wood, refining its contours and intricate details. Gradually, the puppet took form under his skilled hands, its lifelike appearance emerging as time wore on.

His movements became more fluid, a rhythmic dance between blade and wood. The fervor in his eyes hinted at obsession, an all-consuming passion as though he were creating a new version of himself.

After painstaking labor, the puppet’s form became unmistakable. Its features were sharp and humanlike, its silhouette complete. The final step awaited: carving a mask identical to his own. This would be the most critical and defining touch.

When the mask was finished, the puppet’s eyes suddenly snapped open. It stirred, lifelike yet lifeless, its gaze empty. Despite its animated appearance, there was nothing behind those eyes—no soul, no will.

The masked figure regarded his creation with a blend of rapture and mania. Slowly, he removed his own mask, revealing a swirling void where his face should have been. Reaching up with deliberate movements, he inserted his hand into his eye socket. His fingers found a soft, yielding orb, which he gripped firmly and pulled free. The eye detached with a soft "pop," accompanied by a faint squelch and the sound of fluid trickling.

There was no pain in his expressionless visage, as though this act of self-mutilation were trivial. Blood streamed down his face, painting his maskless countenance crimson, but he remained unmoved, indifferent to the gruesome scene.

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Holding the still-warm eye, he placed it before the puppet. Miraculously, the eye shrank and melded into one of the puppet’s sockets, fusing seamlessly. The puppet now possessed two eyes: one authentic, the other artificial. Yet, there was no discernible difference between the two.

For the first time, the puppet came alive.

Its form began to expand, its body reshaping to mirror the masked man’s stature. It parted its lips and, after testing several syllables, uttered its first words:

"M-Master, what are your orders?"

The masked man’s manic fervor cooled slightly. A half-finished product, he thought. The puppet lacked autonomy, incapable of independent thought. Still, it would serve its purpose.

"Guard this place," he ordered.

The command, though simple, was treated by the puppet as sacred. It stood rigid, awaiting further directives. The masked man paid it no additional heed. Among the remnants of the dissipated tendril, a ring lay on the ground. He retrieved it, slipping it onto his finger. With three taps on the ring’s diamond, a portal materialized before him. Without hesitation, he stepped through.

The puppet possessed only a third of the masked man’s power, but it would suffice as a temporary guardian. If the masked man faced any misfortune, he could still return through the puppet.

...

Hope Medallion

Category: Medallion
Attributes: Guardian, Daylight
Quality: ???
Description: A relic of a lost kingdom, still remembered by those who refuse to forget. Hailing from the Kingdom of Sol, the final guardian—unbowed by darkness. In times of shadow, it shields against encroaching darkness.

...

This ornate medallion, while beautiful, was once little more than a sentimental token commemorating the departed. When Athena received it from Alfred, it triggered no system prompt, nor did it display any significant properties. She assumed it was an ordinary keepsake.

Until today.

As her mission unfolded, the medallion stored in her system backpack began to change. It emitted a faint glow, akin to fireflies.

Athena held the medallion in her palm, her fingers brushing over its surface repeatedly. Even without its transformation, she would have found another way to venture into the darkness, but its newfound properties solved one problem while presenting others.

The first challenge lay with the mountain central to her mission. Other than it being the origin of the monsters, little was known about it. Its ability to divide and house creatures marked it as both extraordinary and dangerous.

Her exploration team would likely face significant reductions. For the locals, entering the darkness was unthinkable, ingrained in them since childhood. They lacked the means and power to survive it.

Among the players, a few could temporarily venture into the darkness, but most were ill-suited for prolonged operations. With three days remaining before the mandatory mission activation, these preparatory days were crucial.

Scouting could begin early, possibly even triggering the mission ahead of schedule if conditions allowed. Vit might be suitable for recon, but unexpected events could occur. The subsequent assault, however, remained the focal point.

As she weighed her options, Athena realized the optimal solution was her going alone.

Among those capable of entering the darkness, her strength far surpassed the rest, making her the most likely to survive and escape danger. Yet her unique identity complicated matters. The players were fickle. The prisoners she brought were equally unreliable. As for the soldiers…

Their loyalty remained uncertain.

If Athena chose to leave the city to investigate, she would need to prepare for every contingency.