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Athena's General - Chapter 361
🕑 Added 2025-06-17 17:28:01 +0000 UTCNathan Evenhart:
“There are three Inquisitors in the city right now — including myself,” Leonhard announced, his tone calm but firm.
A wave of murmurs spread through the room. People glanced at one another, clearly surprised. The identities of the Inquisitors had always been a closely guarded secret.
“I am the prince of the Fourth Kingdom,” Leonhard continued. “Leonhard Olarion. And right now... I need your full cooperation.”
Someone arrived carrying a massive map — recently updated, filled with markings and adjustments. They unrolled it over the strategy table.
“This is the barrier,” explained Professor Adrihna, pointing at the map. “The moment a mage crosses this line — here — their magic is completely disabled.” A large circle was drawn, with the portal sketched right at the center.
“The three Black Knights are patrolling on horseback within this area,” added Queen Garnora. “They know full well that if they step outside, they’ll become prime targets. That’s why they’re staying inside the anti-magic field. It’s a calculated move. No ranged attacks can reach them — the distance is too great.”
I studied the map carefully... and the problem became crystal clear.
The device generating the anti-mana barrier was probably somewhere near the portal. That way, the creatures pouring out of it serve as a natural defense layer. And on top of that... there are the three knights — acting as sentinels, guarding the perimeter.
If anyone strong enough tries to get close... they’ll be there.
It was a defense strategy... almost perfect. I had to admit — this was smart.
They weren’t using the anti-mana field just to strip their enemies of magic.
They were using it to make sure no one could even get close.
A fortress... inside the barrier itself.
Leonhard placed a pin on a location marked as a watchtower. “If the flow of monsters continues at this rate... then, as Queen Garnora said, Apsalon will fall within a few hours. And frankly... I don’t know what else might come out of that portal.”
He paused... then continued.
“For now, I’ll deploy a wind barrier over the portal.”
The room fell into stunned silence.
Even I froze.
Wait... what? A barrier... over the entire portal?
The distance was massive. And the portal itself... was gigantic.
He could actually pull that off?
“I’ll be able to stop the hordes from pouring out,” Leonhard explained, his voice steady but serious. “But it’ll take all my focus to keep the wind barrier active. That means you’ll lose me as an offensive fighter... but it’s the only way to prevent the portal from overwhelming us. Without it, there’s no way anyone without magic can even get close to the Black Knights with that flood of monsters coming out.”
He paused, then continued. “On top of that... the enemy will likely try to come after me. It’ll take them a while to track me down, but they will try. And as long as part of their forces is hunting me... it should make it easier for the strike team to reach the device that’s generating the anti-mana field.”
Queen Garnora nodded. “Perfect. We’ll need people to handle the hordes around the barrier’s edge. We can’t risk anything slipping out of the center — or worse, chasing down the team heading into the dead zone.”
She glanced at Queen Agnes. “Looks like I’ll need help from your family... and the high-ranking nobles of your kingdom.”
A guard standing near the wall stepped forward, frowning. “We can’t send the high nobles to the front lines! There are plenty of soldiers—”
Queen Garnora snapped her fan open with a sharp snap, giving him a cool, assessing look.
“Tell me,” she asked, her voice silky but edged like a blade. “Who are the strongest? Your soldiers... or the high nobles? Who has better magical talent?”
“The... the nobles,” the guard muttered, shrinking slightly.
“Then shut up and listen. This isn’t a negotiation. Either we handle the hordes... or the city falls. I need people holding the main street.”
I glanced around the room, realizing that with every second passing... more creatures were spilling out of that portal.
A part of me wanted to grab my mother and run.
But... for how long could we run?
Even if this portal closed eventually... what about the next one? Or the one after that?
If I turned my back now... these people wouldn’t be there when I needed help later.
“We’ll be the ones dealing with the Black Knights and finding the device powering the barrier,” Victoria stated, calm but firm. “It’ll be me, Queen Garnora, and Princess Elara. Plus a support team.”
“I’m coming with you,” Professor Adrihna chimed in.
Garnora turned to her immediately. “No. You’re a High Elf. I doubt you spent your life training in swordsmanship or physical combat. You’d be a liability in the anti-mana zone. Your talents are more useful here, where magic still works. I know your capabilities — and we’ll need them.”
Adrihna hesitated, clearly wanting to argue... but when King Haiten gently nodded to her, she sighed and agreed.
“Very well. I’ll take command of the knights,” Queen Agnes declared, her voice firm. “My family and I will handle the hordes on the main road.”
She turned to King Haiten next. “Syvis should stay near the shelter, helping the survivors. Her healing magic will be much more valuable here... safe... than out in the open battle.”
“Y-You’re right,” Haiten agreed, trying to maintain a neutral tone. But... I noticed it. The flash of relief in his eyes. He might’ve pretended to stay impartial... but the idea of keeping his own family out of the worst of the fight? That... was clearly a weight off his chest.
“We now have to solve the air problem,” Leonhard said, voice grim. “Those flying monsters are blocking any reinforcements from reaching us by air. And make no mistake... the second you position yourselves on the streets, they’ll dive straight down to kill you.”
Silence. Heavy. Suffocating. Like chains wrapped around everyone in that room.
Looking at the map... there wasn’t a single path that didn’t lead to disaster. Every route was a death trap — blocked streets, dangerous zones, hordes of monsters infesting every corner like a plague. Our aerial forces were getting torn apart by griffins and other flying abominations. On the ground... the troops were locked in an endless fight against waves of monsters outside the commercial district. Reinforcements wouldn’t arrive for hours — if at all.
And while we stood here... more enemies kept pouring out.
Undead rose among the griffins and beasts, surging forward in relentless waves.
We were isolated.
For now... the shelter was safe. But everyone here knew... it was just a matter of time before the situation became unsustainable. There were hundreds of civilians down in those shelters. If we tried to evacuate them now... it would be a slaughter.
The desperation was thick. You could feel it in the air. See it written on every face. No one needed to say it aloud.
No one knew what to do.
“Now that we’ve listed all our problems...” Queen Garnora’s voice sliced through the suffocating silence like a blade. “It’s time to come up with a plan.” Her gaze swept across the room, sharp, commanding. “Any suggestions? Myself and the other two Inquisitors will be departing shortly. The strategy must be in place before then.”
The officers looked at one another. A few opened their mouths... but no words came out. They shut them just as quickly.
Who had the guts to suggest a plan in a situation this hopeless?
Who was bold enough to propose a strategy that would put their rulers directly on the front lines?
I scanned the room. Saw it in every face — nerves, fear, dread. Eyes desperately searching for a way out... yet terrified of speaking it into existence.
The silence grew. A crushing shadow pressing down on everyone.
No one wanted the responsibility.
No one wanted to be the one who failed.
And in that moment... I knew.
It had to be me.
Now. Or never.
There was no room for hesitation.
I had to be the one to speak.
“I have a plan.” My voice cut through the tension like thunder.
Every head turned toward me.
“I have a strategy that can save countless lives. One that will stop the hordes from overrunning the city... before it’s too late. A plan that will make the simplest soldier and the most powerful mage work in perfect coordination.”
The silence broke... but the weight in the air remained. Dozens of eyes were locked onto me. Some filled with hope. Others with doubt. Suspicion. Fear.
Queen Garnora narrowed her gaze. Eyes sharp. Calculating. Measuring.
“Speak, Nathan Everhart,” she commanded, her voice like steel. “Tell us... what is your plan?”
I took a deep breath. The weight of every life in this city sat on my shoulders.
I organized my thoughts. Fast. Focused.
And then... I spoke.
“Something I just thought of... something I’ll call... The Daedalus Maze.”
<< Chapter 360 | Index | Chapter 362 >>
Comments
kevin
hi, subbed for Athena-s General and will now stard Dark Lord, is this on hiatus?
