Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

Chapter 184 | The Scales of War!

The dark elves lacked the climbing prowess and immense strength of the metallic monsters. Scaling the walls was beyond their capability. Their most viable strategy was to breach the walls or force the gates open. If their relentless bombardment with those sinister black spheres continued, it was only a matter of time before they pinpointed the wall’s weakest spot—the hastily repaired section from the last battle.

The sheer number of monsters surging forward seemed endless. Athena knew the walls must not be breached at any cost. Should they close the distance, disaster would be inevitable.

Behind the monstrous horde, the dark elves advanced in a dense, unbroken wave. Though they lacked the overwhelming menace of the monsters, their endless numbers invoked a bone-deep dread—a grim reminder of hopelessness, stretching as far as the eye could see.

Their magical black spheres corroded whatever they touched. The walls blackened instantly upon impact, the surface scorched and pockmarked. If not for the wall’s unique composition, it might have already crumbled under the relentless assault.

Despite fierce artillery fire from Athena’s forces, the advancing monsters’ proximity rendered cannons less effective. Arrows and boulders became the primary weapons, but obstructed sightlines hindered precision, slowing the kill rate. The defenders couldn’t keep up with the monsters’ relentless advance.

Moreover, the accumulation of firepower heightened the fire element’s activity, strengthening the magical attacks of the dark elves. The scales of battle were tipping.

Suddenly, amidst the chaotic barrage, the battlefield fell silent. Cannon fire ceased, and an eerie stillness enveloped the scene.

The monsters, still charging under heavy artillery moments earlier, hesitated. Confusion flickered across their grotesque faces. The abrupt cessation of cannon fire was unsettling. Yet the pause fueled a dangerous assumption: the humans had exhausted their munitions. Greedy and malicious glints ignited in the monsters’ eyes. Their assault grew frenzied, driven by the tantalizing prospect of victory. They surged forward, convinced the walls would soon fall.

In their excitement, the illusions cast by the dark elves faltered. For a fleeting moment, the enchanting beauty masking their true forms dissipated, revealing grotesque visages. This brief glimpse of hideousness planted seeds of doubt in the hearts of the bespelled soldiers. The once-entranced defenders now regarded the dark elves with suspicion and unease.

Amid the monsters’ intensified assault, the defenders’ cannons began to turn, their movements deliberate and measured. The pause had not signaled a lack of ammunition; on the contrary, it heralded the debut of a devastating new weapon.

Soldiers opened a pristine crate and carefully loaded a shell into the cannon. The projectile hummed ominously as it slid into place. For a tense moment, it seemed as though the cannon might burst from the sheer energy coursing through it. Then, with a thunderous roar, it fired.

The shell detonated amidst the monsters, unleashing a series of explosions. Sharp iron fragments, forged from the remains of defeated iron golems, shredded through the enemy ranks with the force of bullets. Even those lurking at the wall’s base, previously safe from cannon fire, fell victim to the deadly shrapnel.

Shells were loaded and fired in rapid succession. The defenders spared no effort, their relentless assault thinning the enemy ranks. For a fleeting moment, Athena entertained a wry thought: the ammunition division deserved a feast for their sleepless dedication. She quickly refocused, steeling her mind for the battle.

Although the city lacked traditional mages, Athena had conscripted any player with even a trace of magical affinity. The pause in artillery fire had allowed the monsters to regroup, but the defenders’ initial barrage had bought precious time, reducing the enemy’s numbers and easing the pressure for the next phase.

Athena knew the repaired barriers wouldn’t hold indefinitely. The second wave of the monsters’ assault would be even more ferocious. But she was ready to unleash her trump card—a newly developed explosive weapon.

“Mage squad, prepare your spells!” she commanded.

The mages responded in unison, chanting incantations that filled the air with vibrant, crackling energy. Flames, frost, and lightning surged forth, devastating the enemy lines. Ice walls rose to create a labyrinthine prison, funneling the monsters toward a single vulnerable point. However, the effort strained the mages, many of whom struggled to maintain the spells’ potency.

Some spells faltered, transforming into weak, watery orbs that barely hindered the enemy. Yet even imperfect spells had their uses. Drawing upon the city’s wells and underground reservoirs, the mages redirected vast amounts of water, merging their magic to form a colossal tidal wave.

“Focus the water flow!” Athena ordered. The mages combined their efforts, summoning a torrent that surged forward like a mighty dragon. The wave crashed into the monsters, drowning many and scattering the rest. The defenders seized the opportunity.

“Attack!” Athena shouted.

With renewed vigor, the soldiers launched their counteroffensive. Cannon fire resumed, magical spells illuminated the battlefield, and arrows rained down like deadly hail. The battlefield’s tide began to shift, and the scales of war, once heavily weighted against them, now hung in tenuous balance.

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