As the aroma spread, Attila rubbed her stomach and suddenly realized she was hungry.
Her throat bobbed as she tore open the letter on the table bearing the rose seal. She poured out a crystal shard, crushed it with practiced ease, sprinkled it evenly over the roasted meat, and immediately dug in, cheeks puffed as she ate with gusto.
Watching her enjoy the meal, the old shaman lifted a bowl of milk tea and took a cheerful sip.
After devouring everything in a whirlwind, the silver-haired girl, now somewhat full, wiped the grease from her lips and turned to the old shaman, her expression turning serious.
"With that woman guarding the western front, breaking through would cost us dearly.
On top of that, Persia is suffering defeat on the eastern front, and Egypt has already broken its alliance and attacked a Persian fleet bound for Greece. If this stalemate continues, the pressure from both fronts will fall back on us.
There's no point in continuing this war. I want to lead you to a triumphant return to Heaven, not march you into hell.
I've decided. We'll withdraw for now. And during that time, I'm going to see for myself what's in Greece."
The old shaman froze, concern flickering in his eyes.
"Going alone into enemy territory is too dangerous. And we're running out of medicine. The Persians still haven't delivered any…"
"It's fine. Someone invited me. And he gave me medicine for the journey."
Attila replied casually, rubbing her stomach as she spoke. Then she raised her hand and slowly drew out the multicolored greatsword from a Magecraft array, its faint glow pointing toward Greece.
"That person said he knows my origins… and my past. If I go, he'll give me the answers in Athens."
Full. Time to go.
Moments later, a golden lamb plush, granted life by shimmering star-patterned power, carried her across the sky atop a trail of rainbow light, bleating as it streaked through the air like a brilliant meteor.
...
Persia, Vulture's Nest, Temple of the Evening Bell.
"The Huns have withdrawn?"
Inside the quiet chamber, Samael deciphered the message sent from the Celtic tribes through a string of Runes floating within a Magecraft array. He nodded in satisfaction.
"The third move is complete."
The Ancient Serpent lifted the cloth covering the table, revealing a sand table he had recently arranged. One by one, he pulled back the pieces surrounding Rome's western front, leaving behind a wide, open expanse.
Hippolyta's gaze fell upon the Roman territories marked by the eagle standard. The suffocating tension that once loomed like storm clouds now seemed swept away, the situation suddenly clear and open.
On three fronts, east, west, and south, the enemy had been drawn in deep. Persia was struck first. Then, through fortified defenses and scorched earth tactics, the Huns were repelled. Finally, discord was sown between Cyrus and Ramesses II, turning Egypt and Persia against each other.
Now, the once-dominant Persian army of three hundred thousand had lost more than eighty percent in the Land of Nothingness. Cyrus fled with heavy injuries, his authority shattered.
The Huns fared no better. Their momentum was broken again and again. Even Attila gained little against Skadi. Driven by Samael's manipulation, her search for her origins and purpose forced her to seek another path, leaving for Greece alone. Without their king, the already loosely organized Hunnic tribes were no longer a serious threat.
As for Egypt, though powerful, they were caught in a bind. On one side, they had to keep Carthage in check to prevent their ally from growing too strong. On the other, they faced Persia across a tense standoff, unable to close the distance. To them, Rome had become more of a burden than a prize.
Moreover, Cyrus's actions in the City of Seven Hills had already planted a thorn in Ramesses II's heart. The subsequent assassination attempt by the Assassins only deepened his suspicions. If Persia truly intended to turn on Egypt next, then naturally the blame would fall on Cyrus, the one behind the Assassin Order.
And through the words of the young Emperor Nero, who showed weakness, reasoned with logic, tempted with benefits, and warned of danger, Ramesses II had successfully redirected his hostility toward Cyrus.
At this point, Rome's crisis of annihilation had been resolved. Though border conflicts would continue, with skirmishes ebbing and flowing, the overall situation was stable.
The deadlock had been broken.
And now, it was Persia's turn to be trapped.
"It seems Cyrus has run out of options. This war will end soon."
The Amazon Queen let out a long breath, the tension in her brow easing.
"Not necessarily. Cyrus still has one path left…"
Samael shook his head faintly, his tone low and steady. His hand moved across the Sea of Chaos on the sand table, coming to rest on the fractured land of the city-states.
"A direct assault on Greece?"
Hippolyta murmured as the possibility dawned on her.
The Ancient Serpent nodded, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes as a cold smile formed.
"Destroy Rome first, then swallow Greece. That was the strategy Cyrus laid out for ambition and security.
But his real objective has always been the so-called Greater Source of the Planet in Greece."
After a series of maneuvers, Rome had indeed avoided destruction for now. But after the fall of the Divine Ancestor and the four-sided war, its forces were exhausted. Seven or eight provinces and legions had been crippled, leaving it barely standing.
There was no real chance the Pantheon could spare forces to support Greece.
In that sense, Persia's plan to weaken the Pan-Hellenic alliance had already achieved its initial goal, even if imperfectly.
Now the situation had grown increasingly delicate. The balance was tipping against Persia. If Cyrus realized this, he would most likely gamble everything on Greece, using what remained of his strength for one final bid.
Samael pushed three king pieces toward Athens on the sand table, the corners of his lips lifting slightly.
"By now… everyone should be arriving, right?"
He opened his palm and looked at the four pieces resting in it, counting them one by one.
"Godslayer Scáthach, the great wolf Fenrir, the Grand Assassin old man, and me. Four against three."
"So once you arrive, don't think about leaving. I know Greece well. Right here on this table, we go all in."
Before setting out, though, there was one thing he needed to confirm in Mesopotamia.
...
As night deepened, Samael stood atop the cliff of the Temple of the Evening Bell, waiting in silence. The wind howled, sharp and cold as a blade, biting into the skin.
A moment later, a warm fragrance drifted up from behind him.
Coming back to his senses, he turned and saw the purple-haired girl climbing up the cliff awkwardly, clutching a clay pot in one arm and a food box in the other.
Caught in the act, Serenity's face flushed as she set the food down in front of him.
"There's jellab in the pot. I just took it off the fire, it's still hot, good for keeping warm. And there's flatbread and lamb in the box."
"That's quite a feast. Thanks."
Samael stretched lazily, then stepped forward and gave the expectant girl a Western-style hug and cheek kiss.
"N-no, it's nothing. Big Sister Bai Mao asked me to bring it. If it's not enough, I can go get more!"
Despite her slightly bold tendencies and her reputation as part of the so-called "Night Raid Trio," the little Hassan was unexpectedly shy afterward. The blush on her cheeks deepened, her whole face warming under that brief closeness.
Snapping out of it, she stammered like a startled rabbit, inadvertently revealing the one who sent her, then hurried off with the tray in her arms.
Samael sat cross-legged, watching with interest as the "little rabbit" stumbled her way down the mountain, using the scene as entertainment while he ate.
But he had barely taken a few bites when the air suddenly turned cold.
A presence steeped in death surged up from the dark valley below, climbing the cliff under the cover of night.
"Your Highness… Paradise Lost… I have found it…"
The solemn voice behind him made the Ancient Serpent turn sharply, his vertical pupils flashing with a dim, eerie light.