For example, Pythagoras, the oldest among them, was a thin old man proficient in geometry and mathematics. He possessed an almost monstrous ability to aim and calculate with Magecraft. When he fought, he looked completely effortless, yet every Magecraft attack struck its target at exactly the right point, like a tracking missile with eyes of its own.
With a casual wave of the thin old man's hand, parabolas formed from burning Ether traced elegant arcs through the air and continuously smashed into the heads of high-threat targets.
Ever since Samael began surveying the whole battlefield, the old man had maintained a 100% hit rate.
On a battlefield this complicated, even the Deep Sea Fleet's black-technology machine-aimed bombardment fell far short compared with Pythagoras.
Next was Heraclitus, a hot-tempered old man in gray robes with a book in hand. His perception and control over the fire element were almost abnormal.
What was more, the flames he hurled carried traits such as "inextinguishable," "adhesive," "splashing," and "ignition." Basically, once they struck a target, they could use the Ether in the air to set a vast area ablaze. He was practically a human-shaped napalm dispenser.
As sea monsters and Leviathan serpents were torn apart in sprays of flesh and blood, the old man only grew more energetic, unable to stop praising this damned war.
Yes, he was truly praising it.
Even within the highly inclusive Academy of Athens, he was still an eccentric. He despised humanity, worshiped war, and compared war to the "King of All Things."
"War is the King of All Things. It makes some men gods, some men men, some men slaves, and some men free."
This was the doctrine the old man preached at the Academy of Athens. Because of that, during his time teaching there, he was known for his extreme hawkish views, fiercely advocating that Athens adopt a strong military policy, sweep across the Peloponnesus, and then beat the Persians senseless.
Then there was Plato, the stern middle-aged man with powerful muscles, the sort who could punch an ox to death. He was also exceptional at carving Magecraft arrays and controlling Mana. Around this great philosopher, Magecraft arrays of all sizes were spread everywhere, layered ring upon ring like the bricks and stones used to build an ideal kingdom.
Plato charged fiercely into the swarm of Magical Beasts. The brilliant Ether tides around him triggered violent explosions, almost turning the area near him into a vacuum zone. Occasionally, a sea monster would break through that forbidden field of his Magecraft utopia, only to be beaten to death on the spot by his pot-sized fists and superb Pankration techniques.
Finally, the black-haired young man in academic robes, with multiple hexagonal mirrors arranged in a ring behind him, was none other than Archimedes, known for his flexible, ever-changing attack style and wildly imaginative methods.
This ancient Greek philosopher, mathematician, physicist, mechanician, and encyclopedic scientist could use the self-made Mystic Code behind him, which resembled a Prism Tower, to apply the principle of mirror reflection. From all kinds of impossible angles, he could either deflect or converge beams of Mana, altering their trajectories to achieve unexpected effects.
For a time, great techniques such as Pythagoras's [Magecraft Ranging], Heraclitus's [Eternal Living Fire], Plato's [Republic], and Archimedes's [Prism Tower] formed an overwhelmingly fierce barrage of firepower.
Compared with the lackluster Divine Blood Guards of Areopagus, this place had practically become a showcase for a group of academic giants.
Even as a Divine Spirit, Samael could not help marveling at these scholars of the Academy of Athens, who had developed Magecraft into entirely new fields. He admired them deeply.
Because in them, he saw another path, one that did not rely on divine bloodlines, but was carved out by human wisdom.
Sure enough, a big shot was a big shot no matter where they went.
As the Ancient Serpent sighed in admiration, he looked at the several Athenian warships filled with extraordinary talents. His eyes could not help flickering, and a trace of malice rose in his heart.
Come to think of it, if I blew up these ships right now, wouldn't future middle and high school textbooks in every subject become half as thick?
Maybe… ahem, forget it…
Realizing that he had actually felt a faint urge to try it, Samael immediately slapped himself hard on the head several times, drove away that inhuman thought, and focused on coordinating the battlefield.
In just a few dozen breaths, after suffering repeated heavy blows, the beast tide's encirclement began to weaken.
Relying on their massive and elite battle group, the Pan-Hellenic allied forces forcibly plowed a bloody sea route through the monsters' blockade, steadily advancing toward Thermopylae.
Boom! Boom! Boom! Boom!
But before they could fully shake off the sea beasts' pursuit and encirclement, several crimson fireballs, each a hundred meters in diameter and like meteors from beyond the sky, arced out of the sea fog and struck down, overturning several light fast ships.
At the same time, warships flying flame-patterned banners, their decks crowded with figures, sailed out of the mist and charged headlong toward the stretched-out Greek fleet.
The Persian fleet near the coast had arrived!
Aboard the Argo, Samael glanced at the overlapping silhouettes of massive objects on the sea outside the window, then lowered his gaze back to the sand table. The corner of his lips curved slightly.
From another angle, a bad thing might just become a good thing.
The situation before him proved precisely that the Persians could no longer sit still.
And Thermopylae was close at hand!
At that moment, faced with his old enemy, Themistocles pointed his sword forward and joined the allied forces in launching an attack on the Persian fleet.
Against their old rivals, the Magus team from the Academy of Athens also began showing off their best tricks.
"Witness the perfect circle, the perfect light. The time of reckoning has come. Gathered straw, burn to ash like the moon!"
Driven by the tide of Mana, Archimedes floated into the air. The Prism Tower behind him drew in the radiance of the sun, moon, and stars, then fired scorching streams of Ether light that set several Persian warships ablaze.
"The world begins with cause and ends in order. Its past, present, and future are a single eternal living fire, burning by measure and extinguished by measure! Thus, light is everywhere. Descend now, dispel the darkness of ignorance, and let the fire of order burn forever!"
Heraclitus followed, chanting divine words. The fireball he forged with all his strength shone like a blazing sun.
As it slammed forward, a vast whirlpool first formed on the surface of the sea, then exploded with a thunderous roar.
In an instant, searing white light flashed, stabbing the eyes of everyone nearby, friend and foe alike, until their vision turned blank. A terrifying mushroom cloud rose into the sky.
Dozens of Persian warships were either dragged into the blast or shattered by the impact.
Across the Sea of Chaos, fragments of wooden hulls drifted everywhere, mixed with the flesh and remains of humans and Magical Beasts.
The heavily battered Persians immediately saw their offensive stall. The army's arcane mages boarded flying carpets, lifted divine lamps, and began a spectacular Magecraft duel against their old foes.
Although the Magus of the Academy of Athens were of excellent quality, their inspiration-based education meant talented students could not be mass-produced.
By contrast, the Persian Empire, with its massive population base and relatively complete education system, had several times more spellcasters than the Academy of Athens.
Thus, one side held the advantage in quality while the other held the advantage in numbers, and both sides unleashed a furious bombardment across the sea.
But soon, the Scandinavian Druids following behind, along with the dark mass of the Deep Sea Fleet, scared the arcane mages and priests of the Persian Temple half to death. They all began chanting divine words.
"Its source is flame, its might is light. In the name of our Lord Mithra, descend here, spirits who serve the light, and wield the sword of judgment!"
Immediately, one fire elemental Ifrit after another was released from the divine lamps. Bathed in the radiance of blazing white halos, they formed slender, elegant human figures, each clad in armor and holding a weapon as they charged toward the Pan-Hellenic allied forces.
What the hell is this…
Aboard the Argo, Samael looked up at the familiar outlines and forms above the Sea of Chaos. The charcoal pencil in his hand slipped from his fingers without him noticing, and he murmured the answer.
…Angels!
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