Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

Chapter 166: Wanderers

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Chapter 166: Wanderers

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As the old adage goes, "family scandals should not be aired in public." Everyone understood this truth, though it was seldom spoken aloud. Thus, the elegant lady- renowned for her impeccable reputation- had chosen a secluded and well-insulated location to confront Athena and her group. However, contrary to her expectations, she found herself utterly outmaneuvered.

Her bodyguards, wary of both retaliation and exposure, dared not act recklessly nor spread rumors. To the onlookers, it appeared as though the lady had willingly accompanied Athena and her companions. This slight anomaly went unnoticed; in this region, her esteemed standing was beyond question, and no one dared suspect otherwise.

Despite her relentless efforts, employing every ounce of her eloquence, the lady’s honeyed words fell on deaf ears. She enumerated potential advantages and dangers, employing every rhetorical strategy at her disposal, yet Athena remained as unmoving as a stone. Even attempts to sow discord among her companions were met with indifference.

Her resolve was unwavering: the lady would accompany them, whether she liked it or not. Frustration pushed the lady to the brink of despair. What drives this woman? she wondered. Is she mad? Why this obsession with dragging me along?

Regret gnawed at her. Had I known, I would’ve simply barred the door today.

...

Guided by the lady’s reluctant cooperation, Athena and her group soon arrived at the teleportation array. Situated in the plaza’s center, it was marked by several towering stone pillars encircling an enormous teleportation stone. Guarded by four knights and surrounded by a defensive array, it was a fortress that few would dare challenge head-on.

In earlier times, Athena might have considered brute force. But now…

The lady, restored to her usual poised self, stood at their side. Her earlier injuries had been treated mid-journey by the elder in their group, only for Athena to force-feed her a pill soon after. The initial dose sent her body into spasms of dread, cold sweat pouring down her back as her heartbeat raced uncontrollably. A second pill alleviated her distress, but the warning was unmistakable: her life hung entirely by Athena’s thread.

She could never forget the chilling promise Athena had whispered: “Stay with us, or the antidote won’t matter. Your end will come regardless.”

Steeling herself, the lady adopted her typical regal demeanor, striding confidently toward the knights guarding the teleportation array. Her every step radiated authority, her family’s emblem pinned conspicuously to her chest, glinting in the sunlight. The mere sight of the emblem was enough to silence questions; those who knew her feared her reach and influence too much to interfere.

Within moments, she had the array activated. No papers or official seals were necessary; her word was law. Athena confirmed the array’s destination through her system before leading the group onto the platform. Though visibly reluctant, the lady stepped into the array with them, her resentment etched into every line of her face.

Light enveloped the array as the teleportation sequence began. One by one, the group vanished into its glow. Unlike the seamless transfers facilitated by the system, this teleportation felt clunky and archaic to Athena. It stirred a sense of unease- was this crude inefficiency merely a flaw of the technology, or something intentional?

[ Contest of Peaks ]

Difficulty Level: LV4

Proceed to the new battle zone.

Penalty: Become a Wanderer.

Reward: None.

Time Limit: 3 Days.

In the eerie silence of the forest, heavy breathing echoed unnervingly. A man adjusted his blood-smeared glasses, the lenses obscured by crimson streaks. While his improved constitution no longer required corrective lenses, the glasses had evolved into a critical piece of his toolkit.

Wiping the grime away with his filthy sleeve, he revealed a tactical advantage- these glasses granted him a ten-meter omniscient view, displaying the layout of his surroundings and the precise movements of nearby life forms. Before him lay the colossal corpse of a creature, its threefold size dwarfing him. Its viscous black form pulsed unnervingly, blood still seeping from its monstrous remains.

"Goodness," he muttered, clutching his side. Pain coursed through his body- a testament to his encounter with the creature. He and Athena had faced its wrath, though fate had spared him from the brunt of its fury. The creature, impervious to his attacks, had ignored him entirely.

Realizing his futility, he had retreated. But even now, in the desolation of the lands covered in darkness, survival was an uphill battle. These monstrosities grew increasingly active, their strength climbing with each encounter. His own reserves had dwindled to nothing.

Finally afforded a moment's respite, he opened his system interface and scanned his dwindling friend list. Most of the names had gone gray, denoting the dead or missing. A few were labeled as "Wanderers," stripped of their basic functions. His region's population had dwindled to a mere hundred survivors.

A unique mission greeted him upon logging in. Though he lacked Athena’s raw power, his unique abilities had prompted the system to assign him a vital task:

[Assemble]

Objective: Seek out Wanderers lost across the lands and form a new team.

• Penalty: Become a Wanderer.
• Reward: None.
• Time Limit: 3 Days.

The system’s methods puzzled him. If losing their Shelters condemned players to the Wanderer status- deprived of essential system functions- why then assign such a laborious task? Surely, restoring those functions would expedite their survival.

The Shelter acted as their anchor in this world. Without it, even the system struggled to locate them. To assemble the remnants, it had to designate specific players for the job. As the mission weighed heavily on his mind, he worked tirelessly to patch his wounds and send messages to any remaining survivors, hoping to rally even a few allies.

[ World Chat ]

075: "Most regions are either wiped out or reduced to Wanderers. The monsters are advancing fast."
059: "Gather everything you can. High-value items- PM me!"
062: "Can we abandon the shelter and run? I don’t want to die here!"
036: "Without a Sanctuary, you’ll die faster. Trust me."
053: "Anyone else see this? Our Sanctuary Shield’s fully up, and there’s… a city across from us?"
053: "What the hell! I’m serious- a city! They’re firing cannons at something. Are there other survivors in this world?"

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