Prayers Are Useless, Gods Will Not Descend, Only Slaughter Will Come

"We can't hold them... We absolutely can't hold them."

There wasn't even time to send a plea for help to Troy.

On the streets of Thebes, in the midst of the final, desperate struggle, a squad leader muttered to himself, feeling a deep sense of despair.

Ordinary citizens, praying desperately amidst the flames of war, were being slaughtered.

The soldiers, who were supposed to protect them, were now struggling to protect themselves.

With the overwhelming tide of Greeks flooding in, they were like a tiny boat in a vast ocean, always on the brink of being swallowed whole.

No one really cared what would happen next.

The temporary resistance on this battlefield couldn't affect the overall outcome of the war.

The great hero Achilles had already led a charge towards the city center, aiming to capture or kill the city's leaders.

Carrying the rage of having failed to breach Troy thrice, the Greeks were ready to unleash all their pent-up fury on these surrounding cities.

They had come for revenge.

The ferocity they had shown when mistakenly attacking their own allies would be the same fury unleashed if Troy were to fall...

Now, all that ferocity was unleashed upon the small city of Thebes.

Enveloped by this overwhelming force, the fate of the city's notable figures was predictable; more likely than captivity, death awaited them.

The center of the city was where the fiercest battles were raging.

The outskirts were left with nothing but the corpses of the defeated and the victorious feasting like vultures on the remains.

Certain death.

Inescapable defeat.

Resistance was meaningless self-satisfaction; there was no salvation to be found.

What was unfolding now was a farcical tragedy that had surpassed the depths of despair.

At this moment—

A group of Theban survivors huddled together, each soldier voicing their determination:

"Even if we die, we must take some Greek flesh with us!!"

"Damn it, if only Hector were here, these barbaric Greeks wouldn't be running rampant."

"I... I don't want to die...! Waaaah."

"Stop saying cowardly things.

At times like this, no matter how much you try to avoid it, it's useless.

The enemy's weapons won't spare you just because they hear your cries.

As long as this heart is beating and this hand holds a sword, we must keep fighting."

Boom~!!!

Just as the last soldier finished his roar, a firebomb landed at his feet, instantly blowing him to pieces.

Amidst the countless cries of pain and anguish, most of the surviving soldiers were severely injured.

One, in terror, cried out, "When... did the Greeks throw this during the attack? Why is it exploding only now?!"

The explosion blew away their cover, exposing everyone completely.

"I found the enemy~!!

They're all hiding here!! Everyone, come quick!"

A Greek soldier's joyful shout echoed.

These were living war trophies, heads for the taking!!

This scene plunged the Theban remnants deeper into despair.

Surrounded by the enemy, all wounded, with barely a fraction of their combat strength remaining, it was over... completely over.

Any thought of resistance vanished.

Faced with overwhelming strength, or perhaps the last bit of their resolve to die bravely was blasted away by that bomb, they could only pray now...

They prayed to the city's patron deity, the god of light and music—Apollo.

"O great god of light, Apollo. Please bring us the hope to survive. Anything, even just one thing, give us something to rely on in this hell. Even madness here would be a blessing."

"Hahahaha~!!! Praying to gods?"

Suddenly, a Greek soldier stepped forward, mocking their desperate pleas: "Do you think gods care about your fate? They won't save you. Only death and despair await!"

At this mocking voice, the Theban soldiers' last hopes crumbled further.

Realizing that their prayers were in vain, they could only brace for the inevitable end, as the Greek soldiers closed in, ready to deliver the final blow.

"Hahaha~!!! Praying to the gods... do you not know that the great Achilles carries the bloodline of the mighty Zeus himself?" The Greek soldiers who had surrounded them burst into mocking laughter upon hearing the desperate prayers.

"The gods don't have time for filthy, lowly dogs like you.

Even if they did come, they'd be on our side, the side of Greece."

Greece, the land blessed by the gods, the center of divine favor!

As the Greeks raised their swords and shields, even while mocking, they cautiously blocked every route, one hand holding the shield ready to defend against any desperate attacks, the other hand wielding the sword, poised to strike.

The impenetrable forest of swords drew closer and closer.

As the Theban soldiers saw the cold gleam on the sword tips getting nearer, they finally realized the futility of their prayers... the gods did not answer them.

Closer~~!!!

A Greek soldier, with a cruel and cold expression, raised his sword to strike down a Theban soldier.

'Honor and loyalty—such things are now worth less than what you'd feed a dog. At least in this situation, nothing is cheaper than a human life.'

Night, watching this from afar while following Hector into the city, was deeply moved.

This is reality!!

Seeing the hellish scene before him, the ruins and the sea of fire, he gripped his weapon tightly, feeling the need to act...

Hector glanced back at Night, and with a silent understanding in their eyes, they both made the decision in an instant—save them!

Night took his bow and arrow, nocked an arrow, and drew it back on horseback.

The next moment, an arrow shot through the air with a powerful sound, like a comet streaking across the sky, piercing the Greek soldier who was about to strike.

"What!!!"

"There are more enemies!! Be careful!!"

Bang~!!

As the Greek soldier's lifeless body fell, still wearing a grimace from moments before, the battlefield erupted into chaos.

Only their wide eyes revealed their complete lack of understanding of what had just occurred.

However, the Greek soldiers who had witnessed this shocking turn of events became immediately alert.

Soon, the sound of hooves filled the air.

When Night and Hector led their cavalry into the fray, the arrival of two superhuman warriors, a hero and a hero in training, quickly turned the battle into a one-sided slaughter.

"Are we… are we saved?"

The remaining Theban soldiers, especially the one who had resigned himself to certain death, looked at their saviors in awe.

The first thing they saw was Hector and Night's display of violent beauty as they fought.

For a moment, the sight of these two figures, drenched in enemy blood and moving with a deadly grace, captivated the soldiers' stunned gazes.

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