22: Battle against Egypt

Sig steadied himself, spear aloft, and commanded, "Transition from Swallowtail Formation to Straight Formation!"

At his signal, soldiers at the forefront of the herringbone-shaped formation began to fall back toward the rear. Flanking soldiers followed suit, forming a line parallel to those at the back.

The approaching Egyptian soldiers, believing the Athenians were retreating due to weakness, advanced eagerly. Their shields lowered, spears thrust forward, ready for hand-to-hand combat.

In their view, these retreating soldiers were ailing and feeble, reinforcing their notion of easy victory. A slight push would scatter them, allowing the invaders to seize the city walls and ransack Athens.

Sig's long gun emitted cascades of light cannons, striking the Egyptian forces.

The first blast took an unaware soldier, who fell, blood gushing as he was trampled by comrades.

Subsequent shots targeted those who seemed prepared. A blast detonated against a soldier's shield, splintering it into oblivion. The explosion's force left him reeling and howling in agony as he collapsed and vanished beneath the oncoming tide.

Yet the soldiers remained undeterred, some propping their shields, peering over them, unwilling to confront the relentless barrage.

More shots were fired, the explosions wiping out several Egyptian soldiers, steadily thinning their ranks.

"Roar!" Suddenly, three humanoid monstrosities burst from the Egyptian ranks.

They moved on all fours, their bony fingers tipped with elongated claws.

Pale gray skin gave them a ghastly appearance. Blood-red eyes darted erratically. Their sudden focus settled on Sig.

Sig's light cannons converged upon them. Upon impact, their skin absorbed the light, dispersing it like ripples in water.

"Resistant skin?" Sig recoiled, several steps back.

Rhodes, observing the emergence of these abominations, broke away from the city wall. Alone, he strode toward the battlefield, bypassing the Athenian formation.

By now, the Athenian forces had organized into a linear formation. Eight thousand soldiers, arranged in rows of two thousand, stood as a human bulwark, blocking the plain outside the city.

A modified human creature, agile as a cheetah, raced toward Sig.

"Aww!" Its horrifying scream filled the air as it lunged.

Rhodes passed Sig, unleashed a punch, and sent the creature hurtling tens of meters, a trail of dark blue blood marking its path.

Two more reformed creatures hesitated, their intent to flee apparent. Rhodes evaded behind them, seizing their heads. Veins strained as he exerted pressure. Their heads exploded, dark blue blood spurting from lifeless bodies.

The Egyptian forces slowed, awe and fear visible on their faces.

Rhodes' actions were surreal—launching a man tens of meters, crushing a head with a single blow. What power was this?

Collectively, the Egyptians swallowed, tens of thousands of eyes fixated on Rhodes. Despite the fear, a sense of respect began to emerge.

The Egyptian commander overcame trembling legs, gritting his teeth. "Advance! Breach their defense line—we outnumber them!"

Fired up, the soldiers renewed their zeal, charging toward Rhodes' army. Fear and awe mingled in their hearts, directing their actions.

Rhodes stood steadfast, an immovable force amidst the retreating Egyptian tide.

Within the Athenian formation, Sig maintained command. Light cannons emitted from his long gun, punctuating the air, targeting Egyptian soldiers with deadly precision.

Yet, it wasn't only against conventional troops that the Athenians fought. Rhodes, under siege by reformed creatures, exhibited his power. Each punch, each stride, left the Egyptians incredulous.

The Athenian forces backed Rhodes, their spearheads driving back the Egyptian advance. The sight of their city under siege ignited a fierce resolve within them.

Rhodes unleashed a series of light cannons, clearing a path through the Egyptian ranks.

Despite their initial underestimation, the Egyptians soon realized the Athenians were no mere weaklings. A significant portion were skilled warriors—well-trained and cohesive, thanks to Sig's guidance.

As the battle raged on, a reformer monster rushed toward Sig, its cheetah-like agility propelling it.

Rhodes darted past Sig, landing a forceful blow that launched the creature. The Egyptian forces witnessed this single-handed dominance.

With their ranks thinning, the Egyptians redoubled their efforts.

The Egyptian commander encouraged his troops. "Onward! Push through their defense—they are outnumbered!"

Buoyed by his words, the soldiers surged forward, charging the Athenian lines.

Rhodes, undeterred by the reformers, demonstrated his raw power.

Amidst the chaos, the Athenian soldiers embraced their training, executing tactics instilled by Sig. These tactics created advantageous skirmishes and nullified the Egyptian numerical superiority.

As the day progressed, the Egyptians encountered an unexpectedly formidable opponent. The tide shifted, and despite their greater numbers, the outcome became uncertain.