Bzz! Bzz! Bzz! Bzz!
In an instant, dense crimson-black light patterns resonated and trembled. The hull creaked and groaned, and amid the metallic hum pulsing through the ship, the solid deck of the hundred-meter flagship slowly opened, revealing a narrow runway leading straight into the vessel's interior.
At the same time, as the divine patterns and Magecraft arrays within the ship activated one after another, a tall figure clad in pitch-black full-metal armor dissolved into a beam of light and was transferred from the captain's quarters into the corridor hangar.
As the stream of light descended, the silver-white metal craft shaped like a warhorse slowly opened its hatch, welcoming its pilot.
"Ether Magecraft circuits functioning normally. Neural response excellent. Soul-medium core calibration complete. Beginning Aegis linkage to the divine-body barrier.
"Machine God corridor limiter released. Multiple blessings activated. Magic core reactor at stable output!
"Clear the way ahead. [The Great Wooden Horse of the End], deploy!"
Then, amid cold, solemn intonations, the divine rune-rings circling the silver-white warhorse-shaped machine gradually dimmed and faded, lifting the restraints on its movement.
The steel giant long hidden within the black warship severed the optical cables attached behind it. Crimson-black streams of magical flame erupted outward, and with a thunderous roar it accelerated, tearing through the opened launch path like lightning.
In the blink of an eye, the [Great Wooden Horse of the End], having glided into the air, twisted its metal joints and rapidly transformed into a towering humanoid machine. It spread its wings of light, roared across Icarus Harbor, and flew toward the Acropolis of Athens.
Enemy attack!
Faced with this sudden turn, the guards along the way were alarmed and prepared to shoot down the intruder. But before the Parthenon, the Holy King pressed his right hand down through the air and directly shut off the automatically activating city-defense Magecraft barrier.
Boom!
Amid the drifting dust, the massive silver-white humanoid machine descended into the open space before the Parthenon in a half-kneeling posture. Accompanied by a crisp metallic grinding sound, the cockpit in its chest slowly opened.
Click...
With a metallic tremor, the black-armored pilot leaped from the silver-white cockpit and strode forward with decisive speed. Raising a hand to the back of his neck, he released the mechanism and removed his helmet, revealing a handsome, resolute face and white hair streaked with several stylish red highlights. Then he dropped to one knee and struck his chest with his right fist in salute.
"Your Majesty Theseus, my name is Odysseus. I have come at the goddess's command, leading the Deep Sea Fleet, answering the summons. I stand ready to receive your orders!"
"You've come at just the right time!"
Samael nodded in satisfaction, bent down to help up the peerless strategist who had once fought in the Trojan War, and casually introduced him to the others.
"Cousin Helen, it's been a long time. Penelope has been talking about you constantly. If you have time, you're welcome to visit her on the island."
It was only when that handsome pilot in white hair streaked with red spoke gently to Helen that the High Priestess of the Moon Temple finally snapped out of her daze. She pulled her astonished gaze away from the dark fleet upon the sea, nodded blankly, and the suspicion now confirmed exploded in her mind.
So the Odysseus card was not one man, but an entire fleet!
A massive combat group built upon Atlantis's alien technology and remade through Greek divine arts!
Odysseus was the commander who had awakened and now led that fleet!
Cousin?
At that moment, Samael quietly glanced at Helen, who had fallen deep into thought, and only then remembered that Odysseus's wife, Penelope, seemed to be Helen's cousin. They really were family.
Well then, at Thermopylae, there would be no need to worry about this slippery strategist holding back and not giving it his all.
Beside them, little Ana, who had taken on the form of a goddess, kept up her composure and nodded in response to Odysseus's salute.
In truth, Atlantis upon the continent of Mu and the interstellar mountain-city range of Olympus had been sunk during the war against the giants by their joint assault.
But the ten outer kingdom islands had preserved a remarkably intact core, drifting in the chaotic reaches of the Oceanus Sea, hidden by storm zones, the eye of the tide, and the forbidden powers laid down by the gods.
Even on Hecate Island, the production lines of the Echidna armory had remained largely intact. After repairs and modifications, they still retained the ability to mass-produce military units.
And this Deep Sea Fleet was the masterpiece born from those ten kingdom islands.
It had to be said, after learning the lesson of the war against the giants and the sinking of Atlantis, Athena had still dared to overrule all objections and use the Echidna armory to rebuild the Deep Sea Fleet. That alone was enough to show the courage and foresight of the Goddess of Wisdom and War.
A sword sharpened for a century. At last, this was the moment to test its edge.
Among all those present, the most excited was undoubtedly Themistocles, the grand admiral who had willingly taken the role of second-in-command.
With the addition of this steel fleet, Persia's days of enjoying an advantage at sea were about to end.
Likewise, once the Athenians learned that this terrifying force, a nightmare from the deep no less formidable than the Valkyrie corps or the Amazon troops, was in fact a mighty army belonging to Greece, a surge of pride rose in them at once. Many curious Athenians climbed the walls or ran outside the city to gaze out over the vast and turbulent sea.
"So this is the trump card you had prepared, isn't it?"
With the Deep Sea Fleet arriving as promised, Samael finally relaxed and stretched lazily.
"Not just that!"
Little Ana curled her lips. After shooting Samael a meaningful glance, she turned to stare out over the surging sea, and her purple eyes shone brilliantly as she murmured,
"...Elegant notes bring us joy and wisdom, guiding us safely across the seas.
"Storms cannot stand against us. The ocean is ours to ride!
"The trials of the gods make the brave taste life's hardships, yet find them sweet as honey!
"Our courage is like the sun and moon that shine across the world..."
At the same time, a clear and majestic song rose and fell with the waves, growing clearer and nearer.
Before the Parthenon, Samael looked up toward the sea in astonishment. His pupils suddenly contracted, and his lips moved instinctively. As if in a trance, he sang the final line of the hymn along with it.
"...Our glory... shall be remembered... by all people!"
Splash!
The waves rolled, piling crystal-white foam along the shore like shattered jade. Then a wooden sailing ship, utterly out of place among all the grim metallic constructs around it, entered Icarus Harbor, ancient and weathered in bearing, breaking through the oppressive atmosphere created by the Deep Sea Fleet as its oars rose and fell.
Hum!
In an instant, Ether trembled and roared. Standing atop the mountain, the Holy King, who until then had looked supremely composed and in command, immediately spread his metal wings and transformed into a dazzling stream of light. Like a brilliant meteor trailing a long tail of flame, he plunged toward the military port with blinding speed.
A moment later, all those gathered before the Parthenon followed after him, converging upon Icarus Harbor one after another.
Under countless gazes, the hatch slowly opened, and one familiar figure after another came into view.
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