Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

Chapter 151: Repelling the Attack

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Chapter 151: Repelling the Attack

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The bullet shot forth like a bolt of lightning, racing straight for the enemy's lung!

It pierced his flesh, embedding deeply within his tissue. Had it not been for his considerable defensive capabilities, that bullet would have completely penetrated his body.

At that moment, Azure Dew entered the pit, engulfed by an unbearable wave of agony. His body contorted, mouth agape in a silent scream, producing a shrill wail that echoed through the air. The pain crashed over him like relentless waves, battering his nerves.

He lifted a hand, attempting to cover his wound, but all he could manage was to let blood gush forth uncontrollably.

Beside him, Ebony Veil’s pupils dilated in shock, momentarily rendered speechless by the sight before him.

Yet, he knew this was not the time for hesitation. Before Athena could take another shot, he dashed forward and hoisted Azure Dew up in his arms.

With the last remnants of his fading consciousness, Azure Dew swiftly retrieved a white mechanical sphere from his backpack. The sphere levitated above him, its tiny mechanical arms spreading outwards like delicate white veins, sealing the gaping wound that bled profusely, stabilizing the potentially fatal injury.

Ebony Veil, clad in his combat boots, noticed mechanical patterns emerging on them, significantly amplifying his speed as he sprinted away with his injured comrade.

Athena observed everything, her mind racing. She had suspected that her adversaries might possess hidden capabilities, but this level of ingenuity took her by surprise.

So many mechanical creations could not possibly originate from a fixed source; there was only one possibility—they had built them themselves. Just as she could craft various explosives, it was entirely plausible that they could engineer such devices.

Lost in thought, her hands remained steady as she once again pulled the trigger.

The prey moved swiftly, but sadly for them, the hunter's aim was swifter.

This time, however, they had learned their lesson well. A semi-transparent light beam enveloped them—not a teleportation aura, but rather a protective shield.

The bullet spun upon impact with the shield, then slowly descended to the ground, while the pair had already dashed out of the shooting range.

The sudden emergence of the protective shield caused Athena to frown slightly. The opposition possessed more resources than she had anticipated; this might not even be the final surprise they had in store.

Each piece of equipment they wielded would be a lifeline in anyone else's hands, yet here, they appeared to be commonplace.

She lingered for a moment, waiting to confirm there was no further activity, before rising to stow her Black Friday back into her pack.

Pursuing a retreating enemy is foolish; given the combat prowess displayed by these two, it was unlikely she would fare well in a confrontation.

She contemplated the Area 007, familiar with its mechanical manufacturing capabilities, and decided to check the area list.

...

Even with his wound now sealed, the faint scent of blood was still a lethal attractant. The once-timid withered treants, previously deterred by the threat they posed, were now surging forward.

Initially, Ebony Veil managed to outrun them with the enhanced speed granted by his combat boots, but with an injured person in tow, his mobility was severely hampered.

As they ventured further, however, the energy consumption of the boots escalated alarmingly. Before long, their power reserves were nearly depleted.

Azure Dew had intended to assist, but was firmly restrained by Ebony Veil. Though the mechanical sphere controlled the wound, allowing him some temporary mobility, any excessive movement risked reopening the injury.

Despite having no torch in hand, Ebony Veil, in the midst of their sprint, waved his left hand forward, igniting sparks that appeared to materialize from thin air.

Before long, the tiny flames erupted into a massive fire circle surrounding him, expanding rapidly into the space around them.

The colossal ring of flames spread outwards, threatening to consume everything in its path.

One wave of treants fell to the blaze, only to be swiftly followed by another.

In the shadows, a pair of crimson eyes watched intently, its barely perceptible breaths waiting for the perfect moment.

The chaos attracted even more hunters lurking in the darkness.

The creatures had long ceased their game of cards, gathering instead at the entrance of the shelter.

Though they could see nothing, their acute hearing caught the rhythmic sound of gunfire, instilling within them an overwhelming sense of tension and dread. They had no understanding of the events unfolding, only that they must remain vigilant, fixated on the distance.

As soon as Athena descended from the upper floor, they recognized that the ordeal had concluded.

Meeting their watchful gazes, she nodded slightly, prompting them to turn and resume their card game without hesitation.

Settling onto the sofa, she activated her system panel and scrolled through to the Area 007.

Those two would likely rank highly.

As she had surmised, their avatars were pixelated representations based on their real appearances. While they did not provide an exact likeness, they conveyed enough features to discern the individuals.

The long-haired male was the easiest to identify; he ranked second in the Area 007.

Like the Area 004, the Area 007 was a distinct area, confirming that their adversaries belonged to a significantly powerful faction, at least in terms of the number of survivors.

[Azure Dew]

Zone ID: 007 Independent Zone

Attributes: Cannot be viewed.

Description: Combat capability barely makes the top ten, yet in terms of overall strength, he could undoubtedly rank second or even surpass the first. Highly skilled in crafting various mechanical contraptions.

Upon finding the long-haired male, she scrolled down to discover the seventh rank belonged to Ebony Veil.

[ Ebony Veil ]

Zone ID: 007 Independent Zone

Attributes: Cannot be viewed.

Description: Action-oriented with exceptional close-combat skills. Lacks personal flair—his greatest distinguishing feature.

It was unfortunate that she could only access general information, yet having any details was better than none.

The withered treants became fuel for the flames, their bodies igniting and forming a colossal bonfire, interspersed with the remains of several defeated monsters.

The once-restless creatures retreated after the fierce battle, though it remained uncertain whether a second wave of monsters might be drawn to the commotion.

Seated back-to-back near the bonfire, the two individuals tended to their wounds. Their clothing was tattered and stained with blood, bandages wrapped haphazardly around their bodies, a faint medicinal aroma lingering in the air.

With the scent of blood no longer concealable, it was only a matter of time before monsters were attracted to them. Thus, they decided to amplify the ruckus, using this form of intimidation to deter the creatures lurking nearby.

This approach proved effective.

Amidst the swirling sands, a palm-sized figure wearing a conical hat fell into a crevice in the earth, quietly climbing back to its feet, clutching a small scroll of parchment in its hand.

As it traversed the terrain, it caught sight of the distant glow.