They're All Damn Gods!
The Aegean Sea, Salamis area.
Looking out, the coastline was littered with the prows of capsized ships and broken planks. The lingering stench of blood attracted many fish and sea creatures, who gathered there to engage in a fierce battle and hunt. The waters churned and surged, and streams of blood rose from the sea, gradually spreading out patches of reddish stains.
As the strong wind blew, the hazy white mist was dispersed, and a wooden fortress floating with shimmering light stood majestically.
Nearly a thousand ships bearing the marks of war were linked end to end in a circular formation, forming a city at sea. This included numerous islands and reefs of varying sizes, with Salamis Island at its core, which served as a base for communication and trade.
On the island, the conquered inhabitants lived in fear, but whether they liked it or not, life went on as usual; the slaves plundered from all around obediently carried out the work of transporting supplies, maintaining armor and weapons, and repairing ships.
The entire water fortress was filled with the lively atmosphere of bustling activity.
But the Persian camp, built on a mountain peak overlooking the nearby sea, was shrouded in gloom and despair.
They were defeated, losing a full two hundred warships...
Inside the magnificent military tent, the Darius I downed his strong liquor in one gulp, casually wiping the liquid from his beard. Then, his eyes gleamed, and he placed the wine vessel on the low table, gazing wistfully at the person opposite him.
"Xerxes, you're the commander now. Come up with an idea. If we don't find a way to explain ourselves, my brother-in-law will come and won't let us two off the hook."
If the old man wants to hold someone accountable, he should come to you first, not me!
Damn it, you orchestrated the Battle of Salamis, and after the defeat, I became the commander-in-chief. Now you want me to take the blame? Is this how you treat your father?
With his handsome face, long, dark brown curly hair, and a somewhat effeminate and elegant air, Xerxes remained outwardly calm, but inwardly he was cursing his own father, who had put him in such a precarious position, to the point of being furious.
Because Cyrus the Great deified, lived a long life, and reigned for a long time, most of his sons lived in his shadow, and few of them became outstanding figures.
After all, those who showed promise early on have all faded away.
On the contrary, Cyrus the Great, a young and talented Darius I, was gradually supported to the throne and became the first Persian King. Xerxes was the son of the two, a Divine Blood Hero.
Perhaps due to the special bond between grandparents and grandchildren, the ambitious and talented Cyrus the Great held his grandson in high regard.
But that's no reason to make him take the blame...
Xerxes looked at his old wife with resentment, his heart filled with bitterness.
Although Cyrus the Great was kind and benevolent, he was never lenient when it came to military matters. Now, he had inexplicably suffered such a defeat. The old man had sent word a few days ago that he would come in person. Now, he had walked right into the line of fire. Not only would his son-in-law not get any benefit, but even his own grandson would be left with nothing!
However, judging by the journey, the old man would be arriving soon. If he didn't give him an explanation now, Xerxes believed that his old lover would immediately make him experience the love he had never felt before.
"My dear, the strength of the Greeks lies solely in their vast number of Divine Blood Hero. As long as we find a way to counter this power, we can bypass Athens' navy and instead conquer the Greek city-states one by one by land, relying on our superior military strength!"
Left with no other choice, the effeminate and handsome young man could only take the blame and try to salvage the situation. He stood up, placed his right fist on his chest, bowed respectfully to Darius I, and gave a quiet reply with a flickering gaze.
"I recently had the good fortune to meet three heroes from a foreign land who had traveled across the ocean. After sincerely befriending them, they are willing to serve Persia."
I guarantee that with their help, those so-called indestructible fortresses of Greece will crumble!
Then, as Darius I was deep in thought, Xerxes clapped his hands, revealing his trump card that would save him from blame.
A moment later, led by a maid, three figures invited to the banquet entered the military tent one after another.
The young man at the head of the group was tall and slender, with casually draped white hair. A Ruby was embedded in his chest, and his magnificent Golden Armor seemed to be one with his flesh and blood. The golden-red gun in his hand radiated a sun-like aura. On his handsome face, his heterochromatic eyes, one green and one red, were deep and indifferent, like a god looking down on ants.
But as soon as the white-haired, heterochromatic-eyed youth stopped, a little girl with brown hair and brown eyes, dressed in loose orange and blue clothes, wearing a ridiculous hat, and whose whole demeanor screamed "weariness" and "decadence," bumped into his lower back in a daze.
The power that suddenly erupted caused the white-haired man with heterochromatic eyes to stagger and lose his balance.
The white-haired man's tense expression relaxed slightly, his lips twitched, and he pulled up the brown-haired girl behind him, dragging her aside. He then bowed slightly to the third person who had arrived, as a sign of respect.
As the curtain was lifted, a young man with red hair and red eyes, wearing light armor, golden gauntlets, a brown-red curved sword at his waist, and a longbow on his back, entered the tent with a calm demeanor that concealed a hint of repression.
The three foreign guests exchanged glances and nodded, and at the warm invitation of Darius I and Xerxes, they took their seats one after another.
After several rounds of drinks and dishes, and through Xerxes's introductions and connections, Darius I gradually gained a general understanding of the three travelers before him.
Among the three foreigners, the young man with white hair and heterochromatic eyes is named Karna, the son of the Indian Sun God.
The girl's name is Jinako, and legend has it that she received the blessing of Ganesh, the Hindu god who governs business and obstacles.
The last red-haired youth was the Lord of Kosala, one of the kingdoms of India.
For various reasons, the three of them traveled together on the Radiant Vessel Vimana, exiling themselves to distant lands. By chance, they landed in the Chaos Sea and met Xerxes.
Darius I, who repeatedly raised his cup in toast, was filled with astonishment and turmoil after being repeatedly questioned.
That's right, three Divine Blood Hero!
No, he's almost godlike!
Of the two, apart from the little girl who seemed a bit unreliable, the other two were stronger than any hero he had ever seen in Persia.
Perhaps only the old god Kyros, who was also a deity, could rival Kyros.
Xerxes has really struck gold, getting two of them at once!
"With the assistance of these three, our army will be invincible wherever it marches. Please raise your cups and drink!"
With such strong support, Darius I was overjoyed. He immediately raised his cup in greeting, laughed heartily, and his eyes burned with a fierce fighting spirit.
"Treat me with sincerity, and I will repay you with sincerity in return. It is my duty to help my friends solve their problems."
Karna raised his cup and drank, nodded to the Persian King Xerxes, then closed his eyes and remained silent.
"Yes, yes, just ask Karna for anything. I can help you guard your home."
When it was Jinako speak, the little girl, who was happily eating at the table, held a leg of lamb, wiped the grease from the corner of her lips, and stared at the sumptuous food. Her casual reply revealed her laid-back attitude.
Finally, Rama, raised his cup, and looked intently at his opponent.
"I can be of your service to help Persia obtain that item, but according to the agreement, after the deed is done, I need to see my wife Sita, the living Sita!"
Darius I, sensing the implied meaning, immediately turned his head and looked menacingly at Xerxes, who was attending him.
It seems the news about the Planetary Great Source has been leaked...
Meanwhile, dozens of ships broke through the sea fog and headed toward Salamis Island.
At the bow of the flagship, Cyrus the Great held a Golden Chalice, swirling the crystal-clear, fragrant ale, gazing serenely at the sea and the faint outlines of the whole of Greece.
Behind him, seven figures—four men and three women—stood on the ship's side, leaned against pillars, or climbed onto the lookout tower, their presence scattered about. The immense ether caused the air to visibly distort.