Nobody knows how to be a villain better than me.

As for Medea and Circe...

The passage of thousands of years has not changed their unwavering commitment to that vow.

Clearly, the feelings hidden in their hearts were already deeply rooted, and he himself was also eager to do the same, so he took the opportunity to pull them into this pleasure as well, without any regret.

Besides, he's not some respectable snake, not even a simple human being.

Yes, as long as I don't have human morality, human morality can't bind me!

As a deity, having desires is not a shameful act.

Therefore, instead of being pretentious and escaping, it's better to follow your nature, boldly take the plunge, accept each other openly, and give Anna, Atalanta, Medea, and Circe an explanation for their many years of waiting.

As for Stheno and Euryale...

What actually pulled them into the house was Medusa, who had grown to a gigantic size after the resonance with the divine power—a characteristic that the three Gorgon sisters could not separate.

What goes around comes around. The two amused men ended up being the amused ones themselves. Samael, who had been teased countless times, naturally didn't need to be polite.

After all, educating students is the primary duty of a mentor!

Samael gently shook the bottle, a pleased smile playing on his lips, his dark eyes revealing a deep, malicious grin.

Yes, I'm so grateful. I imagine my two beloved students are filled with gratitude right now.

Chapter 150 The best defense is offense! (2/3)

With the long night stretching on and nothing to do, Samael and Jason finished their mead from the bottle and then dragged their old friend to the captain's cabin to play chess for a while.

Unfortunately, after several games, Jason, this terrible chess player, basically didn't win a single game. Although he played boldly and made unexpected moves, he seemed more like a gambler trying to win back his losses than a competent chess player.

The saying goes that nine out of ten gamblers lose. In chess, a game that emphasizes mental skill, relying on luck or sheer audacity to rebel is undoubtedly much more difficult.

Therefore, Samael won without any pressure and thus couldn't gain much of a sense of accomplishment.

It's a pity that high-level players like Gilgamesh, Athena, and Themis aren't here; otherwise, this kind of entertainment would be quite interesting.

After several setbacks and being battered and bruised on the chessboard, Jason's gambler's competitive spirit was aroused. With a quick thought, he activated the magic circle on the Argo and summoned his cousin Odysseus for a shameless off-board appeal.

To increase the game's difficulty, Samael turned a blind eye to Odysseus's behind-the-scenes advice and calmly fought two opponents at once.

It must be said that Odysseus was indeed a strategist, with a meticulous plan, and he managed to fight Odysseus to a standstill.

However, Samael had been repeatedly defeated by the three great masters Gilgamesh, Athena, and Themis. He had dealt with all kinds of opponents. His advantage lay in his rich experience and deep strategies. Even against the generally conservative Odysseus, he could still win more often than lose.

However, seeing the two sides exchanging blows and fighting fiercely, Jason was unwilling to be just a tool responsible for placing pieces. He couldn't resist the urge to play and, relying on his intuition, added his own understanding to a few moves.

In a short time, Odysseus incorporated wildly imaginative and risky moves into his meticulously planned strategy. His drastically different style, which was mainly conventional but supplemented by unconventional tactics, put Samael under increasing pressure, and he quickly lost several rounds in a row.

Unexpectedly, the collaboration between these two cousins ​​produced a wonderful chemical reaction.

With the score constantly being chased and on the verge of being tied, Samael became more cautious and focused, his enthusiasm soaring.

Meanwhile, Sisyphus, who was on night watch, quietly slipped into the room, stood behind Samael, and gave his superior advice.

Not long after, Odysseus also boarded the Argo and offered advice on the spot.

The situation returned to two-on-two, and Samael simply stopped pursuing victory and treated it as a casual pastime, which suddenly made the scene lively.

At the end of the game, Samael pressed down his king, gave his seat to Sisyphus, and stood up to look at Odysseus, discussing important matters.

"Is the handover complete over there?"

"Yes, it was all arranged two days ago. The five Hassans who came were Bai Mao, Yan Zui, Zhen Guan, Ying Bo, and Jing Mi, as well as one-third of the Assassins of the Order. However, I did not see the old man you mentioned."

"That's normal. The old man has his own plans. He will appear at the right time and place, when he is supposed to, and strike with deadly accuracy before fleeing far away. That is the true essence of an assassin."

Samael didn't take it to heart, recalling his past experiences and explaining with a light laugh.

"The Order has clearly agreed to cooperate, but it has only sent one-third of its forces, which shows a lack of sincerity."

Odysseus frowned, reminding him that the past enmity between the Panhellenic League and the Assassins made it difficult for him to let his guard down against these assassins.

Samael toyed with an exquisite assassin chess piece in his hand, his fingers twirling as he pursed his lips and whispered.

"It is my order that, for various reasons, the main force of the Assassins will not be directly deployed to the battlefield against the Persian army."

Then, the ancient serpent raised its eyes, its expression meaningful.

"Of course, they have a greater use in Persia..."

A greater use?

A look of confusion crossed Odysseus's face. As the assassin's pawn was pushed onto the sand table, the strategist seemed to ponder for a moment. Then, the fog in his mind suddenly dissipated under the thunderous roar, and his pupils contracted sharply.

"Persia? You're plotting against Persia!"

"Otherwise what? In this day and age, are we only allowed to take a beating and not fight back?"

Samael glanced at Odysseus, inserted the assassin's chess piece into the Persian pantheon marked with flames, turned to the side to reveal the entire sand table, overlooking the mountains, rivers, and seas filled with various flags and intricate power struggles, and a smile appeared on his lips.

"Thermopylae now has a Persian army of 30 and thousands of warships, which has almost emptied the heartland of Persia. This battle has reached the point of exhausting the country's strength, and the enemy's heartland is already empty."

According to intelligence gathered by the Assassins, the fully-fledged Meteor Legion, the Undead Army, and the arcane mages seem to have been gradually redeployed, leaving the Persian Empire as nothing more than a shell!

Samael tapped rhythmically on the sand table, a cold smile playing on his lips. He methodically analyzed the current situation and presented the battle plan to his three exceptionally intelligent comrades.

Currently, 30 Persian troops are gathered at Thermopylae, while the Hunnic Empire has retreated to the steppes to recuperate.

The reinforcements from the Panhellenic Union marched from north to south, including the Viking fleet from Northern Europe, Amazonian warriors from Rome, and the legacy left behind by Athens. The number of soldiers was about 20, but the quality of the soldiers was more elite.

Meanwhile, the Egyptian fleet would sail from south to north to jointly attack the Persians, and Ramses II had at least 20 to 30 troops under his command.

In terms of military strength alone, our side has an absolute advantage.

Upon hearing this, everyone felt a sense of unease, as if the wheel of fortune had turned.

There was a time when the Panhellenic League was besieged on all sides, attacked from both sides. The Battle of the Seven Hills was also Athens' darkest moment, causing panic among the Greeks. They feared that one day Rome would fall and the Persians, Egyptians, and Huns would all send troops to Greece and march on Athens. Many people secretly began to plan to join the Persians.

Now, the situation has reversed. The Persian army of 30 men at Thermopylae, though seemingly formidable, is actually isolated and helpless.

The Nordic countries, Rome, Greece, and even their former ally Egypt all joined forces to prepare to annihilate this Persian army.

The once-weak party, on the verge of collapse, has transformed into the dominant party with all the advantages.

If nothing unexpected happens, we will be able to accomplish our goal in one fell swoop very soon.

"Don't be too happy yet. Our alliance with Egypt is not very reliable. It's good that Ramses II is just standing by and watching. It's not impossible that he would help the Persians at a critical moment to prevent Greece from becoming too powerful. So even if we have the advantage, it's unlikely that we can win the Battle of Thermopylae in one fell swoop."

Samael pondered for a moment, then calmly poured cold water on the situation, unhesitatingly speculating about the Pharaoh with the worst possible malice, and offered a strategy to break the deadlock.

"The best way to end the century-long Greco-Persian Wars is not to defend, but to attack!"

The war should not be confined to Greece; victory or defeat is not always determined by the situation itself, but can also be viewed from a broader perspective.

Since everyone's attention is focused on Thermopylae, why not strike at the root and destroy the Persians' stronghold first, cutting off their foundation?

The ancient serpent narrowed its eyes, a dark, murderous glint appearing deep within its vertical pupils.

"So, Your Majesty, the card you went to so much trouble to protect can finally be put to use?"

Sisyphus stepped forward, pulled up the Roman eagle banner of the Seven Hills, and pushed it forward with a joyful smile.

"Haha, with the Assassins as insiders and the Roman legions taking advantage of the situation, the Persians are in for a lot of trouble. Brother, when are you going to make your move?"

Jason couldn't help but grin and come closer, hooking his arm around Samael's shoulder with a smug look on his face.

Samael stroked his chin, a meaningful smile curving his lips, and looked up at the approaching night, speaking softly.

"At the very moment the Greek army assembled and set off from the port of Icarus, following my and Nero's orders, Pompey, Octavian, Antony, and Scipio had already led four full-strength Roman legions and 2000 Amazonian warriors as reinforcements from the Amazonian tribes to assemble on the eastern front."

They should already be marching on Persia!

Chapter 151 Boudica's Divine Assistance (3/3)

Good guy!

Everyone gasped, exchanging bewildered glances at the sand table. After a long while, they calmed themselves and turned to look at Samael with a mixture of surprise and amusement.

This is no longer about anticipating the enemy's moves three steps ahead, but rather about having a monstrous strategic vision that can overturn a hundred others!

After taking several deep breaths, the three heroes, known for their wisdom and resourcefulness, calmed down and began to express their concerns with some hesitation.

Jason spoke first: "Rome has just gone through a great war and is severely weakened. The four legions must have drawn all the military forces within its borders. Isn't that too risky?"

"The Huns retreated to the steppes, Carthage was busy arguing with its overlord Egypt, and in the battle on the eastern front, Rome suffered heavy losses, but the Persians suffered even more, with nearly 20 Persian soldiers losing their lives in the 'Wilderness of Death'! Moreover, judging from the situation at Thermopylae, the Persians were fighting desperately, so was there any need for Rome to defend its homeland?"

A war that threatens the very existence of a nation must be fought with the full might of that nation!

Samael responded with a pursed lip, already having made up his mind.

If you've gone all in, you naturally have to follow suit.

Jason saw a familiar gambler's gaze in those shimmering eyes, only now there was more wisdom and composure deep within those pupils.

"If it's just the usual four Roman legions and Amazonian warriors, then Cyrus and the Persian Pantheon..."

Odysseus frowned and voiced a more real concern.

"Don't worry about that. Those rebellious nobles of divine blood in Athens, though useless, still had some positive effect. At least they proved one thing to me:"

Cyrus should have already left the Pantheon, and is perhaps among the Persian army at Thermopylae!

Samael spoke with certainty, his brow furrowed and a cold smile playing on his lips.

As a long-time rival, Marduk knew him well, and he knew this master of armies just as well.

If angels have appeared, then God must be not far off.

"If I remember correctly, the region connecting Rome and Persia has now become a desolate wasteland, devoid of living beings, because of that previous divine war."

The raging ethereal tides and sandstorms of the [Land of Nothingness], and the heartless sinners wandering the [Wilderness of Death], are all deadly troubles, utterly hindering the army's advance.

Sisyphus's question was more detailed, mentioning his own considerations.

It was precisely because of the natural barriers of this unique environment that the Persians were able to confidently divert their troops, abandon their confrontation with Rome, and launch a major offensive against Greece.

“I learned from Hippolyta’s reply that Nero had obtained the true mechanical weapons descended from the Roman Pantheon. This trouble should have been left to her, but I didn’t expect that this brat would abandon her affairs in Rome and run off to Athens to cause trouble…”

When Samael mentioned this, his face darkened, and he couldn't help but feel an urge to tuck a naughty child under his arm and spank him.

But then, the ancient serpent spread its five fingers wide, and six emblems exuding natural charm appeared in its palm, its expression relaxed.

"However, Rome now has a better 'candidate' to lead the army out of the battlefield of the old gods..."

Although divine power remains in the Land of Nothingness and the Wilderness of Death, only the gods can probably eliminate the terrifying disasters in the battlefield of the old gods.

A better candidate? Could it be that one of the Olympian gods enshrined in the Pantheon has been reawakened?

Artemis, the moon goddess? Apollo, the god of light? Ares, the god of war? Or Demeter, the goddess of agriculture?

Could it be Zeus, the king of the gods?

The three looked at each other, completely baffled, and each began to wonder.

Meanwhile, outside Rome's eastern defensive line, on the battlefield of the ancient gods, in the land of nothingness.

A crimson-black etheric storm whipped up dust and blew fiercely, forming several tornadoes that stretched across the heavens and earth, dimming the sun and moon along their path.

hum!

Amidst the wondrous rhythm, thick, vibrant yellow-green ripples spread outwards, gradually calming the turbulent magic along the way. The raging sandstorm, like beaded curtains rolling open to the sides, revealed a path connecting the inside and outside by flowing from bottom to top and splitting to the left and right.

Even more incredible is that the sand dunes along the way, which should have been barren, are now covered in lush greenery, with flowers and plants sprouting and blooming at a visible speed, creating a vibrant avenue of plants.

"Roar! Roar! Roar! Roar!"

However, sensing the presence of life, the wandering, deranged sinners on the outside turned their heads menacingly, brandishing their twisted limbs covered in rotting flesh, and charged forward swiftly with their hands and feet, like mad beasts that have caught the scent of prey.

Boom boom boom!

But in an instant, a dense barrage of cursed bullets rained down from the sky, the saturation bombardment wiping out all the wanderers along the way.

These resilient monsters, in their mutation, coalesced into even more distorted forms, attempting to once again ferociously prey on their prey.

The spreading flowers and plants have already inserted their roots deep into their flesh and blood, breaking down their bodies and purifying the chaotic energy within them.

In the blink of an eye, these monsters hadn't gone far before they were torn to pieces, becoming nourishment scattered on the grass and returning to dust.

"Clear the battlefield! Keep moving!"

The chariot rumbled past, and the red-haired Celtic queen, wearing a golden crown and holding the reins, pointed her sword forward.

Moments later, tall Amazonian female warriors, with longbows on their backs and chain hammers and greatswords at their waists, swept across the wilderness ahead like cheetahs running across the plains.