Chapter 3, Section 10: Cruel Phalanx Warfare
At the same time, there is now a collision of dense infantry arrays, and the stable and solid characteristics of the heavy infantry phalanx are fully demonstrated at this time.
It can be said that this wave of attack by the Athenians.
It directly suppressed the advantages of the Byzantine Empire, leaving Byzantium powerless.
The battlefield was forcibly divided into two armies, a competition between the basic qualities and training of the soldiers.
But let’s talk about playing square formation.
The Byzantines were experts too.
The Byzantine soldiers in the front row were all heavy infantry. With the efforts of the centurions and other grassroots officers, these soldiers quickly formed a stable front to fight against the Athenian soldiers. At the same time, the phalanx infantry, as the reserve, had now picked up the specially made Byzantine spears. This super-long spear, which was more than four meters long, was an excellent weapon to fight against traditional heavy infantry. Soon, the array of these phalanx infantry was also arranged. Once the heavy infantry in the front row could not hold on, they would immediately retreat and let the phalanx infantry take over.
And on the front battlefield.
The most primitive sounds of battle were everywhere.
The shields and spears collided, making a harsh metal friction sound.
Every simple thrust either failed to hit, hit the shield, or pierced the enemy's body.
This simplest thrust was mechanical and rigid, but it was the most efficient way to kill people in this era. The stabbed heavy infantryman fell to the ground, but then the soldiers in the back row took up their positions with shields in hand. Every scream represented the death of a life. Blood and flesh hung on the top of the spear and splashed on the shield of the heavy infantryman, staining it red. The wounded were either trampled to death by the heavy infantrymen or dragged back from the dangerous battle zone by kind comrades.
But now both sides have become blood-thirsty.
Who cares about these soldiers lying on the ground?
The most brutal battle took place in the first row of the heavy infantry phalanx.
The soldiers in the first row are not only attackers, but also have to face the attacks of the other side. The battle between heavy infantry phalanxes is essentially a competition of morale and consumption. When the soldiers in the front row fall to the ground and die, the soldiers behind them will immediately make up for it. In the end, the side that can't hold on will collapse. But now, the morale of the Byzantine army is high, and the Athenian army would rather die than surrender in order to protect the city-state.
Both sides are trying their best.
No one wants to admit defeat.
The number of casualties continued to soar as the fighting continued.
This most primitive way of fighting is the real way the Greeks fight.
However, the Byzantine soldiers were under great pressure. Not only did they have to face the neatly arrayed Athenians, but they also had to be careful of the Cretan archers, who would find the right opportunity to shoot arrows into the gaps in their shields. Every soldier was under great psychological pressure, and no one wanted to be the unlucky one who was killed by an arrow.
But the war cannot remain stalemated forever.
The Byzantines obviously had many more means than the Athenians.
"Let the other party have a taste of the power of the crossbow."
Drubetti, who was in charge of the frontline command, proudly said,
"Grotesque Athenians!"
"Yes!"
At this time, the crossbows deployed in the rear were also pushed to the front of the battle line. There happened to be a small hill near the battle line where the two armies were fighting. The height of the hill was not high, but it was high enough to deploy crossbows and pose a threat to the enemy's heavy infantry in the rear. So, Drubetti immediately asked the soldiers to place these light crossbows on the hill. These crossbows did not fire crossbow arrows, but stone bullets, which had a long range and were not less powerful.
After the crossbow was set up, it began its attack.
This kind of stone bullet will be accelerated to a terrifying speed by the crossbow.
The target of the ballista was the rear of the Athenian army.
These flying stone bullets flew over the battle area and landed in the entire line of heavy infantry in the back row. The shields that could resist arrows were obviously powerless when facing these stone bullets. If the powerful stone bullets hit the shield, they could directly knock people to the ground, and the hands holding the shield would also be directly broken and scrapped due to the huge impact force.
If the stone bullet hits a person's body, the bronze armor will be directly pierced.
Even the stone bullets would bounce among the crowd, injuring several people in succession.
The sudden catapult attack caused a lot of chaos in the rear of the Athenians.
Nicias couldn't help but look sideways when he saw this scene.
Golgopas followed closely and smashed the axe in front of Nicias.
"It's not good to be distracted during a battle."
"Tsk..."
Nicias looked at the guy in front of him coldly.
Golgopas, like Nicias, was a half-assed warrior. They were not an oracle who specialized in fighting. They were completely different from an oracle like Brasidas. The abilities they had gained as oracles were not meant for a life-and-death battle with each other on the battlefield. It was precisely because of this that the two fought for a long time, but in the end, no one won or lost.
"Golgopas!"
Nicias suddenly said loudly:
"Do you now know that your actions are against the gods?"
"I know."
Nicias smiled indifferently.
"But so what?"
"You are the oracle chosen by Lord Dionysus, the god of wine. You should fight for the god who gave you power, instead of choosing to join a monster who stands against the gods and wants to spread her reign of terror throughout Greece."
"Ha, you can't beat me, so now you want to use your oratorical skills to convince me? Let me tell you, your idea is too naive." Golgopas sneered, "Lord Dionysus did give me power, but I have never seen Lord Dionysus appear in front of me and tell me what to do! Besides, I am me, and the gods are gods. I thank the gods for giving me power, but I am not a puppet of the gods, unlike you, who want to pull the whole of Athens to make people happy just to lick the goddess."
"you!"
Nicias was choked to death by this remark.
Golgopas was unyielding and continued:
"Oh, Lady Hera is Zeus' wife. If you want to win the goddess' heart, it may be a little difficult. Oh, it's hard to say. Lady Hera may be willing to reward you, take off her shoes, and let you lick her feet. For a spineless slave like you, it must be a supreme honor to be able to lick the goddess' feet!"
Chapter 4, Section 1: Serious Nicias
"It's you, Golgopas!"
Nicias was unconvinced.
So he retorted.
"I think you are the slave who kneels before Hilde and **!"
“I couldn’t ask for more!!!”
Golgopas suddenly stood up and said excitedly: "If this is the case, I am willing to sacrifice my life!!!"
"you……"
"It's useless to talk too much, just wait and see!"
Golgopas swung the axe in his hand again, and with a whistling sound, it rushed straight to Nicias's face. No matter how stupid Nicias was, he would not use the bronze sword in his hand to resist the opponent's attack. So Nicias retreated again and again, and was almost forced to the base of the Athens city wall.
We can't retreat any further.
Otherwise, it will inevitably affect the morale of the Athenian army.
A drop of cold sweat appeared on Nicias' forehead.
There is no doubt that the current situation is dangerous. After all, the advantage is not in the hands of the Athenians.
Hera and the blonde girl were fighting to a draw, and neither of them was able to gain a significant advantage. Nicias originally thought that it would be easy for Hera to deal with the two oracles, but now it seemed that Hera had a hard time dealing with even one of them, let alone dealing with two at the same time.
On the other hand, Hercules, the legendary god who was considered by Nicias to be the winner of any battle, was now fighting the Persian to a draw. Moreover, the Persian was quite evil, and the fire she used looked very dangerous. If you were not careful, you would be burned beyond recognition. Hercules was extremely powerful, but he could not get close to her. Instead, he was burned by the fire and was at a loss, covered with wounds... He even felt that he might lose at any time.
And he faced Golgopas himself.
But I am unable to do so.
He himself is not good at fighting, but is better at politics.
And now, he encountered Golgopas, an oracle who was slightly better at fighting than himself.
Nicias was under a lot of pressure.
His original plan was to lead the Athenian army out of the city, and with the help of Hera and Hercules, completely disintegrate the Byzantine army's offensive and resolve the crisis in Athens. But now, it has become a war of attrition. The Athenian soldiers who rushed out of the city were involved in a war of attrition and protracted war, falling one after another, and he himself was entangled by Golgopas.
So Nicias took a deep breath.
He felt that he couldn't go on like this.
At least, facing Golgopas.
I can't be so passive anymore.
In his mind, he recalled Hera's teachings to him. As an oracle, as Hera's oracle, Nicias was taught how to use his abilities effectively and reasonably when encountering danger. And now was the time to use this method. Nicias took a deep breath and said to Golgopas in front of him:
"I hope you can recognize the current situation."
"Do you want me to preach to you again? I'm tired of hearing you."
Golgopas sighed impatiently.
"I don't want to waste time."
"I'm serious! Now, I am indeed at a disadvantage in the battle with you, but you have to think clearly. The gods have not yet exerted their full strength. Lord Zeus has not appeared yet, but once Lord Zeus appears, what will be the result? I'm afraid I don't need to say more, you should know it very well in your heart. At that time, what awaits you is a fate of inevitable defeat!"
"I don't care about these things."
Golgopas sneered:
"Can Zeus give me some wine?"
"what?"
"Although I know that asking me to fight against gods is purely seeking death, but when I faced Apollo, I was not afraid. Didn't I kill that guy Apollo in the end? If I were a traitor, I would have betrayed him when Apollo appeared. Why wait until now!" Golgopas pointed at Dione and Xerxes who were fighting, "Everyone thinks so! We have decided to follow your majesty. Even if our final fate is to be torn to pieces, we will not betray your majesty!"
"……Row."
Golgopas's determination.
This made Nicias admire him a little.
Then, Nicias raised the sword in his hand and gently closed his eyes. He concentrated all his divine power on his sword. Although it was just an ordinary bronze sword with exquisite workmanship, when the divine power was injected into the sword body, the whole sword exuded a soft brilliance. At the same time, an irrepressible power was transmitted from the sword body.
This is Hera's power.
Use divine power to strengthen your weapons.
Make the weapon have power comparable to that of a divine weapon for a short period of time.
"It seems that you are serious too." Golgopas saw this and said with a smile, "In that case, then..."
"bring it on!"
Golgopas jumped high into the air and chopped down Nicias with the huge axe in his hand.
But this time, Nicias did not dodge.
Instead, he used the strengthened sword in his hand to chop back directly at Golgopas's giant axe.
The originally fragile bronze sword, no matter how hard you try, could not possibly defeat the steel axe. However, the sword blessed by divine power instantly became indestructible at this moment, and directly blocked Golgopas's axe.
"What!?"
Golgopas was startled.
How could that slender sword be able to block such a heavy attack?
Nicias gritted his teeth and pushed the force back.
Golgopas sensed the danger coming, so he jumped to the side. At this time, Nicias's sword cut Golgopas's axe in the middle like cutting a piece of meat. Seeing his weapon suddenly break into two pieces, Golgopas was only slightly dazed, and then he realized that the problem was with Nicias' weapon.
"You guy..."
"This is the power that Lady Hera has given me."
Nicias held his sword and said coldly:
“Now, it’s time to put it to good use.”
"Hmph, it does look like the ability of Master Craftsman."
The ability to strengthen weapons is indeed very similar to the ability of Hephaestus, the god of craftsmanship.
Nicias himself had suspected as much.
Golgopas, on the other hand, mocked and questioned him directly: "Hey, tell me, are you actually the oracle of Lord Hephaestus? You are not the oracle of Lord Hera at all."
Sophia joins the battle in the second section of the fourth tune
