novelraw Chapter 21 : Chapter 21
Chapter 21 : Chapter 21
Chapter 21. A New Branching Point
“Fortunately, it seems I’m not too late.”
By the time Lee Han-seong arrived at the Marathon Plain after a ten-day march with the royal guard, the Athenian and Persian armies, arrayed on opposite sides of the plain, were already engaged in a fierce battle.
The uniquely thin center was on the verge of being breached.
However, there was still some distance for them to cover before they could join the fray.
‘If I use Shortening Miles to an Inch, I can get there alone, but just adding me won't be enough to turn the situation around.’
Still, it wasn't as if there was no other way.
Thanks to spending ten days marching and camping with the Spartan royal guard, Pheidippides had been acknowledged as a temporary member of their unit.
As a result, Pheidippides' Vocalization skill had blended into the Spartan royal guard's battle cry.
And Lee Han-seong had gained the minimum connection needed to link the battle cry and himself with Overmind.
‘This is the moment to complete the promotion!’
Just before the Spartan royal guard spotted the crisis in the Athenian center and charged forward with a shout, Lee Han-seong executed the technique he had been planning for the past ten days, which would become the prototype for Pheidippides' second awakening skill.
‘Shortening Miles to an Inch is an awakening skill that teleports me as a subject.’
If so, he had started with the idea that the voice derived from him could also be a subject of teleportation.
“Sparta!!”
Paaat!
He let out a war cry with the royal guard and simultaneously activated Shortening Miles to an Inch.
He connected space to space, allowing the war cry to travel between them.
Sparta!!
This was the result.
A magnificent war cry that echoed throughout the entire battlefield.
The sound, far louder than the royal guard's original shout, was a kind of feedback.
It was a phenomenon that usually occurred when a microphone and speaker were brought too close together, but Shortening Miles to an Inch, which connected two points in space, had caused a similar effect.
[
Thanks to this, the additional effects of the battle cry were amplified.
“Spartan reinforcements have arrived!”
“Woooooah!!”
Though they numbered only 300, the royal guard’s battle cry brought about a greater increase in fighting power than thousands of soldiers.
‘We’ve won.’
In the original history, the center was breached and had to retreat; only after the remaining left and right flanks defeated the Persian flanks could they deal with the elite Persian center that had pushed forward.
But now, since the center had not been breached at all, it seemed the battle would conclude much more quickly.
“Run away!”
“If we can just make it to the fleet, our allies are there!”
The Persian soldiers, realizing the tide had turned against them, began to flee.
“Chase the enemy! Leave no Persian alive!”
The allies, having seized victory, immediately pursued and slaughtered the fleeing enemies whose formation had collapsed.
The Persian right flank, which fled toward the marsh, was certain to be annihilated.
The only remaining threat was the Persian center and left flank forces fleeing toward the fleet's anchorage.
Lee Han-seong and the Spartan royal guard immediately gave chase.
“Follow me!”
Facing an enemy that showed its back was an incredibly easy task.
The pursuit, dominated by the allies, extended all the way to the Persian fleet's anchorage, where a chaotic battle ensued.
In the end, as in history, they couldn't stop the Persian fleet from retreating, but they had inflicted more damage than the seven ships lost in the original history.
“Damn it. We’re withdrawing.”
The Persian fleet was retreating.
In the original history, they had attempted a flanking attack on Athens, but now, they didn't even have the strength for that.
The Battle of Marathon was over.
But Pheidippides still had a job to do.
‘To recreate the legend of the Olympic marathon, I’ll have to report the victory to Athens.’
There was no need to go in person.
He had the new technique he had just used to spread the Spartan battle cry.
Linking Shortening Miles to an Inch and Vocalization with Overmind.
=Athens has defeated Persia!
He sent only his voice to Athens, spreading the news of victory.
Soon, a message appeared before his eyes.
[You have achieved the accomplishment, ‘A Word Without Feet Travels a Thousand Ri’.]
[The Sun Constellation records your accomplishment and the altered history.]
[The 2nd awakening skill 《Six Harmonies Voice Transmission》 blossoms.]
[Pheidippides' 2-star promotion is complete.]
[The History Alteration will end shortly… Error!]
-Nyaa!
And just as the History Alteration was about to end, the cat cried.
With the cry, the time around me stopped.
The soldiers who had been celebrating their victory and the scenery turned gray, becoming like a black-and-white photograph.
In that state, only a new system message appeared.
[The History Alteration will continue in order to complete Pheidippides' 3-star promotion.]
[The flow of history will accelerate to the next branching point.]
[Remaining accomplishments will be consumed for acceleration. Current number of remaining accomplishments: 3]
Due to the constellation’s intervention, the History Alteration that should have ended was continuing.
As a price, the ‘Goblin Wolf Rider Slayer’ accomplishment was additionally consumed, but since it was more beneficial for the History Alteration to continue right now, it wasn't a waste.
Fliiiiip!
The scenes flipped by as if turning the pages of a book.
In the next moment, Lee Han-seong had become Pheidippides in 480 BC, 10 years after the Battle of Marathon.
It was the period just before the Second Persian War.
***
The place where Lee Han-seong newly opened his eyes was a council chamber in ancient Greece.
The Greek alliance had gathered at the Isthmus of Corinth after learning of the invasion by the second Persian expeditionary force led by Emperor Xerxes.
He had awakened in the body of Pheidippides, who was participating as an adjutant.
First, he checked Pheidippides' body, which had changed over the skipped 10 years.
【Pheidippides (★★☆) (Transcendence in effect)】
Normal Skills:
Rare Skills:
Normal Awakening Skills: 《Shortening Miles to an Inch》, 《Six Harmonies Voice Transmission》
Destiny Awakening Skill: 《???》
【Lee Han-seong (★☆) (Transcendence in effect)】
Normal Skills:
Rare Skill:
Normal Awakening Skill: 《Transcendence》
Destiny Awakening Skill: 《???》
Two new skills caught my eye.
Pheidippides' rare skill
It seemed that
‘But where did Rhetoric come from?’
The moment I questioned the origin of Rhetoric,
‘Hmm.’
After the victory at the Battle of Marathon, Pheidippides had solidified his position as a messenger based on the awakening skill Shortening Miles to an Inch.
The war was over, but everyone knew it wasn't the end.
The Persian Emperor Darius had only temporarily withdrawn due to the defeat at Marathon; he was not the type of person to give up on conquering Greece.
In preparation for that, communication between the various Greek poleis had to become closer, and naturally, the role of the messenger became more important as well.
In such a situation, Pheidippides' status, capable of traversing distances of tens or hundreds of kilometers in an instant, was bound to soar.
The proof of this was that he was not just a messenger who conveyed his superior's words, but was also given the role of a diplomatic envoy who could directly negotiate with other cities on behalf of his own.
And it was in the process of forming the Greek alliance in preparation for the second Persian invasion, which became a reality just last year in 481 BC, that Pheidippides made a significant contribution, causing the
[Conditions have been met, and the rare skill
And the reason he had come to this point in time was that this was the branching point to complete his 3-star promotion.
As I was glancing around to grasp the exact situation, my eyes suddenly met with a commander standing on the opposite side.
Themistocles, one of the commanders who had also participated in the Battle of Marathon.
-Nyaa!
The cat on my head also saw him and let out a cry as if in greeting.
At the constellation's reaction, I felt there was something about the other person and watched Themistocles carefully.
For some reason, he felt familiar to me as well.
Just then, Themistocles was explaining the Greek alliance's strategy using a map on the table, as if to make sure everyone heard clearly.
“The invasion of the Persian land forces will be intercepted here, at Thermopylae. The Persian fleet will be intercepted here, at Artemisium.”
Land battle and naval battle, two divided choices.
As I was contemplating which one to choose, the constellation provided key clues for this alteration.
[Due to the Unnamed Constellation's intervention, some clues for the History Alteration are revealed.]
[First clue: King Leonidas'
[Second clue: The traitor.]
[Third clue: The last stand at Thermopylae.]
With the clues clearly pointing to Thermopylae, I realized that the core of this period was at Thermopylae.
Indeed, if Thermopylae on land was breached, the forces at Artemisium would have no choice but to retreat.
To change history, I had to turn the defeat at Thermopylae into a victory.
‘No, do I necessarily have to turn it into a victory?’
The important thing was adding a new history, a new accomplishment, to Pheidippides' name.
Even in defeat, if it was a defeat etched in history like Thermopylae, it would be enough to complete the 3-star promotion.
Just as I had decided to go to Thermopylae and looked at Themistocles, who was currently his superior.
‘Ah!’
I suddenly realized the source of the familiarity I felt from Themistocles.
‘Chungmugong?’
Park Seong-cheol's 6-star heroic spirit, who had entered the History Alteration with Pheidippides.
Chungmugong Yi Sun-sin was dwelling within the person named Themistocles.
Knowing that, I could also tell where his promotion stage would be.
‘The Battle of Salamis!’
A battle like the Battle of Salamis, which would be the turning point of the Second Persian War, would be necessary to become an accomplishment for a 7-star promotion.
And since the defeat at Thermopylae was an important branching point leading to the Battle of Salamis, it would be troublesome if the losing history was changed.
Thanks to that, my mind was at ease.
‘This time, rather than changing history, I should focus on engraving the name of Pheidippides in history.’
Thump, thump.
As if agreeing with his thoughts, the cat on his head patted his head with its paws.
While Lee Han-seong was deciding on his course of action, the meeting of the Greek alliance was slowly coming to an end.
It was decided which city's forces would be in charge of the land and naval battles, and the position of commander of the allied forces to defend Thermopylae was given to King Leonidas of Sparta.
“Then, I ask for your good work as decided.”
“You on the Artemisium side, hold out well too.”
I followed King Leonidas as he left after concluding the meeting.
“King Leonidas!”
“And you are…?”
“Pheidippides, a messenger of Athens, wishes to assist you! Please accept me!”
“Why should I accept you?”
King Leonidas asked as if testing me at the sudden request to join.
I unfolded Six Harmonies Voice Transmission and answered.
=Because I can deliver your words better than anyone else.
Interest flickered in Leonidas' eyes at the voice that echoed from all directions.
Confirming that my intention had worked, I continued.
=Even in the chaos of battle, my voice will be accurately delivered to the ears of the Spartan warriors. Of course, it will also be possible to deliver a stern warning to the enemy.
[
[Persuasion check…… Failure.]
“I certainly see your usefulness. But what makes you think I can trust you with the right to speak in my stead?”
Even with the Rhetoric skill, King Leonidas was not easily swayed.
In fact, his suspicion was natural.
To speak in his stead meant to relay commands between the king and the warriors.
If Lee Han-seong had ill intentions and distorted the commands, a battle that could be won would be lost.
I deactivated Six Harmonies Voice Transmission and asked back in my own voice.
“Is being part of the same alliance not enough?”
“Not enough!”
“What if I were to fight as one with you, as a member of Sparta, not the allied forces?”
“Don't be ridiculous. How can a man who has not received Spartan training fight alongside us?”
“I have already fought alongside the royal guard in the Battle of Marathon 10 years ago. Is that not enough?”
“Hmm….”
“Spartan warriors are veterans of many battles who can continue to fight with their individual abilities even if the formation is broken, without a helpless rout, are they not? If my abilities are added to that, we will be able to execute much more effective tactics!”
[
[Persuasion check…… Success!]
“If you are a comrade of our warriors, then you are certainly qualified enough. Very well.”
It seemed I was finally accepted thanks to highlighting my usefulness with Rhetoric.
But I couldn't be relieved.
There was still a hint of suspicion in King Leonidas' eyes as he looked at me.
His attitude was that he had accepted me for now simply because Six Harmonies Voice Transmission was useful.
‘As expected, the notion that Spartans are ignorant is all nonsense.’
Spartans are taciturn, not stupid.
If anything, they are smart enough to use the image of an ignorant warrior.
“From now on, you will always be by my side and deliver my commands well. Follow me.”
“Yes!”
It was an order that hinted at his intention to keep Pheidippides close and monitor him, but since I had nothing to hide, I readily accepted.
Thus, while the major currents of history might not change, the personal history of Pheidippes began to move toward greater glory.