Athena in Tower Defense Game! [LitRPG]

0058 – The Assault

With the protection of the wartime medal, the surrounding darkness did not engulf players like Athena, but the darkness greatly restricted their movements. However, this state would change as the barrier disappeared.

Once the barrier completely dissipated three hours later, their only light source would also be lost. They would completely lose sight of their surroundings, and the grass placed among the rocks was just a precaution in case the opponent could see them.

They needed illumination, but anything bright would inevitably expose their location and could lead to a coordinated attack.

As she dashed forward rapidly, she saw a pair of green eyes. As the creature lunged towards her, Athena leaped to the side. The monster, missing its attack, didn't linger for a fight, instead darting back into the darkness, concealing its form.

Athena scanned her surroundings warily. The opponent circled cautiously behind her, intending to launch a second attack.

"Meow~"

But the meow from behind shattered the tranquility. The monster abruptly turned to look behind it, just as Athena charged forward. She raised her axe and swung it fiercely from above. The power of the Black Abyss Axe, combined with her skills, cleaved the monster directly in half.

Only now did Athena clearly see the true face of the creature: a rabbit about half the height of a person, with sharp fangs. Unlike most of the monsters she had hunted before, this one's body remained intact.

Thinking of the giant rabbit meat she had traded for before, Athena realized that the meat had come from this creature. She attempted to use the system to decompose it.

Athena hesitated as she looked at the giant rabbit. It was a source of food, but if she didn't use the system to decompose it, the smell of blood would surely attract nearby monsters.

A bold idea suddenly occurred to her. In the rankings competition, she definitely intended to participate. Currently, players couldn't attack each other within three hours, but they could attack monsters.

The giant rabbit, split in half, was bleeding profusely from the wound, and the smell of blood permeated the area. Athena swiftly climbed up a thick tree nearby and crouched among its branches. Before long, various insects began to crawl over.

Athena easily dealt with these small creatures with a few casual swats from below the tree. Then, a green snake with red markings slithered over. Mikmik bit the snake's neck, killing it on the spot, and then sensibly placed the snake next to the giant rabbit.

Perched in the tree, Athena tightly gripped her Moonlight Bow, aiming down below. Crack, buzz... Leaves that had been lying for a long time on the ground became somewhat brittle. When something walked on them, they would crunch underfoot. Athena knew something was approaching.

But it wasn't a monster; it was a woman with wavy hair tied back with a grass rope, seemingly aware that someone was ambushing here, yet she still approached openly, intending to pick up the giant rabbit meat on the ground, knowing that players couldn't harm each other at the moment.

Athena's expression turned cold. She raised her hand and shot an arrow beside the woman, the arrow spinning rapidly with a cold aura, landing at the woman's feet. The woman's steps faltered, seeming hesitant, before she finally raised her hands behind her head and silently retreated.

Athena didn't reveal herself. As the woman retreated, she silently descended from the tree and moved to another tree nearby. Sure enough, a cloud of smoke billowed from where Athena had just been. She skirted around the smoky area and began running around the surrounding tree trunks.

Mikmik watched the woman who hid behind the tree trunk and smiled as it stared at the smoke. Mikmik raised its paw and licked it delicately. When the woman pulled out her weapon and prepared to leave, it lightly called out.

"Meow~"

Upon hearing the cat's meow behind her, the woman was first startled. Then, she swung a sweeping kick, but found nothing. She cautiously surveyed her surroundings, realizing the danger at the same time. As she attempted to flee, an arrow shot from above her diagonally.

Even though she knew the other couldn't harm her, the woman instinctively dodged aside, falling to the ground. Awkwardly getting up, she scrambled around, cursing involuntarily.

"You're crazy! Daring to attack! Aren't you afraid of the system's punishment?!"

"Truly insane, lunatic!"

But Athena paid no heed. Ignoring the woman's plea, she lifted her bow and shot another arrow steadily. The woman had originally intended to stay put, planning to let Athena shoot the arrow and face the consequences. But her instincts told her that would be fatal.

As she narrowly dodged the arrow with lingering fear, she found herself sweating profusely and collapsed to the ground.

Seeing a faint glint in the distance, aimed in her direction, the woman was truly frightened now.

"W-wait, please, don't kill me! I know I was wrong!"

"I admit it! I surrender!"

Despite the woman's pleas, Athena felt no sympathy in this time for survival. However, she wasn't genuinely planning to harm her either; after all, the time hadn't come yet. The previous arrows, though shot, had deliberately missed their mark.

Athena wasn't worried about the woman escaping either. Mikmik had been circling around her the whole time, unnoticed by the woman.

Staying in the tree, Athena heard noises coming from the direction of the giant rabbit meat. Then came the sound of chewing. She coldly stared at the woman ahead, then turned and headed towards the giant rabbit.

The woman now realized she couldn't defeat Athena and wasn't as reckless. The smoke she released earlier was just meant to disorient Athena; she didn't dare to act during these three hours. If she were to act, it would be her death after the time runs out.

Seeing Athena heading back, she planned to slip away quietly. Mikmik remained nearby, observing her leisurely, like a hunter in the dark, teasing its prey.

Unfortunately, as the woman took only a few steps after getting up, she became suspicious, glancing around uncertainly. She hadn't forgotten that she was discovered earlier because of a cat's meow.

Moreover, now that she recalled, the opponent's strength could have easily killed her directly. Since there was room for negotiation, she was confident she could make the other party covet her belongings and spare her life.

Considering the lunatic's demeanor just now, if she were to flee again, she might be caught next time, and then she would truly be doomed.

Swallowing nervously, she finally gave up and leaned against the tree trunk, resignedly waiting for Athena.