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Chapter 9 - Chapter 9 The Tide Turns

Chapter 9: The Tide Turns

The newly summoned Laborer, a solid wall of flesh and bone, effectively plugged the breach. His presence, unyielding and sudden, threw the immediate raiders into disarray. The scarred leader roared in frustration, hacking at the barricade with renewed fury, but the small gap was gone.

Lykos, heart hammering in his chest, realized this wasn't just about defense anymore; it was about momentum. He had a brief, precious window.

"System," he thought, his gaze sweeping over the struggling raiders. "Can any of my current summoned units use weapons if I give them one? Or do they need their Memory unlocked?"

"Memory unlock is required for advanced combat skills and weapon proficiencies beyond basic functionality. Basic Laborers possess rudimentary strength for blunt impact, but lack trained combat prowess."

Dammit, Lykos thought. No impromptu warriors. But he had Homerus, Elara, Kalypso, and Theron up in the windows, still throwing projectiles.

"Homerus!" Lykos shouted towards the palace's upper floors. "Focus your music! Make them falter! Confuse them!"

From above, Homerus's lyre changed its tune. The majestic melodies gave way to a dissonant, jarring cacophony. It wasn't music; it was chaos.

The notes clashed and grated, an unsettling, disorienting sound that seemed to crawl under the raiders' skin. Some of them instinctively flinched, their attacks losing rhythm. A few even clutched their heads, momentarily distracted.

This was it! Homerus's real power, beyond just inspiration. This was a form of crowd control.

"Now!" Lykos yelled, pushing the Laborers and the two Militia forward against the barricade, urging them to put more pressure on the raiders. Myron and Kydon, seeing the raiders' confusion, also pushed with newfound vigor.

The raiders, disoriented by Homerus's unsettling music and frustrated by the unexpected resilience of the gate, began to argue among themselves. Their leader, the scarred man, tried to bark orders, but his voice was lost in the jarring notes of the lyre.

Then, Lykos saw his chance.

The raider leader, enraged by the unexpected resistance, was pushing his way to the front, clearly intending to rally his men or attempt another direct assault. He was exposed.

Lykos scanned the Basic Summoning Pool again. He still had 5 System Points left. Not enough for a Militia, but...

Greek Laborer (Male/Female): 10 SP

Greek Apprentice Builder (Male): 15 SP

Greek Forager (Female): 15 SP

Nothing. He had no points. But the System had told him he had 100 points as a reward. He had spent 85, then 10, leaving him with 5. He had no more points to summon.

Unless...

Lykos suddenly remembered a core mechanic from many strategy games: hero units. They often had unique abilities, sometimes even passive ones, that affected the battlefield. Homerus was essentially his first 'hero unit'. His Memory, when unlocked, would surely contain more powerful versions of these abilities.

Lykos focused on Homerus's status on his System screen.

Homerus, the Master Bard

Memory Status: Sealed (Requires 50 SP to unlock)

Active Skill: Inspiration (Passive - enhances morale)

Active Skill: Discordant Song (Active - disorients enemies within range)

Discordant Song! That's what Homerus was doing! And it cost 50 SP to unlock his full Memory. He didn't have 50 SP. He had 5 SP. But Homerus was already using a version of his skill. This meant some skills were partially available, or the Welcome Gift allowed him initial access.

He looked at the fleeing raiders. Homerus's discordant music was pushing them back. They weren't broken, but they were definitely deterred.

The scarred leader, seeing his men falter, finally let out a frustrated roar and started to retreat, signaling his men to follow. They didn't want to engage in a prolonged siege, especially against unexpected, unsettling resistance. Their goal was quick plunder, not a bloody, drawn-out fight.

"They're retreating!" Kydon shouted, a mix of disbelief and relief on his face. Myron sagged against the barricade, breathing heavily.

Lykos watched them go, disappearing back into the dust cloud from which they came. The thundering of hooves receded into the distance, and gradually, the jarring notes from Homerus's lyre softened, returning to a more peaceful, triumphant melody.

The immediate danger was over. They had survived their first attack.

Lykos looked at his small, exhausted group. They were bruised, terrified, but alive. The two summoned Militia stood at attention, impassive but ready. The Laborers remained by the barricade, their task complete for now.

"We held!" Lykos declared, his voice hoarse but filled with raw elation. "We held the palace! You fought bravely, every one of you!"

A few tentative cheers broke out from Myron and Kydon, quickly joined by the others who descended from the palace windows. Their relief was palpable. They had faced death and lived.

The System notification flashed again, acknowledging the outcome of the unexpected encounter.

[WARNING! External Threat Neutralized!]

Threat: Nomadic Raiders (Scout Party)

Outcome: Retreat (Significant losses avoided)

Bonus Objective Achieved: First Defensive Victory!

Reward: 50 System Points

Lykos's eyes widened. 50 System Points! Just for surviving? This System rewarded success, even against overwhelming odds.

He immediately checked his balance. System Points: 55.

Now he had enough. Enough for a real choice. He could summon more basic units, or he could start investing in his heroes. He looked at Homerus, the old bard, whose subtle skill had just saved them.

Homerus, the Master Bard

Memory Status: Sealed (Requires 50 SP to unlock)

Lykos took a deep breath. This was it. The first major upgrade. He made his decision.

"Homerus," Lykos said, his voice quiet but firm. "I believe it's time to truly remember your past."

The battle was over, leaving behind a silence heavier than any before. The echoes of raider yells and clanging steel slowly faded, replaced by the low murmurs of Lykos's exhausted recruits. Relief, thick and palpable, hung in the air, but beneath it lay the grim understanding of how close they had come to annihilation.

Lykos stood before Homerus, the System screen still shimmering, displaying System Points: 55. The choice was clear.

"Homerus," Lykos repeated, his voice low, "it's time to truly remember your past. System, unlock Homerus's Memory."

"Confirm unlock of Homerus, the Master Bard's Memory for 50 System Points?" the System voice prompted.

"Confirm," Lykos stated, a sense of anticipation tightening his chest. This wasn't just a numerical upgrade; it was an investment in a legend.

A brilliant golden light, far more intense and vibrant than any summoning glow, erupted from Homerus. It pulsed around the old bard, momentarily blinding Lykos and causing Myron and Kydon, still catching their breath nearby, to shield their eyes.

The light swirled, coalescing around Homerus, seeming to infuse itself into his very being. His long white beard seemed to gain a richer sheen, his robes shimmered with renewed color, and the Whispering Lyre in his hands pulsed with an inner luminescence.

As the light subsided, Homerus stood taller, his shoulders broader. His eyes, which had always held a gentle wisdom, now gleamed with an astonishing depth, as if centuries of knowledge and countless stories were contained within them. He no longer looked merely like an old man; he looked like a living embodiment of history, a vessel of forgotten ages.

He raised the Whispering Lyre, and its strings vibrated with a powerful, resonant hum, a sound that filled the courtyard, not jarringly, but with a profound, inspiring clarity. It felt like the very air was singing with epic tales.

Homerus took a deep breath, and when he spoke, his voice was no longer merely melodious; it was imbued with an authority that commanded attention, a voice that had witnessed the rise and fall of civilizations.

"The echoes… they return," Homerus intoned, his gaze distant, yet piercingly clear. "The fields of Troy, the treacherous sea of Odysseus, the wisdom of Athena, the fury of Poseidon… all resurface. The names, the deeds, the very heart of the Hellenic spirit. It is all here, Prince Lykos, within the restored tapestry of my Memory."

He looked directly at Lykos, his eyes sparkling. "My skills are no longer merely instinctual, Prince. I can now weave tales that do more than inspire; I can craft illusions that deceive the keenest eye, compose laments that sap the will of your enemies, and orchestrate harmonies that mend the spirit and body, albeit slowly. My full command of the Whispering Lyre, and the vast repository of human and divine narratives, are yours to command."

Lykos stared, awestruck. This was more than he had hoped for. Homerus wasn't just a morale booster; he was a strategic asset, capable of both support and direct disruption. This was the true power of unlocking a hero's Memory.

The System screen updated immediately.

[Homerus, the Master Bard's Memory

Unlocked!]

New Active Skills Available:

* Epic Narrative (Active): Weaves illusions of grand battles and legendary figures, sowing confusion among enemies. (Requires focus, moderate energy cost)

* Dirge of Despair (Active): A mournful melody that saps the morale and will to fight of enemies within range. (Area of effect, moderate energy cost)

* Ballad of Restoration (Active): A soothing melody that gently heals minor wounds and restores stamina to allies over time. (Area of effect, high energy cost, slow effect)

Passive Skill Enhanced:

* Inspiration (Enhanced Passive):Significantly boosts morale, determination, and work ethic of allies.

System Points: 5.

Lykos felt a genuine thrill, a strategist's delight. This was a game-changer. Homerus, the unarmed bard, was now a potent force on the battlefield, not with a spear, but with song.

"Homerus," Lykos said, a grin spreading across his face, "your timing is impeccable. We just faced raiders. Your 'Discordant Song' saved us, but these new abilities… they will be invaluable."

He turned to his still-recovering recruits. "Listen to me! We survived today. And this," he gestured to the revitalized Homerus, "is why. We have the strength of our ancestors, the power of our legends, to call upon. But this is only the beginning. We secured some food, we survived an attack, but our city is still in ruins, and the enemies of Greece are many."

He looked around the courtyard, at the damaged gate, the still-present rubble.

"Tomorrow, we focus on securing more food, much more. We need to fortify this palace, make it a true stronghold. And we need to prepare, for that was only a scout party. More will come."

His gaze sharpened, a newfound resolve burning in his eyes. He might still be weak, inexperienced, and leading a desperate few, but he now had a taste of victory, and he had unlocked the true potential of his first hero. The Rise of the Forgotten Flame had truly begun.

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