The fierce battle on the beach lasted only half an hour before it ended.
The Atlanteans had the advantage of a surprise attack, and their combat capabilities were already superior to the Athenians. With the right timing, favorable terrain, and unity, it was difficult for the Atlanteans to lose.
The Athenians responsible for guarding this camp quickly abandoned it and fled back to Athens. The Atlanteans did not pursue them; instead, following the wise man's instructions, they moved all the supplies left by the Athenians in the camp onto their ships, then set the camp on fire, and sailed away.
Before leaving, they even deliberately sailed close to Athens and brazenly mocked the Athenians.
This was mainly done to help Poseidon vent his anger. That morning, Poseidon was verbally abused by Ares and couldn't retort. By nightfall, the Sea God finally unleashed his wrath upon his niece.
Ares, squatting on the cliff, watched the victorious Atlanteans depart and revealed a happy smile.
Everyone else thought he was smiling because a fierce battle had finally broken out, but only Ares and Athena knew what had truly happened.
"Atlantis, oh Atlantis."
Gazing at the distant ships, Ares softly said,
"Still too green."
...
By the time the Atlantean fleet returned to their floating island base, it was already close to the latter half of the night.
However, the Atlantean warriors were not sleepy; the exhilarating battle they had just fought had made them even more energetic.
Moreover, this was the Atlanteans' first victory since they launched their attack on Athens, and the Atlantean warriors greatly relieved the resentment and fear they had accumulated from being slaughtered by the Spartans.
"Everyone."
The Atlantean commander, who had personally led the army and returned victorious, emerged from his tent shortly after entering.
He raised his arm and announced to the Atlantean warriors:
"Today was a refreshing victory, and the Sea God is greatly pleased. We have received the Sea God's commendation. Tonight, the Sea Race will bring us delicious food and wine. Let everyone relax and drink to their heart's content!"
"Oh oh!"
The Atlantean warriors cheered.
Indeed, not long after the Atlantean commander announced the news, sea creatures and Mermaids soon arrived around the floating island, bringing a large amount of fine wine and seafood to the Atlanteans.
Among them, beautiful Mermaid Dancers leaped onto the floating island, their fish tails transforming into shapely long legs. They then came to the Atlantean's main camp to pour wine, sing, and dance for the brave Atlantean warriors, and even spend a night of passion with the warriors there. With the appearance of these Mermaid Dancers, the Atlantean's celebration reached its climax, and the entire Atlantean floating island was enveloped in a festive atmosphere.
However, in a corner of this lively banquet, two Atlantean warriors were surprised to see their comrade, who was responsible for guarding the Athenian supplies, run out of the large tent where the supplies were stored, his face full of shock and doubt.
"Lorion," they called out their comrade's name, "Where are you going? You volunteered to guard the supplies earlier, wanting to make a good impression on the King and the wise man. Now that you've seen those Mermaids, you finally can't resist, can you?"
"After all, they are Mermaids. Such beauties, you might never get to touch one in your life."
The two Atlanteans exchanged glances, revealing expressions that all men understood, then burst into laughter and raised their cups:
"Thanks to the Sea God's generosity!"
Their cups clinked, and they gulped down the wine in one go. The two warriors let out satisfied burps, then waved to "Lorion," who had been guarding the supplies earlier:
"Come on, come on, you're out anyway, come have a drink, Lorion."
Lorion walked over uneasily, sat down beside his two comrades, took the cup one of them offered, and holding it, asked:
"Don't you think this batch of supplies is a bit strange?"
"What's so strange about it?"
One of the Atlanteans retorted.
"We usually use boxes to pack supplies, right?" Lorion looked at the golden wine in his cup. "But why do the Athenians use these large wooden barrels for everything?"
"Maybe it's just different national customs."
His comrade said indifferently:
"Our Atlantis is a nation founded by the great Sea God himself. Do you really think that all city-states and nations in the world have the same treatment as our Atlantis?"
"But... when I was guarding just now, I seemed to see those wooden barrels moving."
Lorion said somewhat uneasily.
"You must have seen wrong." His two comrades patted his back, laughing heartily. "You're probably too tired. Drink some wine, eat something, and then find a Mermaid beauty for a night of pleasure, and everything will be fine."
"Perhaps I should go explain this situation to the wise man or the King..."
Lorion mumbled softly.
"Explain what? Don't bother those two with every little thing, okay?" his comrade scolded. "I just saw the commander enter the tent with that leading Mermaid Dancer. If you go find him now, aren't you looking for death? Drink, drink! Don't think about those useless things."
Lorion thought about it and decided he could only continue to sit there. After all, if he were to disturb the royal family's good time, he would truly be cut down by their commander's sword.
So he raised his cup, preparing to drink as his two comrades suggested, and then later see if he could find a romantic encounter. However, just as his lips touched the surface of the wine, he suddenly heard a faint but distinct sound.
Thump-thump.
"Ah!"
Lorion was already scared, so upon hearing this sound, he was so startled that he immediately stood up.
"What are you doing? Being so jumpy."
His two drunken comrades looked at him, their eyes filled with displeasure.
"I'm not drinking anymore. Our supplies are moving."
Lorion was about to go report to the wise man and the commander, but remembering what his comrade had just said, he abruptly stopped:
"I'll go into the tent and see what's really inside those wooden barrels."
With that, he put down his cup, picked up a short sword, and walked into the tent where the supplies were stored.
"Sigh, what a coward."
His two comrades turned their heads away in disdain:
"Come on, come on, forget about him. Let's keep drinking."
However, just as they raised their cups again, suddenly, two dark figures shot out directly from the tent where the Athenian supplies were stored. The two Atlantean warriors, with their backs to the tent, did not notice this. When the two dark figures pierced their necks from behind, the two Atlanteans still had drunken smiles on their faces.
Their necks were pierced by two sharp spears, and then their souls were silently taken away by Thanatos to Hades' domain.
With two thuds, the bodies of the two Atlanteans fell to the ground. Shortly after, a headless corpse was thrown out of the tent, and then, from inside the tent, a group of muscular men in Spartan helmets emerged first. Two of them walked to the two bodies, then reached out and pulled out the spears that had killed the two Atlanteans. The leading commander then turned his head and said to those inside the tent:
"Alright, then, as we told you earlier, start performing. For every Atlantean you kill on the battlefield, one of your compatriots will gain the rights of a Spartan citizen. Begin!"
As his voice fell, a cold wind blew, lifting the curtain of the large tent and revealing the scene inside.
Inside the dark tent, besides the Spartan warriors, there stood a group of people wearing armor and carrying swords and shields. They all bore the marks of slaves.
They were the Pelasgians, slaves purchased by the Spartans from the Athenians, and followers of the Gorgon Sisters.