Chapter 83

Just as Gordon and Dalei were arguing, a series of explosions echoed from afar, lasting for a while.

Gordon: "Where are the cannons firing?"

Lin Youde: "I don't know!"

Dalei: "It's coming from New Syrano..."

Gordon: "New Syrano?... (Noticing several 'dots' in the sky flying towards their location) Take cover quickly!! It's enemy aircraft!!" — He quickly pulled Dalei into the bushes.

Lin Youde: "Air raid! Air raid! Take cover quickly!" — He directed his subordinates to evacuate.

The aircraft flew over Gordon and the others without attacking them.

Lin Youde: "They're Hornets (F-18 carrier-based fighters). Has the USS Kitty Hawk also joined the action?"

Gordon: "They want to occupy Paradise Island before our reinforcements arrive, to create a fait accompli. They won't hold back."

Cheshire Cat: "So the explosions we heard earlier were from their bombing of New Syrano? Your old ears must be deaf, mistaking bombing for cannon fire."

Gordon: "What are you talking about? I can definitely tell the difference between cannon fire and bombing. Those were clearly the sounds of artillery."

Lin Youde: "Yes, Director Gao is right. The explosions do sound like artillery, but... (hesitating) ...the Hornets that flew over us earlier weren't carrying any bombs."

Cheshire Cat: "Of course not. They've already finished bombing. How could they still have ammunition left? He just heard it wrong. Don't cover for him."

Dalei: "Stop arguing! Regardless of what caused the explosions, New Syrano has definitely been attacked. We need to get into the city quickly. Otherwise, once the city is under martial law, it will take a lot of time and effort to get in."

Twenty minutes later, on the road to the palace in New Syrano, the capital of Paradise Island.

Cheshire Cat: "What are these 'bird people'?" — He pointed to the half-human, half-bird monster corpses on the ground.

Gordon: "What 'bird people'? You have no culture. Haven't you read Greek mythology? These are Harpies, monsters from Greek mythology."

Lin Youde: "(Carefully examining the monster corpses) ...Most of the damage they sustained was from aircraft machine guns. Some were even blown to pieces by air-to-air missiles. The Hornet formation that flew over us earlier is likely responsible for this massacre."

I (narrator): "Massacre? That's not quite right. There's also a Hornet wreckage nearby. The enemy did suffer some losses, but the casualty ratio is very high."

Cheshire Cat: "Monsters from Greek mythology? Were they summoned by Ares from the Gate of Doom? How weak are they?"

Dalei: "Although they are one of the weaker types, they were indeed summoned by Ares from the Gate of Doom. This also means the palace has been attacked... Mom!" — Worried about her mother's safety, she ran quickly towards the palace.

Gordon: "Don't rush. Be careful, there might be enemies lying in wait..." — He led the team quickly to follow, preventing any accidents.

Inside the devastated palace.

Dalei: "Mom, Mom!!" — She shouted.

Gordon: "Your Majesty!"

Lin Youde: "Your Majesty!" — They all shouted together.

Persephone: "Eunoe? (Recognizing her daughter's voice) Run, don't come over here..." — Her voice came from nearby.

Dalei: "Mom..." — Ignoring the warning, she ran towards the voice.

Lin Youde: "Follow, hurry up." — He urged his subordinates, who were scared stiff by the city's devastation, to follow.

The group followed Dalei to the room where the Empress's voice was coming from. Empress Persephone was tending to a severely injured, nearly lifeless man beside a large "black mirror." A witch was directing a group of chimeras to "sprinkle blood" on the ground, forming a circle around the two of them, seemingly preparing to do something.

Dalei: "Mom..." — She was not filled with joy at the reunion but was instead shocked by the scene.

Persephone: "Foolish child, why didn't you listen to me..." — She was in pain.

Gordon: "This is..." — He was drawn to the "black mirror" and wanted to touch it.

The Witch: "You dog slave, step back quickly! Don't ruin my magic circle!!" — She scolded Gordon, stopping him from moving forward.

Gordon: "You call me a dog slave?" — He laughed without anger.

The Witch: "Of course, what else would a lowly mercenary be? Don't think I won't dare to scold you just because you're the leader of those mercenaries. If you ruin my magic circle and force me to redraw it, I'll drain all your blood and use it as material." — She threatened.

I (narrator): "Daring to speak to the old man like that, completely disregarding that he is Dalei's subordinate. It seems she is the second-in-command of Paradise Island, the witch Circe."

Dalei: "Lady Circe, don't be unreasonable. He is not a mercenary but a special agent sent by S.H.I.E.L.D...."

Circe: "So what if he's a special agent sent by S.H.I.E.L.D.? If he ruins the magic circle and I can't save the Commander (Ares) in time, will he take responsibility? We will all be doomed!!"

Dalei: "Why are you speaking like this? Gordon requested reinforcements for us from S.H.I.E.L.D...."

Circe: "Reinforcements? Hahaha, can they arrive within thirty minutes? Even if they do arrive within thirty minutes, if we can't save the Commander, they will just be coming to their deaths."

Gordon: "If Ares can't be saved, the reinforcements will just be coming to their deaths? What do you mean?" — He asked Dalei.

Dalei: "..." — She remained silent.

Circe: "They're asking you, why aren't you answering? With your level of witchcraft, it shouldn't be hard to see the anomaly in the Gate of Doom, right? Are you afraid to tell the truth?" — She acted madly.

Gordon: "What truth?" — He pressed.

Dalei: "This..." — She found it hard to speak, unsure of what to say.

Circe: "You can't say it, can you? I'll say it. The surface of the Gate of Doom has started to mirrorize, and it's on the verge of losing control. If the power of the God of War isn't re-injected within thirty minutes, the entire Paradise Island will disappear from this world."

Gordon: "Disappear from this world? Are you saying this black mirror will blow up Paradise Island?"

Dalei: "Blowing up would be a mercy. It will suck Paradise Island and the surrounding sea into the void, where we will suffer eternal torment, unable to live or die..." — She was terrified.

I (narrator): "In the void? Why be so poetic, Dalei? You're a villain and a literary youth? Just call it 'living hell,' it's more straightforward and easy to understand."

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