Chapter 136: Five Elements are Immoral, Deserve a Punishment (6.4k)

The next day, angry roars resounded throughout the palace.

"I'm not dead yet! Do you want me to bow down to those foreign tribes on the sea? As long as I'm alive, it's impossible!"

The five princes were once again recalled from various city-states to report to the palace. However, they were passive in preparing for war and tried to dissuade Crete from seeking peace with the Atlanteans, which angered King Minos.

As a result, the old lion was so angry that he stopped his cultivation, rushed out of the inner hall, and whipped his five sons half to death in public.

If it weren't for the persuasion of his second daughter, who was the high priest, and the generals on the field, King Minos would have almost sent his five disobedient biological sons directly to the underworld.

But it seemed that he had inherited his old father's stubborn character. Even though the eldest prince Androgeos was dying, he still spoke from the bottom of his heart while spitting blood and foam.

"Father, we can't win. Are you going to kill everyone?"

When these words were spoken, everyone felt a chill in their hearts.

Although as the situation became clearer, almost everyone had thought about this possibility, it was just a thought at best.

But now, even the old king’s own flesh and blood have made such a conclusion, and the future of Crete can almost be imagined.

“Okay, okay!”

Hearing his eldest son's rebuttal, the old man laughed in anger.

"If you want to live, no one will stop you! I give you three days to get out of Crete immediately!"

Then, the old man looked at the ministers whose faces changed, and without any hesitation, he once again showed his toughness and stubbornness to his ministers and the people.

"Who else? Anyone in the city who wants to leave can go with them. I will never stop them! I have the law as proof!"

Although the old king has always enforced the law strictly and almost never broke his promises.

But there was no response at the scene, and it seemed that everyone was loyal.

But some of their eyes secretly glanced at the five princes who were gradually recovering on the ground.

The five of them didn't say much. They solemnly bid farewell to their father in the hall, supported each other, and left.

At night, several large ships fully loaded with goods quietly launched into the water and sailed away from Crete towards the leeward port.

Among them are the eldest prince's family and confidants, as well as the people in the city-states under his rule who are willing to follow him.

According to those familiar with the matter, they went to the island of Paros, a settlement conquered by King Minos off the coast.

As the news of his eldest son's defection reached the palace, the old king showed no intention of pursuing or punishing him for an entire day.

Instead, he ordered the lifting of martial law in several leeward ports, taking a laissez-faire attitude.

Seeing his brother's example, the second prince Cartereus was even more decisive. Without waiting for night to fall, he led a large group of troops out of the port and headed towards Rhodes, another overseas territory of the Minoans.

King Minos, who received the news, did as he promised and ignored it.

Following the examples of the two successful cases, the remaining three princes followed in their brothers' footsteps, broke with their stubborn father, and bid farewell to the land where the Minoans had lived for generations.

Similarly, some hesitant generals and ministers also quietly began to transfer their relatives and friends.

When the news spread to the public, almost everyone could smell the scent of the collapse of the building.

Driven by fear and the will to survive, large numbers of people began to flee with their families.

Seeing this, King Minos not only did not pursue the matter, but even postponed the deadline for opening the port by two days.

For a time, the population of Crete shrank dramatically, and ships of all sizes migrated towards the mainland and new habitats like schools of fish avoiding sea beasts.

At this moment, in the palace hall.

Looking at the fleets shuttling back and forth on the sea and the increasingly sparse smoke from cooking fires on the entire island, the old man on the throne could not help but reveal a hint of sadness.

This was the country he had built bit by bit, but now he was destroying it bit by bit.

That’s right, this drama of father-son breakup was naturally orchestrated by him and the clerk.

Among the five sons, except for the eldest son who was told some inside information and cooperated a little, the others just followed their hearts.

Therefore, the eldest son Androgeos was given the right to be the first to choose the Minoan offshore territories, and eventually chose to become the king of Paros.

As for the remaining sons, what choices they will make and where they will go depends entirely on their wisdom and luck.

Children will eventually grow up, and even King Minos himself cannot protect his offspring forever.

And when the building was about to collapse, leaving them a way out was the greatest kindness that an old father could show to these descendants.

Similarly, since he was so tolerant towards the royal family who were supposed to defend the land, he naturally would not be harsh on his subjects and subjects who fled Crete.

——No one is obligated to die with him.

"Father, why are you up again? Lie down and rest!"

At this time, Princess Ariadne, who had rushed to the palace, saw her old father, who was in his twilight years, standing alone in front of the palace gate, barefoot. She hurriedly trotted forward, helped him to the bed in the back hall, and gently covered him with a quilt.

However, even though he was pressed on the bed by his second daughter, the old man was still not obedient.

"How's it going?"

Princess Ariadne immediately replied in a gentle voice: "Don't worry, everyone who should be notified has been notified, and every household has been not left out."

"Has the fleet been dispatched?"

"I have sent them, as you ordered, to keep an eye on them from a distance. However, that place is far away from the Oceanus Sea, and there is the coastal defense line of Crete in front, so we will basically not encounter any sea beasts."

"It's always better to be prepared." King Minos paused, then continued to ask: "So far, how many people have left?"

The second princess hesitated when she heard this.

But under her old father's sharp eyes, she could not hide anything and told him the truth.

"Close to 80%..."

"It's not bad that 20% of the people are still here..."

King Minos grinned and talked to himself.

When the second princess heard her father's words, she thought he was speaking sarcastically and immediately spoke out to comfort him.

"That's just the other city-states. More than 30% of the people in Knossos chose to stay. They are willing to stand with you and fight for this homeland until their last breath! The same goes for me and my sisters!"

King Minos shook his head and smiled without saying anything about his daughter's promise. He just looked at the setting sun sinking below the horizon and murmured.

"It's been five days. Everyone who should have left has left..."

The second princess felt the sadness in her old father's words, and she moved her lips and teeth, wanting to persuade him a few more times, but before she could open her mouth, an old hand fell heavily on her shoulder.

"Then, tomorrow at midnight, you will take your two sisters and the rest of the people and leave on the boat. There are three hundred Blood Guards I left for you on the boat. From now on, they will all obey your orders."

“……!”

When the second princess heard King Minos' instructions, her face changed. She was confused at first, and then she knelt down and swore.

"Father, I won't leave. I will never abandon you!"

"I know you have proven your loyalty to Crete..."

The old man nodded, a relieved smile on his face, and his skinny right hand gently stroked his daughter's soft hair.

"That is why I personally give you the purest fire of the Minoans."

Suddenly, a thunderclap sounded in the second princess's mind. All the recent events gradually connected together, and the answer came out of her mouth.

"Did you plan this all along?"

King Minos nodded slightly, and his old eyes glanced at the shadow in the corner.

"How about you tell me?"

At this moment, under the astonished gaze of the second princess, a secretary who had been hiding here for some unknown period of time walked out from the shadows, helped King Minos lie down, and spoke leisurely.

Walking from behind the scenes to the front of the stage, Loen paused for a moment and then told the princess, who had been kept in the dark, about the plan he and King Minos had agreed on that night.

In fact, this is both an amnesty and a test.

King Minos allowed five princes, groups of ministers, and tens of thousands of people to flee because he did not want the Minoans under his rule to sacrifice in vain for a war that could not be won.

But on the other hand, they were also using this to screen out those with real mental fortitude who were qualified to continue the pure flame of Minoan civilization.

After rounds of elimination, the group that finally chose to stay were undoubtedly the most suitable candidates, and were also the gifts that King Minos prepared to leave for his second daughter, the high priest, and the great mother goddess Athena.

In fact, to be brutal.

The first few groups of people, led by the eldest prince, seemed to have gained the upper hand, but they were actually using their lives to test the attitude of the gods and open up a safe waterway to the mainland.

Once things go wrong, they are the first to be abandoned.

The person who could come up with this unscrupulous suggestion was naturally a sinister and evil clerk with no moral integrity.

But the first group of people who set out were lucky enough that they did not attract the attention of the gods and sea monsters.

Or, what humans, who are as tiny as ants, do is insignificant to them.

Of course, it is not convenient to tell the second princess in front of me about the game at these levels.

Now, she just needed to understand that her own group and the group of Minoans who had withstood the test and remained steadfast were the real sparks that King Minos had high hopes for.

But even though she knew the whole story, the second princess still felt hesitant.

"But, father..."

"Be obedient, this is the goddess' order!"

The old man interrupted his daughter's hesitation and looked serious.

Finally, after King Minos brought up the name of Athena, the second princess, who was the chief priestess, was silent for a moment and then changed the question.

"What if they don't want to go with me?"

"Then give them some wine, knock them out, and throw them on board one by one!"

Loen was prepared for this and stepped forward to give the high priest some advice.

The second princess shook her head and refuted again.

"But what if there are still people who refuse to leave even after this?"

"Then..."

Just as Loen was about to speak, a skinny old arm held down his shoulder.

King Minos sat up at the head of the bed, tightened the wrinkles on his face, and spoke solemnly.

"Then let me protect them until the last moment!"

“…”

Hearing the unquestionable determination in those words, the second princess did not refute, but nodded silently, and finally accepted the arrangement from her father.

Early morning of the sixth day.

Boom!

Thousands of purple-white thunders exploded from one cloud layer after another, either flying back and forth or striking vertically in the boundless night, like an angry dragon descending to the world.

Through the faint light of thunder and lightning, it can be vaguely seen that the heavy rain is still pouring down.

The height of the sea level rose by nearly 100 meters, and the turbulent muddy currents had completely submerged the outer coastal defense line and half of the island. Even the city walls of Knossos, which had been continuously raised and reinforced in recent days, were almost swallowed up.

Hurricane after hurricane swept across the surging waves, rolling and raging, penetrating the sky and the earth, and complementing the dense and numerous lightning.

In less than half a month, the Minoans witnessed the complete fall of the outside world.

"when!"

Along with the clear chirping of birds, the sound of exciting knocking came from the great temple.

The brilliant halo shone brightly with the reflection of the starlight, casting a star map and the outlines of celestial bodies into the dark night, as many as eighty-eight of them faintly visible.

The golden light patterns that appeared and disappeared from time to time, with a strange rhythm, rippled all around, and finally spread to the outside of Knossos City, pouring down, like a beautiful canopy covered with tassels covering this fortress city.

The large rain clouds and storms that originally floated over from the Sea of Oceanus were expelled from the area protected by the golden starlight and could only linger and surge dozens of miles away.

Even the floodwaters on the ground had to retreat and bypass it, unable to invade even a little bit.

A quarter of an hour later, Athena, dressed in military uniform, walked out of the Great Temple and came to the palace, giving a stern reminder.

"We are running out of time. We may not be able to hold out until the evening. Let them leave immediately and get away from Crete!"

Loen nodded immediately, and then, in the name of "sending warmth", he sent the God's Blood Guards and priests to deliver jars of warm wine door to door to those Minoans who still insisted on staying in the city of Knossos.

Since most of the Minoans had already fled, the remaining people instinctively gathered towards the city of Knossos, which could provide safe shelter.

Therefore, apart from this royal city, the cities and villages outside have long been empty.

This would provide convenient conditions for our side to evacuate in a concentrated manner.

Soon, after a few glasses of wine, the drinkers' faces turned red and their bodies felt hot.

Soon after, they were overwhelmed by the alcohol and fell into a deep sleep.

Loen immediately called upon his God-Blood Guards and the remaining city defense forces to quickly transport the sleeping Minoans to the Minoan warships that had been prepared in advance.

It was not until nearly evening that all the sober people worked overtime to barely move all the drunk Minoans.

And when everything was ready, the old man, holding a bronze spear, stood in front of the palace hall, looking at the thousands of Divine Blood Guards and city defense troops gathered there, his eyes full of emotion and shouting loudly.

“Thank you for holding on until now.

This king feels extremely happy and relieved about this. At least I am not the only one walking this road alone.

In fact, I told you personally yesterday.

No matter how hard it struggled, Crete would be destroyed.

This is God’s will that cannot be defied, and it is also an unchangeable destiny.”

The soldiers listened quietly, their expressions not changing at all.

King Minos looked around the silent square and spoke solemnly.

“Then, let me reiterate, I will not force you on how to welcome the end.

You can choose to lay down your weapon and run away.

You can choose to take the last ferry and guard the Minoan fire.

You can choose to live a life of drunkenness and party till the end.

Anyone else want to quit?"

At this moment, groups of sea beasts and sea gods who controlled the storms and raging waves had appeared on the sea in the distance. The dense and heavy rain like a waterfall also penetrated the gradually torn golden barrier, hitting the skin and armor of the soldiers, making a crisp sound of tinkling.

But the entire square was still silent. No one moved, and no one made the slightest sound.

Their relatives and friends have already boarded the ship, and their children are right behind them.

There was nothing stopping them from showing their edge anymore, just like a sword without its scabbard, they could swing it towards the target without hesitation.

King Minos nodded slightly, his eyes deep and calm.

“It seems that all of you have expressed your willingness to fight.

Even though I knew this outcome, I still decided to fight it.

What a foolish act, what an amazing courage! This is probably an ode that even the Muse cannot compose!

So, the last of the Minoans, listen up now.

Climb up the city wall immediately, take up your weapons, and fight for me until the last moment! "

The old man in the rain took a deep breath, raised the spear in his skinny right hand, and let out a lion-like roar from his shriveled chest.

"——We will deny the will of the gods at this moment and fight against the so-called fate!"

Boom!

The entire island shook violently. In the distance, mudslides mixed with rubble, trees, and animal carcasses advanced layer by layer, creating huge waves as high as a hundred meters.

The city-state of Crete that stood in the way was like a building block covered by the giant's fingers.

It was as if the gods were angry and fate was roaring.

But the soldiers in the square proudly puffed out their chests, standing unafraid, striking the ground with their spears, and shouting like a landslide or a tsunami.

"Fight! Fight! Fight!"

Then, the few thousand remaining people climbed up the city wall tacitly, cooperated with the priests who volunteered to stay, activated the magic circle, ignited the last light on the island of Crete, and welcomed the impact from the sea.

Meanwhile, in the safe haven

As they were about to leave, the high priest Ariadne finally couldn't help but open her mouth to ask, her face full of confusion.

"Goddess, where should we go?"

Athena had already planned for this, and blurted out the answer she had been thinking about for a long time.

"Athens, the king there will take you in. I gave the divinity of the snake to their ancestors and helped them build a country."

Luo En was thoughtful after hearing this.

According to legend, Cecrops, the first king of Athens, had a human body and a snake's tail.

During the reign of Cecrops, both Athena and Poseidon wanted to become the patron god of Athens, and they agreed to give the Athenians a gift each, and Cecrops would choose the one they liked better.

Poseidon pierced the rock of the Acropolis with his trident, and a spring appeared; but the spring water was salty and people thought it was of little use, so Athena pierced the rock with her spear of victory, and an olive tree grew from it.

Cecrops decided that the olive tree was a better gift because it brought wood, oil, and food, so he accepted Athena as the local patron goddess, and Athens got its name.

In addition, Ericthonius, the fourth king of Athens, was said to be the son of Hephaestus, the god of fire, and the earth, and was also carefully raised and taught by Athena.

After that, the fifth king Pandion, the sixth king Aegeus, and the seventh king Theseus all received more or less help and inspiration from Athena.

Theseus was the one who sacrificed the Cretan bull to Athena and brought the high priest Ariadne to Athens.

According to legend, the prosperity of Mycenaean and Athenian civilizations was due to the Minoans who fled during natural disasters and brought the spark of civilization to them.

Therefore, based on the above clues, it is enough to prove that Athena had long seen the decline of Crete and made preparations in advance.

But she has never been able to make up her mind how to choose.

At this moment, the goddess of wisdom paused, then bit her fingertips, and threw out a strand of golden-red blood, which merged into the forehead of the high priestess, and gave instructions in a deep voice.

"From now on, forget your original identities. From now on, you are the bloodline of the city builder Pandion!"

Loen nodded secretly. As far as he knew, there seemed to be more than one Pandion in Greek mythology, and there was no way to verify how many of his collateral bloodlines were real and fake.

Therefore, as long as there is the endorsement of the King of Athens, this is the easiest identity to apply.

Then, Athena looked at the three Gorgon sisters standing behind Princess Ariadne, and her gaze finally fell on the badge with bronze snake patterns on Medusa's chest. She took her hand and gently stroked the badge with her fingertips. The originally simple snake patterns turned into the image of a Gorgon.

"This is your family emblem. She is your ancestor. Her name is Pallas!"

Seeing the scene in front of him, Loen's brain suddenly froze.

——The Gorgon emblem widely circulated in Athens.

——Athena's legendary companion, Pallas, a girl with the divinity of the sea.

——The two princesses who were supposed to be kidnapped took the initiative to go to Athens to work.

Everything seems to be unchanged on the surface, but everything at its core has completely changed.

After a few seconds of sighing, Ron also sent Hestia onto the boat.

The stove goddess who came onto the deck looked back several times, wanting to say something but stopping herself.

"You can't stay. This won't change the outcome and will only further arouse the fear of His Majesty. So, just protect them!"

Loen made a rational analysis and gave advice in a deep voice.

Although Hestia was reluctant, she was one who listened to advice.

She finally nodded obediently, sat back in the cabin, and waited for the warship to set sail.

The two stood side by side, watching several fully loaded warships close their hatches and sail away from the focal point of Crete.

"BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!"

There was thunder in the sky and the muddy current on the ground was like a galloping horse.

At this moment, the rain is heavy and the wind is strong!

Twelve hurricanes, carrying waves and mud, swept in, almost splitting the sky and earth apart.

The dark clouds covered the sky, swallowing up the last bit of starlight, and the darkness pressed down.

Dense swarms of lightning snakes shuttled back and forth, constantly winding and exploding towards the ground, causing the earth to roll and tremble.

But a high wall gleaming with light and a few thin human figures drove the terrifying hurricane, waves and wild beasts back to the deep sea time and time again.

"Disobeying God's will and being stubborn!"

A suppressed and cold roar came from the sea. A huge water-blue trident tore through the sea surface, forming a huge whirlpool. One after another, strangely shaped black warships jumped out of the water, forming a black mass, with thousands of ships in total.

Nearby, tens of thousands of Atlantis soldiers, riding dolphins or giant beasts, guarded both sides of the fleet, forming a mighty military force.

Finally, the old man of the sea Nereus, the queen of the sea Amphitrite, hundreds of sea nymphs and sea gods stood on the deck of the black fleet, their eyes filled with awe for the sea king at the center of the flagship.

Obviously, in order to easily win this battle of revenge, Poseidon chose to come out in full force and reveal his trump cards.

Because he not only wanted to win easily, but also wanted to intimidate those ocean gods who were ready to make a move.

Even if he lost one, he was still the lone king of the Sea of Oceanus!

At the same time, Ron and Athena, who were looking from afar, looked back at each other, and the last stone in their hearts fell.

Finally, it was caught!

(End of this chapter)