~The next day in the bay of Salamis~
Themistocles's army are gathering to prepare for the attack against the Persians, all while Themistocles, Aeskylos, Calliope, and Atreus are discussing of the plan of how to win with the ships that they have against the Persian fleet.
"I will search out the veterans among them, establish some order among the volunteers." Aeskylos said with Themistocles agreeing
"Good, there's little time to teach these farmhands strategy. Just keep them well fed and sober." Atreus says to Aeskylos
"Anything else?" Aeskylos says
"Wouldn't hurt if they could swing a sword." Calliope says then she noticed Callisto sleeping on the ground next his sword and shield.
"well, I'll be damned." Themistocles says while he gently kicks Callisto's leg waking him up
"sh*t" Callisto says while getting up
"Does your father know that you're here?" Themistocles says
"No, sir" Callisto says
"And this shield and sword?" Aeskylos says while picking up the sword
"My Grandfather's, my mother entrusted them to me this morning" Callisto says
"When she gave you her blessing?" Themistocles says
"Yes, sir" Callisto says
"With a sharp blade, no less" Aeskylos says putting the blade back
"your father is preparing a surprise for our enemy tomorrow." Themistocles says to Callisto
"I choose to fight here, now" Callisto says
"Come aboard my ship, that is where you will fight" Themistocles said
Callisto says "Yes, sir"
Themistocles walks away to join Calliope, Atreus, and Aeskylos
"we've just over 50 ships. Persian forces reported a number in the thousands." Atreus says
"Those ships appear hardly seaworthy." Aeskylos said
"Nothing like the monster ships of the Persian fleet." Calliope says while carving her sword
"We have the advantage. Speed, maneuverability." Themistocles said
"The rest of the city-states have sent anywhere from a handful to a single ship and of course Athens supplied the balance." Atreus says
"We have report that a small advance force of Persian ships have taken refuge from the storm across the strait. If weather breaks, we could hit them at dawn." Calliope says to Themistocles
"An early Greek victory." Themistocles says
"The gods have given us an opportunity to wound the Persians, strengthen Greek morale." Atreus said
"A tempting distraction. But we'll stick to the battle plan. Today at sundown, we will sail out to meet the main Persian fleet. We'll attack in the open water with no shore to narrow the battle." Themistocles says
"To attack a force of over 1000 ships with meager force is suicide." Aeskylos says
"Such is my plan." Themistocles said
Atrues turned his head North hoping that you were safe without him. He knew you could take care of yourself but something was telling him that you would run into trouble. What kind of trouble? That was unknown but it still worried him.
~The Hot Gates Up North~
The wall is solid, it'll do the job of funneling the Persians into the Hot Gates." Kratos says to King Leonidas
"Have the men found any route through the hills to our back?" Leonidas asks to make sure that there's no path that the Persians could use to attack from behind.
That is until a hunchback who wears a crimson of a Spartan with a helmet, sword, and shield.
"There is such a route, good king. Just pass that western ridge, it's an old goat path, the Persians could use it to outflank us." The unknown hunchback said.
"Not one step closer, monster!" Kratos says threatening the hunchback
"Wise King, I humbly request an audience." The hunchback says
"I'll skewer you where you stand." Kratos says in an angry voice until Leonidas stops him.
"I gave no such order, god of war." Leonidas said then Kratos began to leave them alone to talk
"Forgive the god of war, he's a good solider, but a bit short on manners most of the time."
"There is nothing to forgive, brave king. I know what I look like."
"You wear the crimson of a Spartan."
"I am Ephialtes, born of Sparta, my mother's love led my parents to flee Sparta lest I be discarded."
"Your shield and armor?"
"My Father's, sir. I beg you bold King, to permit me to redeem my father's name by serving you in combat. My father trained me to feel no fear, to make spear and shield and sword as much apart of me as my own beating heart. I will earn my father's armor, noble king by serving you in the battle." Ephialtes said and showing his skills with a spear
"A fine thrust." Leonidas says
"I will kill many Persians."
"Raise your shield, try to raise it as high as you can."
(Ephialtes was having a little bit of trouble trying to raise his shield but it was hard for him because he's a hunchback)
"Your father should have taught you how our phalanx works, we fight as single impenetrable unit and that is the source of our strength. Each Spartan protects the man to his left from thigh to the neck with a shield, a single weak spot and the phalanx shatters from thigh to neck, Ephialtes. I am sorry, my friend but not all of us were made to be soliders. If you want to help in the Spartan victory clear the battlefield at the dead tend the wounded, bring them water, but as for the fight itself I cannot use you." Leonidas says and with that he leaves Ephialtes.
The hunchback is angry and yells in fury, "MOTHER! FATHER! YOU WERE WRONG! YOU ARE WRONG LEONIDAS, YOU'RE WRONG."
Leonidas walks to Kratos and says "Dispatch the Phocians to the goat path and pray to the gods nobody tells the Persians about it."
(RUMBLING)
"Earthquake" Kratos says but y-n corrected him.
"No Kratos, battle formations." y-n says her hair tied into a bun with several lose strains around her e-c eyes.
(FARAWAY FROM THE HOT GATES, ONE CAN SEE MILLIONS OF PERSIANS GOING TO THE HOT GATES WHERE IT LEADS TO ATHENS BUT THEY WERE STOPPED BY A WALL OF 300 SPARTANS)
"This is where we hold them, this is where we fight and this is where they die." Leonidas shouts with glory
"Earn these shields men" The Captain says while raising his shield and the Spartans say their chanting
"Remember this day men, for it will be yours for all time." Kratos says
The Persian Army stopped and one of the Persians said "Spartans lay down your weapons"
In moments later a spear was thrown at him and it killed, with that the Persians charged and so did the Spartans.
"GIVE THEM NOTHING BUT TAKE FROM THEM EVERYTHING." Kratos shouts and he unleashes the blades of exile.
The god kills many Persians while King Leonidas was killing a few Persian soldiers as well, showing his skills with a spear. Y-n throws it to a Persian, she is surround by persians blocking the enimes attacks with his sword and killing more Persians as she slices through the men as if they were wheat ready for harvest. The Persians back away because they knew they wouldn't stand a chance.
"They look thirsty." The Captain says while King Leonidas slightly laughs.
"Well lets give them something to drink. To the cliffs." King Leonidas orders his Spartan army to go forward and they put their shields in front of them.
They push the Persians off the cliff and die. They do what they were trained to do, what they were bred to do, what they were born to do. No prisoners, No mercy. A good start, even for Kratos and Y-n for they were just warming up.
After the first attack, the Spartans grab the dead Persians and pile their body to the walls that they created with Persian bodies.
"Our Greek comrades are begging for a crack at the Persians, my lord." The Captain said to King leonidas
"Good, I've got something I think they can hanhandle. Tell Daxos that I want him and 20 of his best eager, sober and ready for the next charge.
"King Leonidas" Stelios says to his king and was very tired
"Stelios, catch your breath, boy."
"Yes, milord. The Persians are approaching, a small contingent. Too small for an attack."
"Leonidas, I will go" y-n said making all around her look at her with shock and compassion.
"Y-n -" Kartos start.
"Relax, old man. If they assassinate the king, all of Sparta goes to war, pray they're that stupid, Pray we're that lucky. Besides, there's no reason we can't be civil, is there?" y-n asks with amusement in her eyes at the thought of using her magic on someone who needed a bloody death.
"None, my lady"
Y-n goes to the Persians but she sees Persian slaves carrying a big golden thrown with the god king Xerxes who stands up and walks off the throne.
"Let me guess. You must be Xerxes."
"Come, Y-n the goddess of protection. Let us reason together. It would be a regrettable waste be nothing short of madness were you, brave god and your valiant troops to perish, all because of a simple misunderstanding. There's much our cultures could share."
"Haven't you noticed? We've been sharing our culture with you all morning." The h-c girl said laughing slightly.
"Yours is a fascinating tribe. Even now you are defiant in the face of annihilation and the presence of a god, it isn't wise to stand against me, Y-n. Imagine what a horrible fate awaits my enemies when I would gladly kill any of my own men for victory."
"And I would die for any one of mine."
"You Greeks take pride in your logic, I suggest you employ it. Consider the beautiful land you so vigorously defend, picture it reduced to ash at my whim. Consider the fate of you women."
"Well clearly you don't know us women, I might as well have marched them up here judging by what I've seen. You have many slaves Xerxes but few warriors, it won't be long before they fear our spears and swords, more then you whips."
"It's not the lash that they fear, it is my devine power but I'm a generous god. I can make you rich beyond all measure, I will make you warlord of all Greece. You will carry my battle standards at the heart of Europa, your Greek rivals will kneel at your feet of you will but kneel at mine."
"You are generous, as you are devine O king of kings. Such an offer only a mad man would refuse, but the idea of kneeling. You see, slaughtering all those men has left a nasty cramp on my leg, so kneeling will be hard for me." Y-n said with a sickening smirk on her face.
"There will be no glory in your sacrifice. I will erase even the memory of Sparta from the histories, every piece of Greek parchment shall be burned. Every Greek historian and every scribe shall have their eyes put out and their tongues cut from their mouths. Why uttering the very name of Sparta, Leonidas, Kratos, or Y-n will be punishable by death. The world will never know you existed at all."
"The world will know that free men stood against a tyrant, that few stood against many and before this battle was over, that even god king can bleed."
Y-n heads back to the Dead Persian wall where his fellow Spartans are making the wall higher with more bodies.
"Come on , boys. Pile those Persian high, for unless my guess is, we will be in for one wild night." y-n said grabbing a dead persian man's legs.