Chapter 448: The Brave and the Vile

Although Epiphanes and the fourth and fifth legion soldiers were reluctant, they still had to obey the military order no matter how unwilling they were. They could only watch from the top of the city wall as their officers and comrades continued to be tied to the ground on their knees…

As minutes and seconds passed by…

Some of the captives lay on the ground due to the lack of energy…

Drakos even felt his body dry up badly, but he restrained himself with utmost perseverance and did not utter a word. As a legatus, he understood the Syracusans’ sinister intention and knew the reason for the lack of the movement in Aprustum. In such a treacherous situation, the only thing he could do was to keep quiet and not stimulate his brothers’ fragile nerves in the city so as not to put them in danger. He only hopes that the Syracusans, seeing their ploy not succeeding, could only meekly withdraw…

But Drakos thought a little too well of the Syracusans. Seeing that there had no movement at the top of the city wall, Astagoras grew a little impatient. He then glanced at the Campanian mercenary leader, Enamenus, who was next to him and said, “Send one of your men to cut off the head of a captive. Let see if these Theonians could still remain calm.”

Even though Enamenus hesitated a bit, he still agreed in the end.

In the historical tradition of Greek warfare, it was not allowed to abuse Greek prisoners in front of the battlefield. Astagoras was unwilling to be charged with this crime, so he let the mercenaries do it, and Enamenus could only accept it because of the desire for profit.

The chosen target of the mercenaries was Etaru, the one next to Drakos to stimulate the Theonians even more. The mercenary raised his shiny blade high and slashed down the neck of the defenceless Etaru with such force that blood spurted onto Drakos’ body, which caused anger to flare up again in his weakened body.

He then understood that Syracuse had never wanted to let them go.

He finally made up his mind after hearing the uncontrollable cry and noise on the city wall, and the cry of the captive soldiers beside him and the bursts of severe pain from his lungs.

He struggled to straighten his body and shouted in a hoarse voice with all his strength, “ALL HAIL, THEONIA! ALL HAIL, THE THEONIAN ARMY!…cough…DEFEND APRUSTUM AND AVENGE ME AND MY BROTHERS! AVENGE US!!” After saying that, he took his last breath and smashed his head hard into a sharp stone in front of his knees.

At that moment, he remembered the image of Davos in the square of Amendolara with a smile on his face, awarding the military banner to him, who was covered with bandages, “Lord Davos…” a smile appeared on his face…

“BANG!….”

Immediately afterwards, several Theonian captives followed Drakos’ example and smashed their head to the ground…

Astagoras and Enamenus were shocked when they saw this tragic sight that it took them a second to come back to their senses. They did not expect that the Theonians would be so decisive! Especially Drakos, as an important figure of Theonia, did not even spare his life and was unwilling to be humiliated that he died just like that…

“Hurry up! Hurry up and treat them!…” Astagoras, who had always fought bravely, shouted in panic while feeling an inexplicable fear.

“Lord Commander!” Epiphanes, a man who rarely shed tears, had tears running down his face. He stood in front of Philesius and said in grief, “Because of our weakness, Drakos…Drakos died heroically…”

Philesius clenched his fists and teeth, feeling the guilt that his gums burst and started bleeding without realising it. The voice that he squeezed out of his mouth was so pained and, at the same time, contained an endless resentment, “Drakos…Drakos feared that we would fall for the Syracusans trick, so he chooses…chooses to go to the Hall of Valour! Hades, I swear!! I, Philesius, swear that I will defeat Syracuse and bring the corpse of that tyrant and his men to pay homage to the spirit of Drakos!!!”

Epiphanes roared as he looked at the Syracusans below the city wall with endless resentment. Then he walked towards the soldiers.

Soon, the whole city resounded with a song to Hades, “Oh Hades, The king of the underworld, the lord of justice,

with black hair and eyes,

I, your brave warrior,

Has come to your sacred temple,

If you were to ask me what I have done throughout my life,

My answer is: I love to wield a shield and spear, drinking the blood of my enemies!

And if you were to ask me if I have ever trembled and afraid?

My answer is: Never!

And boast my battles to you!

…”

The solemn and majestic singing reverberated throughout the city of Aprustum, eventually turning into a deafening chant, “Long live legatus Drakos! Long live Theonian legion!! Kill all the Syracusans!!!…”

On the other hand, the Syracusan soldiers below the city wall had their expression changed when they heard this.

Astagoras became listless, waved his hand powerlessly and said, “Let’s go back and report to the lord…”

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

Only silence remained in the tent when Astagoras briefly described what happened to Dionysius.

Even though Syracuse occupied the absolute advantage of the whole war situation, everyone had a dignified expression on their faces, as if Syracuse had lost the war.

Dionysius could only cough a few times and say, “We need to speed up our siege preparations! I hope that we can attack Crotone the day after tomorrow! On Aprustum…well, just watch them for the time being.”

“Yes, milord!” Phacipessas stood up and immediately left the tent to urge the engineers, craftsmen and soldiers to speed up their progress.

At this moment, everyone felt a sense of urgency, ‘We must destroy the Theonia Union while it is still weak. Otherwise, we would be the one eaten!’

Even the proud Phidias was moved. He then remembered the Spartan Aristodemus. This brave Spartan citizen was a member of King Leonidas’ Three Hundred, but he failed to participate in the Battle of Thermopylae because of eye disease. A year later, in the Battle of Plataea, he took the initiative to rush ahead in the front and died heroically, redeeming his reputation and was highly praised by the people…

‘It seemed the Theonians’ admiration of honour, courage and will to fight do not seem to be weaker than ours!’ Phidias thought with mixed feelings.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

For the people of Theonia, this day is destined to be an unforgettable day!

Although the Syracusans had not yet started their siege on Crotone, the mercenary calvaries had already crossed the Neto River, galloping across the Crotone plain belonging to Theonia’s side, where they set fire on houses after houses and destroying villages after villages…

In Theonia’s northeastern border, the Tarabtines, with nearly 20,000 soldiers and superior strength, were unwilling to confront the Theonia-Heraclean joint troops in front of the city of Heraclea. Instead, Diaomilas sent some of his soldiers south across the Agri River into the Theonian territory of Amendolara, starting a campaign of wanton destruction in an attempt to force the seventh legion of Theonia to leave the city of Heraclea.

And they even burned the first waterwheel in the whole Greek world, which the Amendolarans were proud of.

. . . . . . . . . . . . .

In the Bruttian region of the Theonia Union: Although they have eliminated Petaru and the rebels he led, it taught Bodiam a lesson. Thus he led his more than 2,000 followers and avoided Hieronymus, who came to encircle and suppress them by using the complex terrain of Anbania and the lake’s protection. And in order to stabilise the situation in Bruttii, Hielos could only postpone the plan to recruit soldiers to form a new legion to support Thurii.

While on the sea, Leptines, the navarch of the Syracusan navy, finally converged the ships scattered along the east and west coasts of Magna Graecia in Scylletium. After gathering a powerful fleet of more than 400 ships, they began heading north along the east coast of Magna Graecia, ready to force the Theonian fleet to come out for a decisive battle.

And the Krimisians, Roscianums and Thurians who saw the huge fleet covering the whole sea began to tremble…

But what the Theonians didn’t know was that in the west, in Laos, Alobamus – the actual ruler of this city-state, became determined when he learned about “Syracuse defeating the South Italian Allied troops and quickly occupying Terina and Scylletium and conquering Caulonia.”

However, the report about “Davos completely defeating the Samnites” soon came and made him hesitate.

But when the news of the “treacherous invasion of Taranto, the betrayal of the Bruttian statesmen and the invasion of the Syracusan army into Crotone” came one after another, Alobamus thought that even if Davos is powerful, he would not be able to save Theonia from getting attacked on all sides.

But even with all of that, he still did not act immediately. He waited until the army led by Davos left Lucania and returned to Thurii as he did not want to be the first to bear the wrath of the Theonians.

And when his spy told him that ‘Henipolis led his troops to follow Theonia’s main force and went to Thurii together.’ He became much more relieved. In actual truth, he was reluctant to raise his sword and spear to his nephew and the soldiers of Laos, and their departure caused his psychological barrier to disappear.

On that day, he imprisoned his brother’s family, Avinoges, summoned the officials and chieftains of Laos and declared, ‘Laos left Theonia Alliance!’

He also sent an army of 1,500 men to the Lao fortress, claiming to respond to the archon of Theonia to reinforce Thurii.

Fortunately, Davos had already reminded Tagru, the officer in charge of Lao fortress, before, causing him to raise his vigilance. He insisted that the Laosians show the orders issued by the Theonian senate and the Ministry of Military, else they would not allow their entry!

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