In less than half a month, the Minosians had witnessed the outside world succumb completely.
Accompanied by the crisp chirping of birds, the vigorous tapping sounds emanated from the Great Temple,
The dazzling halo, against the backdrop of the stars, shone brilliantly, casting a sky full of star charts and celestial outlines, faintly numbering to eighty-eight.
The intermittently visible golden light patterns, carrying a peculiar rhythm, rippled outward, eventually spreading to the exterior of Knossos City, cascading down. They appeared like a beautiful, tasseled canopy covering the fortress city.
The large clusters of rain clouds and storms that had drifted in from the Sea of Okeanos were expelled from the radius protected by the golden starlight and could only hover and surge dozens of miles away.
Even the overflowing floods on the ground had no choice but to recede and bypass, unable to erode even a bit of it.
A quarter of an hour later, Athena, clad in armor, stepped out from the Great Temple and entered the palace, solemnly warning,
"There isn't enough time, it likely won't last till evening, have them set off immediately, far away from Crete Island!"
Luo En nodded at once, then under the guise of "bringing warmth," had the Divine Blood Guard and priests distribute warm grape wine door-to-door to those Minosians who still insisted on staying in Knossos City.
Since most Minosians had already fled, the remaining people had instinctively gathered towards Knossos City for safe shelter.
Thus, apart from this royal city, the city-states and villages outside were already deserted.
As such, it provided a convenient condition for a focused evacuation.
Soon, after a few drinks were downed, the drinkers turned red-faced, their bodies flushed with heat.
Shortly after, they succumbed to the strength of the wine and fell into a deep slumber.
Luo En immediately summoned the Divine Blood Guard and the remaining city defense troops to swiftly transport the unconscious Minosians onto the pre-arranged Minos Warships.
By the time evening approached, all the sober hands had only just barely managed to transport the inebriated Minosians after working overtime.
And as everything was ready, the aged man, holding a bronze spear, stood before the palace hall, looking over the thousands of Divine Blood Guard and city defense troops assembled before him, his eyes brimming with emotion, loudly proclaiming,
"It's been hard work sticking it out till now.
I am supremely joyous and comforted by this, at least I am not alone on this path.
Actually, as early as yesterday, I personally told you.
No matter how much we struggle, Crete Island will be destroyed.
This is the unopposable will of the gods and the immutable destiny."
The soldiers listened quietly, their expressions unchanged.
King Minos surveyed the silent square and spoke solemnly,
"So, I will reiterate once again, how you meet your end is not something I will force upon you.
You may choose to lay down your weapons and flee.
You may choose to take the last ferry and guard the spark of the Minosians.
You may choose to die in drunken revelry, celebrating to the end.
Does anyone want to back out now?"
At that moment, the distant sea was already teeming with groups of Sea Beasts and sea deities who rode storms and furious waves, and the dense rain, penetrating through the gradually tearing golden barrier, pelted the soldiers' flesh and armor, making a clear, tinkling noise.
Yet the entire square remained eerily silent, no one moved an inch, nor did anyone make the slightest sound.
Their relatives had already boarded ships, their children were right behind them.
With nothing left to stop them from drawing their sharpness, they were like a sword without a sheath, ready to hack unreservedly at the targets before them.
King Minos nodded slightly, his gaze deep and calm.
"It seems, all of you are indicating your desire to fight.
Knowing this outcome, you still decide to struggle against it.
Such foolish acts, such astonishing bravery, perhaps even Muse cannot compose a song of praise for it!
Then, the finest soldiers of the Minosians, listen well now.
Climb the city walls immediately, take up your weapons, and fight for me to the last moment!"
The old man in the rain drew a deep breath, lifting the spear in his gaunt right hand high, his withered chest letting out a lion-like roar,
"—We now refuse the decisions of the gods and the so-called destiny!"
The entire island trembled violently, and from afar, mudslides mixed with broken rocks, trees, and animal carcasses pushed forward, raising waves hundreds of meters high.
The city-states on Crete Island were like blocks under the covering fingers of a giant.
It was as if the gods were furious, destiny howling.
But the soldiers on the square proudly puffed out their chests, unflinching, their spears striking the ground, their voices erupting with a cry as thunderous as landslides and tsunamis,
"Fight! Fight! Fight!"
Immediately, the few remaining thousand perfectly coordinated as they climbed onto the city walls, with the volunteering priests activating the Magic Array, igniting the last light on Crete Island, to meet the oncoming strike from the sea.
At the same time, in the haven
With departure imminent, High Priestess Ariadne finally managed to ask, her eyes full of bewilderment,
"Lady Goddess, where should we go?"
Athena had long planned her response, which she now articulated effortlessly,
"Athens, their king will shelter you, I once granted them the serpent aspect of Divinity and helped them found their city-state."
Upon hearing this, Luo En became contemplative.
According to legend, the first king of Athens, Cecrops, had the body of a man and the tail of a snake.