Although Epthenis was unwilling, he had no choice but to obey the order. Even though the soldiers of the 4th and 5th Legions were unwilling, they had no choice but to obey the order. They could only watch helplessly as their commander and comrades continued to be tied up on the ground.
Time was ticking away …
Some of the captives collapsed to the ground due to exhaustion …
Dracos could feel his body drying up, but he restrained himself with all his willpower and did not make a sound. As the commander of the legion, he understood the sinister intention of Syracuse to tie them up here. He also understood why there was no movement in Aspuztum. In such a dangerous situation, the only thing he could do was to remain silent and not agitate his brothers on the wall, lest they fall into danger. Perhaps in the end, the people of Syracuse would retreat obediently when they realized that their plan was not working …
However, Dracos thought too highly of Syracuse. Astagras grew impatient when he saw that there was no movement on the wall. He glanced at the leader of the Campanian Mercenaries, Endimennas, and said, "Send someone to behead one of the captives. Let's see if the people of Diónia can keep their composure."
Endimennas hesitated for a moment, but he finally agreed.
In Greek history, it was forbidden to torture and kill Greek captives on the battlefield. Astagras did not want to be accused of such a crime, so he asked the mercenaries to do it. Endimennas, who was blinded by greed, had no choice but to accept it.
The mercenaries' target was Taturu, who was next to Dracos. They wanted to agitate the people of Diónia even more. When the mercenaries raised their gleaming sabers and slashed down hard on the defenseless Taturu's neck, blood splattered on Dracos' body. Dracos' anger was ignited in his weakened body again.
He understood that the people of Syracuse had no intention of letting them go.
When he heard the uncontrollable cries and noise from the wall in front of him, the cries of the captives beside him, and the sharp pain in his lungs, he finally made up his mind.
He straightened his body with all his might and shouted in a hoarse voice, "Victory to Diónia! Long live the Legion of Dionysia! … Ahem … Defend Asbrustum, and avenge me and my brothers in the future! Revenge!! " After saying that, he used the last bit of his strength to smash his head into a sharp rock in front of his knees.
At that moment, he remembered the scene when the Devers awarded him the military flag in the Plaza of Amendola with a smile on their faces. "Lord Devers …" His face revealed a trace of a smile.
"Bang! … "
Then, many Diónia captive soldiers followed Dracos's example and smashed their heads to the ground …
Witnessing this tragic scene, Astagras and Endimennas were as shocked as clay puppets. It took them a while to recover. They did not expect the people of Diónia to be so unyielding! This was especially true for Dracos. As an important figure in Diónia, he did not hesitate to sacrifice his own life. Unwilling to be humiliated, he died just like that …
"Quick! Go and teach them a lesson! " Astagras, who had always been brave in battle, shouted in panic. He felt an inexplicable fear in his heart.
"Lord Commander!" Epicthenis, a man who rarely cried, had tears streaming down his face. He stood in front of Felicius in grief and indignation. "Because of our weakness, Dracos … Dracos died a heroic death …"
Felicius gritted his teeth in guilt and clenched his fists so tightly that his gums were bleeding. He did not realize that his voice was filled with pain and endless resentment. "Dracos … Dracos was afraid that we would be tricked by the people of Syracuse. That's why he chose … chose to go to the Shrine of Heroes! In the name of the Hades, I swear! I, Felicius, swear that I will defeat Syracuse and bring the corpses of that tyrant and his subordinates to worship the spirit of Dracos! "
Epicthenis snorted and looked at the people of Syracuse with the same resentment in his eyes. He then walked towards the soldiers.
Soon, the entire city was filled with the song of the Hades, "King of the Underworld, Lord of Justice,
The black-haired and black-eyed Hades,
I, a valiant soldier,
Come to your majestic shrine,
Do you want to ask what I did when I was alive?
I like to brandish my spear and shield, and drink the blood of my enemies!
Do you want to ask if I have ever trembled or feared?
Never!
Because I want to boast about my achievements in front of you!
… "
The solemn and powerful song echoed in the sky above Asprostom, and finally turned into a deafening sentence, "Long live Legion Commander Dracos! Long live the Legion of Dionysia! Kill all the people of Syracuse! … "
The expressions of the soldiers of Syracuse changed when they heard this.
Astagras became dispirited and waved his hand dispiritedly, "Go back and report to His Lordship …"
… …
After Astagras briefly told Dionysius about what happened in Asprostom, the tent was silent.
Syracuse had the absolute advantage in the battle, but from the solemn expression on the faces of the people in the tent, it was as if Syracuse had lost the battle.
Dionysius coughed a few times and said in a deep voice, "We need to speed up our preparations for the siege! I hope to launch an attack on Ciudad Crotone the day after tomorrow! Asprostom … Hmm, stay alert for now. "
"Yes, His Lordship!" Fasipesas stood up and immediately rushed out of the tent to urge the engineers, craftsmen, and soldiers to speed up the progress.
At this moment, everyone in the tent felt a sense of urgency. They had to destroy the Diónia Alliance while it was still weak, or else they might be devoured by it!
Even the arrogant Phoebidas was moved. He could not help but think of the Sparta Aristódemos from a few decades ago. This brave Sparta citizen was one of the 300 guards of King Leonidas. He could not participate in the Battle of Hot Spring Pass because of an eye disease. A year later, during the Battle of Pradia, he took the initiative to rush to the front and died heroically to redeem his reputation. He was praised by his countrymen …
Diónia's citizens' respect for honor, courage, and fighting spirit were not any weaker than ours! Phoebidas thought with mixed feelings.
… …
This day was destined to be an unforgettable day for the people of the Diónia Alliance!
Although the people of Syracuse had not yet begun to attack Ciudad Crotone, the mercenary cavalry had crossed the Neto River and galloped on the Croton Plain that belonged to the side of Diónia. Houses were set ablaze one by one, and villages were destroyed one by one …
In the northeast of Diónia, the people of Tarantum, who had nearly 20,000 soldiers, were unwilling to confront the allied forces of Diónia and Heraclea in front of the city of Heraclea. Diomiras sent some of his soldiers south across the Agri River and entered the territory of Amendolara in Diónia. They began to destroy wantonly in an attempt to force the new Seventh Legion of Diónia to leave Heraclea.
The first waterwheel in the entire Greek world that the Amendolarans were proud of was burned in the raging fire.
… …
In the Bruti region of the Diónia Alliance, although Petaru's rebel army was eliminated, Burgam had learned his lesson. He led more than 2,000 troops that followed him and did not fight with Hieronymus who came to encircle them. Instead, they used the complex terrain of Ambania and the protection of Lake Cecita to deal with the rebel army. In order to stabilize the situation in the Bruti region, Hilos had to postpone the plan to gather soldiers to form a new legion and support Turií.
At sea, the commander of the navy of Syracuse, Leptinus, finally gathered the warships scattered on the east and west coasts of Greece in Siletina. He gathered a powerful fleet of more than 400 warships and sailed north along the east coast of Greece, preparing to force the fleet of Diónia to come out for a decisive battle.
The people of Crimissa, Castellón, and Turií all saw the huge fleet that covered the entire sea, and all of them began to tremble …
However, what the people of Diónia did not know was that in the west, in Laos, the actual ruler of the city-state, Arobuma, was tempted when he heard the news that Syracuse had defeated the Southern Italian Coalition, quickly occupied Triene, Siletina, and conquered Corunna.
However, the news that the Devers had completely defeated the Samonians soon came, and he was a little hesitant.
Until the news that the Tarantum Alliance had invaded, the Bruti Elder had rebelled, and the Syracuse Army had advanced to Ciudad Crotone, Diónia was surrounded by enemies on all sides and was in danger. Arobuma believed that under such circumstances, no matter how powerful the Devers were, they could not guarantee their defeat.
However, he did not take action immediately. He had to wait for the army led by the Devers to leave Lucania and return to Turií, because he did not want to be the first to bear the wrath of the people of Diónia.
When the spy told him that Henepolis had led his troops to follow the main force of Diónia to Turií, he was even more relieved. He breathed a sigh of relief. To be honest, he was reluctant to raise his sword against his nephew and the Laos soldiers. Their departure had removed his psychological barrier.
On this day, he imprisoned the family of his brother, Avinogis, summoned the officials and leaders of Laos, and announced that Laos had left the alliance of Diónia!
At the same time, he also sent an army of 1,500 to the La River Fortress, claiming that they were responding to the request of the Consul of Diónia to reinforce Turií.
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