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[u][h3]Buildings near the Academy - Academy District[/h3][/u]
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Military Tactics... The ability to control an army, and get the very best out of them. In life, Rider had relied on others for such things. Artemisia most famously. The guidance they had given him had allowed him to become a great ruler, nearer to the perfection he had held himself too than he might have without such council. But now... He did not rely on her as heavily. For the king of Persia had become stronger in a new way. The ability of his army only rose under his command, and a greek warrior could only do so much in a crowd. 

After all, when in a crowd, it could be difficult for even an archer to aim a shot amidst dodging and weaving. For ever soldier that might be killed by a loosed, unaimed arrow, the soldier would be replaced by another. These were the persian immortals after all, and for each that fell, they were replaced without hesitation by another. As such, in order to aim properly, there was only one avenue open to the archer. Xerxes knew this. In truth, he had planned for it. He had expected it. So when the time came to react to it, everything fell into place. 

When Parthenopeus bent his knees to leap, that was the signal that all had been waiting for. And multiple things happened at once. 

First, the king's soldiers moved to defend him. In particular, three. Three of his largest shield-bearers moved in between himself and the boy. Their shields raised higher into the air, slightly tilted to best absorb and displace the force of the incoming arrow. Xerxes behind them. A layer of three impressive shields as thick as walls, and three giants holding them. Iron, meat, iron, meat, etc. The arrow had to pass through three layers of man and metal. And no matter how impressive the arrow, even arrows had their limits. 

When Parthenopeus' arrows hit the first shield, it pierced. Through metal, and then through flesh. Then a slight gap of air, and then metal and flesh again. The overdrawn arrow was impressive, and the king might have felt the need to applaud him for it. Whether or not it broke through the third soldier didn't matter. By then it would have slowed by a small amount. A small amount, just enough for the king to leap aside. The force of the impact of the arrow where he had once stood was meaningless, and the shockwave knocked him slightly further. But by then, more shield bearers were gathering, able to repeat such a maneuver again if called upon. 

Second, as Parthenopeus was leaving the ground and taking his aim, he was attacked. Amongst the hundred soldiers of Xerxes that had gathered, not all could attack him at once. So, those on the other rooftops had taken on bows and arrows. They had been waiting, and took their own aim. Their own arrows as overdrawn as they could manage, ready and waiting. They all fired at once. 

As Parthenopeus was still overdrawing his arrow, he was attacked from all sides by the bladed arrows of the persian army. Nearly fifty arrows from all sides. Left, right, back, forwards. Even some aimed a bit higher, to fall onto him from above. Skewered in the middle of a rain of arrows. 
Below him was no better. Wherever his arrows would pepper, the soldiers waited. Their spears waited, glistening and sharp. He could not kill them all before he had to land, and they would all charge in at once. Stabbing, swinging their whips around. If they could not capture him alive, then dead and impaled would do well. 

[color=f7941d]"Perhaps if you surrender, I can teach you how to temper that attitude of yours! You would make a fine warrior in my army. The joys of war you seek would be endless under a king such as I!"[/color] Xerxes shouted, a laugh building in his chest. The archer was certainly of an infectious attitude. [color=f7941d]"Imagine it, all the world falling to my armies, with you leading the charge! First for glory, first for blood, and first for that fun you seem to crave!"[/color]

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[@Gracefully]