A Village Appeared on My Desktop

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Chapter 191 – Internal Enemy (1)

“Have we been informed of the location of their nest, yet they still haven’t reached an agreement?”

“It appears the local regimes are opposing the deployment of the Allied Forces’ ground troops. The opposing faction is supporting them.”

“No, even though they clearly know it’s a ploy by those monsters… Representative Lee So-Yeon says that since the bugs have evolved into Colony-Type, they must be eradicated swiftly.”

The President pondered upon hearing the report. It was hard to grasp the situation, which was spiraling into chaos beyond imagination.

“As you suspect, they seem to view this as an opportunity. Even if the positions were reversed, it would likely have unfolded similarly.”

“Isn’t there a certain line that exists in power struggles and ideological competition?”

The President sighed and leaned back in his chair.

Surely there are Users watching over Earth, and the number of Guardians involved with those Users continues to grow.

However, Earth was a world where the local powers were extraordinarily strong. And that came with both advantages and disadvantages.

Users could leverage the strong capabilities of the locals, but conversely, it meant that Users could be swayed by local forces instead of dominating the world.

Earth fell into the latter category. The Guardians created by Users often followed the Users’ commands but also tended to remain loyal to their own nations or organizations while utilizing their power.

‘Our role is vital, yet they’re only intent on dividing and fighting.’

The President frowned. Although they were affiliated with the Alliance following allied countries, they lacked the strength to lead others.

“What’s the matter?”

“It seems another Gate has opened right in the middle of Seoul!”

It was then that he received the now-familiar news of enemy invasion. With a small sigh, he stood up. Even though it was familiar, it inevitably brought casualties every time, a sort of disaster.

They were managing to hold on somehow, but no one could deny that people were growing increasingly weary and exhausted.

“It’s a…New Variant. It’s far too strong!”

“Excuse me?”

However, this time, it was different. Unlike before, where they could somehow withstand by pouring firepower, some of the bugs had finally begun to produce variants capable of enduring their firepower.

The President’s eyes widened as he hurriedly watched the transmitted footage.

A creature, impervious to soldiers’ firearms, was swinging its sharp claws while firing red beams from a mouth-like orifice.

He couldn’t believe his eyes, blinking in disbelief. The bugs, which had begun evolving to compete against them, were increasingly warping into unknown entities, much like those that Jun-Young and Riena had encountered.

“We must stop it, right? What’s the plan?!”

“W-we’re currently evacuating citizens! But it’s heading straight there now!”

The bug’s intentions were clear. To kill as many people as possible.

Hearing the news that the monster was running towards fleeing civilians after slaughtering the soldiers attempting to stop it, the President’s body stiffened. Anyone present instinctively felt that there would be numerous casualties.

“Everyone, run!”

“I-it’s coming this way!”

The bustling downtown street, filled with people and cars, suddenly erupted into chaos and madness. People were desperately fleeing, and their screams spread through the air like the wind.

“Damn it…”

One police officer, who had been helping with evacuations, gritted his teeth instead of fleeing and drew his pistol.

The target of his aim was a terrifying monster. Swathed in a black carapace, the creature had a grotesque appearance resembling a human upper body grafted onto the body of an insect, instilling dread at just a glance.

“Ahhh!”

The officer fired his weapon in a frenzy. However, the bullets ricocheted off the creature without even leaving a scratch.

Seeing the faint defense barrier appear, the police officer dropped his gun in disbelief. This barrier was the secret behind the annihilation of the troops stationed to kill enemies emerging from the Gate.

The barrier absorbed the physical energy of incoming bullets, momentarily increasing defense at that point, making it impossible to be defeated by ordinary firearms.

“Gah!”

In a flash, the creature swung its sharp claws, instantly slicing the officer in half. Pieces of his body were scattered everywhere, and the blood began pooling on the ground.

It was a scene that had started to reveal itself since the moment the monsters first appeared, yet no one could ever grow accustomed to the gruesome sight.

‘We need to stop this.’

Amidst it all, there was also her. Kim Yoon-Ah, an ordinary college student on the outside. Despite her appearance, just like everyone else, she was running in the opposite direction, unlike the panicked crowd.

The direction was clear. An unidentifiable will alongside her led the way.

Having witnessed the gruesome sight of scattered corpses and the monster, she clenched her teeth. Though the monster was terrifying enough to make her want to run away immediately, she had a duty to fight.

When the New Variant spotted her, flames engulfed her entire body as she gathered her strength. This power was a kind of divine ability received from the being she believed and followed.

“Die!”

It was a futile endeavor. In order to forget her fear, she instead let her emotions explode and charged forward. Dodging the claws swung by the enemy, she plunged her flaming fist straight into its torso.

The barrier, which repeatedly activated and deactivated to block bullets, couldn’t stop her fist.

‘T-this is solid.’

However, right after delivering the blow, she flinched. While she pierced through the barrier, the baseline defense of the New Variant was at a level that was hard to overcome with her strength.

“Ah.”

Seeing the beams of light shooting towards her, she sighed. A calculation error would lead to defeat, and defeat would lead to death. In that fleeting moment, her life accumulated up until now was about to transform into death.

“—!”

“Who, who is it?!”

However, someone intruded at that moment. Just before she was about to be killed, someone wielding a sword dashed in and swiftly sliced through the bug’s body.

As she fell on her backside amidst the chilling cold spreading in the air, she was astonished to see a black cloak fluttering before her eyes.

*

‘This is merely a patch job. I definitely need a fundamental method.’

Though I had rushed in, I couldn’t erase this thought. The most critical method to deal with bugs is to uproot their nests.

Engaging them each time they appear, engaging in a war of attrition, only benefits them.

There’s a clear answer, and if one fails to find it or ignores it, the world will perish.

“—!”

“Ugh.”

Moreover, I wasn’t even certain I could defeat this thing right now. Though I rushed in urgently, its overwhelming energy made it far from easy.

I had seen strong individuals numerous times, but that was from a spectator’s viewpoint through the screen; this was my first time fighting as a participant.

‘Should I use Descent right now?’

As the large creature roared before me, I froze momentarily, considering whether I should immediately call for Riena. Only because it was me who felt fear in front of such a monster; if it were Riena, who had already fought and defeated strong entities like Assassins, I was confident she could suppress it immediately.

“Be careful!”

But I didn’t have the leisure to call for Riena right now. I had confirmed that she gained her senses and came out, not because of her, but purely because I was pressed for time.

Cold sweat trickled down my back as I narrowly avoided the enemy’s attack.

While I was borrowing the power of the strongest hero, Riena, it was entirely up to me to wield that power. It was impossible for someone so inexperienced in every aspect like me to fully utilize Riena’s strength.

‘For now, get back.’

I swung the sword I had gripped to create distance. The emerging cold caused a dazzling golden light infused with Riena’s awakened divine power to shimmer.

The light, being superior to the bugs, caused the creature to stagger backward.

With this time gained, I could call for Riena and finish it off neatly.

“I’ll take care of it!”

However, at that moment, someone shot past me and jumped in front. It was the young woman I had just rushed in to save. Enveloped in blazing flames, she thrust her fist into the staggering creature.

Unlike before, the weakened mutation’s carapace cracked under the impact of her punch, and fire began raging from within.

‘Did she actually manage to grab it?’

Sighing quietly in awe, I lowered the sword I had raised.

Even without my intervention, she was already fighting with all her might, shattering and bursting the enormous enemy.

“I caught it.”

It didn’t take long for the enemy to fall. Although it was a New Variant, to which soldiers’ attacks were ineffective, an entirely different form of attack worked.

In sharp contrast, although it had a large frame, it wasn’t as strong as it seemed. I watched her panting in front of the broken, burning corpse of the enemy and sheathed my sword.

I was thinking of leaving before anyone else arrived.

“Thank you for saving me.”

Just as I contemplated this, she called out to me, stopping me in my tracks. I could have ignored her and walked away, but I turned around.

“You don’t seem to be a User. Are you a Guardian?”

“That’s right. I am a Guardian, a warrior following that being.”

As I spoke first, she pointed at herself proudly, having declared herself so. She was a being cooperating with the Users of Earth, just like Riena, who had fought alongside me.

Though her clothes were a mess and her face pale, the unwavering faith shining in her eyes made me involuntarily smile.

Those eyes matched those of the residents watching me act as a character on the screen.

However, unlike Riena, she must know all about what it means to live on Earth; what could the Users have given her so that she holds such strong faith?

“If so, you must convey this somehow. The bug colonies appearing on Earth, if they’re not eradicated right now, it’ll be harder to deal with them moving forward.”

“You… are a User.”

Upon hearing my words to relay to the User, she staggered back in surprise. It seemed she had anticipated me to be one of her kin.

“There’s no need for vigilance. We are of the same side, and you know well that if either of us weakens, this world will perish, right?”

“Well…”

“Though the environment is different, the User’s role is of utmost importance. Heroes aren’t born but need proper support to blossom.”

I saw potential in her. I couldn’t quite figure out how I acquired such an intuition myself. Explaining it as something I naturally absorbed while watching numerous people through the screen and supporting them to unleash their talents seemed to be the best I could do.

To leap forward towards danger even in moments of crisis, that’s the essence of a hero. An existence that becomes a beacon for all to follow.

Yet, that hero ultimately needed the collaboration of others to achieve miracles. Without either side, nothing could be accomplished. That’s why it’s called a miracle.

“Our local powers, who are supposed to be your supporters, unfortunately, have yet to unite and are still blaming each other. If the User does not step in during such a situation, we will be the ones that suffer. Just like your family, and mine.”

As I enlightened her to reality, I found clarity within myself.

In the fight against bugs competing to eradicate each other, true victory requires everyone to cooperate.

If they refuse to do so… they must be made to cooperate, even by force.

Chapter 192 – A Village Appears on My Desktop