A Village Appeared on My Desktop

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Chapter 206 – Rebellion (6)

“What am I seeing right now? Is it just me?”

“No, no. I can see it too. Clearly.”

Ash, the team members, and the citizens of the city who were evacuating—everyone had no choice but to look at it.

Late afternoon, as the sun was gradually setting, a brilliant and divine light colored the darkening sky, capturing everyone’s attention.

“…!”

It wasn’t only those on-site seeing it. Thanks to the smartphones of the citizens and the cameras of the soldiers, even those on the opposite side of the Earth could watch this spectacle in real time.

“What on earth…?”

“How is this even possible?”

The director, who was already furious with Ash and the unruly subordinates, was just as bewildered. He demanded explanations from the frozen staff in the command center, but as expected, no one could provide any.

“It’s a miracle.”

Only one person muttered this in awe.

And that mumbling wasn’t limited to the situation room. Those witnessing the descent of the angel on-site had no choice but to think the same.

‘No, it’s really an angel.’

Ash rubbed her eyes in disbelief. The radiant halo, the sparkling beautiful wings, the elaborate and mysterious armor—everything reflected the angelic figure depicted in the game developed on Earth.

It wasn’t strange to recognize Riena as an angel, considering she followed the angel’s appearance directly from the game settings.

“Uwaaah!”

They jumped in shock as Riena descended upon Junyoung, spreading her wings wide and channeling her power to launch a devastating attack.

The holy light that countered the bugs crushed and purified the massive enemy like a mountain.

With every swing of her sword, the enormous creature bucked in pain, scattering fragments and bodily fluids everywhere.

“Oooh…”

Seeing that in person without being mesmerized would have been stranger. The actions she showcased were nothing less than salvation and judgment itself.

Those in peril and those who could do nothing but pace back and forth in desperation, even those who doubted and mistrusted until the very end, focused their gazes at that moment.

‘It’s dead. That gigantic monster.’

The Death Worm, unable to endure or attack the angel floating in the sky, shattered into pieces and fell to the ground.

The calamity that had instilled fear and horror in everyone was purified and vanished.

At the same time, before anyone could react, the beautiful black-haired angel disappeared along with the light.

“Team Leader, that man has also vanished.”

“Let’s withdraw. There’s no need to report right now.”

Ash glanced at the camera attached to her body and let out a small laugh. After all, everything they saw had already reached the higher-ups, who were in a state of panic.

*

“I almost fell in surprise when he suddenly called and vanished.”

“I was so shocked, I didn’t know what to say. And time was tight.”

“I thought once you were called up to the heavens, you wouldn’t return again. Huh.”

With the city and the Death Worm gone, Riena returned to her original place, still in a daze.

It wasn’t just the citizens of the city who were astonished; she too was just as shocked by the sudden turn of events.

It was solely due to the strong will directed towards her. She had no regrets about it at all.

“Well, what did you see and do over there? Was it perhaps the otherworld where he resides?”

“I saw some aspects of that place, but I don’t know much about it. I just did my duty.”

Riena smiled faintly at Balun’s words. After thinking it over, she realized that the specifics didn’t really matter.

Wherever she was, she would smash the bugs, her enemies and his. That was her duty.

Her guardian deity wished for nothing more than that, and just thinking about it made her feel at ease. The fact that he trusted her so much became a source of pride for Riena.

“Good. If the chosen one thinks that way, then so be it. We just need to focus on our work.”

Balun wasn’t overly concerned either.

While Riena was important and necessary, they were no longer weak enough for their fate to depend solely on her.

They had the strength to endure even if she was momentarily absent.

“Our next goal is here. We’ll strike swiftly before the enemies can properly regroup.”

With no need to drag things out or hesitate, Balun pointed to a predetermined target on the map. After breaching the wall and completing their reorganization, they planned to rush forward to seize the next destination.

The few left behind were tasked with monitoring the prisoners captured in this area.

“From now on, it’s a speed operation. We’ll break through and storm the gate before the enemy’s troops can gather.”

Their march began at dawn, swiftly galloping onward.

The imperial army also observed this, but there was a world of difference between delivering the news and moving soldiers.

“If we surrender, they say they won’t kill us…”

“They’ve already reached the main road right in front of us. We’re standing in the middle, so we have to make a choice now!”

The ones most in trouble were the rulers and residents of the region targeted by the Arin Tribe.

Whether it was a governor dispatched from the central authority or a lord recognized with autonomy, they had no choice but to resist until the very end or surrender and open the way to save their lives.

“Do you believe the barbarian’s words? They’ll certainly kill all the men and take the women even if we surrender!”

“Right, there’s no way we’d get a good deal from surrendering to scoundrels like that.”

Most chose to resist. Having heard for years the vicious rumors about the barbarian tribes living beyond the wall since the separation, they were more likely to face the emperor’s reprisals if they surrendered.

Amidst the ruckus, some believed the stories of the grassland tribes engaging in cannibalism, regardless of age or gender.

“It seems they don’t intend to surrender. It looks like it’s a rather sizable city.”

“Then there’s no help for it. We’ll have to break through.”

A clash was inevitable. Rakum, leading the vanguard, sighed softly as he witnessed the city making preparations to defend itself, arming anyone who could fight and creating barricades.

Unlike the forward wall, a flat city without proper castle walls stood little chance against a cavalry force of ten thousand.

“We’re not here to loot but to correct the emperor’s misguided decisions, who fails to see the world’s crisis!”

“Ugh, aahk! The defense line has been breached!”

In such battles, there was no need to employ special powers like stacking blocks.

A single unavoidable grand magic cast created chaos, and while the enemy was in disarray, the heavily armed cavalry charged forward, swiftly overrunning the city and subduing the resistors.

The skilled marksmen and knights at the front were also unable to hold back the rough warriors gathered into a hastily formed militia.

“I expected this, but they’re too fast.”

“You have made a significant contribution.”

In an instant, resistance evaporated, and entering the completely devastated city, Rakum smiled at Rasen, who hung limply over his horse after casting a grand magic.

Their advance was so rapid that even if the imperial army was aware, they failed to establish a response in time.

“All acts of looting and pillaging are prohibited. Our goal is to advance as quickly as possible and allow the main force to pass through here towards the next target.”

“The morale of the soldiers might drop, you know?”

“Who dares harbor such impure thoughts? This war is a holy crusade directed by him!”

“Y-yes. I will doubt it absolutely.”

Throughout this process, the Arin Tribe strictly adhered to military law and orders, contrary to the citizens’ concerns. There was no looting, no raping, nor any degradation or mockery.

So much so that the citizens were left bewildered.

For the Arin Tribe’s soldiers, who were ideologically thoroughly armed, this war was a holy crusade full of justification, and none dirty the name of the god they believed in and followed for their desires.

‘What if I get struck by lightning?’

‘Before that, I might get captured and killed by other scoundrels.’

Of course, this level of control was only possible because they had steadily built up resources over time.

“Your Majesty, we need to divert some legions from the western front to defend the east!”

“Yes, the momentum of the invading barbarian tribes is not ordinary!”

Their destructive advance was quickly reported to Rihir as well.

Hearing that the gates were being blown apart faster than they could prepare defenses left the noblemen and officials in the central authority terrified.

“Attacking the elves is too slow as well, so it would be wise to properly block one side first.”

Some pointed out that the front lines were split in two. Currently, the forces sent to attack the elves could not advance at all due to the elves’ fierce guerrilla tactics in the dense forest.

Even if they mobilized all available resources, it was impossible to contain a small number of infantry moving swiftly with firearms.

“There’s no need to call back the soldiers from the west.”

“Your, Your Majesty.”

But Rihir firmly rejected the opinion to retreat. Although the current situation wasn’t looking good, there was a hint of confidence in his faint smile.

“Since we’re all of one accord…that place will soon be taken care of. Wouldn’t you agree?”

“Indeed.”

Moreover, Stas, the chancellor, also agreed with Rihir’s statement. Other people who typically tried to dissuade him were astonished as Stas unhesitatingly concurred.

Only the parties involved knew that Rihir and Stas had completely become allies.

‘This is a chance to test it. If it works out, those rushing in from the east won’t be a problem.’

Rihir already had a solution for the stagnant campaign against the dense forest. If that succeeded in subduing the elves, he planned to amplify that power across the entire army, intending to trample those standing against him and, more importantly, the bugs.

‘I can accomplish a great achievement. Something no one has achieved.’

Already, his brain was in an excited state due to excessive hormone secretion.

What the parasite had done was largely to provoke the ideals and nature he had long harbored. Even without parasitism, he would have behaved similarly someday.

A village has appeared on my desktop. Chapter 207.