A Village Appeared on My Desktop

---

Chapter 226 – The Final (6)

“Even if we achieve victory against the enemies, we must not let our guard down. There are many methods the enemies can use when cornered. Therefore, it is most rational to clarify relationships beforehand before the decisive battle.”

“But won’t that be too late? What if the enemy’s colony grows even stronger?”

“It might be more fatal to manipulate the uncooperative factions and incite internal strife. If local power gets split through infighting, the very motive to resist will vanish.”

Lee So-Yeon emphasized the unity of local forces while sharing the latest information with the Users and lecturing on upcoming countermeasures.

Even if they succeed in repelling the Bug Swarm, she knew that the fleeing bugs could side with the uncooperative local factions and cause trouble.

To prevent that, a unity that can encompass the entire world was essential.

‘That should have helped.’

This too was something I had personally experienced and advised. I wouldn’t want others to go through the various trial and error I had faced.

It was a necessary trial for someone at the forefront.

The Users who steadily grew stronger with the information I provided would have much easier times dealing with bugs, and that secured buffer would become reality to support both me and my allies.

Currently, Lee So-Yeon was diligently taking my advice to eliminate risks in advance and handle the bugs easily.

“I want to stop now.”

However, I couldn’t maintain this situation forever. While there were certainly things I could gain first by being in the lead, the path itself was a thin layer of ice that could break at any moment.

I knew all too well about the proud guardians that other Users bragged about. It had become a culture now. It was only natural for them to feel pride for those they had nurtured with affection and bonds.

But I was sure that none of them could replace Riena’s position. They probably felt the same.

Within our unique system where others held out and Riena brought it to an end, her significance was too great.

Although others like Balun, Shura, and Rakum steadily grew at ridiculous speeds thanks to my help, they were still lacking. In this situation, if Riena made a wrong move, we would ultimately lose or be unable to end this war.

The heavier the burden placed upon her, the higher the probability of her failure would be, so for all of us, this fight had to end here.

[Alert Triggered]

‘Now we absolutely cannot let them escape. We’ve already spilled too much blood. If we let them slip away here, it will be our loss.’

Unable to take my eyes off the screen where intense battles were happening, I nervously fiddled with my mouse.

There, Riena had finally infiltrated inside the Defense Barrier and was cutting down enemies with a terrifying momentum as she advanced forward.

Countless corpses of our allies lay piled on the ground, while the injured were barely holding onto their lives, recovering just enough with potions and divine power after having been cut or stabbed.

Seeing them, I watched Riena advance towards the source of the blaring alarms. The enemy’s trickery had covered a wide area with the Defense Barrier, leaving me very little I could do right now. However, my instincts, honed through all my past experiences, were ringing loudly.

Surely, a time would come when I would need to help, so I wouldn’t take my eyes off the screen for a moment.

*

“Gurk…”

“Relax.”

Stas, who had been fiercely resisting, widened his eyes in disbelief at the sight of Riena’s sword piercing through his body.

After being infected by the bugs, he had indeed become a magician who surpassed his limits, but standing before Riena, who had fought even greater foes, he was lacking just that much.

All the magic he unleashed was nullified by her sword, and the Defense Barrier was shattered mercilessly.

“—!”

Soon, the powerful divine power that began to pour through her sword made Stas and the bug that infected him crack and then explode without a trace.

Riena immediately sheathed her sword and turned to her comrades who were unable to fight.

“Too many have already died or been hurt, so we must at least get that price.”

“It’s dangerous! The vanguard is already reaching their limits just to hold on!”

“That’s probably true for the enemies as well. And this is the will of that person.”

Riena shook her head at Rakum’s panicked words. She had figured out why the bugs had made Stas, who had been painstakingly infected, step out to die for them. Instead, she saw this as an opportunity.

This moment, when both sides were exhausted, was the optimal situation. To break the vicious cycle from the outset, one had to take such risks.

That fact was understood not just by her but by Riena as well.

‘It’s not the first time.’

Riena recalled Legnor’s words when she faced the Demon Lords and smiled faintly. It wasn’t her first time facing a huge foe in an unfavorable situation.

Even though he wasn’t beside her this time, it was fine. The mere fact that he was watching over her was sufficient.

“Wait, it seems our kin trapped here are still alive!”

Then, Eve shouted in shock upon hearing the words of a wind spirit sent by another elf.

“The elves who went as envoys. Now that you mention it, that did happen.”

“I thought they would be dead… It seems the Emperor has imprisoned them underground rather than killing them. The elder there said he knows the Emperor’s secrets happening right now.”

“Secrets?”

Riena’s eyes widened at Eve’s words. It was unexpected information as she did not know the exact relationship between the bugs and the Emperor.

So there was no reason to hesitate. After all, it was true that they needed to be rescued, and Riena turned her steps toward the underground prison where the elves were held, leaving the vanguard, who were still engaged in life-and-death battles, behind.

Resolving this issue was ultimately the way to help everyone.

‘Is this the place?’

The underground prison inside the Imperial Palace she had arrived at was completely empty, with no one guarding it. Thanks to the Emperor and even the bugs forgetting about it, the captured elves were able to survive there.

“Y-You are…”

“Oh dear, have you already been infected?”

Rushing in, Riena found the elves. However, they were merely hanging on; they were already infected by the parasites scattered by the bugs, and the infection was progressing.

‘Still, this should be treatable.’

Riena knew their infection wasn’t complete yet and handed over the medicine she had brought.

Watching the extremely exhausted elves take it and vomit out the parasites, Riena approached the elder, Luna, who looked in the best condition.

“I couldn’t even begin to fathom what was happening outside. But one thing was certain: a greater disaster than the one threatening our hometown is growing above us.”

“What on earth is that…?”

“The horrible roots surely start from above us. Right at the place where the Emperor’s throne is located. That is where the schemes of the Black Monsters begin.”

Riena gasped at the direction she pointed. A tentacle, resembling a black root piercing through the wall, had skewered one elf, draining its life force and turning it into a withered mummy.

The terrified elves did their best to evade, but the searching root was slowly approaching them.

“I envisioned that root digging deeper and wider into the earth, stealing our lives as it took life from this land. That would be a terrible disaster. Aside from the incalculable energy falling into their hands, if the land dies, we won’t be able to survive even if we win the war.”

“We must stop it before that happens. Absolutely.”

Seeing the fear-stained faces of the elves, Riena bit her lip and drew her sword, ready to cut the tentacle.

At the same time, the ground shook as if an earthquake had occurred. The enemy sensed her challenge.

‘What significance is there in monsters, knowing only slaughter and destruction, taking over the world? They would surely destroy themselves in the process.’

After evacuating the elves outside and informing the others, Riena spread her wings and soared into the sky, landing at the very heart of the Imperial Palace.

In the vast plaza leading to the Emperor’s throne, nothing was there, contrasting with the dreadful roots digging into the ground.

Riena trudged toward the Emperor, Rihir.

“This is the end times. Filthy barbarians, do you know what place this is?”

“You are the Emperor of the Empire. I’ve heard quite a few stories since childhood, but the current Emperor is even uglier than I expected.”

“The Witch of the Evil God, you’d best not get cocky. The great Empire has not yet crumbled.”

Rihir glared at her with his horrifying form merged with the throne. However, Riena didn’t flinch.

She had seen far more grotesque and horrifying sights than him.

“Get a grip. Those who have taken over this land are not the Empire, but wicked monsters. You are being controlled by them.”

“Foolish words. These monsters are merely tools for me! Means to achieve my goals! Far more useful than incompetent and foolish vassals.”

Rihir’s words prompted Riena to flare up.

From his perspective, the bugs bestowed him with tremendous power, enabling him to fulfill his desires. Thus, he was no longer in a state where normal reasoning was possible, and she knew she couldn’t persuade him.

“In a state where reasoning is impossible, the best I can do is to make it easy for you.”

So Riena pointed her sword at him. There were no longer even vassals around to call her actions treason for slaying such a monster.

“…!”

But at that moment, she felt a spine-chilling sensation and dodged something.

The Assassin, who had almost perfect stealth, smoothly reactivated his invisibility, reclaimed his sword, and rushed toward her again.

‘That bastard, he’s become stronger.’

While blocking the assault from the bastard, Riena found herself flying out through a wall, gritting her teeth against the throbbing pain in her hand.

The new leader of the bugs had abandoned even the Neural Body that commanded all the bugs and was much stronger, gathering power.

“Emperor, what is your goal!? If you wish to possess this world as you desire, this is hardly enough!”

“Don’t be foolish. I shall devour the entire world, and my soldiers will cover this world.”

As Riena began her battle with the Assassin, she tried to gauge Rihir’s purpose.

And that purpose, which he had no intention of hiding, was not much different from what the elves trapped underground had intuitively sensed.

The bugs, which had annihilated all creatures above ground in swarms, were now planning to suck the planet’s energy dry and produce their army to cover the world.

‘If I retreat from here, it’s our doom.’

Knowing this, Riena had no other options. She had to kill all the enemies on this spot by any means necessary and slay Rihir, who had become their linchpin.