Strategy game? Then I'll have to control you properly.

"The enemy's resistance is fierce!" a soldier shouted.

"No matter how strong you are, you can't hold out for long. Break through!" Mista ordered.

As Lillie led her forces to attack the depths of the lair, the forces that were fighting alongside Mista were also engaged in fierce combat inside the lair.

They dragged their weary bodies, determined to fight to the death, to kill the resisting Zerg and clear a path.

"Lord Mista, that guy..." a soldier said, pointing ahead, his voice trembling.

That's how I discovered it.

Lillie's prediction was half right and half wrong.

Something did happen, but it was neither unpredictable nor absurd.

"It's a mutant, everyone be careful." Mista looked at "that" standing in the center of the nest and gripped his spear tightly.

Although surprised, they were not overly shaken.

Because they all already knew about the new variant.

Unlike other ants, this black-shelled ant stands upright on two legs.

The creature that once guarded the nest has once again blocked Zhen Dan's path.

"Proceed with the original plan. I'll handle that guy."

Mista, who had fought and killed one of his own kind, decided to deal with the mutant himself while commanding the troops.

In the dimly lit cave, two forces, each determined to kill the other, are locked in a standoff.

Due to space constraints, both sides had only a few hundred troops.

But the Zerg are different from the Clarity; their defenses have failed, and they have been forced into the deepest part of the territory.

They are now preparing to launch a final attack on the Zerg.

"Like that guy... no, slightly different?"

Mista carefully observed the enemy before him.

The posture, resembling an ant suddenly standing up on its hind legs, was similar to that of the individuals I had seen before, but there were slight differences in the details.

"It's becoming more and more like a human."

Mista felt a chill run down his spine and gripped his spear tightly.

The abdomen, which was originally as large as an ant, gradually shrank, and the shoulders, which were not there before, began to bulge.

As the carapace hardened, the breastplate also became increasingly robust.

The slender limbs gradually grew thicker and stronger as they were covered with heavy armor.

This being, which mimics the birth of the Zhen Dan warriors, is constantly improving its realism.

"Kill! We must finish it off here!"

Having made up his mind, Mista ordered an attack.

The soldiers immediately formed ranks and advanced, using their shields and spears as a wall, while the archers and mages in the rear unleashed ranged firepower.

"You haven't been here long, have you? Just stay here and die, don't come out."

Mista noticed the scattered fragments of cocoon shells at her feet and moved slowly with the soldiers, focusing all their attention on the mutant.

Seemingly sensing his intentions, the swarm of insects, consisting of a few mutants and a large number of malfunctioning creatures, began to approach, preparing for the final battle.

"Is this the guy?!"

But when the four-armed mutant suddenly leaped up, brandishing the spear held in each arm, Mista was shocked by the murky flash that rushed towards him.

"A fiery dragon pierces the sun!"

Mista instinctively concluded that this was the case.

To be precise, it was just a clumsy imitation, but it was, after all, the first time the swarm of insects, which had never shown any special skills before, had used a move containing magic.

"Tsk!"

The tips of their guns clashed fiercely in mid-air.

Mista frantically unleashed her skills to counter the attacks coming from all directions.

But the Zerg did not retreat easily; intensely pulsating energy was gushing out from its body.

"Thank goodness it's just this guy!?"

After looking around and confirming that there were no enemies of the same kind, Mista had a feeling that the individuals fighting each other were somewhat special.

Mutants are also divided into different grades.

Although there were individuals that ferociously pursued Mista, those massive creatures were quickly dealt with by the magic-bound warriors using their skills.

"That's right. This battle would only be worthwhile if we could mass-produce guys like you."

Having confirmed that the outcome depended entirely on this battle, he grinned and brandished his spear.

Although somewhat flustered, I didn't think I would lose.

"If only I could use powerful magic..."

On the fierce battlefield, Bruno bit his lip.

The massive caves dug by the Zerg were large enough to accommodate hundreds of people fighting at the same time, but not enough to unleash powerful magic.

Therefore, Bruno spared no effort in using his magic, frantically unleashing ordinary magic while fighting alongside his companions.

The number of battles against the Zerg is countless.

The boy who was always nervous and scared when he first went on stage is no more.

Amidst the inevitable battlefield clamor, Bruno unknowingly became a reliable source of firepower to support his teammates.

"Not bad, it's easy to use."

Wielding two bone short swords, Rosie charged to the front, slaying numerous enemies, including the Zerg. She turned and grinned at Bruno.

He truly appreciated how comfortable it was to fight alongside a mage with whom he had a perfect understanding.

At this rate, the battle in this lair seems likely to end peacefully soon.

"Quick, get out of the way!"

Bruno saw the guy at that moment, a new type of mutant wielding a long spear violently.

As people recoiled in fear from the shockwave, Bruno stared wide-eyed as his brother Mista confronted the creature head-on.

"So strong!" Even Bruno could see that the mutant was incredibly powerful.

Even when facing the formidable Mista, he showed no mercy and launched a relentless and frenzied attack.

Although Mista gradually adapted and began to fight back, the mutants were not only difficult to defeat, but also constantly looking for an opportunity to counterattack.

"I... I have to help."

Bruno was convinced he had to take action.

After all, he still had plenty of magic power, and there was magic that was suitable for this occasion.

"Use it. I'll cover you."

Rose saw through his thoughts, and while nodding, she protected Bruno from being attacked by the other guys.

The situation is already set, and there is no reason to hesitate.

Bruno immediately raised his staff and cast a spell to save his brother.

The magic shot out transformed into a powerful bolt of lightning that pierced straight through all enemies in its path, striking them directly like a flash of light.

Just as Berg had blocked Mista's spear, he was hit directly by the magic attack from the side. The spear fell from his hand with a clatter, and he staggered backward.

Caught off guard, Mista looked at Bruno with a shocked expression.

This action turned out to be a fatal mistake.

"Bruno!" Mista exclaimed.

Suddenly, the creature's back split open, ignoring Mista's shouts, and it spread its wings from the crack, instantly leaping off the ground and charging forward.

The last remaining spear pierced Bruno's throat with a whooshing sound, without the slightest hesitation.

The spear tip was deflected by Rosie's panicked swing of the sword, grazing Bruno's head.

But the other party immediately put away his gun and waved his gun and fists to meet the charging Rosie.

Rose used her swift movement and attack skills to maneuver around the opponent, and successfully severed one of his arms with a single strike.

However, Rose was struck hard by the swinging arm, her naked body slammed into the distance with wide eyes.

Thanks to the armor he was wearing, his injuries weren't too serious, but he retched and temporarily withdrew from the battlefield for a few seconds.

In that split second, the man swung his spear again with his remaining three arms, aiming straight for Bruno's life.

Even though Bruno hurriedly used movement magic to retreat quickly, his opponent still relentlessly pursued him, thrusting out his spear.

It was as if they were determined to take Bruno's life.

"Where do you think you're going?"

At that very moment, Mista, who had also rushed in, pierced the man's chest with a single shot.

The other party immediately began to spurt bodily fluids, struggled wildly, let out strange howls, and staggered.

During the incident, Mista was struck and scratched on the arm, causing it to bleed profusely.

"Go to hell!"

Then, with gritted teeth, Bruno unleashed his final spell, which struck the struggling monster directly in the head.

The struggle finally stopped when his head, struck by the scorching fireball, exploded with a "bang."

Exhausted, the two brothers staggered and collapsed to the ground.

"Are you planning to escape no matter what?" Just then, the reinforcements that Lillie had hurriedly brought finally arrived.

After wiping out all the monsters that tried to crawl out of their lair, Lillie looked at the wounded and battered group of people and was speechless for a moment.

"I almost died. It seems I can't stop cultivating."

Mista, who was panting heavily after drinking the medicine, saw her expression and forced a smile, her face pale.

As such, the battles on the northern battlefield gradually become more difficult as their power expands and they acquire more items and skills.

"wind……"

"A soldier said softly."

"It's a healing force!"

The crowd exclaimed in delight.

As they broke through the lair and emerged, a gentle breeze imbued with healing power swept over them, tenderly enveloping their wounds and restoring their strength.

As the soldiers helped the wounded and collected the bodies, they cheered towards the sky.

They firmly believed that the guardian spirit already knew how fierce the battle was and how great the sacrifices were.

"Those kinds of creatures will definitely keep appearing in the future. Whether it's the giant-bodied species or the giant-jawed species, their frequency of appearance has been increasing since their initial debut," Mista said to Lillie.

"But since they're so strong, there probably aren't many of them," a soldier said.

Hearing Mista's words, Lillie shook her head.

Even if their numbers are limited, the sheer size of those monsters is enough to be deadly.

"Wait...in the distant future. Will we still be able to stop them by our own strength then?"

"Mista asked with concern."

"If it's truly impossible, then find a new way. Not only us, but that lord will do the same."

Lillie's conviction remained unwavering.

Understanding that this power stemmed from unwavering faith, Mista nodded gently.