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

Lin Miao's eyelids twitched when she saw the word "pollution".

At the same time, in the completely opposite direction to the right of Lillie's view, a huge, writhing nest suddenly came into Lin Miao's view.

Lin Miao muttered blankly, "What exactly is that thing?"

He zoomed in on the screen to observe it closely. Perhaps because the low hills in the middle blocked the view, the residents, including Lillie, had not yet noticed its existence.

Lin Miao instantly realized that it was a nest.

It looked like a nest, a strange nest built on the ruins of a former village.

Although the location was different, the mountain of eggshells, molted skins, and wriggling malfunctioning organisms were exactly the same as the malfunctioning organism nests I had seen before.

Lin Miao didn't know why it was here. Based on those guys' usual behavior, he could only assume that it had appeared out of nowhere again.

Of course, more important than the cause is how to destroy it, and why it happened to be here in the first place.

Based on their behavior so far, Lin Miao's final conclusion still points to that: Is it for foraging?

Those creatures grow by absorbing energy from their prey, and the malfunctioning entities evolve into more advanced individuals, which then continue to erode the entire world.

This was the instinct Lin Miao knew about them, but the residents he was protecting were no longer easy prey for them.

The villagers who have become stronger through the game and gained program-enhanced abilities are not pushovers that can be dealt with by a sudden attack.

Lin Miao stared at the nest on the screen and gritted her teeth: For the sake of the byproducts, she had to kill them.

This is why those malfunctioning entities, driven mad by hunger, can only turn their attention to the native inhabitants of the other world whom they cannot help and know nothing about.

Lin Miao frowned and tapped the mouse she was holding, saying in a low voice, "This actually makes things more troublesome."

He knew that powerful figures like Theodore, who entrenched themselves in other worlds, were not to be trifled with, but if they were even slightly careless when facing attacks from unfamiliar glitch entities...

Those creatures will seize the opportunity, devouring them in an instant and growing wildly.

They might even turn around and attack the Zhen Dan tribe once they grow stronger.

After all, these malfunctioning entities are trying to crawl into the real world through the computer desktops of the residents.

Lin Miao made up her mind that she had to stop all of this.

His ultimate goal was to eliminate those monsters, so even for his own sake, he absolutely could not allow them to spread and cause trouble elsewhere.

While Lin Miao was deep in thought, Lillie and the scouts were riding their horses closer and closer to the malfunction's lair.

With their current strength, it was impossible for them to fight against the massive number of malfunctioning creatures wriggling in the nest. So Lin Miao tugged the mouse and brought over several core warriors, including Luo Xie and Mista, who were making preparations in the village, to provide reinforcements.

Although the soldiers seemed a little flustered by the sudden situation, they immediately spurred their horses and joined the ranks when they saw Lillie's figure ahead.

With several core warriors and numerous well-trained soldiers, Lin Miao judged that this lineup should be sufficient, so he tensed up and watched the upcoming battle.

Looking at the battle situation on the screen, Lin Miao thought to himself: I really need more equipment.

Now his eyesight has also improved, and as expected, our forces are easily dealing with the malfunctioning entities stirring in the nest.

When Lillie and the other warriors unleashed the skills honed through repeated combat and training, the centipede-like monsters were instantly severed and exploded; the magic-infused attacks were especially effective against them.

Moreover, the ordinary soldiers calmly rallied together and, like hunting large wild beasts, took down the enemy one by one, showing no signs of defeat on our side.

[Level 1 Corrosive Entity Appears]

However, the slightly larger individuals that crawled out from the black crack in the center of the enemy's lair were indeed not enemies that could be easily dealt with.

Although Lillie can now handle a LV1 Corruptor on her own, its size and the hard shell covering its entire body far exceed the strength of a normal malfunctioning entity.

Just then, an arrow fired by a soldier named Rick was unlike any other arrow; it shattered the monster's shell and pierced its body.

That arrow, which was much larger than a regular arrow and made of a special material, was borrowed from the Monster Hunter game and was specially made by hunters to capture a giant lizard called a dragon.

Even ordinary soldiers can effectively damage the corrosive entities by using these arrows.

Immediately afterwards, Luo Xie leaped several meters into the air, wielding a snow-white, sharp bone short sword with both hands, cleaving a cross-shaped crack in the insect-level head.

Not only arrows, but the special weapons wielded by the warriors were also more effective than ordinary steel weapons.

This is why it is necessary to transport more specialized equipment made from mutant byproducts.

[The eroded entity dies, the fissure is sealed]

[Achievement Completed: First Time Sealing the Rift]

When all the enemies were eliminated and the villagers gathered in front of the black rift from which the monsters had emerged, Lin Miao clicked on the rift with the mouse.

The seal cracks only became possible because the carrier died.

He hurriedly sealed the rift, and the villagers, seeing this, whispered in astonishment as the rift gradually disappeared.

Lin Miao used the mouse to guide the people carrying the byproducts of their hunt back to the village. Then, she brought up the game window and looked at Thorfinn and Dulin, who were on a monster hunter quest.

Lin Miao plans to add new companions to their team today. If the four of them form a team and continue hunting, they can earn more materials and money to buy special equipment to arm the villagers.

Therefore, Lin Miao checked the villagers' status list, troubled about who to choose to become a hunter.

He can see talents that they themselves are unaware of, so he can put the most suitable people in the most suitable positions.

Ultimately, he chose two people: Lucia and Armin, a man and a woman, both former soldiers who had surrendered and joined the army.

Seeing that their hunter traits were not yet awakened in their status bars, Lin Miao dragged them into the game with the mouse.

The task of calming their panic and explaining the situation was handed over to the more experienced colleagues who had arrived earlier.

Although Thorfinn and Dulin were surprised, they quickly understood Lin Miao's intention. Under his watchful eye, they explained to the newlyweds what this place was and what they should do.

The newcomers' expressions calmed down at a visible speed. After all, they were talented individuals, and since they were specially selected, they should adapt quickly.

Lin Miao chuckled and guided the Palico to the front, thinking to herself: Let's go then.

Now you can just repeat the hunting process like you're playing a game, and it might even be easier than playing a game.

Even if I step back and stand by, they will handle it themselves. In fact, their strength is far greater than when Lin Miao controls the character with a keyboard.

◆◆◆

The group is heading to the city where the guild is located to deal with the mutated creatures they hunted, as well as the malfunctioning byproducts brought from outside.

As the bipedal Felyne led the way, Thorfinn and Dulin continued to explain the situation to the still somewhat bewildered newcomers.

Although they themselves are not very experienced, what they have seen and heard is enough to give them plenty to talk about.

Newcomers Lucia and Armin knew that the Guardian had personally chosen them, so they listened intently and nervously.

Thorfinn pointed to the city ahead and said to the two, "The city is just ahead. There's a guild employee there named Ansha; we can take the goods there and sell them to her."

They quickly entered the city.

Thorfinn and Dulin were already used to it, but the newcomers were astonished by the diverse residents, their eyes widening as they looked around in surprise.

While the Palico was away dealing with the goods, Thorfinn quietly looked around and wondered to himself: Will I have a chance today?

The mystery of this city lies not only in its size and appearance.

As long as you have money, there are entertainment venues everywhere here.

While taverns and entertainment venues are taken for granted in urban communities, they are both unfamiliar and awe-inspiring to people from grassland tribes.

Whenever the Palicoes temporarily leave, leaving them in the city, Thorfinn and Dulin try to experience these new things.

Because their experiences in the city would become mysterious and interesting adventure stories that the residents would talk about with great interest when they went outside, they wanted to enjoy these experiences to the fullest.

Just then, a familiar voice rang out: "...Tina?"

A familiar face walked towards them; it was Tina, one of the characters in the game, and a hunter whom both Thorfinn and Dulin knew.

However, unlike the last time we met, she seemed to be injured, not wearing armor, and her whole body was wrapped in bandages.

Dulin spoke to her first, asking, "You said you were going to hunt dragons, how did it turn out like this?"

Tina gave a tired smile, shook her head, and recounted her experiences while hunting:

"It happens all the time, people die or get injured while hunting. That guy is a pretty tough monster, covered in black armor that even ordinary weapons can't pierce."

Its powerful pincers can cleave thick trees in half with each swing and tear people to shreds. Its venomous stingers, which spray venom or thrust forward, are highly poisonous, capable of melting a person alive and even corroding the earth.

She described in detail the formidable enemy she was facing; just from the description, one could tell it was a monster of a very high level.

But the more Thorfinn and Dulin listened, the more uneasy they felt. They exchanged glances, because the monster she described seemed vaguely familiar.

Tina added, "Oh, right... it can use tentacles? That's right. When that guy was struggling in his death throes, the tentacles that shot out from his carapace killed a lot of people."

Perhaps having overheard their conversation, Lin Miao's Palico suddenly burst in, interrupting the discussion.

Thorfinn and Dulin were startled by the Elf cat that squeezed between them.

Slightly surprised, Tina understood what the Palico looking up at her meant and nodded.

Lin Miao, on the other side of the screen, froze in shock, thinking to herself: This is simply absurd.

Because all the testimonies Tina mentioned pointed to the faulty entity.

The thought that the malfunctioning entities had even appeared in the game world made Lin Miao mutter to herself in reality, "Are they going to follow us everywhere?"

The malfunctioning entities aim to corrupt the world, and they will stop at nothing to achieve this goal. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say that they want to infiltrate the game world and kill the residents living there.

Tina smiled at their tense reaction and continued, "Why are you all so nervous? Don't worry too much, it's just a new type of monster that has appeared."

In reality, as a high-level hunter who fights against all kinds of monsters, malfunctions are just another kind of monster to her.

However, for those who must fight such monsters in reality, they lack the excellent and legendary equipment found in the game, as well as experienced hunters.

◆◆◆

the other side.

Gabriel stopped the carriage, allowing Lin Miao's character and Lillie to disembark, and then delivered the lines announcing the start of Chapter Three:

"There have been a lot of ominous rumors lately. Now that the demons have really started to move, it's not surprising."

Lin Miao watched this scene through the screen, her expression complex.

After entrusting the hunting mission to hunters like Thorfinn and Durin, he and Lillie entered Dark Souls, where they had already completed the second chapter, to confirm the news they had just heard.

If glitch-related entities also appear in the game, then they shouldn't only appear in one game.

However, as an NPC who is more important than Tina from Monster Hunter, Gabriel has not yet shown any abnormalities.

Lillie looked at Lin Miao, whose expression was grave, and asked softly, "Is there a problem here?"

Gabriel chuckled, pointed to the dark patch of land in the distance, and began to explain:

"This place was once a fortified area ruled by a border count of a certain country. He was a brave general and a kind and wise lord, but as winter came, the entire region suddenly disappeared without a trace."

Although many tried to gather information, very few managed to reach the fortress and bring back the truth.

Lillie felt somewhat awkward when she saw Gabriel again after several days.

When she raised her question, Gabriel chuckled and pointed the two to the destination of this chapter.

Like the village in the first chapter, the lord's fortress, shrouded in cold air and heavy clouds, exuded an ominous and gloomy aura that was visible to the naked eye.

Gabriel shrugged at the character Lin Miao was controlling and continued, "Since you're experts at hunting demons, you might be able to find out the truth."

Seeing the character's hesitant expression, Gabriel seemed completely unaware of what he really wanted to ask.

Lin Miao thought to herself with frustration: I can't just ask if anything unusual has happened. I should have had Lillie bring the information the hunters found out... But hearing it won't change anything anyway.

Seeing that his hints were ineffective, he gave up asking questions with a hint of frustration.

Even if Gabriel knew about the program error, they wouldn't change what they were supposed to do.

The reward is to kill enemies, which include both demons and glitch-like entities in the game.

Lin Miao thought to himself: A game is just a game after all. Otherwise, this place would have been taken over by those guys long ago.

Although the game has become a reality with the arrival of residents, it is ultimately just a means to achieve the goal.

The same is true of those program errors that attempt to erode the world; they invade the game world only to slaughter its inhabitants, not to claim it for themselves.

He could easily deduce this fact.

Of course, the increased variables caused by the intrusion of faulty entities are a bad thing. The game already had many variables when it became reality, and now these variables have been further distorted.

His thoughts were in turmoil as he guided his character across the map.

This was so obvious that even Lillie, who was following behind, noticed it.

Lin Miao, who usually jumps or rolls repeatedly and makes all sorts of mischievous movements, is now just running quietly, which is the basis for her suspicions.

Lillie bit her lip and silently told herself: It doesn't matter. No matter what happens.

At this moment, she didn't even know where Lin Miao was taking her, and she just followed silently behind without any suspicion.

Because Lillie's trust in him is so profound, and the time they've spent fighting side by side so far is the best proof of that.

This trust actually made Lillie stronger. After all, that's how the world works; the more she fights alongside him, the stronger she becomes.