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

[10 seconds remaining]

The chainsaw that followed Lin Miao's mouse movement had enough time remaining, though not much.

No matter how terrifying the monsters are, they are now nothing more than pixels wriggling on a computer desktop.

As Lin Miao clicked the mouse to move the chainsaw, it became powerful enough to pulverize the giant monster in an instant.

But he used this weapon, which he should have cherished, not because the bugs attacking Lillie looked particularly dangerous.

Although the enemy looked large and powerful, Lin Miao believed that Lillie could win.

He started the chainsaw because he saw a certain scene while the residents were battling the insects.

A group of people stumbled and ran as they were chased by those guys.

However, they were not human. The moment Lin Miao saw them, she instinctively recognized their race.

Right-clicking on them, who are shown as neutral, will show you more detailed information.

[Helson, the dwarf resident]

【Characteristics: Miner, Blacksmith】

"At least we need to get them together first."

A race similar to humans yet completely different. To understand the situation more accurately, we must first save them.

So Lin Miao used a chainsaw to shred the insects that were attacking the residents into pieces.

Without stopping there, Lin Miao quickly moved the chainsaw and slashed horizontally.

This utilizes the power he controls, which allows him to modify even the terrain of a desktop.

The chainsaw pulverized the earth and the trees in the forest.

Looking at it on the screen, its size was far beyond that of an ordinary chainsaw; the saw teeth were larger and thicker than those of a towering tree.

The giant tree was torn apart in an instant and collapsed to the ground with a crash.

[Achievement Completed: Encounter with an Interspecies (1)]

Thanks to Lin Miao for clearing all the faults and obstacles, those trembling fellows trapped in the middle of the forest were finally able to meet the villagers.

Furthermore, the system recognized his choice and awarded him points as an achievement.

Perhaps it was the noise of the chainsaw that was so loud, but seeing the villagers trembling with their eyes closed and ears covered, their faces were filled with shock.

"Do they know about the existence of the alien race?"

Lin Miao suddenly wondered if the villagers knew about other races.

Although this meeting was facilitated, it might take some time to communicate if the villagers, like myself, were seeing real dwarves for the first time.

At this moment when the offensive of the faulty entity has temporarily ceased, an awkward scene of vigilant confrontation between the two sides comes into view.

Although Attila took the initiative to strike up a conversation, the dwarves shook their heads and muttered something.

"Could it be that we don't speak the language...?"

Lin Miao sighed softly.

Thinking about it carefully, it would be even stranger if they could communicate, since even I can't talk to them.

[Recommended Translation Program]

At that very moment, as if it had been planned all along, the system recommended an automatic translation program.

Fortunately, neither side harbored any hostile intentions; it was a stroke of good luck amidst misfortune.

In the end, Lin Miao had no choice but to spend all the achievement points she had worked so hard to earn on the translator, and start the program to install the translation function for the residents.

Fortunately, this thing has no limit on the number of people and does not require any additional upgrades. When the residents suddenly learned to understand the language of other races, they immediately stirred up a commotion and exclaimed in amazement.

Attila stepped forward again and spoke. The residents, who had initially been intimidated by the sight of the larger, fully armed, and horse-drawn population, widened their eyes in surprise when they were finally able to communicate.

"Wait... what about me?"

Lin Miao watched as they officially began their conversation.

Although seeing them stop exchanging hostile information as I had expected made me feel relieved, Lin Miao frowned when she realized that she couldn't understand what they were saying at all.

Kherson's Troubles

It's not that there's absolutely no way out. Since we can see through their deep-seated troubles like a god, we can naturally take corresponding measures.

[There once existed a secluded dwarven kingdom in the north. This kingdom, which had long been cut off from the continent of Terra and lived peacefully on its own, was suddenly struck by cataclysm. Although Herson was filled with fear of the unknown monsters that had destroyed the kingdom and harmed his people, he also harbored suspicion towards the humans who claimed to have been sent by divine decree to slay the monsters.]

Judging from their expressions, it was wise of Attila to reveal his identity and approach them.

In reality, we hold the initiative, a fact that Attila is well aware of.

"We have more options."

But for those dwarven families who lost their homes and fled in panic due to the Zerg invasion, there was simply no other choice.

Lin Miao could have sought other sources of intelligence, but even if he let them leave, these dwarf families would never have been able to survive in the land ravaged by the insectoids.

"..."

Finally, the dwarf representative named Herson nodded.

Although they maintained a neutral stance, they joined our side following Attila's instructions.

Attila, who facilitated this unexpected encounter, seemed to think that this was enough, and Lin Miao deeply agreed.

After all, they already had a clear understanding of the situation ahead, and it was impossible to complete the cleanup mission with only a few dozen soldiers.

Eventually, the residents returned to the village through the portal. If they could successfully persuade the alien race they had brought back to join them, Lin Miao would be able to make full use of those special talents.

To be honest, Lin Miao coveted their abilities. Perhaps they could bring a new civilization to the villagers, and he could cultivate their unique talents to a whole new level.

"I never imagined that those ancient legends were actually true."

Legends about foreign tribes have indeed been passed down since ancient times. Attila had also heard these stories from his parents, who in turn had heard them from their ancestors.

So when he suddenly encountered a different race, he wasn't particularly shocked, since it wasn't a completely unfamiliar race.

"Perhaps that great one guided us here so that we might meet them?"

"Although the main purpose was to inform people of the monsters appearing in the north, you're not wrong. This was indeed arranged by that person."

Attila did not deny Lillie's words.

The residents, including him, remained unusually calm when the dwarves appeared.

Not only because of the tension from their recent battle with the Zerg, but also because they believed this encounter was the will of their guardian deity.

The guardian deity knows all things and watches over everything.

With such faith, one can calmly accept whatever happens as God's will.

This also proves that the residents' faith has become firm and profound through various events.

"Now you should listen carefully to what exactly happened to you."

On their way back to the village through the portal, Attila wanted to hear the dwarves' story before the other villagers saw them in alarm.

Unlike the villagers who had lowered their guard because of their faith in their guardian deity, the dwarf Herson, who was still observing the expressions of the surrounding villagers, spoke with difficulty.

"This...this wasn't a long time ago."

Now that they can communicate with each other, they can finally learn in detail what is happening in the far northern lands where the dwarves live.

"It's normal that you don't understand us. The United Council of Races banned contact with humans a long time ago. Since then, our clans have only communicated with each other in our scattered areas."

When did those monsters appear?

With Attila's efforts to avoid applying pressure, Kherson's voice gradually regained its composure: "The earliest news came about a month or so ago."

After all, being able to talk to eloquent intelligent beings is a million times better than watching incomprehensible monsters tear apart one's fellow human beings.

"Our kingdom, which we spent countless years building around the mountains, collapsed in the blink of an eye. After the endless hordes of monsters crushed our army, they began to devour our own kind to grow stronger."

"A new type of monster?"

Listening to Herson's testimony, which he spoke through gritted teeth, Attila became convinced that the swarms of insects now appearing in the dwarven territory were launching an invasion in a different way than the current reconnaissance warfare.

"Insect hive".

That name is indeed correct. Having watched their story through a screen, he already knew the name of that land completely occupied by the Zerg.

That was the main base where the Zerg had completely established their nests. It was the very land where the Dwarven Kingdom once stood.

If left unchecked, the Zerg that have devoured the entire region will soon sweep across the world in staggering numbers.

"I don't know how many of my kin who scattered and fled after losing their ability to resist will survive. As an ordinary resident, my family and I were only concerned with escaping and avoiding those monsters. We didn't have time to think about things like prohibiting communication; we were only thinking about surviving."

"I understand how you feel. Although it won't be easy to adapt, we'll help you. You'd better get yourself in a good state of mind first."

"Wait, wait... what exactly is that...?"

Attila sheltered them. This was both the will of the god of faith and his belief that these special alien races could be of use.

When they were led into the village, the dwarves, led by Herson, were stunned for a moment when they saw the huge city walls that were being built.

In their view, the wall built using in-game abilities was simply illogical.

The residents, who were already used to it, couldn't help but laugh at the dwarves' reaction.

"We can no longer leave the northern lands unattended."

"I think so too. That must be why that person opened the gate to the other side."

After bringing the dwarves back to the village, Attila, who had given the residents strict instructions to allow them time to adjust, returned home and disarmed himself.

After Lillie came in and finished speaking, Attila nodded.

"You've noticed it too, haven't you? In the world that sir led us to, the enemies we face are getting stronger and stronger. The same goes for the monsters that appear in reality."

Although a few incidents have occurred, things have remained relatively stable so far.

They gain incredible abilities through the game world and continue to grow, while the village continues to develop.

But at this moment, even this eerie calm began to change.

The enemy army, which has already built a complete lair, is growing stronger, and it is their mission to fight those monsters.

If no war is fought, the eroding entities will no longer be satisfied with small-scale attacks on villages, but will instead swarm in on a massive scale to devour the entire world.

"Perhaps an calamity will befall us, one that is far more intense, more painful, and more cruel than what we are experiencing now. But it is something we cannot escape, no matter how hard we try.

Time is constantly flowing, and as time goes by, the course of events also changes.

It was simply the inevitable moment that had arrived.

"So, what should we do now?"

Recalling the dark, overwhelming army of invaders, Lillie asked in a trembling voice.

The posture was not that of a daughter questioning her father, but rather that of a believer listening to a divine oracle.

"Of course we must stop them. We must wipe them out completely before they grow stronger, build a solid defensive wall, and never let them set foot on this land again. But most importantly... in the end, it is still that person who will guide us."

Attila, having given his answer, looked up at the sky.

Although he, as the tribal chief, coordinated and resolved most affairs, the guardian deity would always personally intervene and provide guidance in times of major events.

This time was no exception. Both Attila and Lillie firmly believed that before the war was about to break out in full force, that person would surely lend a helping hand.