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

"It seems we won the battle. I was a little worried because it was my first time fighting so many enemies."

A large-scale battle broke out in front of the lair.

Although I was on tenterhooks watching the battle, I was surprised to find that the two sides were vastly different in strength, and our army completely thwarted the enemy's offensive in just a few hours.

"We haven't even used our full strength yet."

As if broadcasting this fact, Li Sushang, who was sharing information, said with relief that it was great to win without taking any damage.

[Li Sushang: Although we are investigating using methods of induced reconnaissance, we haven't heard any similar news yet.]

After recounting the story of the Northern Dwarf Kingdom being invaded and destroyed by the insectoid race, Li Sushang is also searching for similar locations on her screen, but so far there is still no news.

After all, I only learned of the news the moment the dwarves were massacred and the kingdom collapsed. If those guys were gathering power somewhere far away, it would indeed be difficult to detect them immediately.

This map application might be the best way to prevent this situation, but Lin Miao and Li Sushang are unable to activate the function due to insufficient points.

Let's address the most pressing issue first.

Lin Miao turned back to the screen, watching the residents who had won a great victory in the ground battle.

Having won on their own without needing chainsaw support, they are now preparing to wipe out the enemy's lair.

It was the enormous burrow located right in the center of the nest. Sure enough, the ant-like creatures' lair was inside.

Zerg Nest

After the soldiers cautiously and slowly entered, the scene was finally able to switch.

"Unlike the open ground battlefield, this underground passage, which may be the enemy's lair, is both narrow and long, making it impossible to mobilize a large number of soldiers. Even if they were all brought, it would only cause chaos and be pointless."

Thus, a small group of elite soldiers, led by battle-hardened veterans, spearheaded the advance.

Fortunately, the enemy seemed to have also lost a lot of troops in the previous battles, and there were not many enemies left in the tunnel.

For them, who spend their days grinding monsters and digging for essences in the Minecraft underworld, this level of opponent is a piece of cake.

"Is that all you've got?"

Even Lin Miao was somewhat taken aback by their unstoppable advance.

Although we've only taken down one stronghold so far, it's an exaggeration to say that this level of destruction could wipe out a country.

"Holy crap, what the hell is that?"

It wasn't until they reached the deepest part of the lair that Lin Miao understood why the enemy was so easily defeated.

Not only Lin Miao, who witnessed it firsthand, but even the residents who accompanied her were shocked and speechless.

The Gate of Erosion

A huge, seemingly rotten tree, with an unknown black door writhing in the center of its trunk.

Just by looking at it, you can tell that this door is nothing like the temporary spatial rifts you've seen before.

The black trees that had sprung up around the gate were draining the surrounding soil of all its nutrients, and countless insect-like monster corpses lay piled up beneath their roots.

"After multiplying, those guys forcibly opened that door at the cost of their own lives."

Although it's only the size of a car now, if left unattended, who knows what might pop out of the door? Just imagining it is terrifying.

[Can the portal be interfered with? Do you want to close the portal?]

When I moved the mouse over the portal, a notification popped up.

"Are you kidding me?"

Lin Miao naturally closed the portal. The tunnel trembled and shook as the distorted portal gradually disappeared.

"Things can't end that easily."

After the portal closed completely, the residents cheered in certainty of victory, but Lin Miao's expression remained grave. Those guys weren't fully grown yet.

We have only destroyed one nest so far.

There must be more of these things at the ruins of the Dwarf Kingdom, but can our side really get there?

[Achievement Completed: First Time Closing the Corruption Gate]

At least they got the generous reward they wanted, so they were lucky.

The points earned from completing achievements can be used to activate the planned games and strengthen the defenses of the area.

It is essential to consolidate the defense of the base before launching an attack.

Just as an enemy builds a nest to expand its power, Lin Miao plans to create a fortress that can withstand even a full-scale attack from a malfunctioning army, and then launch a counterattack.

Tower Defense Game: Kingdom Rush

The newly activated game is a common tower defense type.

As Lin Miao closed the city gates, he watched as the residents, having thoroughly cleared a Zerg nest, began building a fortress in the area, while simultaneously checking the newly unlocked game.

Now that we have occupied a specific area, we must make defensive preparations.

First of all, we are at an absolute disadvantage in terms of numbers, and our ability to sustain combat operations will likely be severely limited.

After all, from Lin Miao's perspective as someone outside the screen, those insects were nothing short of killing machines.

Even if the residents fight bravely, their strength will be exhausted after a day or two.

We need to arrange rest and recuperation according to the intensity of the battle, and we also need to find ways to relieve their mental stress.

Lin Miao believes that this tower defense game can fill this gap perfectly.

【Honeycomb (Branch)】

"!"

Meanwhile, residents who went out to scout discovered a newly built Zerg nest in the newly explored area.

Sure enough, their base is hidden deep underground, and they are constantly expanding horizontally.

Unless the main trunks and roots that far exceed the size of the branches are found and destroyed, they will continue to multiply and wage a war of attrition against us.

Seeing the residents' pale faces when they realized that the nest they had painstakingly destroyed was just a drop in the ocean, Lin Miao's determination grew even stronger.

Kingdom Defense activated

But the only thing that Lin Miao cared about was that what he wanted to strengthen was not the residents, but the automatic turrets that appeared in the game.

The methods for strengthening residents have already been prepared in other games.

The reason for choosing this game was to make up for the lack of numbers and the ability to sustain combat; if only the residents become stronger, then it loses its meaning.

[Purchaseable items: Command Center, Magic Refinery, Warehouse, Hero Training Center, Level 1 Defense Tower, Level 1 Magic Tower, Level 1 Control Tower...]

However, as the game started, Lin Miao's worries vanished.

The newly activated defense game, Kingdom Rush, is slightly different from previous games.

Previously activated games involved summoning residents into the game world, where they would engage in activities, battles, and earn rewards.

Kingdom Rush is set in a desktop world.

Perhaps because it's a game without a fixed storyline and where PVP starts right away, Lin Miao was momentarily dazed when she saw that she could erect the default defensive towers provided by the system next to the fortress hastily built by the residents.

Upon closer examination, this is by no means a bad thing.

"It's actually better that it can work like this."

The current model is: if there is an independent game world, the residents need to be sent there to play together, and then the game proceeds are used to manage the tabletop world, which is a dual gameplay.

"However, since we can directly use the villagers on the table to control the game, there is no need for dual control."

Lin Miao decided to start by calmly arranging the buildings that came with the game at the beginning.

First is the headquarters. This mansion-like level 1 headquarters is equivalent to the base camp in the game. Once it is captured, the player will lose.

"Building it in the village will be fine."

There's no need to deliberately build it in the dangerous north. Lin Miao swiped the screen to switch to the village view and placed the headquarters in the center of the village.

"—?!"

The villagers were stunned by the sudden appearance of the enormous building.

This wooden house is neither like their traditional yurt-style tent houses nor like the block houses built by porters using mined blocks.

As far as Lin Miao knew, the mansion would become larger and more luxurious as the level increased.

"Although that wasn't the original intention, it will certainly help Attila enhance his prestige."

Seeing the villagers who recognized it as the work of a deity and rushed over to bow to the headquarters, Lin Miao couldn't help but chuckle.

That headquarters will probably become the residence of Chief Attila.

After all, he is now the most important person in the tribe, and Lin Miao is fully supporting this capable and loyal man.

Afterwards, Lin Miao built several new facilities in the village.

A magic refinery that can automatically produce the currency 'magic' needed for construction.

There are also training institutes for cultivating heroes who can use special skills to kill enemies, and so on.

However, the various types of defensive towers will not be built in the village for the time being.

Instead, they decided to deploy them on the northern border where the war was raging.

These defensive towers are crucial for holding the occupied territory.

While hero strength is also necessary, our side already has enough heroes.

"We need to think efficiently about how to maximize the use of existing resources."

Lin Miao was deeply troubled, as the configuration of defensive towers and other facilities was entirely up to her.

The thought that their lives depended on his choices forced him to consider the matter carefully.

"While building city walls is possible, is it really necessary?"

The Kingdom Rush building list also includes a wall option.

It is used to block enemy player troops.

However, it is not the kind of ten-meter-high city wall that the villagers are building.

It's just a low wall, like a fence; the core gameplay is...

The attackers destroy the city walls and break into the interior, while the defenders use defensive towers and building layouts to block them.

In this situation, Lin Miao didn't want to waste resources building.

The fragile walls could be easily destroyed by the Zerg.

It might be a bit cruel for the villagers, but they used the sandbox mode.

The walls built from the collected blocks actually look more sturdy.

Lin Miao then saved the resources and built more defensive towers.

Level 1 defensive towers have been deployed.

The Level 1 Magic Tower has been deployed.

……

After making up his mind, Lin Miao devoted all his resources to deploying defensive towers.

"Building such long and high walls from the start was simply insane."

Ideally, the enemy's stronghold should be surrounded by city walls, but ultimately, they will have to be destroyed by attack. With only a few thousand men, it is impossible to cover everything.

In order to preserve possibilities for the future, the right choice now is to gradually build fortresses in the form of strongholds.

"!"

Therefore, Lin Miao focused on deploying defensive towers in the front-line occupied areas.

The residents, who were cleaning up the scorched wasteland, were startled and became agitated by the sudden appearance of a large number of buildings.

The structure of the level 1 defensive tower is very simple: a giant ballista is mounted on a stone watchtower.

It may not seem very strong at first glance, but it will become more and more powerful as you upgrade.

"It seems they understand."

The residents seemed to realize immediately that the defensive towers that had suddenly appeared were built by Lin Miao.

The initial wariness quickly dissipated, and instead, one could see them looking up at the sky, praying and giving thanks.

All defensive towers have just been deployed.

"The timing is perfect."

Lin Miao looked at the enemy soldiers who were following the scouts and couldn't help but sneer.

This is a perfect opportunity to test the power of a level 1 defensive tower.

Although those ant-like malfunctioning entities are numerous, their individual combat capabilities seem to be low; at least, attacks at the level of ballista turrets should be effective.

"!"

Lin Miao's prediction was completely correct.

Before the panicked residents could arm themselves and rush out to rescue the scouts, the automatically targeting defensive towers had already unleashed a barrage of arrows and magic.

The giant arrow pierced through the sky and instantly extinguished the malfunctioning body, while the fireball from the magic tower caused an explosion, resulting in area damage.

"As long as we don't accidentally hit friendly forces, it'll be fine."

Although friendly fire may occur in reality, the turret will not pursue the enemy to the end, but will automatically attack enemies at a greater distance. In the end, the friendly forces only need to deal with the wounded individuals who approach.

[Magic +60]

Moreover, while the Kingdom Defense War is running, defeating enemies will automatically accumulate magic rewards.

Instead of relying solely on the output of the magic refinery, actively earning magic like this means that more defensive towers can be deployed quickly.

We are no longer afraid of a war of attrition. Because the more a war of attrition we wage, the stronger not only the enemy becomes, but we also grow stronger.