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

Lin Miao, who had just received a special weapon for helping Lillie defeat the swarm of insects, was now deep in thought about how the insects had infiltrated her.

Some people have long regarded swarm battles as a daily routine.

That was the temporary northern base commanded by Mista.

This stronghold, which stands alongside the defensive towers, is gradually being developed into a base capable of both blocking the northern insect swarm and attacking insect nests.

"So, it really is impossible to scout further afield after all?"

"That's true. Without expanding the reconnaissance team, it seems quite difficult to break through the enemy's sentry line. The enemy seems to have realized this as well. No matter how many sentries we take down, they will send out more troops."

The soldier reporting to Mista shook his head in frustration.

After identifying an enemy stronghold as their target, their biggest effort was to understand the surrounding terrain and the enemy situation.

These actions continuously illuminated new areas on the map, and Lin Miao, standing outside the map and observing, used reconnaissance activities to figure out the types of enemies present around the residential area.

But even such reconnaissance operations could not continue beyond a certain boundary due to enemy interference.

"The testimony of the dwarf family rescued last time said that there should be more surviving dwarves who fled, but no trace of them has been found so far, which is really worrying."

"The chieftain has ordered that they must be rescued. If this is the will of the guardian deity, we shall obey."

Upon hearing his subordinate's words, Mista fell into deep thought.

After all, the purpose of the reconnaissance was not only to find the Herson family, but also to find other dwarf brethren.

Mista secretly decided: It seems I'll have to take matters into my own hands tomorrow after dawn.

After listening to all the reports, Mista stepped out of the tent; the moonlight had already bathed the camp.

Although not as tall as the city walls under construction, this camp, guarded by defensive towers that automatically detect enemy attacks, is already considered a relatively safe place in this land overrun by monsters.

Just then, someone approached him and asked, "Brother, what happened?"

Mista turned around and saw her younger brother Bruno's face, then chuckled, "No, it's nothing. But why aren't you sleeping? You need to rest well to continue fighting."

Bruno pointed to the other side: "Rosie said she wanted to train, so I'm helping her..."

Mista said with a hint of admiration, "That child is truly remarkable."

Chosen earlier than Mista to become a warrior capable of using skills, Rosie's strength is growing day by day.

He was fearless in battle, fighting solely on the belief of slaying the enemy, which is why Mista highly praised him.

Mista instructed, "Bruno, your strength will be maximized with the help of a striker. Cooperate well with that kid in battle. Tomorrow I'll be joining the other reconnaissance teams to break through the northern route."

Bruno said, "You're going yourself?"

Mista nodded: "The enemy keeps increasing their defenses but refuses to back down; there must be a reason. Before the large-scale punitive expedition begins, I want to gather as much intelligence as possible."

Bruno was taken aback to learn that Mista would personally lead a small force to scout ahead the next day.

But Mista had already made his decision.

If a large army is dispatched rashly without full preparation, failure could lead to annihilation.

Given their current situation, they cannot afford the cost of a crushing defeat and then having to regroup.

"You've grown a lot since then, especially since that lord bestowed upon you power to become a mage. So from now on, continue as you are now, without fear of battle. Warriors are beings who gain and protect through battle."

Fear of battle often means a lack of self-confidence.

Mista, who already understood this, offered advice with the intention of helping her younger brother to grasp the truth.

"You should have experienced it firsthand by now. No matter what situation I'm in, the world will operate cruelly and won't be sympathetic to your plight. It's a matter of whether to die helplessly or fight to the death."

"……yes."

Bruno kept his brother's advice in mind.

Mista's advice was not only applicable to his younger brother.

This is clearly a proverb applicable to all those who hesitate to fight and lack confidence.

Bruno, whose faith wavers amidst repeated wars and battles, finds relief by taking his brother's advice.

By glimpsing Bruno, who shares the same troubles as himself, this younger warrior also finds redemption in his predecessor Mista.

Lin Miao silently told herself: I must have confidence in myself.

He gave a bitter smile, raised his right hand holding the mouse, and tried to summon the greatsword he had acquired that day.

In the dark room, illuminated only by the computer screen, the chilling aura emanating from the sword flickered and shimmered in his eyes.

"At least we know where the source is now."

Lin Miao donned the hermit's cloak and slipped out quietly under the cover of darkness.

Li Sushang said that the upper echelons, that is, the government of this country, are trying to control information.

Strictly speaking, it wasn't about control, but rather that they themselves were unclear about the situation and therefore at a loss.

Despite efforts to control it, information continued to leak.

The advanced internet is truly terrifying.

Thanks to this, Lin Miao was able to find out the original location of the malfunction in reality and go there.

That must be the home of the third person in the country to become a user.

The malfunctioning entity, resembling a giant spider, has left and is hiding in the nearby mountains and forests, but the monitor that popped up the malfunctioning entity is still in the house.

Lin Miao planned to destroy the monitor first.

He secretly wondered: Perhaps it has already been destroyed?

As far as he knew, the police had taken control of the area.

If the monitor displaying the faulty device had changed, they probably would have dealt with it already.

"They keep saying the world is going to be destroyed, and then they pull this kind of stunt."

"Since someone died, it's not a false report, but what if we really encountered a monster? Shouldn't the army be deployed in this situation?"

However, when Lin Miao arrived near the scene, she overheard the police officers' conversation and discovered that they really didn't know anything and were just following orders to keep watch.

"Everyone back off! And there will be absolutely no permission issued. Please go back immediately!"

"That's why we need you to reveal the truth! This cover-up only makes things more suspicious, doesn't it?"

There were more than just police officers at the scene.

Despite it being late at night, quite a few people had gathered there.

Television staff, ordinary citizens who came to watch the commotion, and people doing personal live streams... they were all arguing with the police who were trying to maintain order.

While it's hard to understand why they're so obsessed with learning about those terrifying monsters, it's understandable that these people don't know the true nature of the insects.

Lin Miao thought to herself: Perhaps this is actually better.

Thinking of the residents who fought to the death against the insects, he felt that it was actually happier to make noise like this without knowing anything.

If those creatures actually establish nests in this world and start swarming out in large numbers, it'll be a war.

He could hardly imagine the scene of the army defending their homeland raining shells on the cities and villages where they lived.

"Is there really nothing inside?"

"We'll have to wait for the autopsy results for more details..."

Using the hermit's cloak to conceal his presence, Lin Miao brazenly passed through the cordon formed by the crowd and police, heading towards the half-destroyed house.

There were already several people wearing snow-white protective suits searching and investigating something there.

"what?"

Lin Miao brushed past one of them and entered the house, but the other person just tilted his head and didn't notice him at all.

Looking at the family photo in the broken frame, Lin Miao thought to herself: This person is just an ordinary office worker, just like me.

The house, ravaged by the giant monster, was naturally in a state of chaos.

Standing in the living room, he looked at the family photo in the broken frame.

The victim was Zhao Zhipeng, a man in his forties.

He's just an ordinary person.

"Is there really nothing in the room?"

"I said no! There are only some junk."

As they approached the spacious room that appeared to be the master bedroom, personnel were investigating the blood-stained floor.

The man naturally ignored Lin Miao, but this time he had no time to pay attention to her either.

[Activation rate 70%, should I close the rift?]

Words appeared in the void.

Right above the black screen monitor on the ground.

These are words that should only be seen on a computer desktop.

Perhaps because the activation is not yet fully complete, others may not be able to see these words.

But at this moment, Lin Miao was not holding a mouse.

This means he cannot right-click and select the close option.

Under these circumstances, Lin Miao suddenly sensed something and couldn't help but bite her lip, her fingers twitching slightly.

There's only one thing he can do now.

"It's so cold, why did the temperature suddenly drop..."

Having made up his mind, Lin Miao summoned the equipment he had acquired today, Frostmourne.

The moment the colossal ice sword, capable of penetrating to the bone and freezing even the soul, appeared in his hand, his invisibility was dispelled.

At the same time, the investigator who discovered his presence screamed and, in his haste, fell to the ground.

Lin Miao roared inwardly, "Disappear!"

He gritted his teeth, ignored the man, and swung the ice sword in his hand.

Accompanied by a violent ice storm, the spatial rift could not withstand his power and was directly cleaved open and dissipated.

"W-What's going on?!"

"Emergency! Requesting support... uh..."

The instant the crack closed and Lin Miao disappeared again, armed police officers rushed in from outside.

Lin Miao pushed past their panicked faces and rushed out the door.

It's not over yet.

Although the entrance to the cave from which the monsters crawled out has been blocked, they must be dealt with before they can build new nests.