Chapter 101
Chapter 101 – Survivors (1)
Heading toward the Unknown Mountain, where Dwarf Survivors are surely surrounded by enemies, is no easy task. You can tell just by the fact that the best of the village have been summoned for this mission. They are truly invaluable human resources.
Herson, who had found the traces of the survivors fleeing to the mountain, couldn’t help but feel guilty for potentially causing this situation.
“You don’t have to worry so much. If our choice was truly wrong, the deity would have stopped us.”
“But isn’t it too dangerous? To rescue my kin, who may or may not be there…”
“I understand how important it is to save people from wicked foes.”
Upon hearing Herson’s worries, Riena shook her head. Her active support for the search for survivors stemmed from experiences gained in the game world.
Though the foundation was merely a crafted background story, to her it felt like a lived reality.
To her, saving people from evil had become a natural duty.
“Everything is ready. We can set off right now.”
Just then, the hunter Naru approached to inform her that preparations were complete. Normally, he would be off hunting gigantic mutant monsters, but now he was here, a clear indication of how dedicated they were to this endeavor.
They had united to fully utilize the diverse skills they had acquired from their separate game worlds.
“Of course, while searching for survivors is important, your lives and those of others are equally valuable. If it feels too dangerous, don’t hesitate to turn around and flee.”
“I’ll remember that.”
Barun, his face haggard from lack of sleep due to news of the bug assault on the village the night before, advised Riena to escape without hesitation if necessary.
From both his father’s and the chief’s perspective, losing key figures like Riena would be a tremendous blow.
The power of the deity they believed in was not limitless either.
Miscalculating could lead to irreversible consequences.
‘For now, there’s nothing in sight.’
He too was carefully observing enemy movements, zooming in on the screen as much as possible. No enemies were visible on the mountain or along the way to their destination.
The significant reduction in enemy numbers was undoubtedly thanks to the residents who had pushed up and cleaned out the hive nearby.
“According to Herson’s testimony, Dwarves are likely holed up in caves within the mountains. They excel at mining and digging, after all.”
“Anything yet?”
“Doesn’t seem like there are any enemies or Dwarves so far.”
The exploration team was composed of the finest from the village. It didn’t just mean brute strength.
While Riena was the representative, she wasn’t the one leading the charge. The somewhat special hunter, Naru, stood at the front, concentrating and scanning the surroundings with his tools.
This was one of the basic skills of hunters he had learned in Creature Hunting. Using a detector for mutant mana, it was a sort of detection skill to trace and specify enemy locations.
The transporter carrying a load of food items was following, and the blend of abilities learned in different game worlds was being utilized.
‘It doesn’t seem good that there are no signs.’
While walking in front with Naru, Riena glanced around. The mountain, which still preserved unspoiled nature, showed no signs of fierce combat.
This indicated one of two possibilities: either the bugs hadn’t found the hiding Dwarves, or the Dwarf survivors had already been annihilated.
“Look at this. At first glance, it looks like a trace left by a wild beast, but it’s not. It’s a mark made by tools.”
However, it wasn’t long before Herson discovered traces of his kin. A small shrub had been neatly cut, an unknown mark left behind.
“They’re definitely here.”
At least the existence was confirmed. The cautious exploration team ventured deeper into the mountain, careful not to raise their voices.
“Oh no, this seems to be a big one.”
Naru’s ears perked up when the detector in his hand reacted.
The reaction was too strong for it to belong to a Dwarf survivor, who typically had a smaller build. Naru realized this was a strong response from a large mutant and sighed softly.
There was only one being in this area as large and powerful as the game’s mutant monsters.
“It’s them!”
Numerous glitches and a bug seemingly emerging from a nearby hive started climbing the hill, dodging trees and scaling rocks toward them.
The bug, a new variant with a massive blade-like jaw, sliced through the trees blocking its path.
“Fire!”
Rakum commanded the soldiers to shoot arrows. The arrows made from mutant by-products pierced the enemies, but due to their size, a single shot wasn’t enough to take them down.
“A big one’s coming!”
Amidst this, the bug had closed in on them. Its blade-like jaw was powerful enough to chop multiple people in half with one swing.
‘Is this all of them?’
In that situation, Riena was the first to charge in. The skill embedded in the dragon-slaying dagger she drew was one that hadn’t even existed in the game.
Upon grasping the sword, she instinctively activated this skill and thrust it forward at the bug.
A powerful golden flash burst from the sword, becoming a wedge that blew a massive hole, larger than a human torso, into the head of the bug trying to slice her.
Even the warriors like Rakum and Shura, who had been preparing for battle with gritted teeth, were left in awe at her strength as she effortlessly felled the colossal monstrosity.
“We definitely need to find a safer place.”
Yet despite the soldiers’ valiant efforts and her remarkable feat, the crisis wasn’t over.
It appeared the hive had made up its mind to wipe out the key members of the Arin Tribe, as more glitches and bugs were closing in on them.
They decided to slowly retreat back to a safer area.
‘What to do? Should I use it? Not use it?’
Watching this tense scene from outside the screen, he was also conflicted while gripping a chainsaw.
The help he could provide was limited.
Every moment was a test. How well he used his resources could determine the lives of many residents.
“You stupid humans!”
“Huh?”
However, the bug assault didn’t just bring despair. From behind the retreating exploration team came several rough-looking men of short stature.
“Are you all insane!? Why have you brought those monsters here?!”
“D-Dwarves!”
Those who spotted them first shouted in surprise. The ones appearing behind were indeed the Dwarves, who assumed the exploration team had brought the bugs and were in a furious state.
“Calm down, everyone! We’ve come to rescue you!”
As the Dwarves aimed their crossbows at the exploration team, Herson, alarmed, jumped forward to block them. The Dwarves were stunned to see Herson, one of their kin, appear among the humans.
“Wait, why is our kin there?”
“No time for details! The enemies are coming!”
However, there was no time to explain. The advancing enemies were closing in.
Understanding this situation, the Dwarves reluctantly readied their weapons to fight alongside them.
“Quick, get out! They’re right on us!”
“W-Why are there so many…?”
More than a hundred Dwarves poured out of the cave on the mountainside. The sheer number of them startled the exploration team.
Though they had seen each other only as figures from ancient tales, they started to fight together against the imminent threat.
The problem was that even with the Dwarves’ arrival, the bugs still outnumbered them. Moreover, against the bug’s armor, the Dwarves’ crossbows struggled to pierce even the glitches’ defenses.
“What kind of arrows are you using that can pierce their armors?”
“Is that important right now?! We’re going to die because of those human scum!”
The overwhelming number of bugs began to incite panic among their ranks. In contrast, the steadfast Arin Tribe held firm, while the Dwarves, uneasy from their time in hiding, wavered easily.
“Don’t worry too much. There must be a way out.”
“Who are you that you’re with humans and trust them like this?”
In a situation like this, the Dwarves were forced to be astonished by Herson’s different demeanor.
Herson struggled to find words to explain what he had seen and heard, but fortunately, he didn’t need to explain everything.
“The deity has granted us a Defense Tower!”
“The deity will punish us!”
Suddenly, a clattering sound accompanied by a flash erupted around them, and defense towers began materializing, firing powerful arrows at the enemies.
Furthermore, enormous chainsaws raining down from the sky began grinding into the advancing bugs, tearing them to shreds.
“Is the opening finally here?”
The long-awaited chance! He moved the mouse rapidly, trying to kill as many enemies as possible, letting out a sigh of relief at the sight of the cheering residents.
When the bugs had gathered, he seized that moment to use one of his resources. Even if it meant enduring a stinging dart or being dragged away, he gritted his teeth and held on.
“What on earth is this…”
“For now, let’s retreat! Their nest is to the west, so we should go that way!”
In the meantime, the residents began evacuating the Dwarf survivors in unison.
They had to return to the fortress before the enemies closed in again.
‘Was this a success?’
To him, it seemed the Dwarves had suffered less.
In reality, the Dwarves, still dazed by what had just happened, felt their initial wariness and hostility fade, replaced by fear as they followed the humans who had come to find them.
Convincing or explaining to the Dwarves could wait until after securing safety. Since they were already facing limits in their hiding, the Dwarves took the risk of following the Arin to move toward safety.
‘I hope this doesn’t trigger something worse.’
He turned his gaze from the residents to check the status of the enemies on the screen. They would surely be aware that the soldiers they had sent to wipe out the exploration team had been defeated, yet the bugs remained eerily quiet.
