SWNOVELXO Chapter 132
Chapter 132 – I I Je I (2)
While the enemies were busy fighting among themselves, it was an utterly rational and efficient judgment to take advantage of their vulnerable gaps.
Not using such an opportunity that had presented itself would indeed be a foolish act. And the bugs, despite their terrifying insect-like appearance, were certainly not foolish beings.
“They’re the Black Monsters!”
“They’ve appeared from behind!”
“Why the hell are those madmen showing up now?!”
Everyone who witnessed the scene gasped in shock. Both the Arin Tribe and Luke’s soldiers, who were already fighting each other, as well as the delegation that had only heard of the bugs in tales, were all taken aback.
Those creatures, appearing without warning at the most critical moment, attempted to attack their surroundings, their targets naturally being the delegation closest to them.
“Stop the monsters!”
Leo, the guard captain who barely kept his wits about him, urged the knights and soldiers to stand firm against the creatures.
But the bugs were numerous, consisting of glitch-like creatures the size of wolves and massive bugs resembling giant grasshoppers, emerging endlessly from the fissure.
The thirty-some members of the delegation were simply not enough to handle them.
“What, what is this!?”
Swinging his gleaming sword, Leo decapitated a glitch with a single slash, but his eyes widened in shock at the sight of the thick, spiked limb that pushed against him.
These were not the usual beastly creatures. Realizing that the forelegs and jaws of the bug were infused with mana, he narrowly dodged the thick jaw that tried to slice through his armor.
“Dodge! Everyone fall back!”
Fortunately, Rihar’s magic struck the face of the bug, allowing Leo to regain his footing.
‘This is nonsense.’
In that brief moment, Leo hesitated as he witnessed dying soldiers. Soldiers, flustered by the onslaught of the glitch with its armored carapace, faced the grim reality of their limbs being bitten off as they screamed in agony.
Ordinary spears and blades merely scratched the carapaces, and the swords swung by the knights failed to cleanly slice through; it was more like smashing them into pieces.
At least the weapons possessed by the Arin soldiers could inflict fatal wounds, but their numbers were simply too few.
“We have to run! There are large ones among them, and we can’t hold them off with just us!”
“W-where should we go in this place?”
“That way!”
Rihar, who had been unleashing magic while supporting his allies, pointed towards the battlefield where the war was currently raging, amidst the panicking delegation.
It was a mad display, but those eager to escape from the horrific grim reapers before them turned without hesitation.
“Ugh, aah! Run! Quickly!”
Abandoning their baggage, livestock, and carts, they fled desperately, regardless of status or rank. Even as they ran, the bugs pursuing them surged forth into the battlefield.
After all, the bugs’ purpose was to attack the two fighting factions and inflict significant damage.
“Ugh, seriously…”
Fortunately, a chainsaw, falling from the sky, blocked the path of the bugs that were chasing them.
However, he, who moved the mouse to assist them, felt frustrated, realizing that the presence of numerous neutral or enemy units on the same screen made it impossible to effectively control the situation, and sighed.
“Keep fighting! We will push forward when the time is right!”
“Hey, you idiots! Look to the east! The Black Monsters are coming!?”
“Ignore it! Let’s take this as an opportunity!”
The battlefield had descended into chaos as well. While the delegation rushed toward safety, the two sides mixed up in their fray were unable to respond to the ambush.
The real problem lay with Luke’s subordinates. Many of them, having little knowledge of the bugs or not believing in them at all, considered the Arin Tribe’s confusion as an opportunity to seize victory and fought even harder.
“Your Majesty, those beasts over there, they are what they call Black Monsters.”
“Why are they so afraid of those things?”
Similarly, Luke, who had no experience fighting bugs, stared indifferently at the bugs that began to blacken the verdant grassland.
There were a lot of them and they looked nasty, but to him, they merely seemed like a horde of beasts. With a command from Luke, they could retreat and prepare, but he made the worst decision.
Like the battlefield commanders, he thought to take advantage of the situation instead. He thought they could recover their momentum through differences in warrior capabilities and the emergence of grand magic.
‘Such folly.’
Balun, who could observe the enemies’ movements from the sky, sighed and returned to his soldiers.
With this, they had to prepare to fight against both Luke’s army and the bugs at once.
“They’re mistaken. The Black Monsters don’t discriminate between humans. They will be eaten alive by those monsters and curse Luke.”
“What shall we do!?”
“The left flank should join the village! The main force, hold your ground, and everyone in the rear should dismount. If you stay mounted, you can’t fight the enemies.”
The Arin Tribe command, including Balun, skillfully prepared to engage with the bugs.
As they started running, they dismounted from the horses—mere meals for the bugs—and armed with weapons and shields, quickly formed a battle formation.
“Chieftain! They’re coming at us too!”
“Ugh, go and stop them! They’re just beasts!”
Naturally, the bugs charged at both Luke’s army and the Arin Tribe. However, compared to the Arin Tribe, Luke’s soldiers, who didn’t know how to deal with them, rushed at the bugs mounted on their horses.
They had fought in this manner when hunting the savage beasts of the grassland.
‘Those foolish fools.’
‘Nonsense.’
Both Balun and Junyoung watching from the scene and the screen frowned, sharing similar thoughts.
And at that moment, when they charged past the delegation and rushed at the bugs—
“Aaaah!”
“Stay away! Don’t come near!!”
As expected, Luke’s soldiers who went ahead all fell from their horses, feeling no pain from their injuries as they thrust themselves into the jaws of the enemies.
The bugs, with their sharp and powerful jaws gleaming, presented a horrifying sight as horses and humans were devoured alive.
“What the…”
Luke was equally shocked. Only then did he realize, along with his advisers, that something had gone terribly wrong.
“It’s dangerous!”
“Ugh!”
But Luke had to turn his head again as he deflected an arrow that flew toward him, imbued with a golden light.
The one who had shot the arrow was Riena, who had cut through everyone blocking her path and had already advanced down to the small hill where they commanded the units.
“You foolish man. Is your eyesight really functioning? Even at this very moment when we must combine our strengths, your refusal of our proposal and your attempt to subdue us by force is your error!”
With her furious cry from a distance, Luke’s eyes twitched.
Riena was genuinely angry at Luke, who had made a wrong choice by failing to recognize the threat posed by the bugs.
“That woman dares…”
“Just how did she make it all the way here!?”
Luke’s entourage was taken aback and outraged by her words. But regardless, she had left the bugs to her companions and had come deep into enemy territory with the intent of severing Luke’s neck.
‘I remember hearing there’s a rather strong and unique female warrior among them.’
Thus began the first meeting of the two.
Having already heard rumors about Riena, Luke was not angry like the others but rather found her—so distinct in appearance—intriguing. Though she was currently commanding, she was originally an innate warrior. It was only natural that his blood would boil at the sight of such a bold challenger.
“You young girl. Your courage is commendable, but it’s reckless. Do you really think you can reach me?”
Luke moved his soldiers back and positioned his guard to block Riena’s path. She surely wouldn’t refuse the traditional custom of passing a trial to engage in a one-on-one duel.
“Eh?”
“What is that?”
But at that moment, her body, which seemed ready to charge, suddenly began to move reflexively. In the blink of an eye, she turned and started running away in the opposite direction.
Though the surrounding warriors chuckled, Riena found herself unable to control her body and the horse that bore her, compelled by an irresistible force.
*
“If this keeps up, the delegation will be annihilated.”
The delegation desperately fled, but as they were caught one by one, they fell victim to the bugs. With the crucial role they played in the forthcoming diplomacy at stake, I had to ensure their survival.
However, the number of people who could fight the bugs to save them was limited.
“There’s no helping it.”
Sighing, I charged forward as I fulfilled my given role, crushing all the enemy warriors before me and quickly reached the enemy leader, Luke, along with Riena and the paladins.
Unaware of the dire circumstances unfolding, I forced them into action to save the delegation.
“—!”
Ultimately, Riena and the paladins began to rush back toward the delegation, retracing the path they had just cleared.
I didn’t think this choice was mistaken. The importance of our future diplomacy with other forces was paramount.
‘They won’t curse me, right?’
I stole a glance at their expressions, but neither Riena nor anyone else seemed displeased with my orders.
And as they rushed forward with renewed momentum to save the delegation, they finally joined with them.
Meanwhile, a fierce confrontation between the bugs and the residents began.
‘They’re bound to win, right? Those guys can’t just profit endlessly.’
While it was inevitable that locals fought among themselves, I couldn’t tolerate the bugs openly gaining from it.
“—! —!”
“– —!”
Having to fight to live, those who had to stop fighting desperately engaged with the monsters that charged toward them.
Of course, once the battle with the bugs ended, the enemies would still be left with the energy to attack their allies. In fact, we were the same.
While battling the bugs, we also had to keep a keen eye on the opposing forces.
‘Is that something to worry about?’
The bugs that had burst forth from the fissures were quite numerous, as if they were intent on doing so.
Our allied commanders, experienced with bugs and equipped with numerous weapons, could withstand the onslaught, but Luke’s troops were literally getting slaughtered.
When it comes down to it, when the battle against the bugs is over, I could firmly believe that one side would be more exhausted than the other.
‘Let those bug bastards face some real education.’
Seeing the hardened expression of Luke, who was clashing words with Riena, I forced a bitter smile. Given how things had unfolded, I could only guide our direction toward maximizing our advantages.