I Became the Tyrant of a Defense Game [EN]: Chapter 221

Our current location is between the head’s central nexus and the main central nexus of Jormungandr.

The head’s central nexus is likely occupied by the werewolves, so we decided to return to the main central nexus to regroup until dawn.

However, neither returning nor regrouping was easy.

The enemies kept attacking us from the dark shadows of the night.

Until dawn, the werewolves repeatedly ambushed and retreated.

We barely managed to retreat to the main central nexus, taking turns resting while keeping watch.

It wasn’t even a proper rest because the enemies kept popping out unexpectedly…

Anyway, the terrible night passed, and morning finally arrived.

Day 3 of the Jormungandr subjugation battle. The dawn of the final day had broken.

[Jormungandr – Section Destruction Progress]

– First Nexus: 86%

– Second Nexus: 49%

– Third Nexus: 91%

I rubbed my tired eyes and checked the current progress.

If it weren’t for the werewolves, we could have easily finished destroying the remaining sections within the remaining day.

But the situation became urgent due to the monster bastards that kept ambushing us.

[Defeat the Werewolf Legion that Ambushed You!]

– Gray Werewolf Lv.35: 8

– Brown Werewolf Lv.30: 17

The remaining number of werewolves is about twenty-five. And the condition of our party members is…

“Ugh.”

I scanned the party members who were sprawled out and fast asleep.

‘Junior is badly injured, Reina is also injured. Evangeline and Quillan are exhausted. The rest have minor injuries…’

We gave them potions and let them sleep for the past few hours, but the human body doesn’t recover like a machine. Everyone is tired and still injured.

But there’s nothing we can do.

We have to push ourselves for the last day.

“Lucas.”

I called out softly, and Lucas, who was resting with his eyes closed right next to me, slowly opened his bright blue eyes.

“Yes, my lord.”

“Wake the others.”

I’m just as tired, but what else can I do with this young body?

“Let’s go to work!”

It’s a world crisis. Let’s push ourselves a bit.

***

The tail nexus’s section destruction progress has been steadily increasing overnight, so it seems Muyeong and Kellybay are doing their jobs well. I’ll leave them be.

The central nexus has the lowest section destruction progress. We need to work the hardest on it for the remaining time.

“Quillan, proceed with section destruction with all your strength along with your subordinates. Fox, Rabbit, assist them.”

I instructed the five members of the penal unit and the two mages from the support unit. All seven of them looked tired, but they nodded without complaint.

“Reina. Guard this place. The werewolves might attack again, so you are responsible for stopping them.”

“Understood, Your Highness. I won’t let you down this time.”

Reina, who was chain-smoking with a tired face, nodded. I turned my gaze to the rest of the party members.

“Lucas, Evangeline, and… Junior.”

The two knights and the pale-faced mage looked at me. I nodded.

“We’re going to retake the head.”

I was planning to take Lucas and Evangeline from the start, and it was a question of whether to take Junior or Reina.

Although Junior was injured, I concluded that it would be safer for the main party to take him with us.

Rather than leaving him here and having him get hurt by the werewolves, it would be safer for Junior to be with Lucas, Evangeline, and me.

‘Besides, we’re a party that has been working together from the start.’

With this decision, I finished the formation, and our main party began to move towards Jormungandr’s head.

The penal unit had already started the section destruction work with drills and pickaxes, and Reina and the two mages saluted us.

“Good luck, Your Highness.”

“Good luck.”

Reina’s face was a bit stiff. I gave her a smile.

“Yeah. You guys do your best too.”

The four members of the main party started walking towards the head nexus without looking back.

***

The path to the head nexus was empty.

But knowing that the werewolves wouldn’t leave us alone, the four members of the main party carefully advanced along Jormungandr’s back without letting their guard down.

Grrr…

Kaaa!

As expected, the werewolves that were hiding jumped out.

They attacked us from the left and right. Judging by the number, which was over twenty, they must have all been waiting here.

It’s better this way.

It’s better for us to handle them all than to let other places get attacked.

“Let’s go all out.”

I swung my staff [Maestro] for the first time in a while and lightly tapped Lucas, Evangeline, and Junior on their shoulders.

It was to use the staff’s buff function.

[Mid-level Buff Success!]

[The ‘15% Damage Reduction for 3 minutes’ buff has been applied to Lucas (SSR)!]

[High-level Buff Success!]

[The ‘20% Attack Power Increase for 3 minutes’ buff has been applied to Evangeline (SSR)!]

[High-level Buff Success!]

[The ‘2% Mana Recovery per Second for 3 minutes’ buff has been applied to Junior (SSR)!]

Everyone is exhausted, so even a small buff will help.

“I know it’s tough, but the fate of the world depends on this fight.”

We must not forget.

The weight of life that hangs on each and every one of these small battles.

Werewolves poured in from all directions. I shouted fiercely.

“Take them down!”

“Wooo-ah!”

With a spirited shout, Evangeline’s shield blocked the monsters’ claws, and Lucas’s longsword flashed as it was swung.

Junior, gritting his teeth, unleashed lightning magic in all directions.

I didn’t stand still either.

I shot out blades of mana, used [Commanding Eye] to mind-control the ones that got close and made them kneel, and then used [Become Mine!] to forcibly recruit one of them to our side, causing infighting.

The problem was the werewolves’ cunning.

These bastards kept hitting and running, never fully engaging us.

They would run away without looking back if they were at a disadvantage, and then attack again when we tried to regroup.

Hit and run. And hit and run. And hit and run… Stop it already, you bastards!

Still, the elite main party members took down the enemies one by one, and their numbers steadily decreased.

We were able to advance towards Jormungandr’s head step by step.

After a grueling battle, it was afternoon.

“Haa, haa…”

We finally arrived at the head nexus of Jormungandr.

I wiped the werewolf blood off my cheek and stood on the snake’s head, looking around.

Jormungandr’s massive body, which had passed through the forest area, had entered the plains.

The long snake’s body was smoothly crossing the plains and heading north.

And at the end of this plain…

‘Crossroad.’

My city, the walls of humanity, were visible in a blurry form.

Finally… we’ve come this far.

‘There’s not much time left.’

After tonight, before the sun rises tomorrow. Jormungandr will reach the walls of Crossroad.

If we don’t destroy all the sections before then, everything is over.

“My lord. Please drink this.”

Then Lucas handed me a water bottle.

“You don’t look well. It’s an urgent situation, but we need to resupply, especially at times like this.”

“…”

Looking back, all the party members were covered in monster blood and gore. Their eyes were hollow. I must look similar.

We came all the way here, fighting those huge werewolves while not getting enough sleep or food, and with injuries. It’s no wonder we’re exhausted.

“…Let’s rest for a bit.”

We collapsed on the snake’s head. The breeze is nice.

Gulp, gulp!

Lucas, who had emptied a water bottle from his bag, poured the remaining water over his head. Water droplets scattered on his tousled blonde hair.

“Hoo!”

Lucas shook his head, exhaling. He looks like a dog shaking off water after a summer shower.

Evangeline, who was watching him curiously, also gulped down water and then poured the remaining water over her head.

“Puh-hek!”

…She must have poured too much, as her clear platinum blonde hair was completely soaked. What are you doing?

Junior is munching on tomato juice and spinach like a camel, which he hasn’t eaten in a while. Is it some kind of stimulant for him?

‘I’m craving a cup of coffee.’

I’d be in heaven if I could just down a bottle of ice-cold Americano. Then this dizzy head would clear up a bit. I took a sip of water while having such extravagant thoughts.

“We have arrived at Jormungandr’s head nexus, but…”

Lucas tapped the nerve nexus he was leaning against with his hand.

“I don’t know if we’ll have the time to destroy this.”

He was right.

We’ve taken down over ten werewolves just getting here. In other words, there are still over ten of them left.

If we start section destruction, it’s obvious that they’ll interfere.

But I deliberately spoke optimistically.

“If we hold out while working, our allies in the back will join us as soon as they finish their work. Then we’ll be able to destroy the section in time.”

It’s a close call, but it’s definitely possible.

As I repeated this to myself, a brown-haired boy suddenly flashed through my mind.

‘…Damian.’

I desperately needed my sniper.

If Damian were here, he wouldn’t have helped with section destruction, but he would have cleared out the werewolf pack in an instant.

Then the situation wouldn’t have gotten this bad.

‘Should I have brought him no matter how bad his condition was? Was it my misjudgment?’

Damian is clearly my cheat key.

Should I have included him in my party no matter what? Was it my arrogance that sidelined him?

‘No, what’s the point of dwelling on the past!’

I shook my head and opened my eyes wide.

As always, I will achieve the best results with the resources I have.

And the operation is still very much possible.

I poured the remaining water over my head. The party members whistled at me, soaking wet. What are you looking at, you kids!

I flicked my wet hair back and shouted.

“I’ll give you a hefty bonus, so let’s start overtime!”

I may be a black company president, no, a black city mayor, but I do pay my bonuses properly!

***

The evening glow spreads.

Clang- Clang- Clang-

Kaga-gak-!

Reina was watching the nerve nexus being crushed with sparks flying, with hazy eyes.

It’s already the evening of the third day.

But the section destruction is still not finished.

The section destruction of the nerve nexus near the tail was completed, and Kellybay joined the section destruction of the central nexus.

Kellybay helped repair the drills and pickaxes, and the sweat-soaked penal unit members continued to focus on section destruction, shouting with determination.

But the nerve nexus is still intact.

Moreover, there is no news from Prince Ash, who left for Jormungandr’s head.

“Lady Reina.”

Fox, the mage under her command, cautiously approached Reina, who was lost in thought.

“Two of the three nerve nexuses are still intact. If this continues, we must consider the possibility of this subjugation operation failing.”

“…”

Reina, who had been silent, gestured with her chin.

“What are you trying to say, Fox?”

“The protocol.”

Fox uttered in a sinister voice.

“We must prepare to implement the ‘Shutdown Protocol.'”

“…!!”

Reina, startled, turned her head sharply.

“What are you talking about! We can’t execute that on our own authority!”

“…”

“You know, if we implement that protocol…!!”

“All the citizens of Crossroad will die.”

Fox said calmly.

“But we can stop this snake.”

“…”

“You must not forget our main objective, Lady Reina.”

Looking into her cold eyes, Fox murmured in a monotonous voice.

“…After all, that’s why we came to this city.”