Her Majesty’s Swarm - Volume 1 - Chapter 9

Fall of the Kingdom 

The Arachnea crossed the Aryl River to the north and south using the same method, leaving the Kingdom of Maluk without any more major defenses. There were still a few fortresses between us and the capital, but they wouldn’t last long. Each of the fortresses was isolated, making some sort of protective circle around Siglia. 

“Another one down,” I said as we felled yet another fortress. 

The air was thick with the scent of blood. My Ripper Swarms carried off all the corpses, which would soon be made into meatballs and then stored or placed in Fertilization Furnaces. 

Watching the soldiers’ remains—clothes, armor, and all—be reduced to mincemeat should have disgusted me or frightened me out of my wits. The stench of death and the smacking sounds of viscous fluid mushing together would be enough to make anyone vomit. 

But there I was, watching it all happen while nibbling down on a sandwich. 

I’d made them using ingredients the soldiers left behind in the fortress. The fillings were ham and cheese. Lately, all I could get my hands on was dry jerky and hard bread, so getting to eat soft, warm sandwiches full of cheese was quite the treat. I savored each bite as I watched the Worker Swarms make their meatballs. 

“Hey, Sérignan.” 

“Yes? What is it?” 

Sérignan, who was standing at my side, snapped to attention. 

“Want a sandwich?” 

“No. I could not hope to eat of Your Majesty’s food,” she said, sneaking a glance at my meal. 

So knights like toasted sandwiches, too. What a cute little tidbit of lore. 

“You can have one. I made too many.” 

“You honor me, Your Majesty!” 

Sérignan lunged at the sandwiches like a puppy that’d been thrown a bone, chowing down on them with gusto. 

The Swarm, Sérignan included, didn’t particularly need to eat. There was no maintenance cost for units, no matter how many were made. No matter how delicious I made these sandwiches look, Sérignan wouldn’t need to eat them. 

But I suppose even the Swarm wanted to eat for the sake of pleasure sometimes. Thanks to the collective consciousness, they were able to taste the sandwiches vicariously through Sérignan and myself. That said, Swarms were born from jerky and raw meat and ate human flesh... it was dubious whether they found a toasted sandwich tasty at all. 

“Do not worry, Your Majesty. We are honored to experience the same flavors you do,” piped a Ripper Swarm. 

Apparently, even my flicker of doubt had spread through the collective. 

“All right. That’s good, then.” 

For the time being, they raised no objection to any of my actions. They did as I ordered, accepting my reasons without argument. There was no conflict in the collective consciousness, that much was clear. 

Was I becoming more Swarm-like, or was the Swarm being influenced by me? I couldn’t quite tell. 

But for now, we had a war to win. 

“The northern and southern units are in position.” 

As I ate my sandwich, I confirmed that the other units were ready to attack Siglia through the collective. The Kingdom’s resistance on the other fronts had been poor, and all the civilians had been killed. Every living person in both the rural and urban areas had been slaughtered and made into meatballs, leaving their towns bloodied and empty. 

I was still fighting this war as though it were part of a game. The game dictated that so long as the enemy had units remaining, I couldn’t claim victory. I stuck to those rules, and exterminated everyone in the Kingdom of Maluk. The Swarm trampled villages, towns, and fortresses alike, savagely and without warning. No one was allowed to live. 

The people of this world couldn’t hope to match the Ripper Swarms’ speed. By the time any villagers, townspeople, or soldiers noticed the Swarms approaching, they were already done for. Scythes and fangs were fast upon them, ready to reap them like the crops they were. 

My Swarms took no prisoners. They attacked in waves, conquering every settlement and structure in their path. The young, the elderly, the injured, and the sick—all of them were reduced to lumps to be placed in our furnaces and stores. 

Even I had to question my capacity for such cold, hard choices. We were killing human beings, after all. My comrades in this world were the Swarm, but biologically speaking, I was human. Yet I spurned the idea of living among mankind, instead siding with the Swarm to slaughter my fellow man. 

Was this the right thing to do? Probably. 

I had sworn to the Swarm that I would bring about the victory they craved, and I intended to keep that promise. Even if it meant turning against my own species. I killed plenty of humans in the game; this is basically the same thing. Yeah. It just feels a little more realistic, that’s all. 

“Are you anxious, Your Majesty?” Sérignan asked. 

Evidently, she had sensed my inner conflict. 

“No, I’m not anxious, Sérignan. I just hate them. I hate the Kingdom of Maluk for sending the knights that killed Linnet. More than that, I hate them for standing in the way of your victory.” 

I stuffed the last piece of the toasted sandwich into my mouth and got up. 

“C’mon, Sérignan. Let’s go. We’re one step away from triumph. After this is done, we can figure out what to do next. If any other country messes with us, we’ll just eradicate them too.” 

We toppled the four remaining fortresses, leaving no survivors. Soon enough, we were standing before Siglia. 

I set up a new FOB just outside the capital and used the gold we had obtained through pillaging to unlock new siege weapons. I aimed my new Carrion Cannons—the upgraded version of Bone Trebuchets—in Siglia’s direction. 

The Carrion Cannon launched decayed flesh. It poisoned any units within the impact zone, and caused nearby structures and facilities to decay. Although its firepower was low, those secondary effects were nasty. It was one of my favorite weapons. As for the design, it looked rather like an insect and was adorned with decaying flesh. Like most Arachnea constructions, the thing was pretty grotesque. 

Once the Worker Swarms had finished setting up twelve Carrion Cannons, it was time to begin our assault. It was clear that Siglia’s citizens weren’t ready to evacuate. If anything, refugees were probably rushing into the capital, assuming they would be safe within its walls. 

As I observed the city before us, I thought to myself: 

Looks like we’ll have plenty of meat in the near future. 

“The end times are upon us! These walls will be broken by the distorted legion! Great ruin will befall the world! Praying to the God of Light is pointless, for even He cannot stand in the way of the deformed hellbringers!” 

Standing in Siglia’s central square, a middle-aged clergyman was performing an ardent speech. He was one of the scant few who had miraculously escaped a Ripper Swarm rush, so he knew the true terror of the Arachnea. He had decided that their appearance was a sign of the end times. 

The Arachnea’s invasion had been so intense that it had sapped a clergyman of his own faith. 

“Quiet, you old codger! You don’t have permission to hold assembly here! Go away!” 

Cavaliers arrived to put a stop to the man’s ravings and break up the crowd that had formed around him. 

“Hey! We’re only getting invaded because you soldiers are too weak to push them back! If you’re gonna complain, do it after you kill those monsters!” 

The commoners threw trash and hurled insults at the soldiers. 

“How terrifying... What will become of us?” whispered a young mother in her twenties. 

Her name was Ludmila. She was in the middle of a shopping trip with her five- and seven-year-old sons. Seeing the soldiers clash with the townsfolk, she was overcome with fear. Siglia’s usual peaceful atmosphere had been tainted with anxiety and terror. 

“Mommy, they say monsters are coming.” 

“Are they going to eat us?” 

Her children looked up at their mother as she ushered them away from the argument in the square. 

“You’ll be fine. The city has big walls, right? They won’t break through them that easily. The monsters will just have to give up and go somewhere else.” 

“Then we’re safe!” 

“Yeah! I’m not scared of the monsters!” 

With that said, Ludmila took her children back home. 

Meanwhile, the palace was filled with an oppressive atmosphere. The Arachnea’s invasion simply couldn’t be stopped. They had conquered the loess mountains, crossed over the Aryl River, and toppled multiple fortresses leading up to the capital. Soon enough, Siglia had only walls left to protect it. 

“What are we to do?” 

King Ivan II was once again in a difficult council with Prime Minister Slava and Omari, the Minister of Defense. 

“We’ve no choice but to resist their siege,” Omari said, his expression severe. “Our granaries have two years’ worth of provisions. We can use those to endure the assault and wait for the enemy to leave.” 

“Do we even know when their attack will end?” said Slava. “The enemy might surround Siglia for as long as it takes. This isn’t a human army, but a force of monsters. We can’t assume they’ll retreat for economic reasons. They might hound us like wild animals, waiting for an opening.” 

“Can’t we ask our neighboring countries for assistance? The Frantz Popedom or the Schtraut Dukedom might come to our aid,” said the king. 

“We’ve already requested their help, but it will take the Frantz Popedom’s reinforcements four months to organize and even longer to reach us. It’s unlikely they’ll make it in time.” 

The Frantz Popedom had answered the Kingdom of Maluk’s call to arms, but it would take them months to prepare their army, and a few more months to reach the Kingdom’s capital. It was a despairing turn of events overall. 

“Awful... This is just absolutely awful!” King Ivan II bellowed. 

“There is only one more order of knights capable of summoning an angel, and they’re the last major asset we have. But one question still stands: where do we engage the enemy? They could invade us from whichever side they’d like.” 

The king understood that his capital was completely surrounded by insects and that they could strike from any direction. 

“Then... should we use the Jewel? With its power, we might be able to turn the situation in our favor.” 

“The Jewel? You do know what became of Maluk’s first king when he used it,” the king growled, glaring at Omari. 

“Yes, milord, I am aware... But our current situation is dire. We’ve no choice but to use it. If using the Jewel will save hundreds of thousands of lives, then the sacrifice is worth it.” 

“Mmm... That is true, but is it really impossible to push them back with our army? Will the walls not hold until the Popedom’s reinforcements arrive?” 

“If you’ll excuse me, I don’t think it’s possible. Those monsters have broken through every obstacle on their way here. I doubt walls will be able to stop them.” 

“I see. Then when the walls fall, I will unleash the Jewel’s power. I can only pray it will save our people,” the king said resolutely. 

“We respect your decision, milord,” said Omari. He and Slava tilted their heads in reverence. 

“Then let me know if the situation changes. I will be at the treasure vault.” With that, King Ivan II stood up and left the war council. 

The other men continued to expand upon their strategy even after the king left. Some generals joined in, trying to find ways to keep Siglia’s walls intact. They discussed the distribution of rations and whether there were any aisles of escape in the worst-case scenario. 

Despite their diligence in planning, the men were well aware that both holding back the siege and trying to escape were reckless choices. Right now, Maluk had no support from its neighbors, and its own army had been greatly diminished. 

“I can’t believe we’ve resorted to using the Jewel.” 

His expression dark, King Ivan II walked down the path to the treasure vault. 

“Father? What is the matter?” 

“Oh, hello, dear. I was merely wondering what I should do for the sake of our Kingdom.” 

“You always consider the Kingdom’s well-being first and foremost, Father. It’s really admirable,” said Elizabeta, looking at her father with respect in her eyes. 

“Elizabeta, this... this may be the last time we speak. I’ll soon be setting out to battle.” 

“No! Lord Stefan has fallen in battle, and now I must lose you, too? Whatever duty you have, surely someone else can take your place! You are the king of this country, Father! You cannot put yourself in danger!” 

News that Stefan, Elizabeta’s betrothed, had died in the battle at the Aryl River had already reached the castle. Upon hearing it, Elizabeta was stricken with grief, and thereafter she struggled to remain optimistic, desperately clinging to life. But now her own father was going to war. The risk of his dying was high, and she despaired at the thought. 

“It is precisely because I am king that I must do this. But even if I pass on, you must stay strong, Elizabeta. The Princess of Maluk must live on with pride and dignity. I’m sure that once I am gone, you will lead this Kingdom to prosperity.” 

“Father...” Elizabeta wiped her tears. “Yes, I understand. I am the second princess of the great Kingdom of Maluk. No matter how difficult it may be, I will rebuild this Kingdom once you rid us of these horrible monsters. But you must hold your life dear to you as well, Father.” 

“Yes, I will.” 

King Ivan II omitted the fact that care and caution would do little to change things now. There was no need to tell her that. 

“Go hide somewhere safe, love. The cellar should do. Hide there and wait for the monsters to leave.” 

“Yes, Father.” Elizabeta nodded and ran off. 

“Pardon my interruption, Your Majesty,” said one of the royal guards. “But is it true that the elves summoned those monsters? I’ve heard tell that the elves offered up sacrifices to bring them here from some other world. People say the elves control them.” 

“Those are foolish, baseless rumors,” Ivan II snapped. “The elves have no such power. If they did, they’d have used it much sooner. It’s impossible for those dingy, long-eared heretics to control such monsters to begin with. More importantly, keep Elizabeta safe.” 

“Yes, Your Majesty. I will protect her with my life!” 

That said, where did those monsters come from? the king thought. There’s no doubt they appeared in the elven forest, but could they really hide such numbers among its trees and brush? Perhaps those monsters really are a product of the elves’ black magic. The Church of Holy Light doesn’t deny the existence of devils, but unlike our angels, those creatures seem far more sinister and strange. 

“The elves must be the source of this catastrophe. If it weren’t for them, none of this would have happened. Those despicable barbarians...” 

If the elves hadn’t existed in the forest, the king would never have had to send forces there in the first place. The Knights of Saint Augustine would not have been defeated. Monsters wouldn’t have flooded out from the forest, like wasps from a rattled nest. 

In the king’s eyes, it was all the elves’ fault. They refused to acknowledge the God of Light, and turned toward their woodland gods, offering them sacrifices and who knew what else. They were the source of all these troubles. He believed it through and through. 

While the king brooded over his nation’s woes, clergymen were praying to the God of Light outside the castle, imploring Him to banish their unexpected invaders. They prayed that their walls would be stalwart as steel and ward the monsters away. 

Some of the clergymen claimed that this was judgment sent down by the God of Light, punishment for the greedy and lustful lives the people were leading. It was not too late to burn one’s belongings, they said, and live a modest life subsisting on bread and water. They walked as though they’d been struck by madness, naked from the waist up, exposing their bodies to cold air as they preached honorable poverty. 

But whatever they did, their prayers and faith were meaningless. Outside Siglia’s walls, 100,000 Ripper Swarms were preparing to attack, readying the Carrion Cannons that would bring down the ramparts. With a single order, the queen of the Arachnea could wipe Siglia off the face of the map. 

And still, the people prayed. For their own well-being. For their families’ safety. For their friends’ survival. For their country to overcome this. For mankind to remain after this catastrophe swept through. 

Those who clung to faith rushed to the cathedral, asking the archbishop to prepare a place for them to pray. Nine prayer circles had already been done that day, but people begged to pray more. They chanted their prayers at the top of their lungs, hoping they would reach the heavens. It was so loud that their voices echoed outside the city. 

“They’re praying.” 

The queen of the Arachnea was sitting on a vantage point overlooking Siglia from afar. 

“A meaningless gesture. No amount of prayer will change what’s to come,” said Sérignan. 

“True. If praying could fix things, they wouldn’t need the army. But prayer won’t make the situation any better. They’re just indulging in self-satisfaction. They can chant their mantras until their throats dry out, but no one will come to save them.” 

The queen rose to her feet. 

“Sérignan, it’s time to attack. Take the city of Siglia down.” 

“By your will, Your Majesty.” 

At precisely five o’clock in the morning, the Arachnea began their march on Siglia. 

Our Carrion Cannons heralded the beginning of the battle. They fired projectiles made of rotten flesh, which impacted the walls one after another. 

“Ugh, agh... What is this substance?” 

“Aah! It’s poison gas!” 

To recap, the Carrion Cannons’ secondary effects included poisoning surrounding enemies and causing continual damage to nearby structures. The walls were made brittle and gradually began to collapse. As projectiles continued to land, the soldiers on the ramparts succumbed to the poison, while the walls themselves flaked off and crumbled. 

“Man the walls! We need to protect them! The enemy is coming!” 

“Why aren’t there ballistas on any of the walls?! They’re the only thing we have that stops those bugs!” 

Their minds scrambled by poison, the Kingdom’s men barked out mismatched orders. The soldiers moved to protect the walls, but the Carrion Cannons kept them at bay. Gradually, the soldiers became wracked by fits of coughing and vomited blood, and they dropped to the ground one by one. 

“The Carrion Cannon is very user-friendly,” I mused, coolly watching the chaos. “It takes it a while to actually topple the walls, but it whittles down the enemy forces in the meantime. Thanks to that, we’ll have a much easier time once we break through the walls and get inside.” 

Everything was going according to plan. The Carrion Cannons were cutting down the enemy’s numbers, and the walls were gradually falling apart. There were even extra Bone Trebuchets firing as well, which helped chip down the walls a bit faster. 

“The walls should collapse within one minute. First formation, prepare to attack. Second and third formations, get ready to charge in after the first. Place emphasis on the eastern wall. While you focus most of the attack on the east, send a few troops to other areas to create diversions. Sérignan, you come with me to the eastern side.” 

“Your Majesty, it’s far too dangerous! Siege warfare can be chaotic and fierce!” 

Thanks to my years of experience, I could tell when a building was about to collapse even without glancing at its life bar. This was assuming structures in this world behaved like they did in the game, of course. Still, looking at how badly damaged the walls were gave me a general idea of when they would collapse. Sérignan, however, was attempting to stop me from going to the battlefield. 

“I’m going, Sérignan. This is my war, and I’ll see it through even if I’m useless in battle.” 

Yes, I need to see it all. The Kingdom of Maluk is dying, and I must watch every moment until the last. 

“Very well. I will protect you with all my might, Your Majesty,” Sérignan said, bringing her fist to her chest in a show of enthusiasm. 

“Thank you, Sérignan. You’re such a dependable knight. Now, let’s get moving.” 

A minute later, the eastern, southern, and northern walls collapsed all at once. Waves of Ripper Swarms rushed in, while Digger Swarms burst out of the ground and swallowed people alive. Chaos exploded around the broken walls. 

“Help! Help meee!” 

Any unfortunate soldiers who remained near the walls were devoured by the Swarms. The insects tore everything they laid eyes on to pieces, leaving only corpses in their wake. 

It was thorough violation and massacre. 

The Swarm spread out across the main street and flooded into the alleyways. They ate the soldiers hiding between the buildings and shredded civilians taking cover in their houses. The Swarms’ keen senses picked up on people hiding in their cellars, who were quickly torn apart by their fangs and scythes. They had nowhere to run. 

No mercy. No forgiveness. No pity. 

“Mommy, are the monsters here?” 

“We’ll be safe so long as we’re here, so shush. Stay quiet, okay?” 

Ludmila and her sons were hiding in a cellar. As they whispered to one another, the eerie scuttling of Ripper Swarms crawling above and around them reached their ears. Her children shivered in fright. 

The boys’ father had set out as part of the Eastern Garrison and never come back. Ludmila embraced them, and they all held their breaths. The Swarms continued stepping above them, and the sound made their pulses quicken. 

“Please... Just go away...” 

Ludmila prayed to the God of Light, to her grandparents’ spirits, to everyone and anyone who might heed her call. 

But reality was indifferent to her plight. 

In a violent twist of irony, the Ripper Swarms tore down the door, ripping through it with their scythes, and discovered Ludmila and her children. 

“Aaaaahhh!” 

“Mommy...! MOMMY!” 

Ludmila and her children were torn apart, their guts splattering all over the cellar. Only once their limbs had been hacked off and their skulls caved in did their bodies fall to the floor. Ludmila, much like her husband, had become food for the Swarm. 

Ripper Swarms could pick up all the scents in a house, even the ones in the cellar and attic. No one could escape their clutches. No matter where one might hide, the Swarm would find them, ready to deliver impartial, absolute death. 

“Gotta admit, that’s pretty terrible,” I said quietly, standing outside the house. 

“The humans deserve no mercy, Your Majesty. Especially not our enemies.” 

“Agreed. Mercy wouldn’t help anyone here. We only believe in violence. Lovely, isn’t it? Come on, let’s keep moving. This wouldn’t have ended any other way.” I left Ludmila’s house behind and began walking down the eastern road. 

Perhaps I’ll take down their castle and try on the crown? Now that’s a thought. 

Sérignan and I moved further into the city, surrounded by an ocean of Ripper Swarms. Despite how densely packed we all were, none of the Ripper Swarms bumped into me. They cautiously avoided getting in my way as they walked. I knew they could knock me away quite easily if they weren’t careful, so I appreciated their consideration. 

“The enemy’s defensive forces are divided between the north and the south. I say we push through the center so we can flank both of them. If we do that, the enemy will be routed in no time. Then we’ll just need to force our way into the castle, where we’ll kill the king and any other key figures inside.” 

And then, the Kingdom of Maluk will be completely wiped off the face of this world. 

“Stop, in the name of the God of Light!” 

Just as I was imagining the aftermath, we ran into a group of enemy troops. I’d thought we’d mopped most of them up during the initial attack, but apparently some of them had been positioned away from the walls. 

“You will not stop us here. We’ll keep marching until every last one of you is dead.” 

“Aren’t you human too?!” 

Upon seeing me amid the great cluster of Swarms, the apparent leader of the group eyed me suspiciously. He must have been wondering why a human girl was working alongside these enemies of mankind. 

“Human? Not me. I’m just a monster, complete with a monstrous heart... I cast my humanity aside long ago. You could even say I’m mankind’s worst enemy. I’m the one you have to defeat if you want to win; our invasion won’t stop until you do. 

“No... Even if you do kill me, our conquest will continue. Our bodies will endlessly quake with the hunger to devour your world. Board your ships and try to sail away if you like; we’ll still hunt you down and finish you off to the last man.” 

That’s right; I was no longer human. I was Queen of the Arachnea, the scourge who plagued mankind. My consciousness had been dragged down into the crawling depths of the Swarm collective, and the last light of my humanity was beginning to flicker out. 

Curiously, the reverse was also happening. The Swarm’s consciousness was being blended with my own, so now they were thinking about more than just invading and multiplying. Had this not been the case, they would have indiscriminately attacked the elves I so pitied. 

“I see. So you’re the ringleader. Then all we have to do is take you down! Servant of the God of Light who resides in the heavens, I beseech you to descend before us, Haristel the Great!” 

As the commander finished his chant, light spilled from the sky, and out from the beams sprung a massive hound. It was three to four times the size of a Ripper Swarm, and it was certainly big enough to swallow me whole. 

“Children of man. Has crisis befallen you?” The massive hound’s voice was solemn and even. 

“Yes, Haristel. These evil beasts have come to destroy our Kingdom. Please, lend us your strength!” implored the man, who was captain of the Knights of Saint Erzsébet. 

“So whenever problems pop up, you just fall back to your angels, huh? You really are one-trick ponies.” 

“Keep talking, fool. You barbarians who reject the God of Light deserve nothing more than to be struck down by our angel! Begone, vile ones!” 

“Well, geez. Calling us barbarous blasphemers really isn’t necessary, now is it? I mean, you don’t need to go fumbling around for reasons; we’re barbarians through and through. Bona fide savages, the kind who go ’round killing and pillaging and all that. Whether we worship your god or not isn’t relevant. What matters is that our instincts spur us to rob, kill, and multiply.” 

I didn’t know anything about this God of Light, but I probably wouldn’t want to worship him anyway. 

“Prepare yourselves, infidels. Your derision of the divine is a grave sin.” 

“Oh, we’ll be as derisive as we want. Not that I know enough about this God of Light to speak of him. But it looks to me like you’re worshipping someone who gets off on punishing the weak and calling it justice. Pathetic.” 

“The penance for your sin is death, foul one.” 

“Do it, Sérignan,” I said as Haristel prepared to pounce. 

“Leave everything to me, Your Majesty.” 

Sérignan stepped forward. With her corrupted holy sword in hand, she stood poised before Haristel. 

“Steel yourself!” 

“Haaah!” 

As Haristel leapt at her, Sérignan fired a strand from her tail and used it to propel herself above the rooftops. Haristel scaled a building in hot pursuit, hopping up to the roof at once by driving its fangs into the wall. 

“Flee not, vile monster!” 

“Keep barking, mutt. I merely moved to avoid involving Her Majesty in this battle.” Sérignan smirked. “Are your claws merely there for decoration? If not, prove it. In turn, I will prove my worth by killing you!” 

Sérignan turned her sword in Haristel’s direction. 

“Fool! A mere insect cannot hope to triumph over an angel!” 

“Oh? But I’ve already slain two of you!” 

Haristel rushed forward, and Sérignan ran to meet it. The hound’s fangs intersected with the knight’s pitch-black blade. 

“Ngh!” Sérignan flinched as Haristel’s fangs opened a gash in her right cheek. “This is nowhere near enough to stop me!” 

Sérignan then stabbed her sword into Haristel’s flank. 

“Damn you! That’s a corrupted holy sword!” 

It was only then that Haristel realized it was up against the blade of a paladin who had fallen from grace—a corrupted holy sword, optimal for slaying the sacred. 

Took you long enough, I thought dryly. 

“Prepare yourself, mutt, for I will sever that head of yours!” 

“Do not look down upon me, insect!” 

The fight between Sérignan and Haristel was heating up. 

“Ungh! Of course a stupid animal would have such... weighted blows!” 

“Is this the extent of your power, insect?!” 

Haristel assaulted Sérignan with its fangs and claws with startling speed, so the knight could only respond with desperate blocks. The hound’s attacks were both heavy and swift, so Sérignan was gradually being pushed back. 

“Aim for the eyes, Sérignan!” I called from below. “Take out its sight and smell, and you can handle the rest from there.” 

“Understood, Your Majesty!” 

Sérignan parried the next attack and aimed for Haristel’s face as I had instructed. She went for the eyes and nose over and over again in a persistent flurry of swings. Watching her, I felt she was even more animalistic than the hound she was fighting against. 

“I’m counting on you. You’re the only one I can trust to see this through,” I urged her. 

“Yes, Your Majesty! Leave everything to me!” 

I flooded the collective consciousness with the sheer faith I had in her abilities... and the fight started to tip in Sérignan’s favor. My knight regained her footing as if she were reaping the benefits of some sort of spell. 

“Haaaaah!” 

“Guh! Curse you!” 

Haristel probably didn’t understand what was happening. Why was Sérignan, who had been standing on the verge of defeat just a moment ago, suddenly gaining the advantage? Why was she filled with fighting spirit, able to counter its blows with renewed vigor? What drove her to fight this desperately? 

The answer was simple: Sérignan was a knight, my sword and shield. So long as I trusted her, she would always answer my conviction in kind. This relationship was something Haristel simply couldn’t fathom. 

Deflecting every attack sent her way, Sérignan switched to the offensive. She slipped between its swipes and snaps and slashed powerfully at the holy beast. 

“GaAAaAah!” 

The corrupted sword pierced Haristel’s right eye. It staggered, then retreated to another rooftop in pain. 

“Curse you, curse you, a thousand curses upon you! How dare you!” Haristel howled as it bled, its remaining eye glaring at Sérignan more ferociously than before. 

“Sérignan, be careful when finishing off an injured animal. They cling to life the hardest when they teeter on death’s door.” 

“Yes, Your Majesty!” 

Sérignan deserved praise for getting this far, but she couldn’t afford to be careless. Animals had powerful survival instincts, and they were purportedly most dangerous when cornered. 

Of course, that might not have been the case for an angel. But for beasts, the primal drive to live flooded their bodies with adrenaline, quickened their beating hearts, and pushed them to cling to life with all their might. No matter what it took, they had to live , even if it meant lashing out with fangs or claws or any other means of stopping their untimely demise. This beast masquerading as an angel was likely the same. 

“The wicked deserve no mercy! I shall tear you limb from limb!” 

Indeed, Haristel’s movements were much faster now that it was in peril. Would Sérignan be able to defeat it? 

“The only one who will be torn apart here is you, mutt!” 

Yes, she could. And she did. 

“Aaaagh...” 

Sérignan slipped past Haristel’s blind spot—its crushed right eye—and swung her sword at the beast’s thick neck, cutting straight through. Its neck attached by only a thin flap of flesh, Haristel slipped off the building and tumbled down to the ground. And like its predecessors, it dissolved into particles of light and disappeared. 

“It can’t be! Haristel the Great... was destroyed?!” 

“No! Not our angel!” 

Apparently, the knights had had high expectations for their dog. After all, it was the guardian angel of the knights protecting the capital. With their angel defeated, there was nothing more they could do. They had lost all hope. 

“Kill, kill, kill them all,” I chanted, as if in song. “Slaughter them, and when they fall, slice them up and make meatballs!” 

“All hail the queen.” 

The Swarms moved in at once. 

“Help! Help me!” 

“Fight back! If they get past us, everyone in the city will die!” 

Some of the knights fled in fear, while others stood up to the terror of death with their weapons at the ready. Even as the Ripper Swarms lopped off their limbs, crushed their heads, and tore into their bowels, they bravely fought back. They hacked at the Swarms with their blades, even knowing how pointless it would be. 

And indeed, it was all in vain. 

“It’s over.” 

All that remained of the Knights of Saint Erzsébet was a messy pile of a gruesome remains. They had only succeeded in taking down two or three Ripper Swarms. 

“Shall we march onward, Your Majesty?” one of the Ripper Swarms asked me through the collective. 

“Of course. March. Today, we coat Siglia in a layer of death. Glory to the Arachnea.” 

“March, march for Her Majesty.” 

“March, march for Her Majesty.” 

The Ripper Swarms overran everything, just as I knew they would. 

Infringement, violation, and ravishment; this was our way. 

The Ripper Swarms and I trampled over all who stood in our path. Once we made it to the capital’s center, we invaded a cathedral full of terrified citizens and killed them all. Each and every one of them became an ingredient for our meatballs. Among the victims were pregnant women and crying infants, but my Swarms slaughtered them all the same. 

It’s fine, I thought. All of this is necessary. 

Our enemy had to be annihilated to secure our victory. I was merely acting in accordance with the game’s rules, and there was nothing wrong with that. The game might have been a bit more realistic now, but the rules remained the same: wipe out every last enemy in order to win. Had I decided to spare even one child, it was possible they would have come after me for revenge many years down the line. 

“Onward, my Swarms. Kill everyone you find.” 

As soon as the Ripper Swarms snuck behind the northern and southern troops, the soldiers’ fate was sealed. Taking them out was a breeze; the Swarms trapped them in a pincer attack and handily disposed of them thereafter. 

The ballistas and heavy infantry posed somewhat of a threat, but the latter were few in number. Only two or three Ripper Swarms were lost in the battle. By now, the Ripper Swarms had learned how to fight these soldiers, so they were able to finish them off with fewer casualties. 

All hail the collective consciousness, I suppose. 

All it took was for a single Swarm to study the enemy’s fighting style, and that knowledge instantly circulated to the rest. Now that the Ripper Swarms were adopting new methods of dealing with these adversaries, they were no match for us. 

Thus, we put an end to Maluk’s northern and southern troops—without mercy, pity, or even a sliver of sympathy. With them gone, the city of Siglia was ours. All that remained was the castle. Once we took down the king, the Kingdom of Maluk would be completely eradicated. 

“It doesn’t look like capturing the castle will be easy, though.” 

Siglia’s castle was built on top of a cliff extending like a wing from the city. This structure made it so that even if the city itself fell, the castle would still be standing. It was a stronghold solely for those in power. 

“How shall we conquer it?” Sérignan asked. “It seems the nobles have barricaded themselves inside the castle.” 

“We’re going in the old-fashioned way. At least there aren’t any more walls to take down. Get ready, Ripper Swarms; we’re about to storm the castle.” 

I made my orders through the collective consciousness. Countless Ripper Swarms were standing on the path that led to the castle. 

“Onward! Attack, attack, attack! Trample over everything in your path.” 

With that, my army of Ripper Swarms charged the enemy castle. Soon enough, we would collect the heads of the king, the princess, and the nobles. Those highborn scum would all be reduced to meatballs. 

Surprisingly, however, someone would soon stand in our way. 

“Your Majesty, our walls have fallen.” 

“The eastern, northern, and southern gates have been destroyed. Siglia is now under the monsters’ control.” 

The king had little time to digest the dismal reports. All contact with the gates had been lost, and their great capital had become a den of monsters. Additionally, every last one of their soldiers had fallen, meaning there were no shields left to protect them. 

“Your Majesty, the enemy will come to take this castle as well. We’ve closed the gates, but I’ve no doubt they will force them open and break through,” said Slava, looking grim. 

“We haven’t much time left,” added Omari. “You must come to a decision, milord. Will you use the Jewel? Or will you give in and surrender us to the slaughter?” 

King Ivan II stood up and looked around the room. Only once he had confirmed that Elizabeta was not present did he fix his gaze on the men before him. The first prince had died during the conflict in the loess mountains, while the second had fallen at the Aryl River. The first princess had long been married off to the Schtraut Dukedom, which left only Elizabeta, who had no place in the war council. 

“I’ll do it,” the king declared, his voice full of resolve. “I will use the Jewel and fend off those monsters.” 

“Are you certain, Your Majesty?” one of his generals asked quietly. “Once you use it, there will be no going back.” 

“We’ve no choice, given the situation. Is there any other way to save Siglia, to save this castle? Our soldiers, our knights... they’re all gone. The Jewel is our only hope.” 

Indeed, they had no other way. There were only a thousand or so men left in the castle; all the rest had been killed. The tens of thousands of soldiers and the order of knights had been defeated by the insectile scourge. 

Based on the current state of affairs, how could they save Siglia, which had been reduced to a pile of corpses clambered over by monsters? 

“The Jewel is already prepared.” The king held up an amber-colored gemstone about the size of his fist. “Once I pass through the front gate, close it immediately behind me. As we all know, those who use the Jewel lose their sense of reason.” 

“By your will, Your Majesty.” 

“I greatly respect your decision, milord.” Omari offered his monarch a deep salute. 

“Make Elizabeta queen after my passing. Understood?” 

“Understood, Your Majesty. Her Highness Elizabeta will be Maluk’s next queen.” 

The generals among them watched him with solemn eyes. 

“Now, I must be off. Should those fiends have hearts at all, I will surely strike fear into each and every one of them.” Ivan II headed for the castle’s entrance. “I will show them that the Kingdom of Maluk will not be ruined so easily. Just you wait, monsters...” 

I watched as the castle gates opened. 

“Are they thinking of surrendering?” I asked. There were no enemy forces in sight. 

“You wouldn’t accept their surrender, would you, Your Majesty?” 

“Of course not, Sérignan. Not after we’ve come this far. The rules don’t allow for that.” 

As far as I understood, the game didn’t permit surrendering or peace pacts. You either fought until you destroyed the enemy, or you forfeited mid-game, in which case your faction would be wiped out. In this world, which didn’t permit forfeiture, I had absolutely no intention of accepting surrender. 

Letting them live at this point would just come back to bite me. That was why I’d stuck to killing everyone so far. I murdered the tailor, whom I knew. I killed women, children, and the elderly. Nothing was sacred anymore. All I had was a craving for victory. I couldn’t tell if it came from me or from the Swarm, but I could not deny this hunger. 

“Sérignan, be careful. The enemy might have some kind of trick up their sleeve.” 

“Understood, Your Majesty.” 

If this wasn’t a surrender, then the enemy was sending something from within the castle. I had no clue what it might be, but it would likely be a considerable threat. 

“Your Majesty, be careful! Something dangerous is coming!” 

A row of Ripper Swarms lined up in front of me, forming a living wall. I felt grateful for their protection. 

“Show yourself!” Sérignan called out to our unknown enemy, approaching the gate with her sword drawn. 

“So you’re the invaders... The ones who have penetrated and violated our Kingdom.” 

The one who appeared before Sérignan was an elderly man. Judging by the clothes he was wearing, he was of high status—nobility, or perhaps even royalty. Regardless of who he was, we wouldn’t bother letting him live. 

“Yes, that’s us,” I said. “You attacked the elves’ village, and you killed a friend of mine. As retribution, and to feed our desire to stain the world with our darkness, we have invaded your country to its very core, massacring all those who stood in our way.” 

“That’s it...? That is why you slaughtered millions of our people, defiled our holy land, and have come to destroy our castle?” 

“That’s right. All this was born from our instincts and our need for revenge. We need no other reasons.” 

We were the Arachnea, a faction of vicious insects. We killed, we multiplied, we conquered. These drives were hardwired into the collective consciousness. They spurred me to action, as did my personal promise to lead the Swarm to victory. 

“You vile creatures are an insult to the God of Light. You were never supposed to be born into this world. You should have never existed. Your being here drove countless people to despair... You are but harbingers of ruin and misfortune.” 

“Call us what you want. We’ll continue to obey our instincts. If we’re attacked, we’ll strike back, thoroughly and with unshakable bloodlust. We kill and multiply; that’s what makes us the Arachnea. I’m proud to be in charge.” 

Retaliating against an attack was only natural, as was lashing out after being provoked. I was merely stating the obvious. If the Swarm were acting solely according to their nature, they wouldn’t need reasons to justify their assault on the world. 

“Prattle on with your nonsense. I will end you right here... by the power of our Jewel of Evolution!” 

As though triggered by the man’s words, a large, amber stone in his hand began to shine. Within moments, his muscles rapidly swelled several—no, dozens of times their normal size. Coarse black hair burst out from his pores and covered his body from head to toe. 

I was initially taken aback by the transformation, but I quickly snapped back to my senses and focused on what had to be done—removing the obstacle before us. 

“Sérignan, keep this thing pinned down! Ripper Swarms, cover for her! Go!” 

“Yes, Your Majesty!” 

Sérignan stepped forward to subdue the man, who was attacking everything around him in a wild rage. Ripper Swarms pounced on him from both sides. I assumed that so long as we attacked him from three directions, even if he was some unknown monster, he wouldn’t have been able to shake them all off. However... 

“RaaAaAAagh!” 

The hulking man roared and swept away the Ripper Swarms moving in. Their scythes lodged into his arm and their fangs cut into his flesh, but he kept swinging at them as though he didn’t feel any of it. 

My Ripper Swarms, which until now had only been defeated by claymores, halberds, or ballistas, were being torn apart. Their limbs were ripped off, their fangs broken, and some of them were even torn in half. They were dropping to the ground in droves. 

“This is just... How are we to handle this?!” 

Sérignan was unsure how to deal with the berserker before us, dodging his frenzied fists as she racked her brains for a solution. The angels had been powerful, but this man was even more dangerous. 

“Sérignan, have the Ripper Swarms attack in coordinated groups. The moment he shifts his focus to the Ripper Swarms, close in on him and swing. He may have gotten bigger, but he still only has two arms. If waves of Ripper Swarms attack him from both sides to keep his arms busy, it should give you an opening.” 

I knew my instructions were somewhat difficult. While the enemy would be occupied, that didn’t necessarily ensure an opening Sérignan could exploit. 

“I’ll do it!” 

Ripper Swarms lunged at him in groups, baring their natural weapons. At the same time, Sérignan charged him from the front, swinging her corrupted holy sword. 

However, her attack didn’t meet its mark. 

“Ugh...!” 

He sank a kick into Sérignan’s stomach, sending her flying to the side. Sérignan struggled to fix her posture before she stood up to our enemy once more. Just watching her was painful. 

“Sérignan, are you all right?!” I cried. 

“Do not worry, Your Majesty! I can still fight!” 

Sérignan sprang at him a second time, but was kicked away yet again. I tried using the Swarms’ strings to bind the man and inhibit his movements, but he tore them off easily. It was pointless. 

There has to be a way we can win this. Some method that will give Sérignan a chance to land her attacks. Something I can use besides the Ripper Swarms. How will we beat this man? Is there still some card in my hand I haven’t used? Something that will save Sérignan? 

Then it dawned on me. 

“Oh, that’s right. I do have one more thing! Sérignan! Get ready to attack again in five seconds! Ripper Swarms, you attack at the same time!” 

“Understood!” 

I played the card that would break this stalemate. 

“Digger Swarms!” 

A split second later, Digger Swarms burst out from the ground. They grabbed hold of the man’s legs in their sharp fangs, rendering him immobile. 

Right, the Digger Swarms. I brought them to this battle. He can’t move, and the Ripper Swarms are coming at him from behind. Now’s our chance to strike. 

“Haaaah!” 

Sérignan sprinted forward and swung her sword at the man’s head with full power. The blade slashed into his meaty neck, severing his head and scattering fresh blood into the air. The man’s body convulsed, and it appeared as though he was about to fall to the ground... 

Except he didn’t. 

Even without his head, the man warded off the Ripper Swarms’ attacks and grabbed Sérignan between his two giant arms. She writhed and tried to shake him off, but his grip was like iron. 

“Sting his arms, Ripper Swarms!” I ordered. We needed to rescue Sérignan. 

The Ripper Swarms closed in and injected their paralyzing venom into the man’s flesh. His hold around her slackened, and Sérignan was freed. 

“Gah... Urk!” Sérignan coughed and staggered to her feet. 

She was in pain, but there was still some fight left in her. 

“Sérignan, finish him!” 

“Yes, Your Majesty!” 

Despite the damage she’d taken, her movements were swift. She took aim and thrust her sword right into the enemy’s heart. This time the man fell to his knees and collapsed, then shrunk down to his original size. We were finally victorious. 

“Sérignan, are you all right?” I rushed over to her side. 

“Yes, I am fine, Your Majesty.” She looked like she was on the verge of tears. “I apologize for worrying you.” 

“Oh, don’t cry. You won. You’re a wonderful knight, and your skill is unmatched. You won this battle for me.” 

“Forgive me... Thinking that I have caused you distress makes me feel utterly miserable.” 

With that, our battle for the castle came to a close. All that remained was to finish off the people taking cover inside. They had forced so much trouble upon us, we had to pay it back in kind. 

As the Worker Swarms carried off the man’s body, I picked up the amber gem he left behind. 

“What is this?” I asked as I looked at it. 

“I do not know, but it seems dangerous,” Sérignan said cautiously. 

I feel like I’ve seen this thing somewhere before. 

I couldn’t remember when or where, but I definitely remembered it. My recollection was hazy and just out of reach. 

“Well, whatever. We can just ask the people in the castle about it.” I picked it up just as the Ripper Swarms were forcing the gate open. 

“They’re here! The enemy is breaking into the castle!” 

“What?! But His Majesty set out to defeat them!” 

The soldiers within the castle had completely lost their fighting spirit. 

Cowards. 

“Sérignan, Ripper Swarms, and Digger Swarms... Sweep the castle. Oh, and one more order: find several people of high social standing, and bring them to me alive.” 

“As you wish, Your Majesty.” 

“Kill everyone else, though. There’s no point in leaving them alive.” 

I needed someone who knew about this strange jewel. Normal soldiers wouldn’t be of any value for that. They were only good for one thing, and that was making meatballs. 

The Swarm moved according to my orders, tearing the soldiers, servants, and chamberlains to shreds. Every room in the castle was stained with the colors of slaughter. Blood pooled over the floors, the tattered remains of the dead floating on the surface. The stench of death and viscera hung heavy in the air. 

“Help! Save me! Please, don’t kill me!” A maid’s screams echoed throughout the stone halls. 

Naturally, however, Ripper Swarms soon caught up to her; they stabbed her through the back of the head and tore open her belly. An escaping soldier caught by the Ripper Swarms was beheaded and slashed over and over in the chest. 

“Are things going well?” I wondered aloud. 

The castle was surprisingly big, but I had deployed countless Ripper Swarms inside. They rummaged through the cellars, guest rooms, and the king’s study, sniffing out any survivors like tenacious hunting dogs. The soldiers were eliminated, the castle servants killed. Mountains of corpses piled up in the building, and only a scant few survived. 

Yes, there were survivors, as I had requested. My Ripper Swarms rounded them up, bound them with strings, and dragged them before me. They were all people of high social standing, clad in expensive clothing. All told, there were twenty or so of them, both men and women. 

“So, who is the most significant noble out of all of you?” Upon hearing my question, everyone’s eyes whipped over to a single girl, then hastily averted themselves. 

Idiots. 

“You there, girl. Do you know what this is?” I presented the jewel in front of her. 

She gave a small, terrified nod. 

“Tell me what it is.” 

“That is the Jewel of Evolution. It’s a royal treasure. They say the God of Light gave it to mankind to grant us great power. Anyone who receives power from the Jewel keeps it until they pass on. Wait...” Suddenly, she looked aghast. “No... Could Father have used it?!” 

Oh, so that was the king. I suspected as much. But hearing that it granted power felt off to me. The king hadn’t looked powered-up so much as driven mad. Sure, he was stronger, but it made him a rampaging monster. 

Then it hit me. 

The so-called Jewel of Evolution was originally an item the good-aligned faction Marianne could produce called “God’s Tear.” It granted whichever unit held it divine protection, temporarily buffing them. In the game, Marianne’s units consisted of fanatics, paladins, and angels... Maybe that was why it didn’t drive them mad? When normal humans used it, however, it turned them into raging beasts. 

But to begin with, if this wasn’t the game world, what was this item doing here? Had I been mistaken, and we really were in the game world? There was too much I didn’t know, and I had no answers with my current array of knowledge. I could only rack my brains as I considered the facts. 

“What have you done to Father?!” the girl screamed. 

“If he’s not here, he’s dead. Though I don’t know who your father is.” I was feeling too weary to put up with her whining. 

“No...” she whispered, tears rolling down her cheeks. 

When Sérignan cried, I thought it was cute, but seeing this pretty adolescent break down didn’t pull at my heartstrings in the slightest. I merely found her sobs grating. I briefly thought to order one of the Ripper Swarms to lop off her head, then reconsidered. 

I didn’t feel our actions had been cruel enough to fulfill our need for revenge. There hadn’t been enough tragedy to call this a war. We had earned too little to call this an invasion. Shouldn’t we be doing more? 

And then an idea occurred to me. 

“Parasite Swarm.” I pulled a Parasite Swarm out of my pocket and held it in front of me. 

Our noble captives shrieked at its grotesque appearance. 

“From now on, you’ll be my toys.” 

“Wait! I’ll do anything you say, so—gurk!” 

I ordered Sérignan to hold down one man’s head as I pushed the Parasite Swarm into his mouth. 

“Aaaah, aah, gah, aah...!” 

The Parasite Swarm slithered into the man’s throat, fixing itself in place and extending its tentacles toward his brain. The man twitched a few times and breathed a few odd moans before his eyes turned hollow, informing me that the Parasite Swarm had successfully taken over. 

“You’re next.” 

“Don’t! Father, save me! Help me!” 

Ugh, what a noisy girl. 

Sérignan pinned the girl’s head to the ground and kept her mouth open as I forced her to swallow the Parasite Swarm. The small insect pushed its way into her slender throat before clamping down on her flesh. 

“Aah... guh, Fath...er... Aaah...” 

The girl’s gaze went blank; the takeover was complete. See? She used to be a real nuisance, but now she’s a sweet, quiet, obedient little thing. 

“Infect the others with Parasite Swarms, too.” 

“By your will, Your Majesty.” 

I left the rest of the work to Sérignan and walked through the now-empty castle alone. There were still pools of blood here and there, but no corpses in sight. 

They say Japanese and Germans are diligent workers, but even they don’t hold a candle to the Swarm. My Swarms carry out my orders swiftly and efficiently; that’s why I love them so much. 

“So this is the throne room, huh?” 

I found a place in the castle with the fewest signs of bloodshed: the throne room. It was designed around a golden throne with a red carpet leading toward it. The owner of this room had died outside the castle gates, so there had been little blood here to spill. And besides, the blood didn’t really appear against the red carpet. 

I leisurely walked toward the throne and sat on the lofty seat adorned with gold and gemstones. 

“The Queen of the Arachnea...” 

The Arachnea was an evil faction that used the Swarm to devour everything in its path. The Swarm wished for victory and prosperity; in that regard, they were scarcely different from mankind. Humans desired the same things, after all, and they came up with all sorts of slogans and greater causes to justify their wars and bloodshed. The stench of blood hanging over the Swarm just happened to be a bit thicker, that’s all. They really weren’t all that different from everyone else, right? 

No... Wrong. 

The Swarm wished to cover the whole world with their kind. The word “compromise” didn’t exist in their dictionary. Humans, on the other hand, could compromise, negotiate, and make strides to avoid their own demise. 

Like moths drawn to flame, the Swarm actively sought to annihilate their enemies, even if it might result in their own eventual destruction. Their urge to propagate and overrun the world spurred them forward. It was their most basic instinct, the wish that bubbled up from the bottom of their hearts, echoing through the collective consciousness. 

You really are monsters. But I don’t mind. 

If they wished for such a victory, I would do everything in my power to give it to them. Even if they wanted to conquer every corner of this world, I would comply. I had sworn to lead them to victory, and I would fulfill that promise, no matter how many lives it cost. 

But I only did this because I didn’t want them to kill me. I was a coward, when all was said and done. If I didn’t make all these excuses, I would fear myself for having ordered all these massacres. 

“Your Majesty.” 

As I pondered all this from atop the throne, Sérignan entered the room. She bowed before me, and the twenty nobles we had enslaved walked in after her. They followed Sérignan with hollow eyes, tottering unsteadily as they walked. 

They were like zombies. Eventually they would be able to walk normally, but since the Parasite Swarms had only just been planted, they weren’t yet functioning effectively. I’d need to keep that in mind the next time I used them. If our enemies could tell what had happened to victims of the Parasite Swarms, the unit would go to waste. 

“Sérignan, are the preparations complete?” 

“Yes, they’ve all been planted with Parasite Swarms. They’re completely under your control, Your Majesty.” 

The nobles fell to their hands and knees in a show of fealty. 

“Good work, Sérignan.” 

As we spoke, Swarms that had finished their tasks began to gather in the throne room. There were no other living humans left in the castle... no, in all of Siglia. This city had housed hundreds of thousands of people, and every single one of them but our pets had been eradicated. It really was moving, in its own way. 

“Well done, my Swarms.” 

“We are honored, Your Majesty.” In response to my praise, they assumed an obedient posture. 

“All right then, my friends. Our loathsome foes have been defeated. The Kingdom of Maluk has been wiped off the face of the world. This has been an impeccable victory. 

“But the battle doesn’t end here. We can’t afford to get drunk off our triumphs and rest on our laurels now. What is our next objective?” 

“To spread our control even further. To unify the world under the Arachnea’s rule,” Sérignan said. 

“That’s right. But the time isn’t right yet. First we need to take over what was once the Kingdom of Maluk. We need time to develop this land. My friends, you must build Power Organs. You must build Fertilization Furnaces, Flesh Depositories, and Massive Fertilization Furnaces. You must build Airborne Flesh Dens.” 

The 4 Xs dictated that I had to develop the land I stole from my foes. I needed to make use of what I’d already developed to build what I lacked, and we had to repair what had been destroyed. Developing one’s faction in this way was the true thrill of the game. 

I couldn’t cultivate much since I had slaughtered all the humans, but the Ripper Swarm rush hadn’t consumed all the livestock. We could breed those to make an environment suitable for producing new units. Additionally, we’d need money to unlock new structures. From what I heard, there was a gold mine in the north, so we could send the Worker Swarms to mine it. 

Phew. 

Normally, pillaging and robbing the enemy until there was nothing left to take before moving on would be quicker. But right now, we didn’t want to needlessly provoke our enemies or make new ones, and I didn’t think we had enough resources to fight against the rest of the world with just what we took from the Kingdom of Maluk. 

Recklessly starting wars when we didn’t know how large the enemies’ forces were compared to our own would be foolish and lead us to defeat. I had no desire to be a fool, so I opted for us to focus on development for now. 

“We’ll have to decide on our internal policy. It might be boring, but please bear with it; it’s absolutely necessary. We also can’t neglect to tighten our borders’ defenses. The Kingdom of Maluk wasn’t our only enemy. There are others out there, and they might come for this land.” 

If nothing else, we knew the Schtraut Dukedom was to the north, the Empire of Nyrnal was to the south, and the Frantz Popedom was to the east. Those countries were mostly made up of humans, and they likely wouldn’t react favorably to the rise of a Swarm nation. At worst, the three of them might band together to attack us. 

“Protect our holy territory. Our empire will flourish—not with blood, but with our sweat and our efforts. This is the duty of all Swarms, and it will serve as our foothold to world domination. You mustn’t neglect that, no matter what.” 

My speech was most unfitting for the Swarm. A fitting speech for them would emphasize stealing, killing, pillaging, and multiplying. They needed nothing else, after all. But countless online matches had taught me that this wasn’t always enough to win. Sometimes you needed to hang back and manage your internal affairs, taking the time to unlock higher-tier units and structures, and build up your army. Otherwise, we would face nearly one-sided battles and eventual defeat. 

“Please understand. This is what’s best for us in the long run.” I was asking them not as a queen, but as a player. 

“All shall be as you wish, Your Majesty. You need only order us, and we will obey,” Sérignan said as she and the rest of the Swarm bowed in acquiescence. 

“All hail the queen.” 

“All hail the queen.” 

Their reverence was loud and strong. 

“Thank you, everyone. I will lead all of you to victory, I promise.” 

Now more than ever, I felt the Swarm was very precious. 

Beneath the Kingdom of Maluk’s castle was a treasure vault. The treasures within had been sent by their ally, the Frantz Popedom, and it was used as a space for paladins’ baptisms. By rinsing themselves in the holy water that bubbled up from one smooth, marble pedestal, they could gain the ability to summon angels. 

However, not everyone who was baptized in these waters developed the summoning ability. Some people remained unchanged, while others would suddenly bleed from every orifice and fall dead in the middle of the ceremony. Only a handful of chosen paladins were granted the ability to summon angels, it seemed. These select few alone could obtain this supernatural power. 

Had the Arachnea’s queen seen this baptismal pedestal, she surely would have made another great discovery. It was yet another in-game item possessed by the Marianne, same as the “God’s Tear.” The official name for this artifact was the “Holy Fountain of the Chosen.” 

Using it enabled the Marianne to sacrifice the hit points of a non-spirit unit—or rather, a human unit—in exchange for summoning an angel. The Marianne could use its fanatic units, who were only good for running amok through enemy bases, or its paladins, cavalry units who swore fealty to their god. Sacrificing either one of them could summon an angel in return. 

It was only a probability, however; there was no guarantee. Should the summoning fail, the unit would be lost, and the faction would have nothing to show for it. Additionally, units with low hit points were more likely to die during the summoning, which could also cause it to fail. But while the angels’ appearances were random, angels themselves were universally strong, and they could withstand the attacks of most units while striking back with impunity. This made attempting the summoning worth it in the end. 

“Completely and utterly useless,” someone scoffed down in the treasury. 

The voice had come from a girl with black hair and crimson eyes. She was wearing a black, rococo-inspired dress with a gothic flair and laden with lace and frills. The girl stared down at the Holy Fountain, twiddling her fingers in the water. 

“I thought these would end up shaking up the game a bit, but they didn’t do much. There are so few heritages left, but all the people who use them are dummies. And they call this a thinking game? Good grief.” 

She leaned against the pedestal. 

“How long will she play, I wonder? How high can she climb in this world filled with malice? How long will she stick around in this ruthless game played in the depths of purgatory? 

“Well, if she finds out, whatever. She’ll probably suspect something’s up once she sees the Empire of Nyrnal. But if I’m going to make this game more exciting, these things are going to have to go poof. Let’s get to it, then.” 

The girl’s grip on the pedestal tightened slightly, and the next moment, the Holy Fountain of the Chosen crumbled to the ground. What little holy water remained seeped down into the floor, and the item was rendered unusable. In its current state, one wouldn’t have been able to guess at what it was once used for. 

“This game is super-duper fun... and I’ve finally found someone to play with! I’ll continue to let her amuse me. Playing against girls like her is always a blast, after all. Isn’t that right, _________?” 

The girl chuckled and danced around the underground chamber with light, airy steps. 

“A game, a game, a fun, fun game! All work and no play makes me a dull girl. So let’s play, shall we, Miss Queen of the Arachnea?” 

As the girl spoke, all the things hidden in the treasury crumbled into dust. The Mysticism Furnace, capable of converting faith and producing angels. The Baptism Rite Tool capable of turning men into holy beings. The Massive Mysticism Furnace, capable of summoning giant angels. 

Each and every one of them was destroyed by the girl’s hands. From the looks of it, none of them had ever been used, but with only the gentlest touch, they all crumbled away. 

She didn’t know why the Kingdom of Maluk had never used any of these devices. If anything, they likely didn’t know how to operate them. If they had, they’d have used them to summon angels and deal with the Arachnea’s attacks. Their ignorance had caused them to make a fatal mistake. 

The girl hummed pleasantly as she destroyed the Marianne’s items, twirling around in place. 

“Well then, the stage is set for our cold-blooded, heartless, massacre drama. Sit back and enjoy, everyone. This is a world where gods may exist, but they never extend their hand in salvation. Aah, let us all dance here under deceptive peace like the sinners we are. For we have been granted this fabricated paradise the false prophets sing of.” 

The girl cackled and melted into the shadows. All that remained in the room was the rubble that had once been an array of holy artifacts. 

A single Ripper Swarm descended into the underground chamber and discovered the entrance to the treasury. It looked around the room, and while it detected traces of something having been there, it couldn’t tell what. Neither it nor the collective had knowledge of the objects the girl had destroyed moments before. 

“Your Majesty, I’ve discovered a basement, but it seems to have already been ransacked by a third party. What should I do?” 

“Hmm. It looks like nothing but junk. If there’s no one there, just head back. Our work is finished here. All that’s left is for us to return to base. We need to make this place livable for us, and let the elves know about this, too.” 

“Understood, Your Majesty. Your wish is my command.” 

The Ripper Swarm concluded its report and went back the way it came, eventually joining the ranks of the Arachnea leaving Siglia’s ruins behind them. Had the queen discovered these Marianne heritages, perhaps the situation would have ended differently. 

However, the queen did not yet know this game’s rules. On top of that, she was still ignorant as to why this world existed. Only once she found this out would the real war begin...