Gacha Kingdom Building-Chapter 278: Troubleshooting

After such a long time, I was finally back on Earth for good.

I expected to be welcomed by a recon group from the AOTG, but to my surprise, there were none.

The street was quiet.

Eerily so.

Its silence was only broken by the falling debris of the collapsing buildings, the crackling of the fire consuming them, and...

And the haunting noises of screeching that came from all directions.

Miwen: "Mia, Liz."

It was a lucky break that we didn’t run immediately into an enemy, and I didn’t want to push my luck.

So, I brought out the big guns.

The three of us should be able to handle anything, from reconnaissance to combat, hand-to-hand or magic.

No matter what came our way, we should be able to push through with sheer power.

Mia: "Contact. Thirteen up ahead, fifteen on each side, nine behind us."

I had given the girls a few orders before I left the green fields of the Kingdom to return to the grey ruins of the city.

Among them, the most important was that we’d only do battle if it were to save us time.

Otherwise, we’d focus on running.

There would be no end to it if we fought the AOTG like this; we first had to find a base to operate from.

We’d also assume that anyone who stood in our way was an enemy, even if they weren’t with the AOTG, as Sam and Roy told me about several different factions fighting for control all over the country.

What Miwen detected, though, was outside the scope of these orders.

Mia: "Monsters? But..."

It was strange, definitely.

For the past twenty years, our world had fought with all its might to keep these beasts inside the Dungeons.

That we’d find them roaming around the streets freely was absurd.

Even more, the fact that the levels of the hobgoblins surrounding us were so close to that of the ones we fought in the Dungeon we used to raid...

It explained the silence and the destroyed buildings, at least.

Miwen: "Change of plans. Claire, Licia. Create us a path."

With a fire blast on the left and a field of ice spikes on the right, the nine enemies standing behind us were reduced to zero.

It only took the two of them a second, and while Mia and Liz made our escape, they blocked the other monsters from approaching.

Even one of them was enough to handle enemies of this level, no matter how many.

But together, with their improved teamwork, they were bound to make short work of them.

Unfortunately, I couldn’t fully take advantage of the opportunity that they created for us.

All thanks to a voice that spoke directly into my head.

[People of Earth, hear me.

We, the Gods, have witnessed your valiant struggle.

Your honor and bravery have moved me.

Thus, I grant you a gift.

A rare opportunity to distinguish yourselves before us.

One month from now, you shall be welcomed into our domain.

I pray the chosen ones prove their might worthy of my benevolence.]

Even though she spoke with a solemn voice, it stopped me in my tracks.

Earth had just won a Divine Event less than a month ago. It made no sense for Catherine to put us on a new one so soon.

Especially since she was calling us less frequently with each passing one.

Unless that was the reason why...

Maybe because we won, she-

[Congratulations, Miwen of Earth.

You have been chosen to represent your people, your world, and your Goddess.

May the glory of victory shine its light on you.]

Somehow, her last message was even more shocking than the first.

When I was a kid, I admired those who participated in Divine Events and even wanted to be like them one day.

But not now.

Not when I had my hands full with the AOTG.

Besides, she was suspiciously vague this time.

She didn’t mention anything about what I was supposed to do as her representative.

Nor what I’d gain from it.

I couldn’t help but feel like something wasn’t right.

Yet, without knowing if there were more representatives, and what losing might represent to Earth, I didn’t dare to think of running from this one.

Mia: "Miwen..."

??????: "The wait finally paid off, huh?"

??????: "I can’t believe you were dumb enough to show your face here."

I blew the window that Claire and Licia opened for us.

By the time I finished processing Catherine’s message, they had already defeated every monster in the area.

And the noise they made initially drew the attention of the AOTG.

Although they also made a mistake.

Miwen: "You shouldn’t have revealed yourselves."

Since Erik was even worse than I, and I couldn’t imagine myself giving such a dumb order, I imagined these guys were acting on their own.

If I had to guess, the idea of doing even better than expected probably clouded their judgment, as they laughed at us for being at a numerical disadvantage.

AOTG Member #1: "What’s the problem? It won’t make a difference if we bring you dead or alive."

Miwen: "...Can you prove them wrong, Liz?"

Liz: "No need, Your Majesty."

I was caught off guard.

Elizabeth rarely refused my orders.

Thankfully, her next words and what followed made everything a little clearer.

Liz: "They’ve already been dealt with."

Suddenly, I heard a deafening boom coming from behind them.

Before I could even tell what happened, a gigantic dust cloud rose, hiding everything from view.

Mia: "What? I didn’t even notice them-"

Liz: "You were relying on sound. They moved faster than it. Next time, you should use your mana to further strengthen your senses."

Nonsense.

Mia’s hearing could cover almost the entire city if she focused on it.

Whatever caused the explosion had to have come from outside it.

Miwen: "Hah... You’ve gotta be kidding me."

The twelve members of the AOTG that caught up to us fell from the hill they were standing on.

One after the other.

As the dust started to settle, the first face I saw was a familiar one.

??????: "Whoops. I think I stepped on something... Oh. It’s Marcus’ son. Long time no see, boy!"

Welp, checkmate.

My whole plan of slipping by unnoticed with just a small elite team was instantly shattered the moment that woman showed up.

Piper Williams, the Witch of Narrations.

If the fact that she crushed a dozen high-level AOTG members without meaning to wasn’t an indication enough of her power, this woman was also rumored to be powerful enough to destroy the world.

It was said that if she meant to, she could wipe humanity off by herself.

She was a contender for the strongest in the world.

Sometimes, she was called a hero.

Sometimes, she was said to be a walking disaster.

For me, she was...

Miwen: "Auntie... What are you doing here?"

Piper: "Your father asked me to bring you to him. He wants to talk."

Goddamnit, that idiot!

Of all people, why her?

Out of all of his friends, she was the only one I wasn’t confident in tricking or fighting.

Miwen: "...I’m a little busy right now? So maybe later?"

I had to be careful, but it was worth a try, at least.

Piper: "I’m not asking."

She didn’t seem angry, but there was a subtle change in her expression.

Her smile had disappeared.

This was enough for me to understand I didn’t really have a choice.

Elizabeth: "Hoh? Should I take that as a threat, girl?"

Of course, the power emanating from her body didn’t help either.

It was strong enough to spark the Demon Queen’s interest and complicate even more what was already a tense situation.

Miwen: "Stop it, Liz. She’s not someone we want to fight."

Even if I were to bring the entire Kingdom, including the Dragon, fighting her wouldn’t save time.

Running from her wouldn’t, either.

Piper was that bothersome to deal with.

So, as lightning started to emanate from Elizabeth’s body, before she could condense it in her hands, I stopped things from escalating.

Although my efforts were in vain, as Piper smirked and waved her hand, provoking Elizabeth to launch a single, contained strike at her.

As it approached Piper, a shadow rose before her, consuming Elizabeth’s magic.

Not one to back down from a challenge, Liz maintained the attack and increased its output.

From an attack that a level 80 could resist, her lightning strike became powerful enough to defeat a level 100.

That, however, wasn’t enough, and even after it had reached enough power to kill a level 200, the void kept absorbing it.

Miwen: "I told you to stop, didn’t I?"

I had no choice left, so I used [Hollow Destiny] to prevent her from continuing further.

Miwen: "Sorry about that. But you shouldn’t provoke her either."

Piper: "I like the feisty ones."

Elizabeth: "Hmph. Consider yourself lucky. There won’t be a next time."

Cassandra: "Stop it, old hag. The boy is right. Even you would be wise to avoid treating her carelessly."

Since Cassandra had my memories, she knew exactly how problematic Piper was.

However, I felt like she wanted to throw more fuel into the fire, as her words also provoked Elizabeth even more.

Elizabeth: "...You don’t truly believe I’d lose, right, Your Majesty?"

Miwen: "Who knows?"

When Elizabeth first appeared in the Kingdom during her Invasion Event, she threatened to conquer Earth and use it to continue her war against the Gods.

Given her power, even now, I still think she’d be capable of that.

If the Witch of Narrations didn’t interfere, that is.

It was impossible to tell who’d come out on top in a battle between them.

Miwen: "It doesn’t really matter how strong you are. The Merchant, Asdrea... Maybe even the Endless? I’m not sure her Gift has any limits aside from her ability to control it."

More than a decade ago, when humanity was still struggling to contain the Dungeons, a Rampage happened in another continent far from ours.

It was the first Rampage to be compared to the First Reminder, as it took the lives of millions and consumed an entire country in less than a month.

Aside from the fact that a plant-like monster had drained the land and the citizens’ power, not much was known about that Rampage.

As horrifying as it was, how it was dealt with left an even stronger impression on people’s minds.

Only a few videos exist, registered by citizens of nearby countries.

They showed massive shadows appearing behind clouds, thunder raining down, and burning everything in the country where the Rampage was happening.

A few days later, the borders to that country opened again.

However, there was nothing there anymore.

Even the sand was slowly but surely disappearing.

It took a massive effort to rebuild that area and prevent it from becoming a giant lake in the middle of the continent.

And the one who "saved" it was none other than Piper Williams herself.

The woman who could use the power of any story.

The witch who could bring all fiction to life.

No matter how absurd or abhorrent.

Elizabeth: "With all honesty, Miwen. I find it hard to believe that she could do that a decade ago. She’s already at a low level, so by then, she should be even weaker."

Right.

That’s why I said the only thing that limited her power was her control over it.

No one knows how far the stories she can bring to life can go.

Though we do know that if she brings too much, or something much more powerful than herself, she’ll lose control.

Then, it might either kill everything it can reach or disappear without causing any damage.

Basically, the world’s most dangerous coin flip.

And one I wasn’t willing to make.

Piper: "Have you decided?"

Miwen: "Yeah..."

Piper: "Good boy. C’mon. I’ll give you a ride." 𝚏𝐫𝚎𝗲𝕨𝐞𝐛𝕟𝚘𝐯𝚎𝗹.𝕔𝐨𝗺

She summoned a futuristic aircraft.

It had wings made of light and a robust interior.

Instead of turbines, it seemed to be propelled by gravity itself, almost as if it rejected it.

Piper: "This one’s from a game I played recently. I’ve got no idea how to handle it, though. Gimme a minute."

Aside from bringing things to life, she could bring things from stories into her.

That included the knowledge characters had, like a pilot from a game.

Claire: "...Show-off."

It wasn’t rare for Claire to feel provoked by someone else’s power.

However, for the other girls to agree with her was a one-of-a-kind situation.

Even Licia, unexpectedly, silently nodded at it.

Meanwhile, I enjoyed the ride.

I had also played the game and always wondered what it would be like to ride on this particular aircraft.

So, just like that, with an absurdity after the other, the Witch of Narrations escorted us to a high-rise building.

There, with limited information, I was confronted by her team and forced to decide who I’d side with in this war ahead of time.