Speedrun Any% II

[Hey, I'm back. I got us a good deal from Aria. She had to stick her neck out for us, but in exchange for a cup of Wine—]

'Wait, you touched my wine?'

[—I did; get over it, will you? It was just one small cup. Just because you look like one, you don't have to be a baby over little things. Besides, I got some compromises from the trade.]

'Tsk, fine.'

[Good, thank you for agreeing, I'm actually thinking of establishing a barter using wine. The Goddess' wine is a hot item above right now, so try not to be too much of a stickler, Lilith. If we can use some Wine to buy a Dragon's Heart, don't you think that's a good win for us?] Alpha's voice echoed in Lilith's mind. She sounded irritated, hearing complaints the first thing she came back.

'sigh*, fine, but I'm telling you now, stop trying to establish that barter system. We're going to get in trouble.'

[Hypocrite much, my friend? I know for a fact you're rejoicing inside.] Alpha mocked.

'Yeah, I would be rejoicing if it was anything but bartering. Not only does it makes use of my wine, but I fear there would be consequences we might face. Think about it, we're using the Goddess' Wine as currency, the Goddess is watching, and so are the High-Seraphs. If we continue, then those guys might put up some restrictions. They might even be contemplating about the matter right now… wait, they really might—Hey! High-Seraphs! Please don't be too strict! We won't do it again! Please don't raise the prices.'

Lilith pleaded but received no response, 'Well, we didn't receive a notice of a price hike so, that's good.'

[You're paranoid, Lilith. But… I get your point. I don't want Aria getting into trouble now, so I'll stop.]

'You used to be stricter with yourself, you know that? You've change, Alpha.'

[Me? Change? Hmm… you might be right. Knowing I can die can cause you to act differently, you know. I might disappear tomorrow, or the next second we are not paying attention… why, you don't like it?]

'Meh, I like it; you're less stiff than when we first met. Less of an asshole too….'

[Fuck off, would you?]

'Hahaha—ah, wait!'

[What is it?]

'It's time…' Lilith snapped out of her talk with Alpha for a moment; suddenly, Lilith stopped walking. In the middle of the wrecked road, she looked around the buildings!

Dozens of the humans following closely behind all leaned overseeing how the loli acted so worried and anxious. They all knew what it meant, for they had witnessed it several times along their procession.

"Apostle, i-is the Goddess telling you something?" Asked Lucia, her eyes glowing with expectation and concern.

The others who chose to follow Lilith were the same.

"Apostle, do you sense anyone?" The Leader of the rescue team asked as he got on one knee.

"The Apostle has once again received the words of the Goddess Letza, telling her where the ones in need are in our trying times." A girl around her teens holding a stick that projected a holographic panel spoke in its camera.

"Everywhere we went since we began following her, we have received news from the benevolent Goddess, telling us where to look and where those who had been hurt were located. Will we see another miracle?" Another one reported to the holographic panel.

Around a dozen young and old people were streaming this phenomenal event… and Lilith was well aware of their presence.

Hearing their words, she raised her trembling finger, pointing at a building to her left, "In there… there should be four families trapped there… to the red building, there are seven people there… there… are people underground—"

Lilith pointed to several places, and the rescuers marked the area in their WNPs. The Leader of the rescue team nodded his head.

"Got it! Team 1-D to G go there and check for people in Area A B and C. Teams 7-A and 8-C head over to Areas D and E— Roy, Alex, and Lisa; I leave the convenience store to you. The rest will go with me underground and open up the Bunkers to check for the injured! This is the nearest street to the Western Gate; we need to be careful… after that, we split up and check for more people—"

"YES, SIR!"

The rescuers dressed in a resplendent red responded boisterously.

"Leader Jim, wait, don't go!" Lilith called out to the Leader of the rescue team.

Jim turned around, concerned, "What is it, Apostle? Did we miss something?"

Concerned, Lilith held onto Jim's pants, stopping him from going, "Evil Creatures… mindless monsters, I can feel them near the underground area… it is dangerous to go there without protection."

"I'll go with them, Apostle."

Lilith turned around to see who it was who just said that, "Mirsha?"

The now masked Mirsha stepped up and presented herself, "I'll go with the rescue team and protect them, don't worry. I will leave my daughter to your protection, for now, Apostle."

Lilith responded with a nod and pat her chest, "Yes—be careful out there, everyone."

Lilith lifted her right hand near her chest, her thumb and middle finger touched, and then outstretched the rest, "May the Goddess Letza protect you."

The rescuers and most of the people around Lilith bowed their heads and recreated what she did with her hands, "May the Goddess Letza protect you."

[Oh, what is that?]

'It is a gesture I came up with when sending people out to do something dangerous. It makes them remember the Goddess and make us look like a legit religion.' Lilith answered while watching the people leave.

[Looks stupid, to be honest.]

While Mirsha left and Lucia remained by Lilith's side, the procession resumed.

'You'll get used to it, but it's not bad for something I put together in haste, right?'

[Yeah, maybe—but more importantly, do you think what we're doing will be enough to rattle their minds? We are risking everyone's life here. We fail, and we die.]

'Connect to the World Network—'

[Why?]

'Just do it; things should be moving now that people have gathered themselves. After that, go to the World Browser, and type in the word, Sector 24, Daemon Overrun, Monster Flood, or Scandal.'

Alpha did what Lilith asked her to do and her eyes… widened.

"Breaking News, Sector 24 that experienced a Daemon Overrun has been visited by an unlikely person, a daemon claiming to be the Apostle of a Goddess. Is this the truth, or is she lying? But whatever it is, truly, we are beginning to see the start of a brand-new era." A lady in a black suit said with a stern expression.

"Welcome back to News Skies, where we bring you the latest happenings of the day—Sector 24 has suffered a devastating blow from a Daemon Overrun, the majority of the people have evacuated, yet many remained in their homes, unable to join the Sector's Airship to safety? — A Dwarven baby had been found in the trash—"

"Breaking News, thousands dead after Sector Leader Ayil leaves his posts in haste, abandoning his people."

"The Government remain silent at the incident in Sector 24. Section Leader Ayil Ditar has yet to announce a statement about his decision to leave the Sector or the allegations of him forcing the Pilot to prematurely leave the airport, leaving thousands to die—"

Alpha watched in disbelief as images of a wrecked city circulate in the World Network. She funneled the information and sifted through the comments going around each site she accessed, [Oh, this city is beginning to receive the Stronghold's Attention. You were right, Lilith, but it doesn't seem like your name is going around as you said it would…]

'Yeah, just wait for it. Considering the Goddess' track record, there should be something of a reminder or a—'

Ding~

[Hidden Mission: Human Followers (Completed)]

[Increased Letza's love and appreciation]

Requirement/s: Have more than 1,000 Believe the Existence of the Goddess Letza.

'There it is, now try searching Little Daemon, Cute Apostle, Apostle Lilith, Daemon Savior, Goddess, Letza, Goddess Letza, Sector 24 Savior or um…. Apostle Loli, that word should still be relevant—blogs, articles, news, discussion, thread….'

[Okay… oh my…]

{We had the blob slimes, the Snow Runts, and the Vine Snakes, but, now, videos of what had been dubbed as the Tiny Hero is going around as she heals and saves people despite her fatigue—}

{Sector 24's savior, a Daemon?}

{A Daemon fighting other Daemons to save humans?}

{Daemon Theory: Are Daemons our Savior?}

{Letza Cult, what is it?}

{A God's Incarnate has descended to the World—}

{Who is Lilith, and what does she want? A Direct interview from a Survivor.}

Alpha sifted through the numerous search results numbering nearly at 31 and counting.

[Wha—what are these?] Alpha was stupefied. From what she searched, Lilith's name as well as Letza's propagated far and wide.

From every corner of the world, the name Letza and Lilith were appearing one after another.

This was Lilith's plan. Or at least what remained of it.

But these remnants were enough.

Even if what rremain of her grand ambition was now nothing more than rubbles. What was salvage was enough to be spearhead their appearance in the world. To dictate who they were. Ensuring that no one would be able to control the information against them.

'What is it? Hehe, hehehehe--HAHAHAHAHAH!'Lilith laughed inwardly until it became an uncontrollable cackle, 'That, my little Seraph Friend, is what will help us create a Religion — Clout and Clickbait.'

[...what?]