Chapter 56: Legion vs. Legion (10)
“Did you choose death on your own? Why?”
[I’m currently figuring that out.]
As I lay blankly on the bed, another world unfolded from the ceiling.
I could see my younger sister, Kang Do-yeon, and the masked legion’s appearance.
There was even a massive mass that seemed larger than the grand mansion occupying the screen.
The legion was still tightly holding the doll I had sent at this very moment.
“I see. Fool.”
Before long, the legion, which seemed to be communicating with the Devouring Fungus Great Army Body, scoffed.
[The Devouring Fungus Great Army Body is literally a being formed by the gathering of hundreds of Devouring Fungus colonies. Because of that, it can think beyond its nature.]
“Thinking beyond its nature. So if the result is quietly accepting death, what could the reason be?”
“…We are merely remnants of the scourge that once ruled this world. The new rulers of this upper level are overcoming trials and living in a new era. However, we have no possibility for further evolution.”
The legion answered my question as if it had actually heard me.
I didn’t quite understand at that moment. Remnants of the past and a new era.
[The Devouring Fungus, which once dominated the world, is no more. All that remains are those trapped in this underground labyrinth. Having shattered one era and dominated a new one, the Devouring Fungus Great Army Body now knows that its time has ended.]
“So…you just gave up because it wouldn’t work out anyway? Is that even possible? What’s above, anyway?!”
Of course, even with additional explanations, understanding wasn’t going to happen.
[Isn’t it the same for humans? Rather than resisting, being defeated, and being violated, don’t they give up and try to accept death quietly to preserve at least their final honor?]
“That’s…”
“Don’t make me laugh!”
At the sharp shout, my mouth snapped shut.
At the same time, I felt the intense pulse of emotions. This was the legion’s feelings.
The legion was angrier than ever.
[It was a concept that the legion could never comprehend or accept. It was only natural to fight until every last cell was gone.]
“Ugh…”
Amid the swirling intense emotions, I focused on the screen for now.
My sister was the same, grimacing and staggering.
“Loser, trash!”
The legion was currently expressing its anger in the best way possible.
“It’s the way of beings like us to devour and fight until the end, no matter what enemy comes.”
My finger, pointing towards the Great Army Body, trembled.
The legion truly acknowledged the mutated Devouring Fungus that had put it in danger as its kind. And it seemed to quite like it.
So, it was furious that a mutated Devouring Fungus of such a scale was just sitting there, powerless, instead of resisting or fighting. It meant that it could not accept that.
“We will not stop. We will not go extinct. We will always evolve and grow stronger.”
[The legion had made a determination. To remove this useless, obsolete trash and move forward.]
Before I knew it, the legion’s nest, which had devoured the lower levels, began to rise slowly.
It was clearly planning to consume the Great Army Body whole.
[No matter what enemy appears, we will never retreat. We will crush everything and consume everything. That is the will of the legion.]
“…”
I remained silent.
It felt as though I was confirming the essence of the legion once again.
A predator driven by an insatiable hunger to devour the entire universe. An existence born solely for that purpose.
[It will never stop. It will consume anything.]
“You seem oddly confident,” I chuckled as the rising words appeared.
Could I change or control that existence?
Compared to the legion, I was just a mere creature now. The legion would grow even larger.
Yet, I wanted to prevent it from merely becoming a being that repeated destruction and slaughter.
“You’ve developed an ego. From a human standpoint, it’s not unreasonable to think of it as being born. I might be worrying too early, but I don’t want it to learn the feeling of loneliness. How about you? Do you truly, honestly wish for nothing but the growth of the legion?”
[…]
For my sake, or perhaps for this world as well, and for the legion too.
[Tentacles extended from the nest, surging toward the Great Army Body.]
The tentacles of the nest had evolved.
Those thick, rough tentacles, laden with Formancy, drilled deep into the body of the Great Army Body and spewed forth the legion’s infective spores.
[The infectious power, maximized through the war with the mutated Devouring Fungus, began to spread rapidly throughout.]
Black veins started showing all over the massive mass in an instant.
“Resist.”
The legion quietly muttered as it looked at that sight.
Yet, the Great Army Body accepted the legion’s attack without any reaction.
Once again, the legion’s emotions stirred violently.
[[[I said resist!!!]]]
And then that emotion finally exploded.
A massive shockwave surged, causing the body of the Great Army Body to burst, and cracks began to form in the walls and floors of the chamber.
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Right now, it was using pure physical force based on anger.
Not being swept away by that massive existence was solely because my ego was more solid and stable than the current legion.
But if the legion’s ego grew and stabilized, there would be no way for my mental strength to overcome it.
“I also need to grow.”
I gasped for breath. There was no room for idleness now.
At the very least, to control the legion, I needed to be on par or have an advantage in some aspect.
*
“Did the research team get ambushed?!”
“Calm down. Fortunately, there were almost no casualties. The mercenaries suffered some damage, but they completed their mission well.”
“The mercenaries…then what about that person?”
“I’m fine, really.”
Chris, who had brought the news, clicked his tongue and shook his head.
Whether he showed that reaction or not, Chae Yeon let out a sigh of relief.
“Kang Shin Woo, was it? I heard that rookie played quite a significant role. Although the actual combat was done by the Korean special forces that were with him, he quickly assessed the situation and managed to rescue a lot of people early on.”
“Is that so?”
“It’s renowned now, and his reputation has improved as well. Still, it could have been a disaster.”
The corners of Chris’s mouth, which had been smiling, dropped as his expression turned serious.
Though they managed to get through relatively well, it was still an ambush.
“It might be a natural consequence, considering they came here without knowing exactly what kind of world this is.”
Chae Yeon murmured, her voice tinged with bitterness.
They had just separated from the main unit.
The main force that had trudged forward had settled near a location presumed to be the enemy’s stronghold.
In that process, they had engaged in several battles.
Some of those were against the enemy’s guerrillas, while others were attacks from beings that were not even enemies.
“At first, I thought they were units. But even simple beasts are living in such a terrible place. In truth, I just want to leave quickly.”
“…Right.”
She nodded slightly.
Though she had voluntarily engaged in battles against monsters, she certainly didn’t enjoy fighting.
She had merely become a hunter because she wanted to protect people from monsters.
“Hey, everyone?! Movement has been detected up ahead!”
“Oh. Finally.”
At that moment, someone dashed toward the vehicle they were in. Another hunter from Evolution, who had been on lookout duty. However, he wasn’t a unit, just an ordinary hired hand.
Sensing that the operation had begun, the two quickly got out of the car.
“What kind of guys are they?”
“They seem to be Nol.”
The hunter who reported the movement handed his equipment over to Chris.
Chae Yeon didn’t bother to use any equipment.
Using the spell she had cast, she summoned a translucent tactical formation in front of one of her eyes.
With the power to see through the essence of targets, she was able to spot those moving stealthily within the hidden field.
“It seems they haven’t seen us.”
Chris glanced at the skies.
A translucent barrier, similar to the one being used by the enemies, covered the nearby area.
“What should we do now?”
[Isn’t it obvious? They are units. Kill them.]
At Chris’s murmur, a voice rang out in their heads as if it had been waiting for this moment.
“You’ve been busy lately, huh…”
“But there are too many enemies.”
[The Player has purchased a new strength from the shop.]
To Chae Yeon’s warning that it might be dangerous, the Player quickly granted another piece of help.
She felt a tingling sensation spread throughout her body and stiffened.
[One of the methods to maximize magical power through circulatory operation of a different race. A primitive method, but one that can be used in emergencies.]
“Ugh…this hurts! Look, my veins are bursting,” Chris chuckled as he showed his injured hand.
She gritted her teeth and swallowed down the pain. Such pain was, of course, not a consideration for the Player.
“Let’s go. Mr. Leckman, fight slowly with the others as per your positions.”
“Understood!”
After giving instructions to the others, she moved out with Chris.
“Those guys seem to be planning a surprise attack on the main unit…Seriously, we need something from the allied forces, right? They’re saving lives because of us.”
“Focus on fighting for now.”
“This is really the beginning of a full-blown war.”
Chris smiled wryly, while Chae Yeon, who had been serious throughout, brought forth her own power.
At the same time, they broke free from the barrier that had been concealing them.
As the enemies showed signs of confusion, Chae Yeon charged in, kicking off the ground and releasing a massive jolt of electricity from her entirety, crashing right into the middle of them.
