Chapter 12: True Power (1)
“Did you find a purpose?”
[This is the video observed the moment you fell asleep.]
I checked my phone on the subway. The video, which was supposedly observed yesterday, ended with a gigantic lizard spewing a massive fireball towards the screen.
“So?”
[As always, the Legion was pleased. A stronger opponent. In other words, it’s an opponent that will make us stronger.]
“…There’s a possibility, right?”
[The enemy has become larger and stronger, but so have we.]
The Legion had indeed already defeated one of the dragon lizards once.
And they steadily made that legacy their own.
Simultaneously, they acquired overwhelming computing power by obtaining and combining vast amounts of information.
I was already thinking that the Legion might be smarter than me.
[Look. These are the strongest soldiers the Legion has to offer.]
Figures appeared on the screen, breaking out of their eggs.
The base was a lizard, of course.
So far, they were the strongest entities in the Legion’s database.
However, their appearance was different from ordinary lizards.
[They utilized the most powerful elements acquired recently.]
The dark-blue shell glimmered.
That shell was not the ordinary one used before.
It was the carapace obtained by hunting turtles, combined with the scales of the dragon lizard that had been digested this time.
It must have taken on that shape for the sake of efficiency.
It’s more economical to wear partially hardened armor rather than a full-body plate.
“The size is impressive. I think we can win.”
Moreover, the Legion’s growing experience meant they could now handle even sizable creatures with relative ease.
The soldiers marched confidently across the corridor.
Perhaps news of this floor had already spread, as not a single bug could be seen in the area we had occupied.
[We are continuously monitoring the dragon lizard’s location. It isn’t absolutely dumb. It sensed something unusual. Sniffing the air, it detected changes in the atmosphere and heightened its vigilance.]
“Is it running away?”
[It is an arrogant tyrant.]
I observed the dragon lizard from a safe distance where its fire could not reach.
It’s fortunate that such a creature is alone.
If those dragon lizards gather in a swarm, it would be hopeless for the Legion.
[We are, by nature, beings that must prey in order to evolve. Looking at the strength of each soldier, we can only be the weaker ones. But we combine and evolve. We surpass our limits. Above all, we are the Legion.]
The Legion’s scouts began drawing its attention.
They would not engage in ambush.
They faced it head-on in the gigantic corridor of this floor.
[With a high probability, the victor of this battle will become the ruler of this floor. But the Legion is confident. Some parts of this floor have already become ours and the arrogant tyrant will fall today.]
The dragon lizard, distracted by the scouts flying erratically in the sky, began to move slightly.
Nonetheless, it continued to sniff, remaining vigilant in all directions.
[This is futile. We already know that it possesses sensitive sensory organs, and we, who hold the genetic information of the 3a dragon lizard lineage, understand that well. We did not lay in ambush in a completely open corridor.]
“Grreeee!”
The dragon lizard bared its teeth and growled.
The soldiers were marching straight toward it.
Would they fight back, or would they acknowledge defeat and flee?
[We have already gained some resistance to fire.]
It spewed a fireball.
However, being burned and swept away by flames is a tale of the past.
The Legion soldier’s shell, made of the same substance as the scales of the dragon lizard and based on the turtle’s carapace, easily withstood this level of fire.
“It’s backing up… Is it running away?? Aren’t we chasing it?”
Eventually, feeling the pressure, the dragon lizard slowly backed away and hurriedly turned to escape.
However, the Legion did not pursue it.
[It’s an efficient calculation. After all, there are still plenty of floors left to absorb. Even if it runs away, it will eventually be hunted. That is the judgment we made.]
Though we did not catch it, we still emerged victorious.
What followed was the Legion’s typical feeding and slaughter, free from any disturbances.
This floor was gradually turning into our territory.
[The Legion is getting greedy. What could possibly lie on the next floor, in the next world?]
There had to be an ascending passage.
From what I heard, the Legion’s desire to see the end of this vast cave was gradually growing.
The foundation of that, of course, was gluttony.
“Hmm…”
That evening, I turned on my computer next to my phone to check the internet.
What I primarily checked was the news.
Especially focusing on the recent buzzworthy topics.
To be honest, I couldn’t help but worry.
“They say many hunters are suddenly rising in rank. Experts can’t even explain why and are just avoiding the issue. It’s a mystery, but honestly, I can’t shake off the dreadful thought.”
[…Why are you asking me?]
“Various races… So, various players? Be honest. Does that mean humans are included in that variety?”
Perhaps this was a futile delusion that no one else would understand.
It was a bizarre and strange thought.
I wouldn’t have even imagined it if it weren’t for the app on my phone.
[All possibilities are open.]
“Am I just overthinking?”
After all, hunters and gates have not been fully understood even after more than a decade of research.
[Even if that’s the case, what’s the problem?]
“What?”
[The ‘duty’ that you, and we, must fulfill remains unchanged, regardless of what happens around us.]
That was a valid point. I had nothing else to say.
If what I suspected was indeed true, then the only thing left for me was this.
I had been acting far too leisurely until now.
[Others might not know. They won’t understand that we came crawling up from the lowest floor. Look at the screen.]
“This is…”
[Something rather interesting is happening. Inside this cave. Fascinating… very fascinating. It appears to be the first signs of a new ‘force’ that our Legion is encountering after the white cave ants.]
The screen showed bloodstains and traces of battle discovered by the scouts.
The Legion seemed to have slowed down, caught in buffering.
It was the first time we were encountering such traces.
And I felt the same way.
It was entirely plausible that the dragon lizard we had chased out was hunted.
However, it shocked me that those hunters used metal weapons like swords and arrows.
“…A needle? An awl?”
If that metal weapon was something familiar, it was even more surprising.
[Did you feel a sense of discomfort?]
“Even if such a force exists on a hundred counts, this is crossing the line.”
How on earth could they mine and smelt metal in this cave?
Moreover, it didn’t make sense that a needle, meant for making clothing, was used as a weapon.
“They are other players.”
[And they are our enemies. Keep that in mind. The Legion has not yet evolved enough to interact with you. They haven’t even acquired language yet. Therefore, as always, the Legion will attempt to devour the enemy.]
“…Will we actually lose?”
How on earth did they catch the dragon lizard?
Using needles as weapons and leaving behind traces with small footprints compared to the lizards of this floor, dragging their tails along the ground.
This meant they could use tactics collectively, utilize tools, and wage war.
If they could catch a dragon lizard, they could probably land a hit.
[Fortunately, the Legion has already gained some experience. They are a new type of enemy. Gathering information. That is the priority.]
The likelihood of the opponent recognizing our identity was low.
It seemed that there were no traces of them coming down.
After all, gluttony is the very purpose of the Legion as a race.
That’s why we had surged up to this point, but for others, there would be no need for unnecessary risks.
*
“Hey! Aren’t you looking at your phone too much lately?! You didn’t listen to me again, did you?!”
“Ah?!”
A noisy classroom just like any other day.
Kang Do-yeon frowned and finally said something to her friend.
Her friend, Oh Yu-na, startled, quickly turned off her phone and flinched.
“What kind of game is it? Or are you doing something like coins and looking at it all the time?”
“Ah, no, it’s nothing like that. I won’t look anymore.”
Oh Yu-na apologized for not focusing on her friend’s words and just looking at her phone.
Kang Do-yeon had a dissatisfied expression but couldn’t say anything more.
“I used to be addicted when I was watching dramas, too…”
“It’s not like that.”
“Then what is it?”
She chuckled lightly as if it were no big deal.
Meanwhile, the actual person, Oh Yu-na, twisted the corners of her mouth.
“Something… very fun. Once you get hooked, you can’t get out. There’s another world in it.”
“…You’re just saying that? You really sound like an addict.”
“Of course.”
In a slightly dark voice, Oh Yu-na mumbled, and when her slightly flustered friend awkwardly smiled, she beamed and nodded.
‘Tattoo?’
As the class bell rang and everyone dispersed to their seats, Kang Do-yeon saw something in her friend’s hand, which was hidden under her cardigan.
A black pattern etched on the back of her hand.
Although small tattoos or body paint weren’t particularly significant among students nowadays, she felt an odd sense of unease upon seeing the design.
The reason was undoubtedly that she had seen something similar recently.
With a somewhat unsettled feeling, she sat in her seat, opened her book, and attended the class, naturally shifting her mood.
