Chapter 156 – Great Chaos and the Great Invasion (1)
War evolves each side to the extreme, a kind of law that can be found in the history of Earth.
Thanks to the rebel alliance that introduced the concept of a space fleet, Eve, who had been utterly broken, underwent a dimensional evolution and became a cosmic force.
And in response to Eve’s full-scale attack, this time they grew stronger.
The power they have cultivated in countless worlds cannot be overlooked. If those powers can combine well, the newborn force known as Eve will surely be at a disadvantage.
“So what are we supposed to do? Wasn’t our plan to stop Eve’s rampage from within?”
“That’s just part of the plan. What I want is balance. To maintain that balance, I need to go anywhere and face anyone.”
I provided a more detailed answer to my sister’s words.
“Look at the information I’m sending you right now. While Eve is focusing on the main force of Planet Valen and the defense of Eden, there is a hole that has opened.”
Planet Lattice. I shared the information about that place among us using collective consciousness.
Unlike Planet Senzel, where Reina is attacking, the power of the Legion is relatively weak on Lattice right now.
The enemies there were preparing a counterattack.
“Monsters… it’s high-ranking monsters. Orcs!”
Kang Do-yeon gritted her teeth as she recognized something.
It was a past grudge. Both I and Kang Do-yeon, along with our mother, harbored a special hatred for monsters, especially orcs.
One of the orcs was responsible for the brutal murder of our father, who had rushed to protect us siblings.
“Of course, it doesn’t matter if they’re orcs or not. From now on, we will become a legion and kill the enemies trying to attack our allies on Lattice.”
In fact, the demon realm that teamed up with the rebel alliance appearing in Lattice, the place we were headed, was fortunate because they happened to be orcs, but I convinced myself that such matters no longer concerned me.
According to Eve’s calculations, in order to establish a foothold amidst this rapidly changing landscape, Eve must transform at least three planets into full nests in the most efficient environment.
The legion is not invincible. Without a production base, high-grade units cannot be created, and without energy, all activities come to a halt.
If the current offensive on Lattice fails, the enemies will focus their attacks on Valen, which is still in the process of driving out the enemies and nesting, or Eden, which has just completed transformation into a full nest.
“If necessary, we will kill. No matter who the opponent is. That’s our way. Understood? Yu-na, you too.”
“…You really are a terrifying person, brother.”
I turned my head, half-wearing my mask.
My sister, Kang Do-yeon, was not the only one there; also standing beside me was Oh Yu-na, my direct subordinate submind. She, too, remodeled, appeared just like us.
“To balance with death.”
“Of course. I have to catch two rabbits.”
I pushed my face closer to hers.
“You don’t know yet. What I’m doing inevitably requires a tremendous cost. I will go so far as to sever the limbs of both rabbits to have them both, and I won’t hesitate to use any means to achieve that. Even if it means countless people die in the process.”
I could see my reflection in Oh Yu-na’s startled red eyes. Now, her features were completely obscured by the mask; she resembled a monster. It was monstrous.
‘I will force it upon you as well. I’m not the type to collect companions and enjoy adventures comfortably. I will kill, destroy, and become an enemy to achieve what I want. Definitely.’
“Ah, I understand.”
Startled by my intense will through the collective consciousness, Oh Yu-na’s face was masked as if she were fleeing.
The painful realization I made in that horrifying process, even if only imperfectly becoming a hive mind, was that it is absolutely impossible for anyone in this world to have everything.
So I discarded part of my humanity. Now, I am no longer human, so I have no hypocritical standards made by humans.
I am merely struggling to survive in this fierce competition for survival, to save myself.
‘Call the Cheongsan tribe. Those who are oppressed and scattered, barely surviving, will unite with us.’
‘…Yes.’
Oh Yu-na, like me still capable of wielding the powers of a player, activated the gifting function using her phone.
Her unit, the Cheongsan tribe, was also caught up in the game while living in an unknown world. Though they desperately endured even in the absence of a player, they eventually crumbled.
About 100 members were hiding, barely preserving their lives, having been slaughtered by other units. I intended to integrate them all into the legion.
‘They have no choice. I will give them power, and they will act according to my orders.’
They already knew the situation. According to Oh Yu-na, they had accepted their fate.
Even if they were to refuse, I planned to enforce it, but it was better that they took the initiative.
‘I got the coordinates.’
Like when I informed Eve of Earth’s coordinates, they used the crystal ball I sent to them as a gift to inform me of their coordinates.
Based on that coordinate, I opened a gate in an instant. The shimmer of the void, and then the crack. I could see people gathering, led by a stout man holding a crystal ball.
Their faces were filled with fear and vigilance. It was understandable, but there was no time to consider everyone separately.
“No time.”
I pointed to the 100 prepared nests.
“Get inside all of you.”
The fact that they had survived until now meant that they at least possessed minimal capabilities. I pushed them into the nests.
‘Inefficient, it’s clearly inefficient.’
“Don’t interfere, Eve.”
‘You may have a solid upper hierarchy over me, but all you can do is prevent insubordination. You have no means to control them as you wish. What do you think increasing the unverified subminds to 100 will accomplish?’
“The means of control and command are not all about hive minds. You wouldn’t know, since you’re not needed.”
‘…Fine. I’ll watch for now.’
Eve, still not in a good mood, grumbled.
But I was confident. Above all, the Cheongsan tribe was like me, those who wanted vengeance and had something to gain.
What was needed for that was strength. If I could provide that strength, it wouldn’t be impossible to work together.
“There’s no need to fear death, nor to hesitate. Tell them that if they work well and build achievements as commanded, I could give them more power devices. You know how powerful that is, right?”
“I understand.”
While the remodeling of the Cheongsan tribe was underway, I presented a carrot to Oh Yu-na for them.
Currently, Oh Yu-na is a high-output advanced being equipped with ten power units inside and out.
She realized directly that this power maximized the effectiveness of the basic spells she had learned. Once others feel that, they would surely desire more.
[Most of the remodeling is complete.]
“Then let’s set off immediately.”
Once the remodeling was completed, they began breaking out of the nests one by one.
Their insides were completely different, but their appearances were nearly identical to those of other upper species. The more like a monster they looked, the less resistance there was, so their egos wouldn’t fall into chaos.
Soon, a kilometer-class spaceship capable of warp, borrowed from Eve, approached.
‘Destination is Lattice. Warping now.’
The ship carrying us swiftly ascended to a safe altitude and then emitted a massive power as it warped toward the destination.
‘I will block it!’
As soon as we warped, we were greeted by numerous enemy ships bombarding the fortress.
Kang Do-yeon spread her wings and took to the sky to join the space battle. I ignored that scene and brought the ship into the atmosphere.
At the same time, I shared a portion of consciousness with my troops, including Oh Yu-na.
‘Those ugly monsters you see now are our targets. Yu-na, you will deal with the gray-skinned orcs along with the others.’
‘What about you, brother?’
‘…I’ll take out the leader.’
I divided my troops into two. One group would be sent to deal with the orcs rampaging toward our legionnaires, and I decided to target the leader commanding those orcs.
This was my first moment of directly confronting humanity as part of the legion.
