Chapter 158: Great Chaos and Great Invasion (3)
“I’m not planning to devour all the planets currently under attack. Just two of them. Since their forces are split into three branches or more, securing two shouldn’t be difficult.”
After I went through the trouble of supporting a challenging location to create an opportunity, Eve mentioned that she didn’t intend to consume everything anyway.
“First, I need to stabilize things.”
“Then what will you do next?”
“The enemies will surely come to reclaim their land. Then it starts again. I’ll seize, and they’ll fight to stop me.”
Eve nodded as if that was the natural course of things. I had nothing much to say. I already knew that Eve’s gluttony and growth had no end.
This was a path determined from the beginning, no matter what choice I made or what happened to us along the way.
“So… what will you do in the meantime?”
“I’ll have to fulfill my duties like you. But now that I’ve gained this power, I don’t want to just sit around and let it go to waste.”
At Eve’s counter-question, I chuckled. It wasn’t that I hadn’t thought things through. Especially after the recent battle with the orcs from the demonic realm, my thoughts had solidified.
Since becoming a hive mind, I wanted to handle my power in a way that was uniquely my own, even just to stand as an opponent for Eve.
Just as Eve was developing beyond the cosmos, I wanted to carve out my territory and forge a new force with my own troops.
“… It’s surprising. I thought you’d only nag about everything, but now you’re adopting a legion’s mindset.”
“I nag too. And it’s not a legion’s mindset.”
I absentmindedly replied as I fiddled with my phone. Since the serious discord between Earth and the demonic realm began, the world’s culture and trends had changed significantly.
With the involvement of alien forces like the Alliance and the Rebel Union, war with the demonic realm had always captured everyone’s attention.
Heroes, now treated with more fame than celebrities, were certainly more popular than before, and the current situation was even more pronounced.
“… For now, I’m going to strike at the demonic realm fighting against Earth.”
Putting my phone away, I reached my decision.
“Are you sure? Is that the right judgment?”
“Eve, you judged that the land there was too barren and filled with enemies to be worth consuming, even more than REDRIUM. But if I do it right, I might minimize inefficiency and consume that land.”
I was being serious. After considering various factors, I saw no reason to keep the demonic realm—a continuing threat to Earth—around any longer. For now, the demons of the demonic realm were my enemies and uncontrollable foes.
It would be better for me to consume that land. The work the demons did? I could just take over that role instead.
Moreover, if I could eliminate any connections with the Rebel Union, Earth, especially the Protector Alliance, would perfectly belong to the Legion’s force. This would surely aid us in future situations.
Additionally, I could reduce the number of people dying meaninglessly in a prolonged war. Expanding my own force would be a bonus.
“… Interesting. To become a third force, grow strong, and then devour that place.”
“Once the stabilization of the planets you aimed for is complete, I’ll move my troops from Lattice to the demonic realm. Though weird spells affecting the entire demonic realm block warp coordinates and gate coordinates, Earth isn’t connected to the demonic realm.”
I even had the identity to obtain as much information about the demonic realm as I wanted. My access to that place was free.
It wouldn’t be difficult. The situation was somewhat special, but if I replicated what Eve did at the start when she first conquered Eden after coming out of the labyrinth, that would suffice.
“Hey you two! Are you available right now?! It’s an emergency call!”
At that moment, someone began banging on the door of our hotel room.
*
“… So, you said your brother suggested that we take the demonic realm? While killing the demons?”
[Yes. He’s a bit busy with two tasks at once, so I’ll relay the message instead.]
“I’m all for it. If my nails, wings, and swords can be used to kill those monsters.”
Kang Do-yeon nodded. Currently, she was in the cosmic domain of planet Lattice. As someone rampaging alone against the fleet, she was receiving nutrients and power from a nearby invasion fortress.
“Eve allowed that, right?”
[There’s no reason to refuse if no resources are used.]
“Then let’s go right away.”
She stood up. The route was simple. Warp back to Eden or REDRIUM, then use the gate there to head to Earth.
Once again stepping through a rift on Earth into the demonic realm would conclude the secret migration plan.
“But is it possible to open a gate from Earth to the demonic realm?”
[Eve determined it was possible. The two worlds are already connected. But surely, someone will notice.]
Though there were no issues, there was still something to consider. Kang Do-yeon also believed that there was only one unit on Earth capable of handling gates.
‘The first ones to open the door for the alliance were the Evolutions… Those people would surely oppose us too.’
That identity had been widely revealed for a long time. Of course, since it was merely a transit through Earth, the likelihood of a conflict was low. However, if we were to meet, a collision was assured. The unsettling feeling arose since there was some history between us.
“I’d recommend popping out and making a quick escape when the signal goes.”
The plan proceeded quickly and smoothly. Eve pointed toward beyond the gate in front of Shin Woo’s quickly assembled forces, including Kang Do-yeon.
“We’re trying to minimize the risks as per his request.”
“I know.”
“Really? Then let’s dash out.”
Eve grinned as she simultaneously created another rift on the opposite side. In unison, the legionnaires led by Oh Yu-na swiftly moved across the living room, starting to pass through the gate.
From REDRIUM to Earth, and then from Earth to the demonic realm.
The previously unbothered floor was muddied with footprints, but they paid it no mind as they rapidly moved.
“Thanks, Eve.”
The last was Kang Do-yeon, who had transformed into her human form. Nodding in acknowledgment of that greeting, Eve disconnected the connection between REDRIUM and Earth. Now only one gate remained in the living room.
Standing alone in the now-muddy house filled with all sorts of footprints, Kang Do-yeon quickly began to clean the floor. She hoped that her mother, who was living alone right now, wouldn’t be surprised.
After erasing her traces and finishing her cleaning, she crossed back through the door, and the now-closed living room was left with only a tranquil silence.
“First, the nest.”
Upon arriving in the demonic realm, Kang Do-yeon enveloped herself in armor once more and naturally began to direct the others who had arrived.
Since Shin Woo couldn’t multitask when it came to managing his forces, command would automatically pass to her, the next in line.
“We need to find a safe place. First, somewhere discreet and quiet.”
The most important thing was to mark a point to begin feeding. With the map of the nearby area, which she had obtained in advance, Kang Do-yeon, as agreed upon, decided on a cave-like shelter.
That would be their nest. They also couldn’t move indefinitely without nutrients and power.
To pinpoint this place’s location, it was near the main habitat of goblins, and it was also where the Alliance was battling in the Oceania area.
“But even if we have an overflow of energy, we can’t produce unlimited numbers.”
“On the other hand, they are fighting among themselves. And increasing numbers isn’t solely about production.”
At Oh Yu-na’s words, the experienced Kang Do-yeon shook her head. The situation was different compared to when they fought the existing dominant species, the mages, during their occupation battles.
The demon race, the ruling species of this land, was undoubtedly shaken by the ongoing war against the Earth Alliance.
Unlike before, which was a straightforward strength contest, now it meant they could operate more stealthily for gain.
‘Detection of a presence underground. A few massive creatures are quickly approaching this place, perhaps having recognized our identity.’
“This is good. We needed fodder to accelerate the nest’s growth.”
Using magic to read the terrain, before even feeling the vibrations, the report from the higher species caught Kang Do-yeon’s attention, and she donned her mask, her eyes shining.
The misguided demonic earth puppies didn’t even have a chance to pop out from the ground before they were struck and easily subdued by Kang Do-yeon’s punches that shook the earth with spells.
‘However, another movement has been detected from the northwest.’
But the denizens of the demonic realm weren’t the only creatures living there. After receiving the report, Kang Do-yeon enhanced her vision and scanned the distant area.
“Goblins. Goblins that have learned magic. They are the masters of this land.”
“… It’s making me think of school days for no reason.”
Oh Yu-na also frowned upon seeing the goblins. Those creatures were presumably units thought to be some mage, and they shared a different kind of ill fate with the two of them.
“Let’s go. Let’s kill them.”
“But your brother told us to hide our identities until the nest is stabilized.”
“Then I’ll just fight as a ‘human.'”
Kang Do-yeon instantly transformed her body and chuckled. It was quite a reluctance, painful, and inefficient act to alter her skin using multifunctional cells.
Oh Yu-na silently clicked her tongue at her, who performed such actions without a second thought.
