Chapter 16: The Cycle of Fate (2)
“I’m really worried about this.”
I have to go to school.
Kang Do-yeon had already woken up early and was on her way to school.
In this situation, what does school even matter? But I couldn’t just drop everything and cling to that thought.
I scratched my head frantically.
I wanted to know how to handle this from my end, no, I just wanted to know the truth.
[Will that be enough?]
“She’s always been a close friend, so she should know something. If you, who kept babbling about fate, just told me the truth, we wouldn’t be in this situation. Is there really a connection with this game?”
Although there was definite unease, it was still the very early stages.
It was more likely to be a personal issue rather than getting caught up in this game.
In that situation, it seemed difficult to bring up this unrealistic situation, that is, about the player and the game.
[That cannot be spoken of. The judgment is your responsibility.]
“I knew it… Fine. For now, I’ll just find out what I can.”
In the end, the method I chose with a sigh was not particularly appealing.
I sent a message to a friend of my younger sibling through social media.
Asking if they could let me know if anything happened.
Ultimately, I left for school feeling somewhat uneasy.
Fortunately, a reply came quickly, and the content was not bad.
Today, as well as yesterday, everything was just the same as usual—hanging out with friends and going to the academy.
Of course, I had to think about whether I could trust this friend.
I also sent messages to other friends.
“I don’t know either. No matter how I think about it, I feel like I’m dumber than the legion.”
[From my perspective, it seems that way too.]
“…”
I stared blankly at my phone.
It had become a habit to check it, even without any specific updates.
As usual, the legion was preparing for war.
[It seems that they are now starting to notice strange things and think about a serious response.]
The ‘main body’ of the legion had already extended its roots to the 13th level, having consumed most of the first level.
This gigantic organism, both one and many, broke through the hard stones deep within the cave, transforming its shape and expanding its size.
This ancient and deep cave’s history was being changed by us.
[The scouts have appeared and started to investigate. Some among them appear to be riding tamed, bird-like creatures.]
After seeing the rat bastards, I noticed that as I climbed the level, another change in the vegetation started to emerge.
It wasn’t the reptiles or amphibians that I had been seeing all along, but the appearance of feathered life forms was new to this cave.
[Of course, for the legion, which already had information about birds, feathers were not particularly mystical objects.]
Having steadily built experience since the cellular era, the legion understood the importance of scouts well.
The reverse was also true.
Blocking the enemy’s scouting.
Immediately, the legion’s aerial units set off to claim the skies.
Based on the data accumulated so far, the combat power of the scouting party was pathetic.
[The speed of the feathered creatures they were riding was quite fast, but it was already too late.]
And, just as I had expected, none of them escaped their fate.
[But this is just the beginning. Look, their power is indeed strong enough to compete with other levels.]
The screen of my phone flickered.
I was left speechless as I looked at the screen that the scout was viewing.
The view of the second level, the 15th level, which I reached after climbing the rough tributary, looked vastly different from the first level, the 10th level.
The cave was still barren, but the vegetation was more diverse, and more importantly, small plants other than moss were noticeable.
“…Was that their stronghold?”
I let out a hollow laugh.
Fortresses and paths stretching across the entire level, countless nests, and at least thousands of those rat bastards.
I had thought that sheer numbers were our legion’s pride, but it didn’t seem to be the case.
[The legion was once again modifying its strategy. The ones we’ve seen until now were just a small group. The real war starts now.]
It seemed they were preparing for war as well.
Fortunately, while they hadn’t noticed our scouts, we were able to scour their territory.
At that moment, I noticed large pieces of metal being transported.
“No way, this is insane.”
And when I saw what followed, I couldn’t hold back my expletives.
A neatly polished silver body.
A well-gripped handle.
“Why is that thing over there?”
[It was the emergence of a tool the legion didn’t know about.]
A rat, clad in shabby armor and dangling ornaments, was carefully transporting what looked like a large caliber handgun.
“I don’t know who it is, but it doesn’t seem like a player from our country…”
I rubbed my throbbing head.
A large caliber handgun? Can that thing, which can even smash a watermelon into powder, really inflict significant damage on us?
“It might be plausible.”
[Since they unveiled a new tool, the legion decided to proceed cautiously. First, we need to find out what that tool is.]
It was a bit frustrating, but given that there was no way to communicate right now, I had no choice but to leave it to the legion.
Still, I thought that since they were smarter than me, they might quickly find an answer regarding the gun.
[The legion sent a reconnaissance team. They know that those who are prepared and equipped are sturdier. So, they planned to act before the enemies finished preparing everything.]
Agile aerial units soared once again.
Their purpose was singular: to continuously harass the enemy until the main force was ready to strike.
[The enemies have noticed our attack. The first strike is merely a taste. Venomous stingers and claws flew toward the enemies hurriedly moving over the fortress.]
As before, the enemies worked together, launching spears and arrows at the larger legionnaires.
The arrows shot from close range appeared to possess some penetration power, as the armor surrounding the soldiers began to pierce.
[Indeed, it seems they won’t be using any secret weapon here. But the legion will continue to attempt such guerrilla tactics. We will not tire, but the enemies will definitely grow weary.]
Mutual attrition.
If the legion deems this advantageous, they will keep repeating this tactic.
They already knew their strengths well.
“Those rats will surely be shaken. Any living creature should naturally possess the instinct of survival.”
Survival instincts are innate to any living being.
But the legion was the exception.
“…”
Again.
Once more, that black wave rushing from the lower levels surged across the sky toward us.
This time, they raised their spears, crossbows, and swords to fight.
Now they were no longer mere cave-dwelling rats.
With their special traits of rapid breeding and growth, they quickly cycled and increased their population.
As the generation replacement cycle accelerated, they grew smarter and stronger.
They were no longer rats that simply fed on the corpses of other animals.
They were a local force aiming to conquer this level and expand their influence externally.
The pride of the new generation was something that could not be expressed in words.
“…!”
They fought valiantly against these invaders.
They had not just fought a battle or two.
And through learning, the younger generation quickly learned and developed new solutions.
They methodically took down and exterminated enemies far larger than themselves.
Though there were some enemies that banded together, a mere beast horde could not compare with their unity and organization.
“&@%!!”
However, the enemies they were up against this time were different from any beasts they had encountered before.
Panic set in as dozens fell dead.
With their gigantic wings spread wide, their attacks were densely packed and intricate.
Their commander’s booming orders were beyond those who listened to them.
“@#~!!!”
However, they did not give up.
They continued to fight over the corpses of countless kin.
Defying death, they suppressed their fear with their fighting spirit.
For a warrior, fighting was the norm.
Their faith in themselves was also steadfast.
And, at the end of that brutal battle with the monsters.
They emerged victorious.
They cheered.
They had already defeated those black monsters several times.
Their morale soared.
Though the production and exploratory activities were significantly reduced to fill the void left by fallen kin, victory was still victory.
And this triumph was not merely theirs.
They paid their respects to the divinity, following the command of the priest.
Always for someone who bestowed mystical weapons and teachings upon them.
According to descending knowledge, their growth began due to the blessings bestowed by that someone.
“&…!”
Though their short lives meant they wouldn’t live long, everyone was confident that they would soon grow to conquer this endless cave.
[But how arrogant this thought is. Is the immediate victory truly a genuine gain?]
“%@…”
Their momentum would not last long this time either.
The information passed through survivors from the decimated forward base began to show the true picture.
A dreadful monster legion’s grand advance.
While being tormented, the legion’s nest had silently extended its roots to consume all lower levels.
[The legion dispatched a large force to draw out their power. I can see their shocked faces. They must be astonished, unaware that we are the legion.]
Mixed among the rats, varied types of legionnaires marched slowly, smashing everything in sight.
The rats hurriedly gathered at their fortresses.
Perhaps sensing the urgency, their numbers were significant.
[The legion challenged them to battle once again. Over the fiercely charging ground troops, the aerial units that had seized control of the skies sliced through the air.]
Now, the aerial units had thoroughly switched to support roles.
They snatched up poisoned toads and hurled them into the air.
Even if the arrows that were raining down burst the swollen toads, the bursting toads merely scattered their toxic essence.
Amid the panic of the bombardment, the artillery reached the target range and started to scatter poisonous quills.
Meanwhile, the main force entered the fortress—this was the legion’s siege strategy.
[Ah, is it finally coming to light? To boost morale and deal with the formidable foe.]
At that moment, it appeared above the fortress.
A dazzling silver glint reflected the light of the luminous stones.
