Chapter 161: Great Chaos and Great Invasion (6)
You don’t have to understand perfectly. As long as my simple intentions are conveyed, that’s enough.
If you have a grudge against those green-skinned kin, I will give you the chance, so fight alongside me.
‘If you agree, show it with your actions right now. Let’s fight together against them.’
I had my doubts, but indeed there were no means to restrain these creatures separately. As expected, they also had neither a horizontal nor strong relationship with the mountain goblins, who were the units.
As we spread out to hunt the green-skinned mountain goblins, a few infected goblins began to align and move in sync with us.
Moreover, they were extremely simple-minded. Once the tide began to shift, the number of those starting to fight alongside us increased rapidly.
Already disadvantaged in the battle, when the kin around me started raising their weapons and attacking, the speed of collapse accelerated.
‘Are you planning on giving all of these creatures a power source?’
‘Of course not. However, if they achieve results and become stronger on their own, I won’t be able to deny them that.’
Kang Do-yeon, who was watching that scene, asked momentarily in concern, but I shook my head. I could not give a power source to all these numerous beings. There was no reason to, and the investment value was too low.
However, since they also had emotions, I thought of providing rewards if they succeeded in becoming stronger by themselves.
‘Let’s withdraw. I’m curious about how the opponent will react after losing quite a bit of their forces. Let’s move according to their response.’
Immediately after the battle ended, I withdrew my forces. If I succeeded in recruiting all of them under me, our size would instantly grow more than tenfold.
“Are we going to keep increasing our numbers this way?”
“Increasing numbers is just a means, but for now, yes.”
The recruited red-faced goblins were transformed into legionnaires alive, similar to the mountain tribe. Since there were already small legionnaires based on goblins in the legion, the transformation was quickly carried out based on existing data.
“Of course, just because they have goblin brains doesn’t mean they necessarily have to be used like goblins.”
That wasn’t its limit, of course. What mattered to me was a brain that would move according to my instructions, not the body.
I could create the body. Even though the imperfect hive mind couldn’t manipulate genetic data, a characteristic of the race, it didn’t matter since Eve had created records for everything, and I could just use those.
If successful, even if a body of entirely different form was awkward, it might be possible to recreate the legionnaires that Eve controlled.
“What about the humans, that is, the Earth Federation army? As far as I know, they can’t move rashly because of political and economic issues and have been quiet.”
‘That’s correct. So far, there have been no movements.’
In response to my words, Richard, a higher species disguised as an ordinary research institute director watching from hiding and monitoring the federation’s garrison, sent in a report.
So far, it was going according to plan. I would continue to clash with the goblins and wear down their power. If their strength noticeably decreased, I expected the Federation army would then take action.
“Brother, are you perhaps thinking of recruiting people? Earthlings?”
“You know, there are many different types of people. Some would even sell their souls for their own purposes. It’s not strange that I would want to buy that soul, right? They will achieve their goals with the power I give, and I will gain their loyalty to fulfill my goals.”
Earth was another world I had to protect and my homeland. I had no intention of attacking it, but if I could use it, I would.
The same went for people. Humans were my kin, but it was impossible to protect all humans from demons and even from other humans.
…
Someone was visible to me through collective consciousness.
Richard, a legion agent, who was currently disguised as an ordinary research institute director. Unlike his subordinate Pyles, he was actively seeking the legion’s power.
Eve was controlling him, saying he was a crazy fool with much greed and little assistance, but I was interested in him. If such a situation truly arose, he might become a new brain.
*
“Is it top-secret information?”
“It’s classified material provided only to those involved in the project.”
Richard, now just a mere host aboard an alliance spacecraft, received a call from the captain and came to his office, unaware that someone was watching him.
“First, let me update you on the rebel alliance’s situation. In the end, they lost their planet to those unidentified space monsters.”
“I am aware of that part.”
Richard nodded at the captain’s words. Lately, what he was most interested in were not the superhumans of Earth, nor the demons of the demonic realm.
“New category Z, the moniker ‘Destruction Demon’ was attached based on the report of the rebel fleet which was the first to report.”
“Until now, only one of their nests was known but now there are three. Do you understand what their objective is?”
“Reproduction and expansion, am I right? Like insects, like monsters.”
Richard muttered to himself about the space monsters, scoffing as if it were obvious. In truth, it was somewhat accurate. Expansion, growth, reproduction, etc., matched Eve’s objectives perfectly.
“According to the information we obtained, they kill and devour all life, not leaving a single survivor, to expand their nests. But that’s not what I wanted to talk to you about.”
The captain, who was trembling while talking about those monsters, changed the subject.
“Anyway, the emergence of those space monsters and the war, their defeat, seems to have brought significant changes to the rebel alliance.”
The captain handed him the data. As Richard skimmed through it, his eyes began to shine progressively.
Since the moment he arrived on Earth, what he had been most interested in were those superhumans who couldn’t be explained even with their knowledge. Now, according to the data obtained, it seemed that the rebel alliance had ultimately aligned themselves with such beings, just as they were currently pushing for cooperation with Earthlings.
“Many of their items have begun appearing from the demonic realm. It’s clear that those who were connected from the beginning are finally shaking hands properly. The cause is undoubtedly those monsters. Isn’t it disgusting? Even if so, to join hands with cannibalistic monsters.”
“Cannibal? That’s a very trivial issue. Extremely interesting…”
“Anyway, they seem to be establishing a new system due to this war. Should we be left behind?”
The reason the higher-ups provided this top-secret material to the captain and others was simple. It was so that they could build a similar system before the rebel alliance, which they had newly established, became stronger.
“What do you think, captain, who is both a soldier and leads the fleet? Do you see the system they created to fight the monsters as a threat to the order of our alliance?”
“…If I hadn’t thought that way, we wouldn’t be here doing this.”
Shaking his head in response to Richard’s question just before leaving, the captain answered. He wasn’t pure, but he wasn’t without the capability of a commander either. Richard smiled as he left the office.
“Director.”
“What is it?”
“All hunters have been contacted.”
Pyles, a subordinate researcher, approached Richard as he exited the captain’s office.
Even just reporting that made Pyles’s face go pale. Richard instinctively understood the reason.
“…They have been contacted too, haven’t they?”
“Yes.”
“From what I’ve seen so far, they must be listening to this conversation as well.”
At his muttering, Pyles flinched. He maintained a calm voice, but Pyles was anything but.
Pyles still vividly recalled the memory of being forcibly infected by Eve on that day.
‘Of course, they are listening.’
At the same time, a strange will of an unfamiliar presence was lodged in their consciousness. Yet Richard smiled as if he had been waiting.
“They may have heard, but this universe is vast, and there are countless monsters. Our alliance’s higher-ups are gathering other monsters to prevent those other creatures beyond the galaxy. What will you do?”
Richard was under the strong delusion that Eve and Shin Woo were indigenous beings of Earth.
Watching this situation, Shin Woo fell into thought for a moment. Whether to recruit Richard right now or wait a little longer.
‘I don’t care.’
In the end, Shin Woo decided to wait a little longer. Richard was exactly the kind of talent he needed, but there were still many uses for him as a spy, so it wouldn’t be too late to attempt after a few experiments.
‘I want to know a bit more about other stories.’
Instead, he shifted his gaze elsewhere. Richard had to carefully reveal the confidential data that he hadn’t paid attention to yet, contrary to his own will.
“Is it meaningful to know this now? This is information important only to others fighting the space monsters.”
‘Meaningful? Very much so.’
Richard didn’t notice that the tone of the will communicating with him subtly changed.
Thanks to that, Eve was able to learn more about what the now retreating rebel alliance was doing after losing planets.
