Chapter 168 – The Third Force (3)
“It’s true that we are lacking in numbers.”
My expression hardened as I saw Kang Do-yeon collapsed on the floor of the Nest, unconscious. I had been hit before, and while we knew that death defined by Execution Authority didn’t mean much to us, it still felt unpleasant.
“Why is that? Your plan you devised, it should be sailing smoothly now.”
“Yet it’s still not enough. In my opinion, we need more troops.”
I shook my head at Eve’s words. If we had enough time, it might not matter, but surprisingly, we didn’t have much time.
Soon, the rebel Alliance would use their newly gathered forces to attack Eve. They had to reclaim their land. And among them, a few demons from the demonic realm would also be included.
Therefore, I was planning to set up a position before their vigilance increased, assuming Eve would fight them at least on equal terms.
“But how? You can’t muster a large military force like I can due to your lack of ability.”
“The way is… we just need to find it.”
It’s impossible for a human mind to repeat countless thoughts simultaneously. So we had to find another way. A different method to command a multitude of troops alone.
The problem was that I couldn’t even come up with a clear answer despite wracking my brain as a typical 24-year-old human male.
“This won’t be easy. Absolutely not.”
“You’re right. Something beyond our limits is required.”
I frowned and squeezed my head. For now, I was insufficient. It seemed better to trust someone who was more capable and desperate for ideas.
Someone who longs for something finds it easier to surpass their limits. Thirsty for evolution… At that moment, someone flashed into my mind and my eyes widened.
“That guy is an important spy planted in the Alliance.”
“There’s another one, you know. And in just two days, we’ll infiltrate the Alliance.”
Eve pouted as she caught onto my thoughts, but I diligently persuaded her. At least the logic that we needed a spy in the Alliance was no longer necessary.
We were now set to deploy to the Alliance’s planet, voluntarily dispatched according to the agreement made by the Guardian Alliance with the Alliance.
“It’s come to the point where we fight ourselves.”
Eve murmured incredulously. As she said, we, who had been acting as hunters from the Guardian Alliance on Earth, were now dispatched to the colonized territory under attack by the Alliance.
To that very territory, where Eve had been pushed back to ground warfare aboard the fortress-class spaceship, Jakov. From our perspective, it felt rather funny.
—
“Then I’ll be going in, Colonel.”
“Proceed.”
Inside the Alliance’s spaceship. Richard, having concluded that day’s tasks, stood up alone to organize documents.
“I heard that preparations to depart from the main base are already complete. They’ll warp here soon.”
“Such things happen in life…”
Several people passed by chatting next to him. He listened to their conversation while staring blankly ahead.
‘By the way, they’re leaving too. I don’t understand what it means.’
Richard was already aware of the names of those leaving. Two names were listed on that list.
Those two were monsters. Monsters whose identities he could not fathom. Richard had already considered them as indigenous beings living on Earth, concealing their forms and living among humans.
The fact that they controlled and manipulated their own bodies did not concern him. Another spy, Pyles, was withering away day by day, but Richard only regretted not having researched that mysterious power more.
“…Hmm?!”
At that moment, Richard was startled as chills ran down his spine. This familiar sensation meant that the monster controlling his body had something to say.
‘Can you communicate naturally?’
“I’ll be heading to my office now.”
Rather than feeling tense at the resonating voice in his head, he smiled. He soon arrived at his office and locked the door.
“I’ve heard the news. We’re leaving Earth, but we won’t be able to maintain our communication, right?”
‘You truly are a strange human. But I prefer it this way. That desire, that longing. How about displaying it properly, not just as a mere spy?’
In response to Richard’s words, Shin Woo, who realized he was slightly excited by checking his bodily state, forced a smile.
“My desire? How would you know what it is, and how would you fulfill it?”
‘Well, to be honest, I don’t know very well. So just take a look. Then you’ll understand what power you can gain.’
“Ugh…”
Right after the words ended, he gasped and slumped over into his chair. Without stopping, his eyes rolled back as he trembled and convulsed.
Normally, the nanomachines in his body would have sounded an alarm, but now only the cells of the Legion that created illusions filled his body.
‘You have no idea what we are.’
What Shin Woo directly showed him in his mind was none other than the Legion’s appearance.
The sight of the entire planet covered by the Legion’s Nest, the ships demolishing other ships, and the legionnaires blackening the ground.
‘You’ve always wanted to evolve. Do you truly wish to become one with us?’
Shin Woo slowly began to persuade him to fully assimilate. As convulsions lessened and his eyes returned to normal, he stared blankly at the ceiling.
“These terrifying monsters.”
Then he chuckled as if he found it absurd.
“Of course. I won’t refuse that power.”
Richard, who was laughing like a madman, soon accepted the proposal.
‘Even though it’s an act of betraying humanity?’
“What does that matter? Even when fragmentary information was delivered, I anticipated that you would become a greater force. Experiencing it directly now is different. You’re bound to devour the entire universe and annihilate the Alliance and the Guardian; it’s clear that I can’t stay on the losing side.”
He made quick judgments. Shin Woo did not need to say that he would prevent that from happening.
‘Then let me tell you what you must do.’
Before incorporating him into the Legion, Shin Woo revealed that purpose. The notion of entrusting the command of countless troops to him made his eyes widen slightly.
‘It certainly won’t be easy. Unlike beings who are innately hive-minded.’
“I don’t think it’s entirely impossible.”
Despite the shocking process, Richard quickly found his own answer.
“Of course, it’s impossible to make each one move like a living entity, but if I can use simple commands to execute pre-stored action orders, then it’s possible to make them move—like automated robots.”
‘My choice was a wise one. Then let’s see you try.’
Shin Woo offered him an opportunity, showing unexpectedly deep interest. If his theory succeeded, it would mean the emergence of a subordinate entity of the hive mind solely for handling legionnaires.
Richard began planning an escape from the spaceship right there. He was one of the important figures, and thorough surveillance made it impossible to escape through ordinary methods.
—
‘This is the moment for a true leap. To become an existence with endless possibilities, whose end cannot be predicted.’
He was born an elite. His life had been the very embodiment of a flawless elite, and he constantly utilized his talents for the Alliance and his own force.
However, he felt a slight lack while working as a scientist for the Alliance. That lack was quickly filled as he met beings with Formancy and various powers on Earth, but it wasn’t enough yet.
So when he was infected by Eve and caught a glimpse of the Legion’s powers, he was greatly excited to have found a power that could completely fill his emptiness.
And finally, that opportunity had arrived.
“Who… huh?”
The guard on duty turned around at a sudden feeling of alarm, but there was no one by his side.
Richard, having raised the infected cells in his body to the skin layer and forced himself to hide, passed by the bewildered guard and easily attached the homemade bomb to the designated spot.
He planned to create an explosion to distract them and escape in the chaos.
‘Setting the other side is complete too.’
Shin Woo used another spy, Pyles, to install explosives on the other side. There was absolutely no chance of suspicion. This explosion would thoroughly obliterate his own office, making him officially declared dead.
“Detonate.”
Once Richard reached the vicinity of the emergency escape hatch, he pressed the detonate button without hesitation.
At the same time, the massive spaceship trembled. The emergency alarms blared mercilessly, and the screams of panicking people filled the air.
Hearing those sounds, Richard forcibly opened the emergency escape hatch. What unfolded below wasn’t the void of space but the dark waters of the Pacific illuminated by the moonlight.
‘Jump into it. I’ll open the gate there.’
“Ah… Hahaha!”
He laughed wildly like a madman and finally leaped toward the ocean thousands of meters below. Certainly, anyone who didn’t know would have thought he was a person intending to commit suicide.
“Glug…”
Without a single safety device, he dove into the air and fell helplessly, unable to open his eyes properly.
However, soon a small fissure began to slowly appear in the expected trajectory of his fall, just large enough for a person to fit through.
