Chapter 17: The Loom of Fate (3)
The sound was like thunder, and the flash was incomparable to the light of any glowstone.
And that overwhelming physical force.
Even if those rat-sized creatures fired together, their accuracy was pitiful due to recoil.
But our soldiers were simply too large to miss.
[Even if they obtained the hardest and sturdiest armor, it was still insufficient. The azure shell of the shield-type legionnaire at the forefront was shattered in an instant, and their head exploded.]
“…It seems guns are indeed formidable.”
I bit my lip.
Compared to Earth’s creatures, those life forms in the cave displayed unbelievable abilities, yet they appeared powerless in the face of modern Earth’s gunpowder and bullets.
If that’s the case, there’s no answer for me. No animal on Earth is strong against firearms.
I don’t know who that player is, but it seems they live in a country without gun regulations.
[But aren’t you worried about knowing what the Legion is capable of?]
“I’m not worried. I’m just curious how they will react.”
I nodded.
Of course, I was surprised by the emergence of such a ridiculously powerful weapon as a gun, but I am also well aware of firearms.
“Only ten shots? Nine shots?”
I wasn’t sure about the capacity of that pistol, but it could only be around ten shots, right?
If I can endure it a little without fear, it should be fine. The problem is that the Legion doesn’t know that.
What choice should I make?
Having seen the power of the weapon that had piqued my interest, should we retreat or continue to advance?
[The Legion chose to advance. Even if they were to lose all the soldiers they just dispatched, they were determined to see it through.]
And the Legion pressed forward even more.
[Gunfire echoed continuously as the larger enemies fell one by one. The defensive structure began to shake, and the assault wavered. Their numbers were considerable, and the fortress was quite sturdy.]
“…The magazine must be running out. Just relay my words to them. If you know what the Legion is thinking, you should be able to convey what I say!”
[I am merely a guide and an observer. Even if I relay your words verbatim, they wouldn’t understand. Encouraging them? That’s an intervention I cannot make.]
“What a useless…”
I sighed in frustration, but for now, I could only watch.
Despite the fierce resistance, the Legion did not cease their attack.
Rather… they doubled their forces.
“Is this the right approach?”
[Why is that?]
Twice, no, three times… four times?
The number of soldiers crawling out of the nest didn’t decrease; instead, it continued to increase.
“What, what is this? Why are they acting like it’s the end?”
[What is this tingling sensation? As we repeat war and face their hot and fierce resistance, we felt a sensation we had not experienced before. The cause is unclear. If I were to hypothesize, it might be one of the reasons behind the advanced nervous system, the brain of the Legion, which has been steadily developed until now.]
“What does that mean?”
[I don’t want to lose. I want to kill. I want to eat. I want to fight.]
Perhaps it was because of the incredible numbers.
Now, the front line expanded to encompass the entire fortress.
Flying types densely filled the air, attacking the enemies over the fortress walls, while the larger types pushed their heads and armor in through the gaps.
[This is the moment when we feel something beyond sheer gluttony. Ah… this moment will be recorded in history. The Legion is gradually learning the basic concept of ’emotion.’ This is something self-generated. It is not from consuming or replicating, but solely from themselves.]
As I read those words, I felt an involuntary shiver.
For some reason, the soldiers appeared different.
Countless entities, countless types of soldiers.
But essentially, those soldiers soon became one existence.
It seemed that now I could see it.
In the teeth, claws, tails, and stingers of the once mechanical and dry Legion soldiers, a peculiar bloodlust was gradually manifesting.
[Do not disregard emotions. Sometimes one may stab oneself, but ultimately, it is the primal and intense desires that push one beyond their limits.]
The war was now just beginning.
Victory or defeat would be determined not by overwhelming force but by which side collapsed first.
If the Legion loses this battle, they would lack the energy to produce such a large army again.
Instead, they have the advantage of rapidly cycling through the depleted soldiers based on explosive production capacity.
However, those rats, with a lower turnover rate than ours, were engaging in defensive warfare using various tools and facilities.
Moreover, the stockpiled supplies they had amassed were on par with ours.
“…A stalemate?”
[Is that really the case? Look at their expressions, one by one. It’s strange. So very strange. Their formerly abundant confidence is gradually waning. They must have been complacent. They surely thought they would win, especially after repelling our advancements multiple times.]
The cracks in the rats’ unity began to show.
Clearly, they stacked their corpses, yet why was that happening?
“@%*!!”
Some of them screeched in despair as they gazed at their now inert guns.
Of course. Bullets that are infinite only exist in fictional games.
[We are different. We are the Legion. Even when we emit sounds never heard before in our lives, or when our strongest soldiers are killed with a single blow, we do not flinch. We simply kill, fight, and devour. Our soldiers move as one body without the slightest tremor.]
Though they united and fought well in their own ways, clear differences existed.
We are a species capable of making choices.
Though they may feel determination and anger, facing a goal in front of them, they do not shatter and collapse in fear and terror.
But those rats were different.
[Once doubt sets in, fear immediately consumes that doubt and grows. If they have emotions, this is inevitable. The same must be true for the Legion, but the Legion possesses what they cannot.]
When a gap appears, we relentlessly exploit that exact spot.
At last, one soldier climbing up the body of the larger enemy swung its sharp tail like a blade, splitting a spear-wielding rat in half.
[Among many, we are one, and we possess trust. Infinite trust in ourselves and in each other. But what about them? The desire for survival… that is something natural for any living being.]
“…I can agree with that.”
The rats’ formation fell apart.
The cause was the retreat of the intimidated ones.
Ironically, as their intelligence increased and their emotional spectrum diversified, it brought both benefits and drawbacks.
The fear spreading through the crowd squared in potency.
[The Legion began to tear and widen their wounds. I was convinced it was a de facto victory.]
Finally, the Legion’s ground power surpassed the fortress’s defenses.
If they had failed, it would have been an arduous second attempt at a large-scale siege.
Whether the Legion truly made use of the rats’ fear, just as they were beginning to understand what emotions are, remains unknown, but nonetheless, they won.
[It is the time for slaughter.]
When the formation collapses and chaos ensues, given the physical differences, we would triumph.
In this wide and spacious upper level, the screeching screams resonated endlessly.
The defeated were mercilessly slaughtered in a brutal ecosystem.
Amidst all this, the Legion continues to grow.
“Is there any reward? After all, I just won my first PVP.”
[If we can ‘exterminate’ them and eliminate them completely, a reward will be granted.]
“What?”
I asked without much thought, but my expression hardened upon hearing the answer.
Then I glanced at the back of my hand.
I still had an unused execution authority remaining.
What could the opposing player have?
At least, as long as it was the same as my execution authority, it wouldn’t matter.
“Do you think there will be a reward?”
[…The opponent has used their species preservation right. Therefore, extermination is impossible. No reward will be given.]
“What a shame.”
It was a bad outcome I had somewhat anticipated.
What a cowardly time to run away.
“Ugh, this is draining.”
I set my phone down.
It was already dark outside.
My neck was stiff, and my eyes felt dry.
After watching the war unfold for hours, it couldn’t be helped.
“…”
In the darkened room, I quietly listened.
Kang Do-yeon had just returned home.
The friends she had been with all testified in unison that absolutely nothing had happened today.
The cross-examination seemed factually accurate based on the timeline, but I still couldn’t feel at ease.
[…I’ll give you one hint.]
“What? You?”
[Be prepared.]
At that moment, a message popped up with a buzz.
I froze for a moment at the unexpected content.
[Once the game hits the mainstream, it will likely be… difficult to maintain a normal daily life. There is no certainty that what occurred today won’t happen on Earth.]
The following words were shocking.
“What on earth does that mean?”
[It is what it is. It’s a fact that can be inferred quite well. The player and the unit.]
“…Now tell me. Who are you? How do you know that?”
[I would have said it. I am merely an observer.]
My hands trembled.
At the same time, in my mind, the large-scale war I had just witnessed was unfolding.
Was it possible that such a war could occur on Earth… or could it not be ruled out.
[It is a vicious game. So please survive. Protect what you want, your people.]
“I have no power.”
[I know.]
“But you said you could help me.”
I picked up my phone.
A strong player and a strong unit can meet and make each other stronger.
But I was not one of them. In this situation, the only ones I could trust were the creatures I had been watching over.
“Is the job… tough?”
I felt I should keep a closer watch on things.
But first, I needed to take care of my younger sibling.
