Chapter 174 – The Third Force (9)
“I was honestly a bit surprised when I first saw that girl on the internet.”
“Is it because of her skill?”
It was oddly ticklish on my nose. Is this what it feels like when your child is praised?
“No, it’s because she shows no hesitation in her swordsmanship and killing intent.”
However, Chae Yeon’s words were not mindless compliments. Of course, I agreed with the parts she just mentioned. If I hadn’t held back or guided her, Eve would have only seen Earth as another land to consume.
“But if there’s no hesitation, that means she won’t anguish and ultimately destroy herself. If only we can steer that power in the right direction, it would be sufficient. I almost envy that aspect.”
“…There will be a way. It’s just that when a new opportunity arises. At that time, choices will have to be made.”
Is it okay to be a bit greedy? Chae Yeon’s words about things being hard are not a lie. Would it be acceptable to create someone like Liam with a submind?
Even if Eve does not envy it, I am different. As the hive mind of the Legion, I am always devising ways to become stronger.
“It was nice to see you after a long time. We will have many opportunities to meet… so let’s see each other then.”
Chae Yeon left for her room. I simply watched her retreating figure. For now, I must look for an opportunity. I apologize to her, but the moment of persuasion will be when she cannot hold on anymore and collapses.
*
[…]
“No matter how much I enhance my hearing, with the noise mixed in, I can’t hear it well.”
At the moment when the two people, having not met in a long time, were conversing, Eve, who had been pressing her ear against the door, returned her transformed ears to ordinary human ears.
[It seems my obsession has improved a bit since the fusion.]
“Despite the fusion, he has once again slipped out of my grasp.”
Eve, grumbling, plopped down onto a chair. Since they were now on equal footing within the Legion, she could no longer unilaterally observe what Shin Woo was listening to or saying through the collective consciousness.
“Besides, she was a female who was shaking his heart even before the fusion. Just thinking about how restless I was back then still annoys me.”
[He seems to be thinking in entirely different directions.]
“Shut up. For now, what’s important is something else.”
Shaking her head, Eve concentrated her awareness elsewhere. Although she was acting leisurely here, in reality, the main forces beyond the universe were preparing for simultaneous wars.
‘For now, a major restructuring is necessary.’
Understanding the grand principle of not being able to have everything, Eve decided to focus on securing victory first, despite her anger and frustration.
The first decision she made for that purpose was restructuring the ground forces.
‘Now that the enemies we’re facing are space forces, we need to adapt accordingly.’
Even now, legionnaires were being produced non-stop in the nests, operating in a semi-automatic manner like a program. Eve modified and reorganized their forms and strengths according to purpose and utility.
The ground forces produced so far were mostly fixed to the time when they crawled out of the labyrinth to face mages, with only a few additional classes.
‘Sturdy armor that can withstand firepower and mobility.’
Eve designed the newly produced medium- to large-scale mass-production legionnaires to specialize in long-range firepower battles, corresponding to the space forces.
Naturally, their forms became fixed as crustaceans or insects for ease of increasing defense, and four-legged beasts to maintain mobility.
[But that might make flexible movements like climbing walls difficult?]
“I don’t care. The superhumans hiding among them cannot be captured with mediocre numbers anyway. It’s better to let them focus on the higher beings and push through their regular troops.”
Having disregarded the enemy’s ground forces compared to the space fleet or superhumans in previous battles, Eve changed her policy.
It was to decisively push back the enemies on the ground that cover their troops with overwhelming firepower.
‘Moreover, I need to concentrate on firepower as well.’
Due to the nature of legionnaires being biological entities, unless using formancy, it is impossible to win in firepower against mechanized troops with firepower.
However, Eve also strengthened the types needed to ensure minimal firepower.
The genetic material from the degenerate species that had been devoured in the past was actively utilized here.
Of course, there were already operational ground artillery units like the earth dragon, as well as a floating small artillery unit resembling a bear-like creature.
Eve worked hard to increase firepower, even doubling the number of running heads. Countless data from various biological species she devoured while expanding her forces to other planets were fully utilized.
[You may think differently, but the Legion is continuously evolving in response to the enemy.]
“It’s still inadequate.”
While it was true that they evolved through experience and learning, Eve was still not satisfied. Ultimately, the higher beings that needed to face the enemy’s key factors also required upgrades.
However, upgrading the already high-powered universal types, which were also an upgrade for Eve as the hive mind, was not an easy task.
‘Their units have completely closed in.’
“I will send a portion of the fleet left in Valen. It’s likely they will attempt to settle things on the ground again.”
As Eve thoroughly prepared and watched the opponents launch time-lagged attacks, she clicked her tongue. As anticipated, the allied forces avoided the space fleet battles, which were not fully leverageable, and launched assault operations to terrorize the ground nests.
Moreover, even if Eve ignored the enemy fleet, it was difficult to invest that overwhelming fleet power on the ground.
The ground was only her own nest, so shelling at ground enemies would ultimately be self-destructive.
“The fleet will only moderately contain them. I, cannot just receive blows.”
With sharp eyes, Eve diverted part of the fleet with her forces. Being unilaterally struck at was the thing she hated the most.
Although it was highly probable that the enemy had already prepared for this, Eve needed a way to shake them.
‘I will send a small fleet and a handful of troops to conduct indiscriminate attacks, turning their other planets into ruins.’
No matter how it plays out, this is the beginning of a brutal war where victory is the only option. However, during this process, Eve aimed to precisely exploit the enemy’s weaknesses and her strengths.
They could all die together. After all, it would only take a few months for her to recover the current forces, while it takes the enemy over ten years to produce a single low-ranking soldier.
‘I don’t need anything else. Just bring me the gate coordinates.’
Soon, some troops that received Eve’s orders gathered at the approaching enemy and immediately warped. The destination was, of course, the planet where the allied forces had been dispatched.
While a battle among the main forces was occurring in the space above her nest, Eve charged her troops toward the urgently gathered defense forces.
“The enemies have come as expected…!”
“They left some ships for defense, sending a dozen capital ships and escort ships. Indeed, they don’t intend to engage in fleet combat in space. Prepare for bombardment from the entire army!”
Unlike the main force, the positions of the defending forces protecting the planet and the Legion’s positions were reversed. This time, the Legion was in a position to break through, while they were defending.
“Don’t worry about the ground and reduce the numbers as much as possible..! They are there on the ground!”
The defense commander gathered a handful of old ships, armed them, and resisted with all their might.
The legion fleet, lined up in sharp formation, pierced through their resistance and bombardment and finally succeeded in sending the capital ship into the atmosphere.
Though damaged here and there and unable to warp again, that alone was sufficient to fulfill its role.
As planned, the thousands of legionnaires waiting inside the ship that entered the planet began to prepare to surge out all at once.
“…I don’t know about anything else, but just remember this. When fighting, do not come near me.”
The massive ship plunged into the vast ocean, creating a tremendous tsunami. Watching this scene unfold from afar, the already gathered planetary defense forces hurried to the beach.
They already knew exactly what they had to do. They also knew what they would be facing.
“First, let’s try to stop any nonsense.”
There was even some belief in it. One who had purple skin, originally known as a demon in the past world, was the one who decided to defend this place along with the defense forces armed with all available equipment.
Receiving instructions from Kalthas, the Demon Realm alliance, the magic of this high demon burst forth, scattering faint magical winds across the area.
“What… what have you done?”
“I merely scattered a bit of power to hinder them from obtaining the gate coordinates. Now all that’s left is to fight, so focus. We must protect our homeland.”
He smiled at the confused local commander and pointed forward.
Thousands of legionnaires bursting forth from the sunken ship began to slice through the sky and sea, heading straight for this place.
“Fire! Fire away!”
The shells fired from the naval forces in the sea and the artillery on land fell into the ocean, creating massive explosions, but the legionnaires showed no concern at all.
‘Regardless of the outcome, this will go down in history as a horrendous war.’
He chuckled, drawing upon his magic, twisting the ground and wrapping it around his body to form a massive stone statue, revealing his true form.
Thus, facing the legionnaires rushing in, the allied forces, who had a mountain of responsibilities behind them, did not retreat but held their ground and collided head-on.
