Chapter 23: Movement (1)
[Now, do you understand how he thinks of you? Even now, he keeps a generous reserve of extra slots available, just in case.]
A massive cave pulsating slowly.
However, this cave was already covered with the tissues of a living organism, having become a life of its own.
This was the lowest layer.
The origin of the Legion.
[… You still don’t realize. What could you possibly know, having just opened your eyes?]
Eggs poured out with thick mucus from the writhing flesh wall.
The very first eggs produced had completed their growth within half a day.
[But I know. We are beginning to grasp the concept of the unknown entity that protects us. Until now, we merely accepted what was fed to us. But not anymore. We question and think. That is why we have noticed his existence. No matter how much we are, we cannot create something from nothing. But he is doing just that.]
The first egg began to wriggle.
As the shell cracked open, a black hand burst out and tore the shell apart.
[To consume is always our instinct of hunger. And now, the hunger for knowledge is no different. We harbored doubts about his identity. Who on earth is he?]
The new legionnaire that emerged from the shattered egg looked completely different from the lizard-type legionnaires produced up until now.
It was indeed based on a Goblin.
However, due to the reinterpretation of the Legion, it had an equally bizarre appearance.
Like other units, it lacked a digestive system, reproductive organs, and even a brain.
A straightened waist, two limbs.
Most of its body consisted solely of muscular organs for battle.
Yet because of that, even with its thin and withered physique, it could unleash explosive power in comparison to its weight.
[Grab a weapon. We can now both observe and learn. We also know how to use tools.]
One side of the nest split open, and something glinting sharply emerged.
A sword forged from the hardest shell that the Legion could produce.
The new legionnaire, with its gaunt body wrapped in the black shell like armor, flashed red eyes through the gaps in its head shell, resembling a helmet.
[One thing is certain: he always aids us. Do you want to know more about him? Then you should do as you’ve always done.]
The very first legionnaire that broke the egg staggered and began to walk toward the upper strata of the cave.
Identical entities began to follow closely behind it.
The number surpassed dozens and hundreds.
[Kill them all, devour them all.]
They raised the swords in their hands as they emerged from the long hallway.
Their purpose was solely for extermination, slaughter, annihilation, and predation.
With newly devised tactics, the beast-type legionnaires waiting in advance joined in, and thousands of black waves charged toward the targets, both in the air and on the ground.
*
“I’ll first take you to a safe place. We’ll have a proper talk there.”
“Just like step-up hunters, they’re all units, right?”
“I’d say so.”
The van crossed through the city.
My sister and I sat in the back, just observing.
The phone continued to vibrate, but I couldn’t bring myself to check the app here.
“I heard that Evolution is actively fighting against the mutated ones… I mean, the units.”
“Of course. They’re our enemies.”
“I have a lot of questions.”
Oh Yu-na, whose head had been bumped and dented, was sitting in the passenger seat, conversing with Chae Yeon as equals.
Honestly, if Chae Yeon used her skills, she could wipe out everyone here.
“Get out. This is number 306.”
“…Where is this?”
“Safe house.”
The place where the car stopped was just an ordinary villa in the middle of Seoul.
We had no choice but to tumble out and enter the house she mentioned.
Chae Yeon was the last to enter, closing the door behind her.
Naturally, it was a typical house.
Yet a strange tension filled the air.
“Now… let’s get down to business.”
Chae Yeon had driven here herself.
The player, Oh Yu-na, and the unit, Chae Yeon, sat facing each other.
“Shall we open up first? Our player’s hometown is a land called Seuhanxia. Players refer to themselves as sky sorcerers, and I am here to propose cooperation by being the first to contact players from another world.”
“You say that boldly. My units live on a continent called Anankil, which has long been known as the land of the Pure Clan and the Tribe of the Wind.”
The two women started off by divulging their information openly.
It was fine since they were essentially unrelated beings.
“But what exactly do you want by contacting the players? Given the restrictions, I doubt they’ll be much help unless they’re hunters.”
“That’s right. But ‘other’ players are the same. Players with units in Seuhanxia, where we are.”
“Aha. So you intend to strike first and eliminate them.”
The game unfolded as expected.
Eliminating competitors was the top priority.
I was discreetly taking note and shoving all the information into my mind.
“As you know, we had no choice but to disclose most of our information to align with the existing social order. As a result, whether unit or player, we attracted attention from others, so we needed allies who could move stealthily.”
“And that’s us.”
“Yes.”
Chae Yeon smiled bitterly.
Thinking about it, the step-up hunters would probably number around a hundred.
Furthermore, since they were gathering under the newly established company Evolution, effectively all information was open.
“We’ll end today’s meeting here, but next time, the situation may be different. Other allies might join.”
“I have one question. Are the demons pouring in from beyond the gate originally units? By the way, when did the players over there start the game?”
“…Did you not ask the assistant?”
“They didn’t answer at all.”
I flinched at that.
Come to think of it, I hadn’t asked that either.
“The game started for everyone at the same point in time. In other words, the demons that appeared from the gates since ten years ago are entirely unrelated to this game.”
Chae Yeon provided the answer.
Ultimately, it meant that regardless of whether they were units or not, the fact remained that we had to kill those monsters.
“So, is there a possibility that other units from different affiliations might emerge among us humans?”
“Quite possible. So please be careful.”
No one could be trusted.
That was the conclusion.
“Thanks for today. You’ve done well.”
The matter with Chae Yeon ended quite quickly.
Oh Yu-na came out of the villa and greeted my sister.
“I’m sorry for my brother, but please hold on for a while.”
“I’ll do that.”
Given what we were gaining, this much was nothing.
Chae Yeon even casually handed over the car keys.
Riding in the car that Oh Yu-na’s driver had driven, we headed home.
A different kind of silence mingled in the air compared to when we left.
“What do we do now? We still don’t know what kind of world our brother’s unit is in, right? Not Seuhanxia or Anankil?”
In the midst of that, Kang Do-yeon spoke up first.
I shook my head.
“I have no idea. But it doesn’t matter. As long as I know. And… when I do meet someone, I’ll have to finish things then.”
In reality, I didn’t consider it important.
The legion existed to consume and move forward for survival.
“Looks like we won’t have to fight anymore… right?”
“Yu-na promised to avoid that after getting beaten by her parents, but who knows? When a crisis arises, they’ll try to protect their daughter, so how can they care for someone else’s child?”
“Should we even exercise…”
He muttered.
I wasn’t entirely comfortable myself.
Fight? Neither I nor that girl should ever have to.
“What was the notification about that rang so loudly? I’m relieved to see you’re okay.”
[Do you want to see how the Legion has grown?]
I checked my phone as soon as I entered.
With a troubled mind, I tapped on the icon in the corner, the history tab.
[Our proud history is always being updated.]
Suddenly, the screen began flipping through rapidly.
What unfolded before me was a tale of the past.
“…Huh.”
Goblin? No, those aren’t goblins.
They were entirely new beings.
Hundreds of such entities.
Alongside them were familiar giant lizards.
[We always exert our full strength. The wave of the Legion began to surge upon the master of this level.]
It seemed the Legion had developed new tactics.
It appeared chaotic, but in reality, each had a designated position and role.
[Each individual received different commands. Our brain, supported by the computational power of an enormous body that devoured this cave, can sufficiently control thousands of soldiers one by one.]
The nest stopped producing and suddenly concentrated all its nerves.
The panicked monster raised its massive fist to strike and extended its neck to swallow the flying types.
Yet that sacrifice was thoroughly intentional.
Taking advantage of that sacrifice, the legionnaires succeeded in sticking to the creature’s body.
Here, the achievements of these newly produced beings began.
