Chapter 74: Invasion and Erosion (3)
The Legionnaires do not rest. There is no such thing as day or night. They do not hesitate.
Upon receiving orders, they charge in, relentless, until their energy is depleted or their vital organs are destroyed, rendering them incapable of movement.
The scene is vividly unfolding right before my eyes.
Legionnaires pouring out like a black tsunami, engulfing the forest and plains.
Their orders are, of course, to kill every living “enemy,” that is, humans.
[Of course, the currently produced Legionnaires are merely for distraction. The Legion’s erosion plan has already begun in the maze and will consume this world.]
“What is that plan, exactly?”
[First, the plan is to digest and absorb local flora to cover the entire surface of this world with the body of the Legion.]
The screen turned. Near the maze, this area had already undergone erosion by the Legion, twisting the entire landscape.
The lush vegetation was crushed and digested, transformed into nourishment, and in its place, a new entity began to sprout.
[The Sacred Tree that the Moonlight Fairies cherished, the large fungi thriving in caves, and the amalgamation of existing plants. Its ability allows it to absorb everything from the ground and convert sunlight into energy.]
That sprouting plant—though whether it could even be classified as a plant was questionable—began to rapidly extend upward. Dozens of such entities. Even now, they were increasing.
However, even those newly sprouted leaves were black. There was no need for photosynthesis.
Instead of utilizing chlorophyll for photosynthesis, it was more efficient to use the power of the Sacred Tree, which has the Formancy ability, to convert the sunlight directly into nourishment on the spot.
The power of that Sacred Tree, which the Legion manipulatively wields more freely than the original, is truly terrifying. It was on an entirely different level than agriculture.
The heat emitted by volcanoes is literally an energy reservoir, and if it were possible to create a strong body that could withstand it, one could penetrate the crust and delve deep into the planet’s depths to suck up the power contained within.
“I’ve realized that there’s a way to obtain a large amount of energy without having to prey on others, if not through photosynthesis… Yet, does that mean they will not stop?”
[Yes. For the Legion, predation is no longer merely about filling their stomachs.]
“Sigh…”
I covered my face.
Watching the unrelenting, aggressive growth of the Legion.
As I listened to the dizzying flow of my surroundings, I determined a few paths.
The first was that I, and those around me, must remain safe from the Legion.
I already understood the fact that I could not stop the Legion’s gluttony.
Even if I pitied the victims who would be indiscriminately sacrificed in that world, I acknowledged that it was ultimately the law of the ecosystem: growth and the survival of the fittest.
However, if the Legion were to come to Earth and attempt such actions, I had to stop them, of course.
I am human, and without the society that people have built together, I cannot exist.
[Don’t let the Earthlings—no, specifically the four of you—get eaten? Do you think the Legion will grant that request?]
“So far, yes.”
The second was this: whether the Legion would recognize my intentions and comply.
Until now, the Legion had been communicating solely with me within the maze.
However, seeing their actions on the surface clearly indicated they had been influenced to some degree. I couldn’t predict what impacts they would experience and in what direction they would grow.
So, I had to act. Before those I meet on the surface tarnish the Legion, I needed to first color them with my hue.
It surely could not be just a simple gift.
Then, how exactly to do that?
“My master did not specifically name this training method she developed for the Earthlings.”
“Why not?”
“Due to our origins, we cannot remain forever. Therefore, we hope that one day people will learn this training method and develop their own new approaches. The absence of a name is for that reason. My master said that the moment a name is given, the form becomes fixed.”
The next day, I felt like I had grasped a clue from Ji Chang-hyun’s words while he was overseeing my training.
“Names carry a tremendous power.”
His words made me flinch for a moment. Names, come to think of it, the Legion had no names.
I had always called them the Legion, from the beginning up until now, even after the Legion developed a sense of self.
“If I give them a name, will that person like it?”
“If they have wished for it, then of course. The joy and happiness, I cannot even imagine. Just think about it. If our parents had gifted us names when we were adults, wouldn’t we have obviously been happy?”
Ji Chang-hyun chuckled as if my question surprised him.
And through our conversation, I determined one method to expand my influence over the Legion. It felt strangely liberating.
“Your expression has suddenly brightened; has your dilemma been resolved?”
“It seems so, at least for now.”
“In that case, your training should show results.”
Ji Chang-hyun, smiling widely, threw a thick stone at me with one hand.
The test he had given me was to break this stone barehanded.
The intent was for me to enhance the Celestial Soul I had learned using the training method he taught.
I stood before the thick stone. My mind was calm.
In fact, the Celestial Soul I had learned superficially had long been discarded. The power I possessed now was one that nobody knew of.
“I will give it a try.”
I clenched my fist. Simultaneously, the power I had accumulated began to manifest, centered around my heart.
A new heart technique, tailored by the Legion solely for me, that could grant power even to someone like me, an ordinary person. So it didn’t take long to master.
I struck forward and shattered the large stone.
I was taken aback by my own power.
“Wow… that’s impressive. Just a few days in?”
“N-No, it’s not.”
Seeing Ji Chang-hyun’s eyes widen in surprise, I reflexively shook my head. This was not entirely my own ability.
“I didn’t expect it to be this fast… In any case, you should be able to start wielding a sword alongside those who have advanced.”
However, unaware of the full circumstances, he clapped and praised me.
When he spoke of wielding a sword, it meant that people like me, who had moved beyond the basics, were to be taught how to wield a sword.
In reality, the Guardian Alliance, armed with the justification of justice and righteousness, was rapidly expanding its influence even within this allied forces.
The allied forces had no reason to refuse the request to create special forces with hunter-level capabilities within their ranks.
The units of the Guardian Alliance, including Ji Chang-hyun, were training selected talented individuals, teaching them their powers, and nurturing a warrior group capable of unleashing Formancy in battle.
“You will certainly learn quickly.”
“…That seems likely.”
Ji Chang-hyun, always smiling faintly, seemed relaxed as always.
At first, I had worried about Ji Chang-hyun’s openly active identity and that of the Player, but that was just my anxiety.
Instead, they expanded their influence even to ordinary people, while also maintaining their principles. The status of their initially created Guardian Alliance was now comparable to the Evolution or the Allied Forces.
Whether this was all part of a long-planned intention or not is uncertain, but it meant that I, a being like me, was certainly not someone to be concerned about.
“The allied forces, having gathered themselves, will resume activities starting next week. Evolution will move as well… Will Shin Woo be moving too?”
“Probably.”
“In that case, I need to learn the basics before then.”
That day’s training came to a close as Ji Chang-hyun mumbled with a briefly serious expression.
I mentally reviewed my schedule. Although I had taken a significant hit, the respective headquarters had not been annihilated like others.
They were replenishing their forces and preparing for battle again. The general direction had not changed much. This time, however, they appeared to utilize missiles and various chemical weapons unofficially.
Naturally, I would also participate in this battle with the Evolution.
In the meantime, despite having already endured war, there was no one who was absent. Everyone was armed with their own sense of duty and professionalism.
“Will you be participating?”
“Are you asking me? Of course.”
I spoke to Ji Chang-hyun just before parting ways.
He nodded as if it were a matter of course.
“…I’ve heard that there are some terrifying weapons out there. One that’s certainly impossible to stop.”
“There are. An indiscriminate means that can kill even the strongest existence without question.”
“Aren’t you afraid?”
He realized I was referring to the Execution Authority.
As far as I knew, the Execution Authority was, to this date, an unavoidable, certain death. If it attracted aggro, it would inevitably come crashing down.
It was natural that whether Player or special unit, one should act cautiously.
“This too is my master’s teaching, but think about it from another perspective. The Execution Authority is simply a single critical hit.”
However, Ji Chang-hyun smiled as if the Execution Authority was nothing to be worried about.
I was momentarily taken aback and lost my words, and in that time, he disappeared without a trace.
“My master’s teaching was to not be swayed by this game in order to achieve true righteousness. In the end, it is reality, and there is no absolute in reality.”
Instead, he left behind a significant remark.
