Chapter 76: Invasion and Erosion (5)
[I’m aware you’re angry.]
“Really? It seems that’s a good thing.”
I stood up and paced around the barracks.
First, I calmed my reason. The Legion should never be dealt with based on the emotions of a mere human.
I had to convey clearly and unambiguously why I was angry and what I wanted to ask, leaving no room for misunderstanding.
[The Legion is also quite confused right now. Why are you angry?]
“…I just couldn’t hold it in for a moment.”
I let out a deep sigh. A wave of self-loathing washed over me.
Was I in a position to be angry? Not at all. I had, as a wishy-washy commoner, reluctantly condoned and acknowledged the Legion’s acts of slaughter for the sake of its growth and our safety.
I thought it had to be stopped because the Legion’s gluttony and twisted obsession were merely extending toward me and those around me.
But all this understanding and acknowledgment was premised entirely on the notion that the Legion’s growth and nourishment were for its own sake.
“I overlooked the killing for nourishment and growth. But I couldn’t tolerate that they were capturing women alive to dissect them for data just because they wanted to create a pretty appearance that I would like.”
[Why is that?]
“It’s not for themselves; they killed people for me, because of me!”
I laughed in disbelief at myself. I knew I was being foolish. According to them, whether analyzed or used for nourishment, it all ended in death anyway.
Yet, I selfishly found it hard to accept the fact that they were killing people because of me.
I began to understand why the Observer had passed me by until the Legion’s ego had grown.
“I need to record a video. To convey my true feelings, first I need to clear up the misunderstandings.”
I fiddled with the air device. I had intended to record anyway, but now the need had arisen right at this moment.
Sending a video would be far more effective in conveying my feelings than simply having someone relay my words.
“And I should try this opportunity. Starting with the small things. I wonder how the Legion will respond to my words.”
After installing the mobile phone, I steadied my breath.
This wasn’t about reprimanding actions or imposing paths. It was merely about communicating. I held on to the belief that the Legion seemed to quite like me based on past interactions.
“Um… I’ll assume you understand and start speaking. This is for you… my unit, the Legion.”
And this video would be my first direct communication with the Legion.
*
“Why is this taking so long!”
Nest, the Legion was unusually anxious right now.
Knowing that their own emotions could influence the entire Legion, they found it hard to contain themselves.
There was only one being in this universe who could influence this immense existence as both one and many.
And the Legion was currently waiting for the video message sent by that singular being to arrive at the deepest layers of the labyrinth.
[Calmly wait.]
“Tell me in advance! You turned off the screen immediately. Is he angry because of me? Just tell me that!”
The being that mercilessly killed countless people, showing no sign of agitation, now screamed and stomped like a child throwing a tantrum into the air.
[I feel my words would be meaningless, so see for yourself.]
At that moment, the mobile phone he had gifted arrived at the underground nest.
Unable to wait any longer, the Legion took special measures.
Leaving their physical body above ground, they accelerated the growth of a part of the nest cell in the deepest layer, forming eyes and ears.
Despite the grotesque appearance of writhing tentacles adorned with eyes and ears, there was no time to care about appearances.
Using the tentacles, they tapped on the phone screen, hurriedly playing the video.
“It’s not your fault.”
And the first words they uttered, attributed to him speaking to the Legion, were this.
“So… it’s just the natural human tendency. People, you see, generally do not enjoy others dying because of them. Especially not me. I have plenty of bad memories.”
He explained why he had been angry. Unknowingly, the Legion resonated with those words.
Above all, they had already conducted a certain degree of analysis regarding ‘humans.’
Just as the Legion had its essence, humans had theirs.
“I’m not saying not to kill humans. Just, don’t do it merely for creating appearances. As I’ve said before, I think the form you create by yourself would be the best.”
“The form I created myself.”
He already knew from Kang Do-yeon’s testimony that the Legion intended to create its own body, so the Legion, without doubt, nodded its tentacles.
In that appearance, there was no rebellious look of worry or concern that he might ignore his orders.
“You are always the most important. I respect your opinions and acknowledge your instincts.”
‘I am important. Acknowledge me.’
While not blocking the path of the Legion, he desired a minimal degree of influence just in case.
And at least up until now, the influence he exerted was greater than the essence the Legion possessed. For the Legion, a single word saying they were most important was enough, more than a hundred words.
It was a statement that dispelled the unease that had quietly festered during the time they could not communicate directly.
“I want to give you a gift.”
‘A gift.’
“A name you can call.”
A name. At that single word, the Legion’s entire being flinched.
The concept of a name was not foreign to the Legion.
They already knew what a name was and what it meant.
It was just that until now, they had never received enough attention to consider that there was no one audacious enough to bestow a name upon them. Even if someone referred to them with a specific title, they had no intentions of acknowledging it.
If such a being existed, it would be the one who had been deeply involved with them from the beginning until now.
“To the ego of the Legion that has come into existence, I shall now call you Eve. I hope for the chance to communicate with each other soon.”
He disclosed the name he had pondered over for days.
A name chosen among those that appeared meaningful, grand, and beautiful was ultimately rather ordinary and unremarkable, suitable for a person.
[Do you like it?]
‘Of course.’
The Legion’s emotions shifted drastically. At that very moment, they felt happier than ever before. It was a gift more valuable than anything else.
[Then focus on the battlefield. The human counterattack is starting soon.]
The video ended there. At the same time, the Legion turned its gaze elsewhere.
The invasion that had been advancing unopposed was met with the local citizens, who had been continuously suffering, gathering their forces to mount a full-blown resistance.
“Kill them! The ancient demons, the Devouring Fungus, that crawled up from hell!”
A group of knights, armored in shining armor, charged toward the Legionnaires who were assaulting the village from a considerable distance away.
[Just minutes after acquiring a name, you have gained a new one. The Devouring Fungus is the term used by them.]
“The Devouring Fungus they drove away from the surface in the past has ultimately become part of us, so it doesn’t matter. Then is this a chance for revenge?”
The Legion, Eve, no longer cared about the titles they used to refer to them.
After all, their name had now been fixed to one. They had no intention of letting that sacred name be uttered by them.
‘Kill them all.’
The emotions of the Legion, who had been basking in a dreamlike time communicating with him, grew cold once again.
When engaged in war, they became a machine of slaughter, exuding nothing but fierce anger and madness. This was, rather, closer to the true form of the Legion.
The medium-sized Legionnaires, based on four-legged beasts, dashed forward toward the charging knights.
At the same time, the knights raised the magical spears they had drawn.
“Activate the formation.”
As they charged at each other with murderous intent, a collision was just seconds away. Anyone would feel fear upon seeing the monstrous black-armored beings that matched the size of the galloping steeds.
At that moment, a man in the center of the formation raised his arm. In his hand was not a magical spear but a short wand adorned with a gem at its tip.
“Connect the circuits. Maximize output.”
The wand he raised began to shine as it drew a single spell.
The spell activated, tracing lines of blue light.
The reference points of this spell circuit were none other than the knights charging alongside. The bodies of those to whom the lines were connected began to burn with blue flames as they shared their magical power.
“Ughhh!”
Thanks to the spell that enhanced both the knights and their steeds, the formation, sharp at the ends, tightly bound together, became a singular blue spear.
With a powerful charge that would smash through anything in their way, they lunged forward without hesitation, clashing with the gigantic monsters that charged with all their might.
“Ugh…”
“Hold on!”
The shockwave that erupted shook the earth as if a bomb had exploded.
Emerging from the dust and smoke of that collision were the knights who maintained their formation.
They literally ground down enemies that were heavier, larger, and tougher than themselves.
‘A new combat style utilizing magic. A formation that enhances and moves in an organic manner using those guarding them as points, studied by the Stars school.’
The Legion’s evaluation of the sight was simple.
‘This is the first time I’ve seen the user. I want it.’
Then, following the command, those hiding in the nearby forest moved.
