A Legion Grows From My Smartphone

Chapter 79

"Ugh..."

One strike. The sword was still clumsy and unrefined, but the power contained within it was incomparable to others.

With the power that Eve had created solely for me, I defeated everyone who came to duel me.

"You’ve changed somehow."

"You could say I’ve finally come to my senses."

Ji Changhyun spoke with amazement, but I couldn’t bring myself to relax my expression.

I greeted the Officer-Class Trainee who had dropped their sword after being struck by mine and left the Training Ground.

"It seems to me that it’s not about coming to your senses but rather that you’ve found another reason."

"...Another reason?"

"That’s what Master says as well. He says that Kang Shin-Woo’s sword carries a burden—mission, duty, something like that."

"A burden."

I couldn’t deny his words. I had no excuse left anymore.

After all, I had seen with my own eyes the path my 17-year-old younger sibling had chosen to walk by their own will. I had to fight as well.

"Ten years ago, I was just a child, so I had an excuse. But now, I’m an adult, and there are people helping me. I have to seize the opportunity. Being powerless is unpleasant? I feel the same way."

"...That’s a good mindset. Master’s Teachings aren’t about simply swinging a sword but about imbuing it with your genuine will. Kang Shin-Woo, you’re already ahead in that regard."

Ji Changhyun clapped with a smile. Honestly, I still didn’t quite understand what he meant about the sword.

Not knowing the true circumstances about the legion, my younger sibling, and myself, he seemed to have misunderstood in a slightly different direction. But unable to reveal the truth, I kept my mouth shut.

"You’ll be deployed soon. Be prepared."

Ji Changhyun passed by me and went toward someone else.

Deployment. As the term suggested, the Allied Forces were about to launch another offensive. The upcoming battle would likely be completely different from the previous ones.

Having roughly figured out the enemy’s forces, and with those trained by the Guardian Alliance now incorporated as new assets within the Allied Forces, the dynamics had shifted.

A thought crossed my mind—this might just be the beginning. The Death Game, which had been a strictly individual deathmatch, was increasingly taking on the form of a Faction War.

At this rate, what I once thought was a Gambling Board for the existing powerhouses might drag on far longer than I anticipated. Driven by necessity, everyone would keep interacting and growing stronger.

"At my current level, can I handle a Higher Species soldier?"

[...Are you referring to the Upper Species?]

It was just a random mumble, but somehow the words that appeared seemed to carry a hint of emotion. I gave up on waiting for an answer and packed my things before leaving.

"This time, I’ll be part of it too. With both sides fully committed, it’s going to be a real All-Out War."

"Did the Player say anything?"

"They’re probably preoccupied with something else."

Cha Jiyeon, whom I met at the encampment, smiled weakly and nodded.

The Step-Up Hunters under her Player’s command were now closely cooperating with the Allied Forces, spreading across the globe.

I fully agreed with her comment that the ever-growing scale of the legion and the increasing matters to oversee left no time to rest.

"To be honest, I wish you wouldn’t fight..."

"Regardless, the Player trained me to be used. Do you think they’d let me off? Besides, I can fight."

"It’s not like you’re under a restriction. It’s not the Player talking; it’s just my own feelings. Though, honestly, you may not be of much use right now."

She muttered dejectedly, lowering her head. At this point, I became curious.

The relationship between Players and Units wasn’t absolute. This meant that the leash she had accepted was of her own volition.

"He said he wouldn’t give me power unless I accepted the restriction. Since what he wants aligns with what I want, I figured it didn’t matter as long as I could become stronger."

"And what is it that he wants?"

"To kill the Demonic Creatures and save people."

She spoke her thoughts calmly. In a way, it was a notion that aligned well with the Guardian Alliance’s ideology.

"I harbor unpleasant feelings toward the Demonic Creatures."

"...That’s understandable. Most people probably feel that way."

I’d heard the story in passing. A member of her family was reportedly killed by a Demonic Creature ten years ago.

Perhaps the shared experience of having a younger sibling harmed on that day, coupled with her anger and resolution to seek revenge, was what had led to her words of consolation and burning determination.

"So, I have no regrets. Being used like a pawn is just the price I pay for gaining power. Those creatures were monsters who harmed people long before they became Units."

Cha Jiyeon bit her lip, her battle spirit ignited.

I silently opened a screen that she couldn’t see, beyond her face.

Like us, my Unit, the legion, and Eve were also preparing for war.

Through the eyes of a scout, I shifted the screen to reveal the other formation.

Countless humans were gathering. We had yet to encounter any Units or Players from this world.

Then how would those who knew nothing perceive the legion crawling out of the labyrinth?

To the uninformed, wouldn’t the legion appear to be no different from the Demonic Creatures, invaders emerging from the Demon Realm?

"We just fight."

I muttered absentmindedly. My thoughts on good and evil had long since changed.

In the struggle for survival, there was no good or evil. The law of this world was merely to devour or be devoured.

Even if the legion didn’t actively antagonize humans, if we continued to corrupt this world, clashes with them would be inevitable.

So, we could simply hate each other and fight to our heart’s content.

In this hunt where our lives were on the line, there was no need for guilt.

"You’re right. With those guys, we just fight. No need to overthink it—just pursue what I want."

Cha Jiyeon smiled, her expression much lighter.

"Um..."

"Weren’t you supposed to be involved with Chris?!"

I was flustered by her blatant gesture of fidgeting with my hand.

"What are you talking about? That guy already has a fiancée back in his home country."

Of course, I was well aware by now that on the battlefield, where death loomed constantly, people often experienced emotions far different from usual.

"Since coming here, no, since the moment I became a Unit, I’ve always thought there would be no tomorrow. That’s why I refuse to do anything I might regret or leave behind any lingering attachments."

Her face leaned in across the desk.

Before I could even open my mouth to respond, she was interrupted by the urgent voice of an Evolution Affiliate calling for her outside.

[The faction he belongs to has begun preparing for an all-out war. They’re moving very busily even now. He’ll likely be deployed as soon as tomorrow or the day after.]

"I don’t care about that. More importantly, who is it? Who dared to stir his emotions? I can tell—it’s not excitement from battle or tension."

[Does that matter? No matter how extraordinary he seems to you, he is ultimately just a human. Someone of the same race, someone relatable, and someone he can communicate with will naturally attract him more than a faceless, voiceless being like you.]

"No!"

Eve stomped her foot, letting out a roar imbued with formative power.

Her intense rage caused the entire nearby nest to twist and quake.

"I need to show him my face and talk to him as soon as possible. Then he’ll notice me."

[...I’m not sure you’ll even be able to have that conversation.]

Eve deliberately ignored the voice.

Unfortunately, she couldn’t fully focus on communicating with him at the moment.

The legion of humans gathering had started advancing toward the nearest base nest.

"What should we do now?"

Kang Do-Yeon, who was also stationed at one of the base nests, inquired about the plan of action. Eve quickly began calculating.

"I’ve told you before—humans are always swayed by unnecessary emotions. The choice is ours."

The calculations were completed in an instant. Eve issued new orders to the scattered legion soldiers.

"They’re advancing slowly in a solid formation, demanding an All-Out War. But our goal is to buy time. There’s no need to play into their hands."

Eve’s orders focused on thorough Rear Interference and Guerrilla tactics.

Having already extracted all the information about the emotions, behavior patterns, and current situation of these humans, Eve knew they couldn’t completely abandon their efforts to protect and save others.

She planned to keep attacking villages and cities in the rear, shattering their justification for war by targeting what they needed to protect.

Even if this plan failed, it wouldn’t matter.

Rear Interference was just one option. If it failed, they could simply gather and fight head-on.

"Once this battle is over, I’ll show him my face—with a gift."

"You don’t really need to say things like that."

Kang Do-Yeon, startled by Eve’s comment, interjected.

"Don’t worry. Unless they reveal something new and unexpected, we’ll win."

"That’s not the point...!"

[The legion soldiers who received the orders began scattering across the vast battlefront of hundreds of kilometers, moving simultaneously at hundreds of points. Unless they notice this, the Decisive Strike cannot be prevented. However... it seems they still have enough resources left.]

Kang Do-Yeon’s ominous intuition proved correct. As soon as the legion made its move, something emerged in the sky above the humans’ main formation.

It was a Giant Magical Eye, glowing with a translucent blue light.