A Legion Grows From My Smartphone

"I am worried.”

On top of everything else, I had school to attend. Kang Doyeon had risen early and already left for school. As much as I wanted to abandon all my tasks to focus on this, it was far from a practical solution. I scratched my head in frustration. Given the constraints I had, I wanted to know what I was up against - no, I wanted to uncover the truth.

[Would that be enough?]

"You-’re always together, so you must know something. If only you, who always spoke about destiny, could tell me straightaway, we wouldn’t be in this situation, right? Could this possibly be related to the game?”

I was certainly anxious, but this was just the beginning. More than being entangled in this game, it was more likely that she was dealing with personal issues. In such a

situation, it was difficult to be the first to bring up this unrealistic scenario - the players and the game.

[I cannot tell you. It is up to you to judge.]

"I knew it... Forget it. I’ll just have to look into it myself first.”

I sighed, choosing a method that was far from appealing. I sent a text to one of my sister’s friends whom I knew through social media, asking them to inform me if anything unusual

occurred. Despite my unease, I boarded the train to school.

Fortunately, the response came swiftly and the news was not bad. She reported that today, like yesterday, was just an ordinary day-my sister was spending time with friends and attending academy. Of course, the trustworthiness of this friend was a separate issue. I decided to text other friends as well.

"I don’t know either, lust thinking about it makes me feel dumber than the Legion.”

[To me, you do look that way.]

CC ))

I absentmindedly switched on my phone, a habit I’d developed even when nothing significant was happening. As expected, the Legion was preparing for war.

[It seems they are also starting to notice something strange.]

The Legion’s fmain body’, having already devoured most of the lower zone, had now extended its roots into the 13th zone. This massive entity, singular yet multifaceted, was fracturing and burrowing into even the hardest cave rocks at the deepest part of the cave, distorting its form and expanding its size. We were rewriting the history of this ancient, deep cave.

[Their scouts have appeared and begun investigating. Strangely, some of them seem to be riding tamed bird-like organisms.]

Following their encounter with the rats, a noticeable shift in the ecology became evident as they ascended through the zones. Feathered organisms, unlike the reptiles and

amphibians they had previously encountered, were now making their first appearance in this cave.

[Of course, feathers were nothing mysterious to the Legion, who already had information about birds.]

The Legion, having steadily gained experience since its cellular stage, understood the importance of scouts. Conversely, they also recognized the significance of blocking the

opponent’s scouting. The Legion’s aerial units immediately launched to seize control of the skies. Based on the data accumulated so far, the combat power of the scouting unit was pitiful.

[Though the feathered organisms they rode were quite fast, it was too late.]

As expected, every last one of the scouting units was taken down.

[But this is just the beginning. Look, their power was formidable enough to cross into other zones.]

My phone screen flipped, revealing the view that the scouts had captured. I was left speechless. The landscape of the 15th zone, the second lower zone reached by navigating the rough underground rivers upstream, was starkly different from the 10th zone. The cave was equally barren, but the ecosystem was more diverse, with small plants, not just moss, dotting the landscape.

"...So that was their base.”

A dry chuckle slipped from my lips. Fortresses and roads covered the entire lower zone, countless nests were strewn about, and there seemed to be at least several thousand rats. I had always prided our Legion’s numbers, but it appeared I was mistaken.

[The Legion was recalibrating its strategy. The groups we had encountered so far were merely minor players. The real war was on the horizon.]

It seemed the rats were also preparing for battle. Luckily, while they remained unaware of our scouts, we managed to investigate every corner of their territory. That’s when I noticed the large quantities of metal scraps being transported.

"This is insane.”

I muttered.

What I saw next had me swearing under my breath. A sleek, silver-colored body. A firm grip.

"Why is that here?”

[It was the emergence of a tool unknown to the Legion.]

The item a rat gingerly brought in, decked out in crude armor and flashy jewelry, was a large-caliber pistol, the likes of which would never be found in the army.

"Whoever it is, the player doesn’t seem to be Korean...”

I massaged my throbbing head. A large-caliber pistol? Could that pistol, capable of pulverizing a watermelon, truly inflict significant damage on us?

"It might be quite effective.”

[Since the enemies unveiled a new tool, the Legion decided to proceed with caution. First, to identify what that tool actually was.]

With no means of communication currently, I had no option but to entrust it to the Legion. However, they’re more intelligent than me, so I assumed they’d quickly discern the truth about guns.

[The Legion dispatched an advance team. They understood that those who prepare and equip themselves in advance become stronger. Thus, they planned to act before the enemies completed their preparations.]

The highly mobile aerial units took to the skies once again. Their sole purpose was to relentlessly harass the enemy until the main force was assembled and ready to charge.

[The enemies have noticed our attack. The first strike was merely a sample. Poison needles and claws rained down on the panicked enemies atop the fortress.]

As they had demonstrated thus far, the rats worked in unison, thrusting spears and firing arrows at the larger Legion soldiers. The arrows, shot at close range, had significant penetrating power, beginning to pierce through the soldiers’ carapace armor.

[Will they not deploy their secret weapon here? Regardless, the Legion will persist with these guerrilla tactics. We do not tire, but they surely will.]

A war of attrition, with injuries on both sides. If the Legion deemed this advantageous, they would continue this cycle indefinitely. They were well aware of their strengths.

"The rats will undoubtedly be rattled, if they are indeed living organisms.”

Survival instinct is a natural trait of any living being. The Legion, however, was an exception. *

Once again, the black tide surged from the lower zones, crossing the skies and charging towards them. They raised their spears, crossbows, and swords to fight once more. This was not their first or second battle. Through combat experience, later generations quickly learned and evolved innovatively. As each generation cycle accelerated, they grew smarter and stronger. They were no longer rats scavenging animal carcasses. They were a local power, seeking to occupy this lower zone and expand their influence outward. The pride of this new generation was indescribable.

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They had bravely battled the invaders, their self-confidence unshakeable. At the end of the intense fight against the monsters, they had cheered in victory. They had already

repelled the black monsters several times, and morale was at an all-time high. Although production and exploration activities had significantly decreased to fill the void left by

their fallen brethren, a victory was still a victory. This triumph was not due to their might alone.

They had paid their respects to the sky following the High Priest’s command, for someone who always provided them with mystical weapons and teachings. According to the knowledge bestowed upon them, their growth had all begun with the grace of that someone.

Despite their short lifespans, they all believed they would grow enough to conquer these endless caves.

[But how arrogant a thought this was. Would immediate victory truly be a real gain?]

Their momentum did not last long this time either. Information barely conveyed through survivors of annihilated advance bases now started to come into proper view. The Legion’s massive invasion was underway. Amid continued harassment, the Legion’s nest, having devoured all the lower zones, had now stretched its budding roots up here.

[The Legion dispatched a massive army to draw out their full force. Their faces were a picture of bewilderment. They must have been taken by surprise, unaware that we were the Legion.]

The diverse soldiers of the Legion, a mix of various strains, marched slowly, obliterating everything in their path. The rats hastily assembled at their fortress. Their numbers were significant, indicating they sensed something was amiss.

[The Legion issued another challenge for battle. Above the ground forces charging fiercely, aerial units dominated the skies.]

The aerial units had transitioned fully into support roles. They captured poisonous lustre toads mid-flight with their talons, hurling them downwards. A barrage of arrows burst the swollen toads, but the exploding creatures merely dispersed a toxic mist everywhere. Amid the bombing and ensuing panic, the artillery unit, now within range, indiscriminately sprayed poison barbs. At the same time, the main force infiltrated the fortress. Such were the siege tactics of the Legion.

[Ah, is it appearing now? To boost morale and tackle formidable enemies.]

It revealed itself atop the fortress at that moment. The gleaming silver shone under the light of the luminous stones.