A Legion Grows From My Smartphone

The paradox of Theseus. Kang Do Yeon's body was in a constant state of renewal, each individual cell regenerating. Yet, her form and function remained unchanged. If every cell was entirely replaced, was she still herself? This was one of the peculiar, unsettling sensations she was grappling with.

[If you cannot endure this strangeness, your mind will collapse.]

An unfamiliar voice echoed in her ears. It was the Legion's voice, which had been incomprehensible until now, constantly intruding. The voice was deep and male, yet it had a raspy, wounded edge.

[Who are you?] “I...I am..."

She curled up like a fetus, her face twisted in confusion. Her small human brain was flooded with too much information, the Legion's knowledge far beyond what she could withstand. To prevent this, the Legion had judiciously filtered the information directed at her. With this control, she retained the strongest sense of self among the Legion, even though it relegated her to second in command.

“I am Kang Do Yeon. I'm just me." [Is that all?]

“And also, part of the Legion."

Through sheer willpower, she overcame the alien sensation, retaining her identity. She clearly remembered her last moment - the red cross-eyes of the one in a blue suit who had torn off her limbs, reducing her to near death. “That bastard."

Anger boiled up within her. But it was not just her anger. The entire Legion resonated with it. Their nest-covered territory shook with intensity. [The first independent being was born. This is recorded in the Legion's history.]

She slowly opened her eyes. At the same time, the fleshy wall of the nest containing her cracked open. Light streamed in through the fissure, ejecting fluids. “Cough... Hack..."

She was swept outside with the gush. Instinctively gasping, she took air into her lungs. “Ugh..."

On unsteady feet, she stood up from the nest membrane covering the floor. The strangeness remained in her body - the sense that this was not her own. But gritting her teeth, she took deep breaths to calm herself. As her mind settled, her body swiftly adapted.

[Do you know what must be done?] “Yeah. I get it... sir."

With a smirk, she cradled her throbbing head. The Legion, while managing her information intake, had also chosen to make active, efficient use of Do Yeon, the only one with a developed brain. She understood everything - her location, her current state, the nature of the Legion, and the next steps to be taken.

“You're furious at those damn bastards. But it's not because of me. To you, I'm merely Creature 1. Your anger stems from oppa's sadness and rage." She began to walk slowly, unfazed by the grotesque nests and Legion creatures around her, or her own nudity. Such things had ceased to matter. “Let's go."

The Legion creatures, who had been waiting behind her, began to move. Their procession seemed endless, a march to conquer the 35th floor in its entirety. Do Yeon, leading them, bore no trace of fear or doubt on her face. [You and us, we are the Legion.]

She was now part of the Legion. In exchange for her life's salvation, she had merged with them. fSo fighting this war is my duty.'

There was no reason for it. War and predation were the very essence of the Legion.

“What is this place anyway? It looks like...some elven structure from a fantasy. Creepy pale corpses, but some kind of monument? A temple?" Do Yeon guided the Legion to the 35th floor. Through her, the Legion was able to concretely assess their new enemies for the first time. [They attacked us again. Like before, the markings on their bodies began glowing.]

The Legion responded to the mindlessly charging guardians as they always did. They had never lost a rematch yet. Each time they returned stronger, with more innovative powers and tactics.

“Urghk..."

Watching the Legion creatures who first leapt into action, Do Yeon, staggering on unsteady feet, opened her eyes wide in astonishment.

[Become accustomed. The Legion has granted special powers to a special creature. Rapid growth, another racial trait. We have applied it.] “Arrgh... Raahhh!"

Do Yeon screamed as her body contorted and reconfigured in agony. Concurrently, her entire body began transforming. Her skeleton rapidly altered and mutated as black carapace and scaled skin enveloped her. Her muscles rearranged and nerves twisted. In the end, her body, save for her neck, was completely changed. Resembling the versatile Legion creatures in a black suit, she was barely distinguishable from them. “Gaaah!"

As she swallowed her pain and gasped for breath, an enemy lunged at her with a spear. She lifted her head, her eyes now ablaze with a fiery red glow. Gritting her teeth, she unleashed a powerful kick at the enemy, her strength amplified by her Legion-engineered, compressed muscles pushed to their breaking point.

“Damn, that really hurts..."

A shockwave erupted, the spear shattered, and the upper half of the enemy's body exploded into fragments. From her own hand, she drew a blade, reshaped from her cells.

Anger surged within her, resonating with the entire raging Legion. This intense fury aided in decimating the enemies. With a single leap, she cleaved an enemy grappling with a Legion creature in two. Despite the Legion's composition and numbers remaining unchanged, the outcome was drastically different. In mere moments, they had pushed the enemies back and nearly wiped them out completely.

The hive mind accelerated and intensified with the addition of Do Yeon's developed brain. Their burning rage morphed into a madness that slaughtered the enemies relentlessly. Mindless undead controlled by magic? They were clearly immortal, excellent guardians. But the same could be said for the Legion's side. [All enemies have fallen. Yet it is not over. We must head above.] “...Just what is this place anyway?"

Sheathing her blade, Do Yeon murmured as she looked up at the massive hole in the ceiling. *

“Is Mom really okay? You did promise, didn't you?" “...I promised you would survive, no matter what." “Really? But can I ever return to Earth?"

The child gazed into the void, at me beyond the screen. Naturally, our perspectives were entirely out of sync. “There has to be a way." “I believe I can return very soon."

Despite my feelings, Do Yeon chuckled and responded. Her body still held that form - similar, yet distinctly non-human. The appearance of the female Legion creature was strikingly unnatural.

[Do you have nothing else to say?] “No, that's not it."

I shook my head. My words were now a narration, delivered by the one she referred to as 'sir.' “I'm not just saying this. Oppa may not realize, but I'm directly connected to the Legion, so I understand. It's truly...incredible. Those strange metal creatures that attacked us, I could tear them apart with a single fist now."

She clenched her fist. It looked clawed, with sharp talons protruding like spurs on a gauntlet. “Right. That's true. But first, we need to escape this labyrinth." “This place seems like some ancient ruin to me. The things attacking us, they behaved as if they were protecting this place. But aside from its size, there's not much here." Do Yeon rose and began to explore the 35th floor. Unlike the other floors, this one resembled a desolate cave. Nest seeds had been sown and were spreading, but there was little to assimilate.

[The Legion has decided to take a brief period to regroup. To replenish lost troops and prepare for the ascent, they first want to completely convert this area into a nest.]

The nest not only produced Legion creatures but also provided nourishment. Pursuing efficiency, it would be foolish to recklessly sacrifice them as consumables, regardless of what they were.

“Ugh... I hate this."

A tendril from the nest extended into my sister as well. As it pierced her lower back, she trembled and grumbled incessantly. “I can send food. I'm still steadily buying it and sending it." “It's fine. Digestion is pointless now anyway, and this is more efficient than my human digestive system." “...Don't you want bread too?"

Her ears perked up at that. Smiling wryly, I stood up from my seat. At least I could...do this much. “Hey! Are you listening?! I'll fight everything here! Just stay hunkered down! Stick right by Cha Ji Yeon's side!" A bitter smile tugged at my lips. Do Yeon had joined the Legion, yet her thoughts didn't always align with theirs. The Legion, a superior entity, harbored different concerns. My sister was still preoccupied with my safety, hoping I would find a secure refuge.

The Legion, however, had a different perspective. They were concerned about me as well, but their desire was for me to grow stronger.

Now, I understood. The Legion comprehended my emotions.