A Legion Grows From My Smartphone

Chapter 78: Invasion and Erosion (7)

"Is there a problem?

"Yes, there is.

Kang Do Yeon, her mask removed, nodded with a stern face. They were in the legion's nest, a destroyed village that served as an outpost. This base focused solely on digestion and decomposition, excluding absorption and analysis functions. These outposts were crucial, converting organic matter into nourishment for the legionnaires.

"Why did you order me to stop? You told me to fight!

"That's true. But the situation has changed.

"Situation?

Kang Do Yeon, who was protesting, flinched in surprise.

"It seems he doesn't want you to fight.

The legion released control of the information, informing her about what had just happened. Kang Do Yeon's face changed rapidly with shock.

"Eve.

"You understand what I'm saying.

She mumbled blankly, furrowing her brow at the throbbing pain in her head. It was Shin Woo's will, not the legion's, that excluded her from the battle. The legion simply received

his will and granted his request. In fact, the legion was reluctant to remove her from the front lines.

"Honestly, I don't understand. If you're worried about getting hurt because you're weak, it's better to fight and become stronger, not hide and run away. But if that's what he

wants... I'll have to comply.

"Then who will take my place? There's no one stronger than me.

"We'll create one.

Kang Do Yeon jerked her head up. The voice came from the stem of the sacred tree used to create this outpost. The sacred tree began to twist, pouring all the energy stored in this outpost into rapid cell division for accelerated growth. Although this method of production was notoriously inefficient, they decided to bear with it given the current abundance of food.

Soon, a human figure began to emerge from the tree trunk. A female body, long black hair, and power engines embedded in the body.

"From now on, I'll fight directly. Operating a command unit will put a strain on the hive consciousness, but it can't be helped.

Eve, who had quickly created a new physical body, shattered the withered sacred tree and landed on the ground, looking at Kang Do Yeon with a cold expression.

"Ah...

It was true that she was afraid and uncomfortable with the fight. It was also true that she felt repulsed by the act of killing humans who looked just like her, whether they were from another world or not. However, when she was actually excluded like this, Kang Do Yeon felt a strange pain in her chest.

"It's strange. Why do you harbor such feelings?

"...I don't want to be left out.

Eve, who was the legion itself, instantly recognized Kang Do Yeon's feelings, which were as much a part of her as herself. Knowing this, she didn't hide it and spoke her true feelings.

"You're scared and hesitant right now. But separate from that, you have a fighting spirit and desire.

"That's right.

"It's contradictory. As expected, the emotional line of pure-blooded humans is inefficient and garbage. It's complex and shameless, and it often trips over itself.

Eve brought her masked face close to Kang Do Yeon's. However, Kang Do Yeon did not avoid her gaze.

"You're right. But I want to be of help to my brother. I've felt this way since ten years ago. I'm tired of being helpless. I want to become stronger, to protect what's important to me... even if it means killing someone.

Her wavering heart stopped shaking at this moment. Dust like when she wore a mask. But right now, Kang Do Yeon was not wearing a mask. Eve slowly turned her head and began to calculate simultaneously.

[Will you weigh between his request and the party's will? What will you prioritize?]

"The answer is already clear.

Eve quickly finished her calculations. In fact, from the legion's perspective, it wasn't very appealing to let the only sub-mind play in the rear.

"Prove your will. Use your will, the only useful power humans have.

"Prove it?

"You said you would fight to protect. Then go there right now. They dare to attack our base. As the legion commander, go out immediately, kill them all, and protect our nest.

Eve showed Kang Do Yeon the situation hundreds of kilometers away from here in her mind. There was also an outpost there. And there was a group of soldiers heading towards that outpost.

"But it's too far! There's not enough time!

"I told you. Prove your will. You're mine before you're his sister. I decide when you get stronger.

Eve moved her body and pounced on Kang Do Yeon. She literally hugged her. It was not an act of affection.

"Ah... Ahhhh!

Kang Do Yeon, her eyes wide open, couldn't bear the pain and screamed like a madwoman. As Eve's body, made up of omnipotent cells, collapsed, it clung tightly to Kang Do Yeon and began to flow into her. The pain of reconstructing the entire body is similar to the torture of an infectious bacterium twisting the victim's nervous system.

'If you endure, you gain strength. If you can't endure, you'll be eliminated.'

Eve whispered into the mind of Kang Do Yeon, who was writhing in pain. The Heavenly Soul Art, which is currently the basic medium for the legion to manifest formative force using power engines, operates on the user's will and the intensity of the soul. No matter how many power engines are attached, if the user's will is weak, it's inefficient.

Eve, a giant microorganism who has grown this much, had no problem, but Kang Do Yeon was not. Anyway, if she wanted to become stronger, she had to prove herself.

"I'll prove it. I'll become stronger, and I'll protect what's important to me... even if it means killing someone.

"You won, and you were handed a power that others could never attain.

The relentless torment had finally ceased. Kang Do Yeon, left alone on the scene, stood up with her enhanced body. There were hardly any visible changes, but the number of omnipotent cells dormant within her had nearly doubled. The power engine replacing her heart had also doubled in size, increasing its output twofold.

"Ha a...

She exhaled a heated breath and bowed her head. A pair of massive wings, cloaked in black feathers, erupted from her back at high speed, their joints glowing a fiery crimson.

"You're not fully validated yet. Go and halt the enemies.

She shot into the sky in an instant. It wasn't just wings that had been added. Through the opening in the armor on her back and waist, she expelled an enormous propulsion force.

"Time to choose.

She muttered to herself, clenching her teeth. In this world, one couldn't have everything. Choices always had to be made.

"What, what is that!

"In the sky... Ahhh!

She reached the scene in an instant, landing on the ground without slowing down. Those nearing the nest were knocked to the ground by the shockwave and the rising dust. There were no legionnaires near the nest. Eve had completely retreated. This place was solely a testing ground for Kang Do Yeon.

'These are my enemies, the enemies of the legion.'

She looked at the bewildered and terrified people, her eyes, dyed black, flashing with a red glow. She didn't wear a mask.

"A woman..?

"It's a monster! Kill it!

In their confusion, they instinctively raised their weapons and charged at her. She made her choice. She agreed wholeheartedly with the term 'monster'.

'I am a monster.'

She swung her wings, which had become as thin as blades in an instant. The moment her wings, enveloped in a crimson aura, swung like blades, blood sprayed in all directions.

"Ahhh!

From that single strike, she grabbed the neck of a soldier who had survived by luck and was charging at her with a sword. Her hand, armored and with sharp claws, held him tightly. Then she exerted her strength.

"Ugh.

With a snapping sound, the soldier's neck broke, and his body fell to the ground. For a moment, she overlaid the face of the red-cross-eyed man in a blue suit who had tried to kill her. The pain and shock from that time were still vivid.

"Uh, ahh..."

"Run!

Overwhelmed by the spectacle, the remaining people turned and began to flee.

'Hiding information is basic.'

Eve naturally ordered to kill all those who had discovered the nest. Kang Do Yeon clenched her teeth and leaped into the air. Every time she moved, bodies fell, blood spraying. The mask, reading her emotions, kept appearing and disappearing.

'That should be enough. At least you can fight without problems when defending.'

But when she pierced the back of the last fleeing enemy with her hand, Eve smiled satisfactorily.

"Defend... me?

'It seems like the enemies are starting to gather in earnest.'

The legion showed Kang Do Yeon, who was catching her breath, the data brought by the scouts spread all over the place. It had been almost a day since the legion's identity was revealed. During that time, the humans, who had been unable to respond properly and had only been able to carry out local rescue activities, had quickly gathered and mobilized an army.

'Buy time, as much time as possible. All our resources are being spent on erosion, digestion, and nest expansion, so we have to defend with only the troops we've produced in advance.'

The legion decided to accept that challenge.