A Legion Grows From My Smartphone

“Even if you only master the basics, you won’t die from a blind attack… I think.”

“Honestly, you’re nervous, aren’t you?”

“Heh, yes.”

Cha Jiyeon forced a smile.

Seeing her like that, I also forced a smile.

Otherwise, I felt like I might freeze up completely from the tension.

Right now, we had packed everything.

We were heading to the battlefield. There, we would fight monsters.

“Hey.”

While we were waiting, a van with heavily tinted windows came to a stop.

The window slid down, revealing a large-built young white man wearing sunglasses, looking at us.

He was Chris, the colleague and unit member from the same organization that she had mentioned beforehand.

“Get in.”

We quickly got into the car.

Honestly, I was a little surprised. These people were the hottest topic in the world, more famous than existing S-Rank Hunters or top celebrities.

Such people were driving their own car without any attendants.

“So, this is the newbie you were talking about?”

“Not one of us. Keep the line.”

“Even if not officially part of us, if they’re coming to the battlefield, that doesn’t matter. Have you seen anyone observing formalities during a Gate Defense Battle? Hey, you, do you understand what I’m saying?”

Chris glanced at me, sitting in the back seat, and grinned.

“I understand.”

I barely managed to respond.

I never thought that continuing my English studies would help me like this.

“Good. I was worried you wouldn’t understand a word.”

He whistled in satisfaction and sped up.

Where we were heading now was the military base where the Allied Forces were gathering.

“Keep your identification ready. And stick close. If you’re affiliated with Evolution, there shouldn’t be any unnecessary hassle.”

The area near the assembly point was crowded with media companies and the families of soldiers and officers.

We passed through multiple guard posts and checkpoints without issue and drove deeper into the base.

“Some of the Allied Forces from East Asia will depart from here. The plan is to launch simultaneous attacks from 67 bases worldwide, including this one.”

“That person over there looks like they’re looking for you.”

“Sigh, that’s Min Jun-Yong, the Chief Presidential Secretary… I’ll be back in a moment.”

Clicking her tongue, she got out midway.

Being left alone with a foreigner like Chris made me slightly nervous, but I couldn’t help marveling at her nonchalance in meeting high-ranking officials.

Well, we had been living in the same house for the past few days, but she was probably the most famous person in the country right now.

It wasn’t just her strength. She was the only one in the country linked with Evolution.

“I hear you volunteered. If the Player allowed you to reveal your identity and participate, then there’s no need to question further. But I’d still like to hear your reason.”

Chris turned off the engine, removed his sunglasses, and turned around to face me.

“We, well… you understand, have our own reasons. But what about you?”

“Revenge, I suppose.”

I told him the story I had prepared in advance.

Although my younger sibling was alive and well, the fact that they had been attacked was true.

“I see. Against those sci-fi-like bastards. So, you joined to get stronger and take revenge.”

Upon hearing about my younger sibling, his demeanor shifted, and he appeared slightly awkward.

Perhaps he regretted asking.

“Uh… anyway, I hope you achieve what you’re aiming for. Like I said earlier, although we’re heading to the battlefield together, the chances of me or Cha Jiyeon fighting alongside you are slim. Take it slow and gain experience with others.”

“I’ll keep that in mind.”

“Now get out. Let’s get ready.”

We got out of the car.

The area was filled with soldiers armed with real firearms.

A few Hunters who had voluntarily joined the battle were also visible.

The place where I followed Chris to was where Evolution Affiliates were gathered.

“I’ve heard about you. What was it… Kang…”

“Kang Shin-Woo.”

“I’ll just call you Robert. And this is Sneaky.”

The people who welcomed me were mercenaries hired by Evolution.

The task assigned to me was not direct combat but essentially security and protection.

It was exactly the kind of mission I had hoped for, and I was to carry it out alongside them.

“You’re a Hunter, right? What’s your ability?”

“Just physical enhancement.”

I demonstrated what I had learned to the curious onlookers.

The reason why these battle-hardened individuals were taking on a rookie like me was because I had power.

“Not bad. Physical abilities are the best. Those who only know how to put on flashy firework displays are useless. But.”

Robert chuckled and nodded, but then his rough, wrinkled face turned serious.

“The most important thing is your spirit. Even those who brag the most break down when bullets start flying and corpses pile up. They cry out for their mothers. What about you?”

“…I have something I must achieve in this expedition. I’m not doing this for myself alone.”

I answered with sincerity, looking into his deep-set eyes.

I wasn’t sure if he truly understood, but after staring at me for a while, he nodded.

“Welcome to Black Snake.”

Thankfully, there was no unnecessary hostility.

It made sense. We were about to face real combat.

They were professionals.

“Though the odds are high that we’ll be in the rear, I’m still nervous as hell.”

[When a crisis hits, confronting it, smashing it, and trampling it is the only way the Legion knows how to solve it. Sometimes, you should learn from that.]

“Are you seriously saying that?”

Hanging back slightly, I chuckled as I looked at my mobile phone.

Well, that guy probably wanted the Growth of the Legion, so he had a point.

[I’m saying this because I trust you.]

“Ridiculous.”

And today, he was particularly long-winded.

“Everyone, clear the way!”

“No time to waste! Move aside!”

In the middle of the base, a helicopter landed quickly, and someone rushed out.

“Hey! Kay!”

“No time to dawdle! I have to circle the entire Earth in 24 hours!”

The man leading the group ignored everything else and ran toward a pre-prepared location.

The place he arrived at was a spacious clearing, where it had been decided to open a Gate.

“Are you sure about this?”

“I’ve already opened twelve of them. I feel like throwing up. Take these.”

He handed something to Cha Jiyeon, who had run over with several elders.

They were mana stones engraved with complex marks.

“…Understood.”

She quickly took them and began installing them in designated positions.

Everyone watched her with tense anticipation.

The effects had already been thoroughly tested.

Most people wouldn’t know, but the Hispanic Man gasping for breath over there was the only one who had received the transmission of spatial manipulation magic from the Player.

In the past few hours, he had opened twelve massive Gates, starting from the eastern region of North America, passing through Japan, and arriving here.

The Gate, along with the Status Window that had been granted to Hunters, was something humanity on Earth had never been able to unravel even slightly.

The Gate, called the calamity of the apocalypse, alongside the miraculous Status Window bestowed by God, was now opened by human hands.

“What are you standing around for? Get ready, now!”

There was no time to stand there dumbfounded in admiration.

Those who had been staring blankly at the scene snapped back to reality and began to move in haste.

The first mission to be carried out was to enter the Gate immediately and establish a base.

“…This can’t be.”

“The space is splitting apart.”

And before long, a massive crack began to form in the empty mid-air.

At that moment, everyone was speechless, simply watching.

“Next! Was the next one Shanghai!?”

Only Kay, who was gasping for breath, hurriedly headed back toward the helicopter.

‘If the Legion finds out about this technique, they’ll come to Earth immediately.’

And there were others who entertained different thoughts as they watched the Gate gradually expand.

Shin Woo’s hand holding the mobile phone trembled.

He was well aware of the Legion’s obsession.

If such a Gate were to open and the Legion Soldiers they had seen so far poured into Earth…

[If you don’t want the Legion to conquer Earth, teach them well from now on.]

His Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed after reading the words displayed on the mobile phone.

“Move now! Stay sharp!”

“This is Archaeopteryx…”

The roaring sound of military equipment engines echoed from all directions.

The First Division of the Korean Army, newly formed with the help of volunteers, along with the Corps-Level Scale First Allied Forces recruited from neighboring countries, began to move toward the Gate, aiming their cannon barrels and tracks.

“Let’s move too.”

The Evolution Korea Branch, led by Cha Jiyeon and Chris, also began to take action.

Everyone inside the vehicles was silent.

Even Hunters and mercenaries who had experienced all sorts of things were facing a war of this magnitude for the first time.

“Look at them. They’re ordinary soldiers, but I hear they volunteered to join this expedition. All of them… carry deep resentment toward the demonic creatures. Recently, they’ve been wreaking havoc far too much.”

At Robert’s words, Shin Woo looked at the vehicles running alongside theirs.

They were soldiers from Southeast Asia. Their expressions were resolute.

It wasn’t just them; a majority of the Korean Army troops were also volunteers.

‘Resentment against the demonic creatures. Come to think of it, I had forgotten about that.’

His expression darkened.

To him, demonic creatures had always been enemies to be exterminated.

Literally, they were his nemesis.

It was just that he had momentarily forgotten this due to various events that had occurred.

Now, he had both the power and the justification. There was no reason to hesitate.

“Robert, do you also hate the demonic creatures?”

“No? I’m more afraid of money and humans. At least for now. Though, that perspective might change after this expedition.”

Robert let out a chuckle, revealing his yellowed teeth.

And at that moment, the vehicle smoothly entered the wavering Gate.