A Legion Grows From My Smartphone

The Destruction Fungus.

A calamity that infiltrated a world hundreds of years ago, and even this underground world, exterminating all life forms.

And the evolved form of those Destruction Fungi trapped underground was the Mutant Destruction Fungus.

They were strong.

An overwhelming infection power capable of devouring any animal, and the ability to mimic and replicate using that infection power, were abilities only possessed by the Mutants created from multiple sub-colonies merging together.

“Krrk.”

Among these Mutants, there was one particularly unique entity.

The first Mutant Destruction Fungus. It had ruled over its kin, dominating them with immense power.

However, it was undeniable that the crisis it now faced was more critical than ever before.

“Grrr…”

A Mutant with a gigantic body let out a beastly cry and rammed its body against a blocked entrance.

Yet, the blockade did not budge an inch.

They were flustered. In all the countless battles they had fought until now, they had never faced such a situation.

The idea of collapsing or altering the terrain had never even been considered.

The Moonlight Fairies had resisted in such a manner before, but that was the result of employing the mysterious power known as Formative Power.

They could not have imagined that creatures capable of engaging in infection warfare or physical combat would possess such abilities.

There was neither a String connecting them nor anyone offering them assistance.

The Mutant Destruction Fungus, which had not reached such a concept, had no means to overcome this situation.

“…”

The Leader Colony instinctively understood.

They were not fools. If they could not descend, there was no solution.

Knowing what lay above, ascending was not an option.

The atmosphere subtly shifted.

The Mutant Destruction Fungi under its command began cautiously glancing at one another.

If they devoured all the kin present here and underwent extreme dormancy, perhaps they could survive for another few hundred years.

The Leader Colony bared its teeth and growled.

The alliance among the colonies, which had been maintained thus far, was on the verge of collapse.

“Krr…”

But at that very moment.

With a rustling sound, something fell from the nearby wall.

‘The Legion Soldiers have finished their work. Now, if you destroy the most vulnerable point, you can precisely collapse only the trunk layer of the 45th Stratum where their main forces are concentrated.’

“Understood.”

Kang Do-Yeon, having arrived at the designated point, received the next set of instructions.

The Legion had utilized its ability to dig tunnels to manipulate the upper stratum—the foundation of the 45th Stratum where the Mutant Destruction Fungi were gathered—into a fragile state.

By leveraging detection and sensing abilities, it had already been confirmed that most of them were concentrated on this stratum.

If this layer were completely brought down, they could be neutralized in one fell swoop.

If their bodies were completely crushed, no matter how persistent they were, they would not be able to physically resist.

“Hoo.”

Exhaling softly, she gripped her sword.

The core engine newly installed throughout her body began to activate.

The energy it emitted concentrated on the sword.

The crimson energy blazing on the blade started to surge.

The most powerful firepower possessed by the Legion was, in fact, the method of condensing all energy into a single point and triggering an explosion.

She aimed her sword at the critical point.

Almost simultaneously, the energy concentrated in the sword burst forth in the form of a light beam.

“Aaah!”

‘Evacuate.’

The light beam exploded upon contact, triggering a massive explosion that shook the entire area with a tremendous shockwave.

Though her power was not particularly strong compared to the vastness of this Great Cavern, the impact did not stop with a mere shockwave.

Following the precise calculations of the Legion, the shock began to create a chain reaction along the directions prepared in advance by the Legion Soldiers.

The pillars that served as supports began to collapse or burst one after another.

From the ceiling came cracking sounds, followed by falling dust, as shattered walls scattered shards everywhere.

[It must be the first time since the Moonlight Fairies that the terrain of this Labyrinth has been altered.]

“Ugh…”

In a situation where even running was difficult due to the vibrations, Kang Do-Yeon, her senses heightened to the maximum, neither stumbled nor wavered. She ran and threw herself forward with all her might.

She thought she heard a faint shriek.

It was the countless shrieks coming from the collapsing ceiling.

‘The plan is a success.’

Even without seeing, she could perceive it.

Amidst the thunderous noise of the collapsing debris, she could fathom how many Mutant Destruction Fungi were mixed in.

“Ugh…”

“Get up.”

“Y-you came in person?”

It was a ridiculous remark, considering all the Legion Soldiers were essentially part of the Legion itself.

But it was an inevitable thought.

As she was helped up, she flinched at the gleaming light in the mask staring back at her.

“Our first true adversaries, and simultaneously, those who will grant us a great gift.”

The Legion moved past Kang Do-Yeon and headed toward the ruins.

In the ruins, where two trunk layers had merged into one, some Mutant Destruction Fungi were still alive.

“Urrghh!”

One of them was a Chief Colony, which had led a Destruction Fungus Sub-Colony.

The entity with an unusually large body bore a striking resemblance to a human.

A form resembling a woman, though the body was a grotesque reinterpretation of humanity through the lens of the Destruction Fungi.

“You thought the strongest form we could assume was you? How foolish. Without Formative Power, the human form is far too weak.”

The Legion sneered at it.

Perhaps, in some way, it was a kindred spirit to the Legion.

Its achievements had once been remarkable, even comparable to the Legion that now climbed through the Labyrinth.

But while the Legion ascended, it had stagnated over hundreds of years and ultimately fell.

As kindred spirits, the Legion knew well.

Without continual growth and progress, one would ultimately become a failure, trash, a degenerated entity.

“Are you… are you really going to act personally?!”

Kang Do-Yeon realized the Legion’s intent and was shocked.

Of course, acting personally was an odd expression.

After all, it had been the Legion itself moving each Legion Soldier all along.

“Yes.”

But this time, the Legion moved its physical body directly.

It found no particular reason to do so.

It was simply following its emotions.

“Then, senior… everything you have, I will take.”

As the waiting Legion Soldiers prepared for their charge, the Legion also began to unleash its power.

“Krrk?!”

As the final battle unfolded between the surviving Destruction Fungi and the Legion aiming to end their lives, something rapidly surged forward.

Before anyone could react, it deeply embedded itself into the body of the Chief Colony.

The entity staggered, attempting to pull it out, but another one flew in from the opposite direction and pierced its leg.

Next came the back, neck, arms, waist, and more.

In an instant, its entire body was pierced by black, pointed awl-like objects.

At the tips of these awls, glowing red ore shimmered brilliantly as they lodged themselves in.

“That…”

[The Legion, through its own research, developed a method of combat using its own body.]

Kang Do-Yeon’s eyes widened in astonishment.

The black awls were released all at once.

Under the Scream of the Destruction Fungus, which was filled with despair, dozens of awls moved simultaneously.

[By utilizing Transcendental Computing Power to control the Legion Soldiers, it can execute dozens of attacks simultaneously in a fleeting moment. Right now, it takes the form of thorns, but there is much potential for development.]

The body of the Legion remained stationary in its place.

The dark crimson aura emanating from the flying awls once again created deep holes in the body of the leader.

‘Why am I feeling this way?’

The Legion, controlling its body, lowered its head to avoid the swung Hooked Hand.

Simultaneously, an incoming awl once again pierced and penetrated the enemy’s chest.

A powerful hand flew toward it but failed to even graze it.

The result was already decided.

The more the Destruction Fungus struggled, the more wounds accumulated on its body.

‘A new emotion.’

The Legion, kicking off the ground, grabbed the enemy by the neck and slammed it into the ground.

Transforming its feet and arms, it firmly immobilized the enemy’s body.

The eyes of the two monsters met.

At the same time, a fierce Infection War unfolded in the areas where they touched.

However, the result this time was different.

The Legion’s Infection Power began to overwhelm the exhausted and wounded Destruction Fungus.

Starting from the captured neck, black veins spread through its bloodstream.

The reason for choosing such an inefficient method was, in essence, the Legion’s desire to end the Destruction Fungus with the infection and corruption they so proudly wielded.

“Kraaagh…”

“Disappear. Useless, obsolete trash.”

Watching the enemy gradually being overtaken by the black veins, the corners of the Legion’s mouth involuntarily curved upward.

The emotion the Legion was experiencing now was a profound euphoria.

Fighting, devouring, and evolving were intrinsic traits of the Legion. Therefore, there was no reason to feel joy in doing so.

‘This is enjoyable.’

The entire Legion stirred.

Considering that all the emotions the Legion had developed thus far originated solely from it, this was an unprecedented event.

[…Today’s events will go down in history. Have you now found another reason to live?]

The war ended. The Legion had won.

With the Command Entity extinguished, the remaining Mutant Destruction Fungi were no longer a Group.

“Consume everything and rise higher, further.”

The Legion, looking upward, gleamed with determination.

The collapsed 45th Stratum. And the entrance to the 46th Stratum beyond it.

It could be assumed that there was undoubtedly something more above.

Otherwise, these Variants wouldn’t have been this meager.

The Legion found itself wishing to face more wars like the one with these Mutant Destruction Fungi.

Because, in the end, it would emerge victorious and grow even stronger.

*

[The Legion has won. Now, even the power of the most significant threat, the Destruction Fungus, has become ours.]

“I need to… examine this closely.”

[There’s no need to rush. We have some time.]

By a stroke of luck, the Legion had won.

It believed in itself. So now, the important thing was me.

“Robert.”

“I came to express my gratitude. Thanks to you, many of our people survived.”

“Is the mission… continuing?”

“Of course.”

Robert entered with a somber expression.

In the heavy atmosphere, there wasn’t much to say.

When the Demonic Mole Crickets had attacked us.

Honestly, everything was a blur because of how urgent the situation had been.