A Legion Grows From My Smartphone

“Ah…”

When it broke through the ground and revealed itself.

For a moment, my body froze.

It was a monster. A gigantic monster.

“Aaaargh!”

What snapped me out of it was someone’s scream.

I sprang up and leapt backward.

In the blink of an eye, its rough hand crashed down on the spot where I had been.

[It has chosen its prey.]

“I know that too!”

I had no time to pay attention to the shimmering text before my eyes.

Facing the roaring monster, I quickly dodged.

At the same time, I utilized what I had learned.

Physical Enhancement using the Heavenly Soul Technique. It was something I had barely managed to grasp in a short amount of time, and though it was my only ability, it didn’t seem like it would be enough to take that thing down.

“Is it a Unit or not? Just answer that!”

[Try and find out.]

If it wasn’t a Unit, there would be a way to deal with it even without the Assassination Authority.

Glancing at the chaotic surroundings that had turned into a battlefield due to their appearance, I pulled out my mobile phone.

I had conserved its battery for moments like this.

‘Please.’

It wasn’t something I could use multiple times, but if this didn’t work, things would get tricky.

Fortunately, my worry was unfounded.

The monster, which had been shaking the ground with its spine-chilling cries, vanished with a clicking sound. That meant it wasn’t a Unit.

[This is the largest and strongest specimen among those transmitted alive. Watch as the Legion hunts it.]

“Alright. I trust you. But I don’t have time to watch right now.”

I shook my head and dismissed the screen.

Even though the creature attacking me had disappeared in an instant, the surroundings were still in complete chaos, with no one able to notice its absence.

[Then hide yourself and ensure your safety.]

“…That’s not possible.”

[Your life is not yours alone.]

“That’s certainly true.”

With a bitter smile, I moved my trembling legs.

I wasn’t moving to hide.

“I want the connected Legion to understand. The meaning and significance of my actions.”

I ran toward the people under attack.

It was a reckless act. But following them here in the first place had also been reckless.

None of this was for my own sake.

“You are…!?”

“Just go.”

The monsters, which even ignored bullets, flailed and recoiled at the tear gas fired by the mercenaries, as if they were still living creatures.

In that brief moment, I managed to rescue people.

Since my abilities couldn’t deal any damage to them, it was the best I could do.

If I could even scratch that carapace, it would be impressive.

[This is a meaningless and dangerous act. I recommend retreating immediately…]

“Then what are you going to do? If I want to act on my own will, who’s stopping me?!”

I raised my voice at the text floating before my eyes.

The researcher, who was a foreigner, couldn’t understand my words in Korean and flinched in surprise.

“I acknowledge that the Legion has established its own value system. But it’s still not there yet. There’s still a chance.”

This was also something I was saying to myself.

The actions the Legion had shown so far.

And the Gates that opened according to our will.

I couldn’t shake off the unpleasant thoughts forming in my mind as a result.

‘The Legion is most influenced by me.’

That’s why I had made up my mind.

I wanted them to understand at least one thing through my actions.

Not to see humans and this world merely as prey. To perceive them as living beings sharing life with me.

Because of this, I even thought it was better that the Legion maintained its obsession with me.

“Even better. It’s much preferable to have a tantrum-throwing, jealous child than a Mad Monster Collective that mechanically analyzes everything in this universe and continues its destruction and massacres for its nature. You probably think the Legion will become more savage and destructive if it gains emotions and ego. But I don’t think so. There’s definitely another way.”

[If you believe so, then act accordingly. You will know what is right someday.]

I frowned at the response.

I had thought I’d catch them off guard, but they replied without a hint of hesitation, as if they’d been waiting for it.

“Ah, over there…!”

“Stay here!”

Leaving the researcher I had supported in a safe place, I ran again.

I had to save even one more person. It wasn’t just to show the Legion.

Ten years ago, there were people who had saved my family from the monsters that ruthlessly killed my father.

Now that I had power, I could repay the favor I received back then.

The only consolation was that, unexpectedly, there were people fighting against these monsters.

Thanks to that, gaps were created.

“…A soldier?”

The one striking in mid-air with a sword in hand was undoubtedly wearing a military uniform.

One thing came to mind. The Hunter Special Forces that the government had created by recruiting hunters.

It must be them.

“Get a grip, J. I’ll move you now.”

After evacuating the remaining researchers, I ran to a mercenary who had collapsed on the ground.

The area around him was soaked in blood. One side of his upper body had been severely torn apart. Panic struck me for a moment, and my hands hovered nervously in the air, unsure of what to do.

“I’m already done for.”

“But…”

“You really are a rookie. Is this your first time seeing someone die?”

Despite dying, he gave a weak smile. Then, with trembling hands, he grabbed my arm.

“Tell Robert to keep the promise he made to take care of my family. That guy will survive in the end. And… remember. This kind of thing is common.”

“I understand. I do.”

“Is that so? Then that’s a relief…”

The arm that had gripped mine lost its strength and fell limply.

I clearly saw the light fade from his eyes.

“Go, help… the others.”

“…Alright.”

And that was his last word.

Surprisingly, the impact wasn’t as heavy. Or perhaps it wasn’t surprising.

In any case, I found myself getting up and running again.

[The Legion has already become a mighty existence. Do you think you, just you, can guide such a being? Being a Player doesn’t make you superior to a Unit.]

“I don’t have a massive brain like you, so I don’t know. I’m just doing it.”

On the contrary, my determination to step forward solidified further.

Even after that, I kept dragging injured people to the rear, wielding a gun to attract the monsters’ attention and buy time.

“Alright! Let’s retreat. Retreat!”

Robert, covered in blood that didn’t seem to be his own, shouted to retreat after I informed him that I had evacuated everyone else and threw aside the grenade launcher he was holding.

“Ah, damn it.”

“Ugh…”

One of them blocked our path.

We instinctively took a step back.

There was no way to confront that thing in the current situation where we stood face-to-face.

“Screeech!”

And then she appeared.

A soldier leapt from behind the monster and struck its head precisely with the sword in her hand.

“Everyone, get back!”

As I ran to avoid the thrashing monster letting out a terrible scream, my eyes met hers.

*

“Anyway, just keep preparing. Tear gas is more effective than useless grenades, so stock up on those instead.”

Back to the present. Robert tapped me on the shoulder and walked out.

Unexpectedly, my reputation had improved quite a bit, considering I had flailed around helplessly in an unforeseen situation.

It seemed my desperate running around had left a good impression.

Even Robert no longer called me a rookie or criticized me for being incompetent.

[Do not carry a burden you cannot handle.]

“Why are you so chatty all of a sudden? Are you nervous?”

In that brief moment, I checked the state of The Legion.

My heart pounded for no reason, wondering if my intentions had been conveyed.

“Disappear. Useless, obsolete trash.”

“…”

And then, what greeted me on the screen was The Legion engaged in its final battle against the Mutant Destruction Fungus.

Setting aside its overwhelming appearance, I could tell The Legion was extremely excited and elated at the moment.

“That, well, it happens.”

For a moment, my head throbbed, and I blinked, but I quickly understood.

After all, the Mutant Destruction Fungus was an obvious enemy that had to be killed.

“Devour everything and go higher, higher.”

However, as The Legion, victorious in the war, muttered while looking above.

I eventually called my younger sibling. That wasn’t just simple competitive spirit.

The intense emotion The Legion felt flowed into me as well.

That’s why I could understand. My heart pounded, and my blood boiled.

This was undeniable madness.

At this rate, it seemed The Legion would grow in a completely different direction from what I intended.

…That couldn’t happen. I had already made up my mind.

So The Legion had to continue to obsess over me. It had to only look at me. It must not escape my control.

“Are you hurt? Are you hurt anywhere?! Why didn’t you just run away quietly instead of stepping forward!!”

“Phew, yeah. I’m fine.”

Finally calming down, I watched as The Legion quickly hid its body and spoke at the appropriate moment.

Kang Do-Yeon, who had heard about what had happened from me, immediately shouted angrily, worrying about me first.

“Calm down, I’m fine. And you’ve been through worse than me.”

“I’m fine. I’m not even human anymore. Lately, I’ve realized it. Now I eat with tentacles…”

“No. You’re human.”

To that guy who laughed self-deprecatingly, my expression stiffened for a moment, and I spoke firmly.

“But…”

“It doesn’t matter what your body is. That doesn’t matter. No matter how you’re born or how you change, what’s important is your own thoughts.”

This time, I conveyed my words to both my younger sibling and The Legion.

The intention was the same as when I had told them that I was rescuing people.

Even if I was criticized for saying something that just sounded good, it couldn’t be helped. I wanted them to understand my meaning somehow.

Did they understand? I desperately wanted to talk directly. But since they refused, I couldn’t force it.

“Th-that, by the way. In the middle, your emotions wavered again, didn’t they, brother?”

At that moment, my younger sibling, who had been cautiously watching, changed the subject.

Now it was obvious. This was something The Legion had instructed to be said.

“Did you feel affection? It’s nothing. I already told you. In moments of crisis, I received help from many people. It’s just the emotions I felt toward those people.”

I explained as if it was nothing.

I emphasized as much as possible the help I received from others. That a mere human like me needed people and that their presence was essential.

Even if The Legion felt jealousy, I hoped that, for my sake, they would never dare harm those people, even if they someday reached Earth.

“They are irreplaceable to me.”

Accidentally, I ended up sounding like some kind of saint, but I held back.

Kang Do-Yeon, who had been standing there blankly, twisted her face into a bizarre expression as if looking at a lunatic. My face flushed red.

“Interesting words you’re saying.”

At that moment, startled by the voice I heard, I quickly turned off the app that had been opened before me.