A Legion Grows From My Smartphone

Chapter 66

"I will teach you swordsmanship. My master uses a sword. Although I haven't fully mastered it yet, it will surely help."

"But Ji Changhyun-ssi doesn't use a sword..."

"I fought using my special ability, the Flame. But you will soon understand."

He handed me a sword. It wasn't the crude sword used by gnolls but a high-quality longsword with a polished blade.

Not bad. The Legion also naturally utilizes formative power through swords or similarly shaped weapons.

Up until now, I had been running around with a gun, but the limitations of personal firearms were clear.

I needed to step up from the level of physical enhancement.

"Kang Shin-Woo-ssi, have you ever read martial arts novels?"

At that moment, Ji Changhyun, whose sword was wrapped in blazing flames, smirked and asked.

"Ma-martial arts novels?"

"My master acknowledged this as well. Inner energy is somewhat similar to the concepts of inner power and martial arts. Of course, they are fundamentally different. Shall we start with breathing techniques? I am certain you have talent."

The explanation was simple: stabilize the inner strength through breathing and use that strength.

For now, I followed his instructions. Meanwhile, I glanced at the mobile phone set up on one side.

The mobile phone recording my current actions was something Ji Changhyun allowed, saying it would be useful for review.

However, it wasn't my real mobile phone.

It was a spare device I had handed over to the Legion as a bestowed item. The one with a dead battery had returned to me as a sacrifice.

"Do you feel anything?"

"...Indeed, I feel a different flow. But I'm not sure if this sense of dissonance is because I've learned another power."

"You'll soon recognize the difference."

I quickly noticed changes within myself. However, it was hard to discern whether these changes were due to the influence of the inner energy training technique or the effects of the Heavenly Soul Technique, which I had only learned the basics of.

"My body feels lighter and tougher. If I train in combat techniques suited to this body, it will become a martial art."

"Are you saying you'll reveal this power to the public and accept students to learn it openly? Without any cost?"

"Of course. It's the Age of Great Chaos. Many people desire the strength to protect themselves and those around them. The only thing we ask of our members is to protect humans—whether it's themselves, their family, or their neighbors."

"Is that the sole reason? Surely, some might find it suspicious. I remember the hunters' rights struggles from a few years ago were quite intense..."

No matter how diverse people are in this world, it was hard for me to understand, so I had to ask again.

He laughed faintly, as if he understood.

"If this were a time when ordinary life was still ongoing, it would have been impossible. But now, even the world's leaders know. If they want to at least preserve their lives, let alone their privileges, they need to abandon their ridiculous ideologies and beliefs and quietly survive. If they can't help, they shouldn't hinder."

"...Understood."

While I knew he was praised as a modest and thoughtful heroic hunter, seeing the sincerity in his shining eyes made me hesitant to get too deeply involved.

However, I couldn't help but feel that they would become a force that would shake the very foundation of this game.

[So, will you hand over the information stored in that mobile phone to the Legion?]

"...I'm still thinking."

That day's training ended.

Our mission was in a suspended state, essentially floating in mid-air. Thanks to that, I had some free time and sat alone in my solitary room, racking my brain.

[If the Legion absorbs that knowledge, it will undoubtedly become stronger.]

"Simply handing it over seems meaningless."

I would have to give it to them eventually. But when the Legion mercilessly annihilated the Moonlight Fairies, displaying overwhelming force...

Watching that footage, I felt fear rather than catharsis.

Having fought and confronted them directly, I understood.

The current Legion is strong. Elite Legion Soldiers equipped with core engines? I can guarantee I wouldn't stand a chance. I would be torn apart in the first strike.

Dozens of such beings were deployed in the recent battle. And that wasn't even their full power.

"Explain it in detail. What kind of data... Yes, show it in numbers. Exactly how much power does the Legion currently possess? You should be capable of doing that."

[...Calculating data...]

As expected, that guy displayed the "Calculating" indicator and fell silent for a moment.

I anxiously waited during that time.

The Legion always calculated nutrients and efficiency meticulously, deploying the minimum necessary troops to defeat their enemies.

That was only possible because they had the luxury to do so. Even in battles against the Destruction Fungus, the Legion steadfastly conserved nutrients.

[Calculation complete.]

"The answer?"

[I'll show you. The strength of your current unit, and if the Legion focused all forces on producing only one type of unit, how many troops could be deployed at once.]

[• Deployable Elite Legion Soldiers: 52,400 units.]

[• Deployable Large Legion Soldiers: 244,400 units.]

[• Deployable Mid-sized Legion Soldiers: 1,559,000 units.]

[• Deployable Small Legion Soldiers: 49,000,000 units.]

Strings of text appeared one after another. My eyes widened as I read through them.

[Of course, this data is extremely hypothetical. If that many troops were deployed, the current Legion wouldn't be able to sustain the maintenance cost, even with continuous devouring. However, this excludes special units like the Sacred Tree or the Infection Fungus.]

"Right. True strength comes from the combination of troops, anyway."

I muttered in a trembling voice.

Even if tens of millions of goblin-sized Small Legion Soldiers swarmed... No, tens of millions?! This was a number beyond common sense.

And that wasn't all. The Legion continues to grow. And evolve.

If they find more efficient methods and absorb more nutrients, doubling those numbers wouldn't be a problem.

[Will you send the mobile phone?]

"Wait a moment."

After holding my face in thought for a while, I made a decision.

At this point, as someone just taking the first steps, I wasn't in a position to be selective.

[What are you doing now?]

"Well, what's the harm? It's time to show my face, anyway."

I casually propped up the mobile phone and pressed the video recording button.

After discovering that the Bestowed Item and Sacrifice System could be used for mutual interaction, this was the method I came up with. Why it took me so long to think of it was probably due to my intelligence.

"Hey, ahem... Long time no see. It's nothing much, but..."

I began to speak.

The content wasn't particularly significant. On the surface, it was just like talking to a younger sibling.

"Actually, I watched the footage related to this war."

However, I made sure to include mentions of the Legion here and there.

From compliments about their performance to admiration for their strength... It sounded like blatant flattery, but I couldn't bring myself to say something ridiculous like "Stop the slaughter!"

"I hope you all stay safe. Until the end."

In the end, my video message was filled with mundane remarks and concluded. The sole purpose of recording this video was simple.

To establish a more advanced form of communication with the Legion.

I retrieved the spare device and took a photo.

The spare device disintegrated and vanished completely.

*

"Cha Jiyeon of the Korea Branch Step-Up Hunters."

"...Ji Changhyun of the Fire Dragon. I didn't expect you to be a unit."

"Isn't that the same for both of us?"

At the entrance of the barracks, as soon as she arrived at the encampment and was about to enter, Cha Jiyeon glared at Ji Changhyun, who grabbed her wrist.

The mana stone in her hand glowed.

Thanks to the heightened tension between the two after their encounter, neither of them heard the sound of someone talking alone in the empty barracks.

"Let go of me."

She shook off his hand roughly.

The atmosphere between the two grew fiercely intense.

They were units of the same world. In other words, they were destined to kill each other.

"Let me ask just one thing. Kang Shin-Woo already knows your true identity. As well as this evil and unreasonable game system. So give up any thought of using him."

"...That's quite amusing. That person has been involved from the very beginning."

As she retorted coldly, his eyebrow twitched slightly.

Seeing that, Cha Jiyeon's lips curled into a faint smile. She realized she held the upper hand.

"Then what exactly is your relationship?"

"It's a deeper connection than yours."

"If it was a personal relationship as humans, I would apologize."

Ji Changhyun, who had momentarily suppressed his energy, bowed his head respectfully.

However, when he raised his head again, crimson flames flickered in his eyes.

"But if your Player uses their unit to do something reckless, I cannot tolerate that for the sake of the cause."

"The cause? But the Player is...!"

"My Master, my Player wishes to speak with your Player."

He blocked her attempt to retort.

"You'll find out sooner or later. The demonic creatures and the Players controlling them have formed an alliance. Their target is your Evolution and the Allied Forces. As a member of the Guardian Alliance, I can't stand by and watch the Allied Forces suffer at their hands."

He turned his body first and began walking ahead.

Cha Jiyeon scoffed in disbelief but ultimately had no choice but to follow him.

[The Player has shown interest. Follow them.]

She had no other options.