The legion erupted from the lower levels, shattering the tranquil ecosystem as they always did. The commune, a mushroom forest, was abruptly transformed into a battlefield. The assembled Guardians fought back with all their might.

[The main force of the newly formed legion is a versatile troop of orcs.]

"These orcs seem stronger now than before they became units."

[Of course, physically, there-’s no comparison. The essence of the legion is contained within them, all inefficiencies have been stripped away, and they’ve been modified solely for combat.]

They stood tall, their bodies armored with compact muscles engineered for explosive power, reaching a height of approximately 2 meters. The original orc base was muscular and boasted an impressive physique, but its appearance and path diverged from the beginning. Unnecessary internal organs were discarded, resulting in a lean body, but this made them more flexible and resilient.

[The entire body is armored with a shell created by fusing the strongest shells, such as cave turtles, lizard scales, and giant beetles.]

Their entire bodies were covered in shimmering black armor. The design was similar to the original goblin base, but with an increased size and muscle mass, their strength had more

than doubled.

[The greatest advantage of these all-purpose soldiers is their ability to easily counter any form of attack from the enemy.]

A legionnaire, brandishing swords in both hands, clashed head-on with a giant, fire-spewing, three-headed wolf charging at them. Despite their physical disadvantage, they stood

their ground against the onslaught. This was possible because the legionnaire was not a simple life form, but a meticulously designed weapon for combat.

"Craaack..."

The all-purpose legionnaire, having blocked the sharp teeth, extended another pair of arms from between the split back plates. Simultaneously, it pierced the neck of the defenseless Guardian with its sharply pointed nails.

[Next, we have the assault type. Most of these take the form of beasts.]

The legion-’s strength lay in the precise coordination of vastly different troop types, leaving no room for error and launching concentrated attacks. A massive four-legged beast, having charged recklessly beside the versatile legionnaire who had just beheaded a Guardian, lunged at another. Despite sharing similar armor, this troop boasted formidable front legs and powerful jaws. Even large adversaries couldn’t withstand the onslaught of several of these creatures biting and tearing at once. They fell, one after another.

"It’s over... We outnumbered them from the start."

[We mustn’t let our guard down. These Guardian category creatures are stronger than we anticipated.]

"Even so, they can’t compete with us in terms of production."

The vast disparity between the two forces was merely a question of efficiency and upkeep costs. The legion possessed the ability to produce more troops at once than it was currently had. The Guardians fought valiantly, obstinately resisting and disabling countless legionnaires, making them unfit for combat. However, their capabilities were finite. No matter how many fell, the legion persisted in its relentless march, advancing with an unyielding resolve to annihilate. The Guardians were gradually yielding to this ceaseless assault.

[As soon as they were pushed out of the mushroom forest, the bombardment from the legionnaires began. The tide has already turned.]

The newly evolved legionnaires anchored their sturdy legs firmly to the ground, aiming their back spikes that had torn through their flesh. As they grew in size, their spikes did too, and the force with which they could launch them increased dramatically.

[Poisonous spikes began to rain down on them. Their soft fur couldn’t block it.]

"The front line... is being pushed back."The Guardians were gradually retreating. The black wave expanded its territory accordingly.

[Are they finally making their move?]

At that moment, however, the Guardians also revealed a hidden card. A powerful electric shock, or something resembling it, exploded, filling the screen of the mobile phone. I squinted my eyes. Thankfully, the flash blindness didn’t last long.

"Is it really electricity?!"

[The legion lacked knowledge about electricity, so they remained ignorant, lust like their first encounters with acid or fire, it was a power they had never experienced before.]

The creature that unleashed the flash-like shock was the moth targeted by the legion. Dozens of legionnaires fell at once from that single strike. However, the moth’s lifeless appearance didn’t suggest it had been electrocuted.

[I’m intrigued.]

"Of course, you would be."

The legion, driven by insatiable greed, was as ravenous as ever. The flying species, previously on standby, spread their wings in unison.

[The legion boasts the most advanced aerial combat capabilities, having incorporated the reinterpretation of abilities acquired from Earth’s birds.]

Their form resembled a bee with feathered wings. Hundreds of such creatures descended upon the moth in a unified assault.

[Another flash detonated, claiming many lives. From these two experiences, they discovered a peculiar sensation. When hit by the moth’s attack, a unique, unknown reaction occurred, severely disrupting the connection between the entities and silencing the hive consciousness.]

"Hive consciousness..!"

[The more we observe, the more we must acquire this power.]

The legion deployed a second force. It was a war of attrition that would only end when one side was depleted. The legion was confident in such a war.

[Have they lost the power, the will to resist? If so, it’s our victory.]

The moth was no longer capable of emitting blue flashes. Before it could escape, large flying species with wide-open mouths simultaneously spewed out flames like flamethrowers.

"How long will the analysis take?"

[At least a day is required.]

The legion had emerged victorious. They had successfully hunted down and eliminated the moth that appeared to be the leader, along with all the resisting Guardians. The only task remaining was to analyze the spoils of war.

"Huuu..."

I put down the mobile phone that had held my attention for the past few hours and sighed. I had been confident of their victory, but the sudden release of the pent-up tension was overwhelming.

"The more I see, the stranger it seems. What exactly is that cave? Is it natural?"[We still don’t know.]

"There’s still so much left."

Even with the tension dissipating, my mind was a whirlwind. I had countless worries in reality, and the ever-expanding other world posed its own set of problems. There was undoubtedly something there.

"No, what does it matter?"

I shook my head, my thoughts having turned serious. There was only one way forward. Regardless of the secrets and stories hidden in that other world, the ending was the same. Either we consume everything, or we die.

[You’ve begun to think quite like the legion.]

"I don’t particularly appreciate your praise."

I chuckled weakly and left the room. Outside, my younger sister and mother were engrossed in the news, their faces etched with worry. It had been a while since any good news had been broadcasted, and I had a feeling this trend would persist.

"Evolution, the company Cha Ji Yeon is affiliated with, has announced a collaboration with various governments to cross the gate. They’ve successfully secured gate-related technology that hasn’t been properly researched until now. This must be it, right?"

"Is that so?"

Kang Do Yeon murmured as soon as she saw me. I wasn’t particularly surprised. Cha Ji Yeon’s player and its units were of exceptional skill and ability. It was inevitable they would make a move, regardless of the cost.

"We should be more cautious for a while."

My primary concern was the safety of my family. The nebulous anxiety that had been plaguing me since my father’s death ten years ago was now morphing into a tangible reality.

*

[The string. It’s the link that connects the unit and the player.]

The nest was shrouded in silence, its only movement the occasional twitch of the fleshy walls. Yet, despite the quiet, the legion was more active than ever.

[We’ve certainly drawn nearer to an answer. The power wielded by the Great Stem Guardian 4nl236, which we absorbed and disassembled this time, isn’t identical to the fragments of the monster race we absorbed previously. However, it bears a striking resemblance.]

The legion’s entire computational power was consumed in understanding this new concept. It was a shocking revelation, but as always, the legion embraced it and successfully

integrated it into their knowledge.

[This will be etched in our history. The moment our legion first grappled with the concept of a soul.]

The entire legion was taken aback. Every member, who had simultaneously halted their activities, was momentarily stunned by this electrifying revelation. Their world, their

senses, their comprehension - everything expanded.

[I can sense it clearly too. Our doubt about who we are and who he is has become more defined. The string connecting us to the player is unusually strong compared to other units and players. We are many, yet one. Unlike other units where the string connected to the player splits into hundreds, thousands, millions of individual entities, we are linked to him by a single string.]

The fragment of the Wraith acted as a catalyst, and the Guardians provided a clue. With this, the legion arrived at a conclusion. The connection of the soul they were experiencing was tied to their origin. It was a lifeline that could satiate their thirst for knowledge.

[Strange emotions and peculiar feelings are coursing through the string. These are undoubtedly his emotions and inclinations. Can’t you sense it? We are now incredibly close to him. ]

The legion resumed their activities. However, their internal dynamics had subtly shifted from before.