"Why would they willingly choose death?” [We are currently investigating that.] Lying flat on my bed, I stared at the ceiling, watching another world unfold before me. A video of my sister, Kang Do Yeon, and the masked legion appeared, along with a massive form that seemed larger than the mansion itself. The legion still clutched the doll I had sent. "I see. How foolish.”

The legion chuckled soon after, seemingly communicating with the destructive bacteria megacolony.

[The Destructive Bacteria Megacolony is a collective entity, formed by the convergence of hundreds of individual destructive bacteria colonies. This union has endowed them with the ability to think beyond their inherent nature.]

"Thinking beyond their nature, huh? So, if they’ve chosen to quietly accept death, what led them to this decision?”

"... We are merely remnants of the disaster that once dominated this world. The upper floors are now overcoming trials, living in a new era with new rulers. But we have no more potential for growth.”

As if it had heard my question, the legion answered directly. I didn’t quite understand at first. The remnants of the past and the new era.

[The destructive bacteria that once ruled the entire world are now extinct. Those trapped in this underground labyrinth are all that’s left. As a ruler who had overthrown an era and established a new one, the Destructive Bacteria Megacolony knew their reign had come to an end.]

"So...they just gave up because they knew it was futile? Is that even possible? What on earth is happening up there?!” Of course, even with additional explanations, I still couldn’t understand.

[Isn’t it the same for humans? Instead of resisting and being defeated, don’t they give up and accept death quietly to preserve their last bit of honor?] "That’s...” "Don’t make me laugh!”

My mouth snapped shut at the sharp shout. At the same time, I felt a surge of intense emotions. These were the legion’s emotions. Right now, the legion was angrier than ever. [To the legion, it was an absolutely incomprehensible and unacceptable concept. It was natural to fight until the last cell remained.] "Uh...”

Caught in a maelstrom of raw emotions, I managed to regain my composure, my focus returning to the screen. My sister was equally engrossed, her face a mask of animated intensity. "Loser, garbage!” The legion expressed its fury in the only way it knew how.

"How dare they? Our destiny as beings like them is to devour any enemy that comes near and fight until the end.”

The legion’s hand trembled. They had recognized the mutated destructive bacteria that had once plunged them into crisis as their own kind, and had developed a bond with them. Consequently, it was infuriating to see these bacteria, as large as the megacolony itself, remain so frustratingly passive, neither resisting nor retaliating. It was a situation they simply could not tolerate.

"We never stop. We never become extinct. We always evolve and become stronger.”[The legion made a decision. They would dispose of this useless, extinct trash and move forward.]

Unnoticed, the legion’s nest, which had devoured the lower floors, began to rise slowly. It was clear that they intended to devour the whole megacolony entirely. [They will never retreat from any enemy. They will destroy everything and devour everything. That is the legion’s will.]

I closed my mouth. It seemed like I was reaffirming the essence of the legion once again. A predator with an insatiable appetite to devour the entire universe, born solely for that purpose.

[They will never stop. They will devour everything.]

"It’s strangely confident.”

A bitter smirk played on my lips as I watched the text rise. Could I alter or control that entity? I was nothing more than a speck compared to the legion, and the legion was only going to grow larger.

Yet, I yearned to prevent it from becoming a creature that only knew destruction and slaughter.

"It has finally developed a sense of self. From a human perspective, it’s not far-fetched to say that it was born. Do you truly, genuinely, only desire the legion’s growth?” [-] This was for me, for the world, and for the legion.

[Tentacles from the nest lunged at the megacolony.]

The tentacles of the nest had evolved. Thick, pulsating branches, teeming with life, burrowed deep into the enemy’s body, releasing a swarm of infectious bacteria. [The maximized infectivity, a consequence of the war with the mutated destructive bacteria, started to spread rapidly throughout the entire body.] Black veins erupted instantly, sporadically appearing within the massive flesh. "Resist.”

The legion whispered, observing the scene unfold. Yet, it accepted the onslaught without any reaction. The legion’s emotions surged once again. [[[[[I said. Resist!!!]]]]]

And finally, those emotions detonated. A massive shockwave swept through, and the enemy’s body exploded, causing cracks to form on the chamber’s walls and floor.

I squeezed my eyes shut. It was an explosive force, driven solely by anger and mental waves. The only reason I wasn’t swept away was that my sense of self was stronger and more stable than the legion’s current state.

However, as the legion’s sense of self expands and stabilizes, there’s no way I can triumph over it with my mental strength alone. "I need to improve myself too.”I drew in a deep breath. There was no time for relaxation or surrender. To control the legion, I needed to be equal or superior in at least one aspect. * "Our researchers were attacked?!” "Relax. Thankfully, there were hardly any casualties. The mercenaries took a hit, but the mission was a success.” "The mercenaries... what about him?” "He’s safe.” Chris, the bearer of the news, clicked his tongue and shook his head. Regardless of his reaction, Cha Ji Yeon exhaled a sigh of relief.

"Kang Shin Woo, right? The rookie’s performance was commendable. The actual combat was handled by the Korean special forces alongside him, but he quickly assessed the situation and rescued a significant number of people early on.” "Is that so?”

"His name has been making rounds, and his reputation has improved. But it was a narrow escape.”

Chris’s smile disappeared, his expression turning serious. An attack was an attack, no matter how well they managed it. "Since we ventured into this world without fully understanding it, damage was probably inevitable.”

Cha Ji Yeon voiced her thoughts in a bitter tone. They had been separated from the main force just prior. The main force had struggled to advance and managed to secure a position near what was presumed to be the enemy’s base. There were several battles during this process. Some were guerilla attacks by the enemy, while others were assaults by non-enemy entities.

"At first, I assumed they were units. But even the simplest beasts were terrifying. I honestly want to leave as soon as possible.” "I see.” She gave a slight nod. Though she had willingly fought monsters, she didn’t relish combat. Her motivation for becoming a hunter was simple: to protect people from monsters. "Attention, everyone! Movement detected up ahead!” "Finally.”

Just then, someone approached their vehicle. It was another hunter from Evolution, assigned to guard duty. He wasn’t a unit, just a regular hire. Sensing the start of the action, the two quickly exited the car. "Who’s out there?” "Looks like the Nols.”

The guard handed his equipment to Chris. Cha Ji Yeon didn’t need it. Using a spell, she conjured a semi-transparent formation in front of one eye. This gave her the power to see the essence of the target, allowing her to spot those hidden in the stealth field.

"Seems they can’t see us.”

Chris glanced at the sky. A semi-transparent barrier, similar to the one used by their enemies, enveloped the area. "What’s the plan?” [Isn’t it clear? They’re units. Eliminate them.]

As Chris mumbled, a voice echoed in their minds, as if it had been lying in wait. "You’ve been busy lately...” "But there are too many of them.” [The player has purchased new power from the store.]

At Cha Ji Yeon’s warning, the player immediately offered additional support. She recoiled, her eyes widening at the tingling sensation coursing through her body. [It’s a blood circulation technique, a way to maximize magic power used by other races. It’s a primitive method, but it’s useful in emergencies.] "Damn... it hurts like hell. Look at this, my blood vessels are bursting.”

Chris chuckled, showing his injured hand. Cha Ji Yeon gritted her teeth and swallowed the pain. Such discomfort was, of course, irrelevant to the player. "Let’s move. Mr. Leckman, hold your position and fight at a steady pace.” "Understood!” After issuing instructions to the others, she and Chris left the area.

"Judging by their actions, it seems they’re planning a surprise attack on the main force... We should get something from the allied forces, right? We’re saving their lives, after all.”

"Focus on the fight for now.” "The real war begins.”

Chris chuckled lightly, while Cha Ji Yeon kept her stern expression intact. Both drew out their power. Together, they emerged from the barrier that had concealed them.

Before their opponents could even react, Cha Ji Yeon made her move. Rising from the ground, she unleashed a massive bolt of lightning from her body and plunged headfirst into the enemy ranks.