"Ugh."

Kang Do Yeon grimaced at the strange sensation. The roots that had burrowed in began to suck up the energy within, leaving nothing behind. Her power engines, which had dimmed due to consumption, were fully recharged and regained their light.

'Throw the rest into the nest.-*

Not just her, but all the other legionnaires also replenished their energy. The roots that had sprouted from her hands quickly reverted to their normal state.

"This isn't everything."

'Right. First, divide the troops and clean up.'

The legion, having previously engaged in combat with the golems, had divided their forces. The higher-spec legionnaires, armed with Formative Force, led the assault. They had discovered that the golems, once their cores were destroyed, became slow and harmless, requiring minimal energy to defeat.

[In a world devoid of destructive bacteria, for which the golems were specifically created, who would assume control?]

'The creators of these golems... Whoever they may be, we have much to gain.'

A subtle shift in the legion's mood was noticeable. They eagerly anticipated a new adversary, one that appeared intelligent, advanced, and formidable - a worthy opponent to be vanquished. Their confidence was not misplaced. The analysis of the cores that powered the golems revealed they were not significantly more advanced than the mana stone engraving techniques of the Heavenly Soul Art, a technique the legion was well-versed in. The legion typically avoided secondary processing of ores due to efficiency concerns, but they could deduce that much.

'It's manageable at this level.'

'Faster, faster.'

The process of nesting and absorption accelerated as they grew in size. Their rate of capturing and annihilating prey also increased. It was an unyielding act of predation, relentless in its pursuit, with the sole objective of ascending higher.

'He certainly fought to protect.'

'We too, fight to protect.'

The legion interpreted his intentions in their own unique way. They were tasked with protecting him and everything he sought to protect. To accomplish this, they needed to become stronger. Thus, they had to fight harder, consume more, and evolve further.

[For him.] *

"What the hell are you talking about? There seems to be an issue with the stem layer."

"It's true, White. I saw it with my own eyes. The six-legged ground squirrels, sensitive to vibrations, were fleeing in groups!"

"Yelson, you're intelligent, but that's an absurd claim."

He shook his head, his pointed ears twitching. This was a habit of his when he was annoyed.

"The stem layer is heavily guarded. You might not be aware, but those giant stone figures are incredibly powerful. Above all, the destructive bacteria stand no chance against them."

"But I'm certain..."

"The pact our ancestors made with them still holds. So, youngsters like you should focus on training instead of worrying."

He patted the head of the child who had raised the concern. His firm stance seemed to have an effect, as the child left the area with a downcast gaze.

"Isn't it admirable though?""Indeed. These children will become remarkable talents in the future."

"lust like you, White."

"Enough with the compliments."

He coughed at his subordinate's words, but quickly composed himself. He turned to gaze at the large city, brilliantly illuminated by countless glowing stones. At the city's heart, a tree that appeared to be at least 10m tall was in full bloom.

"However, it's difficult to explain to young ones like Yelson why we're still confined to this underground existence."

"Those arrogant..."

"Easy, Leyam. They are 'from elsewhere', not the humans who exiled our ancestors."

"True. Those fools were eventually wiped out by the destructive bacteria."

The subordinate, who had been momentarily outraged, soon nodded in agreement.

"But one day, we will..."

"Indeed. We must reach the surface."

Their eyes sparkled at the thought of reaching the surface and reclaiming their lost glory. It was a yearning their race had never forgotten.

"White, I'll go on patrol now."

"Go ahead."

His subordinates departed, leaving White to gaze pensively at the city.

'But before we ascend, we must first find our other kin.'

His expression remained somber. The few surviving Moonlight Elves had managed to establish a foothold for recovery, thanks to the assistance of outsiders. They used weapons that the destructive bacteria couldn't withstand to clear the labyrinth, and in the process, the Moonlight Elves gathered their scattered kin and slowly regained their power. That was decades ago. But compared to their past glory, this was still a mere fraction. The search for their kin, lost deep within the labyrinth, continued. Even though they were somewhat stable and gradually increasing their population and stockpiling supplies, the journey was still long.

"Great Stem, please protect our kin..."

"White! It's a disaster!"

Suddenly, the ones who had left for patrol just moments ago returned, their faces pale. Sensing danger, he instinctively reached for his sword.

"What's happening? Have they betrayed us?!"

He considered the worst-case scenario. At this point, the only ones who could pose a threat were those who now inhabited the surface.

"No, it's not that. Their magic weapons have all been destroyed, and..."

"What?"

His eyes widened as his subordinate's disjointed words grew increasingly alarming.

"Hurry up!""We might need to use a spell to seal the entrance. Quickly!"

The city, which had been peaceful for a while, was thrown into chaos. The warriors hastily donned their armor and weapons, taking defensive positions to protect the city. The residents also prepared to fight, bracing themselves for the worst. There was nowhere else to run.

"Warlord, what's happening?"

"Great Chieftain, I'll explain the situation."

White, who had been trying to maintain calm to lead his people, stepped forward to brief the city's leaders on the situation.

Anxiety rippled through them all. Despite the recent peace they had been basking in, some among them were elders who had personally endured the brutal battles against the destructive bacteria. The fear, deeply etched into their bones, was difficult to shake off.

"We are not the same as those who used to live in hiding."

White declared, his teeth gritted in response to their reactions. He was firmly convinced that they could only bounce back if they shattered this defeatist instinct ingrained in their entire race, even if it was for the sake of the future.

"Even if the destructive bacteria swarm us again, we will definitely win."

"Shouldn't we contact them first? I heard it's not just our scouts who were injured, but their magic weapons were also hit!"

"Of course, we should."

White's face twisted into a grimace as he agreed. They had to swallow their pride. They had been in a cooperative relationship with them and had reaped some benefits.

"But the most important thing is to protect this land, this city, with our own strength. We need to show them our power so that we won't be pushed around in future encounters."

Their goal was not just simple growth. They aimed to return to the surface someday. To achieve that, they had to cultivate a power that would not be underestimated by them.

"I believe in you, Warlord. We need to show our strength."

The Great Chieftain, who understood the intention, nodded in agreement.

Having convinced the middle-ranking members, White quickly returned to the scene, weapons in hand.

"So, who exactly is the enemy?"

However, they still hadn't fully identified the enemy.

"The problem occurred here, in the Stem Layer. The troops that went out for reconnaissance found shattered debris and bloodstains in the passage connected to this place."

"They said they pulled the divine stone from the chest of the magic weapon and hid the bodies of the scouts. Could it be the work of an intelligent creature?"

White held a meeting with others in the barracks. The first piece of comprehensive information was that the enemy was suspected to be in the Stem Layer connected to this place by

branches. It was also the base for the scouts who regularly explored the outside.

"We've prepared enough, so how about we scout some more?"

"That sounds good. If necessary, we can send out those who are nimble enough to..."

His words trailed off as he spotted small creatures scurrying in the corner of his eye. They were a species known as Six-legged Ground Squirrels, named for their six legs. Their diminutive size kept them off the golems' radar, and they were now fleeing deeper into the unknown.

"Leyam."

"Yes, Warlord."

"Do you... feel any vibrations?"

A cold sweat broke out on his forehead as he quietly posed the question to his subordinate, his senses on high alert. His amplified magical power was already hinting that something was amiss.