A Legion Grows From My Smartphone

Chapter 7

Bats are not a legion.

They simply gather and live in groups.

Therefore, they had no interest in what exactly was on the ground covered by their own excrement.

Some individuals noticed anomalies but simply ignored them and went out to hunt.

[How foolish and ignorant. What could you expect from such beasts? But for us, this is an opportunity.]

“Unbelievable…”

A sigh, almost an exclamation, escaped my lips.

The Flesh Wall that had stretched out had completely covered part of the 7th Layer.

Those rapidly dividing masses of flesh over the course of just one day were not nests.

For the Swarm, this was a new kind of nest, built after the production nest and brain, a type of forward base designed for combat.

[The Swarm posed a question. Should we annihilate them here and now? And the Swarm answered itself. The answer was no. Simply driving them out would suffice.]

“Why is that? We’ve invested a lot of energy into this.”

[Because it’s only a matter of time before they all become our prey anyway.]

The Swarm wages war against the bats.

The bats were more likely to flee than to fight to the death.

And where would those displaced bats go?

They had no choice but to move up or down.

[Those heading down to the lower strata will become our food, and the hundreds of bats flooding the upper stratum will cause fractures in the balance.]

“We’ll take advantage of those fractures and chaos to profit.”

[Exactly. When the existing ecosystem collapses due to sudden chaos, we will consume it entirely.]

Clever and cunning.

But undeniably effective as a strategy.

Whether the bats were eaten or ate, the number of prey would either increase or decrease.

The Swarm intended to devour all of that prey.

“But really, what are they planning to do by covering the wall with that flesh?”

[They’ve built a fortress, so now it’s time to launch a preemptive strike from a distance.]

The Flesh Wall quivered.

What exactly were they planning to attack with?

A few bats seemed curious, casting glances, but they didn’t move, as if their intelligence wasn’t high enough to grasp the situation.

But at that moment—

“…What?”

“Screeeech!”

“Screech! Screech!”

The bats let out horrifying cries, spreading their wings and flailing wildly.

In the chaos, at least several dozen bats fell to the ground with a thud.

What on earth had just happened?

[The Swarm mimicked the White Cave Ant’s strategy. While they spat acid from their mouths, we developed and launched an even more potent form of acidic poison. Poison stingers launched from the Flesh Wall embedded themselves into the enemies’ bodies. These weren’t just ordinary stingers. They were made of a hollow bone-like substance.]

“Insane.”

This method was beyond my imagination.

And it worked exceptionally well.

The bats’ hide was thin.

Furthermore, their wings, covered in a membrane, were even more fragile.

This made them extremely vulnerable to the poison stingers.

If hundreds of them clustered together, the effect was amplified.

[The Swarm’s plan worked. The bats, feeling threatened, chose to flee in confusion rather than confront us directly. Victory is ours.]

The now-empty 7th Layer was ours.

The nest continued to grow, snuffing the life out of the trembling bats that had fallen to the ground, consuming every drop of their blood and every strand of their fur as nutrients.

But in this situation, the real chaos was likely unfolding in the 8th Floor above.

Hundreds of frenzied bats must have swarmed there in a single surge.

“An irresistible momentum, indeed.”

[That’s how it might seem. But that’s not the case.]

I mumbled lightly as I left the exam, but the Swarm immediately refuted my words, making me feel awkward.

“What do you mean it’s not?”

[The Swarm merely identified the most efficient strategy and executed it effectively. We still do not possess overwhelming power.]

“…”

Should I call it thorough?

Regardless, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of burden.

[Your account level has risen to Level 2. The number of available specimens has increased to 20, and the allocatable feed limit has increased to 40 kg.]

“So, basically, you’re telling me to keep working?”

I let out a hollow laugh.

But if that was the issue I, the Player, had to handle, there was no choice.

I had to do it.

“For now, let’s make do with wood.”

[Do you have a plan in mind?]

“…Not really.”

It was a particularly tricky problem.

Where could I find cheap, easily obtainable, high-calorie food?

After chatting a bit with my colleagues, I returned home.

“Both of you are free tomorrow afternoon, right?”

Our mother, who came home late from work, called out to me and my younger sibling.

Both of us, already aware, nodded.

[Could there be an issue with our grand plan…]

“It’s nothing like that, you lunatic. We’re just stepping out for a bit.”

Back in my room, I addressed the Swarm sharply as it crossed the line.

“Tomorrow, we’re going to visit Dad.”

What use was there in telling this to some unknown hacker?

Sighing, I sat down on the bed.

It’s been exactly ten years now.

Ten years since we saw our father brutally torn apart and killed in front of us.

Even though I considered myself an adult now, the mere thought of those events was unbearable.

“Let’s focus on other concerns. Like what to add as specimens. I don’t think I can waste this opportunity recklessly.”

[That’s a good idea.]

“Isn’t it about time we moved on from insects? Sure, the creatures in your world are horrendous and tough, but the animals here are all so docile.”

My thoughts expanded to reptiles, birds, and mammals.

The problem was how to acquire those.

Honestly, when I looked at that rough and ghastly Alien Cave, there were creatures I wanted to add that were similar, but they were far too dangerous for me to approach.

*

“Visiting will surely make Dad happy.”

“…Yeah.”

“Let’s go now.”

Ten years. By now, it was a routine.

Unlike his usual personality, my younger sibling, rigid and silent, left the place first.

When the tragedy occurred, he was only seven years old, so the shock must have been much greater for him.

[Is everything done? The Swarm currently controls the 8th Floor.]

A message scrolled on my mobile phone screen.

I didn’t bother opening the app.

It managed things on its own, and if there was a major issue, it would notify me.

Closing my mobile phone, I glanced at the rearview mirror.

The columbarium building grew distant.

“We should visit more often.”

The voice of my mother was soft and damp.

I kept my mouth shut.

Ten years had passed, and yet, no matter how accustomed I became, it was always the same.

“Oh dear, I guess we should head back now.”

“Yes, let’s do that.”

The car, which had been moving smoothly even amidst the silence, came to a halt as it was blocked by a sea of other vehicles filling the road.

Up ahead, soldiers and police officers were swarming.

The police were blowing whistles, redirecting the cars.

“Attention, everyone! A Gate is about to open ahead!”

“This area is under control! Turn around and leave!”

Some of the police officers were shouting nonstop through loudspeakers.

Seeing the soldiers gathered, I had a hunch, and it seemed my guess was correct—it was indeed a Gate.

“It’s okay. The soldiers are already prepared. There must be Hunters as well.”

“Y-Yes.”

I held my mother’s hand, which was gripping the gear shift tightly.

Her hand was cold and trembling continuously.

My mother was still extremely terrified of Gates and the Monsters that poured out of them.

Not that anyone wasn’t afraid of those Monsters, but for her, it was particularly worse.

And it was understandable. Those things were the Hell Monsters that had once driven our family to ruin.

Back then, ten years ago, the Response System and people’s methods of dealing with them were all immature.

When those creatures launched their hellish attack, my father sacrificed himself to protect my younger self and my mother. After that day, things became more systematic, and skills were developed.

I bit my lip for no reason.

Those creatures were not only the stuff of nightmares but also my nemeses.

Of course, I was nothing more than an ordinary person.

Even during my time in the military, I was absurdly lucky never to have been deployed due to a Gate incident.

“Look over there. Are those Hunters?”

At that moment, my mother pointed at something in the distance.

Far away, silhouetted figures could be seen descending from a helicopter.

The ones who fought against the Monsters were soldiers and people like those who had special powers.

“The Demonic Creatures will come out.”

“…Let’s turn around quickly.”

Kang Do-Yeon, who had been silent, finally spoke up, urging my mother.

However, my gaze was still fixed in that direction.

[The prey and specimens you mentioned—are you referring to those Otherworldly Monsters?]

My heart skipped a beat as I read the message.

Useless pieces of trash.

I couldn’t help but feel the strong urge to use them as feed for our little ones.

“Yes, you’re right. I’ve been considering using the Monsters as feed and specimens.”

I confessed openly once I was back in my room.

I wasn’t even sure if it was possible to take photos of those creatures, whose corpses were strictly controlled.

If I managed to pull it off, the issue wouldn’t be the photograph but whether I’d survive the attempt.

[It might be difficult for now. But if you grow—grow even more—it might be different.]

“How exactly?”

[Our relationship isn’t one-sided. Someday, when the Swarm’s Consciousness emerges, ask them. Ask how they perceive your existence and how they can repay the grace they’ve received.]

“How reassuring.”

I let out a snort, but it didn’t feel bad.

It was nice to know that my efforts were being recognized and appreciated.

[To achieve that, we must continue to fight and consume. We’re now at the 8th Floor. Beyond that lies them—the spiders that have consistently blocked our reconnaissance operations.]

At the same time, a new goal was set for us.