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Translator: 8uhl
Chapter: 13
Chapter Title: True Power (2)
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The Legion certainly possessed immense potential.
With that potential, it had grown from a mere clump of cells in the lowest stratum to a power that could challenge the great strata.
But this vast cave ecosystem was home to an incredible variety of life forms.
[The reconnaissance results are in. We've discovered countless tracks, but unfortunately, we haven't found any signs of the group in the next stratum.]
"...What conclusion did the Legion come to?"
[In truth, the Legion is accustomed to this kind of work. Acquiring and analyzing unknown information. But it is being a little more cautious now.]
Indeed, the Legion had only intensified its reconnaissance, taking no other significant action.
After all, we knew better than anyone how powerful a collective could be.
Besides, we hadn't even absorbed the entire great stratum yet.
"The problem is, they're not just some random group we're up against. What do we do in a case like this?"
[You mean when one Player's Units clash with another's. Naturally, there is only one answer.]
The simple text sent a chill down my spine.
I had already anticipated the answer, more or less.
"To fight?"
[Competition, victory, elimination. What is the problem? That is the very nature of an ecosystem.]
We spoke almost at the same time.
Of course, knowing this didn't make me feel any better.
"If we win, the other Player will..."
[If we lose, you die too.]
I squeezed my eyes shut.
Right. From the moment I got caught up in this strange app.
From that moment on, everything had been a mess.
I had enjoyed it like raising an ant farm, but I couldn't treat it so lightly anymore.
"...Then we have to win. What do I need to do?"
[As always, you are to watch over your children. When they seem to be stuck. That is when you will show them the way.]
In the end, my role hadn't changed.
My job was to watch, just as I always had.
And... to help in any way I could, if it was even possible.
"First, we need to know what kind of creatures they are."
[Correct. The Legion is continuing its reconnaissance while accumulating energy to unleash. The place we will call the 11th stratum was not a great stratum, but a small tributary. There are only tracks of the enemy here, and those tracks lead to the stratum above.]
The Legion made full use of the various-sized scouts it had created so far.
From small bees to birds, to wyvern-like lizards with bat wings.
The result of scouring the 11th stratum was nothing but tracks.
The conclusion was clear.
They had come down on an 'expedition' from the upper stratum.
"If the other side saw us... they wouldn't know much, would they?"
I had forgotten something obvious.
Our Legion's racial trait and its greatest strength.
[Correct. We are not the only ones without data. In fact, it is the enemy who is at a disadvantage in an information war. Look. A Legion scout has found something.]
Just then, the screen flickered and changed, showing a new discovery.
I tried to calm my pounding heart as I examined the screen.
The view from a bee-shaped scout showed the 12th stratum.
"...Rats?"
A group of creatures was visible.
But like the many other beasts living here, they defied my common sense.
Fluffy fur.
Jet-black eyes and a twitching nose.
A long tail and a small build, neither too big nor too small by the standards of this cave.
At least in appearance, they looked exactly like rats.
"But what kind of rats are these..."
However, their actions and detailed movements were the complete opposite of the rats in my understanding.
First, the ones gathered together as if on a patrol, cautiously scanning their surroundings, stood in a hunched posture and used both hands freely.
Furthermore, their hands held various tools.
Spears tipped with sharp awls, crossbows loaded with needles, shields and helmets made from metal scraps, and so on.
[The Legion has no information on metal. It can only surmise that they must be quite strong to hunt an earthwyrm. More importantly, they were more collective and intelligent than any creature encountered thus far.]
"We still have no way of knowing where their base is or how many of them there are."
[The enemy has spotted one of our scouts. A small lizard with bat wings. Since the confrontation was initiated, the Legion has deliberately sacrificed the scout to measure their combat capabilities.]
At that moment, a clash occurred.
A few of the rats aimed their crossbows at the charging winged lizard.
It was an intricately made, miniature crossbow. I judged there was no way those rats could have made it themselves.
"&＠%♤!"
With a squeaking sound, shining needles reflecting the light of the glowing stones were fired, piercing straight through the lizard's wings and body.
I had expected as much.
Scouts meant for flight were inherently fragile, after all.
"..Tsk."
But seeing them celebrate amongst themselves over the fallen scout's corpse irked me for some reason.
[Ah, the Legion is pleased.]
"What?"
But it seemed my understanding of the Legion was still lacking.
[Tools, the tools are coveted. Those shiny, hard, sharp objects are coveted. Those short, furry beasts used wondrous objects to take down a much larger opponent. That very power is coveted. The Legion is certain that this is the new clue that will evolve us to the next stage. This will be recorded in our history. The moment the Legion first encountered the concept of tools.]
"...Right. This is the birth of the concept of tools for them."
[Realizing that those tools were the secret to the rats' strength, the Legion has set a new objective. To devour them and take that power. But they hunted an earthwyrm using those crude tools. Surely, that cannot be all they have.]
"So what's the plan?"
[There is only one answer. First, we will devour a portion of them and learn everything about them.]
A gloomy cry echoed from below.
My condolences to those rats.
Unless those rats possessed a hive mind like us.
Those scouts were about to be hunted down.
[We do not know what racial traits the enemy possesses. The Legion never cared for such things anyway. Even if we are discovered at this very moment, what does it matter? To them, it will just be a large, new species of lizard from the stratum below devouring them.]
The dark blue-carapaced Legionaries, prepared to face the earthwyrm, crawled up to greet them.
Even on a rat's face, an expression was visible. It was frozen stiff.
[They are clever. Realizing they cannot win with just five of them, they attempt to flee. But the Legion is serious.]
Behind the small car-sized lizard slowly crawling out, dozens of large, bat-winged flyers soared up simultaneously.
"＠%#&!"
The horrified creatures fired their crossbows in retaliation.
But these units were designed for aerial combat, not reconnaissance.
Massive wings comparable to a bird of prey's.
With talons, a venomous stinger tail, and armored carapaces, they swooped down in a single rush and tore the rats to pieces.
[...They may have easily hunted large, solitary beasts. But how dare they think they could hunt us? To face us, they will have to wage not a hunt, but a war.]
The slaughtered corpses were all collected and delivered to the nest in the lower stratum, which handled digestion and absorption.
The tools—the needles, crossbows, and spears—which were not organic and could not be absorbed, were also recovered.
[The Legion is curious. What are these tools? How are they used?]
The Legion's voracity was now transcending simple predation.
*
[The Legion has begun to prepare for war.]
Reconnaissance continued, and more of the enemy were discovered in the 13th stratum.
A fortress built from stone and mushrooms came into view.
It was crude, but it was unmistakably a fortress.
At least a hundred rats were there.
"Don't tell me it's going to imitate them right away?"
I flinched and muttered to myself.
If the Legion wanted tools, I had to provide them.
Just like the other Player.
[Considering both efficiency and potential, an optimal conclusion has been reached. It is still premature. A future evolution through a better, more efficient method is being envisioned.]
But surprisingly, the Legion did not fixate on tools.
When it came to its objectives, it was endlessly rational and cold.
It was a life form that could not be understood with human emotions, after all.
[The enemy's response is dry and lukewarm. It is certain they are unaware. Even the opposing Player.]
The energy accumulated until now began to be used explosively.
Huge eggs began to pour out by the hundreds, by the thousands.
[It is time to teach these arrogant furballs, who have triumphed by hunting beasts just as we have, the meaning of true war. This is undoubtedly a war between two forces of the same kind.]
[But which side is better at war? The Legion was certain it was us. There is no legion that wages war better than us.]
The situation was on a knife's edge.
The Legion, having steadily replenished its soldiers, would use tactics to crush them in a single blow with overwhelming numbers, the razor-sharp command unique to a hive mind, and its techniques.
From my perspective, it seemed we could win, provided those rats didn't have some hidden trick up their sleeves.
"If we win this war against another Player, what's the reward? No, be honest with me now. The Player for those rats... are they on Earth?"
I muttered blankly, staring at the screen.
It was one of the questions that had remained unanswered until now.
Just how vast was the scale of this game board?