Ascension Through Skills-Chapter 518: Eighth Return, Earth (3)

A soft voice echoed in the air, cutting through the tense atmosphere.

The mood chilled instantly, and the Guardians' expressions darkened.

“Are you... saying we’re weak?”

“Not weak. Not exactly.”

But only to a certain extent.

“You don’t seem like you’re strong enough to save a world. Did you really save all those worlds?”

“How dare you! Such insolent words!”

One of the Guardians, unable to contain himself, roared in anger. His grip on his weapon tightened visibly.

“Well, that’s how it feels to me. What do you want me to do about it?”

Amelia muttered nonchalantly, her face devoid of even a hint of tension.

Akrasian’s lips twitched as he struggled to suppress his emotions.

“...You’re bold.”

“Decently bold. There’s definitely someone who’s terrifyingly strong, though.”

“But you’re still frogs in a well. You can’t even save your own world.”

“That’s true...”

Amelia shrugged, unable to refute the claim. It was, after all, a fact.

“But that doesn’t mean you’re particularly strong either.”

“You...”

The air grew heavy with killing intent. The atmosphere was so taut it felt like a clash could erupt at any moment.

“You need to be taught a lesson.”

Akrasian began to draw his sword. Amelia watched the movement with an unnervingly calm demeanor.

But the sword was never fully unsheathed.

Taesan had appeared, silently watching them.

“Oh, Taesan.”

“K-Kang Taesan...”

Taesan said nothing, his emotionless gaze fixed on Akrasian. The weight of his stare caused sweat to bead on the Guardian’s brow.

For a moment, Taesan stood there in silence before turning and walking away.

Akrasian suppressed the rising tension within himself.

‘That was close.’

The Guardians served the Transcendents. Any reckless attack on his part could provoke their wrath.

Akrasian regained his composure.

“Say whatever you want. It doesn’t change the fact that you’ve failed to save even this small world, while we have saved countless others.”

It was an undeniable truth. Amelia didn’t argue further.

Still, doubt lingered in her mind.

“...I see now.”

Amelia nodded, as if understanding something. Akrasian, mistaking her reaction as a retreat, smirked.

“Do you truly think your experience and knowledge surpass ours? You can’t be that foolish. Reflect on this carefully.”

Silence fell over the group, heavy and oppressive.

***

The conclusion came easily enough.

Earth’s players decided to follow the Guardians’ lead.

It was the obvious choice. The Guardians had successfully defended countless worlds from the clutches of the Old Gods. In comparison, Earth’s players had failed to do so even once.

The disparity in achievements made defiance almost impossible. The collective decision was to obey the Guardians.

But there was one concern.

Players like Amelia and Lee Taeyeon, who had reached the labyrinth’s deeper floors, posed potential risks. Their resistance was a possibility, especially given Amelia’s evident distrust of the Guardians.

Yet, contrary to expectations, neither of them objected.

“I don’t care,” Amelia said, her tone indifferent. “Go ahead. Do whatever you like.”

“Doesn’t matter to me,” Lee Taeyeon added nonchalantly.

“...Are you sure? We’re going to follow their orders.”

“It’s not like we’ll be fighting them, right? Then I couldn’t care less. Of course, I’m not following them personally.”

“What did you say?”

“My master is Taesan.”

Amelia stated this without a shred of embarrassment.

She was Taesan’s sole apostle. She had given her soul to him, and everything she was belonged to him alone.

“The only one who can command me is Taesan.”

No one else mattered to her. No one else could bind her.

“Kim Hwiyeon, Oliver—you two were appointed by Taesan himself, so sure, I’ll tolerate you. But those guys? Not a chance.”

“Is that okay? What if it causes conflict...”

“And why would that matter?”

Her demeanor was indifferent to the point of being unsettling. Lee Taeyeon seemed no different.

While their attitudes caused some unease, the decision remained firm.

The Guardians began managing and directing the players.

With over a billion people, the initial process was chaotic. But thanks to Kim Hwiyeon’s assistance, the Guardians were soon able to establish control.

The journey to Greenland, beneath the rift in the sky, began.

As expected, their path was blocked by monsters.

[Roar!]

[Growl!]

[Monster 48881 has appeared.]

[Monster 97745 has appeared.]

[Monster 32319 has appeared.]

[Monster 47515 has appeared.]

Thousands of monsters charged directly at them. Akrasian seized his weapon eagerly, his expression confident.

“Behold, ignorant ones.”

His voice was proud and arrogant.

“This is our power.”

The Guardians rushed forward.

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With astonishing speed, they collided with the horde of monsters.

Boom!

The monsters were torn apart and annihilated.

“Hahaha!”

One of the Guardians burst into laughter, swinging his axe with vigor. Monsters were split and shredded under his strikes.

Thud.

One monster dodged the axe and grabbed the Guardian’s arm.

“Hmph.”

The Guardian shook it off with brute force, sending the monster flying.

Crunch.

The Guardians didn’t stop.

In a flash, the monsters were cleared.

The Guardians raised their weapons triumphantly, their faces glowing with pride.

“Woooooo!”

A victory cry echoed through the air. Akrasian, his face beaming, turned to the Earth’s players.

“This is our strength!”

No response came.

What Akrasian mistook for awe at their power was, in fact, confusion. But unaware of the true reason, he continued, his expression smug.

“We have saved countless worlds. Of course, we possess this level of power.”

Feeling elated, Akrasian gestured magnanimously.

“There’s no need to be ashamed. These monsters were fairly strong. Without the aid of the Transcendents, you likely couldn’t have handled them. But you’ve done well to survive this far.”

Still, no response.

The reason was simple: the players weren’t impressed by the Guardians’ strength.

“Why are they only B-grade monsters?”

The players had expected A-grade monsters—at least hundreds, if not thousands. Instead, they were only B-grade. Monsters of this caliber were something even the players could have handled without much trouble.

What made it stranger was the Guardians’ apparent pride in defeating such creatures. It was as if renowned warriors had just boasted about defeating stray dogs.

The players felt a growing sense of disconnect.

While there was no harm done—the monsters were defeated without casualties—the disparity between expectations and reality left a bitter taste.

For now, things remained stable. But Kim Hwiyeon grew increasingly uneasy.

The players knew nothing about the Guardians.

They only knew that these beings had supposedly saved countless worlds. Beyond that, their nature, their motives, and their methods were a mystery.

Can we really trust them to lead us?

As someone who had acted as Taesan’s proxy in many situations, Kim Hwiyeon couldn’t ignore her doubts.

Eventually, she decided to consult Taesan.

“What do you think of them?”

She shared her concerns with Taesan. His response was brief.

“You figure it out.”

“...What?”

“I have no intention of getting involved in your dealings with the Guardians.”

It was a dispute among mortals—not a matter of survival, nor a crisis that threatened countless lives. It was something they could resolve themselves.

“You can’t rely on me for everything. Sure, you’ll lean on me—I’m the reason you’re alive, after all. But if you leave even these decisions to me, you’ll become incapable of doing anything without me.”

“...I...”

Kim Hwiyeon was momentarily at a loss for words.

Taesan wasn’t wrong. The Guardians were an issue the players could handle without his intervention. Seeking his help now was more a matter of habit than necessity.

“You need to learn to stand on your own.”

And most importantly, it wasn’t a matter that required his involvement.

“I have other things to do.”

“Other things?”

“I’m going ahead to check things out.”

Taesan snapped his fingers, and Minerva appeared, cutting through the air.

“You really don’t call on me often these days.”

“Sorry. There just hasn’t been much for you to do.”

The enemies Taesan faced now were beyond Minerva’s capabilities, leaving little need to summon her.

“Minerva, make a path for them to cross the sea.”

“Got it!”

Taesan stood, preparing to leave. Kim Hwiyeon hurried to speak.

“Wait, Taesan?”

“If you have questions, ask Diana. Good luck.”

With those parting words, Taesan disappeared. Kim Hwiyeon stared blankly at the empty sky.

Taesan’s departure soon became known, and panic rippled through the crowd.

The realization that their ultimate pillar of support was gone sent the players into disarray.

Kim Hwiyeon worked tirelessly to calm them.

“Taesan left to prepare ahead. He’ll be waiting for us at the destination.”

Her reassurances managed to quell the chaos—just barely.

But the Guardians, now aware of Taesan’s absence, began revealing their true colors.

Night fell, and the players settled into their shelters, ready to rest.

That was when the Guardians intervened.

“Stop.”

Akrasian stood before the crowd.

“From this point forward, sleeping in groups without explicit permission is prohibited. Keep your distance from others when resting.”

“What?”

“Order and discipline must be maintained. Let that be known.”

“What does that even mean?”

Confusion spread among the players.

Akrasian frowned.

“Are you defying my rules?”

His voice turned cold as he drew his sword. Intimidated, the players reluctantly complied, grumbling under their breath.

At first, it was tolerable. Inconvenient, but not unbearable.

But the rules kept coming.

“Do not speak while we fight the monsters.”

“Provide servants to tend to our meals.”

“We require attendants to bathe us.”

The Guardians had come to Earth claiming they were here to help. The players were willing to accommodate their demands out of gratitude.

But the Guardians’ behavior grew increasingly audacious, as if establishing a hierarchy with themselves at the top and the players as their subordinates.

Dissatisfaction began to mount among the players.

“What’s their problem?”

“Even if they’re here to help, isn’t this too much?”

The complaints eventually reached Kim Hwiyeon, who decided to seek out Diana.

“Do you know anything about them?”

“Yes.”

Diana shared what she knew. The Guardians were beings tasked with saving worlds from the Old Gods. They had even come to her world once.

“But my world wasn’t being destroyed by the Old Gods. It was a mistake on their part.”

She smiled bitterly.

“Still, they claimed they could save our world. In the midst of despair, people clung to the hope of survival and gave the Guardians everything they asked for—food, drink, treasure, even women.”

“Then... your world wasn’t destroyed?”

“No.”

Diana’s voice was calm.

“My world was destroyed.”

“What?”

Kim Hwiyeon’s eyes widened. Based on Diana’s story, there was no reason her world should have been destroyed.

“The reason is simple,” Beldenkia said with a sneer.

“When things started going downhill, those so-called saviors decided there was nothing worth saving and left.”

“But... they said they could save it.”

“They said it was possible. They never said they’d do it,” Beldenkia replied, her tone dripping with disdain.

“I didn’t care back then, so I didn’t argue. But they’re quite the hypocrites.”

Kim Hwiyeon fell silent. Diana’s voice grew cold.

“They are undoubtedly righteous. Saving worlds is no small feat. But they are not good.”

“And if they weren’t even righteous, I’d have crushed them myself,” Beldenkia added. “Barely tolerating them is as much as I can manage.”

“I... see.”

Kim Hwiyeon’s mind raced. Diana tilted her head, puzzled.

“What are you worrying about?”

“Pardon?”

“There’s no need to hesitate.”

“But they came to help us. Shouldn’t we listen to them...”

“No.”

Diana cut her off.

“We only listened to them because they were far stronger than us and capable of saving our world. That’s not the case for you.”

“...What are you saying?”

“Why are you obeying people weaker than you? To you, they’re nothing.”

Diana’s words carried no malice, only pure, uncomprehending curiosity.

***

“Bored...”

One of the Guardians grumbled.

Though monsters occasionally appeared, they were hardly a threat. Without danger, there was little to occupy their time. And with most sources of amusement already destroyed, there wasn’t much left to do.

“Hm...”

The Guardian clicked his tongue as his gaze drifted over the countless Earthlings passing by.

For a moment, he scrutinized them before making his move.

“You there. Come here.”

He pointed at a woman in the crowd. Startled, she glanced at herself, then pointed to confirm.

“Me?”

“Yes.”

Leading her to a less crowded area, the Guardian spoke with a sense of entitlement.

“We are your saviors. We are protecting this dying world.”

“Uh... and?”

“In return, it’s only natural that you give us proper compensation.”

The greed in his expression made his intentions clear.

“Ah.”

The woman tilted her head slightly, her gaze sharpening as if understanding his request.

“No.”

“...What?”

The man’s face twisted.

“I said no.”

“You don’t seem to understand.”

The Guardian raised his fist, intending to intimidate her into compliance.

But the woman, Lee Taeyeon, showed no fear.

“You’re annoying.”

Her expression was one of pure disinterest, as if this entire situation was a waste of her time.

Lee Taeyeon lazily raised her hand.

Crash!

The next moment, the Guardian was sent flying into a nearby wall with a sickening crunch.

Meanwhile, Taesan had already arrived beneath the rift.

“Hm.”

The massive tear in the sky loomed above him, its edges shimmering ominously.

As he watched, it became clear that the rift was slowly growing larger.

Beyond it, he could feel an immense power emanating—a presence unlike any he had faced recently.

“The Gatekeeper.”

The entity guarding the rift.

“So, it’s that this time.”

Taesan muttered to himself, his gaze unwavering.