I Ascend Alone-Chapter 108: Next Plan Part III

The edge of my mouth twitched, half amused, half serious. "If that's what it takes."

Darius leaned back slightly, folding his arms. "You realize how absurd that sounds to most people, right? Forming a registered guild with no members, no support network, no financial backing?"

I shrugged. "Most people aren't me."

Christa shook her head slowly, a soft laugh escaping her. "You'd seriously go through the entire bureaucratic nightmare just to legally stay off everyone else's leash?"

"I don't care about the title or the structure," I said. "Just the access. The gates, the anomalies, the hidden zones—they don't care if I've got a full roster or a fancy nameplate. As long as I've got clearance, I can keep moving."

Leon whistled low under his breath. "The Ryzen Guild... population: one. Sounds lonely, man."

"I've walked through worse alone," I replied. "At least this way, I choose it."

I leaned back in my seat, my gaze drifting toward the ceiling of the chopper for a moment before settling on Darius.

"Since the Association's the one that approves these kinds of requests," I said, my voice steady, "I hope they'll take into account why I'm doing it."

Darius didn't respond immediately, but I could see the slight narrowing of his eyes—he was listening carefully now.

"I'm not doing this for status," I continued. "Or out of pride. I'm not trying to make a statement, or spit in the face of the system. I just... need space to move. To grow. To fight in my own way."

Christa watched me in silence, her expression unreadable.

"This isn't just for me," I added. "It's for all of us. Everything I've seen, everything I've felt inside that dungeon... I know we're not ready for what's coming. And if I'm going to be of any real use in the future, I can't be shackled to the politics and pace of others."

I looked at Darius directly. "So I'm asking not as a soldier, or a hunter, or some contract merc—but as someone who wants to make a difference... consider approving the guild when the request comes."

There was a pause. The hum of the rotors filled the space again.

Darius sighed, long and quiet. Then, finally, he gave a small nod. "You've never been the type to ask for favors. That alone tells me how serious this is."

He met my gaze evenly. "No promises. But I'll see what strings I can pull. You've earned that much."

Leon leaned over with a small smirk. "Damn. You just got Darius Vaughn to consider bending the rules. That might be more impressive than what you pulled in the dungeon."

Christa rolled her eyes at him, but even she cracked a faint smile.

I simply nodded. "Thanks."

Alastair, silent all this time, finally spoke again. "Then all that's left is to see what you'll do with the freedom you've asked for."

I looked back out the window, the horizon opening up in front of us.

"Something that matters," I murmured.

And with that, the helicopter soared onward—toward a future none of us could yet see, but all of us could feel pressing just beyond the clouds.

-

Hours passed, the journey quiet but charged with everything unspoken. By the time the helicopter finally descended toward City-A, the skyline was painted in hues of amber and steel, the sun beginning to dip beneath the towering spires.

The familiar silhouette of our homeland came into view, yet something about it felt different now—like we were returning changed.

The rotors slowed to a stop as we landed on the Association's private pad.

Leon was the first to stand, stretching his arms overhead with a grunt of satisfaction. "Well, we're back," he muttered to no one in particular, his gaze sweeping across the landing area.

Leon's voice broke the stillness, and I felt myself taking in a deep breath as the reality of being back started to settle. The familiar sights, the familiar sounds of City-A, it all felt like home—but also not. Everything had changed, and it was hard to tell exactly what part of me had changed along with it.

The helicopter came to a full stop, and the blades slowed to a stop, leaving a silence that filled the air. The door hissed open, and the fresh, cool evening breeze washed over us. It felt good, a simple comfort after everything we had just faced.

Christa stood up next, glancing around, as if she were just as ready to get out of the confined space as I was. "I guess that's it for now," she said with a quick glance over at me, giving a small nod. "You've got your work cut out for you, Ryzen. Stay out of too much trouble."

I gave her a half-smile, "I'll try."

Darius, ever the composed leader, leaned slightly to peer over his shoulder as we gathered our things. "Just be sure that your quest for freedom doesn't drag you into more dangerous waters than you can handle. The world is full of pitfalls, even for those who think they're above them."

"I'm not above anything," I replied, my voice steady. "But I've got my own path to walk."

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Alastair didn't say a word, but her eyes flicked to mine, the faintest spark of acknowledgment in her gaze before she turned away.

Her silence said enough—it was the kind of look you give someone who might not be entirely understood but whose intentions you can respect.

We all made our way off the helicopter, the familiar hum of the city life starting to fill the space around us again.

It wasn't as quiet or dramatic as the dungeon, but it had its own rhythm. People on the streets, cars passing by, the occasional shout in the distance—it was almost comforting in its normalcy.

Leon turned to me as we walked toward the waiting car. "So, what's the plan now?" he asked, his tone light but with a hint of curiosity.

"I don't know yet," I said honestly, my eyes on the distant horizon as we moved toward the car. "I need to figure out how I'm going to do this. What comes next. But I won't waste time thinking about it forever."