Chapter 517
Kugugugung!
The Guardians knelt in unison. The ground shook as if struck by an earthquake.
Taesan watched them silently.
“Wow…”
“Amazing…”
With hundreds of millions of people gathered, even whispers filled the air like thunder.
One of the kneeling Guardians frowned.
“How unpleasant. For these lowly creatures to stare at us as if we’re some kind of spectacle—”
“Ahem.”
Akrasian stopped him.
“We stand before a Great One. Show respect.”
“My apologies.”
The apology lacked sincerity. It was only because Taesan was present.
“This place doesn’t seem appropriate for a conversation. May we move?”
“No need.”
Taesan snapped his fingers.
The earth shifted.
As if sliding along invisible rails, everyone except Taesan and the Guardians was pushed far back. A massive wall rose around them.
Kugugugugung!
In moments, a vast enclosed space formed—Taesan and the Guardians alone within it.
The Guardians’ eyes widened. Then Taesan clapped lightly.
A crushing pressure fell over them. Hundreds of Guardians were forced down as if someone had pressed their shoulders.
Thud.
Chairs of packed earth rose beneath them.
They sat, unable to resist.
It all happened so naturally, as though the world itself shifted with Taesan’s will.
No—this was the reality. Taesan was now the god of Earth.
“You must be tired. Sit.”
“Y-Yes.”
Akrasian’s trembling voice betrayed his shock. Countless emotions flickered in his eyes.
“So.”
Taesan’s gaze didn’t waver.
“Who are you?”
“We are the Guardians.”
“What do you guard?”
“The universe.”
Akrasian lifted his chin with pride.
“We are a group that protects the universe from the Old Gods.”
Taesan examined them wordlessly.
They weren’t weak.
All possessed respectable power—and Akrasian stood among the strongest.
“The Great One is…”
“Kang Taesan.”
“Thank you for allowing me to speak your name. Kang Taesan, you already know the Old Gods are invading many worlds. Your world appears to be one of them.”
The number of worlds destroyed had long surpassed two hundred. It was likely above three hundred now.
“And in such worlds, even Great Ones cannot intervene recklessly.”
A Transcender’s direct intervention distorted the balance. If one side intervened, the Old Gods could respond in turn.
This was why Transcenders used Taesan as their proxy, sending him from world to world.
He could now see exactly what the Guardians were.
“You’re apostles.”
“We are honored to serve. We move according to the will of the Great Ones, guarding the worlds invaded by the Old Gods.”
Akrasian’s expression brimmed with pride.
“We have traveled to countless invaded worlds and protected many.”
“And now, this world is your target.”
“Yes.”
Akrasian nodded.
“We have come to close the Rift in the sky and save this world, Great One.”
These were the helpers the Magician had mentioned.
Taesan understood the overall picture—but one question remained.
“You’re going to block the Rift in the sky?”
“Not alone, of course. But the Transcender has given us aid.”
Akrasian chanted briefly. A space opened.
Kiiiiing—
A small disc appeared.
It was inscribed with metaphysical patterns. The power of a Transcender emanated from it—so dense that even Taesan couldn’t fully decipher it at a glance.
“This Sacred Relic allows indirect intervention. If we install four of these directly beneath the Rift and perform the ritual for a set duration… the Rift will be sealed.”
“If it’s sealed, how long does it last?”
“As long as the Transcender who granted the Relic continues to exist—eternally.”
The Rift could be closed.
Earth could escape the threat of monsters.
“…Is that so?”
It was good news. It meant Earth could finally be freed.
Yet something felt wrong.
A faint discomfort clung to him, like a pebble lodged in his throat. A subtle intuition tugged at him.
Akrasian misread his silence and puffed out his chest.
“You need not worry, Great One. We are the Guardians.”
His voice dripped with pride.
“We have saved countless worlds. The Great One is far beyond us, but in this matter, we are the experts.”
Conviction.
And arrogance.
“If you assist us even slightly, we can save this world without difficulty.”
Taesan studied him, then asked:
“How much do you know about this world?”
“…What?”
“Do you understand what this place truly is?”
“Isn’t it simply a world being destroyed by the Old Gods?”
His expression implied, “What more is there?”
Taesan had already seen enough. There was no need for reconnaissance.
There was no point in explaining. They weren’t worthy of it.
Taesan spoke calmly.
“I’m counting on you.”
—
[Guardians, huh? They never came when my world fell.]
“The universe is massive.”
Diana answered Bardray quietly.
“So many worlds have been destroyed. Even more are being invaded. The Guardians number only a few hundred. They can’t save them all.”
“I don’t like those guys.”
Beldenkia frowned, glaring toward the Guardians.
[You seem to know something.]
“Yes.”
Diana nodded.
“They came to our world, too.”
[…Huh? Didn’t your world fall to the Old Gods?]
“It did. Our world collapsed after a sudden environmental shift. Whether they misunderstood the situation or couldn’t grasp it… the Guardians came once.”
[But your world…]
Diana and Beldenkia’s world was destroyed by the end of hedonism.
Diana smiled faintly.
“I can’t like them. They’re righteous. But that doesn’t make them good.”
—
“Wow…”
“Amazing…”
A massive crowd gathered around the Guardians.
People stared with admiration and wonder.
They were aliens—true aliens. Diana and Beldenkia were also from another world, but a pair of outsiders felt nothing like a fully armed legion.
Moreover, these beings had come to save Earth.
Taesan had informed Kim Hwi-yeon of the basics, so most people already knew who they were.
The players looked at the Guardians with curiosity and goodwill.
One player gathered courage and stepped forward.
“Um… hello?”
His small voice echoed among the Guardians.
No response.
They continued their conversations among themselves.
The man’s face reddened.
“H-Hello?”
Again, no answer. It wasn’t a language issue—they could clearly understand Earth’s language. They were simply ignoring him.
Eventually, he withdrew, embarrassed.
More people tried. None received a response.
The Guardians treated them as though they didn’t exist.
“I hate this.”
Amelia scowled.
“That attitude? They’re acting like nobles. Or like we’re beneath them.”
“Well… they came to help… shouldn’t we try to get along? They’re Guardians, after all. They must be strong. They’ll definitely help.”
Guardians who had saved countless worlds—Kim Hwi-yeon clung to that thought.
But Amelia muttered under her breath:
“…Help? Maybe. But something feels off.”
Still, she said nothing more. Kim Hwi-yeon worked tirelessly to calm the crowd and prepare everyone for the upcoming quest.
They never managed to coordinate with the Guardians.
Then a new quest appeared.
[Special Quest Start.]
[Move to the Rift in the sky. Defeat the monsters, advance, and reach the base of the Rift.]
[Condition: All players and all Guardians must arrive.]
[Reward: Differential rewards upon returning to the Labyrinth.]
Kim Hwi-yeon quickly organized the players.
“Where is the Rift located?”
“Greenland.”
“Greenland… that’s manageable.”
She began preparations.
Then—
“What are you doing?”
Akrasian addressed her.
Kim Hwi-yeon froze. She had tried earlier to coordinate plans with him… and he had ignored her completely.
Now he spoke as if nothing had happened.
She composed herself.
“We need to move to the Rift, so I was organizing the ranks. If you’d like, you can—”
“No.”
Akrasian cut her off.
“We do not need your input.”
“…Pardon?”
“All you must do is follow our orders.”
His cold voice carried a faint hostility.
Kim Hwi-yeon struggled to respond.
“What do you mean—”
“We have saved dozens of worlds from the Old Gods. Meanwhile, you live in this feeble world, unable to save even one.”
His contempt was unmistakable.
“And despite the Great One being here, your world still struggles. That proves you are no help to him.”
Kim Hwi-yeon couldn’t argue.
She knew the truth—Taesan had carried everything.
“We alone have protected many worlds.”
Akrasian exclaimed proudly.
“Your experience is no more useful than a child’s babbling. Just follow us. Nothing more.”
Silence fell.
His voice carried crushing arrogance.
“Since we first met, there’s been something bothering me.”
Amelia’s voice cut through the quiet.
“You? Saved many worlds from the Old Gods?”
“That is correct.”
Akrasian said proudly.
Amelia stared at him.
“…Just you guys?”