The Guardian System: The strongest Summoner's quest to save his family-Chapter 416: Caravan in the Crosshairs (4)

Reidar couldn't speak. <August? I'm sure it was May when I entered the portal!>

A thought started surfacing in Reidar's mind. <Did time fly slower on the Ignis world compared to Earth?>

That brought a series of dreadful thoughts—was his family okay? Kara didn't know what was going on in Reidar's mind, so she resumed talking.

"Since then, they've been focusing on the survivors," she said. "Setting up defensive positions, protecting trade routes, helping people. But no more big hunting operations of that sort."

Reidar barely had the time to collect himself and reply.

"That's… that's a big change."

"I know. A lot of people are suspicious." She lowered her voice. "I'm not sure what to think about them, honestly. They say the system limits humanity's potential and keeps us under the control of the Allied Worlds." She hesitated. "And in some ways, they're powerful. Stronger than most survivors, even at lower levels. But …"

"But?"

"They don't look human anymore, and they behave strangely."

"Strangely, how?" 𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

Kara was quiet for a moment. When she spoke, her voice was lower.

"Well… one time I swear I saw one of them sniffing a man who was passing by. Like he was smelling food."

Reidar felt a chill that had nothing to do with the temperature. He knew what that meant. The mutation process that came with rejecting the system didn't just change the body; it changed the mind. The church members were becoming less human; their instincts shifting toward something more monstrous.

If their strongest member was still at level 350, they had 100 levels before turning into feral monsters like Mara, which wasn't exactly a lot. But there was still time to do something about it; the amount of mana on Earth was still low, so leveling up naturally took time, and without the woman and Silas working on the magic circles, it was not as easy.

"Aside from that," Kara said, "they've actually been helpful. A lot of people like them."

Reidar nodded but said nothing. In Creamont, the church had allied with the War Hounds. They were criminals, kidnappers, and murderers, but that had remained a secret, most likely. If it weren't for Reidar exposing them, Creamont's near-destruction would have been attributed to portals or monsters.

The church wasn't acting like enemies in front of the common people. They were playing a different game here, one that involved winning hearts and minds while their true nature remained hidden.

"What about the Allied Worlds?" Reidar asked. "What do people think about them?"

Kara's expression grew complicated.

"They're helping too. The Aegis Phalanx cleared out many monster nests before they got locked down near Kingsgate. They give out equipment and teach people how to use their skills better." She paused. "But people who've worked closely with them say they're weird."

"Weird how?"

"They don't like humans. At least, that's the rumor." She shook her head. "I can't tell you anything concrete because I've never met one of them personally. But people who have say that the Aegis Phalanx takes all the decisions and expects humans to just comply. No discussion, no negotiation. Just orders."

Reidar thought about what he had learned on the Ignis homeworld. The Allied Worlds evaluated species based on potential and controllability. If a race became too strong or too independent, they were abandoned. The system was pulled, and the civilization either found another solution or became extinct.

Humans weren't controllable. Earth's survivors were chaotic, aggressive, and ambitious. They formed factions that fought each other as much as they fought the monsters.

If the Allied Worlds decided humanity was too much trouble, they would pull the plug. And without the system, everyone would mutate.

"That doesn't sit well with many people," Kara said. "Being told what to do by aliens who clearly think they're better than us. That's why many people prefer the church."

"Even though the church members are turning into something non-human?"

Kara shrugged. "At least the church asks for volunteers. They explain their beliefs and let people choose. The Aegis Phalanx just gives orders and expects obedience."

<The church is winning the propaganda war. Another reason we humans are the worst when it comes to being shrewd. >

The church wasn't just fighting with weapons; they were fighting with ideas. They offered freedom from the system's restrictions, salvation through ascension, and respect for human autonomy. It didn't matter that their methods were monstrous or that their leaders were becoming literal monsters. That was hidden anyway. No. What mattered was the message.

The Allied Worlds, on the other hand, were offering protection and power, but at the cost of obedience. And humans didn't like being told what to do.

"Thank you for telling me all this," Reidar said.

Kara nodded. "You're welcome. If you're looking for strong monsters to hunt, talk to the church when we get to Sweetwater. They have scouts who track the big ones. They might be able to point you in the right direction."

"I'll consider it."

Kara returned to the front of the caravan, leaving Reidar alone with his thoughts.

The situation was worse than he had expected. While the Aegis Phalanx grappled with the World-Carver Behemoth, the church continued to gain momentum. Humans were starting to see the Allied Worlds as oppressors and the church as liberators.

And underneath it all, the real problem was there. The chance that the Allied Worlds would decide humanity wasn't worth saving. The chance that they would pull the system and leave Earth to rot, just like they had done to the Ignis. That would play in the church's favor, but there would be no humanity at some point. This wasn't the path to salvation. Neither the church nor the allied worlds were.

Reidar needed to move fast.

First, he needed to contact Jake and Lena. If they were alive, he had to tell them about the Ignis schematics and the magic circles. They needed to start preparing a backup plan in case the worst happened.

Second, he needed to gather information about the church's mana-siphoning technology. The magic circles they had built in Creamont could absorb ambient mana and concentrate it. If Reidar could get his hands on that knowledge, he could combine it with the Ignis designs to create something that might save humanity from ferality.

Third, he needed to deal with the immediate threats. The monsters barring his way to Kingsgate. Before anything else could happen, he needed to solve those problems.

<One step at a time.>