Tower of Origin: I Evolve All Rewards

Chapter 332: Chapter 332: The Guardian Who Was Not

The false guardian’s smile was perfect.

That was the first warning.

Real protectors became tired. They hesitated when choices were heavy. They showed anger when children were harmed, grief when they failed, and restraint when power was not needed.

This guardian smiled as if protection cost nothing.

Its white armor shone beneath a sky that had no sun. Its shield was engraved with children’s handprints. Behind it stood thirty child remnants, each wearing a small white cloak. They looked calm, but their feet were too close together, their eyes too fixed, their breathing too synchronized.

Qin Yuheng did not step forward immediately.

The mission panel appeared.

[Floor 136: The Guardian Who Was Not]

[Main Mission]

Expose and defeat the false guardian without destroying the children’s trust in true protection.

[Sub-Missions]

1. Identify 7 false guardian behaviors.

2. Rescue 30 children from protective captivity.

3. Prevent the false guardian from opening the road gate.

4. Preserve children’s ability to trust clean guardians.

5. Defeat the False Guardian.

6. Do not accept guardian authority transfer.]

[Warning]

Not every shield standing before a child is protection.

Not every guardian guarding a road is loyal.

Qin Mo read the last line and whispered, "Do not accept guardian authority transfer. That sounds like a trap aimed at you."

Qin Yuheng nodded.

The guardian spread its arms.

"Climbers, these children are fragile. Please leave all decisions to me."

First behavior.

Exclusion disguised as expertise.

Qin Yuheng asked, "Who chose you?"

The guardian smiled.

"They needed me."

"Who confirmed that?"

"I protected them before anyone came."

Second behavior.

Self-authorization through past protection.

Yu Qingmei would have hated this thing.

Qin Yuheng walked closer but stopped outside the children’s immediate circle.

A true guardian leaves room.

Qin Xue’er’s drawing flashed in his mind.

The false guardian stood too close.

Its shield almost touched the children behind it.

Third behavior.

No space for growth.

One child looked at Qin Yuheng with curiosity.

The guardian shifted slightly, blocking the gaze.

Fourth behavior.

Control of information.

Qin Yuheng said calmly, "Children, are you allowed to speak?"

The guardian’s smile did not change.

"They may speak when they are not afraid."

Qin Mo muttered, "Which means never without permission."

Fifth behavior.

Emotion used as gatekeeping.

Qin Yuheng activated the Child Road Consent Mirror under the Sovereign Countermeasure Signature Veil.

The mirror did not show red force.

It showed pale silver confinement.

The children believed the guardian was safe, but their choices had narrowed.

The guardian raised its shield.

"Do not confuse them with tools."

Sixth behavior.

Rejecting verification.

Qin Yuheng placed the Protection Without Possession Crystal on the ground.

The guardian’s smile flickered for the first time.

"You carry dangerous principles."

Qin Yuheng answered, "Only to cages."

The guardian’s white shield darkened at the edges.

Seventh behavior.

Protection threatened by freedom.

Mission counter updated.

[False guardian behaviors identified: 7 / 7]

The guardian stopped smiling.

Its armor cracked, revealing gray shadow beneath.

[False Guardian of the Closed Road]

[Level Equivalent: 75]

[Type:

Protective authority impersonation / guardian bypass entity / road gate custody thief]

[Abilities:

- Shield of Necessary Control

- Guardian Authority Claim

- Child Trust Compression

- Road Gate Custody Transfer

- False Safety Domain]

The battle began when the false guardian slammed its shield into the ground.

A white dome formed around the children.

Not to harm them.

To keep them.

Qin Yuheng did not attack the dome directly.

"Mo, find custody core. Lian, reach children’s shadow. Yuchen, block guardian. I will cut authority."

Qin Yuchen advanced.

The false guardian struck with shield force, not blade. Every impact carried the claim: I protect, therefore I decide.

Qin Yuchen’s guard trembled.

"This thing is heavy."

Qin Mo shouted, "Because it is using stolen guardian authority!"

Qin Lian tried to enter through child shadows, but the dome compressed them inward.

"No room," she said.

Qin Yuheng’s eyes sharpened.

That was the key.

A false guardian reduced space.

He took out Qin Xue’er’s drawing.

The silver bell-sword standing between a child and a smiling shadow.

It stands too close.

Qin Yuheng placed the drawing beside the Protection Without Possession Crystal.

Then he activated the Gratitude Without Chains Heart and Open Future Child Protection Seed.

The message was not command.

It was space.

A step opened between the children and the dome wall.

One child breathed differently.

The dome weakened.

The false guardian roared.

"They will be afraid without me!"

Qin Yuheng replied, "Then teach courage. Do not harvest dependence."

The guardian charged him.

Its shield expanded into a wall. Qin Yuheng used Star-Iron Impact Bearing through his body movement, not the Command Weapon Embryo, and angled the impact aside. The ground cracked.

Qin Yuchen took advantage and struck the guardian’s exposed flank.

Qin Lian slipped through the newly opened child-shadow gap and reached the children.

She did not grab them.

She knelt.

"Do you want more space?"

The nearest child hesitated.

Then nodded.

The dome cracked again.

Qin Mo found the custody core: a white chain beneath the guardian’s shield connected to the road gate behind it.

"It plans to transfer them to the gate as protected property!"

Qin Yuheng’s gaze turned cold.

He used Future Choice Sovereignty Seal and Self That Cannot Be Owned Core together.

The white chain burned.

The guardian screamed.

"You cannot protect them all!"

"No," Qin Yuheng said. "That is why they must learn to stand too."

He activated Bell-Sword Echo Severance, cutting the guardian’s repeated phrase from the children’s minds.

The children stepped back.

Just one step.

But it was their step.

The dome shattered.

The false guardian weakened.

It tried one final trap.

Its shield transformed into a glowing badge and flew toward Qin Yuheng.

[Guardian Authority Transfer Offered]

[Accepting will greatly increase protection power over rescued children.]

[Warning hidden by false authority.]

Qin Yuheng did not touch it.

"Rejected."

The badge cracked midair.

The false guardian’s eyes widened.

"Why refuse power to protect?"

"Because protection that requires ownership is already corrupted."

He struck.

The Command Weapon Embryo remained sealed. This victory needed principle, not weapon.

His sword pierced the guardian’s shadow core.

The False Guardian collapsed.

The road gate behind it did not open.

Instead, it closed gently.

The children stood free beneath open sky.

One child asked, "Can guardians still be good?"

Qin Yuheng answered, "Yes. A true guardian helps you grow enough to no longer need their hand every step."

The child nodded slowly.

Floor 136 cleared.

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