Limits Chapter 221

The Golem said "There are couple of rules, regarding your new membership . For one, you have to stay active . You have 100 days, to carry out at least one task . If you can't finish any tasks within 100 days, you will have to provide a reason for that . If the reason is not sufficient enough, we might strip you of the membership . There are of course exceptions . If your task is supposed to take 100 days or more, you will be exempt from that rule . Another exemption is, if you encounter large trouble, or leave North . We will demand an explanation in case of the former, while a notification in case of the latter" .

I nodded my head, and asked "So, if I want to leave North, you will not strip me of my membership?" . The Golem nodded, and said "Yes, your membership will be suspended . When you return, and report to one of the branches, it will become active again" . He then continued "There is another exception . If you are above a certain rank, you will not have such deadlines . Moreover, you will have many more benefits from the Mercenary Guild" .

I asked "What rank am I now?" . The Golem explained "You are the lowest rank right now . To rise up in ranks, you will need to successfully carry out some tasks first . For further ranks, you strength matters too, and there will be different tests concerning that" . I nodded, and asked "What are the ranks then?" . The Golem replied "The lowest rank is called Bronze Rank . This is your current rank . The next in line, is the Steel Rank, then Silver Rank, then Gold Rank and lastly Black Gold Rank . I should also mention, that there are special ranks, but you will not be informed about them now . If you rank is sufficient, you will be provided that information" .

I wanted to ask something, but he stopped me and said "Let me continue . Each Rank, has a specific number of Tiers . There are 3 Tiers in the Bronze, Steel and Silver Ranks . There are only 2 Tiers in Gold and Black Gold Ranks . To advance a Tier or a Rank, a specific amount of contribution is needed . The contribution can be checked in any branch, as your membership stone records your contribution points" . I nodded, and asked "So, can I now finally do that task?" . The Golem nodded his head, and said "I already registered it . Keep that paper with you, and bring it with the items specified . Besides the money, you also receive contribution points . This task will reward you with 5 points" . I nodded and asked, a bit curious "How many points do I need, in order to advance to the next Tier?" . He replied "You will need 200 points . For the Tier 2 of the Bronze Rank, you need 500 points, and Tier 3 requires 1000 points" . 'That is quite a lot . 1000 points, just to reach Tier 3, how many points one would need, in order to get to Gold Rank?' I thought . I decided to not ask that question, and simply said "Great, I'm off then . See you soon" .

I finally managed to get, what I came for . 'It took me some time, just to get a job . Who would have thought, that getting such a low paid job, would be so difficult' I thought . The membership, had its advantages too . For one, if I reached a higher ranking, I would have access to greater amount of information . This could prove useful in the North .

I soon left the city . I headed towards the caves, in order to "complete" my task . Of course, I already had the required amount of Lears, so I didn't need to go anywhere . I didn't take that task for money . Further away behind me, a group of humans was trying to follow me . They kept their distance, and didn't follow me in a straight line . 'They don't seem to be that stupid, but even if there is someone as strong, as the woman who severed my arm, I can still deal with them . The problem would be, if some of them are as strong as Woody… This could get messy' I thought .

When I travelled far away from the city, the group of humans got closer and closer . 'So, they finally make their move' I thought, and continued at the normal pace . After a while, the managed to catch up, while one of the members from that group shouted "Friend, Wait!" . I stopped and turned around . The group consisted of 5 members, there were four males and one female .

A guy that seemed to be the leader, stepped forward, and said "Are you going to do a task? We can help you out, as you are new here" . I shook my head, and said "It's a simple task of collecting some Lears, I don't need help with that" . They didn't take it to heart, and simply walked over . The woman from that group looked at me, and said "I think I saw your face somewhere" . While others nodded and agreed .

'What a charade . I don't get it thought . Why not simply attack me? After all, that is what they are here for' I thought . The leader of that group suddenly exclaimed "I remember! You are that wanted man!" . I looked at them, as if looking at idiots, and simply said "It seems to be the case . Do you want anything in particular?" . I decided to play their game a bit too . The leader shouted "You filthy bastard! Giving bad reputation for your own kin . You should be brought to justice!" .

'This is something, I never understood in humans . Why play the hero? Why are they trying to justify their greed?' I thought . Of course, there was no need for an answer, as they already started their attacks . The leader guy charged at me with a sword and shield, while others followed suit . None of them were archers, or ranged weapon wielders .

'They are not weak though . They must've broken through the Half Step of the Outer Limit too . Let's see how this goes' I thought, and launched forwards as well . I didn't use any of my skills from the Art of Hidden Weapons, I simply used the close combat . My first attack, was blocked to my surprise . 'Although I didn't use most of my strength, the guy still managed to block my 60% strength output . Not bad' I thought, as I slashed with my daggers .

Others didn't stand there watching, and attacked as well . I had to utilise my Natural Path skill, in order to evade the attacks . 'The leader seems to be the strongest, I should take care of others first' I thought, and backed away a bit from the leader . He immediately figured out my intentions, but with my strength, I managed to get away from him . He shouted "Watch out! He is coming after you guys!", but it was too late . I appeared behind the guy with a shield, and used my Pressuring Dagger skill .

"BOOM!"

To my surprise, something unexpected happened, and I was blasted backwards . The guy I attacked, was fine . They quickly tried to grab that occasion, but I managed to escape . 'Just what was that thing? As if my attack hit some kind of barrier, then bounced me of' I thought . The Leader engaged me in the battle again . He was trying to focus my attention on him . I had other plans, and used 100% of my strength, to push him back .

I then sped towards the woman, who seemed to be the weakest . But then out of nowhere, I got rammed from behind . I lost my balance and I was about to hit the ground . I reacted quickly, and used my hands to push myself further away . The distance between me and the group, increased again . When I looked behind, it was a guy with a large sword, that rammed into me . For some reason, he didn't use the sword to attack . 'These guys are no amateurs . If I can take out one or two of them, I will have a much easier time . The five of them makes a good team, I hate to admit . Time to take this a bit more seriously' I thought .

I quickly took out my bow and arrows . They seemed surprised, while I started shooting . One of them shouted "Shit! Retreat! He is also an archer!" . They tried retreating, while I shot at the guy with the shield . "SWOOSH!" "SWOOSH!" "SWOOSH!"

I shot three arrows, one after the other . He managed to evade one, but the other two were on target . Then, something made them change course . 'It's not their skill . Now I know, why I was pushed backwards, when I tried to backstab that guy . Their clothes or some kind of items on them, have Formations . No wonder I have such a hard time killing them' I thought .

This was bad, truly bad . I hid my bow, and prepared to deal with them differently . I pressed my legs into the ground, and launched .

"BOOM!" .

Someone shouted "He's coming!" . I released my condensed Domineering Aura, my target was the shield guy . When I arrived in front of him, time seemed to slow down for him . I didn't aim at the parts where his clothes were, I aimed for his neck, which was not protected .

"SWISH!" "CLING!"

I jumped back, and noticed that my arm became numb . 'This guy… He has an Aura as well' I thought . It was that leader guy . He used his own Aura, to overcome mine, and blocked the attack . 'They are truly a perfect team . If that is the case, I have no other options . I need to use Frosty's strength' I thought, and prepared for the next bout .

Chapter end