Mi-Yung, unbothered by his claims, says a bit more important piece of words on her mind. “You better watch yourself out in the wild. I know the Outside is not always welcoming to the Walkers, and their reputation is not the best in the wild, but we are doing what we can. So little can be done when the numbers are so little, and foes are so large and numerous.”
Tears in the corners of his eyes, Wiliam cater to his poor scalp, which went through the disaster unscathed. He even though she causes irreversible damage to his hair, but that is not the case.
“I know. I could not help myself,” he adds as he backs away.
“Right... Read through the available cabinets. That one is for the Hellgars and monsters around that rank. Still dangerous, as with every monster of the Dark. Go by the alphabetical order, or by the numbers on that spreadsheet. You can also experience more by the table of content in that corner.” Mi-Yung points to one cabinet with the letter H and the small tables in the middle of the room.
A place for the reading experience is well lit, and enough space for dozens of documents that are private enough to read. Beside the tables is a small plate on the pillar that depicts a table of content for this room.
“Alright. Should I look at something or you won't let me?”
“I... I will fetch you one, alright!?”
Getting the sheets of who knows how many papers, Mi-Yung let the documents about the Hellgars fall to the table.
Quite a heavy sound smashes to William's seating position he took.
“All of this is for the Hellgars?” he asks in surprise, as he takes at least 50 documents through his hands.
“Yes. They are one of the most common Dark beings. While not the weakest, they are very well-rounded in almost any situation. Not overpowering attacks apart from its jaw, and forwards heaviness.” She explains further and expands the content on the tables.
There, she reveals the documents to William. Some of these documents even go back to the 40ies or 30ies of the 21st century. Almost a century away, much to Williams's surprise.
“Those beasts won't die through the motion of the time? They remained unchanged for a century?” William mumbles as something profound hits his brain.
“You noticed that only now? Apocalypse is running for over a Century already, of course they are not getting away. Those beasts are like the evolution apex of the being. Almost like they were made to hunt and destroy the civilization.”
“Must be quite bad ones, since they are taking more than the century,” William mumbles below his nose while escaping the notice of Mi-Yung's ears by shoving the journal across his face.
“Hmmm.. impressive. Impressive,” he mumbles, as reading the writing reports is more interesting than he would admit.
Details that he never notices are written down in informative paper format. There are even sketches, pictures, and any information about the forms and possible ways the Hellgars act, attack, or defend.
The last one is not so detailed, as the Hellgars are not the brightest creatures. Defenses need a lot of brains to work, or the higher Rank of the Dark being.
In this sense, he could guess that the body of the Dark being can consist of hardened scales, skin, or something similar. Unless they don't they are without major defenses. That is one of the few examples of how the Ranks are determined by the Federation.
Of course, with the Rank 5 like Jawran, the defense became passive. Scales or something like that causes the good defense, while the speed is good too.
Unless the Walkers have the corresponding raw power to finish the armor, of course. That was the basic sight that William saw on the helicopters to the Federation. Luke as rank 4 cleaved the rank 5 Jawran in half which is quite a nice accomplishment in itself.
In truth, the Jawran back then was stupid, and water more than enough obscured his movements. The journey across the ocean caused it to become slow, so Luke finished it with ease.
In a normal situation, it would take 10 times more effort inland, and 20 times more in the jungle or the city. There are a lot of obstacles around, while some Walkers can fly, and hover in the air like Luke, or not at all. It all depends on luck and abilities.
Jawrans are known for their speed and mobility with great attacks with their jaws. While their ability to fly is a constant struggle in the normal environment of the cities.
Though, William has yet to go that far to know these details of the Rank 5 Dark being. For the time being, he has to be satisfied with what he gets.
And he is, to be frank with himself.
Hellgars, through the motions of these documents, have certain patterns with every Dark being. They are hunters. Resilient with their attacks, until they are done, and the prey is dead. They resemble cats, wolfs, lions, and other such animals, but with much stronger ferociousness. With being only ranked 1, they are much stronger than any animal in the human lands.
4-legged clawed limbs prove to be quite a weapon and the dominant legs on their back have a certain curve to them. It makes running and jumping quite powerful with great mobility on all terrains. Claws and jaw go without questions, with hundreds of 2 to 4-inch razor-sharp teeth.
Pictures included in these documents make some unpleasant memories resurface in William's mind. Frowning and knitting brows led much to his feelings reopening.
“This is a world of the Dark age. We all know it, don't we?” Mi-Yung sat in front of his table. Facing him, and crisscrossing her legs while resting her elbow on the table, with her palm on her chin.
“Are these monsters the same everywhere? For example, in Korea?”
“They are. Though, some higher-ranked monsters are only in distinct locations and don't travel to other locations. We don't ask them, so all we can do is assume or get to know their motives and pattern. It is quite hard when the hunters go against the hunters.”
“Hmmm...” William not answering, rather go deeper into the information. To his utmost shock, he discovers many varieties of the Hellgars. Some could be as small as 5 feet tall, while they could be as tall as 10 feet. Their jaws could also vary, but the distinct shape of the mouth would not. Wide jaw, with almost no chin, bulging upper head with a multitude of eyes.
Their limbs could also have certain shapes to them. Spikes, tendrils, and even distinct curved blades could poke through some part of their skeleton. They could make some sort of blade that could be used as a weapon. Be it from their head, chest, limbs, or spine.
“What makes all of these changes? Are they evolving as the Walkers do? You said something like that earlier.” William glances at Mi-Yung, who is observing him in return.
“Most likely, yes. The researchers believe so.”
Accepting such a brief answer, William goes on and on, until he is done with the Hellgars. There is a lot to them since they are weak and many in numbers. They could get some mutations and evolutions through their sheer number. He even wonders if the higher-ranking monsters are that varied as well. William would later get to understand that.
“Is it to your satisfaction?” Mi-Yung asks with a smile.
“I guess. I would not mind having these sorts of documentation about the Walkers instead.” William says after piling every document into a big pile. He hasn't finished everything, as he has a limited amount of time. Only about a dozen of quick glances to a few is enough for Hellgars.
“I bet. There is one, but not available to you, yet,” she answers while telling not much more than this.
This could not help but frustrate William a little, but there is nothing else that he could do about it.
“How about another pile, or go towards the next room?” William asks in a try to discover a bit more from her.
“What are you more interested in? Monsters or the locations and their nests?”
“I have no idea. You decide.”
Then let's move to the next room. Those documents have quite a bit of information, so I can't inform you more than this. Otherwise, I would talk for hours on end. You will figure out the basics in the next 6 weeks with these books, and more will follow afterward. Upon reaching official Rank 1, there are a lot of documents and you will be able to fight against them by yourself.”
“That is quite good news... Is there no way to learn about the paths, Systems, and ranks of the Walker prior to becoming one myself? I trust it's fair to ask this much.”
“No. That can wait for a variety of reasons. Unless you want to know the basics of the basics, which won't vary a lot. How about that?”
“Please. Teach me.” Wiliam bows with his head across the table and pleads Mi-Yung to tell him more.
Smiling in a good mood, Mi-Yung could not help but agree to this little request.
The general view of the Walkers is a tough topic after all, and to her knowledge, Outside has a rather twisted impression of them.
“Well, as with everything. Those little things around our bodies are the causes of strange effects indeed. They are even the reason we are called Walkers. They all manifest around us as we grow, while the awakening or the adulthood begins the whole process of the System.”
“There are 3 general views of the Walkers in the current time. One is the Vectors. A type of strands made of energies that could have their own forms, or be made into whatever the Walker wishes. They are viewed as small lines of energy which is called Arcanite. Vectors appear like swirling blood through the tiny tendrils or a straight-up line of matter. Like a pencil, that travels in an empty sheet of paper, that is the best analogy I could describe it. Weapons, effects, manifestations, and so on are part of this section of the Walkers, but they could be interchangeable to others as well.”
“Second type is Elemental. A certain affinity is made into the effects of the Arcanite within the Emblem, which causes them to have elemental effects. Fire, water, freeze, wind, light, shadows, gravity, and so on. It's not about the talent by any means. It's more about luck, as the Emblem can have a certain type of Element within it being born with a baby. You either have it or don't.”
“The third type is less common, and that is the Mutation type, where they are nothing like the first two. Their effects and powers can vary a lot. They could be weaker or much stronger than the first two. They can even have some parts of similarities to the first 2, but that is very subjective. That is one reason I told you that many Walkers are very different because they are... different from the rest. For the most part, the effect of the Mutant type has a more physical realm of comprehension. Their effects could change the physical bodies of Walkers, and could have even strange properties.”
“T-that... That is rather a big explaining, but I am thankful.” William listens with great intent, as this is rather big news for him.
“I have not ended yet. These are only the 3 types. The start of everything is, after all, the Emblem in our bodies and the System. Without it, we are nothing. You have yours in your arm and mine is in my torso. What do you think is the difference?”
“Well... position? isn't it?”
“Obviously, but what else?”
“... No idea,” Wiliam says, after no clue after some pondering.
“These are the location of the sources of the flows of most important parts of the human skeletal structure. Even the organ systems are included with blood vessels and so on. Your Emblem in your forearms is embodied in the blood system, your marrow, and bones as well. While mine is directly etched on my whole torso. Affecting everything much further.”
“I see... Does it make a difference for Walkers?” William asks while rubbing his right hand with his left hand. This... is something he wants to know.
“Depends on what you call difference. Positions of the Emblems can have varying effects on each Walker. For example, mine is at least much more well-rounded. While yours is rather focused on one singular place. It could be an advantage or disadvantage depending on the System. Do you get it so far?”
“A little, I guess it makes sense for not knowing a lot about it. Since its effects are much more usable after awakening and getting to know my own system, right?”
“Exactly. See? You get it now.”
Chuckling in helplessness, William listens more about the basics of the Walkers what he should know long ago.
It is only unfortunate that he never met the right person to tell him about It, up until now.
“Another pondering question, William. What do you think will happen when someone cut your arm off?”
“Huh? That is rather grim, but I would have one less arm to use. Simple as that.” William answers while feeling this question is rather easy.
“True, but what about the Emblem on your right arm?”
“it would get lost... Lost? Right?” William answers with an unsure question.
“Yes. Its glitter would turn to dust, while the Walker would be turned dead, or be a normal human again. There have been plenty of occasions to see this phenomenon. Walkers with such Emblem as you can become limbless very easy. It is a little limiting and the dangerous prospect of such Emblem location.”
“I see... I will be careful about it.” William nods to himself while quenching his right arm with the other. Gulping down, this is a topic he never knew he needed to hear, but welcome it. This is a helpful piece of information that comes from Mi-Yung. A person who talks about very sensitive topics to him.
Though, there is one reason for his nervousness. And that is... his disappearing Emblem. This little piece of news made his heart race for sure.