Rubbing his eyes, William is in disbelief about what sort of power this man possesses. Did the world turn strange amidst his Emblem? He is unsure, as the physical realms of his comprehension are limited. It all acts cording to the special ways regarding individual Emblems. Only their general structure was something Mi-Yung explained to him a month ago.
“What a strange man. I bet he has an even stranger history with Mi-Yung.” William mumbles while thinking more about the whole conversation that happened. Richards told him quite a few things he hasn't uncovered by himself. Mainly, the Emblem Academy.
One thing that sounds the most interesting is the premise of taking advantage of his full pass card. William has always been hesitant about it since the talk with Kaufman in the past was quite a memorable experience. Back then, before, or inside the beginner room when he reached the 6th floor for the first time.
He made it quite clear that there are numerous secrets and mysteries in the world of the Dark Age. Many kinds of research and documents are in many rooms on the 6th floor which aren't meant to be seen by him.
Yet, he still gave him his card, which is out of the norm, and William never understood why. Was it to make fun of him? Help him? Play with him? He has never been more clear that Walkers are strangers, and Kaufman is the king of them... at least in his mind.
Whether William wants to take advantage of his pass, no there could be no one to stop him. Perhaps, that is. doesn't know what would be the best, so he chose to not do anything about it. Doing so could only lead to more information, so he hesitantly pulls his card and plays with it before his face.
The past month has been great. He did what Ellie and Mi-Yung told him. Beginner things may seem boring, but their advantages have been great so far. Instead of worrying about the further path, it is a much better idea to take things in slow doses. He did exactly that for the last few weeks.
The very same will go on in the last two as well. Although, he is quite interested in the premise of at least taking a peek at certain cabinets.
He looks at them, while the sheen of the card makes him hesitant.
Information about higher rank Dark Beings? That would not hurt him, nor anyone else.
“Huh... I don't feel like reading through these documents again.” William sight upon glancing at the table before him. The things that Richards told him are no longer within his mind, as they can wait.
Few monsters between Rank 1 to rank 4 are present in the table. Documents he has seen for like a dozen's time.
With a motion of his hand, he stores the pages into the folders and stores them in the rightful cabinet.
Closing it, William glances at the Table of contents, not so far away.
It states the naming scheme of important sections with the corresponding alphabet. Numbers with chapters of the Rank of the monsters make it clear what one would need to see.
The number in the lower section of the table ends in Rank 7. Yet, William knows that there are documents about stronger monsters that are somewhere else on the 6th floor. Mi-Yung's loose mind revealed it to him not so long ago, which makes sense, considering the flow of numbers.
8 would follow 7, while after 8 would come 9. A number that seems crazy in the scheme of the Walkers, as it's just a number.
A thing that exists since the birth of the modern era of humanity.
It makes sense, in the way he thinks about it. Rank 8 or above Walkers should be the people Richards talked about a while ago. Walkers who are in charge of the Academy.
Those monsters of the Walkers must be around that Rank. That indicates absolutely nothing since William has no idea about any power rankings of the Ranks. What they mean for the high-rank Walkers could be different from what he understands right now.
“Bloody hell. Rank 8... Academy and so on. I am not afraid... No way.” William shakes his head as he watches the Table of Content.
Up above, he sees the low Ranks. Starting at 1.
From what he could gather, the beginner Walkers can fight up to Rank 4 monsters, while they could be rank 1 themselves. It doesn't make sense in the scheme of the numbers, but he doesn't ask the System.
Of course, it could imply other things, such as the talent of the Emblems. Such as the decrease in fighting against Rank 5 monsters. Few Walkers of Rank 4 can manage themselves against them. The further one goes, the harder it gets. Even the premise of stronger Dark beings was possible. Some could fight against higher Walkers.
“Numbers that. Number this... It's so simple, yet I am getting headaches over this mess.” William sights. It resembles a gaming system that William uncovered in the Cultural sections. Dungeon or something... where levels are detrimental to experiences.
It is all knowledge, while he lacks experience. It is obvious since he is yet to awaken his Emblem.
Though, the effects of Rank 0 are not at all boring as well. William at least managed to brave himself to read more about them in other rooms on the 6th floor. The documents about a few generations of the Walkers, where the premise of Rank 0 is rather vague.
At that Rank, the young Walkers could develop abilities or affect the body or the surroundings. This would become important when awakening the Emblem in adulthood, or by force in the Federation.
There are no differences between those two styles of awakening apart from the heads up of a couple of years with the latter one.
The development and the research back that down with facts and proof. Though it all stems from the deep and rather... strange ways of the System. The forceful awakening is rather intricate and William has two weeks before that. To his disappointment, the talk of the Forceful Awakening is out of the question in the library. It is a confidential process by the Federation alone.
Though the Outside forces could get young Walkers awakened. All they need are secret deals that go behind the scenes of a few organizations in the Federation.
Glancing at the Table of Content, William is unsure of what he wants to see. He already went through the sections of the upper Table of Content many times. It has the biggest amount of letters, with corresponding Ranks. There are many monsters between rank 1 and 4, while monsters that are above are less abundant.
It is quite an insane disparity where the obvious Ranks of Dark beings are extreme, to say the least. A lot of monsters are within the first 4 Ranks. With a number of species, that tower the Ranks above the 4th with a sheer number of them alone.
That doesn't mean it is all that impressive since the Rank 5 and above monsters are absolute nightmares.
William knows about it since he read about the small details of the Korean end. The horde of Jawrans made total mayhem out of the remaining people of Korea. Back then, it was a place on a par with the current Federation.
That is not to say that they were as rich in resources and Walkers alike. Their military and Walkers were of the utmost quality.
At the moment, it matters less, since a lot of Korean Walkers survived the end of their nation. They couldn't help but watch the unconditional loss that no one could prevent from happening.
A lot of these Walkers ended up joining the beginning of the Federation. That was because it happened around the time period when the Federation was making a final push for completion. That was, to become the highest order of power in the world.
Not like it mattered, since the Dark Age is not that pleasing, or understanding about such status.
William clicks his tongue in hesitation. Watching the numbers that indicate rank 6 monsters, he looks at it for like 5 minutes already. He is in line with learning a little more about them. Glancing at his watch, a little over an hour passed after the conversation with the Richards.
“Alright! No way I want to miss out. I will forget about it if someone won't like me, reading through these documents. No one is here to stop me...”
William finally decides and goes to the cabinet that opens thanks for the placement of his card.
Inside, around a dozen of folders are present. Each has a small section of the name of the monster, to make it easier what one wants to see.
William decided on Rank 6, so he sees those names for the first time.
Redfall, Arkhell, Tunner, Paw Pouncer, Roar Pouncer, Jaw Pouncer, and a few more follow.
William took the first 5 folders since he reads them first. An excitement about doing something that he should be doing is left in his throbbing heart. Though, he feels like he isn't doing anything wrong since he is playing by the rules since he has a full pass card.
He is alone, and not just anyone could get access to these documents. The status of Rank 6 Walker can be done only with the corresponding status and strength.
Not a lot of such people are going around and visiting the Library at that Rank. It is safe to say that such individuals have their own cards. Such that gives them free access to any information for their Rank on the 6th floor. It is a kind of fair, and simple system to follow. It is in line with the power that is hidden behind the Grand Library of the Federation.
That used to be Kaufman, while his retirement caused his daughter to take his position.
William takes the folders and places them on the table before sitting on a chair. Spreading the folders on the table, he looks at the classified information for Walkers, such as Mi-Yung.
“Do I want to take a peek, or a full-on staring read?” he asks himself.
He doesn't know the answer, so the peek it is.
He folds a few pages from each closed folder. Only a couple of pages, with introductory pages for each monster.
“There it is. Only a peek.” He assures himself, while breathlessly looking at the picture within those pages.
“Mother of hell...”
William curses, as those monsters are nothing to what he imagined.
Redfall is the first to meet his eye.
Most of the monsters have some sign of their names, being part of who they are. This Dark being is at worst, 15 to 25 feet tall, with four limbs almost half of its height. There are also two massive wings that are folded on their wolf-like appearance. There is a head, implicating terrifying red eyes, with a jaw, with saliva coming out of it. Sinister monster, what William could only imagine is right on the first page on his left.
This monster's name shows the one status that it makes. It likes to brink its prey up to the sky thanks to its wings and let the blood fall.
Beside it is an Arkhell. A rather strangely shaped monster, that is unlike what is a general perception of them. William's previous, or common, perspective is their size and mass. Fearlessness, and the utmost killing intent of a Hunter. That, he knows, since it's common knowledge Outside.
On the other hand, this monster in the picture is looking around 5 to 6 feet tall. Around the human's height, with thin-looking limbs that resemble Carnijaw's, but much thinner. It looked much more proportional to its body.
It has an eyeless head, with a single mouth in the middle of the head. It can be closed, which led to a cross-shaped pattern on its head.
“L-looks almost humanlike, with limbs while it runs on 4, with no tale, but a scaly body. What a terrifying monster.” Wiliam looks at the pictures, with small descriptions aside from them.
As for the 3rd one. This one is leaving William completely speechless. An utter monstrosity.
Worm-like monster of up to 300 feet long, and 10 to 15 feet thick. Snake-like movement, with distinct shaped spiked scales, with an opening at its tip, leads to 4 pairs of 2 feet wide eyes. Within its head, which resembles the Hellgar's mouth, the grinding mouth of 2 feet large teeth makes it almost diabolical.
It does not resemble a snake or worm that much, but it is known for its low speed, defense, and ability to dig. It has a flatter kind of face, with a mouth that could dissolve any material, metal included.
“I surely haven't seen anything like this...” William is stunned by the detailed pictures and detailed sketches. Someone was very keen on making these folders, and it shows. Anyone could get the full picture of this monstrosity with descriptions and sketches alone. There is even a human for scale included in the sketches.
The human looks tiny in comparison.