----- Chapter 15 : Dangerous Levels ------
The shot rang off against the opposite wall. Sue cried out and twisted herself just enough to allow the creature to drop into the water. It wriggled free before she could strike out. She traced its wake patterns as the creature circled around. It was changing target.
Cassie realised what was going to happen and began to fire round after round of photon bullets into the water. Sue waded forward as fast as she could manage. The creature sprung out of the water, catching Cassie by surprise, she knocked her head on the wall and fell in.
"No!" Yelled out Sue as she jumped into the thrashing water.
Sue reached down and felt the rough exoskeleton. She offered up a quick prayer and plunged her claw into the water. Pulling up her arm she could see the creature, now dead, impaled upon her blades. She threw it to one side and helped Cassie out of the water.
As she coughed and fought for breath Sue checked her for wounds. She seemed to be fine except for three small cuts on her stomach where the claw had punched through. A small price to pay.
"I could really do with a long hot bath." Cassie spluttered as she tried to smile again.
-----
The Guild Bar was packed out to the point where some had to be turned away. The place filled with the hubbub of many people in animated discussion. Without exception every discussion was about the Ruins that had been uncovered. The military had been quick to move in, as had a mass of Hunters. They had soon been beaten back. If the mines had been difficult, then these Ruins were downright challenging. The strange 'monsters' there found to be single-minded in their pursuit of repelling invaders.
Within four hundred Beats there were enough casualties and fatalities to allow the government to force the Hunters Guild into restricting access. As a result, with immediate effect, no Hunter below level twenty-five was allowed to enter.
"Cheer up, why so glum?" Eventide said to Sarunakai as he set their order on their table.
"We were the ones who found the Ruins and now we can't even get to see them."
"Are you that eager to get yourself killed?" Eventide beamed. "Besides I wouldn't say that. I hold a level twenty-seven rating and I'm sure Eric here has something similar..."
"Level fifty-one." Eric replied calmly as he sipped his oil.
Eventide shot him a stunned look.
"I'm not sure I understand why the level rating should be so important." Said Sarunakai.
"Since you're new to the game it can be a little strange, I'll try and clarify. You could conceivably battle for many years gaining experience in the field and still remain a level one Hunter. Conversely, you could take all the exams, pass them and reach level two hundred yet never actually fight another living thing. The system is strange but it's rarely abused."
Eventide continued. "Your basic Hunter will probably advance themselves to around the twenties. That's plenty of clearance for most situations. Dedicated types will progress to the eighties or nineties. It's a lot of work but its bragging rights. Take for example... Principal Tyrell's girl, Rico. She's so renowned due to the fact that she's in her twenties yet at the last count she was rated at level one hundred and forty-three."
"If anyone could survive that explosion it would be Rico. Apparently they have found some of her message disks, dated after the explosion." Concluded Eric.
The three of them were silent for a while, each lost in thought. Eventually Sarunakai broke it.
"So I guess I need to take these exams to get up to level twenty-five then."
"Maybe but its not gonna happen. I checked. Guild exams are booked up for about the next three weeks. Besides... there's other ways." Replied Eventide.
"I'm not sure I follow."
"Well you helped take down Vol Opt, that mad computer. That'll count for something. We can have a word with the Principal for 'special dispensation'."
"Do we go now?" Asked Eric.
"No, if Bernie has taught me one thing, it's do your research before you do anything dangerous."
"There's always tomorrow..." Finished Sarunakai.
The shot rang off against the opposite wall. Sue cried out and twisted herself just enough to allow the creature to drop into the water. It wriggled free before she could strike out. She traced its wake patterns as the creature circled around. It was changing target.
Cassie realised what was going to happen and began to fire round after round of photon bullets into the water. Sue waded forward as fast as she could manage. The creature sprung out of the water, catching Cassie by surprise, she knocked her head on the wall and fell in.
"No!" Yelled out Sue as she jumped into the thrashing water.
Sue reached down and felt the rough exoskeleton. She offered up a quick prayer and plunged her claw into the water. Pulling up her arm she could see the creature, now dead, impaled upon her blades. She threw it to one side and helped Cassie out of the water.
As she coughed and fought for breath Sue checked her for wounds. She seemed to be fine except for three small cuts on her stomach where the claw had punched through. A small price to pay.
"I could really do with a long hot bath." Cassie spluttered as she tried to smile again.
-----
The Guild Bar was packed out to the point where some had to be turned away. The place filled with the hubbub of many people in animated discussion. Without exception every discussion was about the Ruins that had been uncovered. The military had been quick to move in, as had a mass of Hunters. They had soon been beaten back. If the mines had been difficult, then these Ruins were downright challenging. The strange 'monsters' there found to be single-minded in their pursuit of repelling invaders.
Within four hundred Beats there were enough casualties and fatalities to allow the government to force the Hunters Guild into restricting access. As a result, with immediate effect, no Hunter below level twenty-five was allowed to enter.
"Cheer up, why so glum?" Eventide said to Sarunakai as he set their order on their table.
"We were the ones who found the Ruins and now we can't even get to see them."
"Are you that eager to get yourself killed?" Eventide beamed. "Besides I wouldn't say that. I hold a level twenty-seven rating and I'm sure Eric here has something similar..."
"Level fifty-one." Eric replied calmly as he sipped his oil.
Eventide shot him a stunned look.
"I'm not sure I understand why the level rating should be so important." Said Sarunakai.
"Since you're new to the game it can be a little strange, I'll try and clarify. You could conceivably battle for many years gaining experience in the field and still remain a level one Hunter. Conversely, you could take all the exams, pass them and reach level two hundred yet never actually fight another living thing. The system is strange but it's rarely abused."
Eventide continued. "Your basic Hunter will probably advance themselves to around the twenties. That's plenty of clearance for most situations. Dedicated types will progress to the eighties or nineties. It's a lot of work but its bragging rights. Take for example... Principal Tyrell's girl, Rico. She's so renowned due to the fact that she's in her twenties yet at the last count she was rated at level one hundred and forty-three."
"If anyone could survive that explosion it would be Rico. Apparently they have found some of her message disks, dated after the explosion." Concluded Eric.
The three of them were silent for a while, each lost in thought. Eventually Sarunakai broke it.
"So I guess I need to take these exams to get up to level twenty-five then."
"Maybe but its not gonna happen. I checked. Guild exams are booked up for about the next three weeks. Besides... there's other ways." Replied Eventide.
"I'm not sure I follow."
"Well you helped take down Vol Opt, that mad computer. That'll count for something. We can have a word with the Principal for 'special dispensation'."
"Do we go now?" Asked Eric.
"No, if Bernie has taught me one thing, it's do your research before you do anything dangerous."
"There's always tomorrow..." Finished Sarunakai.