Preparation for Level Up 3

"So what do you want from me? I will not lay with you simply because I'm already soiled" she asked.

" First you are not soiled. you are amazing and you will get through this. And for a 2nd, thing is I intend to start a faction and join the Fire Drake Academy. For me to start a faction recognized by the Academy I must have at least one professional of each guild, outside of arcanist , in my faction registry. I think you would be a good edition. I am an inscriptionist and a blacksmith, James is a tailor, my brother is a tier five formations master so as long as he joins a faction prior to he can enter even though he's above age by 4 years. All I need is an alchemist and a artificer. So what do you say, want to join me?" I asked with an awkward smile.

"Hmm. Ok I will join your faction. My name is Nizhoni. I will follow you but if you try anything I shall slaughter you the same as the last man who did. It took me three years to track him down and kill him but I did and I will do the same to you if you cross the line." she said with absolute calm on the surface but a rage and slight madness lingered in her eyes. Hopefully the madness will leave. I know that the rage will always remain but hopefully it will abate at least.

"Good then follow me" I said moving out, realizing she probably made a mistake about my age do to my appearance. As we passed Tai'Razor he stepped in behind us before sniffing the air. He smiled after realizing I didn't do anything.

Leaving the the slave market I feel a threat behind me, turning and swinging my fist behind me I curse my Master for not letting me carry any form of weapon until I forge my own. A fist a foot wide connected with mine and I felt like I had blocked at hit from my Master. My bones ached and I new I couldn't do that again.

"KURUK STOP!" Nizhoni yelled. Hearing her the giant teenager in front of me stopped to look behind him. Isn't he your master? I will beat him until he realesess you." Kuruk replied before turning back.

"He already returned my freedom, see?" saying so she holds up the enslavement ring.

"OH. I am sorry good sir., then it's my misunderstanding. You see Beautiful is my childhood friend, and I always try to protect my friends no matter who the enemy is." Kuruk said with an honest smile.

POW POW POW.

"YOU IDIOT CALLING ME BEAUTIFUL THEY WILL THINK YOU LIKE ME!" Nizhoni screamed in embaressment.

"But you are only a friend and your name MEANS beautiful. Besides you always call me Bear unless you're mad at me and that is what my name means." Kuruk said confused.

Even though my arm is killing me I could not help but laugh. "Jason he is the other guy, now we just need the woman." Hearing James I was startled, is there really such a coincidence? Doesn't that mean if I hadn't decided to save Nizhoni I would have never acquired this giant? But first things first, "Kuruk, how old are you?"

"I am 20 good sir" Kuruk replied happily while trying to block Nizhoni's attacks. "And what is your profesion" I asked although i assumed a blacksmith as that's what most giants enjoy although there have been formationist and tailors before. Another blacksmith is always welcome.

"I am a tier 4 artificer" Kuruk said before trying to hide behind a gnome so the "scary Nizhoni won't get him. the sight of him holding the three foot tall gnome as a piece offering was so funny I almost didn't catch what he said.

"An artificer? How?" Both me and the gnome held hostage asked at the same time

"I am a metal, glass, gravity mage. I trained my mana control so I can use all the equipment. It takes forever though and is way to hard. Such flimsy materials." Kuruk complained.

Me and the gnome wanted to beat this fool. To hard? To hard your head. Giants cannot take a proffesion until they are nineteen do to their slow intellect growth before then. A twenty year old giant is the same as a five year old human or a ten year old orc in the eyes of the kingdoms and acedamys of the world. This means this bastard reached tier 4 in less than a year. Come now brother don't insult us as incompetent.

Shaking my head I asked my question, "Kuruk, are you willing to join my faction?"

" Nizhoni is so so am I, she is the only one who believed I could be an artificer. My father refused to let me train it and tried to force me to become a blacksmith instead. Nizhoni snuck in and brought me books to help study it. When I went to take the test I immediately became a tier 3 artificer. It was only thwn I got the approval of the Metal Crushed Tribe." Kuruk said.

Hearing that I almost vomited blood, he was self taught to tier three? And he still feels he is to slow?

" Lets go then. The auction will be starting soon." I said leading the way to the Treasure Hall Auction House.

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"Good day lady and gentleman would you like a VIP room, a booth, or general audience?" The lady at the front desk asked us politely.

"I want a Glass VIP room." I said handing over my dad's token. Glass is the lowest level VIP rooms. Then it is Metal, followed by Enchanted. Each comes with its own perks discounts and level requirements. I can only go to the Glass level because of dad's token, if he was here himself we could go to the Metal rooms. Only people on the level of the Duke can use the enchanted rooms or so I have heard.

Once we go to our room we see it is very spacious with a few medicinal candies set in jars for us to try. Obviously they knew that kids were going to use the room because usually it was a medicinal wine, which was far more effective.

Turning to my 3 new members I ask what sort of weapons or armaments they use. Kuruk quickly replied, "I use a solid metal staff with a obsidian glass as a foci"

"I use a falchion and a round shield. The falchion needs a blade of thirty-four inches." Tai'Razor said.

"I use a claymore broadsword, four inch wide blade and fifty inches long." Nizhoni said.

"I use two kopis swords each one having a two foot blade." James remarked.

Nodding my head I begin to think about the materials we will need. Suddenly I was nudged by Nizhoni, " I want my blade to be inscribed with fire and lightning."

For a moment I was confused, normally warriors using large weapons prefer earth, gravity, and wind. Earth and gravity for attack, wind and gravity help with maneuverability. Then i had a thought and looked over at James.

"Jason she chose to join your bodyguards. My instincts say that all your bodyguards can only have those two elements on their weapons." James responded.

I was starting to wonder if the whole instinct thing was busted. How can it be bad to have more elements? But more importantly, "What the hell do you mean bodyguards? I never agreed to that." I exclaimed.

"Hmm. I shall decide later." I heard Tai'Razor mumble. deciding not to get distracted i focused on James.

"If bodyguards doesn't suit you think of them as an elite guard. They may become the generals for your army. But whatever you call them, they will be your most powerful followers outside of your soul beasts and the warlock." James responded.

"Warlock? warlocks can only be taught in the top five acedamys in the kingdom and we still haven't even entered the top one in our little dukedom." Now I'm really starting to wonder if James has a special body or is just missing a few screws in his head?.

"Hmph. He is telling the truth." All of a sudden I hear a girls voice from a corner I could have sworn was empty.

"Sarah you made it!" yelled Kuruk while me and Tai'Razor jumped up in a battle stance. Looking around Nizhoni looked happy Kuruk was jumping for joy, and most annoying of all James sat there with a peaceful smile.

Seeing Sarah was a friend of Kuruk's and Nizhoni it made sense, but why didn't James move. Even if he felt no danger he even admitted he could be wrong about danger. But before I could ask he said, " We have been waiting for you. You are the last member in the city. Welcome new companion."

At that point both me amd Sarah are stunned. Me becaise I didnt expect to meet the last memeber this way. As for Sarah, " What the hell? I can "see" you are telling the truth , but I never agreed to join I was just making sure my two friends are ok."

Confused I asked, "This is the second time you made the comment you know he is telling the truth and you avcept it as fact. Why is that?"

"That is simple, I have the Void Piercing Fiendgod Body. My eyes can pierce to the truth of all matters. If he lied or was incorrect I would know. But he is more assured than a god would be of his own name. So what im curious aboutis what body he has. "

"I have the Falling Star body ranked 911,999. in the Million Body Ranking. " James said proudly.

"Wrong, that is not your body. Hmm. similar characteristics but far higher predictions it can only be one of three then. Ok to find it out. we nee..."

All of a sudden a man walked in with a manager bage. " You have violated one of the rules of my Awakened Treasure Palace. This place is a backwater city so the rules weren't posted. But if you void walk in here again you shall be killed." with that he disappeared.

"OMG. Have you guys ever heard of the Awakened Treasure Palace?" Kuruk asked..

After a while Tai'Razor responded, " I only know a little. Their minor branch sects are found in king cities, while major branch sects are only found in Emperor cities."

Damn. An emperor city is the capital of an Empire and the seat of power for a emperor level powerhouse. And that was just for a major branch sect not the main sect. Everyone was sweating bullets.