Information Goldmine

"It has a tendency to run like this for thirty seconds! Just keep chasing it!"

"How do you know this?!"

"One of the guides written by a Guidehand said so! Just-"

A player looked out and spotted a merchant cart. Immediately they hollered, "Bad news! It's heading for a cart!"

The creature was revealed and looked similar to an angler fish. A large mouth constantly chomped down on the trees, two large horns sprouted out of its head. Its body was longer and seemed more fish-like with how it wiggled. Four stumpy legs moved at a surprising speed to push itself against the ground.

The players chasing it immediately threw out several chains and attempted to stop the creature. The chains wrapped around the horns and the players dug their feet into the ground to slow it to a stop. One grit their teeth and groaned, "Move!!"

Wharm was paralyzed with fear. He hadn't seen such a horrifying creature before. Additionally Rango wasn't fast enough to pull the cart out of harm's way! As he saw the creature coming towards the cart he could only relent, 'What horrid luck!'

Akiol hopped off the cart and stood between the creature and the merchant. Wharm watched in horror, "Get out of the way-!"

B-Doom!

Akiol kicked upwards against the chin of the creature. Its eyes went white as its body lifted into the air. The players holding the chains lurched forward and their grips slipped. It's entire body almost made a backflip from the force, but Akiol leapt forward and back-kicked the stomach of the creature, sending it crashing back into the destruction it made.

The land-angler creature rolled against the floor before collapsing onto some trees. A player held his hands to his head and looked at the fish and back to Akiol in shock, "Dude. . ."

"That was so sick!", another player picked himself off the dirt, "You sent the Gulper flying hahaha!"

"Brother did more than send it flying. Oh it was so cool! I wish I saw it happen from the front!", another laughed along.

Akiol pointed at the fish, "I didn't kill it, it's just knocked out. Didn't want to take your kill."

"Oh shit really?", a player looked back at the Gulper in shock, "It is still alive! Get back to work!"

Looking towards Akiol they seemed to examine his equipment before frowning, "I thought you were a Guidehand, but I guess not? Anyways thanks man, we really appreciate it!"

"Just protecting the cart.", Akiol remained humble.

"You sure did!", the player didn't argue and rushed with the others to finish off the Gulper.

Massaging his palm Akiol leapt back onto the cart and took his cross-legged position. Wharm seemed dumbfounded and looked towards the destruction, "Sir. . ."

Akiol interrupted him, "There's no need to be polite."

"I'm afraid I don't have thick enough skin to fulfill that request just yet. . . Sir Akiol. . . may I ask what Step you are?"

"Third."

"Third Step. . . .", Wharm couldn't come to terms with this information.

Pulling out his handkerchief Wharm patted his forehead and only when he put the handkerchief back did he finally register what he was told, "Third?! What's a Third Step doing protecting my little cart?"

Akiol tilted his head, "I said I would since you offered a ride."

"My humble merchant self could never afford a Third Step's help even if I were to successfully sell all my wares!"

"You have a lot of worries Wharm.", Akiol tried to reassure the merchant, "This is an equivalent exchange. I'm used to the danger."

"I-I suppose you are an adventurer. . ."

Rango gurgled and Wharm enthusiastically nodded, "Rango is right. I have to thank you. That creature would've eaten my cart whole!"

"It's no problem.", Akiol brushed it aside and looked back towards the players hunting the Gulper. 

They were clearly familiar with the Guidehands. Considering that one was able to recognize that Akiol wasn't one. Did the Guidehands have a recognizable feature on them? Like a badge or emblem?

There was mention of a Guidehand guide. . . maybe there was something on the forums. He would check later. Right now Akiol was particularly observant of his surroundings. 

'Is this guy really lucky or unlucky?' -Stars

"What do you mean?"

'If his cart wasn't stuck he probably wouldn't be in danger's way from the big land fish thing. Yet if he wasn't stuck he wouldn't have met you. . .' -Stars

"Perhaps it's both. I guess we'll see as time goes on. Apparently he hadn't suffered any trouble on the road thus far."

'Very strange.' -Stars

As they traveled Akiol could sense Wharm constantly adjusting his seating position. He seemed uncomfortable, as if tumbling with some sort of inner conflict. Akiol glanced his way and saw Wharm open his mouth a few times as if to say something but he stopped himself.

After an hour of silence Akiol finally spoke, "Are you okay?"

"O-Of course I am Sir. . ."

"If you wish to take a break we can."

"That's- not at all! I just. . . I simply am unsure if you'd be okay with me asking a few questions. . ."

"Ask away, I won't answer questions I don't like but I won't hold it against you."

Wharm cleared his throat, "As a Third Step shouldn't you be affiliated with any organization? Whether it's a Sect or the Mercenaries. . ."

"I'm an adventurer, I'm not familiar with a lot of these things so I haven't tangled myself with them."

"R-Right, but surely as a Third Step you've been approached at least? I've heard Third Steps are in high demand!"

There wasn't a lot of Third Stages in the central continent. Unless the major Guilds had kept away their own Third Stage combatants, Akiol hadn't found any outside of his initial circle. . . and Dot.

Are Third Stages more common or less common over at the West? Is their high demand because every player that ascended to Third Stage was rapidly recruited? 

"Are they?", Akiol continued to be honest with his lack of information, "I thought they would be more common."

"Common? I mean I suppose so, but their demand has yet to drop. The Sects especially."

If the Sects are the west version of Guilds shouldn't they be raising their own Third Stages? Do the people here have access to The Gated Arena for paths? 

"Do the Sects not raise their own Third Steps?", Akiol fished for more information.

"They do, but rumor has it the Sects tend to poach other Sect Third Steps."

That makes more sense. It's likely that that the top Guilds are providing better benefits to Third Stage players leaving the other Guilds try their hardest to replace the gap in forces with outside Third Stages. 

This feels a little short sighted. From what Akiol could tell reaching Third Stage was going to be the last common step for players. In the following year the amount of Third Stages is going to be heavily destructive. So why are they so desperate to recruit them now?

Akiol crossed his arms and pondered the situation. It was likely that the Guilds--no wait they're Sects--were gambling on the early Third Stages having talent to reach Fourth Stage. Undoubtedly those who entered Third Stage early had figured something out about ascending. Thus you could be considered a talent? Was this an investment for the future instead of monopolizing the limited Third Stage power? 

It was likely this is how it started. Yet as other Sects copied the talent poaching it created a gap of Third Stage strength, thus increasing the demand for Third Stage directly instead of talented individuals. 

How intriguing!

Wharm eyed Akiol and stumbled on his words, "Sir. . . Is-Is there any particular reason why you chose this road?"

"It was the closest one I found."

"Then is there a reason why you're in this area?"

"I had an incident regarding teleportation. I was sent to a random area, which is why I lost.", Akiol omitted some important information.

Not bothering to hide his sigh of relief Wharm suddenly felt more comfortable, "I was worried you offended some great power, or was hunting something dangerous."

"You don't have to worry about that. I'm not well known."

"Ahahaha.", Wharm was unsure how to respond to this.

Akiol fell back and laid on the covered crates. So far Wharm was proving to be a goldmine of information. So far there was a strange demand of Third Stage combatants. This strange organization known as the Guidehands Church. The Mercenaries. Along with the strange reputation of adventurers.

Suddenly he frowned.

If his assumption about the Sects being player Guilds was correct. . . then why was there a demand of Third Stage fighters? What about the Third Stage NPCs? What about Fourth Stage NPCs? Although hiring an NPC of such strength was costly, there shouldn't be an exaggerated gap. Especially since NPCs were usually stronger than the players of the same Stage.

"Wharm, are the non-Resurrectors Third Steps also recruited by the Sects?", Akiol asked.

"Eh? Non-Resurrectors? Us Mortals? Uh. . ."

Wharm fell into thought. A minute had passed before he answered.

"A Mortal Third Step? I haven't seen or heard about any."