OUT OF RANK

Five

Having run offhand about five kilometers, I still managed to catch a ride. But the guy who dropped me off had to turn the other way right outside the city. So he could only take me to the outskirts. And it's still better than walking as much as fifteen kilometers on foot.

I went out at the outskirts, as was agreed. I headed towards the center, because that was where the adventurers' association was located. Still, the city has not changed much, I expected to see a huge number of people in armor and some wyverns hovering overhead. But none of this happened, except that some strange ray hit the sky in the distance. Hmm, but there is just the center of the city. And what is convenient, so I definitely won’t get lost.

Approaching closer to the center, I realized that I was mistaken. The city has changed, and quite a lot. People with weapons scurried about everywhere, tents stood along the edges of the roadways, where merchants offered all sorts of things like swords, staves, etc. It seemed as if I had moved from the provinces directly to the center of Moscow.

And at the head of all this bedlam was a huge castle! Yes, the castle, these are the associations that this building caused in me. It was about twenty meters high and had something like shooting points at the corners, on which people in uniforms stood and examined the surroundings. It was also surrounded by a translucent dome. It seems to be some kind of defensive magic, and it will not work to slip through unnoticed. Apparently, this is the association.

It didn’t take long to find the entrance, because right in the center of this building were huge, no ... HUGE doors. Without thinking for a long time, he walked towards them. Already coming closer, I thought, how can I open them? I clearly don't have the strength to do so.

The answer came too quickly. As soon as I got within five meters of the gate, it began to open. Still, they are comfortable here.

But it’s obviously not worth delaying and admiring the views, something tells me that with the same simplicity with which they opened, they can close. And if at that moment I am in the opening, then I definitely will not be healthy. I picked up my pace and headed deeper into the building.

When I entered, a very bright light hit my face sharply, I involuntarily screwed up my eyes and covered them with my hands. But in just ten seconds, my eyes got used to it, and the light no longer seemed so bright. Blinking, I almost immediately realized what was its source. It was a huge "obelisk", literally floating in the center of a large hall and emitting a bright beam straight into the sky. Moreover, it passed directly through the roof of the building and did not affect it in any way. While I was enjoying the view, I did not even notice how a man in a formal suit approached me.

- Fascinating, isn't it? - he asked.

- BUT? I shuddered involuntarily. - Yes, it's fascinating, what is it?

"You really don't know?" This is a pylon of divine energy, thanks to it we can learn about the location of the new gates and partially suppress them, thereby slowing down their evolution,” he said with pride in his voice.

A pylon of divine energy? Very entertaining, I wonder if I steal it, what will happen to me for it? No, just kidding, where to steal, I won’t have time to approach him, they will immediately tie him up.

Are you on business with us? Or just come to admire?

- I'm on business. I need to pass a strength test, is this possible? - I hope I don’t have to hang around here for a whole week, otherwise I won’t have time to save money to pay for the ward, and I actually have nowhere to live.

Yes, of course, follow me. Payment after the procedure, are you familiar with the rates? By the way, my name is Rain, I'm the manager here.

“Very nice, my name is Pavel, and I have the money with me,” I said and took out the banknotes from my pocket.

“Fine, then I see no reason to linger, here we are,” he said and pointed towards the door located behind the pylon.

Passing by this obelisk, I felt a huge influx of energy into my body. It felt like I was drinking a barrel of warm tea. But, unfortunately, the effect passed very quickly. Is that how it should be? I did not become interested in this issue, yet it is not important now. And just passed by.

Approaching the door, I carefully opened it and found myself in a hall that looked more like some kind of workshop. There were devices unknown to me everywhere, a bunch of monitors and a very strange capsule in the center. According to estimates, an elephant can be safely placed there. I wonder what it's for? Probably, it serves as a meter of "strength".

“Stay here for a couple of minutes and wait. I need to leave, and you will receive the rest of the information through the speakers, ”Rain said and closed the door from the back.

I stayed like that for about three minutes. Damn, this is where it gets creepy. Fortunately, as soon as I thought about it, a voice from the speaker instructed me to approach the capsule and, when it opened, go inside.

So I did, there were no further commands, so I decided to sit in the “lotus” position, I think this will not affect the process in any way. Otherwise, I would have been informed immediately. They didn't let me relax for long.

“A test of your “strength” will now be launched, do not move, do not speak or try to influence the process in any way, this can harm you,” a dry female voice said straight from the speakers.

Well, I can do nothing, heh. Thinking about this, I began to feel slight vibrations in the air. Following them, some particles began to form around me, more like lightning bolts gathered in a heap. And I'm sure it won't hurt me? I hope they have everything under control. This went on for about a minute, and then all was quiet. Is that all?

— Dear, I ask you to get up and leave the capsule. You can find out about the results of the check at the registration desk for new members of the association.

“Well, since you’re asking, why not,” I thought and went towards the exit. Once in the main hall, I very quickly found the very bar and went to it. It's too noisy in here.

“Dear, we cannot increase your rank, your power level does not reach the required minimum!”

But I have a family! I can handle! I promise you! I need to upgrade my rank to at least D, please! - a thin boy, who looked about twenty years old, screamed heart-rendingly.

"If you don't leave now, I'll have to call security!" the girl at the counter yelled back.

— Come on, all of you! - said the guy and rushed towards the exit.

- How often does this happen here? I asked the girl as I walked closer to the counter.

- BUT? What? Oh sorry, I was thinking. What did you ask? She shifted her gaze and, batting her eyelashes, looked in my direction.

- Nothing, let's go. I just passed the test and would like to know my rank.

- Yes, of course, but first I have to ask you to pay for the service in the amount of ten thousand rubles. If you don't have money at the moment, you can come any other day and pay for it. We will save your verification information.

“Here, hold on, is there anything else you want from me?” - I decided to clarify and put two banknotes with a face value of five thousand rubles on the counter.

Seeing the money, the girl literally swept it off the shelf with a quick movement and put it somewhere under the table. Then she took out a form, handed it to me and asked me to fill out a questionnaire. I did this in just five minutes. The questions were standard, like: “How old are you? Where do you live? What's your education?". As soon as I returned the questionnaire to her, she asked me to wait a bit and went somewhere out the door. She returned already with some kind of bundle, more like a scroll of parchment, and with a displeased grin on her face. I wonder what it's for?

- Pavel, take this - this is your scroll of identification. It contains all the information about your check. It is not necessary to keep it. Copies are in our association, it is more for general information. And here is your card with identification number and class. It's tied to your energy, so it's impossible to fake it,” she said, and handed me a plastic card the size of a driver's license.

Thanks, can I go? - I decided to clarify, you never know.

— Yes, you are free, have a nice day and good luck.

- And you! I said goodbye and waved to her.

So, what is my rank? I looked at the card and my eyes literally popped out of my head.

- WHAT?! — This cannot be!