A huge dragon-shaped building exuding a powerful aura. Josh was as impressed as he first was.
There were many people, most seemed to be heading to the training rooms via the side corridors. A grey-haired middle-aged man with a warm smile approached.
"Hello and welcome to the Draconic Palace! Is this your first visit?"
"Hey there, I received a message about a guild interview. I am supposed to meet a guy called Dario could you point me in the right direction?"
The man quickly confirmed the validity of the message before erupting into laughter.
"I'm not sure what is more impressive. That you managed to catch his eye or that you ignore who he is! He's in the Tower right now, but he should be coming back soon. Would you like to wait for him? How about trying our VR technology in the meantime?"
"Sure thing."
While the VR matchmaking seemed problematic it would beat just wasting time. Josh promptly logged in.
[Welcome back to the Draconic Palace!]
Josh chuckled, if they wanted it to seem Tower-like they had to make it more mischievous. Josh went for some more random fights. The result was as expected. Josh was destroyed over and over again.
A really cool thing was that this time he had the chance to fight against opponents that didn't use melee weapons. For instance, there were summoners, mages, archers, there was even one guy that only had a spiked shield. It seemed that Josh had to reevaluate the diversity of Climbers.
As usual, the opponents were only shadows hence it wasn't possible to determine their identity at first glance. Well, it was probably possible via the skills they were using, not that Josh could.
Josh only stopped when a yellow flashing icon appeared. It meant that someone IRL wanted to talk to him. Exiting he saw an excited Liam.
"So you're going to join us?! This is awesome!"
"Eh, no idea yet. It depends on what they offer me, to be honest."
"If they snob you, I'll beat them up myself! Worst case I'll keep training until I can! I heard about that Floor 6 Boss! How did you even figure something like that out?!"
"I simply wanted to see how high level it could go. I was just playing around because I was bored."
"Anyway, follow me, the Dragon is back! He'll meet you now!"
The Dragon? What's with the imposing name?
Josh was guided to an elevator. Then Liam waved his UW near a scanner. Words with a selection of floors appeared. He picked the -50 option. Underground, was it?
As they came out there was a huge cave-like domain. One extremely well-lit. Climbers could be seen walking around in full gear. That wasn't something you'd see on the surface most of the time.
Liam, remarking that Josh was still carrying the Imp tails, brought him to sell it all before heading toward the back of the place. There were big double doors with guess what…. dragons on it! As if they were worried about people forgetting who's lair it was haha.
Barely managing to push the heavy doors, Liam ushered Josh in.
"I brought him, Boss!"
Behind a lavish desk sat a man on a chair facing away from them. Josh couldn't discern any of his features.
"You can leave us, Liam."
The man waited for the sound of the door before speaking again.
"Do you know why I had you come here?"
"To practice your mysterious big boss character acting skills?"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA! Josh, I need to say it has been a long time since someone has been so casual in my presence. Let me try something."
That is when he started emitting an incredible quantity of mana. Enough to make the very air tremble somehow. He slowly turned around expecting to see Josh crumbling under the pressure. It was always the same for every newcomer they always….
But then he stopped suddenly. The so-called Dragon even stopped breathing for a short instant. In front of him was a smiling Josh. He was smiling! It was said that before the Dragon all cowered without exception, even the strongest of rankers.
Yet there he was. A man that had barely begun to climb the Tower. His back was straight, his knees didn't show a sign of giving up, he was calm and steady and most importantly intently looking directly at him.
"Y-you, how are you doing that?"
"Doing what?" This question perplexed Josh. He was just standing... He literally wasn't doing anything.
"N-never mind. I heard about your situation. To be honest, I'm ready to bet no other guild is ready to take you in. I'm inviting you to join us. We'll give you preferential treatment, as much as Liam. Also, we'll help you acquire a class. Most don't know this but there are rare items in the Tower that allow one to get a new class. What do you say?"
"So me joining is related to me getting a class?"
"No, we'll accept you now and help you get a class. I get the feeling someone with your mental fortitude will go far no matter what. You may never reach your full potential because you'll have missed a few skills from early leveling but it won't be a big loss. What do you think?"
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The Dragon couldn't help but grin knowing he was about to gain a strong addition to his guild. One that everyone had the foolishness to ignore. He would groom him personally and amaze the world with-
"I refuse."
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These words stunned the Dragon. What?! Why would he?!
"I won't pick a Class, no matter what. I am myself and that will be all. My Class IS Josh Malum. Thanks for the offer, however."
For Josh, the choice wasn't hard to make. He would remain true to himself no matter what. Good thing this was a private meeting. How many would have died from jealousy had they known?
There was a saying that managing to join an S rank guild instantly meant reaching the top. It was an objective truth: Wealth beyond beliefs. Fame so high it beat any idol ever. Status, as influential as the best connected of politicians... and power. Oh, especially power. The truest kind of power there was.
Becoming an S-Class ranker was everyone's dream. Here Josh was rejecting it. With a straight face. He wasn't showing any kind of reluctance either. He was showing a composure even the Dragon himself couldn't fathom.
The man couldn't help but see Josh in a different light. He could reject the dream of pretty much everyone out there!
"Josh, tell me. What is your goal in the Tower?"
Josh didn't even hesitate. He instantly and simply answered:
"I am reaching the top and getting that wish."
The dragon couldn't help but suck in a breath. "What if you aren't able to? What if you are not strong enough?"
"Then I'll train."
"What if your potential itself turns out to be lacking?"
"Then I'll just brute-force it with effort."
"What if your efforts don't pay off?"
"Then I'll find an alternative."
"What if there are no alternatives?"
"Hahahahahahaha."
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Josh simply started laughing like a madman. Making the Dragon himself become uneasy.
"I may be a newcomer but even I know of the Dimensional Tower. One that connects the many worlds. Even if we as humans are frail, weak, and ignorant…. there is bound to be an answer out there, don't you think?"
The Dragon was leading an S-Class guild and yet he himself didn't dare set his sight on the other worlds. They already had their hands full with the Tower itself. There were so many things they ignored. Josh was quite possibly crazy. No, indubitably so.
"Thanks for receiving me today. I have to agree it felt good, you didn't look down on me haha." Josh then turned tail preparing to leave.
That is when the Dragon had a crazy idea. One that he was sure would make his guild leader position rocky at the next meeting. But his instincts were screaming at him that he had to do this.
Unlike many others out there, he was and had always been a warrior. When he decided on something he would rush headfirst into it, without hesitating! He would deal with the consequences later.
"Josh, wait here for me, I'll be right back!"
He was leaving him in his office just like that? Josh was bored so he started inspecting the interior. The Dragon seemed to have been the instructor at a dojo before the Tower. He had medals and framed journal articles in a corner of the room. Subtle enough that it was mostly hidden if one wasn't sitting at the desk.
Josh could relate to such a character. No desire to particularly show off, but pride and fondness for the past. Well, that was a particularity of humans. After all, animals always were mostly concerned about the present. Only dumb humans really cared so much about the past and future. But Josh would never run away from such a nature.
That is when the man came back. He was carrying a few sheets of paper while grinning.
"Here, Josh. Sign this!"
Josh sat down at the desk and started going over each line carefully. The more he did read and the more he started wondering if this was a fake.
"T-this?! What is this?!"
"A contract! Between the Draconic Guild and you!"
Josh now instead started wondering if the man was having a stroke or a sudden bout of craziness. Josh finally finished browsing through it. This whole contract was surreal.
"Why?"
"Gut feeling, somehow I feel like it won't be a loss for us."
"HAHAHA Fine! I like your style!" Josh happily signed his name and even stamped his blood on it. From now on he had a relationship with the Draconic guild.
"Alright! You can ask Liam to guide you around the place! I'll bring this to the board meeting; these suit guys will be so pissed hahaha!"
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Josh couldn't help but nod while smiling. This was bound to create LOTS of waves. After all, it wasn't a guild membership contract that he had signed.
No, it was something way crazier. It was a contract between Josh as an individual and the entirety of Draconic. Dragonic, one of the strongest S-Rank guilds, now had an alliance with Josh...as equals.