Limits.

I ran as fast as I could, in the dark tunnel . The herd of Corpse Dogs behind, was still chasing but I managed to get further away . What welcomed me at the front, was another herd of Corpse Dogs . I ran straight into them with the maximum force, just like Sh.e.l.ly used to do . My body was much more st.u.r.dy than it was before, and I had the Domineering Aura released as well .

I ploughed through many Corpse Dogs, before jumped up a bit and landing on a few of them . I slashed my daggers furiously while running forwards . I had little s.p.a.ce but thanks to my Natural Path skill, I could use even the smallest of gaps to squeeze past . I could already see the light at the end of the tunnel . "Finally an exit!" I thought and slashed like a mad man . There were no skills involved, I only had time to use simple slashes . Some of the Corpse Dogs managed to land a few hits on me as well . This meant, I wasn"t going to come out unscaved .

A bit more slashing and running later, I finally managed to get outside . What I saw there, was scary . 100s, no, maybe even a 1000 of Corpse Dogs waiting outside . "This is truly bad . I need to get out of here, fast!" I thought and slashed more . The Corpse Dogs outside started to hurl at me, as if I was the tasties food walking on this earth . The normal Corpse Dogs were not much of a thread, as their strength was too inferior to cause any real damage . The problem were the Variants . Some, more healthy Corpse Dogs, were mixed in with the crowd . I had no time to look for them or avoid their locations . I simply focused on running away and clearing anything, that blocked my path .

With more slashing and getting even more injured, I finally broke out from the encirclement . "Finally!" I exclaimed loudly and started running towards the Dead Forest . I was already tired and the injuries on my body didn"t help . I ran at my full speed, but the Corpse Dogs were still chasing . It would take a while for me to lose them .

I ran and ran and ran, until I finally ran out of energy . I looked back and saw nothing . "Hah . . . Hah . . . Hah… That was close . I managed to get away somehow . 1000 of them my a.s.s, you stupid Avians! If they could mobilise that kind of army outside of one entrance, I believe that there should be at least 4 times as many of them" I said to myself . Those were mostly normal Corpse Dogs as well . Elites were still protecting the Den, at least that was my guess .

I had to take care of my injuries first . I used some medicine on my wounds and wrapped them with cloths . The injuries I sustained were quite substantial but it wasn"t something, a dose of medicine and time wouldn"t heal . "I am not going back there . I need to speak to those Avians first . This deal is not satisfactory to me" I thought and rested a bit more .

When my wounds got better and I restored most of my energy, I moved towards the Vulture Cliffs again . I went back to the same place, where I met with Avians for the first time . The swarm was visible as usual, I decided to wait . After a while, I saw about 10 Avians approaching me . They landed not far away and I moved towards them .

It was the same Avian again, who came to the front and asked "You didn"t destroy the Den yet . Why are you here?" . I responded "I don"t like your deal, your information was also flawed" . The Avian seemed a bit shocked and asked "What do you mean?" . I slowly replied "You said that there are about 1000 of them in the Den . I believe the number to be at least 4 times as big . This would make it at least 4000 of them . No doubt you can see my injuries . I was barely able to escape with my life from a horde of Corpse Dogs" .

The Avian turned towards his companions and spoke with them . I waited patiently for them to finish . After a while, the Avian turned towards me and said "If what you say is true, then we do apologise . The leader of those d.a.m.ned Corpse Dogs, is not that stupid . What do you propose, human?" .

I said "I have a way of destroying them all completely but your deal is not worth it . If those dogs are allowed to breed and reach numbers twice, if not 3 times their current numbers, you will be d.a.m.ned" . The Avians didn"t like my comment and said "We don"t appreciate the threat but the danger is real . What is that method you spoke of?" .

I looked at him, as if looking at an idiot and said "Do you really think, I will just tell you, like that?" . The Avian got a bit more angry and asked "What do you want then?" . I said "I want unique stuff . Something that will help me develop my skills . I also want an entry to the Vulture Cliffs but I want to know beforehand, what is inside there" .

The Avian turned around and spoke to his companions again . In a short while, he turned towards me and said "We can"t make the decision by ourselves . I have to talk with the King . Wait here, I will return shortly" . He then lifted into the air and left . The other Avians stayed behind .

I didn"t try to make a conversation . I was the one saving their a.s.ses and telling them about all of this . In a few years, they would be overrun with Corpse Dogs, and many would die . There was also the possibility of losing the current territory, that belonged to them . The Avian that returned to the swarm, took his time . I stood there waited for a long time at that point . When I looked at the swarm, I finally saw some movements but it wasn"t any normal movement… pretty much the whole swarm was moving towards me .

The Avians started landing left and right . Some seemed to be much more imposing, than the Avian I talked with before . They surrounded me completely but none of them got too close to me . Then a female Avian landed in front of me with couple of male Avians by her side . The previous Avian I talked with, was not there . I took a look at the female Avian and noticed that her feathers were much brighter and seemed to be whiteish in colour . She was obviously different from the rest . The male Avians on both her sides, were also a bit different . Bigger than others and had very dark feathers .

The female Avian took a step forward and said "I"m the King of Avians" . I looked at her and said "Shouldn"t your t.i.tle be Queen though?" . She shook her head and said "The t.i.tle doesn"t change, no matter what gender the leader possesses" . I nodded my head and asked "Did you guys think about my demands?" .

She responded "Yes, they are very beneficial to us, if what you said is true . We can"t do much to those dogs underground, we can only hunt them when they crawl out of their holes" . I responded "I know that already . You guys are not very well adapted to ground based fights . Walking causes you trouble as well" . The Avians gathered around, didn"t seem to like me saying that out loud . I could sort of understand, it was their weaknesses . The King of Avians waved her hand and all went quiet .

She said "That is true . Human, let me ask you this one question . Why are you helping us really?" . I looked at her and thought "I just wanted to enter the Vulture Cliffs . Although, I guess I had hidden agenda . I wanted to study the Avians as well as whatever is inside . This could help me develop my skills . I want to know what they are hiding" .

I said "I want to learn your skills . I want to explore whatever is guarded so strongly inside . I want to know your secrets" . The Avians around me seemed shocked at first but then, I felt immense amount of eyes, staring with hatred at me . The King of Avians thought for a while and said "At least you"ve answered truthfully . How do you know we have any secrets? Did someone tell you something?" .

I said "Are you worried that I will steal something from you? No, no one told me about your race . I just guessed, that you are protecting something . I don"t know what that something is, I simply want to learn more . I have no intentions of stealing anything of yours or harming you" . She thought about it some more and nodded her head . "Then we have a deal" .I ran as fast as I could, in the dark tunnel . The herd of Corpse Dogs behind, was still chasing but I managed to get further away . What welcomed me at the front, was another herd of Corpse Dogs . I ran straight into them with the maximum force, just like Sh.e.l.ly used to do . My body was much more st.u.r.dy than it was before, and I had the Domineering Aura released as well . I ploughed through many Corpse Dogs, before jumped up a bit and landing on a few of them . I slashed my daggers furiously while running forwards . I had little s.p.a.ce but thanks to my Natural Path skill, I could use even the smallest of gaps to squeeze past . I could already see the light at the end of the tunnel . Finally an exit! I thought and slashed like a mad man . There were no skills involved, I only had time to use simple slashes . Some of the Corpse Dogs managed to land a few hits on me as well . This meant, I wasnt going to come out unscaved . A bit more slashing and running later, I finally managed to get outside . What I saw there, was scary . 100s, no, maybe even a 1000 of Corpse Dogs waiting outside . This is truly bad . I need to get out of here, fast! I thought and slashed more . The Corpse Dogs outside started to hurl at me, as if I was the tasties food walking on this earth . The normal Corpse Dogs were not much of a thread, as their strength was too inferior to cause any real damage . The problem were the Variants . Some, more healthy Corpse Dogs, were mixed in with the crowd . I had no time to look for them or avoid their locations . I simply focused on running away and clearing anything, that blocked my path . With more slashing and getting even more injured, I finally broke out from the encirclement . Finally! I exclaimed loudly and started running towards the Dead Forest . I was already tired and the injuries on my body didnt help . I ran at my full speed, but the Corpse Dogs were still chasing . It would take a while for me to lose them . I ran and ran and ran, until I finally ran out of energy . I looked back and saw nothing . Hah . Hah . Hah… That was close . I managed to get away somehow . 1000 of them my a.s.s, you stupid Avians! If they could mobilise that kind of army outside of one entrance, I believe that there should be at least 4 times as many of them I said to myself . Those were mostly normal Corpse Dogs as well . Elites were still protecting the Den, at least that was my guess . I had to take care of my injuries first . I used some medicine on my wounds and wrapped them with cloths . The injuries I sustained were quite substantial but it wasnt something, a dose of medicine and time wouldnt heal . I am not going back there . I need to speak to those Avians first . This deal is not satisfactory to me I thought and rested a bit more . When my wounds got better and I restored most of my energy, I moved towards the Vulture Cliffs again . I went back to the same place, where I met with Avians for the first time . The swarm was visible as usual, I decided to wait . After a while, I saw about 10 Avians approaching me . They landed not far away and I moved towards them It was the same Avian again, who came to the front and asked You didnt destroy the Den yet . Why are you here? . I responded I dont like your deal, your information was also flawed . The Avian seemed a bit shocked and asked What do you mean? . I slowly replied You said that there are about 1000 of them in the Den . I believe the number to be at least 4 times as big . This would make it at least 4000 of them . No doubt you can see my injuries . I was barely able to escape with my life from a horde of Corpse Dogs . The Avian turned towards his companions and spoke with them . I waited patiently for them to finish . After a while, the Avian turned towards me and said If what you say is true, then we do apologise . The leader of those d.a.m.ned Corpse Dogs, is not that stupid . What do you propose, human? . I said I have a way of destroying them all completely but your deal is not worth it . If those dogs are allowed to breed and reach numbers twice, if not 3 times their current numbers, you will be d.a.m.ned . The Avians didnt like my comment and said We dont appreciate the threat but the danger is real . What is that method you spoke of? . I looked at him, as if looking at an idiot and said Do you really think, I will just tell you, like that? . The Avian got a bit more angry and asked What do you want then? . I said I want unique stuff . Something that will help me develop my skills . I also want an entry to the Vulture Cliffs but I want to know beforehand, what is inside there . The Avian turned around and spoke to his companions again . In a short while, he turned towards me and said We cant make the decision by ourselves . I have to talk with the King . Wait here, I will return shortly . He then lifted into the air and left . The other Avians stayed behind . I didnt try to make a conversation . I was the one saving their a.s.ses and telling them about all of this . In a few years, they would be overrun with Corpse Dogs, and many would die . There was also the possibility of losing the current territory, that belonged to them . The Avian that returned to the swarm, took his time . I stood there waited for a long time at that point . When I looked at the swarm, I finally saw some movements but it wasnt any normal movement… pretty much the whole swarm was moving towards me . The Avians started landing left and right . Some seemed to be much more imposing, than the Avian I talked with before . They surrounded me completely but none of them got too close to me . Then a female Avian landed in front of me with couple of male Avians by her side . The previous Avian I talked with, was not there . I took a look at the female Avian and noticed that her feathers were much brighter and seemed to be whiteish in colour . She was obviously different from the rest . The male Avians on both her sides, were also a bit different . Bigger than others and had very dark feathers . The female Avian took a step forward and said Im the King of Avians . I looked at her and said Shouldnt your t.i.tle be Queen though? . She shook her head and said The t.i.tle doesnt change, no matter what gender the leader possesses . I nodded my head and asked Did you guys think about my demands? . She responded Yes, they are very beneficial to us, if what you said is true . We cant do much to those dogs underground, we can only hunt them when they crawl out of their holes . I responded I know that already . You guys are not very well adapted to ground based fights . Walking causes you trouble as well . The Avians gathered around, didnt seem to like me saying that out loud . I could sort of understand, it was their weaknesses . The King of Avians waved her hand and all went quiet . She said That is true . Human, let me ask you this one question . Why are you helping us really? . I looked at her and thought I just wanted to enter the Vulture Cliffs . Although, I guess I had hidden agenda . I wanted to study the Avians as well as whatever is inside . This could help me develop my skills . I want to know what they are hiding . I said I want to learn your skills . I want to explore whatever is guarded so strongly inside . I want to know your secrets . The Avians around me seemed shocked at first but then, I felt immense amount of eyes, staring with hatred at me . The King of Avians thought for a while and said At least youve answered truthfully . How do you know we have any secrets? Did someone tell you something? . I said Are you worried that I will steal something from you? No, no one told me about your race . I just guessed, that you are protecting something . I dont know what that something is, I simply want to learn more . I have no intentions of stealing anything of yours or harming you . She thought about it some more and nodded her head . Then we have a deal .