The Primal Hunter

The Hall Master stood frozen as she slowly turned around. What she saw was a scaled man, looking more human than reptilian. He wore a simple looking black robe and had what she could only describe as a big goofy smile on his lips. His long black hair tied behind his head, revealing his green eyes.

He looked unimpressive, but the aura that he gave off was more powerful than anything she had ever come across. It felt like she stood before the incarnation of death and decay itself. Yet she felt not a shred of fear. The only feeling that inhabited her body was pure joy, combined with a massive dose of nervousness.

“M… master! You have returned! I… I…” the Lord Protector stammered as tears started streaming down his face. He had waited for so long, far longer than any other being in the Order of the Malefic Viper… and he was also the only living member that had ever met the Viper before in person. Well, except for the Viper’s disciple, but that guy was a bit looney.

With a step, the Malefic Viper appeared before the Lord Protector, and to the Hall Master’s surprise, gave him a big hug.

“I am sorry little one; it must have been hard for you. You’ve done well,” the Viper said as he rubbed the head of the Lord Protector, who was now fully bawling his eyes out.

The Hall Master could only stand there frozen as she observed. The high and mighty Lord Protector, crying his eyes out, and the Malefic Viper, a being she had only ever heard of in legends, consoling him like he was a small child. She had dreamed of the Malefic Vipers return for so long, but this scenario had never been one she had imagined.

“So, Snappy, who is this young lady?” The Viper finally asked as he stepped away from the Lord Protector, who quickly managed to calm himself down.

The Hall Master was now even more beside herself as both the gods turned their attention to her.

“Ah, this is the newest Hall Master of the Order; she is more or less the highest-ranking member of the order as we only have this one hall remaining. I believe she is the descendant of one of the Ladies of the Verdant Lagoon,” The Lord Protector said, as he had now managed to entirely compose himself, returning to his more stoic demeanor that he usually displayed.

“Oh, those girls. That brings back some memories. Good to see they left some nice descendants with the order. Wonder what they’re up to these days,” the Malefic Viper said, as he stepped closer to the frozen Hall Master. “So, what are you called?”

The Hall Master, now suddenly thrown out of her stupor, managed to get out: “My name? Viridia, my lord!” She said as she did everything she could to compose herself. “May I have the honor of welcoming the Malefic One back to the Order, and apologize for our inadequate performance in the Patron’s absence! I swear on my life that-“

“Woah! Stop, stop, stop! I just asked for your name, that is all. You have nothing to apologize for, geez. I am the one who should apologize to you if anyone was going to. But I already apologized to little Snappy earlier, and I don’t make two apologies in a day, so we can’t have that. Just relax, okay? Everything is fine. The fact that the order is still even around is more than impressive in its own right,” the Malefic Viper said as he raised his hand and gave her a pat on her head, pretty much just petting her.

With a smile, Snappy went over to them and asked: “May I know why Master chose this time to make his return?” but instantly realized that it might have come off wrong. “Not that there is anything wrong with making your return now! It is great, in fact! I am just thinking that with the new universe being integrated and everything. If there was some relation, that’s all!”

“Snappy. Relax.” The Viper shook his head as he turned and landed a gentle chop on the Lord Protectors' head. “And yes, it's entirely related to the new universe. Remember that dungeon I made back in preparation for the second era?”

“The one with the spikes?” the Lord Protector asked. If he recalled, that was the only dungeon yet uncleared. He hadn't lived when it was made, but the Viper had spoken of it in length.

“Yep, that one. Someone actually cleared it.”

“Oh! Did Master make a new worthy follower!? Perhaps a great reward was granted for your new followers’ performance in the tutorial?” Snappy said with glee but instantly frowned. “Wait, that can’t be. The tutorials have yet to conclude.”

“I didn’t make a follower, no,” he answered with a giant goofy smile. “Believe it or not, I think I made a friend!”

As Jake opened his notifications screen, he was instantly assaulted by a stream of messages.

Novice Leatherworker – lvl 10] – A small amount of bonus experience earned

11] A small amount of bonus

lvl 28 / Novice Builder – lvl 12] – A small amount of bonus experience earned for killing an enemy with

Neophyte Ice Witch - lvl 30 / Novice Tailor lvl 11] – A small amount of bonus experience earned for killing

– A small amount of bonus experience earned for killing an enemy with a class above

Class: [Archer] has reached level 21 -

reached level 22 - Stat points allocated,

Race: [Human (E)] has reached level 33 - Stat points allocated, +5 free

[Archer] has reached level 23 -

at the messages. Three whole levels in his class from the relatively short fight. It was almost criminally

three million. They had increased more than 7-fold. From the rules, he knew that he had obtained half

However, he wasn’t sure

Ice Witch. Neophyte made one think it was low-level or that she was just beginning to step on that paths; perhaps Ice Witches were just a really high-tier class? She had been a bit strong, but she was far off compared to the metal caster. Too bad he had failed to kill him to see

Prodigious Alchemist of the Malefic Viper. An unusual adjective before the class seemed to indicate that it was somehow a bit

of professions, theirs were extremely uninteresting. All were just novice ranks. Though Jake did confirm the existence of

and dwell on what the hell was happening or

between strength and agility. He still felt that he was either weaker or on par with others despite his significantly higher race level. He knew that evolved classes

meditation. He hadn’t been down for long, but he had managed to regenerate a bit of stamina and mana. He was honestly wondering if he even needed sleep anymore. He hadn’t felt the need since exiting the challenge dungeon. In

the big sword dropped by the warrior. It was quite simple-looking but had a relatively nice-looking green gem

A sword crafted from metal often found in areas with high concentrations of nature-attuned mana. Through the ages, this sword has been filled with the energy of nature itself, giving it the ability to bless its wielder. Enchantments: Energy of Natures Strength: Absorb and assimilate the

Level 20 in any class

This blade was likely the reason for the man’s class and

the sword was good. Jake couldn’t help but pick it up. It was a bit heavy, but nothing he couldn’t handle. The energy from the warrior was still lingering within the blade, so Jake decided to let it be for now. He could feel it slowly dissipating as he looked at it, after all. In only a few minutes, he should be able to

dropped loot like in games, but humans sure did. He could take their equipment. It felt dirty and dishonorable… but Jake felt like it

for trying to stay alive. He thought to himself. Unless the said person had killed them, of course. So, these dead would kind

plenty of space in his spatial storage, and with the armor self-repairing, he saw no reason not to keep it. Luckily, he didn’t have to strip the dead man, as

to the Ice Witch and identified her items too. He tried to be fast about it, as he honestly still felt very uncomfortable looking at the dead body. The robe was common-rarity like the warriors and his own. She also had a common-rarity wand

ring with a gem crafted by a skilled jeweler. The mana in the gem grants the user increased mental stats. Enchantment: +10 Intelligence, +10

in any

without thinking, instantly regretting it as the woman was now half-naked with only ragged clothes beneath

the dungeon and covered her body. It was as much for himself as for her. He had already decided to burn the corpses, partly as thanks for the equipment, and partly out of a weird sense of respect and to honor them putting up a good fight.

the archer, he took out the ring and started injecting mana into it until he felt a connection form and the warm flow of stats increasing. By that time, he had already arrived

off to the side. He had dropped his bow when Jake had first shot him, and while the blade was still

bow handed out for the Tutorial, now upgraded with a token. Has a robust wooden

Tutorial Attendee and Archer