The Primal Hunter

Shadows danced on the cave wall as the flame flickered back and forth heating a bowl with green liquid within it, taking on a stable form. With a smile, Jake took a deep breath of the aroma as a notification appeared.

*You have successfully crafted [Stamina Potion (Inferior)] – A new kind of creation has been made. Bonus experience earned*

*’DING!’ Profession: [Prodigious Alchemist of the Malefic Viper] has reached level 45 - Stat points allocated, +5 free points*

*’DING!’ Race: [Human (E)] has reached level 34 - Stat points allocated, +5 free points*

Jake had finally managed to craft a stamina potion. It was a bit weird that he felt so much happiness from making something of inferior-rarity considering him pumping out common-rarity poisons like it was nothing. But it was still very satisfying nevertheless.

Looking at his creation, he was quite pleased.

[Stamina Potion (Inferior)] – Restores 485 stamina when consumed.

He couldn’t help but think back on the first mana potion he had crafted. It would only restore 87 mana, which was so bad. He still had the potion saved away within his spatial storage, as a memento. He somehow had managed not to consume it during his initial grind, and for sentimental reasons, he kept it around. It reminded him of how far he had come.

Putting the potion into his storage, he took out a bed instead. It was a bit paradoxical how physical exertion seemed not to affect Jake's exhaustion level, but reading about alchemy and doing alchemy seemed to tire him out so quickly.

He felt like getting some well-deserved rest and recuperate his resource and mental energy in the meanwhile.

Sitting on the lonely bed in the middle of the small cavern, he distributed his free points. He had decided to start investing in perception once more as he was beginning to feel comfortable with his level of strength and agility. Besides, he was closing in on his class evolution, which was sure to help his more combat-related stats immensely.

Opening his status screen, he nodded to himself at the progress. It wasn’t overly much, but he was slowly and surely improving. His main goal, of course, was to evolve his class as fast as possible.

Status

Name: Jake Thayne

Race: [Human (E) – lvl 34]

Class: [Archer – lvl 23]

Profession: [Prodigious Alchemist of the Malefic Viper – lvl 45]

Health Points (HP): 3182/3220

Mana Points (MP): 2587/3900

Stamina: 516/1150

Stats

Strength: 124

Agility: 145

Endurance: 115

Vitality: 322

Toughness: 166

Wisdom: 390

Intelligence: 126

Perception: 277

Willpower: 195

Free points: 0

Patriarch], [Forerunner of the New World],[Holder of a Primordial’s True Blessing], [Dungeoneer I], [Dungeon Pioneer

[Basic Stealth (Inferior)], [Advanced Archery (Common)], [Archers Eye (Common)], [Powershot (Uncommon)], [Basic Twin Fang

Poison (Common)], [Alchemist’s Purification (Common)], [Alchemical Flame (Common)], [Toxicology (Uncommon)], [Cultivate Toxin (Uncommon)], [Malefic Viper’s Poison (Rare)], [Palate of the Malefic Viper (Rare)], [Touch of the Malefic Viper (Rare)],[Sense of the Malefic Viper

the Malefic Viper (Blessing -

[Endless Tongues of the Myriad Races (Unique)], [Identify (Common)], [Meditate (Common)], [Shroud of the Primordial

Primal Hunter (Bloodline Ability

to see that his physical stats were no longer

of mana had seen vast improvements

upon use, and the occasional levitation work. Of course, this was outside of alchemy. But

of this. The aura Jake felt from the man reminded him more of stamina than mana. Yet the effect it had achieved was roughly the same as what Jake guessed a mana-based skill

if it were anything like his Alchemical Flame or just general mixing skills from his

could fight in top-condition, Jake guessed it was draining a hell of

a bit giddy at the thought of getting something like the warrior had used. Especially if he could get one that used mana,

later. For

once more, he laid back on the bed as he rested - his first real sleep since exiting the challenge dungeon. While meditation did wonders, possibly even

and his family, which was pretty much all he had, really. The dream felt oddly lucid and only made Jake… sad. He couldn’t help but feel how wasted it all was, how he had just gone through the motions, day after day with

of his job, he didn’t really lack money. He was relatively frugal, to begin with, so he always had enough money to buy anything he ever really wanted. The only real ambition he ever

huge milestone. He never really had an existential

prospects of a never-ending journey. Before the system, everyone had a rough idea of how their life would go. Be born, get educated, work, retire, die. It was simple, and the focus was on how you made the best of the time you

away with that entirely. Taking the concept of finite life and throwing it straight in the garbage. Jake could feel it even now, and the Malefic Viper's existence had proven that

level-up, not just some temporary benefit like some extra money in your bank account but a permanent upgrade to who you are. An advantage that could potentially stay with you

Because he did have something that he wanted except seeking more challenges and more levels, he wanted to find his family and help certain people in the

most of the tutorial and had had little time to think in general. Always focusing on something. But now, in his lucid dream, he

and try to help his colleagues. Help his only friends...especially Jacob. He had done so much for Jake already, the least he could do was not to leave him to die... if he even still lived. Jake

lucid state and simply became a spectator to the imaginations of his own mind. He dreamt of events he had gone to, the bonds

away, or perhaps he simply became unaware of

panicked as she was at this moment. Wandering back and forth in her chambers, lost as to what

been as she expected. Despite her endless imaginations of their encounter, the way the actual meeting went had never occurred even in her wildest dreams. The great Malefic Viper had not been as she believed he would

important members to the headquarter, and a great meeting would be held. It was both a meeting and a celebration of the

disappointing the Malefic Viper and the Lord Protector, now she was also deathly afraid of the branch-leaders’ reaction when the Malefic Viper would make

same time, she felt a tremendous amount of excitement. The return of the Viper was sure to mark the start of massive changes. The return to glory, if you may. The Order had once in its history been one of the most glorious organizations of the

one colossal headache, however. One relating to a particular mortal the Viper had spoken

asked, with a

yeah, you know… a buddy - a mate. You would like him for sure Snappy,” the Malefic Viper said with a smile as he patted the Lord Protector

mean by a friend? Friendship indicated a certain degree of equality between two parties.

a friend?” The Lord Protector asked, clearly skeptical of the quite ludicrous sentiment. The Hall Master could only agree that the prospect of a mortal referring to a god as a friend indeed seemed preposterous. The only mortals that could ever truly do so were the strongest