The Primal Hunter

“Okay… no talking about bloodlines…” Jake said, a bit hesitant but not arguing back.

They both sat in silence for a while before the Viper spoke again. “But… it does explain quite a few things…”

“What do you mean?”

“About this entire tutorial of yours. This tutorial was more than a little… unique. Eversmile said that it was ‘ruined’, but I think ‘changed’ would be a better word.”

“… again, what do you mean?”

The Malefic smiled at him as he leaned back. “I guess we should talk about it… so let me tell you a story Jake… about a particular tutorial during the integration of the 93rd Universe.

“In this story, we have two main characters - one who enters with his nine colleagues, and one who enters on his lonesome. The lonesome one quickly finds his stride as he discovers a wand and kills the ones he entered with. This shall be the impetus for him to realize his destiny.

“As for the other, he struggles a bit more. But he has some competent people around him who help him in the start. But already on the first day, it goes wrong when a large beast attacks them, and they lose two.”

Jake looked confused as he interrupted. “That isn’t what happened, we-“

“This isn’t your story Jake, so stop interrupting,” the Viper said with a playful smile. “This is the story of what was to happen. A story of fate and destiny.

“Now, where was I? Oh yeah, two dead colleagues. Anyway, they struggle to survive and end up making camp to rest for the night. One of our protagonist’s colleagues sits watch alone for a while as they try to get sleep. But the night would not turn out to be a restful one.

“Three attackers appear in the night, and despite his efforts, the one on watch dies. Jacob mourns as he has lost three friends that day. Dennis, Lina, and Jake.”

Now even more confused, Jake did all he could not to interrupt, as he had even forgotten the bottle of beer in his hand.

“They fight off the ambushers but take injuries. They are soon found by a man named Richard and his lieutenant Nicholas. Half-coerced, they join him."

After that, the Viper pretty much summarised what had happened to his colleagues while he was in the dungeon. How they had struggled and how many had died as they were split up. But there were some differences that Jake quickly noticed…

“I killed Nicholas,” he said, instantly giving an apologetic look as he had interrupted.

“That you did, Jake. You not being dead at this point sure screws up the story, right? Anyway, let me continue.

“Now, our second protagonist is our old friend William. The chosen one. Born with an incredible innate talent for mana manipulation and a mentality very suited for one striving for the top. Ruthless and determined.

“But he is also broken in many ways. He is arrogant, delusional, and most importantly, he is limited in comprehending the world. He does not understand emotions, which will come back to bite him in the ass down the line but is very beneficial in the early days.

“Ah, but I wouldn’t worry because the screenwriter will fix this through some character development. The screenwriter, Eversmile, will pay off other divine actors, and they will outsource to their mortal counterparts in the tutorial. Make sure he develops in the intended direction. Gets the things he needs when he needs them.

manipulates William, Richard himself is slowly being manipulated by his former

Viper then once more summarized what happened after he left the dungeon. Again, with slight changes that the god made sure to point out. When

far too long. In this version, William is also betrayed because Nicholas fears his power, and he ends up fleeing the battlefield - wounded but still alive and able to keep up his leveling

this play, which is why the fight is

and forces the second protagonist Jacob to still work for him and keep everyone in line. Those who step out of line are openly

Augur. He begins to truly lead the camp as he grows in levels, with even Nicholas coming to respect him as a spiritual guide, with Jacob happy to remain a supporting

before, he slaughters every single fighter in the camp, Nicholas included. He did not come for the

end, is allowed to save the souls of the crafters. After that, he is ‘killed’ and

sole survivor of the tutorial. With the quest

spent far more resources than reasonable but getting a disciple out of it, the Holy Mother an Augur and your pal Casper still an undead. Counting the bodyguard of the Augur, Bertram, only four survivors out of 1200

how it went,” Jake

What fate had in store, and what had been divined by the most powerful of gods. Yet introduce one new element, one

the night he was supposed to. Holding a bloodline that was not part of what was divined, and the will and determination to shatter

this tutorial to get what they wanted? Or at least tried to?” Jake asked, more than

much,” the

that whole destiny or fate crap,” Jake said, wondering out loud. “If a single variable, a single

the system, they tend to often be correct. Especially when some are satisfied surrendering themselves to their fates once they know it. Or go one step further, and try to

would happen and made slight changes to get what they wanted. Sacrificed pawns and played their game. Jacob being a willing pawn. This is likely why he could

work to realize it. And when fate is

my own decision? How do I know I am not just following some fate or destiny that you created for me, and

to guide you down some preset path I want you to walk. That isn’t how friendship works. I can give you tips and advice, but I will never tell you what to do. The reason why I gave you Shroud

powerful of gods can possibly influence it. You will be a constant spanner in their carefully constructed machine of fate. Every single one of your actions will fuck it up to the level of them

a bunch of gods just by

powerful ones, such as the Holy Mother, only tend to follow fate and use it as a tool to judge who is worthy of uplifting

return to Earth too? Won’t that mean that Eversmile fellow will keep fucking with things there to try and… wait, what does he even

is that annoyed at what happened here today. In his mind, it will just

with…” Jake

a

that, Jake, is why I have never cared much for the concepts of fate and destiny. Because the actors that truly matter are unconfined by it, they are the ones who go above and beyond what their destiny has in store. Not a single god has ever been divined to godhood, not

C-grade. Hundreds after that by seers, soothsayers, augurs. One after another,

Keep telling destiny how much of a little bitch it is, and reach for

giving a shit about it. You do you, and I think you’ll be just fine. Learn

assist from me. Just put William out of your mind and focus on what you need

in a good day’s work,” Jake said, smiling. “Thanks, man… I needed to get

your best-bud-god is for,” the Viper said, returning the

been bothering me for a very long time,” Jake