The Primal Hunter

Jake stood on top of a large purple mushroom as he inhaled deeply, taking in the atmosphere. This cavern, which he had decided to now call a biodome, was truly interesting.

On the ground beneath him lay tens of dead insectoids. None had been a threat, but all of them insanely aggressive, nevertheless. The beasts above had either scurried off upon seeing him or at least been hesitant. These insects didn’t give a damn.

Which naturally resulted in their untimely demise. One charging mantis quickly attracted others to come out of the woodwork - or shroomwork in this case - and joined the charge. One charging mantis had quickly resulted in many dead mantises.

The strongest had been level 48, with the weakest at 26 - quite the disparity. Far more so than a dungeon would have, but then again, this area wasn’t as ‘designed’ as those were. Besides, Jake could feel that he hadn’t met the big boss of this biodome yet.

For the first time, he felt a bit of excitement. Maybe he could even find something worth fighting down here.

With those thoughts, he moved onwards. Slaughtering everything in his path as he went towards the center of the biodome.

On the way, he didn’t care for herbs as before. He only focused on the aura he felt. It was faint… but it was there.

A sword in one hand, a dagger in the other, he cleaved down mantis after mantis. Occasionally a centipede-like monster would appear, but they didn’t seem to be on friendly terms with the mantises either. Most of them were either injured or in the middle of being devoured.

The same was true for every other species than the mantises. This was clearly their territory. Their domain. A domain that had now been invaded by an enemy predator in the form of a human.

Soon he couldn’t strike the mantises down in a single blow anymore. Their levels were growing. From the early 50s to now being in the early 60s. Even the occasional one in the early 70s. Any of these mantises would be the apex predator only a few hundred meters above them.

But down here, they could only play second fiddle to the true lord of the biodome.

Jake jumped to one of the tallest mushrooms and stared down at the huge insect beneath him.

Its body was bright green, its eyes even shining slightly. Its two blades were more than three meters long, strong mandibles that looked like they could easily crush steel, and a level making it worthy of being the ruler here.

[Alpha Mantis Scyther – lvl 89]

Smiling, Jake looked down at it, making eye-contact. He had hoped to see a trace of intelligence as he had seen in all of the dungeon bosses. Yet, he found only disappointment. Not a single spark of intelligence was present; it was clearly nothing more than just a giant stupid insect.

A shame, he thought. Hopefully, it can make up for it in power.

Taking out his bow, a quiver appeared on his back simultaneously. At the same time, the mantis had now clearly noticed him also. And like all the others, it merely attacked.

Jake didn’t use Infused Powershot but instead opened with a Splitting Arrow.

In-flight, one arrow split into two dozen, the most considerable amount Jake had created so far with a single shot. Jake could see the arrows about to hit the mantis when he got his first pleasant surprise. Its back opened up, and out came two transparent sets of wings.

With a swift motion, it dodged all of the arrows as it continued its attack. Even faster than Jake had anticipated. Less than a second after he had fired the arrow, the alpha mantis was before him, its scythe cleaving down.

Jake took a step forward as he saw the mushroom be split in two behind him through his sphere. His step had naturally been the skill One Step Mile and had taken him down to the ground, close to where the mantis had been initially.

managed to fire off another arrow before the clearly confused insect managed to locate him. He hit it right in its midsection and saw the

had done little more than alert it to his position. With its more than six-meter tall body, it flew

he hit it another time before it reached him. And once more, he dodged it,

own. He didn’t doubt that if he got

with Jake dodging and the mantis frantically trying to cut him to pieces. Eventually, Jake began to get bored, as the insect hadn’t done jack shit to adapt. The only

hoped for it to have more. Maybe some kind of new skill or hidden ability. But… nothing. It was just slowly fighting a battle it clearly couldn’t

a sigh, Jake decided to end

One Step Mile

behind the mantis as he turned around, an arrow already nocked. The mantis was once more confused,

the Apex

its body freeze for a moment, not moving when it wanted to. And

Infused Powershot

an arrow that soared through the

in the chair, staring out at the serene pond. She saw the small eels swimming without a care in the world

the

he had lived in it far longer than Miranda or the others. Or actually been able

much more than hers. The most significant difference, however, was the disparity

employees. Over time she had begun to classify them mentally. Put them into boxes - one for those you need to watch out for

first group was also split into many different types. Troublemakers, the lazy, the incompetent, etc. - yet she found

They work to live. Get the job done and go home. But

Not in her job before

above and beyond to organize and try and lead some of the other survivors. But… she couldn’t honestly say that she

as quickly as possible. Yet… what if she had remained within the trial area? No

was the first type of person. The type that was just walking forward to survive one day at a time.

out for them, focusing on both the good and the bad. They would be the employee that could take the company to the next level. Have a new innovative idea or strategic

one who would advance by any means necessary. Willing to stomp on anyone in their way on their path of advancement. Every other person merely a tool to

tutorial, he wouldn’t have stayed in the trial area. He would have gone beyond it. She heard how he

gone above and beyond and come out of the tutorial more powerful than she thought possible. And what did he do then? He kept

But at the same time, she was terrified

concluded, he was the second type of person. Ambitious and driven. But was he the archetype that would bring himself up, and by doing so, uplift everyone around him? Or the one who

because this wasn’t just a corporate job we were talking about. It wasn’t just a lost bonus or a missed promotion.

was the difference between letting others live and outright killing them. The difference between the ones killing the people they entered the trials with and those who worked

incredibly sure that the masked man was the good kind for the majority of their conversation. She had been so sure… until the end. Now she wasn’t so confident. Was he a monster

the calm water. Her slightly haggard look was making her

to say so herself, she looked quite good usually, but now she could easily be confused for being homeless. At least her skin was still as healthy as before. She found it weird how the system affected appearance through the

you considered faults, the system would better them. It couldn’t do significant changes, at least

industry would have gone under without a doubt, she thought as she sat down at the edge of the pond and began clearing her face and hair. The water was cold and pleasant,

heard a voice she recognized, turning around to see Hank standing a few meters away. Not staring

he asked, appearing slightly worried. “And where did these chairs