The Primal Hunter

Jake had been more injured than he had first thought. Then again, he did have quite a few giant needles pierce into his chest and attempt to suck him dry of any and all vitality. Nevertheless, it wasn’t something a healing potion or two couldn’t fix. He quite honestly felt bad for all those out there without the ability to get themselves healed.

If he had to rely on his natural regeneration, it would take days to heal the last bout’s damage. To restore his entire 10000+ health pool would require more than a week. Maybe more, as health regenerated slower, the lower it was.

His armor was also pretty damn broken. His chest was exposed entirely as the mana beam had burned his chestpiece to tatters. Luckily the Self-Repair enchant made the armor virtually unbreakable unless utterly obliterated, and even then, it might not even disappear if it was completely destroyed as it was “bound” to him.

The problem was that it would take some time for it to repair itself, so he would have to go shirtless once more for a while. Oddly nostalgic in a sense, as he remembered his many shirtless days.

Getting up, he began making his way back out of the cave and back to his small basecamp once more. He had only been gone for several hours, but it had been more than worthwhile. He discovered a D-grade entity, got some experience, and picked up many different mushrooms and moss to play with.

Miranda and those three others should also have left by now, he thought. Their parting had been less than ideal, but sometimes that is how life is. She was a good conversation partner, but they clearly had different goals when it came to this new reality of theirs.

He had also determined for himself to not just aim to survive but strive for greater power. He wouldn’t fault others for merely wanting to survive, as he genuinely understood where they were coming from. Before the system, he hadn’t had any real ambitions but was just happy with what he had.

His only real motivation to improve was external. It was to make his parents proud, gain social status, and earn enough money for a comfortable life. Now that had changed. His motivation was entirely internal. He wanted to grow stronger, not for anyone else but himself. It was without a doubt selfish, but he honestly didn’t care. One of the perks of power being that other's opinions stopped holding power over you.

Only through power could he attain total freedom. But he knew he had a very long way to go. Even an overgrown mushroom had beaten the crap out of him. But as long as he stayed true to his path, he firmly believed that he would one day reach the pinnacle. Or at least die doing something he loved, no matter how cliché that sounds.

As he thought, the exit of the cave finally came into sight. The bright light was now replaced with the orange glow of the evening sun. He wasn’t in a hurry as he walked back, still a bit sore. Likely due to the aftereffects of Limit Break.

The trek was short, but as he got closer, he was surprised to hear voices. Going low, he used Advanced Stealth as he snuck closer to his camp. Peeking out from behind a tree, he saw Miranda and Hank together with the two teenagers - all sitting at the pond.

He had thought they would leave. Miranda had been quite distraught when he left… but that wasn’t the real issue.

Jake had walked off with the thought that their parting would be final. Now… he wasn’t quite sure what exactly to do. Would it be awkward to just stroll back to the pond, intruding on the four of them?

Fuck, this is my pond, and the Pylon is buried right there. Stop being a wuss and get in there. He tried to hype himself up. Yeah, he was a goddamn Progenitor of this universe, a Kingslayer, a Prodigy, and all that shizzle. There was no way he would let social anxiety beat him like this!

So he only waited around passively for 10 more minutes before realizing they clearly weren’t going to leave the pond any time soon. That is when he remembered his ultimate weapon: the mask that was hiding his face. Steeling his will, he entered the fray, trying to look as confident as ever.

Walking out from behind the tree, he walked casually towards the pond, not trying to hide whatsoever, instantly drawing the attention of all four of them. Their reactions differed wildly.

The young man Mark looked slightly frightened, Miranda a bit concerned, Hank frowned, and Louise’s face turned bright red.

The first to speak was Miranda. “What happened?”

Jake, a bit taken by surprise by the question asked. “What do you mean?”

attacked

looked. Tattered armor, dried blood covering his bare upper body, and several still healing scars where the needle-like thorns had pierced his chest and stomach. In other words, he looked like he had just walked out of a life and

don’t worry, what I fought cannot come here,” Jake said, adding

look not directed at the potential danger

or two couldn’t fix,” he answered with a smile. Not that they could see it for the mask,

to hear…”

eye on the three others. While none of them was a threat, he didn’t exactly know them at all. He

you would stay,”

asked, clearly a bit afraid. Jake also saw Hank and the young man tense up.

still stand. I want peace and quiet for my alchemy,” Jake answered. While the forest technically belonged to him due to the Pylon, it wasn’t like he

to go. And for some reason, no beasts want to enter this area, so

that,” Jake said, as he got an

two children away. Mark happily followed, while Louise still kept staring at him with a red face and weird

as the three

here,” he noted, indicating for them

to reveal his face. He felt a bit proud of himself

the way? Did that armor break

forgetting his current state again

one of the many shirts he had swiped from the challenge dungeon. They were shitty quality

a smile as he

has the function of keeping all kinds of alchemical ingredients frozen in time to keep them fresh,” he answered truthfully. He didn’t see any point

me what

nearby that leads deep underground, wherein I discovered a huge biodome of sorts. Therein I encountered a D-grade entity and was

above level 100?” she asked,

qualitative upgrade, too, meaning the difference between level 99 and 100 is huge. I am sure you remember the difference between 24 and 25, so think of it like that but much more

face such a thing… I can’t even imagine

you about. What

goal?” she asked, a bit confused at first, but soon

plan on surviving?” he

am not a fighter. I can’t face down beasts and

to survive,” he said. “But in either

sat silently for a while until she resolutely looked him in the eye.

if you don’t even have a modicum of strength yourself,” Jake said, pleasantly surprised by her honesty. It made this entire conversation

asked me earlier why no monsters enter this area. It is because of what lies buried in the earth right below our feet. A thing called a Pylon of Civilization.

just sat there listening while