The Primal Hunter

Jake closed his eyes and focused on his Path of the Heretic-Chosen as he tried to get it to activate – just long enough to make him wonder if he hadn’t reached an adequate understanding of any of his skills. Which, to be fair, he could perfectly understand. Jake himself was full of doubt about what exactly he needed to understand.

Yet just as this thought appeared, the skill reacted:

Do you wish to experience the Legacy of the Malefic Viper? Uses remaining: 1

Jake didn’t hesitate but instantly accepted.

Sylphie, who had been sleeping on the chair, woke up with a startle as she felt the mana in the air moving weirdly. She felt like the entire space shifted for a moment, and she barely managed to register the human disappearing into thin air.

She looked around a bit confused but soon after just lay her head back down to keep sleeping. Nothing to do about humans acting weird.

Jet-black wings blanketed the skies as a massive frame covered the land beneath it in an almost unnatural darkness. Humans, elves, demons, and many other kinds of species hid away within their houses in the city below as the beast headed towards the central tower.

It was a city of impossible proportions based on the standards of old Earth. It spanned thousands of kilometers with buildings, housing billions of the myriad races – their only solace being the trustworthy barrier protecting their home.

Yet the Wyvern of the Desolates had come anyway - a monstrous beast that had wiped out all life on one of the massive continents on their planet. In its wake always followed death and destruction, and many families of the city already began mourning those who failed to enter the safety of the barrier in time.

The entire city went into complete lockdown, and as the poison mist that swirled around the mighty wyrm encountered the barrier, it sizzled and burned but remained stable. It was put down by the city’s and country’s protector, a mighty warrior who sat at a higher position than even the King.

It was a being none could look down upon with his level placing him firmly as a mid-tier C-grade.

”ROAR!”

The Wyvern opened its maw as it spewed out a beam of green energy that impacted the barrier and made the entire city shake.

Yet the barrier held up.

But it wouldn’t be able to do so forever.

It was made by an early C-grade companion of the Protector, and while it would hold up for a while, the Wyvern’s attack was especially effective at these kinds of prolonged standoffs. With no other choice, the Protector would have to move personally.

No matter what, it wouldn’t be an easy fight, for the Wyvern was mid-tier C-grade just like him.

Far above the city and barrier appeared a single figure. It was a muscular red-skinned demon wearing heavy armor and carrying a massive mallet and large tower shield. His entire body hummed with power as his glowing white eyes stared at the Wyvern that had come to attack his home.

”What do you hope to accomplish by coming here?” he asked in the common tongue of their planet.

Getting nothing but a breath of toxic green energy in return as the wyvern attacked.

became smaller, shrinking from being a several hundreds of meters long monstrosity to only about a dozen meters from head to tail. While the reduced size made the beast appear less threatening, the Protector knew it was just the opposite – because while it became smaller,

with his shield. He felt a pulse of poison release as the claw hit, but he shrugged it off as his armor nullified most of it. What he wore today was a set of armor he had personally made specifically for this day – for he knew the gluttonous and greedy Wyvern would one day come to claim what was rightfully the

its wings blanketed the entire area already,

knew it was relatively weaker to physical attacks than magic – a trait of most winged lizards –

in the end, but a beast. It relied on its instincts and not intelligence, making it inherently inferior. Its

surrounding the city was transformed. A new valley was created when his kinetic blow missed and sent a shockwave down into

was powerful beyond his expectations, but he knew he had the upper hand. It relied on its poison building up in his body, but he was prepared.

off, not leaving the greedy Wyvern a chance to escape. He would be hailed a hero, and his renown would

the beast managed to barely scrape him with one of its long fangs, drawing blood. He felt the extra-potent toxin enter his body and knew it was time. He had managed to land a mighty hit in return for the attack

out the antitoxin and consumed the contents of the bottle. He

What?

and exploded with power. The Protector felt his insides begin to rot as he stumbled back, nearly failing to stay airborne. Had the alchemist lied to him? He knew some could alter the

a familiar voice say as he looked up at the Wyvern staring down at

the Wyvern before him was the renowned alchemist known as Vilastromoz. From the beginning, this fight had been

could he possibly have suspected a mindless beast like the Wyvern of the Desolates to be an alchemist? How was it even possible when it as a beast did not possess a profession? He knew it was possible to craft anyway, but he hadn’t heard of

out as he wavered in the air, but he activated a skill to temporarily at least stabilize himself a bit,

right?” the Wyvern asked, its large eyes staring down at the

cough… the city… just take it,” the Protector said, before shaking his head and standing up a bit more straight. ”There is no reason for either of us to risk death. I do not care what happens

voice of the Wyvern echoed

battle they had been somewhat evenly matched, and like most powerhouses, he had methods to make a last stand if things got too dangerous.

despaired. The King of the land inside the grand palace, a peak D-tier man, cursed at the Protector for abandoning them as the poison released by the Wyvern descended upon the capital. The King didn’t hesitate as he began making his escape, not even

potion appear before the Wyvern as the beast swiftly chomped down on it. Seconds later, the broken wing had regenerated, and the

he barely managed

had an agreement!” he yelled as the

”Oh, that? I lied.”

minutes later, the Protector fell as he succumbed to the ever-increasing

escape was impossible for most. The dark green cloud had well and truly descended on the

a protective item to try and save himself, but the shield generated by the marble barely held up

it, the Wyvern dove down towards the central palace and the grand tower that adorned its middle – a mighty mage tower housing an artifact the Wyvern

tail, the upper parts of the tower were ripped away as the large blue gem within was revealed. The

the Malefic Viper laid its eyes upon the gemstone, so did another soul. It was a silent and unnoticed passenger that was simply on for the ride - one who was just there to observe and experience the annals of history and the Records of what once happened during the

present. He had felt the thoughts of the Viper, the Protector, and even all the living souls in the city

body of the Malefic Viper. He felt like he truly became the Viper and that the body of the Wyvern was his own. Every single small piece of energy moving within the

bloodline – he knew that this was when the important

toxic energy. None of this was very enlightening to Jake, but he did notice a

was what would one day be named Palate of the Malefic Viper. But it was different from Jake’s version in many ways. It was far more potent for one thing, but it also felt…