The Primal Hunter

After the first half an hour, four people found themselves within one of the closed-off platforms that belonged to a city. It was at the table belonging to Haven with the sound-proofing barrier active. Even sight into the area was disrupted, making anything less than a Sphere of Perception unable to pierce inside. One could still see out, but not in.

In there was a reunion of sorts. Bertram and Jacob sat together with Casper and Jake, making it quite the unlikely group. Them entering the barrier had already grabbed plenty of attention.

Undead and the Augur of the Holy Church meeting together with the first man to claim a Pylon? Very suspicious, and undoubtedly many theories were already being conjured up. Theories instantly debunked if anyone actually managed to peer inside…

“I think the use of Credits will become far more normal with time, especially as we open up to the wider multiverse. The merchants naturally also push it as their skills incentivize and use it, and from what I have gathered, using Credits is also beneficial to their progression,” Jacob said, as they discussed the use of Credits over usual bartering.

“A digital currency that is universally accepted and endorsed by the system will also more easily be adopted by people. It is also far safer than anything of the old world, as I have yet to hear of any way of stealing Credits from someone without their knowledge. Except, of course, good old blackmail or extortion or stuff like that,” Casper chimed in, his entirely black eyes having a glint to them.

Jake just chuckled a bit inwardly as he sat back and enjoyed the conversation. Casper had worked in the R&D department before and had always been a bit of a geek, one of the big reasons he and Jake had gotten along so well.

Casper had been passionate about digital currencies, especially cryptocurrencies and how they were the way of the future… and he kinda got it right, didn’t he? Credits were kind of a digital currency, though Jake would more call it a magic currency. Or a system-fuckery currency?

“From what I have gathered, the establishments of banks and such is only a matter of time. They appear to be quite common across the multiverse, and it is quite understandable to want to ensure your assets away from yourself. Losing all Credits upon death and leaving nothing to your family or comrades is a harrowing thought,” Jacob said, shaking his head.

“Considering how Credits can be bound to a city, I am sure there are other skills or methods to create organizations independent of a single individual that can store funds, effectively acting as banks as you said,” Casper agreed.

“… Wild thought, is the Holy Church on the stock market?” Jake butted in with a very stupid question.

“I am pretty sure stocks aren’t really a thing,” Jacob chuckled in response. “At least not in the way we know them. There likely are methods to invest in organizations and get a return, but I doubt it will be through a stock market or anything like that.”

“Well, I would invest in Haven if it was me, Mr. Progenitor,” Casper joked with a snicker before he turned a bit more serious. “By the way, I never got to thank you… so thanks for killing that fucker William. He had it coming even if it does suck that he ended up being revived in the end.”

“No problem, dude was a fucking lunatic,” Jake said, shaking his head at the appearance of a few bad memories as he looked at Jacob questionably. “Any news on what the psycho is up to? I reckon the Holy Church has quite the information network, and you are an Augur and all that.”

“No information that I can confirm pertains to him… but from what I can tell from the most credible cases, he seems almost… normal? Altruistic even. At least I have heard no rumors of a metal manipulating psychopath committing mass murder, and it isn’t like our planet is lacking people like that,” Jacob said as he looked up towards the ceiling of the hall with a sad gaze.

“Oh yeah, on that note, are you guys gonna try to do some large magic ritual and turn the entire planet into a land of death?” Jake asked Casper. He was happy to know that at least William wasn’t running around being a dirtbag openly, but that didn’t mean he wanted to offer the guy any more attention than he deserved.

“Nah, at least I haven’t heard of any plans of that. We do have things set up so people can turn into Risen and become undead if they want to, though, and the areas we control are being affected with a bit more death-affinity than anywhere else. Already had quite a few converts, mainly family or friends of Risen or those that just want a longer lifespan, even if that isn’t that relevant yet. Being dead does come with some other perks and drawbacks, but honestly, it is mostly just cosmetic. I barely feel the difference myself,” Casper shrugged.

“Good to know. Both that you aren’t planning on any mass-purge of the living races and that you seem to be fine with technically being dead and all that,” Jake said. They had kind of danced around the elephant in the room of Casper kinda being dead.

Malefic Viper isn’t exactly known as being part of the good

I wouldn’t really know. I haven’t joined it as far as I can tell. I will go visit in the future, but no plans of any planetary

a mix of joking and just a tinge

is going to make one,” Jake agreed,

Sacred Purification Ritual will wipe out all you heathens before

with a mix of confusion and doubt before catching on, and with a big smile, declared:

men looked at each other with stupid smiles as they joked out things that, to any

the future, especially Jacob and Casper. Jake himself had no intentions of picking any sides as he honestly hated politics, but if either

about how he was learning about dungeons and even making his own, Jacob primarily complaining about the difficulties of dealing with ass-lickers and managing a city, and Jake talking about

this intermission is made to discuss, after all,

for the undead!’ during the very first Congress, if ever,” Casper said,

man, I am just going to listen what the

shaking his head at Jake, “I find it amazing that the highest

care either?” Casper said, feigning

agreed. “Anyway, get out of my system-box-thing;

now. She and the others were looking troubled if they should enter or not, seeing as how the leader of Sanctdomo and a high-ranking member of the undead faction were within. None of them could see inside either, so they were likely afraid of

you again; you should come by some time. I promise

but do be a bit discreet not to cause a ruckus,” Jacob said with a nod as

more interesting,” Bertram added, mirroring Jacob’s nod. “Keep doing what you’re doing. Clearly, it’s working out

said as he saw them out. “I

seconds left,” Lillian reminded Miranda, who was

just barge in,” she said, despite really wanting just to barge in. Luckily, she

and his bodyguard. The Risen left in the direction of his own

apologize for the inconvenience, Ms. Miranda; I was just

due to senses improving and all that. Miranda knew it was on purpose. With a simple sentence, he made it clear that he was

one D-grade in this meeting wasn’t a fighter, so the move also helped inadvertently plant a seed of doubt about their true power. Especially if Jake was

you had a

way she would complain if the largest city

added a few more words that only she could hear. “Do take care of Jake, I know he can be a handful, but he is good at what he

deployed as he spoke, making her shudder inwardly. It was just a simple skill to obscure his words, but the amount of pure power packed into it was intense, showing that

understanding as she entered the barrier with Neil and Lillian, who both

by those words because they reminded her of the last hour of her life and the infuriating comments she got from half