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.

the same. The Order of the Malefic Viper isn’t exactly known as being part of the good guys,” his

be honest, I wouldn’t really know. I haven’t joined it as far as I can tell. I will go visit in the future, but

planetary sacrificial rituals...” Casper said with a mix of joking and

going to make one,” Jake agreed, giving

Ritual will wipe out all you heathens before any of that can come to pass,”

and doubt before catching on, and with a big smile, declared: “The unholy ones will

they joked out things that, to any outsider, did seem like serious

and Casper. Jake himself had no intentions

to talk about minor things, Casper talking 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 the

World Leader? That is what this intermission is made to discuss, after all, and the vote begins

‘oh yeah, let’s vote for the undead!’ during the very first Congress, if ever,” Casper said, his tone making

what the City Lord says; it ain’t my job,” Jake said

will abstain too, and,” Jacob said, shaking his head at Jake, “I find it amazing that the highest tiered noble of Earth

don’t care either?” Casper said,

annoying as hell,” Jake agreed. “Anyway, get out of my system-box-thing; people

She and the others were looking troubled if they should enter or not, seeing as how

you again; you should come by some time.

again part. You are welcome to visit Sanctdomo if you wish, but do be a bit discreet not to cause a ruckus,” Jacob said with

you should cause a ruckus; it would make things more interesting,” Bertram added, mirroring Jacob’s nod. “Keep doing what

one knows what the future may bring,” Jake said as he saw them out.

80 seconds left,” Lillian reminded

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

of the barrier, the first two being the Augur and his bodyguard. The Risen left in the direction of his own city, practically

walked out and greeted her. “I apologize for

hear, which was pretty much everyone who tried due to senses improving and all that. Miranda knew it was on purpose. With a simple sentence, he made it clear that he was related and on friendly terms with the Progenitor and didn’t hold any antagonistic relationship with the only Earl of

their one D-grade in this meeting wasn’t a fighter, so the move also helped inadvertently plant a seed of

consequence; I hope you had a pleasant

the largest city

could hear. “Do take care of Jake, I know he

inwardly. It was just a simple skill to obscure his words, but the amount of pure power packed into it was intense, showing that while the Augur looked harmless, he was far from it. While he couldn’t beat anyone

Neil and Lillian, who both read the mood and stayed silent throughout the

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