The Primal Hunter

Okay, Jake did fuck up one thing during – or after, really – the discussion with Sword Saint. Jake liked walking off after getting the last word in, as he felt like it was the easiest way to come out on top of a discussion and because it allowed him not to need any more arguments.

This resulted in Jake leaving behind two undead with no one really talking to them, as Jacob and the City Lord were already doing their own thing.

It wasn’t like he could walk back in either. Both because the barrier blocked him, but more importantly because that would be totally uncool. Luckily, Casper didn’t want to be in there either as he also walked out… Priscilla following a few moments later, looking quite conflicted, wondering if she should have stayed or not. In the end, she seemed to have decided to rather go with the city that didn’t either openly hate the undead or were bigoted towards them.

When Jake saw them following… well, he decided that he might as well also get them on board. With them, the Treasure Hunt would be damn near ensured. He would also go by Caleb and do as any good big brother and use their familial relation to convince him to go with Treasure Hunt by bringing up old memories, like how Jake always allowed Caleb to use the good controller.

Anyway, the undead faction wanted the Town Defense event because it would allow them to form better relations with other factions of Earth. Jake felt like as long as he could alleviate their fear of humanity suddenly banding together to wipe out the evil undead, they would be more open to voting for the Treasure Hunt.

Jake felt pretty sure about his assessment, but it was always good to confirm as he went up to Casper and asked.

”You guys want the Town Defense mainly to make humanity less assholish towards the undead, right?” he asked as straightforwardly as he could.

”Yep,” Casper answered with a shrug. ”Can’t see most of the others do anything good for our image. Could you imagine if we actually did well in the tournament and got a good reward? The ”righteous crusade to wipe out the unclean” would be just around the corner if that happened. It would have nothing to do with just wanting to take our stuff, not at all.”

”People like justifying their own shitty behavior, nothing new there,” Jake said, shaking his head in his disappointment of the human race.

On a side note, all of this was said outside any of the platforms, allowing anyone interested to listen in.

Priscilla – despite Jake’s cold reception to her earlier – still caught on as she nodded in agreement, her eyes practically shining at the opportunity.

”Indeed, we just want to form good relations with everyone and make valuable allies for the future. We carry no animosity towards anyone; we simply are what we are. Most of us didn’t choose to become Risen. I died a few hours before the integration myself, and I was one of the people brought back to life by the system as a Risen along with thousands of others. Everyone who died less than 24 hours before the system integration, in fact,” she said, giving a small speech, continuing.

”We Risen are barely different than anyone else… we have classes, professions, families, and friends just like everyone else. Casper here is a rare exception as someone who chose to become a Risen, and the Progenitor knew him beforehand. Has he truly changed?”

Her last words were naturally directed towards Jake.

It was clear she wanted validation, even if a bit of it was bullshit. Casper didn’t as much choose to become a Risen as he got blackmailed into it with his dead girlfriend’s soul. He also was a bit different than before, though that was primarily due to the constant dark energy that he kept bottled up – no doubt related to his curse magic. Personally-wise, he was pretty much the same, except for those suppressed emotions.

”Yeah, he is still the same downer he always has been,” Jake answered, throwing a cheeky smile towards Casper. ”Probably still sucks at poker too.”

”Fuck you; I’m still convinced you cheated,” Casper answered back with an accusatory smile.

”I deny all such accusation.”

Wait, did I cheat? Considering I always had a muted version of the bloodline even before the system, it is entirely possible. I did like betting based on intuition more than anything. I should have gone to casinos… also, sorry, not sorry, Casper.

Priscilla just stood smiling as the two talked, elation clear on her face as Jake did all the PR work for them. If being a bit nice to them could help his friend in the long run, he was all for it.

go discuss a bit more closely behind closed doors?” Priscilla

was only now he noticed the name of the city. Jake would have personally thrown money on it, either being called Necropolis or The Graveyard or something else cool –

deep part – something Jake would later

he stepped on the platform, he noticed his brother off to the side, leaving another platform, and Jake took the chance as he yelled. ”Hey Cal, we are having a small meeting; wanna

a good big brother like that, always trying to involve his little brother when he did fun stuff.

way, threw a quick look at the two people with him, and nodded as he went towards Jake. ”Shouldn’t

they all stepped up on the platform the four of them. From what Jake knew, it was the first time his brother met Priscilla face-to-face, and he was already

went to greet him after they all stepped on the platform, he had to hide his childish giddiness

curtsy towards him respectfully. ”I apologize for not seeking you out earlier, but I am glad we finally got a chance to

the Risen tend to do well by each other in the multiverse; let’s not make Earth any different,” Caleb

a fool of herself when Caleb shot back with ”I’m married” or something like that, and Jake

not even trying to do the slightest. She just seemed like a competent leader and not a gold digger trying to get into the pants of anyone with strong backing. Was it because his brother wasn’t blessed by a Primordial? No, Umbra was also pretty awesome in her own

so she didn’t even try any of her shit… damn, I was looking forward

was sad that Jake would have to actually

big bro for the Treasure Hunt, right?” he

Caleb answered back, returning the smile with an even

did as his

a shadow assassin organization,” Caleb answered curtly. ”My question is why you wouldn’t like a 1 vs. 1 tournament. Not confident

just wouldn’t enjoy slogging through 10 days of battles against weaker foes for a handful of good fights… I can find plenty of good fights outside of events. The Treasure Hunt, on the other hand, will likely offer unique and cool challenges to get the

and steal stuff from others or quickly swipe things and run away!

even better

Reasonable… however…

from long distance unnoticed, emerge from a shadow right as they least expect it or after they just get done fighting a tough foe for a treasure. Then you can both beat them and get the loot. Win-win for everyone but the poor sap who gets robbed and possibly killed.” Jake once more reiterated

to group up when it is possible,

Sounds like a great teambuilding

great as the afterparty for when we do great

turning to Priscilla and Casper. ”You

certain what we will choose,” Priscilla answered noncommittally. ”It depends on what is best for the Risen as a whole… not

I am going out there right now yelling loudly about how we need a crusade,” Jake announced - his

don’t think that’s necessary, what if

do go for it, can I come with you

both vote for Treasure Hunt, and we are collecting more votes as it is. Pretty sure Jacob will get the Noboru clan vote locked down, and Miranda is working on another of the first ten

be on the right

their children fight?” Jake asked, going full-throttle on the emotional manipulation. ”The tournament might

I will surrender if that ever happens, so that won’t be a problem; I doubt I can win anyway,” Caleb said, not taking Jake seriously at all. ”But it does sound like we’re screwed. The group we just came from seemed pretty damn disingenuous when they said they would strongly consider the tournament. It might

the cool guys,” Jake fully agreed,

temperatures are indeed lower than