The Primal Hunter

While Jake was the first to notice what was happening, everyone naturally became aware when a huge magic barrier surrounded them, and people suddenly appeared on all sides.

”What the fuck?” the elemental mage asked as he readied himself.

Jake’s first course of action was not to answer but took a step towards where the cube had been as he quickly swiped all the loot. This did earn him a few glances, but he was happy to see there was nothing accusatory in them from the rogue, the assassin, or the elemental. However, the earth mage did glare daggers, as the man had already begun backing away.

The shadow assassin had also realized the earth mage was in on it and turned to him: ”Are you for real? What the fuck is wrong with you?”

”Oh please, stop acting all surprised; you’re a fucking assassin and a thief,” the earth mage replied in a snarky tone. ”This is a Treasure Hunt, and I’m just playing by the rules.”

Jake didn’t bother with the earth mage but had turned his attention to someone else. It was a man who stood at the top of the hill, surrounded by others. Jake was pretty sure he recognized him and a few others of those around him. Those are…

That is when Jake recognized them from the World Congress. These were city leaders and people related to cities that weren’t involved with any specific factions. The independent forces. He remembered Miranda talking about them making internal alliances, and that seemed to be true… he did wonder why they had chosen to attack him, though. Jake looked at the man at the helm and Identified him.

[Human – lvl 130]

He was the strongest person Jake had seen in quite a while. Nearly Jake’s own level. Then again, he was a city leader, and those tended to level quickly. Looking at those standing with the man, Jake saw that nearly all those closest had levels above 120.

”Lord Thayne,” he heard the man yell from atop the cliff. ”I had hoped not to meet again under such strenuous circumstances, but here we are.”

Jake looked up at him. ”I think you accidentally activated a barrier or something.”

”No, no, this is quite the purposeful act,” he answered back with a smile.

The elemental mage, rogue, and assassin all scurried closer to Jake as it became clear what this was. Jake looked around him a bit more and counted one hundred and seventeen people, one hundred and eighteen counting the earth mage. All of them were naturally D-grade. Most were between 100 and 110, but a lot were also above 110.

”Are you sure you want this? I’ll give you a chance to wisen up.” Jake asked. This really seemed like an entire thing, and Jake felt like this could all turn real complicated quickly. There were many city leaders there, and he could already begin to predict the issues this would create for Miranda.

At the top of the hill, the man shook his head as he began rambling. ”Do you know how screwed up the current status quo of Earth is? A large religious organization is the largest faction. A god damn assassination cult is among the most influential forces. We even have non-human monsters sitting in the high seats. This planet is slowly being claimed by outside forces. Gods and their factions from outside our universe are claiming our planet. I, no, we, will not stand for this.”

The man paced a bit back and forth as Jake was just listening to the man rant.

”The choice is either to be subservient to some higher power or get screwed over. Yet, that is something some of us won’t do. We refuse to give up our world and deliver it on a silver platter to exploitative foreigners. We are here because we refuse to be ignored. We will reclaim our planet, and we will make things right. Purge the undead and return to secularism.”

Jake scratched his head, not exactly sure what the guy was getting at. Wasn’t this guy as extreme as everyone else?

”What has anything of this got to do with me?”

why we’re not listened to? Because people think we’re weak. That we can’t stand up for ourselves. That’s why we have come here. To show we can, and what

Blood, and he sure as hell got a lot more besides that,” the earth mage said with

to say is

sealing them all in. One side had come prepared and the other taken by surprise. All of this had been done to make Jake into an example.

even using magic to record the scene to have proof of what had happened. The independents would prove, once and for all, that

Counts of Blood, but the other six had been slain by several different factions. None of the people present had seen him actually fight. While they had heard

solving the cube, which he partly was. He was also isolated, and the three people he had to assist him would

escaping, but themselves too. The second mistake was to not attack but stop up and monologue. Perhaps even giving them a chance to trigger some powerful

was what the man said. Not the information he gave, but his choice of words. For while Jake could handle a lot of insults, there were some things he couldn’t take. Some words and insinuations triggered him and

like being called a

Much less a slave.

hill was preparing to open

an inhuman and monstrous form in the eyes of his foes. Power swirled around him as Limit Break activated at 20%

mentally torn down. Weakened. Fragile. Slaves to their own fear. Puppets to whatever moron had convinced them to participate

Pathetic.

Jake tended to avoid. It was messy and led to complicated situations. It was something he only did if he felt forced to – or he really wanted

was a case of

the ambushers. The fear of a predator so far superior to themselves flooded their entire beings and souls,

for some… for some,

glazed over, and not a hint of life in their body. Within an instant,

into the yellow of his eyes as two small drops of blood ran down his cheeks. It didn’t stop him as the bow

but he became unable

help their downed comrade. Five arrows fell upon the man, exploding on impact

IN POSITIONS!

charge yelled but was forced to take out a staff and summon a shield around himself as Jake fired an arrow at him. The shield cracked but didn’t break, sending the man reeling

A healer.

course, there were exceptions. People who simply reveled in the sense of power that came from wielding the life of others in their hands… or fanatical individuals who had an unhealthy relationship with the concept of the preservation of life

from continued exposure, it didn’t dispel what they had already experienced. Pure dread was already ingrained in many of those present. Dread that would hamper their

mage had been excluded from everything as they weren’t the target of Jake’s ire,

of ice before his one arm was cut off by a sword. The other blade of the rogue tried to decapitate him, but a passive defensive skill activated as the armor of stone began

intentions clear and Jake making his move, the mood was set. The formerly confident group, believing

if not thousands of people. Through the power of the collective, they could take down foes they otherwise couldn’t… but the crux of it

whole. Meanwhile, the people attacking Jake were just a group of individuals with a few parties. They had all come to intimidate, believing they were far superior. Sure, Jake was strong, but was he stronger than

put it simply… they had clearly come without fully realizing this would be a fight to the death. They honestly believed it was all just intimidation, and the ’weaker’ side would