The Primal Hunter

Somewhere, a long time ago, a group of game developers sat in a room together. They knew they needed more content in their game to expand the playtime, but they had no idea what to add. Technology was limited, and there were only so many mechanics to add when all the controllable characters could do was to move up, down, and to the sides.

Then suddenly, one of them got an idea. ”What if we make our character able to fly?”

But no, that was quickly shot down. The movements would be too fast, and it would be too hard to control. Once more, they were stumped until someone else spoke up.

”What if instead of flying, we make it swimming…”

And thus, one of the worst ideas ever was conceived.

At least that is how Jake imagined the absolute moron who thought up water levels did it. No one liked water levels. They always sucked. Jake believed this was inherently down to how water affected movement and limited how one could usually control the game.

Water had to slow down movement, and while it allowed lateral movement, this was often slow and frustrating and incredibly ‘floaty’ due to it being in the water. It also meant enemies could attack from more directions, and overall just caused a lot of issues. However, perhaps the biggest obstacle was how one often lost their usual means of combat.

Suppose you killed stuff by jumping on it, then becoming unable to jump made that difficult. If you shoot a gun, the chances are that it doesn’t work underwater. Swinging a melee weapon was also often limited. In conclusion? You didn’t only have severely inhibited movement underwater, you also can’t fight properly.

Now, how does this relate back to Jake? Quite obviously so, actually. Because Jake currently found himself submerged in water, having no idea what the fuck he was supposed to do. He was just floating there, in the middle of nothing. Yet, for the first time, he also experienced something he hadn’t in a long time…

Blindness.

Jake couldn’t see anything in his surroundings. It wasn’t limited to his eyes either. His Sphere of Perception was being overloaded with information, the mana inherent in the water so powerful. It filled the sphere, making it seem almost solid to his senses.

To his eyes, it was also utter darkness, which was new to him. Usually, he could see even without any light. Entirely sealed off caves weren’t any issues due to his high perception, but he truly was blinded under this water.

For a brief moment, he panicked and began moving around, trying to find something to hold onto. However, he quickly found there was nothing and no one. He was utterly alone, trapped in nothingness.

Constant pressure was upon him from the water too. It didn’t deal any damage to him, but he felt it. Also, while he didn’t have to breathe, being unable to do so was incredibly uncomfortable for him. Jake had never had any issues with water and could swim with no problems… but this wasn’t okay with him.

Calm down,he told himself as he tried to stop himself from moving sporadically. His instincts told him to get out of the water and find solid ground. He felt exposed. Jake closed his eyes as he entered meditation and attempted to do what he had done in the Forgotten Sewers dungeon with all the dark mana and acclimate himself to the environment, filtering out the mana in the water.

Yet shortly after he closed his eyes, he was thrown out of meditation by his danger sense activating. His eyes shot open, and he moved to try and defend. The blade appeared in his hand but moved incredibly slowly through the water as he wanted to raise it and block the incoming blow.

He failed.

A warm feeling and a sting of pain were felt from his one arm as something had hit him. He had been cut, Jake knew that, but he didn’t know by what or who. Jake felt more and more unsettled as he felt something come by him again, not attacking this time.

The water made him feel like he was moving in slow motion. Taking out his bow was also utterly out of the question, as how the hell was he supposed to shoot an arrow while submerged? It would be an utter waste of time to try to.

By now, he also noticed something else with his wound. It kept stinging, and soon he noticed some foreign energy invade his body. It was venom. Jake frowned as he thought of what to do and summoned his wings to try and use them to move around.

fast moved by him.

hitting the creature attacking him just as it came close. It was repelled for a brief moment as it began circling him again. Believing he had

is more than

teeth, Jake released his presence and infused it with mana to try and get a better understanding of the situation. When he did so, he suddenly became able to see a bit more of his surroundings as some of the mana was displaced. However, he also felt a severe drain on his resources. The water pressed down on not only him but everywhere his presence now dominated, wearing it down and forcing Jake to choose between deactivating it or risk running out of mana

Pride of the Malefic Viper and also summoned a net of arcane mana. When the

the final moment, Jake manipulated the net of mana to be positioned in front of him. At the same time, he angled his body, allowing his foe to penetrate his stomach with its attack. He felt like he

managed to keep hold of it with the net. The wound on his stomach got worse as it moved back and forth. Jake

to wrestle it into a position where he could place his hands on it without slipping. He began channeling Touch of the Malefic Viper

he felt the creature that attacked him stop struggling

[Deepgorge Terror –

caused him quite a bad wound and left him reeling from its simple attacks. It wasn’t even some powerful variant. Heck, it just felt like a creature that was some weird mix between a swordfish and an eel. He knew he needed some way of

repelled, but soon after, it activated again. Focusing on his surroundings, he saw signs of movement. Not just one or

when Jake realized that he was truly

exactly they had come to be in their current situation was a bit hard to understand. It all begun when they ended up at the same Vault and the nature of the Vault proved to have certain competitive elements. The Vault had opened

had found herself alone, split from Sylphie and Carmen. The three of them had stayed together and done well, even clearing a few Vaults together. She had heard that Jake had an incident with details still unclear of what had gone down. All she knew was that it involved killing many people, and many of the smaller independent forces were now

later. What mattered now

had only ever seen once before but heard of many times. His black combed-back slick hair and casual

“Eron,” she said.

believe?” the man asked

met him, she was now faced with a conflict she would prefer to avoid. Under normal circumstances, they would have no

each got a small mark that others could claim. These marks allowed the challenger to open certain passageways and grant them more access to deeper areas of

was perhaps the largest of the bunch with the most rewards, and from her estimates, in excess of a thousand now found themselves within. Miranda had already used a device given by Arnold

not lost on me,” Eron spoke. “I hope we too

our separate ways?” Miranda asked, having a feeling her time in the Treasure Hunt was about to be over. Sadly one couldn’t simply hand over the mark from the Vault. It was only dropped by

made a handful of people leave, which was also the reason why she knew Eron wouldn’t simply let her go. He also had quite a few marks too, but

believe that is a course of action worthy

in white

used her own skills as she began retreating, having been warned by Jake of the odd affinity Eron possessed. She considered what to do

magic after Eron as he pursued her. Miranda turned a corner, with Eron turning it soon after. He found that the woman had erected a wall of stone to block his way. He burned through it within a

of mana. Miranda kept up the shield as he slowly burned it down, waiting for her to run out of resources. Because he knew she would

else had arrived during this time besides a woman who saw Eron and then swiftly ran the other way. That put his mind at ease as she would serve as a distraction if anyone else

expected more,” Eron said as the woman had only been defensive throughout it all, besides the first few minutes where she at least attempted to stop

sweat pooled beneath her. Eron looked on, knowing she

the purpose is only

minute or so

woman. He saw blood come out of her mouth and her one leg wobble as she kneeled down.

voice say. His eyes opened wide as he looked to the side and saw the City Lord of Haven standing on a magic circle more than ten meters away from him. Completely