The Primal Hunter

The Viper was silent for a moment but quickly seemed to agree to the change of subject:

“I think I have made it clear in the past that I am not a big fan of giving direct advice on things to improve as it often does more harm than good in my experience, but fine. For once, I shall act like a proper Patron god and give some actual advice and direction.

“There are limitless ways to fight in the multiverse, and to call one method superior to others is fallacious and stupid. However, no matter the method, understanding yourself and the path you walk is essential. Someone such as a highly experienced warrior – a swordmaster, spearmaster, et cetera – is one such valid path. To them, their weapons become extensions of their bodies, and they live and breathe through their weapon, every part of them poured into it. A mere movement of their weapon can impose their will upon the world as they become one… but I must emphasize this is but one path,” Villy began.

“A mage mastering magic and comprehending all there is of their given element, a spirit that is one with their environment or a snake mastering its toxins and embracing that part of itself is also a valid path. I myself have never learned to truly wield a weapon, but I did learn to use my claws, tail, fangs, and generally just my body as a living weapon. And Jake, if I am honest… so should you. At least partly.”

Jake frowned at the last part.

“Are you telling me to stop using weapons?” he asked, a bit confused.

“I am not telling you to do anything, just giving my perspective. But no, that is not what I am saying. I am saying where to center yourself. So let me first ask you something very simple… do you feel the edge of your blade as you hold your sword?” the Viper asked.

Without waiting, Jake gently lifted Sylphie off him and placed her on the table with only a few minor protests from her as he walked down from his porch and took out his scimitar. He stood there with it in hand, not sure exactly what Villy was asking about.

“I’m not sure I get it? Jake asked.

“Do you feel the wind on your skin right now?”

“Well yeah, of course?”

“Do you also feel it on the scimitar? No, not the slight nudging on it… do you feel the wind slightly cool it down, the sensation as a small gust embraces and wraps around it, and yourself holding the handle not only in your hand but like you are grasping your other arm or hand?” Villy kept asking.

Shaking his head, Jake just asked. “What the hell you on about?”

“That you never embraced any weapon, at least not a melee weapon. You swing them like sticks, not extensions of yourself. You use them as tools, a sentiment any master would feel offended by. I would say you have decent skills when using weapons, but you do not have any knowledge of weapons, nor have I ever felt any desire from you to truly embrace and understand one,” Villy elaborated.

“I thought that whole extension of your body thing was just some joke or over-exaggeration… but you’re serious?”

“Dead serious. I am certain that the old swordsman you fought views his sword as fondly as you view your arm. Many weapon masters in the multiverse spend obscene resources on upgrading old weapons or repairing them without sparing any expense when they could get better by buying new ones. I have seen one mourn his broken axe by annihilating an entire race of poisonous frog-like creatures, leading to their extinction after one corroded his axe into nothingness with their special toxin.

“Getting a new weapon for them is like adopting a child. There is a long time where they are uncomfortable with their new weapon, and have to slowly adapt and get used to it before forming a bond. Meanwhile, you just pick up any new shiny weapon you got and use it right away if it seems better than your old stuff,” Villy finished.

Jake took the words in, and he couldn’t really disagree. His Nanoblade had broken, and while he sure did like the weapon, he liked it for its usefulness, and he disliked it being broken mainly because he would have to find a replacement or spend time and money getting it repaired. Not because he felt like an old friend had died or something like that.

He then looked over at the porch table with Sylphie and the broken bow both sitting on it, Sylphie having fun with inspecting the ruined weapon. Jake didn’t really feel anything special there either. Again, he liked the bow, but it was in the end just a tool in his mind.

I learn to really embrace a weapon then?” Jake

I think an example of how it isn’t needed is that girl from Valhal also on your planet who only uses her fists. Her entire body is her weapon, and she has

back to me not using weapons?” Jake

and in many ways, I can see a large tool get in the way of that. So, maybe consider going smaller? Something where your weapon is only a small extension

a bit as he considered.

in hands,” Villy joked back as

do have the Twin-Fang style skill,” Jake remembered. It was a skill he didn’t really use much, but he did recall what it did. It was an actual martial art of sorts, all focused on stabbing and leaving narrow cuts with

the beast had battled a powerful foe, and he began using them as weapons and developed a style with them. The guy kept hunting down venomous creatures and getting their fangs as he honed his style, in the end becoming far more skilled at using

loved some Malefic Viper fangs… I guess he bit

it was actually mainly me biting him,” Villy answered, Jake certain

on topic,” Jake said after the brief intermission. “I guess daggers do work well. I did like using them, but

do. Plenty of methods to get around it, and honestly, even just scratching the skin is enough to deliver a good dose of poison most of the time,” Villy answered. “But again, it’s all up to you. Just something to consider for the future. Daggers or short weapons are far closer to your body and

food for thought,” Jake said, nodding, as he moved to

had been holding off on asking about because he did have a bad feeling about what the Viper

all trades, using both magic, archery, and melee fighting during bouts, which is far more than most bother with at your grade. I would say that the type of combat you are best at is

bow… well, now we’re back to me telling you to do whatever you want. You certainly have more skill with your bow than your melee weapons, but I wouldn’t classify you as some archery genius. You’re decent enough, but my honest take is that giving up on the bow and focusing more on magic would be beneficial to you and also work more synergistically

that is dutifully noted and promptly ignored. Besides, it isn’t a waste; archery is

more effectively by just coating magic attacks or

points in Perception, it would be a

easily specialize your magic to make better use of the stat, and

that many of the class skills currently require a bow to use,

system for less than a year, and we are back to you having plenty of time to adjust,” the Viper kept

will be able to make use

know you had infinite skill choices, levels, mental energy, and time,”

archery,” Jake

someone else. Perhaps not in the short term, but most certainly in the long run. Bla bla, the path to godhood is a marathon and all that, and remember it is YOUR marathon. Not mine. So while I will gladly share my opinion, do know that what you feel is best will likely be a better choice for

am not that good at it in my opinion. I just make big explosions and piercing bolts and the occasional barrier here and there, with a platform sprinkled in to step on

right, and I can see the potential for growth. Also, your magic is linked with your archery, and I will advise you to continue pursuing those methods. Make the bow a harbinger of your power, a way to focus your magic like one would use a staff. You already kind of do that right now, but I think that could be interesting and allow you to make better

while maybe focusing a bit more on improving some basic archery stuff. But I definitely need to learn some more about melee combat and find a proper method for that. Anyway… Villy, while I do have more questions, I feel like those can wait. Thanks as always, we can chat later. Unless

Lifeform on your face without commenting on it or mentioning it as something important quite

“Oh. Yeah. That.”

with everything else going on. Definitely

off his mask as he stared down at it. “Hey… so…

all, what should Jake do about having him in his mask? The entire situation was also just super awkward as Jake had naturally been the one to put him there. So, starting the