The Primal Hunter

It was a possibility Jake hadn’t really considered before. The human factions were often at the forefront of the mind when thinking or talking about the most powerful on Earth, but one had to remember that humanity only existed on a small part of the entire planet.

Long ago, Jake had felt the presence of what he believed to be C-grades deep within the forest Haven was placed in the outskirts of, and even during his trip to Skyggen, he felt powerful presences. The large mountain he dodged, as an example, gave off a powerful aura of what could potentially be a C-grade.

The implication? Monsters on Earth were far more powerful than humanity many times over. Yet they were also inherently very territorial, and while Jake had heard of human cities being attacked and monsters wanting Pylons, the more powerful ones had yet to leave their areas. He didn’t know what kept them there, but he was happy they stayed.

Because Jake was pretty damn sure that if a single C-grade decided to go on a rampage, no one could stop it. Not him or the Sword Saint or anyone else. Maybe the Holy Church would have some massive ritual where they sacrificed a million people or some shit, but Jake doubted it.

There was just one question…

“Why would monsters work with that little twerp?”

“That I don’t know,” Caleb answered. “May have to do with his karmic powers, or it may have to do with some deal they made. Perhaps it is as simple as Eversmile blessing some of them and ordering them to work together. Either way, they must get something out of it.”

“It can’t be a coincidence he finds a beast or other type of monsters with powerful space magic allowing him to leave our universe, and to make those formations, you need specific training and guidance from outside forces,” Jake commented.

“Indeed,” Caleb agreed.

They both sat in silence for a while before Caleb added. “When we go and see the others, please don’t mention William at all, and if they ask about him, do keep it neutral, please. I think I have shrugged off the effects, but the mental magic may still influence them a bit, making them have an unnaturally favorable view of him. So if you speak about killing him or anything like that, you may get a very negative reaction. Just know they have a skewed view, and it isn’t their fault.”

Jake frowned. “I fucking hate mental magic like that…”

“The worst part is that it isn’t really the normal kind of mental magic, so healers can’t do much about it. At least it is wearing off, and the more they think about what happened, the odder and more ‘wrong’ it will begin to feel in their minds. That is the good thing about karmic magic at least… without constant exposure, the effect lessens or disappears entirely far faster than other kinds of mental fuckery.”

“Noted,” Jake agreed. “I won’t bring up curb-stomping the little fucker into the ground repeatedly until he is dead for good. Again.”

He let out a bit of his anger as his aura flared, and Caleb shook his head as he muttered: “Well, at least I can get why the guy is scared.”

Jake just shrugged. “His fault for being a damn psycho.”

“Pretty sure that ain’t how that works…”

“Who are you to say? Neither of us are doctors, so who can truly tell.”

The two of them kept bantering a while longer before they left for Caleb’s home.

On the way, a feeling welled up Jake had not expected. He had been looking forward to seeing them, so there was much anticipation, but that anticipation was soon joined by a strong sense of nervousness. He hadn’t met his parents or Maja for half a year or so, and he had changed a lot during that time.

There was also the whole baby-angle he had to consider. A part of him felt shitty for not visiting earlier knowing Maja had given birth, and now he was afraid she would be angry at him. He did have excuses, but were they good enough?

Caleb seemed to pick up on his nervousness as he smiled and patted Jake on the back. “Relax, they’ve all been looking forward to seeing you again. Things may have changed for all of us, but the fact that we’re family hasn’t.”

“Is there anything I need to know?” Jake asked.

“His name is Adam.”

before, but it was a bit hectic back then. “After Maja’s

also seemed oddly

with Maja and Adam? Anything to mind with the system and

that’s for sure,” Caleb laughed. “Besides that, the growth seems pretty normal, besides him being stronger than a baby has any right to. It isn’t really

a newborn chick. Wait, if Sylphie was his niece and Adam his nephew, did that make them cousins of

larger than any around. It was several stories tall and was more a small compound

lot bigger than my

lab and facility were finished.

keep up appearances,” Caleb chuckled, slightly embarrassing. “Also, it allows mom and dad to practically live next

like flexing on the plebians,” Jake chuckled along, trying to suppress his own

gate open. They both went into a small yard with the largest

He instantly knew that was where his parents had to live, as mom

observed all of his family in his sphere and smiled. His parents were both sitting in what looked like a shared office of sorts. Once they entered, Jake heard Maja come

early today,

saw Jake stand there. He had already made his mask invisible before he had even entered the office

Jake greeted as

to raise it before she rushed over and pulled him into a hug. He didn’t resist but just returned it, Caleb standing to the side with a big

pulled back, looking him over. “Did you just arrive? You look worn down, and look

they came,” he shrugged as he also looked at her. “Good

and Maja didn’t hold it against him as she kept smiling, as she

aye,” Caleb agreed as he made a joking salute,

want coffee or tea? Juice?

Jake agreed as he lifted up the bags of pastries. “I brought

Can you help set the table? Everything is in the cabinet over there,” she said as she pointed to one on the

“Sure thing,”

summoned several mana strings and manipulated them over to open the cabinet and bring out plates,

Maja commented from the small tea

It was funny; he didn’t really think much about how he would set the table… he just jumped straight to using magic. It

she asked. “I heard they were working on a teleportation circle, and Caleb said you would probably come when that was finished,

too. But it

her head. “You don’t mean to tell me you spent the

Jake corrected

he did, the feeling of nervousness from before returned in full. It was the longest period in his life Jake had ever gone without seeing, much less speaking to his parents. He had managed

are you

heard his mom’s voice as she opened the door to the

there frozen as she stared

mom,” Jake said a bit awkwardly as he pointed towards the

gave him a big hug, Jake reciprocating without hesitation. They held each other for a while as Jake made eye contact with his dad, who stood in

chuckle a bit internally. Upon hearing the question, his mom pulled back from him and looked at his face discerningly, both of them waiting

skill I got,” Jake answered. “How about you two? You’re looking better than ever. Can’t even spot

truly had. Both his parents looked younger and healthier than ever before, no doubt due to the advent of stats and their evolutions. Maja was the same. None of them were close to D-grade, but Jake hadn’t expected

as he walked over and gave Jake a light hug. Neither of them had ever been the types for much physical affection, so