The Primal Hunter

The damp cavern was filled to the brim with life as countless beasts, and other kinds of monsters congregated. There were bears, wolves, insects, birds with even elementals, and plant-based lifeforms present.

William made his way through the crowd as the monsters regarded him, but none attacked. Not that they were not threats, for every single one of them was at least at level 150, with a few approaching the peak of D-grade.

He had just returned from his trip, and the three days of travel, as well as the one day of talking with Ms. Kim, had not been pleasant. William had believed understanding his origin would help. But he still didn’t get it.

The Judge had been strong, but he was still just human. Not like him. He saw those damn eyes in his dreams every time he closed his eyes; constant visions haunted him day and night, and nothing he did seemed to help. If he didn’t know better, he would think he was cursed…

Nevermore had been a good escape. Five whole years just spent practicing his karmic magic in the cities in between the dungeon layers, years just fighting and improving his skills. Yet when he returned and wanted to ask his master if he was finally strong enough… he couldn’t bring himself to do it.

The question would mean he either had to fight or realized he still wasn’t able to win. Neither option was one he wanted, so Ms. Kim had suggested he try to understand what he was afraid of. Apparently, a direct investigation was not what she had meant, but it had worked well, and it wasn’t like he had just randomly decided on doing it as he did.

His master had approved and even recommended his approach.

Walking through the cavern, he soon reached its end as he stood before an underground pool of water. They were more than a hundred kilometers beneath the surface of the earth, below one of the independent cities William indirectly controlled.

Standing before the pool, he waited a few moments as William felt the approaching aura. All the beasts around him lowered themselves as he also felt the pressure mount as he gritted his teeth. Yet he was less affected than the others, as while what was approaching was a monster… he had felt worse.

The water before him rippled as a form emerged. A translucent being surrounded by wiggling tendrils extended all throughout the cavern the moment it appeared, the air heavy with mana. More accurately, space mana.

[Planeshifting Jellyfish – lvl ???]

It was a massive jellyfish with its tendrils hundreds of meters long, even if its own main body was no more than a few meters across. Furthermore, its form looked everchanging as it almost folded in upon itself, seemingly halfway between two dimensions.

A voice echoed in William’s mind as the powerful monster spoke to him:

“News do you bring, Disciple of Eversmile?”

The voice couldn’t be determined to be male or female, as the pitch changed with every word. The words themselves were telepathically transmitted but oddly made the air vibrate as odd sounds echoed throughout the cavern.

William was the only one who still stood unmoved before the form as he answered. “The cities still grow, and the Pylons grow with them. So while a beast horde could topple even some of the more powerful ones, it is not worth it at the current stage. Not before they’ve had more time to grow more. If it ever becomes worth the risk.”

“Humans will destroy us if we do not destroy them first,” the jellyfish insisted, space itself vibrating as William felt its anger.

“Can they? Do you really have any reason to fear humans? I am one of the most powerful humans on the planet, and am I a threat? Humans are only a threat if you force them to view you as one… in which case they will band together and become far more dangerous,” William explained for what felt like the twentieth time.

“Hence we wait. We have to wait. We grow as they grow. We prepare, so we will be ready.”

“Exactly,” William agreed. “For now, patience is the best decision. Has your Patron relayed anything new?”

“Patience… are also their words. So we wait… what do you need from me, Disciple?” it finally asked, getting to the crux of it.

The jellyfish was an odd creature, William not quite able to determine how intelligent it truly was. Or maybe it just had a thought process too far removed from humans. Either way, one thing was absolutely clear… when it came to space magic, it was a genius.

William pulled a small disc of metal out of his hand as he injected some mana into it and threw it into the air. It had barely left his hand as it was teleported away to who-knows-where by the jellyfish.

settlements on the planet, home to tens

more as William felt the movements of space mana. Then, out of the water, a stone platform more than thirty meters across rose with an incredibly intricate magic circle carved upon it. It was one William had used several times before, most recently to travel to Skyggen, and five years or so ago, to do what no

out of the

a powerful being but it had also been blessed by a god William did not know anything of. All he knew was that it was one of the best space mages on the planet and fully capable of not only teleporting him to nearly anywhere on the

William

answered. And it was the truth too. While Sanctdomo didn’t have the most powerful individuals on the planet, it was still the most dangerous city. The Holy

a

was in currently was linked to the ocean through a deep net of tunnels, allowing the C-rank to get inland somewhat, but it couldn’t go further than the cave they were in. Not yet,

something to do with their pledge to gain power so quickly. They had all

without contest, for there was more than one C-grade even in the immediate area. The jellyfish would only come by sparingly and swiftly teleport back if its domain was threatened, meaning it

to the jellyfish as he felt the space surrounding him begin to change. The metal disc he had given earlier included the coordinates of a

to scout the city and talk to the Augur – that Jacob guy. It would be a bit awkward considering their last meeting had resulted in William killing him, but something told him the religious fanatic didn’t care much. He was still going

desire any conflict with human settlements – at least the smarter ones didn’t. They instead wanted access to what the humans could supply and craft and

was just following what his master Eversmile had guided him to do. Ms. Kim had also supported it as it forced him to

and could be a good source of information. Additionally, he had learned some interesting things from the parents of the yellow-eyed

know if these two would provide useful information, but their karmic connection had to still exist even if they didn’t. Worst case, their memories, and impressions

where these people were, and his master had an odd approach to everything involving him. He would offer no actual help or useful advice but only subtle guidance, making

would be the Augur and

to a crescendo. He nodded towards

had tried many different strategies to avoid answering them in the past, and through trial and error, he had identified the most

was a master at attracting attention. However, now he would have to get on something else as it was the type

expectedly looked at Jake for

Jake answered as he quickly tried to change the subject. “But I did manage to become great friends

was a complete slam

Jake taking full advantage of

and then, later on,

that their actual names?”

before he answered. “They’ve never had any others,

who decided to name the city Haven because

shot back. “What does that even mean? You

Caleb answered. “Also,

sole decision to name

Hawkie? Really?” Maja came in, shaking her head. “You seriously named a hawk Hawkie… but why did you name the other one

Jake muttered.

dad chuckle from across the table as the judgemental gazes drilled into

Did you also have

it Sylphie,” Caleb

that’s a pretty good name and not that weird” Maja nodded in

asked as he looked at Jake, that damn smile still on

a hawk, duh,” Jake

“A what hawk?”