The Primal Hunter

Jake collected himself as he entered the booth again, shaking his head.

“That is that same thing…” Felicia muttered once he was inside.

“Yeah, it is,” Roman nodded.

“Is that the personification of the system?” Miranda asked curiously.

“Thinking about it is a waste of time… it simply is,” Jake just answered. “Trying to understand the ununderstandable will only lead to understanding what it wants you to understand.”

“That made no fucking sense,” Roman muttered.

“Neither does an omnipotent system taking a human-like form to hold an Auction for a bunch of D-grades,” Jake countered.

“Good point, I guess,” he answered. “But why is that damn thing not talking?”

“Because we are,” Jake guessed. When no one else said anything… the system entity began talking.

“This auction round has been awarded to the denizens of Earth due to exemplary performance during the Treasure Hunt event. All bidding will take place using Credits. All possibilities of borrowing Credits are no longer available. Only individuals who participated in the final phase of the Treasure Hunt will be allowed to bid during this round. Without further delay, let the auction begin.”

The moment it stopped talking, Jake registered it was as if everyone attending the event had heard it at the same time, even if clearly some like their group had made the entity delay. Time… does not work as it should. Perhaps reality itself is entirely controlled.

But focusing on the matter at hand, Jake was happy to see that the bidding was limited to participants of the final phase and that the borrowing option was gone. Hopefully, it would allow Jake not to waste as much money if something good did appear.

He was unsure what to expect as the being down on the central platform summoned the first item.

“The first item is a Heart of Darkness. This item can be used to improve skills of the dark affinity and works best with ones using purely the dark affinity. The bidding starts at two hundred million Credits.

This time, it appeared that they would not be shown simply through a system interface but be shown in reality. Due to this, Jake considered leaving the booth to get a better feel for the item, but just when he thought it, it was as if the entire frontal window of the booth disappeared and mana washed in. It was still blocking the outside from looking in, but it seemed like it allowed everything else to enter.

The first item looked like an impossibly black fruit about the size of an apple, and the mana that washed into the booth from the outside was purely black mana, far denser and potent than anything he had ever felt before, even than in the chamber with the Umbral Lotus.

Jake identified the item on offer… and it truly set the stage for this part of the auction event.

[Heart of Darkness (Unique)] – A Heart of Darkness offered directly by the system due to Earth’s performance during the Treasure Hunt event. Consume the Heart of Darkness to be filled with an intense amount of dark energy and experience potent Records of the affinity itself. Will greatly assist in improving any skill using dark mana. Uses remaining: 3/3

Requirement: D-grade

Without knowing for sure, Jake had a feeling this kind of item wasn’t just valuable by Earth standards, but on a multiversal level. The potential to upgrade a skill was nearly invaluable, especially considering how much the Viper praised Jake’s Path of the Heretic Chosen. To consume an item that would allow one to do that, not just once, but three times?

of Shadows. Maybe even Jake himself a little. However, while Jake could use it for sure… then he wasn’t going to bet on it. One reason was that his brother needed it more, and the other was that the price had already reached nine hundred million Credits,

few independent factions were also bidding, as well as the undead also wanting it. Jake just sat back, a part of him feeling lucky one could no longer borrow money, as

to leave when given a chance to before the Monarch appeared. This still left thousands to bid, but as people couldn’t borrow money, then, in reality, it was only a select few with enough resources to

or motions, a second item appeared. This one was a floating crystal, reminding

hundred and fifty million Credits. Be warned that using a Dungeon Core

directly by the system due to Earth’s performance during the Treasure Hunt event. This Dungeon Core is of the intermediate level and can support monster spawning up to low-tier C-grade. Must

Requirements: Soulbound

it was almost a joke. Jake knew the value of Dungeon Cores simply due to random talks with Villy. A Dungeon Core allowed one to create their own true dungeon. Not just a subdimension, but one with all the dungeon features, including

still more than enough for any faction to

attempt to

just shook her head. “We have no Dungeon Engineers among us, and we already have a

“Then don’t mind if I give it a shot… the resale value alone makes

reaching over a billion. At that point, Sultan had already bowed out, too stingy to truly invest. It was down to the Holy Church and the Risen bidding against each other, with Casper

system being said the moment it had sold the core. A

items before had seemed aimed at specific people, now it

Earth’s performance during the Treasure Hunt event. This necklace holds a vast storage within of pure vital energy and can store incredible amounts more. Allows the user to use this vital energy to create a shield around the soul, protecting against soul and mental attacks. Infusing the vital energy storage with power is a slow and arduous process. Enchantments:

lvl 130+ in any humanoid race.

lot of health himself for his level, and yet he only had a measly thirty thousand compared to the required

thirteen million Credits, the price only going as high as it did as others purposefully increased the price. Jake didn’t, as he saw no reason to annoy the guy and knew the pain of assholes forcing you to spend more Credits on items you would obviously need. It was a no-brainer that the madman would buy it. His biggest

Eron was

starts at fifty million Credits,” the system said as the second shameless display appeared. It was a simple-looking scabbard that

and slowly bond with the blade, taking on properties related to it. This scabbard will protect the blade from any damage, slowly repair it from any damage taken, and consistently keep it in peak condition. While the blade is sheathed, it will be infused with energy from the scabbard based on the blade’s

Requirements: N/A

not an item

had been selling. The price quickly climbed, and it ended up going for three-hundred and seventy-seven million Credits. Jake

had just gotten something, so surely it was Jake’s

master, while only a burden for those without the

was happy for his friend. The spike was able to improve the power of any curse channeled through it and could even replicate itself. It looked like a perfect weapon for the Risen and his curse powers in all ways. He also learned that using curses wasn’t that mainstream as the price only went up to a

are gloves made for those who prefer to use their fists, viewing their own body as the best

and made all melee attacks better, but more than that, they would originally

Surely, it was Jake’s

to give up their own life for

event. This shield is incredibly durable, and anything blocked releases a pulse of healing energy, restoring health to everyone around the user. Does not heal the user. As a true martyr, sacrifice your own life energy to restore the health of another. The user can also

Requirements: Soulbound

but powerful, so it was only fair he also got an item. Though Jake found the entire naming and sentiment of the shield a bit funny… is it really martyrdom to sacrifice

it because

certain

eighth item is a