The Primal Hunter

The King and Jake’s fight had been equal in many ways, but in as many ways as it was equal, it was completely unbalanced. The King was stronger than Jake in some areas, that was clear. The King was also more durable than Jake for sure with that insane barrier, and had quite a few ridiculously powerful attacks… but he also only had ridiculously powerful attacks, outside of the usual telekinesis.

On the other hand, Jake won out big in speed and agility, as well as diversity. One could argue the King did not need it, but Jake would argue he did… because if it really came down to it, Jake would never lose to the King as he was now. Because if it ever got dangerous, he could always just leave. The King was like a mighty, almost stationary, tower that fired out telekinetic certain death, but was otherwise rooted.

Of course, the King still had that final soul attack, and if the King decided to use it with the intent to kill, Jake wasn’t sure he would survive. If he was hit, that is. He had not lied when he said he thought he could outrun it, especially if it triggered Moment of the Primal Hunter, as it no doubt would if it was a lethal attack.

The overall conclusion of the fight… one they both agreed with… neither could beat the other, yet neither doubted they could lose. The King noted that while Jake could continue to attack from range, the King would be able to wait him out and block or just flee by flying away while dodging.

“I still think I could find a way,” Jake commented, mainly to himself. If anything, a long enough fight would give him a chance to comprehend the King well enough to summon an Arrow of the Ambitious Hunter… a level of understanding he was still not at.

“And I have grounds to believe I can find ways to avoid losing, and at worst, assure mutual destruction,” the King countered, adding on almost smugly, “as killing you would be just that. Mutual destruction.”

Jake just shook his head at their childish conversation. He sat back in his chair and just relaxed as he stared at the sky. “How are you that strong anyway? Like… how many stats do you get per level in D-grade in total?”

“300 total,”the King answered, clearly seeing no purpose in hiding something like that.

“… what the actual fuck?” Jake blurted out as he sat up abruptly. “That is like… fucking insane.”

Jake got a total of 229 stats for his profession, class, and race put together per level. That is naturally not counting his “of the Malefic Viper” skills, but the King got more than he did even if he counted those. Heck… the maximum Jake could get – as his race was not upgradeable – was 249 stats total. And that was if he got a class giving a 100 per level and a profession giving 80, AKA perfection. His current ones that gave 74 and 86 were already fucking good. Heck, his profession was incredibly close to the cap.

Yet the King just had more. It was utterly bonkers.

Were Unique Lifeforms just so stupidly overpowered or what? But… even then… Jake still wasn’t sure how the King could match him. Maybe he had more stats per level, but Jake had all his titles, elixirs, equipment, and all of that stuff. That is why monsters gained more stats than Jake ever could as a human… because he had equipment to gain stats from.

But… 300 was the max, as in, the absolute maximum a monster could get per level in D-grade. It was one only a true pinnacle creature could get.

“This does make me wonder… do you have any titles?” he asked the King. He had to have some, right?

“A mere handful, only two of them of true consequence. One is naturally my title as a rightful King, and the other as a Unique Lifeform as the system has chosen to name me,” the King answered, really staying true to his politic of openness.

“Unique Lifeform is a title?” Jake asked, it actually making a lot of sense. It was maybe a bit like how the twelve Primordials were called Primordials due to their title, right? That all Unique Lifeforms were also united by that one title they all had in common. It did still make him wonder, though. “What does it do?”

“That, I will not answer, for there are secrets even I shall keep. But I will share that the primary function of it is the 50% bonus to all stats.”

that confirmed it. Unique Lifeforms were just fucking bullshit. Best stats, an absolutely overpowered title from birth, and what else? The King had never learned to fucking fight and didn’t seem like he had

somewhere,” Jake said, more or less just speaking

they do exist. Such as the inability for those as I to obtain the blessings of gods,” the Fallen King

a blessing, but one needed a pretty high-level one to even get stats. Maybe he also missed out on some

the King title? As in, the actual nobility title?” Jake suddenly recalled. The entire 50% title had been a bit more important in his head,

the King

admitted. Heck, he was pretty damn sure they couldn’t. He had tried to give Sylphie a nobility

I did not obtain it, but I did upgrade it as I conquered my weak world. I was known as the Lord of the Forest back then and only adopted the moniker of King after I gained the title. And while I am still a King, I no longer dare proclaim myself the owner of any domain,” the Unique Lifeform answered, explaining some things Jake quite frankly just found

the hell was one born a noble? Some Unique Lifeform bullshit? Also… how did he change his

Like, I know you are a

identification skill?” the King asked admonishingly. “Or are you merely confused that I do not find myself constrained to a single name? Why does that concept confuse a human? Does your race not possess endless names for other

The name is something different… it’s just something we call each other. You know, to know the difference between people and know who we are talking about,” Jake answered, wondering why

one of your race, then would the name you chose to adopt not merely be synonymous with your race? Does the distinction matter when there is

Huh. Wait… were gods the same? Was that why their names were more or less just their titles or what people called them or whatever? There was only a single god like them too, and as far as Jake knew, you didn’t just get simply get a “god” from identifying

have an agreement, right? No fucking with each other or the other’s business for unnecessary

part, I shall look into a solution on my lonesome. I forged the bond, and I shall be the one to find a method of breaking it. All it will require

idea how long it will

effect of surpassing you in level or even if it is possible either,” the Unique Lifeform explained, adding on. “In the meantime, I see no purpose for us to stay shackled to one another in anything but soul. I have

Aren’t we linked? What are the restrictions?” Jake asked for

of my power. The two masks are forever bound, space mattering little before a bond of absolute concept. But I shall keep my word and am not ignorant to that I owe you, so use the mask to bring me if you require my assistance. Additionally, I know the location

asked after hearing the lengthy

constant connection of which I could influence you at all times. Invade your dreams, shape your thoughts, and influence your emotions. Such a connection holds a lot of power, which you humans seem

my Patron is trying to control me, he is doing a pretty damn

unable to detect

change the topic. “So, as you plan on going on

of now… you must understand; It has been a long time since I was anywhere with anything worth battling. On this planet, there exist creatures I cannot defeat, armies worth of beasts

encouragement. “Then go dominate some innocent place. Just don’t slaughter any human settlements or humans in general. The fact that we are connected will come out eventually, and I would prefer to avoid being

of a human over another race? Ah, I guess that is simply another trait of you ordinary lifeforms. But I shall take my leave and leave your ilk alone if possible. As for you, I would recommend

a small bead was formed, looking like a golden metal ball with black streaks running through it.

empower your soul, giving resistance to outside