The Primal Hunter

Jake had tried quite a few teleportation methods during his time in the system. The best kind was the one done by the system in that he didn’t even feel it. It was just a blink, and you suddenly found yourself somewhere new.

Teleportation circles were a bit rougher but also quite convenient. One Step Mile was a bit rougher than that, but Jake had gotten so used to it the skill that he barely noticed it. It also wasn’t really teleportation but more just shrinking space between himself and his target.

However… the teleportation when he was dragged from the ninety-third Universe was something entirely different from anything he had ever tried before. Jake felt like his entire body unraveled as he was consumed by darkness. He found himself within a vast void of nothingness for at least a few seconds, and while in there, all his senses went amok.

Jake was forced to close his eyes and try to seal off his senses, but while in that void, in the final moment, he felt like something else was there. Something else than Villy’s attention landed on him, and Jake failed to resist looking off to the side where he saw-

Jake woke up with a start as he frantically looked around him, but a headache made him lie back down as he groaned in pain.

To his side sat Villy in a squat as he flicked Jake’s forehead. “Shouldn’t stare at Void Dwellers, mate.”

Jake brought his hands to his forehead, now bleeding from that damn flick. “What the actual fuck was that?”

“I just told you, it was a Void Dweller,” Villy answered with a shrug. “You know, dwellers of the void between universes, eldritch beings of unimaginable power, many of which with power to rival even the most powerful of gods, including me.”

“Wait, for real?”

Villy just smirked. “Where else do you think gods and even Primordials get in a good bout? Ah, but don’t bother thinking about them quite yet; you can’t even survive in the void without being a god yourself first. Usually, you don’t even have to pass through the void like that, but as I said, weird workarounds were used to speed up the process of getting you here. Ah, but no worries, you were actually never in any danger. I doubt the system would have let you die within the void even without my protection, as that would mean an outside force – me – would have killed you. I reckon it would rather just shield your soul from destruction. Case-in-point, you didn’t die by looking at the Void Dweller. Mortals usually die when looking at Void Dwellers.”

Jake just groaned again as his headache was slowly subsiding. “Man, I am already beginning to regret coming here.”

“You were just personally invited and brought by, and to, your honored Patron god, and you complain?” Villy said, shaking his head in disappointment. “That is some peak heresy right there. At the very least blasphemy of the highest level.”

“Wow, imagine not licking ass being considered blasphemy,” Jake chuckled as he finally sat up properly. “In all seriousness, thanks for the lift, I guess? What was all the fuss about now that I’m here?”

“I need measurements for your school uniform.”

Jake raised an eyebrow. “I call bullshit. As a so-called preacher of freedom, I seriously doubt you would limit the fashion and self-expression of those in the Order.”

Villy protested: “We do have uniforms for members.”

“That you didn’t make, but they just began using over time, and you never bothered to do anything about it. Because honestly, that would just be a waste of time. Also, it was their own choice to adopt uniforms, to begin with, and there are conveniences to being recognized. I got that right?” Jake asked pointedly.

“See, now you are acting way more like a Chosen by actually understanding my teachings,” the Viper grinned. “But yeah, yeah, Nah, no school uniform needed… unless you want one? I could totally make that a thing in the Academy; we could even have mini-ski-“

“No,” Jake cut him off. “Just… no.”

“Killjoy,” Villy said with a fake sad expression. “Guess we’ll just have to actually do some practice and teaching and stuff. And here I hoped we could design school uniforms together… I guess you are also against holding a school festival, even if you can be in charge of the haunted house?”

“Oh no, I am totally up for that, as long as I can throw a bedsheet over your head and toss you in there,” Jake agreed sarcastically.

fully aware I could just

dedication and concentration,” Jake insisted. “We must have Duskleaf

beginning to get on board with this,” Villy nodded. “We can even go all-out and even kidnap

and you can

slayer of joy strikes once more,” the Viper said, dejected. “Alright, let’s move on.

after the

of a window as his eyes

the hell

taller and larger than anything built on Earth had ever been. There were no architectural rules, as some were high-rises of

Or, more accurately, you are in a tower connected to the Order and looking out over the city belonging to it,” Villy explained as he

horizon. He couldn’t see the end of the city… and mind you, this was without

many live here?”

trillions,” the god

is this where all the members of the Order live?”

all the poor people live, and this tower only exists to lord over them while serving as a conduit of the defensive barrier

are indeed basement-dwelling nerds, huh?

by the way, the Academy is also down there, so you will go eventually. But first, follow me and stop gawking out the window,”

had been a while since Jake actually met the Viper, and he had evolved an entire grade since, but it didn’t really allow him to detect jack shit. He did know the Viper wasn’t actively suppressing his aura as Jake felt it, but as usual, it didn’t really

Viper’s body, and staring at them, he felt like they looked slightly different than his own scales. Even if they were based on the same thing, the scales on

a while until they went into a new room. Jake’s Sphere of Perception was slightly

was a simple room with a few measuring devices, beds, and for some reason, mirrors and what looked like telescopes lining

as well as two bottles of beer. Jake happily dove in, but he noticed something when he

is poisoned?”

knowledge. These poisons don’t need to be strong, but just interesting, and often weak variants are used.

doing something like that,” Jake nodded, suddenly

but a merchant of your city does. Ah, but one piece of advice, I would generally avoid drinking or eating anything offered by

cup. His danger sense reacted a bit as he was about to drink it, but not to a very high level, making him aware it was far from deadly. The taste was surprisingly good. Amazingly good, actually, and the aftertaste left by the poison

Jake a bit suspiciously but just

Jake said as he took another

your fair share in the future. This batch was made

raised an eyebrow.

didn’t use names. He had never said Chris, Miranda, Hank, Sylphie, Reika, or used the names of any of the other people around him. So him

“One of Snappy’s kids.”

“… he has kids?”

said. “Mate, the Holy Mother, has like a thousand currently living children, and at

you have kids

smile disappeared. He soon regained it as he shook his head. “I… did. But anyway, yeah,