The Primal Hunter

Jake quickly took out the token to begin the sixth combat test. The fifth one had honestly been too easy, but then again, the huge thing was incredibly ill-matched against Jake. It just relied on being big and unapproachable, which just made a massive target for Jake.

When he activated the token, the environment shifted again. He once more found solid ground beneath him as he saw structures form all around. Within a moment, he stood within a huge colosseum of some kind more than five hundred meters across and with a magical barrier sealing him in.

A gate at the far end opened as five figures appeared. Jake frowned when he saw them.

It was five humanoids also wearing differing equipment. From what he could tell, it was two women and three men with a scalekin at the lead with a sword in hand. The ones behind were a female elf in a robe holding a staff, a human also wearing a robe, a demon in full plate armor, and a female beastkin with what looked like a rifle. Jake used Identify as he instantly understood.

[Human – lvl 156]

[Elf – lvl 160]

[Scalekin – lvl 162]

[Demon – lvl 159]

[Beastkin – lvl 160]

It was a battle to pit the testee against a full party of fighters - a healer, a tank, and three damage dealers able to strike at both melee and range. As Jake looked at them, they didn’t speak or emote at all, but their movements were clearly that of sapient people as the healer began casting some magic that coated them all in a green aura.

Jake decided for once to not take this too casually. He had little to no experience fighting teams despite being a mid-tier D-grade, and this group was clearly one made to test his ability to handle such a group.

Arcane Awakening activated at 30% as he took out his bow right off the bat and released a barrage of explosive arrows, jumping backward. Just as he did so, the demon warrior stepped in the front and took out a shield that summoned a barrier around its edges that expanded and totally blocked the explosions in tandem with the healer’s defenses.

While jumping back, Jake began charging Arcane Powershot as he took aim for the healer of the group. The logic of always killing the healer first was a tried and true logic that he would naturally follow. The enemy gunner also returned fire as the scalekin raised his blade and exploded with some aura that left a faint sheen on the body of everyone present.

The human mage seemed to begin some ritual as a large magic seal was formed right behind him, and Jake heard some kind of chanting. There was a lot to keep track of at once, and Jake wanted to quickly seize the momentum.

He released the Arcane Powershot just before a bullet arrived from the enemy gunner. Jake quickly made a shield with his hand as the bullet impacted it and exploded in a frosty white mist, creating ice on the stable arcane barrier.

His Arcane Powershot shot forward with incredible momentum as the demon warrior once more stepped forward to block. Jake used Gaze on him as the demon froze. Annoyingly so, the scalekin warrior stepped in, and just straight-up took the arrow with his own body as he was blasted back.

It seemed like a good thing for Jake, but the healer quickly reacted as the scalekin began visibly healing. He also noticed something else… the scales on the scalekin weren’t the usual kind. They had a dark green color, as Jake instantly recognized Scales of the Malefic Viper.

speed, even while injured. The demon warrior stayed with the

and Jake saw the gunner begin charging some attack as the human mage continued his ritual. The demon slammed his shield into the ground as it expanded and created a physical wall between Jake and the ranged fighters. The healer could still

the barrier wouldn’t be easy, forcing Jake to engage the scalekin a bit as he took out Eternal

they found themselves equally matched in strength. The poison from the blade did seep a bit into Jake, but he didn’t care. The swordsman moved his blade as he tried to do a feint, but Jake blocked as he moved in and cut with his dagger. The scalekin tried to counter, but Jake dodged under the blade as he himself attacked the swordsman’s

his swordplay seems simple, Jake thought as he knew

bulged as spikes erupted from his back, all

came out on top. His opponent had gotten stronger, but not faster. However, he had also clearly gotten way bulkier and resistant as Jake’s weapons didn’t cut as

up. He had no experience fighting fights like this and wanted to take

can you do? Jake kept brawling with this scalekin for a while longer, occasionally throwing an arcane spell in the direction of the demon’s shield until finally, the gunner and mage were

invisible chains bound his limbs, he suddenly felt himself be weighed down

demon even charging towards him to follow up. It was all a masterfully planned attack that would no

Most people.

into the blow. He allowed the large swordsman to hit

huge swordsman failed to resist as Jake used the scalekin as a shield against the gunner’s powerful attack. It rivaled Jake’s own Arcane Powershot, which showed as the scalekin was blasted away. Jake narrowly

resources be drained, and he gritted his teeth as he was now certain it was

level utterly unable to move. Jake, on the other hand, was a bad target. He flooded certain parts of his own Soulshape with destructive arcane energy as he weakened the chains

used Gaze on the group. The mental attack from Pride made them all falter slightly longer, giving Jake time to draw his bow and fire an Arcane Powershot

chaos as he used One Step Mile forward. The healer was struck by the Arcane Powershot but managed

idea from seeing the scalekin hit the colosseum wall that he would now put into motion. His hand was glowing green as

Malefic Viper going as he dragged her across the wall in a clockwise direction, grinding her skull up against the fortified rock. The mage tried to stop him with the remaining chains, but Jake threw

help too, but Jake was too fast as he made four full revolutions around the arena within a few seconds, leaving

as the notification came. Disappointingly, the notification

attention to the four others, who

guys never played any MMOs? It’s a wipe

proceeded. It was one-sided from the start, and they had actually been a bit surprised he appeared to struggle in the

even have time to deploy more than that one tactic,” one

the end, power always wins out,” another

does he

a fourth

observed. He didn’t have many comments anymore. He didn’t truly question if he could beat the seventh test either. No… his question was related to what came after. “What are the chances he can do the elective level?” he asked

“I am voting for

over, taking in whatever insights he had gained. Not that there was much… in his first real attack, he had killed the healer, so yeah, that was boring. Oh, and speaking of gains: he