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.

Jake with great speed, even while injured. The demon warrior stayed

the human mage continued his ritual. The demon slammed his shield into the ground as it expanded and created a physical wall

took out Eternal Hunger and the Bloodfeast Dagger.

Eternal Hunger as 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

swordplay seems simple,

as he bulked up and grew nearly a meter in height. His muscles bulged as spikes erupted from his back,

but not faster. However, he had also clearly gotten way bulkier and resistant as Jake’s weapons didn’t cut as deep as before, and the healer was also still constantly helping

what his opponents were cooking up. He had no experience fighting fights like this and wanted to take this test as a learning

do? Jake kept brawling with this scalekin for a while longer, occasionally throwing an arcane spell

as Jake suddenly felt invisible attacks coming for him from everywhere. Like invisible chains bound his limbs, he suddenly felt himself be weighed down as he also began taking damage as it was clearly not simply a binding attack. Just then, the gunner was also ready as a giant explosion sounded out and a bullet

closed in for an attack, with the demon even charging towards him to follow up. It was

Most people.

his body exploded with energy, activating Arcane Awakening fully as his stats climbed and he was flooded with power. The first attack to arrive was the scalekin, as Jake dove forward into the blow. He allowed the large swordsman to hit him in the shoulder as Jake, in turn, grasped

Arcane Powershot, which showed as the scalekin was blasted away. Jake narrowly dodged the large

mage able to control them slightly. They dug in deeper as Jake felt his resources be drained, and he gritted his teeth as he was now certain it was a soul attack of some sort. It was

hand, was a bad target. He flooded certain parts of his own Soulshape with destructive arcane energy

Pride of the Malefic Viper bellowed out as he used Gaze on the group. The mental attack from Pride made them all falter slightly longer, giving Jake time to

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

idea from seeing the scalekin hit the colosseum wall that he would now put into motion. His hand was glowing green as he summoned his wings and flew forward, catching the healer by her face

direction, grinding her skull up against the fortified rock. The mage tried to stop him with the remaining chains, but Jake threw him another glance with Gaze as he

made four full revolutions around the arena within a few seconds, leaving a red line of blood around the perimeter

the notification didn’t include

four others,

you guys never played any MMOs? It’s a

they had actually been a bit surprised he appeared to struggle in the beginning until it became clear he was just testing

didn’t even have time to deploy more than that one tactic,” one of the

end, power always

does he possess?” a

all nine,” a fourth

He didn’t truly question if he could beat the seventh test either. No… his question was related to what came after. “What are

beastskin spoke up. “I am voting for allowing it… I want to see him fight that

sat in meditation after the fight was over, taking in whatever insights he had gained. Not that there was much… in