The Primal Hunter

Once every person had gotten their tokens, there was just one more round of orientation before all the students would be let loose. Jake followed behind again as they were all led back to the old waiting chamber and quickly went into new “camps” of sorts based on the level of their tokens. It was a bit odd in Jake’s mind to put yourself into a box based on colored crystal tokens.

“So, as a final thing, let’s have a small orientation,” the succubus began once everyone was back in position. “Let us start with some basic ground rules of the Order of the Malefic Viper, more specifically, the rules while part of the Academy. Do note that the Academy is but one branch of the whole Order, and entry into the Academy also means membership of the Order, so you will all have these imposed on you while on Order ground.

“Membership of the Order and Academy can naturally be rescinded at any point by you or as punishment if you break any rules.”

With those words, a large screen was projected in front of all of them with a small list of six rules.

1. Guests of the Order of the Malefic Viper shall be treated as members for all subsequent rules.

2. Killing any member of the Order within common grounds is strictly prohibited. Killing any member of the Order within their own or a residence they have been allowed access to is strictly prohibited.

3. Destruction of property is strictly prohibited and will result in severe punishment partly determined by the damaged party. Slaves, pets, servants, and other auxiliary living creatures under the control of a member of the Order fall under the umbrella of property. If these creatures break any rules, the owner will be punished accordingly.

4. Theft of property from any member of the Order is strictly prohibited.

5. Unauthorized entry into the residence of another member of the Order is heavily disincentivized and can lead to punishment.

6. Any case of perceived injustice can be brought to an Order official, and it will be processed. Punishment will, if proven correct, be subjectively determined. If the plaintiff is found in the wrong, punishment will be served upon them instead for wasting the official’s time.

Jake read them over and was surprised at how little there was and how basic it was. It was basically just saying not to kill, steal or destroy the stuff of others and if any of these things – or anything else you didn’t like – happened to you, to just go complain to an official and hope they take your side or get fucked yourself.

“The rules are purposefully simple as honestly having a long list serves little purpose. Ah, and before anyone gets any fancy ideas, then guardians of the Order are always present and actively observing any non-residence at all times, so assassination attempts tend to not work very well. Now, any questions?” Irin explained as she asked with a light smile.

An elf in the room raised their hand as she acknowledged him. “What happens if a servant acts of their own volition and breaks one of the rules?”

“Depends entirely on what happens and how the judge in question feels that day. If they think you had something to do with it, everything from being told it was a fun idea to getting your entire homeworld destroyed can happen,” Irin shrugged.

A few hands were instantly raised at that as the succubus took the initiative to explain.

“While these rules exist, don’t think for a moment they are absolute. Punishment is entirely determined by those in power, and with enough influence and power, you can do borderline anything. You can’t all seriously think anything would happen if an A-grade feels annoyed and decides to erase some weak white token D-grade academy student, can you?”

She chuckled a bit at the sentiment, but the mood in the waiting room did not seem to agree with her as people now looked a bit more worried than before. Reika also frowned, and the only ones who looked relatively relaxed were Jake, Draskil, and the Risen.

death, and chances are they will get a slight punishment, like paying a fine or

this part as she referred to the

the Malefic One himself, or perhaps just someone subordinate to the great

as a few others. In fact, most leaders of factions had low-level blessings from the Viper, but all of them besides Jake and Draskil had only the Minor one. Jake acted like he also had only a

shouldn’t mess with. If you feel like things aren’t fair or work as they should, get strong enough to fix it or adapt,

scalekin of some sort raised her hand and asked: “How will

package within

of silence as everyone clearly scanned their tokens not to ask any more questions, only to have them be shut down. Jake did the same thing, but

with three stars or higher located?” one of the leaders with a gold token asked. Jake guessed gold meant either high-end three-star performance or maybe early four-star too? Either way, gold surely had to

formations and spatially expanded,” Irin answered. “Also, to answer the obvious follow-up, your token is already linked to your residences, and simply by activating any of the gates spread throughout, you can enter it. The token is also used to leave it again. Each residence is placed

answer a question many had, but someone else did raise their hand:

also giving ample space to house your servants or followers. It is also entirely possible for those with residences to

her head. He wanted to see

had never tried living with a woman before besides his

orientation only continued for a few more minutes as some more simple questions were asked. After that, a few people began going around and talking to others,

signature bound to the inherent mana and soul signature of the other person owning the token, making it far more secure and borderline impossible for

Jake decided to keep calling it a number as that

other humans, but he declined all of them. Draskil was once more the first to leave without getting any numbers as he went over to a wall with

out. All of the Risen went together to one residence, it appeared, while Jake had a brief talk with Reika where he learned she would be with the one other bronze token alchemist

everything handled, Jake said his goodbyes as he went over to a wall. Before he left, Irinixis quickly came over and stood beside him. “I wish you a good time in

that she didn’t show the other people with outstanding performances. She hadn’t tried this with Draskil or any of the Risen but seemed to only focus on him. Maybe

It was instinctual and easy to do with the token, and when he stepped through, he didn’t feel any discomfort or even movement

lush green courtyard before him with a large house standing atop some stairs. It had a black glass façade, and Jake instantly felt

for potions, he noted. Entire flowerbeds were lining the perimeter of the house with a large

common areas were gone. In there, the only one he knew was still looking from the outside was a certain snake god. So that was nice for privacy, as at least there were no longer a dozen hidden powerhouses looking

the bright sun and a blue sky above. He instinctively knew it was not a real

took his time to inspect the house himself as he walked closer. Mind you, he needed to walk closer as the walkway

continuing. Tiled floors, concrete walls, glass facades. He even saw modern-looking furniture, but he didn’t really consider it as he also spotted someone in

the house, only to be met with a large open hall with a tall ceiling with several large sculptures giving off light hanging from it. However, what he focused on

said as she knelt on the ground. Jake instantly used

[Elf – lvl 109]

usual pointed ears and a generally slender build too. She was wearing a white dress that didn’t cover as much as it probably should, and the way she was pressing her