The Primal Hunter

Jake had many questions and doubts as he stood before the vampire. First of all, why was the Patriarch of the Nalkar Family there, and not just some lower-level leader? Heck, why was there a leader to begin with? Even if Jake assumed the vampires just placed a lot of importance on history and lineage, this still seemed like overkill.

Based on the line of questioning, it was possible they suspected him of being more than he represented himself as. The poking into his views on the Viper’s return seemed very deliberate, as if they wanted him to reveal something, but even that made little sense. If Jake was the Chosen, would using lie-detection and trying to make him reveal his identity be a smart choice and not just one that would piss him off?

No matter the case, the Patriarch was willing to negotiate, and he did seem interested in the Alchemy Token.

“An old relic perhaps, but still one that would be honored,” Jake answered. “The Order of the Malefic Viper would undoubtedly adhere to its promise, making it more than just an interesting trinket.”

“While true, we do not need such a token to enter the Order anymore. It was of a time when we Nalkar were spread all over the multiverse, and to enter the Order was a sign of success. Now, all the Nalkar able to join are all members already, making the primary function of the token null,” Fairleigh said.

Jake couldn’t really argue with the fact that they could enter without the token, but he still knew the vampire wanted it. The current act of downplaying the value of the Alchemy Token was only proof to Jake that the Nalkar were interested. If they weren’t, why bother and not just buy it cheaply and be done with it, and if Jake refused, then just tell him to bugger off? At least, that is what Jake was banking on.

“In that case, perhaps it would be better to save it and find Nalkar unassociated with the Order,” Jake sighed as he faked disappointment.

Fairleigh looked at Jake and smiled. “Please, let us stay in the realm of honesty. While that was no outright lie, we are both aware of the value such an item holds to my family. Even if it is not purely based on the benefits it offers, but the sentimental value. In fact… come, let me show you something.”

Jake couldn’t even resist as he was forcefully teleported and appeared within a massive chamber of sorts. On a second look, it reminded him more of a museum, with glass containers and complicated magic arrays guarding many mundane items spread throughout.

“Remembering history has always been important to our kin. Perhaps we merely enjoy living in the glory of the past, or maybe it is a way to not repeat our mistakes. Either way, we preserve, and we collect. That token you hold may not be a treasure to most, but to us, it is invaluable,” Fairleigh explained.

Looking around, Jake saw a lot of rather, well, boring items. One area had a dining set sealed away, another section was filled with old paintings and pictures, and a third was bookshelves stacked upon bookshelves with old books in them.

“We have items from all eras, even some from before our fall. In fact, we value anything from before then, as it speaks of what once was, and the Records it contains matter. Perhaps not to you or anyone else not of our lineage, but to us, there is power in history,” he continued his explanation as he went over and pointed out what looked like a fountain pen.

“This pen was used by a scholar of the sixth Era to write letters back to his family. It managed to reach epic rarity back in the day but has returned to a mundane item after this long. Items such as that Alchemy Token have yet to return to mundanity but still contain such powerful Records, making it even more valuable.”

Jake nodded along as he couldn’t help but think about the ludicrous amount of resources expelled by that one chamber he was in. It was humongous, larger than any museum Jake had ever seen or heard of on Earth. At the same time, it was incredibly densely packed, with every single item sealed away with incredibly powerful and intricate formations. These formations were able to freeze time itself for the item and allow them not to turn to dust through the passage of time.

“Tell me, do you find our obsession with the past foolish?” the vampire finally asked him.

“No, not really,” Jake shrugged. He had never been the type himself to collect old antiques or care much for cultural inheritances, but he knew it was a perfectly normal hobby. “Even on my planet before the system arrived, we collected pieces of history, families had heirlooms they warded with their lives, and I know of at least one old man who picked up an old heirloom his clan possessed and turned it into a monstrous weapon.”

“But you seem to not personally share the sentiment?” Fairleigh asked once more.

“No,” Jake shook his head. “While I do understand placing sentimental value on objects, I rarely do it. Not that I entirely avoid it… I still have the first potions I ever crafted stowed away, and all the equipment I wear I earned myself one way or another. I do value these items more than they are necessarily worth and value some more than others, but that is due to the story of how I got them.”

tell me, what kind of compensation are you seeking in return for the token? It cannot merely be the extra alchemical ingredient associated with enrollment. If it was, you

Jake said. Vampires were damn good at hemotoxins. A massive surprise that vampires, wielding blood

“And?” Fairleigh asked.

need this improved. I know the Nalkar Family have long been part of the Order, so I assume I am correct when I believe you can do

of metal attuned to the space-affinity, holding a spacegem in place. Allows the user to store items in a small pocket dimension found within the gem. Due to the

convenience, it was at the top as nothing beat spatial storages. However, Jake was also

a better spatial storage, probably even one with the same Alchemist’s Spatial Storage enchantment. Maybe not as good, but at least close. It had to be noted that each person could only hold one spatial storage item under normal circumstances, so Jake couldn’t have swapped

was for purely sentimental reasons. Jake had to admit he had briefly considered if upgrading the item was

he looked at the necklace. “Truly ancient craftsmanship, incredible attention to detail, and that stone used… I am amazed someone would choose to give that to someone

nodding. “Finding a suitable crafter should be possible; we have some

want to make sure there are no risks of breaking it if

of breaking that item, we would have our new Patriarch or Matriarch in the making. You seem to not fully comprehend. That item was made by someone far above C-grade and was then directly modified by the system to be in its current form, sealing away the Records and power within. An incredibly

more. “Yeah, I was lucky to find one

alchemy?” the vampire asked

or less,” Jake said,

A moment later, he dispelled it again. “The young lad who brought you here has been tasked with fetching a suitable jeweler I have in mind. Now tell me, you went to a realm known as Yalsten? I must confess it is not a name I am familiar with, but we had many

had been preserved and filled to the brim with valuable-looking and expensive objects. Furniture, paintings, candle holders, chandeliers, pretty much all of the fancy stuff the Yalsten vampires loved. For some reason, Jake had decided to just gather all of the fanciness because why the hell not? He needed furniture for back

in front of

it as his eyes opened wide. “This… did

a chamber of sorts that looked to have

dates back dozens of

Jake said. Based on the Monarch of Blood, the Viper had not gone into isolation yet when Yalsten fell, and Jake knew Villy had done that during the seventh Era. So, naturally, this item had to

asked. “I will have to have a chronomancer confirm the exact age, but we would be more

not wanting

exclaimed, letting a bit of

around and noticed how most

need a

in many places at once was helpful, but he

alone. And no, it was not Duskleaf

your presence to your kin,” the Viper said to the woman sitting

was utterly monstrous, I see little reason to bless a lowly F-grade as you did and not wait for him to at least reach B or A-grade.

Vilastromoz turned and

backtracked. Failing to realize the reaction she just had was a big part of the reason why Vilastromoz liked Jake. He would