The Primal Hunter

There were few kinds of people in this world Carmen hated. Scratch that, there were a lot of people she hated, but some she hated far more than others. Towards the top of that last was anyone who reminded her of a certain someone. Someone who relied solely on their status, their family or backing, or whatever else vain bullshit to lord over others. In fact, she just hated people who liked throwing their weight around to have others do what they wanted if they couldn’t even back up their words.

Carmen had entered Ambermill like any other small Pylon-less settlement. It was relatively large for not having a Pylon, and due to its proximity to Haven, there weren’t many strong monsters around. This made Ambermill a popular place to settle down. She didn’t get why they didn’t travel the rest of the way to the Fort, but oh well.

She saw no problems with any of that. No, the problems came later.

Carmen had been on the road for around three days without any rest and seriously needed a god damn shower before making it the rest of the way. It would take her only an hour to reach Haven from Ambermill, so she decided it was a good place to get all the things done to not look like a hobo when she finally made it there.

The first thing she noticed upon entering Ambermill was the presence of several people wearing what looked like police uniforms. Way too many of them. She considered if maybe they had some problems with crime, and in the beginning, they seemed nice enough. Carmen had gained a ring that helped hide her level, and she was just asked to not make trouble as she entered. One of them even pointed her toward a motel.

So far, so good.

She had barely managed to settle down and get a room when she noticed some commotion outside. Looking out the window, she saw several people being rounded up by the police from a nearby house in what looked like the slum quarters. Carmen naturally failed to hold herself back, and without even taking a shower, she had gone to investigate. However, the owner of the motel stopped her and said curfew was in place and to please return to her room until morning.

So Carmen slipped out a window instead and followed after the people from the house, and when a police officer saw her, he yelled at her to join the group. She complied to figure out what was going on as she blended into the crowd. Something she did easily as she was still wearing a dirty cloak and hadn’t had time to clean herself up.

They were all led to a large building. Carmen tried to talk to some of the other people, but they looked at her like she was insane for just attempting, and the police officers also gave her a stern warning that talking was not allowed before they made it to the hall to “not wake up the ones sleeping.”

Who the fuck still slept?

Carmen found this ordeal incredibly fishy, and she instantly concluded that some nefarious cult or something like that existed in this small town. Looking at the other people with her, she noticed it was primarily women and children, with a few young men also present.

For some reason, the mood did seem generally positive despite the secretive methods. Carmen decided to not act out as they all entered a large hall before the door was closed, and she felt isolation barriers be activated.

“Welcome, everyone,” a suited man said as he went up on a stage. Everyone around looked at him with mixed feelings, and she detected outright hatred from some of those present. Plenty of killing intent, too, something she had gotten very sensitive to due to her heritage. So, not a popular figure. Got it.

“I apologize for bringing you all here on such short notice, but we just got word that Haven and Sanctdomo opened up their borders once more, and we have been allowed slots to send people there,” the man on the stage said, making many in the crowd sigh in relief.

“We had to do this secretly as the slots are limited, and I am not blind to the struggles of those less fortunate. This is an opportunity for those deemed worthy of joining a powerful faction and finally get a stable and safe home with wealth and comfort,” the man continued. “Representatives of Sanctdomo and Haven are both here, so please, apply if you are interested in this opportunity.”

Needless to say, this entire shit was getting shadier as fuck by the second. However, the people around her seemed excited, making her doubt herself.

“Hey… this is my first time hearing of this. Is this for real?” Carmen asked a woman with her young daughter right next to her.

The woman smiled and answered. “It happens once a week or so and is always secretly. An open secret I guess. I heard it is to not cause too much dissatisfaction or something as normally only women and children are allowed to join the powerful factions. I do find it mighty kind of them to help us.”

“Can’t you just go to Haven or Sanctdomo without getting a slot or whatever?” Carmen asked, a bit confused.

“No, of course not; you need to be invited, or you will be get rejected at the gates. That is why they send these representatives out to other smaller towns,” the woman answered, shaking her head. “Don’t worry, though; I am sure you will get selected.”

Carmen nodded as she just went with the flow as people were brought to interview rooms one by one. A few people returned dejected, while some didn’t return, having been selected according to what others said. She just stood around as soon enough, an officer went over to her. “It is your turn. Good luck.”

Curious, Carmen walked into the interview room and saw a man and a woman sitting at a table with a few chairs in front. Looking about, she saw that three other women were there together with her, all around her own age from the looks of it.

She took a seat as the man at the table began talking, first introducing himself as a representative of Haven, and then he asked them to please take off their robes and get comfortable.

as asked. The others did the same as they all took a seat. The man and women talked a bit amongst themselves and asked some basic questions such

then said, making two of the other

man said with a bright smile. “Please follow me to the

woman level 114, making them both solidly in the D-grade. Meanwhile, the woman with Carmen was only 32, and Carmen had lied, saying she was level 101, but only due to her profession and said

before even going through it. The blonde

barrier as

is going on?”

of you to somewhere much nicer than here. We

“Paperwork?” the woman asked

little slave contract. No biggie,” the man kept smiling. Carmen saw him clearly enjoy himself as she herself tried to

with fright, her eyes wide open. Okay, perhaps Carmen gave the gal a bit too much credit for her ability

but I am sure some people like that,” the man shrugged. Finally, he turned his attention to Carmen. “A fiery-looking silent type? A personal favorite of mine. Let me make it clear, you two don’t have a choice, and if you

or right?”

the man asked

I rip off

him being level 118, he couldn’t even react as Carmen just ripped downwards, tearing both his arms off at the

his eyes opened wide in despair. Carmen caught him by his skin-shirt before he could fall back onto the floor. “Now

through the air towards the small town of Ambermill. Studying the tablet a bit on the way, it looked like Ambermill was a small town of about five or six thousand but had a steady flow of new citizens who were looking to enter

old mill that had been transformed into a natural treasure, and since then, he had taken it as his home and would use it to

why he was confused when he got closer and saw smoke in the distance. The mill that stood atop a hill was broken in half, and Jake felt intense energy emanating from the town. As he got closer, he began to smell

turned out to be utterly unnecessary as he felt her familiar aura without having to use any skills. Jake swiftly got a look at the city from above and saw dozens of broken buildings, more than a hundred corpses wearing what looked like police uniforms, and Carmen punching a bunker-like construct. Every punch sent shockwaves through the town that had already shattered every single window in the vicinity and

down, followed by Sylphie, who also

office were utterly ruined. Corpses

a bit away with Sylphie landing on top of his head.

she asked, clearly annoyed. “Did this fucker really

came looking for you,” Jake shrugged. “Why? Did whoever you

them quickly yelled out

are you?” Jake

met in person, but I

you trying to kill this guy?” Jake cut him

moment, but a screech from Sylphie seemed to dispel

frowned as he looked at the bunker

and people far more powerful than us; what were we supposed to

inside the bunker with his sphere, Jake saw a total of five people. The guy who spoke wore a ruined business suit, while the four others had full combat attire on. He also saw one of

to talk, get out with your little friends and tell them to stop trying to put down a teleportation circle to escape,” Jake said casually. He didn’t actually know it was

stop for a second and look back at his comrades. The one who appeared to the leader – not the suit guy – motioned for him to continue. The suit guy also

takes some time to deactivate all the wards,

Jake shrugged as he went over to

sturdy as fuck,” Carmen

Jake began as Touch of the Malefic Viper activated and what looked like dark green lightning spread all over the magic barrier, “it

down as Jake successfully ruined what kept it together. What? It was a basic defensive

for those hiding within as Carmen flew forward and shattered the entire bunker with a single punch, sending debris flying and revealing the five people within. The guy in a suit looked absolutely horrified, but the four others moved fast as four attacks

of them, and within ten seconds, three of the four were dead, and the last one – the leader – lay broken in the middle of the square with both his legs missing. It all went relatively fast, and Jake honestly had no skin in the game or bothered to interfere. Why would he? This