The Primal Hunter

Jake stared up at the white snake that, in turn, regarded him, waiting for an answer to its question. It had mentioned something about a Forefather, and the hamster wheel in Jake’s mind spun as he put two and two together… the snake had to be talking about the Malefic Viper. It did confuse him a bit, though.

The snake didn’t have any Blessing as far as Jake could tell, and he couldn’t see any connection between the C-grade and the Viper at all. Well, besides them both being highly venomous snakes. Also, why had the snake come to begin with?

One thing that did put his mind at ease was the lack of hostility. The snake had helped them and now seemed friendly and curious. Considering that was the case, Jake decided it would be wisest to be honest about what they were doing there.

“We are simply passing through and had no plans of getting into any fights, but the frog attacked us,” Jake answered truthfully.

The snake regarded Jake and then tossed Sylphie a look. “To bring a young one from such a heritage through this area is unwise.”

“We realize that now,” Jake nodded. He still had no idea why the snake was so friendly, though. At least not for the next half a second before he felt a certain snake god send down a message.

“Divine teacher coming in with a quick lesson because this isn’t really anything taught anywhere as it is considered pretty common knowledge. I got shit-all to do with this particular snake. At least not directly. Without going into a lengthy explanation, then I am in some ways connected to nearly every single snake in existence due to how Records work, and while I may not know of this snake, it clearly knows of me simply due to its heritage. Beasts have heritages like humans do, and this one may walk one related to me. This all leads back to how we ancient beasts more or less raised the Records of our entire races and hence became known as Forefathers. So yeah, the snake can see you walk a similar Path as herself. Good luck making a new friend!”

Jake got the entire message from Villy within a few seconds as he got a better understanding of what was going on. Currently, Jake still had his scales summoned and his wings out. He didn’t look very human, and the snake potentially didn’t even think he was one.

It was a bit risky, but he wanted to dispel that illusion right away as he dismissed his scales and wings, returning to being more human. Normally you could barely see the scales, but Jake currently had quite the gnarly wound on his chest with his armor entirely tattered from absorbing the blow, revealing his upper body.

When the scales and wings disappeared, Jake felt the snake be surprised as she moved her head closer.

“Human?” she asked, perplexed.

“I apologize for any misunderstandings, but even if I am human, I too walk the Path of the Viper – your Forefather,” Jake explained to the female snake. He wanted to make it clear he was still her “kin,” so to say, as he really didn’t want the snake to turn hostile. Jake was unsure if he could escape himself and certain Carmen would be unable to unless she had some item to help her. Sylphie was also a big question mark. No, better to try the diplomatic approach for now.

Also… the snake had yet to turn antagonistic, and she even seemed disinterested in Sylphie despite clearly being aware of the hawk’s heritage.

“I was merely surprised,” the snake answered. “I sensed the blood in the river and came as I feared one of my own had been attacked, but I see now it was you. It is interesting to see a human with the blood of the Forefather… are you a descendant of some sort? No, you are a pure human... tell me, how do you walk the Path of the Forefather?”

Jake’s mind blanked for a while as he had just discovered a giant gap in knowledge. He had believed himself to be the ignorant one – in his defense, he usually was – but clearly, the snake before him was also unaware of many things considering common knowledge. She didn’t seem to have any experience with Blessings and possibly even the way humans worked with their classes, professions, and races. Which… well, it made sense she didn’t.

If he assumed the Alabaster Crimsoneye Snake was a native of Earth and had only awakened true sapience in C-grade, how would she have learned? Jake did know that when an animal would awaken, sapience was deeply related to their intelligence before. Reptiles tended to need C-grade at the very least, while some smarter animals would awaken it far earlier. Hawkie had already been damn smart at E-grade, and Sylphie had been a smart little bugger from birth. He also knew beasts had inherent knowledge based on their Heritages. This was likely how the snake even knew of the Viper, but that knowledge hadn’t covered this it seemed.

“Are you familiar with the concept of Legacies and Blessings?” Jake asked the snake.

The snake looked at him a bit with her deep red eyes before answering. “Legacies… yes. Heritages and Legacies are closely related, correct? I have heard of Blessings, but I am uncertain of its effects. A competitor of mine speaks of possessing a Blessing, so I assume it is beneficial?”

also come with some expectations. Tell me, what do you know of your Forefather?” Jake asked, wanting to make

am not certain what more you expect me to know?” the snake asked, and Jake could sense a bit

smiled as he manipulated his Shroud of the Primordial. His Blessing that was otherwise suppressed to the level of a Lesser Blessing flared as it grew to that of

asked with fright but also an

the ability to give out Blessings to those they want, creating a bond between themselves and the blessed individual. This usually just resolves in the blessed one getting access to the Path related to the god, and the gods themselves gaining a presence among mortals as well as some other benefits I am not entirely clear on,” Jake began as he explained. “In my case, I am very closely related to the god that blessed me. Said god naturally being the Malefic Viper, also known

had been hanging back and had clearly been on guard in case things went south. In fact, Jake saw now that she was holding some golden medallion of sorts behind her back even as she

to be highly compatible, so the Malefic One made Jake his Chosen. Ah, a Chosen is like a prophet or something and is the highest level of Blessing possible, more or less

far above what any of them could handle. Even Sylphie was hiding away. In her anxiety, she had just opened the floodgates and had spoken, wanting Jake to look as good as possible without really thinking

time, Jake felt a tinge of hostility

she raised her head a bit. “A D-grade human being deemed more important than any other snake-kin

froze as she. “I

stared up at the

more worthy than any of his kin.

calling me a liar?” Jake interrupted the C-grade, getting a frightened look from Carmen, who had just begun to look relieved after the snake said it would let them

She glared at him as she subconsciously retracted her head a bit in front of his Bloodline-powered aura.

Beam me

casually giving out Blessings to any random creature you meet,” Villy promptly answered. Jake had known the god had looked on

you can,” Jake

guess this

here,” Jake commanded. “You did help us,

sure that he would probably be in for a very bad time if any of that entered his body

the favor and setting the record straight. Why, are you afraid some measly D-grade human can harm you?” Jake taunted the snake. He believed he had read

infusing his energy. Need to ask, that is. He felt a connection be formed and his ability to give a Blessing without

went through his hand and entered the snake, and he saw the crimson

just stood there with his hand on the snake. None of them moved, and only a good six or seven seconds after it turned awkward, the snake finally reacted as she retracted her head in a

Jake as she swayed slightly, and

“Please don’t be mad…”

a specific book she had been asked to find. Well, she needed to find a book with a topic she had been asked about. She was sure she had seen it before, she just wasn’t entirely clear on

because it had been left like that by her Master. He was a bit messy, but she remembered hearing a teacher of her explain how some people were able to comprehend chaos and didn’t need order. Perhaps her Master was the same and simply didn’t need to put things in

went towards the entrance hall again,

Nella said once

to find than expected,” Meira