The Primal Hunter

When fighting, Jake liked to be in control and dictate the momentum. He liked when he decided what would happen next, and the flow went as he predicted.

That night did not feel particularly in control, and if he was candid, he was totally fine with it.

Not that he didn’t also seize the momentum here and there as the battle continued, making it a big back and forth.

After their battle, Jake found himself lying on the bed as he relaxed, with Carmen leaning against the headboard next to him, still stark naked. He looked over and saw her relaxing. Her short blonde hair was a bit more unkempt than usual, and her defined muscles, especially on her stomach, were still visible even as she relaxed them. She noticed his gaze and didn’t bother to hide anything as she spoke.

”I guess I should make it clear this doesn’t mean we are getting married or anything,” Carmen said.

”And here I was just thinking about picking out a good ring and wondering if Sylphie should be a bridesmaid,” Jake joked back in return as he also sat up in the bed.

Okay, Jake had to admit, he could be a bit dense at times. He had not at all expected what happened to happen, but he wasn’t averse to it. He just went with the flow and would be a damn liar if he said he wasn’t a huge fan. If this was pre-system, he would definitely classify Carmen as someone way out of his league, especially factoring in the aesthetic improvements from evolutions.

”Don’t get me wrong, I do like you, but there is no way I am looking for any kind of relationship right now, okay? So let’s just keep it casual,” Carmen further clarified.

”I didn’t expect anything else,” Jake nodded. Life was too complicated for both of them, and they each had their own stuff to deal with to get into any kind of meaningful relationship. A relationship would mean either or both parties had to sacrifice something to make it work, and Carmen and Jake were too selfish to want that.

”That doesn’t mean this has to be a one-time thing,” Carmen said suggestively.

”Technically, it already isn’t,” Jake smirked in return.

Carmen threw him an even more suggestive look, but Jake sadly shook his head. “While I would love to, I have already had to make five excuses to Sylphie about why we were busy, and by now, she seems to think we are performing some grand ritual.”

“Too bad,” she shrugged as she jumped off the bed and had armor appear on her body. “What are your plans now? I will stay in Paradise a bit to sort things out. I still need to figure out what to do with my mother. Taking her back to a settlement belonging to Valhal would be best, but getting there isn’t that easy right now.”

“You could always wait for the teleportation gates to be fully established. I am not sure how long it will take, but it shouldn’t be that long with how fast the space mages are progressing,” Jake said. “It may also be possible for me to help by doing a bit of roundabout teleportation by first going to the Order and then back to Haven, but I’m not sure if I can even do that.”

“No need, I will figure this out myself, but thanks for the offer,” Carmen rejected as she went over and gave him a kiss, adding. “Still only friends.”

“With benefits,” Jake smiled as he promptly got a chop on top of his head.

He also decided to finally get up and was dressed in moments through the power of his spatial storage. As he took on his clothes, he also took out an item. It was a Key of the Exalted Prima.

[Key of the Exalted Prima (Unique)] – A key to the Seat of the Exalted Prima. Allows entry to the Seat of the Exalted Prima.

“Here, take this,” Jake said as he tossed Carmen the key.

She caught it and looked at the key with a frown. “Don’t you still need another fragment? The only reason I didn’t have a key is that I gave mine to Sven, so it really isn’t your problem.”

“I just gave you loot priority for the three Primas we killed,” Jake shrugged. He knew Carmen wasn’t a fan of charity. “And I plan on spending the rest of my time before the system event just exploring this continent. I am sure Renato has some good information on nearby spots with dangerous foes, which will likely include a Prima or two. Even if he doesn’t have a map, I still got Peter’s.”

“Sure you trust that guy? Didn’t he disappear after doing some shady shit?”

“Eh, trust or not doesn’t matter; the map is at least legit based on what I can see,” Jake said, shaking his head.

him lying to our faces this whole time?” Carmen

by omission but by that logic, we also lied to him about the nature of why we were going to Paradise. As far as I know, he didn’t do anything against either of us and will only cause trouble for Renato, which I quite frankly don’t give a damn about,”

and it isn’t

he went over to the balcony. “Okay if I let

shrugged. The bedroom was still a bit of a mess

and the moment he did, a green form flew in and quickly circled the room. She zoomed a dozen rounds before finally landing on a

“Ree!” she shrieked.

Jake nodded with

looked at Carmen a bit

Adults only you know?” Carmen

Jake reiterated. “Carmen will stay here for a while to handle the rest of her matters while the two of us can head out for a bit

ree, ree?”

surprised as he turned to Carmen. “Can Sylphie stay here with you until you

“Why?” Carmen asked, confused.

in the sky hidden above the other clouds,

it?” Carmen asked,

Sylphie’s words, not mine. Well, her insinuation,

this anomaly?” Carmen asked,

who made a few more screeching

one,” Jake explained

it was perhaps some kind of natural formation or jet stream or something. Sylphie seemed to want it, so

only needed one more fragment to form his own. He had over two weeks to get that done and also get some

Peter by making it clear they didn’t know the guy, and he even managed to come out looking like the good guy by “warning” Renato about Peter

out some areas where his elite was hunting and – more importantly – areas his elite avoided as it was too dangerous for them to hunt in. Jake also learned that the man didn’t even have a single fragment himself and was fully aware he would not get a key. He

a day’s travel away. For Renato’s men. Jake could probably get there

came. Something he had waited for since last night. A presence descended as Jake

from Valhal? Truly my man. Tell me, who’s next now

as he ran but finally felt compelled to answer after Villy began

more invested in this than I thought you would

fun of you. Good for you to finally get some tail, even if your partner in question didn’t have a tail,” the god kept joking. “Ah, but just to make sure, you didn’t, you know, went for making more

life as a eunuch,” Jake said. Okay, he

don’t get too attached to anyone, alright? You are both only D-grade, and if I am being frank, then chances are not a single person you have met from your own universe will live as long as you. The amount of talents who have fallen due to sentimental reasons isn’t few and being able to live with seeing everyone around you wither and die is a requirement if you want to

just answered, the god bringing down the mood. “But that sounds like something

remember to prepare yourself mentally,”

the conversation on such a somber note, he smirked and took a jab of his own: “I am impressed you actually stopped being a

voyeur is not one of them, especially not when it is my mate. That would just be weird, man. Well, unless I am part of the deed, in which case, seeing things is unavoidable, you know? It is a possibility, depending on how free-spirited

two of them chatted a bit more about random, somewhat unrelated things before Villy had to get back to “work,” as he called it. It appeared that Jake having a nightly escapade made Villy decide that now was a good time to have a status meeting with the three Witches of the Verdant Lagoon – for entirely unrelated reasons, Jake was

went towards the closest danger zone worth looking into. He also pulled out a fragment to scan for any Primas. He had spent the last while with others, and honestly, Jake was a

under his belt. He had noticed the lack of experience gained when with others and was relatively sure by now that he got a lot less experience when fighting with others than by himself. Even less than the usual penalty of shared experience and the battles being

maybe he could even find a

was shortly after the