The Primal Hunter

Getting a massive sandworm to eat you was actually way easier than Jake had expected. Not that Jake should have expected much from the get-go, it was a stupid expectation. All he had done was just land on the sand, get semi-close to a natural treasure while using Arcane Stealth, and boom, a worm popped up and swallowed him. It was a level 198 worms, so damn close to evolution too.

The worm nearly instantly noticed it had caught something it didn’t want and tried to spit him out. However, Jake held on inside its massive maw as he spoke. ”Hey! Worm! Make a deal!”

It did not react but kept trashing and trying to spit Jake out. That is when he realized that the sand worms had no ears and probably not even a sense of hearing, making him switch to telepathy.

”Worm. Make deal. You help me, I help you. If not, death.”

As he said the words, Jake took out a handful of earth affinity herbs and tossed them down the gullet of the worm. It was a gamble… that paid off immediately as the worm stopped moving. By now, Jake was hanging onto the flesh walls of the giant worm’s mouth as he spoke again.

”If you help me get that way,” Jake sent telepathically as he poked the side of the giant worm’s mouth with a weak arcane bolt. ”I will feed you. Okay?”

It should not come as a surprise that the giant worm could not speak. Jake was really gambling on this idea as he assumed that these sand worms were dumb as bricks and-

”I apologize; I think there is some kind of misunderstanding. I did not mean to try and eat you… actually, what are you?” Jake heard a deep rumbling voice in his head.

Wait, what? Jake questioned himself.

”You understand me?” Jake asked, confused.

”I think? I am more questioning how you can speak. You aren’t a worm. Or are you? You don’t look like one, but I have seen weird worms before…” the creature spoke.

”I am not a worm, no,” Jake made clear. ”I am human and ended up here on accident. All I am looking for is a way out of the desert.”

”Human? What are those? And why leave? You can’t move properly outside. A few tried. Oh, unless you get stronger and evolve, I saw one able to do it. Are you evolved?” the overly curious worm asked.

Jake had to admit, when he began his plan, he had not expected to have a conversation with a worm. He had more hoped to communicate his intent and perhaps find a way to nudge the worm in the right direction while bribing it with stuff.

”I am not evolved, no, but I can move properly outside. I cannot move properly here, though, which is why I need your help,” Jake said. ”If you can help me get out of the desert, I can give you good stuff in return.”

The worm fell silent for a few moments, still just sitting there while poking out of the sand like a tower with its mouth wide open, making it so Jake could fly out at any moment. ”What kind of stuff?” it finally asked.

Jake smiled a bit to himself as he took out one of the orbs he had looted from one of the many Earth Elementals he had killed while traveling with Carmen. ”Things like this,” Jake said as he threw the orb down the long tunnel that was the worm’s mouth.

Seconds passed before the worm answered. ”Okay. I will help you, human. Also, don’t I have to? If not, I will die.”

He had kind of forgotten he had threatened death before. Jake had only really done it, as that kind of intent was something animals tended to understand.

”I promise I won’t hurt you at all. Instead, let’s make this something to benefit us both.”

a hint of sarcasm in the

at magic and moved primarily through some kind of earth telekinesis to push them forward using the sand, allowing them to

in the area, and often a single C-grade always stayed close to the larger groups of worms to help them in case anything went wrong. There were creatures besides the Sand Elementals that hunted the worms, but most never chased down

of things outside the desert as he

the worm’s mouth and got into a comfortable position. Contrary to what one would expect, the inside of the worm was not moist at all but dry as

a bullet through the desert, and Jake faintly felt a few worms around them at times, but being inside of one made them all ignore him. The worm did say that a few detected him, but

finally found time to rummage on one of his most pertinent issues:

didn’t have more orbs or a ritual circle, it was a huge risk anyway,

that even if he managed to break through and use One Step, he would not have been freed.

It relied one hundred percent on the concept of space to travel, so if space magic was

Shadow Vault, Jake popped into his Soulspace

the moment

and considered his second option. One he had seen be used to escape a very perilous situation

was naturally thinking of Wings of the Malefic

attack on the Risen had started as expected. The weaker individuals took the frontlines from the side of the Holy Church and United Cities Alliance while the Risen tried to preserve their numbers and strength. They tried to only send out the stronger parties from their side as this was not a battle they could win. Only delay. Priscilla stayed back

weird when I think about it, Casper thought to himself as

he hadn’t actually killed any humans since

Until today, that is.

to not only more powerful, but more talented individuals. War was far more than a single fight. It was a

either lies or that they barely believed in. Most of the invaders from the Holy Church or United Cities Alliance were

help that he was really fucking good

One had to remember that the Risen were the defenders, and even if many of their defensive measures had been sabotaged, far from all had been struck. The most potent defenses only a handful were aware

sent splinters raining down towards the battlefield. Every time a splinter hit someone, they were struck by a mental attack. Those unable to resist lashed out and began attacking those around them mercilessly as their perception of who was an ally or friend changed.

as they adapted, but Casper was just stronger. Some were not even D-grade, and Casper quickly realized something was off but kept fighting. At the beginning of

up and pressing his advantage, Casper soon found himself close to enemy lines. He stopped, and as

now. They are just throwing bodies at us to tire us out both mentally and in

but Priscilla was right… these were just meat shields. Proof once more of the ruthlessness of the Holy Church when it came to war. They were willing to make any sacrifice as

had died as undead. Not risen, just mindless monsters. But the

out!” Casper suddenly heard

arrived, this time from directly below. He retreated

dead to isolate me in an ambush…” Casper

recognized three of them as the party members of Bertram. It was the healer Noor, the swordsman Lucian and mage

replacements were also

fates realized as they enter the Holyland with honor,” the

words. With the pillar still floating behind him, Casper counterattacked as he prioritized getting back

archer and warrior also joined the fray and tried to pressure the Risen, but the difference