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

actually damn good at

It worked by them linking up with one another while 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 into the sand, so as long as the worms could warn others in time, they stayed safe. All in

Jake told the worm of things outside the desert as

mana, he anchored himself to the side of 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 the desert outside. The walls of the mouth were also rough and tough like rock, likely from repeatedly swallowing sand. Something the worm would avoid doing with its passenger

with the speed of 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

where he finally found time to rummage on one of his most pertinent issues: what if Ell’Hakan could do that weird

but Jake saw no reason to gamble on that one. Even if he didn’t have more orbs or a ritual circle, it

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

purely space magic. It relied one hundred percent on the concept of space to travel, so if space magic was just a part of it, it wouldn’t allow him to

Shadow Vault, Jake popped into his Soulspace

sim-Jake said the

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

of Wings of

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.

a bit weird when I think about it, Casper thought

was a Risen and what many would call a bringer of death and misery with his specialization in curses. Yet, Casper realized that he hadn’t actually killed any humans since the Tutorial. Not even during the Treasure Hunt

Until today, that is.

turn, gave rise to not only more powerful, but more talented individuals. War was far more than a single fight. It was a long struggle and something that forced you to not only train your skills but your mind. Those who

believed in. Most of the invaders from the Holy Church or United Cities Alliance were only there because of what their factions had lied about or due to

that he was really fucking good at

had been sabotaged, far from all had been struck. The most potent defenses only a handful were aware of. One of these defensive items was

he 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. To make it worse then, the curse energy in each

stronger. Some were not even D-grade, and Casper quickly realized something was off but kept fighting. At the beginning of the second day, after a long rest where others had to take

up and pressing his advantage, Casper soon found himself close to enemy lines. He stopped, and as this moment, his Spirit Mark resonated, and he

just throwing bodies at us

he began to make his way back. He stared at the battlefield below and saw corpses everywhere. Most were from the Holy Church, 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 long as they won. Their own elites

of the Risen was a single Orb of Second Awakening – a one-time use item that would send a specially attuned death mana pulse out to reanimate those who had died as undead. Not risen, just mindless monsters. But the Church and United Cities clearly knew this as flames constantly swept across the battlefield, burning the bodies of the fallen, followed by pulses from the priests of the Holy Church to ”purify” the souls. It was cruel

out!” Casper suddenly heard

light that had been headed straight for him as one of his pre-prepared spells activated. Casper’s eyes opened wide as a second attack arrived, this time from directly

me

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

two replacements were also an archer

the Holyland with honor,” the priestess,

cursed as he saw no need for further words. With the pillar still floating behind him, Casper counterattacked as he prioritized getting back to safety. Lucian cut him off and tried to strike Casper but was intercepted by

warrior also joined the fray and tried to pressure the Risen, but the difference was clear. Which only made Casper frown more as