The Primal Hunter

Jake was polite and asked both Meira and Vesperia if they wanted to join him on his shopping trip, and he quickly got two declines. Vesperia because she saw it as far too risky to walk around in public as a True Royal, and Meira because she claimed to be busy. The fact that she refused to even open her door and he saw her hiding under a blanket through his sphere made him doubt that explanation, but he let it go and just went by himself.

At least, he planned on doing that until he remembered he did have one person he could ask and at the same time inform about the upcoming big reveal. He was naturally talking about Irin. Meeting up with her would also give him a chance to ask about Scarlett, as Jake had not really heard anything from or about her ever since she went to join the Order. He didn’t even have her contact information as they hadn’t talked since she got her token – assuming she got a token, to begin with.

Taking out his own, he infused energy and reached out to the succubus. Within five seconds, she answered.

”To what do I owe the pleasure, Lord Thayne?” Irin asked.

”Are you busy right now? I evolved to C-grade and need some new equipment, so I will go shopping for it soon, and a good guide would be great,” Jake asked, thinking he could always bring up the Chosen thing if she agreed.

”When would this be?

”Nowish?” Jake said, a bit embarrassed. Yeah, giving some kind of grace period would definitely have been the polite thing to do.

”Give me five minutes, and I will come by your residency, alright?” she asked tentatively.

”Sounds awesome,” Jake naturally responded, glad she agreed. Life without modern GPS to find stores and the ability to just search on the internet was tough, and he questioned why no one had invented magic internet yet. Or maybe someone had; the Order just wasn’t hooked up to it. Either way, for now he would have to rely on an analog guide.

With five minutes to spare, Jake just looked on as Vesperia got busy setting up some magic circle of sorts on the lawn. Analyzing it a bit, he estimated it was made to amplify her own energy absorption speed and potentially even allow her to better focus. It was the kind made to meditate within, and Jake wondered if maybe the circles Villy had Jake train within while upgrading his skills had similar effects.

Minutes rapidly passed, and soon he saw Irin appear within the mansion’s entryway. She seemed to sense the motion outside and exited the door, instantly laying eyes on Jake and Vesperia.

”Hey, Irin,” Jake waved to her the moment she came outside, but before the succubus could answer, her gaze wandered to the giant wasp woman working on his lawn.

She stared for a few seconds before glancing at Jake and then back to Vesperia.

”Oh,” Jake noticed as he smiled and walked over. ”Let me introduce you to Vesperia, a Vespernat Hive Queen.”

Irin seemed to snap out of her spell and nodded slowly. ”I was not aware you had a visitor. Someone from the Endless Empire, no less, based on her aura.”

Vesperia finished up what she was currently doing and turned towards Irin, scanning her up and down. ”A succubus? Unexpected. Your assertion is somewhat incorrect as I do not officially belong to the Endless Empire as of yet, and I would not call myself a visitor as this place is the only thing I have ever known since my birth.”

The succubus got even more confused and glanced at Jake, full of questions.

”It is a bit hard to explain, but through means that I won’t disclose right now, I managed to hatch a Hive Queen quite a bit more impressive than expected from that bee ritual you saw I had going on. That Hive Queen is Vesperia here, and she is… kind of my offspring? The word daughter feels wrong, but it is probably the closest we can get,” Jake tried to explain.

Irin was about to question his preposterous explanation as Vesperia spoke up, adding fuel to the fire.

as a True Royal of the Vespernat Lineage,” Vesperia said with a big smile before looking at Jake. ”If you wish to refer to me as your daughter, you are naturally free to do so, but it will raise questions, so perhaps

Jake took it to heart. He had purposefully avoided just saying creation or spawn or anything else

I think I understand. So, what did you want to go shopping for? Considering your evolution to C-grade, I assume it will be ingredients or

found himself taken

asking them will just leave me more lost. Something like a True Royal is way beyond

and I am

easier things will be for me in the long run. Either way, pleased to meet you, Vesperia.

”Things will be better explained at the big announcement the Viper is planning for next month anyway. Oh, yeah, I nearly forgot to add I will also officially come out as Chosen during that ceremony thing, so that may cause some issues for you. Just thought I

He saw her just stare dumbfounded at him for several seconds due to the sheer level of importance of the information he

”That is… I guess it is about time your identity was revealed to the multiverse as a whole, and…

”Shopping,” Jake smiled.

side and shook her head before saying something that this time around

Jake. I congratulate you, Irinixis, on managing to seduce my sire. I am certain it is of great assistance to your Path considering your race,” Vesperia said with a genuine smile, with not a hint of teasing or joking

for fighting and alchemy, so it is a difficult work in progress that I hope

am right here, right?” Jake said,

him. ”I was simply responding

pointed at the door to the

grew. ”Shopping

across the long table. He felt presences also appear at his sides, and right across from

up. In truth, none of them were there in person, except for one person. At the head of the table was a dark elf in a golden robe, patiently waiting for all of them to arrive. Something they all did within

tardy and accusing them of missing lucrative

and smiled as

me on such short notice, so let us get down to business. This is no social call, now is it?” the dark elf spoke, getting a few polite chuckles out from the people at the table. The dark elf was an

geniuses of the ninety-third universe, which should lead to a rush on the World Wonder, and we would be foolish to not capitalize

had both discussed this already and were ready. While they were not friends, they were ultimately business partners considering they worked for the same conglomerate. A single planet was simply not big enough to compete internally if you

the smaller mercantile factions that had popped up since the integration. Something that had gotten far easier after the establishment of the World Council, leaving many merchants wanting to get in their good graces by joining up with Sultan and Renato, who could both claim to have worked with the World Leader in the

are expected to have the most demand?” a fish-like man asked the dark elf meeting

do best in the multiversal market is anything fitting characteristics that are considered unique to the ninety-third universe,” the dark elf explained. ”Especially rare natural treasures, rewards from system events, new plants and herbs, as well as minerals holding mana signatures

with bronze skin wearing a very expensive-looking robe. ”How about slaves? We have a substantial stock of elves with potent metal and earth affinities, prime for mining

currently possible to properly transport large quantities of living goods across universes, and even if we could, the cost would outweigh the profits. Hence why we are sticking to non-living items for now, and most should have already finished up their means to

spoke, addressing the elf. ”If we can look into establishing an in-universe transportation system making the transfer of slaves feasible, perhaps we could discuss an arrangement. I am certain the World Leader of my planet would be more than happy with some

Smiling, the bronze-elf nodded.

on him. ”Internal business should be discussed later. For this meeting, we shall focus on Nevermore. Now, the first order of business is the assignment of representatives from those present. We shall choose five people in

eyes opened wide. ”Excuse me, urgent matters suddenly