The Primal Hunter

Multiversal events were few and far between. Very rarely did something happen that factions with any knowledge of the wider happening cared about, but this was one of them. The last one had been the initiation of the new universe, and while this one was certainly not even remotely on the same scale, it was still a matter of extreme importance.

Why it mattered was naturally due to who hosted it.

The Automata Legion, Endless Empire, Holy Church, Risen, Valhal, Dragonflight Accords, United Tribe, and Altmar Empire… these factions were generally considered the most known and most powerful of the entire multiverse. Others did exist with close to their power, but they ultimately still fell short for several reasons.

Umbra’s Court of Shadows was certainly powerful, but not many would consider them a true peak-level faction. Their numbers were still somewhat limited, they did not establish huge territories they controlled, and while Umbra was a peak-level figure, she rarely appeared herself or got involved.

The same could be said for many other large factions. There did exist forces filled with elementals, the Starborn, beast alliances, and the Golden Road Emporium… all were incredibly powerful but still limited. Top-level, yes, but not true peak factions.

None would say the current Order of the Malefic Viper was one either. But that didn’t mean it had always been like that.

The best comparison to the Order of the Malefic Viper would be Valhal.

Valhal did have many members, yes, but they did not control huge areas, still making them limited. People were rarely born into the faction but joined as it aligned with their interests. This meant their resources were not at peak level, and their numbers were not even close. Overall, their territory was small, and their influence was limited. Even then, none would dare not put them on the same level as even the largest of factions. Because they had one thing that made them considered a peak-level faction:

Valdemar.

When a single man could stand before an entire empire, a single decree of war could make previously considered top-level factions crumble to dust in but a few years… who would dare argue? His fighting power and threat level as an individual was equivalent to a peak-level faction alone.

And that was why the Order was best compared to Valhal.

Many still remembered. Back in the seventh era, before the Viper had disappeared, when people discussed the most powerful individual, many names were brought up, and the Malefic Viper was always among them.

Then it happened. The Malefic Viper went on a warpath and showed no mercy as he slaughtered his way through a universe.

Eight Primordials had needed to get involved in stopping the rampaging Malefic Viper. Valdemar, Inmortau the Blightfather, the Holy Mother, the Starseizing Titan, Stormild, Eversmile, Yggdrasil, and Aeon Clok had all appeared. Eight Primordials had gone to calm one, a fight ensuing as a result.

None truly knew what had happened… all they knew was that none of the Primordials that had been involved made any public appearances or left their divine realms for over ten thousand years after the fight, with the Malefic Viper entering seclusion. Leaving in his wake the tenth of an entire universe destroyed and desolate still to this day, and presumably, eight Primordials injured so badly they didn’t dare leave the safety of their realms.

But… that was then.

Eighty-five full eras had passed. Every other faction had expanded, and every other Primordial had publicly grown in power, keeping their spots at the peak of the multiverse. They had all struggled, participated in events for the gods, trained their people, gathered Records, and slowly improved themselves. They had progressed and grown with the world, their power now incomparable to what it had been back then.

Meanwhile, none had heard anything about the Viper. His Order had merely persisted, still a respected faction due to the Lord Protector and its heritage, but it was no longer truly considered a high-level faction by the general public. Only in name would they call it that, out of respect for its Primordial founder and due to so many other peak-level factions considering it so.

So the big question everyone had before this big ceremony was as thus:

What kind of god would appear on stage? What kind of Primordial had reappeared? What Chosen would he have picked among the new initiates? Was he even sane?

Perhaps most importantly, they would come to discover… had the multiverse just gained another peak-level faction comparable to Valhal simply by virtue of their leader?

Or was the Malefic One truly just a shadow of the past, surviving on his name and heritage alone?

Jake appeared in a waiting room with everyone else, Sandy having been forced to shrink down to not get hurt. No way they would be able to break the structures within the Order of the Malefic Viper, as Jake guessed not even A-grades could punch through a wall there.

”Welcome to the Order of the Malefic Viper,” Viridia said when they arrived. ”Lord Thayne, you will be the main character together with the Malefic One during this event, and I hope you are ready.”

She then turned to Sandy and bowed deeply. ”I welcome the Chosen of the Lord Protector. It is my honor to be in your presence. Let me know if there is anything I can do for you, and I will-”

”Snacks,” Sandy said.

”Pardon?” Viridia asked, confused.

snacks?” Sandy asked in a hopeful

than five seconds later, figures

the mounds of stuff for

”Yes, Lord Sandy.”

Sandy said before squiggling

the Chosen is satisfied with

Chosen one could have. No annoying demands, and you could make them happy by just providing

ceremony officially

commence in five minutes where I will take the stage. You will then be brought there when the time is right, and your only jobs will be to just flare your presences. Don’t hide anything, but just be yourselves,” Viridia explained. ”Only Lord Thayne and Lord

in which the announcement will take place. All of you will naturally be in positions as guests of honor, but as you are not party members of Lord Thayne, you

”That is as

the others argued either, with even Felix on his best behavior. He seemed to have a lot of respect for Viridia and even called her a ”fellow servant,” to which she

the Malefic One summons you, but I assume you have already been

was briefed before by your fellow Verdant

us proceed then. I shall teleport

and looked to the only people she had not

with Sylphie, but her gaze lingered for a while on the old man with a sword at his side.

Saint answered, seemingly aware of her

you will be announced as his party members. Miranda should have told you that you don’t have to do much there.

as the Sword Saint nodded. The King didn’t say

the after-party, you may find yourself heavily scrutinized by those present. Many will doubt if you are fit company for the Chosen and his journey through Nevermore. This will mostly be done due to their wishes of inserting themselves or a member of their own faction into this party, so do not take it to heart. Just be aware you may end up challenged many times, and even

King said in an amused tone. ”You truly

Lifeform or question its

said, welcoming anyone to

only gave a light smile, not saying

determination. ”In either case, I wish

glances with the others. A screen appeared floating in the air a second later, displaying an utterly massive hall. The seating looked more like a stretching mountain range than a place for people to stand or

be on a single one of those stands,” the Sword Saint muttered. ”There

man didn’t give off the slightest

as he saw Viridia appear in the middle of the stage, the

saw people from every single Dragonflight present. The Emberflight, Azureflight, Regalflight, Stormflight, Darkflight, Lumenflight, Terraflight, Silverflight and the Wildflight. All of them had S-grades among their representatives, showing the amount of support the Accords had decided to

believe the rumors are true?” Helen asked Albaromoz. ”That the Malefic Dragonkin, Draskil,

dragonkin was powerful, but I have seen other Chosen of less impressive gods.

is someone that has perhaps not

One, he could have easily hidden anyone if he so desired, so that is entirely possible,” Albaromoz said, shaking his head. ”It truly is difficult to say, but I believe he is in the Order. Didn’t you hear

”Wait, did he truly…?”

Malefic One, and I see no other explanation than it being related to the Chosen,” he explained. ”The fact that

are right, and it simply isn’t someone public-facing yet. Something like creating a True Royal cannot be an easy matter and must have taken a long time and even more focus and talent.

always been

she felt practically every faction that tended to be on friendly terms with the Order present, including a few new ones. Seeing the representatives from the Automata Legion and Endless Empire was especially surprising. Not that they had shown up, but with how many they had come with. They were likely the two biggest

while. She did not

”The Order and Valhal were never on good terms, and many say Valdemar still carries a grudge against the Viper after their last encounter, even to this day. Seeing as they didn’t even show up with even the smallest delegation, things can’t be good. Even the Holy Church has at

an actual

stay far away. All I can say is that things don’t look good,” the