The Primal Hunter

Jake appeared together with Villy inside a new, far smaller hall. A few seconds later, Vesperia also popped into existence.

“I greet the Malefic One and my sire,” she bowed towards the snake god after she oriented herself.

“Hey again,” Jake said with a smile. “Say, what have you been doing during this gift exchange?”

“I simply went back to the waiting room,” Vesperia answered. “My presence would have caused undue issues if I had been there, and I would personally want to avoid it. This choice did allow me to converse with Sandy, and I must say, they are quite interesting.”

“Yeah, Sandy is a character,” Jake agreed wholeheartedly.

“Ahem, not to interrupt, but we got gods waiting,” Villy cut in.

“Oh, right,” Jake said. It probably wouldn’t be a good idea to make them wait longer than necessary.

The hall had a long table, and Jake promptly took a seat towards one end, with Vesperia sitting next to him. The Viper took the seat at the end as he allowed those waiting to enter.

Presences descended one after another. In total, nine figures appeared, split into groups with three gods in each. One group consisted of three beastfolk and had two women and one man among them. The man was big and brawny, and Jake guessed he was descended from some kind of bear, while one of the women had cat-like features. The final one had feathers covering parts of her body and looked a bit like a harpy, if barely.

The automata looked a lot more alike, with none of them having discernable genders. Their designs were all slightly varied, but they mostly looked the same on the outside. All had silvery metal exteriors, and the only big differences were their heads.

Finally, there were the representatives of the Endless Empire. Jake instantly felt it as he looked at them. All three are True Royals.

Needless to say, all three of them were also women, and they all looked remarkably similar to Vesperia. True, there were natural differences, but they were all tall and looked mostly human, except for some small insect-like features. One of them had a third compound eye on her forehead and wings on her back, another just had two feelers, and a third looked significantly more muscular and wore what looked like natural chitin armor.

The three groups barely teleported in as the lines were formed just from where they appeared. The Endless Empire on one side, the Automata Legion on the other, with the United Tribes clearly neutral and in the middle.

“I welcome the three of you to our little private chat. I hope I don’t need to say that any hostilities will not be treated kindly,” the Viper said as he looked at the nine of them.

Jake knew just from feeling what little leaked of their auras that none of them were at the level of the Viper. He did find it interesting that all nine subtly leaked their auras, almost competing with each other, and from what Jake could see, the two strongest ones were the True Royal with the compound eye and the bird lady.

“I, too, hope all that transpires today will be peaceful,” the bird lady said, speaking for her group. “And excuse me for the late introduction, Chosen of the Malefic Viper. I am known as the Blazeheaven Phoenix Goddess.”

“A fire phoenix that attained godhood, and a quite strong one at that. One of the elders of the United Tribes with power surpassing that of a Godqueen,” Villy quickly briefed him.

“A pleasure to make your acquaintance,” Jake nodded, looking her in the eye.

She smiled in response and raised an eyebrow. “I had heard of your resistance to the presence of gods… and if I didn’t know better, I would have taken you for one in disguise.”

“I do have my talents,” Jake answered with a shrug.

“That you do,” she nodded, giving space for the other groups to talk. Especially one group seemed at the edge of their seats. The Endless Empire had been patient and, upon seeing their chance, jumped in.

“We of the Endless Empire also greet the Chosen,” the three-eyed True Royal said before turning to Vesperia. “And we greet our long-lost little sister.”

“Thank you,” Vesperia said with a genuine smile. “It is good to finally make contact with you all. I have heard the call of home during this wait.”

The True Royal smiled even more. “That is good.”

she still seemed a bit hesitant for some reason, and Jake was happy that Villy came

Vesperia to join them but to convince you to let her go. Their guess would likely be that she is currently under some kind of contract forced upon her shortly after birth. Be it a slave contract or one less intense. As for

hadn’t occurred to him. Logically, he could see why others could think he would have

any restriction on me or forced me into any agreements,” Vesperia said before

a faint shift in the auras of the three automata made

the center True Royal asked before regarding Jake and Villy. “And what are the intentions of the Order of the Malefic

stance clear. I am making no decisions here, simply backing up those made by my Chosen,” the Viper said

what does

Royal in the

the Endless Empire

“Truly,” Jake nodded.

and as my sire said, then I am fully capable of making my own decisions,” Vesperia cut in once more. “I wish to return to the Endless Empire and reclaim that which

three automata finally made themselves known, speaking in a

of this cursed metal. Even if compensation was being asked, we of the Endless Empire would gladly match any offer your

think the Order would rather deal with? A group of insects that would swarm and consume this entire planet the

Viper cut in again in a stern voice. “Tell me, how many times will I have to explain this before you get

actually meant was that the Viper would still make all the decisions, but Jake would be responsible and get any blowback and benefits of whatever happened. Even if Jake wanted to make his own decisions, and the Viper allowed it, what

to cut through the red tape… not knowing that

truth,” Vesperia once more added. “While I cannot claim to fully comprehend the nature of

on Jake as he shrugged. “One of the benefits of my Bloodline allowing me to resist presences is my ability to also resist the pressure usually exerted by a Patron. I value the Viper’s input, but I make my

Viper said once more. “Part of why I

nodded, finally looking at Jake. “You claim to have created this True Royal on accident. Are you now

the three-eyed True Royal scoffed. “Oh please, we of the Endless Empire have no negative

before I made her, but I do know now,” Jake cut in, not wanting

“Let me make one thing clear. Vesperia makes her own choices, and unless Vesperia decides she wants to be exterminated by the Automata Legion, that isn’t going to happen. So if you hoped to come here and buy her death, you might as well

at his side, giving Jake the extra confidence to

first place is. What is to happen if you decide to repeat your feat and create another? Create five more? Ten? All of them? Are we of the Automata Legion to simply sit back as the

his head. “That would only be a problem if

Royal leader asked with a deep frown and a tone filled with

that I can’t just

the bird lady from the United Tribes reentered the conversation. “I noticed the Sylphian Hawk, and am I right to assume you had a hand in

nodded, seeing no

does that mean your abilities are not

Legion looked a

can’t see why it would be, though with my current use of it, I cannot make any guarantees,”

give my insight?”

harm and trusting the Viper, Jake nodded. “Go

to the Truesoul and Origin, which is also why you see no innate karmic link between him and the

in thought for a while as

asked as he threw

it and studied

(C-grade)] – The core of a C-grade

if he couldn’t see any details