The Primal Hunter

Back in the main hall, the festivities that were actually just a glorified political event continued. A number of people still held hope that they could join the Chosen of the Malefic Viper and his party for Nevermore, as they all knew what that would mean.

It wasn’t out of the question for weaker individuals to effectively get carried through the mega-dungeon, thus earning a better title, more levels, and more items than if they had gone with equally skilled people. That was why those with supportive roles hoped they would get selected simply because there weren’t any better options. The scope of potential party members that met the stringent requirements was limited, as finding good support between level 200 and 210 who weren’t already with powerful groups wasn’t easy.

However, that hope was shattered when the Chosen returned. He did not come alone but was accompanied by a dryad who met the requirements, and what was more, she carried the Blessing of Nature’s Attendant. If there were anyone with Bloodlines, they too would have realized how screwed they were as this dryad surpassed any and all of them.

As the Chosen went over to greet his party members, it was quickly realized that the choice had been made, and all the young talents could do was be happy they had at least been able to attend, and some even had the chance to spar a swordsman who few would be able to forget.

Contrary to popular belief, the Fallen King was not actually related to plants or trees in any way. This was despite him looking like a tree guy and being named King of the Forest when Jake first met him. The bark-like skin also wasn’t even bark, or even wood for that matter, and while the mask did look and feel like wood, even being described as wood-like by the system, it wasn’t actually wood either.

All of this is to say that the Fallen King and the meek Dina didn’t immediately make friends due to her Bloodline, and Jake honestly felt a bit bad for the girl after being grilled with questions from the Unique Lifeform. Questions she mostly didn’t answer or just gave one-word responses.

In some ways, Jake found it liberating. This was the first time he had met someone who was worse at being social than himself. What they did get out of her was that her horrible ability to communicate wasn’t because she never talked to others. She just wasn’t used to talking to people. More accurately, she was the trope of a flower growing up in a greenhouse. In that, she had literally grown up in a large greenhouse with the plants there being all her best friends. Even the ones who couldn’t talk could still express emotions, which Dina could understand.

However, despite Dina’s issues with talking to them, there was one member of their group she looked capable of talking to. No, not Sylphie, as Dina didn’t quite understand what ”ree!” meant, but the Sword Saint and his overpowered old-man aura.

”So you did explore this forest with your friends?” he asked with a grandfatherly smile.

”Yeah… it was a bit weird there, and the beasts didn’t like us, but Bobo was with me,” she answered, seemingly only focused on the old man.

”You mentioned him before, but who is this Bobo?” the Sword Saint asked.

Jake was curious, too, remembering Nature’s Attendant mentioning this Bobo being with her.

”Bobo is my Guardian,” she answered before quickly looking like she had said too much. ”I… I mean…”

”We are meant to explore the depths of Nevermore together; secrets like that are counterproductive,” the Sword Saint smiled and shook his head. ”While we all respect each other and the respective secrets we all hold, please do not withhold information if it hurts others or hampers us in any way, alright?”

Dina looked in thought before she nodded. ”Alright.”

Old-man energy was truly too strong; even Jake got the compulsion to overshare. He had a strong feeling Dina was just more used to being around old geezers, which was why she could handle the Sword Saint so easily, but he did severely hope she would open up more with time or spending years with her in Nevermore would be hell. Luckily, the old man, using his old-man insight, already knew this.

”We need to trust each other and build rapport. As we learn from and about you, so will you learn about us, and I sincerely hope we can all get along well,” the old swordsman said with a comforting smile.

looked at Jake and

quickly realized the

is good to have you on board, and I look forward to seeing what you can

the ground again, but luckily she quickly

and reached out to

seems a bit… you know?”Jake asked the

would be corrupted by the world outside, and as she was born a genius, he hired private teachers and people to teach her everything there was to learn. Yet even as she reached adulthood, her father kept her inside their compound. My uncle was narrow-minded and wanted to find her a husband he thought was worthy of her. When he finally did, she was already in her early

fucked her up,” Jake

incredible ability to adapt, and while she may be a dryad, this is a trait I believe is shared by all with true sapience. For now, she will be awkward, but once she opens up, learns our social cues, and begins to feel comfortable, all will be well,”he explained further. ”But what my true point is, is that even if my cousin could not speak a full sentence in front of a man her own age, she could still write a thesis or

me, but are

speech to the Fallen King,”the old man sent in a slightly

choked but held himself together, no doubt

think your attempt to make friends is made easier by you wearing a mask and only showing her your

point,” Jake answered, seeing a problem

– to the surprise of no one – revealed that she did nature affinity magic exclusively. Luckily, nature affinity was a

but soon he was dragged away by Viridia as some people wanted to meet him. The Sword Saint also informed him that with the final member of the party recruited, he wanted to

left Dina alone with the Fallen King and Sylphia as Jake walked off to help Viridia with something he had truly dreaded: acting nice

their arrival to a time when Jake didn’t take up all the attention. That worked out

information about Sandy, and once they learned these basic traits, gifting became easy. Because how hard could it be to find gifts for someone focused on the concept of consumption and capable of absorbing nearly any kind

of Jake when it came to gifting. Was it energy dense and considered a high-Records item? Good enough! The fact that they didn’t need to give gifts to the same level as what they gave Jake

feared was a lot of people judging Sandy for being, well, Sandy, but all he heard were positive comments about how dedicated they were to their Path

the gifts, he imagined Sandy would spend the majority of the time

had no more obligations. The after-after party was also clearly canceled, though none present there were supposed to attend, to begin with, so it wasn’t like anyone noticed. Villy had likely

of the room, where Jake also saw Caleb had managed to sneak in. Jake hadn’t

talked to Dina, who already seemed more comfortable around the

of the side rooms with a few other members from the Court and had a few meetings here and there,” Caleb said with a smile as he turned to greet Jake. ”Also, I guess congratulations are in order, oh Chosen

thank you,” Jake said, hearing the false sincerity in his little

privately to

information only said she was a student of his?”

reach C-grade and was considered extremely talented, in part due to her Bloodline. I can put two and two together and guess this is her,” Caleb explained. ”Quite the find, all through the power of nepotism. Having a Primordial

I assume,” Jake teased