The Primal Hunter

The Nevermore Arenas. To Jake and the others in his party, these did not have much pull, but to others, they were a cornerstone of Nevermore City. They pulled in huge audiences and were somewhere geniuses from all over the multiverse gathered from C-grade to S-grade. It was a chance to show off their skills to others for a myriad of reasons, most of which revolved around recruitment.

Faction-less Individuals could show off their power and potentially find party members to join them in their pursuit to rank high in Nevermore. Others hoped to be recruited into powerful parties that needed someone with their skills. Some of these even hoped to join a faction.

This was especially prevalent due to the new universe recently getting integrated, and it would only increase as the Wyrmgod sent out these tokens for C-grades all over the new universe to teleport to Nevermore directly. All who had arrived now had to have some backing to even be able to make the trip.

Needless to say, many of these factions did not need to be in the arenas to recruit members but already had full parties, which led to another reason why some went to the arenas: to show off. Jake was pretty damn fucking sure Ell’Hakan was in the camp of people wanting to show off, and if he could also attract Jake, that was probably just a win-win for the guy.

Jake did find it regrettable that killing was not allowed in Nevermore City, not even in the arenas. Accidental deaths weren’t a thing either, as referees always watched the fight, and some odd formation had been placed that made it so not even instantly fatal attacks would kill someone. Instead, it just threw them out of the arena. Jake suspected system-fuckery was behind this.

Either way, if this anti-killing rule was not in place, Jake would have gladly faced Ell’Hakan within an arena.

However, with the rule in place… Jake just wouldn’t face him at all if he could avoid it. Yet he still wanted to at least lay an eye on the guy and get a feel for how much stronger he had gotten and if his Bloodline had grown more potent. Ell’Hakan had proven himself very good at suddenly popping up and attacking, and Jake wanted to avoid being taken by surprise if the fucker ambushed Jake with a Bloodline that was more powerful than Jake expected.

He also knew that curiosity would gnaw at him if he didn’t at least see a few of the asshole’s party members. Villy said they were powerful, and Jake knew that wanting to see them personally wasn’t logical and potentially even Jake walking into a trap, but the alternative was him wondering for decades to come. Besides, If Ell’Hakan was fighting in one of the arenas, Jake should be able to scout out his party mates without even being noticed, but even if Ell’Hakan had set a trap… well, he did kind of have a plan for that.

“Would you happen to have an extra robe and a sword?” Jake asked the Sword Saint.

“Oh?” he asked with interest. “I do, but what for?”

“Something that will hopefully work,” Jake answered. “Follow me.”

He led the Sword Saint into a small alley and after he was sure no one was looking, he had the old man give him a robe and a sword and put them on.

Then, he closed his eyes and took a deep breath as he entered meditation. He focused on his heartbeat and soon heard it thumping strongly within his mind. Focusing even more on it, he made it slow down significantly as he felt slightly strained. His Sphere of Perception momentarily seemed to flicker before it stabilized, yet the sound of his own heartbeat had ceased to be within his mind. It was as if he had grasped it with a hand and squeezed tightly to keep it under control

“Your aura… I felt a slight shift,” the Sword Saint frowned as Jake opened his eyes. “You feel, hm, weaker, perhaps?”

“I made it a bit easier for me to hide from his detection,” Jake said. “To allow me to not attract attention but just be a follower of yours.”

“Oh?” the Sword Saint exclaimed skeptically. “I have done some research into Bloodlines, and from my comprehension, he will be able to feel yours if he gets close. Even if you change your looks and aura, suspicion would still arise if I am seen walking with an individual with a Bloodline.”

“Unless he is touching me, not even Ell’Hakan should be able to feel it.”

The Sword Saint frowned before simply nodding. “Do as you may.”

Jake nodded in return and made sure the robe was properly put on and the sword attached to his waist. He then lifted his hand and conjured a stable arcane barrier over his mask before infusing it with a bit of dark mana, hiding his face. He finished the look by putting on his old cloak and changing its colors to dark blue, like the Sword Saint’s robe.

Finally, he used Shroud of the Primordial to display himself as only level 200 while also entirely removing any trace of him having a Blessing.

“How do I look?” Jake asked.

Sword Saint answered. “Enough so

Jake

be possible. During his childhood, Jake had managed to completely suppress his Bloodline to the level of effectively deactivating it. This was not a usual function of Bloodlines or something anyone could just do, yet Jake had done it, which begged the question… why couldn’t he do something

undetectable lest he wanted to somehow try and suppress it entirely. Something he had no desire to do. For now, his Bloodline remained fully active while also being suppressed enough

could do this

No, no, he hadn’t.

no fucking

likely than not make him entirely disregard Jake and instead focus solely on the Sword Saint.

forever,” Jake said, as he did know he was on borrowed time. It wasn’t effortless to

well,” the

northern arenas. It was a huge complex of different arenas, and even for C-grade, there were

that, Jake felt something. A familiar Bloodline lurked just through the entrance to the large double

is just past here,” Jake warned the

well,” the old man answered. “I shall naturally take the lead, my

as they walked forward, and as they entered the

you here, Sword Saint,” Ell’Hakan spoke as he spotted the Sword Saint and the disguised Jake. He had been hidden by a large group of people, and they made way for him as he walked straight

I can say the same,” the Sword Saint said,

the crowd paid attention. It was

gaze briefly land on him, but it was only for a mere moment as he turned

turned to the crowd of onlookers. “Everyone, allow me to introduce the man known as the Sword Saint. A man I have faced once, and from that

all around at the mention of the Malefic

of the Order of the Malefic Viper, but a man who stands on his own, correct?” the

ours? Or perhaps that is just the ramblings of an old man. At least, his willingness to pave his own way is something I find admirable when

Chosen, I had hoped to meet him here and perhaps have a fruitful discussion. While it is pleasant to meet you once more, it

oddly nervous that he would be discovered. Too nervous. He still managed to

that is

with wide eyes at that sudden declaration. What

to the Sword Saint. “Say, would

the Chosen in front of him as the Sword Saint kept him

with you. You have not exactly been a good conversation partner to Lord Thayne thus far, now have you?” the old man

not dare say this to my face? Is it perhaps accurate for me to assume

believe he would gladly stand

under the gaze of the Wyrmgod, with our safety ensured by the rules of Nevermore. Seeing

could be arranged,” the

a home in so many other places than that forsaken Order with his unique talents. While we may had a bad first impression of one another, I genuinely believe that a friendship or at least mutual tolerance can be formed as long as he desires it to

looked at the nahoom for

is truly all,” Ell’Hakan said as he bowed yet another time. “Thank you, Sword Saint. I would invite you to a duel in the arena to have a proper rematch, but sadly I will have to take my leave now as my comrades are done enjoying themselves in the arena. Nevermore awaits. Oh, and

Jake turned his gaze to them, and instantly he felt relief. He didn’t recognize a single of the four figures that walked out of the arena. Jake instantly scanned them all, and together with his assessment of

as Dina but without the air of naivety. Among them was a beastfolk warrior that looked to be descended from a wolf. Another was a mage of an unknown race Jake didn’t recognize, and he didn’t dare use Identify. Second-to-last was an elemental in humanoid form. A metal elemental of some kind, it seemed. Lastly was a woman covered in all white and