The Primal Hunter

Chapter 689

“Tyranny has run rampant for too long. For how long will you live in fear? For how long will you live under a system of oppression, where you are treated like nothing but objects by a creature that cares not for any of you? Are you willing to face us, risking your lives for someone who hides away within his castle, unwilling to help you? Will you die for someone that would not even shed a drop of blood for you?” his voice echoed throughout the large room, the many cultists and demons wary but listening.

“I am not asking any of you to lay down your lives for me… all I ask of you is to not take up arms. Allow our passage, and help us only with your prayers and well wishes. We have come to carry out justice, and you are not yet guilty of anything but being oppressed. Stand behind us, and I swear that the Demon Lord will face righteous judgment and his tyrannical reign end.”

Jacob stood atop a golden floating platform summoned by the light mage in his party. Bertrand stood beside him, ready to react should anyone make a move. To his other side, the Knight of Light’s Dawn stood with a smile on his face, the Old Royal Mage also with them. In fact, they had an entire group from the ambiguous “kingdom” these semi-sapient creatures called their homeland.

“He speaks the truth,” one of the people with them said. A woman wearing a cultist robe. One formerly known as the Prime Summoner. “I, too, was fooled, and now I can only try to pay recompense for once more releasing the evil Demon Lord Gubrothas. These heroes have given me a chance to, and I implore you all to join hands with us to create a better future.”

Jacob amplified her words using his own skills as he saw doubt mar the faces of all those below. A few Mistresses had even appeared, though the Prime Consort was yet to be seen. Not that he was worried… he could feel from the crowd the situation was under control. If not, they still had the option to fight – a scenario in which they would always win.

Minaga’s Labyrinth, as this part of Nevermore was called, had truly been a mixed experience for Jacob. On the one hand, it had allowed him to make use of his skills as an Augur and negotiate and create allies, but on the other, it had completely screwed over his abilities as an Augur when it came to navigating the labyrinth itself.

On all of the prior floors, Jacob had easily divined the best way to proceed. This had allowed them to fly through the floors at a record pace, and their party had racked up more points than they expected – even setting a new point Record as they passed the city floor between twenty and twenty-one.

When they had arrived in the labyrinth and were done getting briefed and picking the Archmage difficulty, he began his divination once more. Minaga had looked at Jacob funny during the entire briefing, and Jacob did feel like something was slightly wrong as he divined what way they should go. He had still chosen to believe it… a big mistake in retrospect.

Rather than lead him to the rooms with keys, all his divination had done was lead them straight into traps over and over again until finally, they reached a dead-end, where a giant mural of Minaga laughing revealed itself. The Unique Lifeform naturally adding an audio track to the mural himself.

From there, High Justicar Elevian – the co-leader of their party alongside Jacob – decided that perhaps they should shelve the divination for now. This proved effective, as they stopped relying on purely magical means and shifted to some far more manual ones. Scouts were sent out, light magic was shot in different directions to measure distances, and when they found their first group of natives from the labyrinth, they made use of them. They were pretty easy to convince, and Jacob quickly realized they were almost pre-programmed to want to assist him, making his job far easier than he would have expected.

It was certainly easier than what he had been doing before entering Nevermore.

Jacob had never truly left Earth before the invasion of Ell’Hakan. He had briefly been teleported away for events or brief training stints. However, as he left this time, he was tasked with a simple job… go out into the multiverse and see it for yourself. The A-grade Grand Master was assigned as his protector during this time, but Jacob was still allowed to go where he wished… so he followed his Path as an Augur and sought out those he could help.

He visited planets untouched by any factions. Places where D-grades were viewed as demi-gods that could dominate entire kingdoms. Worlds so bereft of Records that a C-grade ever appearing was impossible unless a miracle occurred, such as a random Bloodline being born or an individual with talent allowing the person to elevate themselves above their fates managed to rise.

There were worlds where the humanoid races were barely surviving as beasts dominated. Worlds where war raged, incompetent leaders willing to kill anyone with talent out of fear that they would be surpassed.

Jacob had many doubts about the Holy Church; a brief stint of exploration wouldn’t change that. However… he had long suspected it, but now he knew for sure that the multiverse was far from a kind place to the weak. The lost would falter in the dark endlessly if they did not have any guidance – if they did not have the Records of greater factions lifting them up.

A high tide raises all ships, and the Holy Church was the greatest tide of them all. Yet Jacob was determined not to allow himself to be swept up in it. He would be a lighthouse on solid ground, guiding the ships that would find themselves lost. And, at least for now, he would guide them towards the Church.

Because even if the Holy Church were not the best… for the weak, was there truly a better choice?

as intended, but… no, I can do this!” Maltrax, the

were walking in circles”

be that way? Yeah, it definitely

by “it” you mean more traps, then yes, it is that

floor of Nevermore for nearly twelve hours already and had spent all that time getting fucking nowhere. At first, they had used the ghost summoned from the banshee in their party, but that quickly proved ineffective as they got disoriented and

them through over a hundred traps – that Casper forewarned them all of – she seemed to be at her breaking point. Casper did come

he also sighed. “You’re certain you can actually

on the wall and closed his eyes briefly before quickly opening them again. “Gotta head back from where we came; we have been walking in the exact

is lying!” Maltrax

and a lot of complaining from Maltrax later, they

there probably isn’t even a

a

to admit that things were far easier than he had expected. In fact, he would say his knowledge of dungeons was more valuable on this floor than the thirtieth, which made

“Hey, Minaga?”

had discussed and agreed on engaging with the dungeon master as little as possible, but Casper felt

guess it

you

glances at him, one of them quite stern, very clearly telling him not to

dungeon masters?”Minaga said in an angry voice. “Are you insinuating that I would be

answered with

in a gleeful voice. “Man, you know how rare proper dungeon masters are these days? They all tend to suck or only pick up dungeon engineering in the later grades. True, it is difficult to do much while still

actually that rare?” Casper asked with some genuine confusion. “Why? It’s

dungeons, and nurturing one is pretty damn expensive. If you have a talented engineer, why not just convince him to be a formation master instead, as the required competencies overlap? At least

I guess,”

“True that.”

and the rest of his party members also looked at him differently, their wariness replaced with relief and recognition. Azal even spoke

you should take the lead. Good call on getting the Unique Lifeform

that hadn’t really been a plan. It was more him just being

mentioned other groups when you talked earlier... would you happen

“A few, yeah.”

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