The Primal Hunter

Teleportation was no doubt the preferred method of long-distance travel in the multiverse. It did have some problems, like requiring a teleportation circle at both the target location and where you teleported from, making it less than ideal as an exploratory tool. One needed to know where one wanted to go in order to teleport somewhere, after all.

If one did not use a magic circle, teleportation became significantly more dangerous, costly, and overall less effective. However, there were instances where one did not want teleportation circles placed in an area.

First of all, many important places were protected by magical barriers. These barriers also protected some teleportation, and while it was possible to allow a “backdoor” of sorts in the barrier, this was, needless to say, a major security flaw. A powerful space mage could often “hack” themselves into a teleportation network and, if there was a backdoor of any kind, exploit that to teleport straight into an area that should otherwise be protected.

That was why most factions only established these teleportation networks inside of the barriers. This was a good method for singular planets or even solar systems, but it became heavily flawed if one wanted to connect two distant planets. A single barrier capable of encompassing two different planets in their own solar systems would rarely be worth it.

Due to this, many Waypoints had been established throughout the different universes. These were planets not protected within any borders, filled with teleportation circles allowing one to travel all across an entire universe within weeks if one jumped repeatedly.

The problem ultimately arose when one had to travel from a Waypoint to within a closed teleportation network. Because there were some closed teleportation networks, with numerous solar systems – sometimes even galaxies - all protected by one powerful defense system. These were the large areas controlled by major factions, and often each faction would only have a handful at most in each universe.

However, even among these closed systems, some places stood out: the heartlands of each faction. Primordial-1 and a huge area surrounding it was recognized as the heartlands of the Holy Church, and it was an area no god not part of the Holy Church could easily enter – not even other Primordials or those with equivalent strength.

Another well known was the Risen and the place known as the Ghostlands. The Altmar Empire had its Capital Cluster, as they called it, with most peak factions having something similar. But, there were two heartlands more protected than any others in the entire multiverse. Which was stronger, no one knew, but all knew it was a tie between these two:

The Automata Legion and the Endless Empire.

These two factions stood at the apex when it came to defending their heartlands. This was for obvious reasons, as both had members they could absolutely not risk dying, and the entire way their societies and Paths worked just lent themselves to making sure they had incredibly safe home bases.

But… one could naturally not just teleport into these heartlands. One had to travel the final distance from the Waypoint to within the barrier themselves, and for security reasons, these Waypoints were always a good distance from the heartlands. Getting that last distance was usually not a problem… but that was only if no one interfered. Because if anyone did, things could get rough.

This was the exact challenge Vesperia found herself facing. She had appeared on the final Waypoint Planet before they would have to manually travel the rest of the way, but barely a second after she had appeared there… the world turned white. A barrier encased her as dozens of figures teleported all around, making sure she was safe as the entire planet below her exploded.

Vesperia barely saw them. A massive floating mothership and armies of Automata gods all descended upon her, ready to strike the moment she appeared on this Waypoint Planet. The only good thing was that there had been eleven total Waypoint Planets to pick between, meaning the Automata Legion had to be at all of them.

Meanwhile, the Endless Empire only had to show up at one.

The entire cosmos was set ablaze as the Automata Legion attacked. Vesperia was shielded within a pod as four True Royals took flight and escorted her toward the planet, teleportation not possible due to the interference of the Automata Legion. In the distance, she saw endless flashes of light as war raged. It was lucky that the Waypoint Planets around the Endless Empire were all artificially created and far separated from any others… for if not, then entire galaxies could have been snuffed out of existence that day. Vesperia had known this could happen but was powerless to do anything. All she could do was trust her sisters.

Ultimately, Vesperia entered meditation, knowing that the best she could do was remain calm. She faded out all the disturbances all around her as time passed. Approximately seven hours later, she felt herself be teleported, and she opened her eyes to see herself surrounded by divine beings. Her sisters – the other True Royals - among them.

It was only later she came to learn the details of the battle. More than six thousand gods of the Automata Legion had been slain, though they all knew it had little consequence besides the material cost of their bodies, as one never truly killed an Automata god just by destroying its vessel. No, the true victory lay in successfully escorting Vesperia safely into the heartlands of the Endless Empire. That they had already managed to destroy the mothership was a boon, but the Endless Empire did lose a Godqueen in return. An acceptable loss in their eyes.

The Automata Legion had known their chances of success were low, but they had tried anyway. The Endless Empire had shown up with nearly all True Royals. Being so close to their heartlands, they would gladly show up in force, which had resulted in the Endless Empire coming out on top big time, even if one did not include Vesperia in the equation.

it had been a relatively low-risk, high-reward strike from

obvious at finally seeing her return home, even if she did sense some faint hesitation from some of them. They celebrated for a while as they waited for more arrivals to come. Something they did after

appeared. Once the news spread that she had safely returned to the Endless Empire, these powerful Hive Queens did not hesitate. Gods of all ranks, including Godqueens, entered the heartlands of the Endless Empire to greet the True Royal and swear their loyalty. There was no hesitation in their actions, no second-guessing. It was in

Vesperia still had one more important thing to do

into the deepest parts of the Great Planet known as Primordial-8. Some also called it the Great Hive Planet, but its official designation

yourself ready?” the Odonstrom True Royal

no cause for concern,” she answered without hesitation. “I already feel

question you then, sister,” the Odonstrom Hive Queen smiled,

of doubt in your demeanor, sister. From some of the others, too. How come?” Vesperia questioned the

your birth. Your circumstances are unique, and some fear that you may not truly hold the same allegiances as the Vesperia of old,” the Odonstrom True Royal sighed. “I know this

should,” Vesperia cut her off. “I am not entirely the same as other True Royals or the old Vesperia. But what changes I have experienced are not negative or even ones I find a need to hide. My allegiances also still lie with my Sire along with the Empire; I believe I have made this quite clear.

But even if there is some doubt, there is no doubt about your identity as a True Royal, and thus you can naturally claim your

of her Lineage resided. Items that only the True Royals of

Royal Diadem and the

the system in the first era. The Vespernat Hive Core was a powerful treasure she could absorb that would expand her inner world significantly while also making the energy within far more potent. The diadem had been a treasure used by the original Vesperia, while the Hive Core had come from the

use normal equipment, but these treasures still worked for her. Throughout the eras, they had also both been nurtured by the Endless Empire. This had not only been done out of faint hope a Vespernat True Royal would appear either. As long as they kept the Records of the Vespernat Lineage alive, there was hope that a new True

knew what many of them

disregard where she came from. That she would truly embrace her fate

twelve Primordials had been the first gods, and they had an… odd relationship with one another. They often fought and opposed one another, but never had there been a deadly conflict between them. Even when Sanguine and the vampires arose, and several Primordials came for the first vampire, the Malefic Viper did not interfere despite his close relationship with Sanguine. He

of the Malefic Viper, after all, and did anyone truly believe he was indeed making his own

possible. Vesperia also knew trying to convince them otherwise would be useless, and she didn’t want to try even if she thought she could. She did recognize she was biased on the matter, and her opinion thus held less

Sire. Felt his will and that which dwells within. Perhaps the Malefic One could manipulate her Sire, even fool him into doing things against his own interest… but she did not believe even a Primordial could ever control

could simply never

arrived,” the Odonstrom Hive

two of them found themselves standing before a large crystal structure with items suspended within. The diadem and the Hive

The Vespernat Diadem especially. The energy had been overwhelming to even the S-grade Vesperia back in the first era, and alas, you still only

assure you,” Vesperia nodded as she walked forward. The two artifacts reacted to her mere presence, and with a thought, the crystals that not even weaker

opened her arms and welcomed them both. The diadem landed on her head, and the Hive Core melted into her chest as she felt the massive influx of energy. She

been connected to a presence that surpassed any other she had ever felt, and compared to that, all else just paled. There was still a lot of energy to tame, but she only took four hours before

you are far from making full use of both treasures, the mere fact

impact me negatively… but did the council ever consider that it was just the opposite?” Vesperia questioned her fellow True

asked, Vesperia’s next words simply too foreign

Sire’s involvement in my birth is naught but a boon,” Vesperia