The Primal Hunter

Holstred looked at the blue sky above as he felt the sunlight on his skin. The planet he now found himself on was a bit cooler than the one he had been born on, but not by a large degree. He had feared that the environment would have been unfriendly when he was informed they had been ”gifted” off to the owner of another world, but the climate was nice. Even those still in lower grades were comfortable.

Sighing, he turned to the woman who had just walked up beside him, and despite their situation, he failed to resist displaying a small smile. ”How is everyone settling in?”

”Some better than others… the teleportation took a toll on those in lower grades, but the healers said that they just need time to recover,” she answered as she took his hand and put it on her slightly bulging stomach. ”We will be fine, okay?”

Holstred sighed again as he looked at his pregnant wife. ”I know.”

He felt her stomach before grasping her hand and squeezing it as they both looked at the sun together, and he couldn’t help but remember better times. Times before they became slaves… a time before they had been given away to a powerful religious figure on another planet. At first, Holstred had actually hoped that leaving their home planet and the strained environment there could turn their fates for the better, but… now he doubted that.

Hearing their new owner was someone known as the Chosen of the Malefic Viper had not meant anything to Holstred initially, as he did not know of this Malefic Viper they spoke of. Only later did he learn they would be under the rule of what was essentially the divine prophet of a god with a less-than-stellar reputation. That this Chosen was from an Order of poison alchemists. Learning that had sent a shiver down Holstred’s spine.

I just hope my people can survive.

The world he and his family had come from hadn’t been a paradise either, but… it had been the home. Their homeworld had been filled with strife for hundreds of years before the system even arrived, as war was a constant thing due to the three races being in neverending conflict. The human empire Holstred had been a part of had long been considered the weakest, with the dwarves and the Nirax – a scalekin race - both stronger. However, neither faction dared attack the human lands due to the fear of the other empire taking advantage of the opening. That was how a balance had been reached for centuries… until it was broken by the system initiation.

Holstred had been known as the Knight Commander in the lands of man. A grand title gifted due to Holstred’s strength even before the initiation, and with the arrival of the system, he had continued to prove his excellence. He had done well in the Tutorial, gained a lot of levels, and returned to their home ready to fight for his empire… but things went downhill from the very beginning.

Their emperor died in the Tutorial, and nobody had any idea who would take charge. Individuals who had gotten powerful began to cause trouble as dozens of minor factions sprung up, vying for control, and all the old nobles rebelled with the intent to take charge. They all saw the arrival of the system as their opportunity to become the new rulers of the empire, not even considering how that was only exacerbating the ongoing chaos.

They were fools who had never lived on the frontlines. Never known what a precarious state their empire had long been in. Unaware that should they show the slightest weakness, others sat ready to pounce.

So when the Nirax attacked, the expected happened, and they were not ready. Yet they fought back, Holstred on the frontlines from the very first day as even if the empire was not ready, he had been. War raged for nearly two years, with intermittent system events and World Congresses that only didn’t end in bloodshed due to the rules of the system. If not for that rule, that entire event would have been a slaughter, and with the rules, it just turned into a shouting match that further fueled the hatred between the races.

Eventually, the nobles got their internal issues resolved, and a temporary emperor was selected. A fool of a man who had then entered an alliance with the dwarves to fight back against the Nirax. Things finally seemed to be turning for the better, but Holstred knew it was all a mirage. The nobles did not see that the dwarves just used humanity as a meat shield to fight the Nirax for them while sending their own elites into dungeons or to fight monsters. They grew their armies as humans, and Nirax died on the battlefield. By the time they did realize… it was too late.

As expected, the dwarves had turned on the human empire the second the Nirax were no longer a threat. What followed next had not even been a proper fight.

The human armies fell, their top general was slain, and in only a day, Holstred had gone from a war hero to the commanding officer of a broken army. He had made the difficult decision to surrender, hoping they could avoid a massacre. They did… but the cost was high.

Despite being in early C-grade, Holstred was made to sign a slave contract. What he did not know was that in the background, the dwarves had joined a divine faction from the wider multiverse and taken in their teachings while expanding. The dwarves had long been an ambitious race, and they were showing that now by wanting to go beyond their planet.

Now, with the war over, Holstred had hoped things would calm. However, the dwarves faced challenges from within, for despite them being the victors, many still sought the total destruction of the humans and the Nirax. The enmity was simply too deep… their hatred too ingrained.

now thrown into ghettos and camps. Humanity had been slightly better off, but their lives were far from good. Yet many internal factions

Nirax both. Executions on the street were normal, and people getting dragged off to scout dangerous areas was

sell off the surviving humans and Nirax as slaves to other factions across the ninty-third universe. He quickly got support from the merchant families, and with the help of the divine faction, they began selling off slaves. Humanity and the Nirax were split into segments and sold off, with Holstred being placed ”in charge” of

back,” his wife said after a while. Holstred still looked

we all do,” she whispered into his ear as she gave

there, waiting. He would have joined her, but

with the scarred face… Lillian was her name, he believed. He had only seen her once, and that was

an odd flat

I,

treated too badly yet was a bit of comfort. That their new owner and many of the people in charge were also humans helped ease his worry slightly too. Though, to be fair, every segment of slaves that had

well. Initially, treating your slaves well was also a common strategy for many noble families back in the old empire, as that ensured they worked well for longer, as they hoped that through hard work, the good days could return. Back then, Holstred had seen them as naive… now, he questioned if they simply never had a better

the woman called Lillian said, only briefly looking up

least, that is what he was informed before even arriving on this planet and by the woman walking ahead of him during the welcome. Outside of her

what this Order of the Malefic Viper often did with slaves, and he hoped his people could avoid that. All he could hope

magical formations around

woman in question sitting at a table with several stacks of paper in front of her. She seemed busy but instantly noticed

the Silver Knights, was it?” the witch

How may I serve my new Mistress?” he answered after kneeling. In a situation like this, he did feel lucky that his father had made him learn etiquette and he had practiced meeting the imperial family of old. He also knew that showing

for the courtesy. Please get up and take a seat,” his new Mistress said, looking like she was already tired

if I caused any offense,” Holstred tried again, but she once more

sit, then we can talk

directly opposite her, something he did find slightly inappropriate. It appeared he had much to learn about this planet’s culture, and he truly feared he

and the people with you are remnants of a fallen empire that lost a war. Is that

as you say,” he

are all far more resilient both physically and mentally than before the system, it is still better to find and treat cases of trauma early on rather than delay,” she nodded. ”We also interviewed a few people from the same planet as you, and they all spoke highly of you, Knight Commander. You at least seem to have earned their respect and led them well during this time of strife, and I hope you will continue to do that as the

sure what he should say. The first part about the children was also… was it to make

away some of the papers and looked him in the eye. ”What do you want to happen next here on Earth? What kind of

aback for a moment, not sure what to say. But he did detect honesty in her voice, and he believed it

to ensure our survival. And… perhaps one day…

new Mistress you wanted to

bit more ambitious,” the witch smiled,

am unsure. I do not think I can speak for