The Primal Hunter

Jake had never been a big fan of killing humans, or any humanoid beings for that matter. However, he also wasn’t directly averse to it. It was more that if he had to choose between fighting a giant bear or a human to get levels, he would prefer the bear, even if both had the same level of intelligence.

What he definitely didn’t like and did feel averse to was killing low-level humans. That just felt wrong on a fundamental level… but… Jake did so anyway. The four others did too. Dina was reluctant, the Sword Saint seemed neutral, like it was just something that had to be done, and the Fallen King and Sylphie honestly didn’t sound like they gave two shits about doing a massacre.

Their reason for this purge of life was an experiment of sorts. A grisly one. They wanted to see the response of the Enlightened Republic and the rest of the world. Hopefully, they could even bait out some of the Otherworlders in charge. Because it was clear that only Otherworlders had anything to say in this world and that ”noble” was just a synonym for Otherworlder.

The killing proceeded smoothly as the big city didn’t have anyone above level 240, making it a quick and easy endeavor to wipe out, and their group met up once they were done. They proceeded to wait in the area for nearly half a day, with not a single person showing up, before they decided to travel more toward the capital as it became clear there would be no response. Throughout everything, the natives didn’t even fight back either but just stood there like mindless drones. Jake had the feeling that if he had just yelled for them to lay down and die, they would have done so without question.

To repeat, the place was fucked up.

Ultimately, one also had to remember that they were in a dungeon, and nothing was truly real. All the people there didn’t have any future, and their only fates were to be challenges on a Nevermore dungeon floor while potentially teaching the people doing the floor some kind of lesson. Which, if Jake had to be honest, was probably a very good thing, as he very much wouldn’t like this kind of place to exist in the multiverse outside, fully aware that such a place probably did exist somewhere. He just really hoped to not encounter it.

Flying toward the capital, Dina wasn’t in the best mood as she spoke.

”Will… will we need to kill everyone there too?”

”The Karmic Plague is so ingrained within their souls that getting rid of it would mean death. The choice we stand before is to either leave them be to their meaningless lives or end their existences. I care neither way,” the Fallen King said.

Dina already seemed to know, but Jake understood she wasn’t happy about it.

”We should scout out the place a bit first,” Jake said. ”Maybe even talk to some of the Otherworlders to discover what the hell is going on from people who display some level of independent thought. But I do think that our course of action will ultimately not be a peaceful one. No matter how friendly they are… well, you already know.”

On a side note, Jake hadn’t bothered speaking to the two nobles he saw in the other city after the shit they pulled with the native parents and kid. They had died without even knowing what had hit them.

”There is likely some kind of leader there,” the Sword Saint said. ”That it is called a Republic does strike me as odd, considering that usually indicates some kind of democratic process or elections, which makes no sense considering the state of the natives.”

”It is only the Otherworlders who can decide anything. It can also be because it is a merged faction of different races, each then having a representative, but who knows, it’s just a name,” Jake answered. ”Either way, we will have answers when we get there.”

Two weeks passed before they arrived at the Enlightened Capital, showing the sheer size of the planet. They passed by dozens of large settlements on the way, and while they did scout some of them out, it was just the same shit everywhere.

Every single place had one or more Otherworlders in charge of everything, and in many of the small towns, the one Otherworlder lived like a king surrounded by slaves. They did talk about it but decided not to wipe out these places immediately.

They did also see a lot of the natives and how they lived. For the most part, they seemed normal. They talked with each other, they lived their lives, and if not for the fact they couldn’t really decide things themselves, Jake couldn’t spot any differences. He even saw a party C-grades hunting down a large beast within a valley, working together, using skills, and being normal.

The mere fact they had even reached C-grade was astonishing, considering their shortcomings due to the Karmic Plague. But it did also show why experiments like this were performed. Making someone a slave would always harm their Path and limit any and all potential they had significantly. The Karmic Plague did too, but in a far less severe manner, plus it removed any need for contracts and such. It didn’t make it any less fucked up and insidious, but Jake could see how someone who didn’t care about other living beings outside of how useful they could be would perform this kind of experiment.

As the capital appeared in the distance, still a few hundred kilometers away, Jake scouted it out visually by squinting his eyes a bit. It was a large settlement with tall walls surrounding it, most of the buildings inside of the walls, but some outside. In the center of the city, a large tower soared higher than anything else, though he did spot a lot of large impressive buildings behind the walls. Especially this official-looking building with really impressive carvings on the pillars. The place was definitely bigger than any other settlement they had seen, but to confirm and get some information, they made use of the rules of Tri-World, even if it felt wrong.

Rather than enter the capital right away, they sought out a farm outside of the walls where a man was working the fields. He was only E-grade and instantly turned and looked when Jake and the others landed only a few meters from him.

is the most powerful person in the Enlightened Capital?” Jake

Enlightened Republic,” the man

most powerful person in the Enlightened Republic?” Jake

I believe he

does this Lord Protector live?” Jake continued to question, not wanting to

the center of the capital. You can’t miss it,” the

he?” the Sword Saint asked

do not know. However, I can go ask others if they know, and if not, go

never even spoke to us,” the Sword

let out a small screech, the

”Ree?”

being discovered,” Jake nodded. A large formation covered the entire city before them, and based on Jake’s quick scan, it was a dual-purpose defensive and detection formation. The defensive part was not active at all times, but the detection

really care about being detected as they had gone there to talk with the most powerful person present anyway. Entering the

in the spire, giving Jake and the others access. Jake had already released a pulse and found a single

large spacious living room with fancy decor. Sitting on a large couch was a middle-aged half-elf, and Jake naturally identified

the Enlightened

of you to come barging in like this… I take you five were also the ones who caused a ruckus in the outer regions of

gone over the game plan with his party before coming. ”Hard not to

speak as if you

do,” Jake confirmed. ”A

five were rather extraordinary the moment I felt you enter the city… you truly have proved me correct. Few have any knowledge of Karmic Plagues,” the Lord Protector said

man for a

has changed during all this time. For so long, I had no idea why Tri-World was so unique, and I, too, struggled with the thoughts I see you have now. Let me just clarify… there

of the Karmic Plague? Who caused it? Or… maybe how to get rid of it?” Jake questioned. He knew the last one wasn’t very likely unless there was some dungeon-fuckery going on, which was one of the reasons they wanted to

all that a Karmic Plague was the cause of Tri-Worlds peculiar nature. She was insistent that the Karmic Plague placed upon Tri-World could be stopped as long as we sought out the core of the planet. That we should unite and create an expedition down there, risking our own lives fighting monsters all the way down on some vain hope that we could change the status quo,” the middle-aged

getting rid of the

the Lord Protector shrugged. ” And who cares? Tri-World isn’t broken. No, this place has its perks and downsides both, but overall

the Sword

Karmic Plague has resulted in the populace indeed just being drones, but they still retain proper Truesouls and whatnot, making them prime subjects for experimentation. It also doesn’t mean they are less competent, at least not by much, and finding new assistants isn’t too difficult. As for downsides… well, it can get a bit lonely here. The natives are not exactly interesting conversational partners,

the planet that is the source,” Dina said

to confirm that,” Jake sighed before turning back to the half-elf. ”I am curious… you didn’t mention being stuck here

for a while, we figured out a

Jake felt pretty damn sure was, if not a practiced speech, then at least something

beasts. Then use them to create a portal, allowing you to travel to the next floor and any Otherworlder to leave Tri-World. WARNING: This

clearly outlined all they had to do, and Jake and company quickly understood that the other factions likely had similar objectives available. In fact, this was probably the way to speedrun the floor if you just wanted

woman who wanted to cure this world of the Karmic