The Primal Hunter

Their party of five only ended up staying on the floor for an hour or so more as Dina finished healing the Dark Witch as much as she could. Some of the soul damage would have to heal on its own, but the scalekin was more than elated at just having survived.

“I don’t know how I can possibly thank you,” the Dark Witch bowed as they stood in front of the teleporter leading them off the floor. “I hope you find fortune on your Path, and if I can ever repay this favor, I will do so.”

It was a bit melancholic hearing her make promises of the future when the five of them knew such promises could never be fulfilled. Making her leave the dungeon with them also wasn’t an option. Chances are that even if the Dark Witch had ever been a true person, she was long dead in the real world, and if she still lived, it was because she had reached godhood… in which case this dungeon image also wouldn’t be able to leave. Not that any of that even mattered either, as Nevermore didn’t allow the attendees to bring anyone from the dungeon out of it.

“Take care of yourself,” Jake had just said. “And keep fighting the good fight. The Lord Protector of the Enlightened Republic had some documents related to creating a way to teleport off the planet that may be able to help you leave if that is what you want. There is a lab hidden beneath where the now-destroyed capital is.”

She nodded with gratitude as Jake and company walked through the gateway. It was odd how the Dark Witch seemed to know what the gateway was. But not truly. She knew it could take them off the floor – or planet - but not where it led or why she couldn’t enter it herself. Just that she couldn’t.

Appearing in the in-between room, Jake sighed loudly. Not because of the pretty damn boring room they appeared in that really paled in comparison to the cozy lounges Minaga’s Labyrinth had, but because of the floor they had just done.

“Disconnecting these dungeon layers and the real world is difficult when the people become too real,” the Sword Saint muttered. “I will not lie; I find the floors where they seem more like pre-programmed characters preferable to this. Makes it all more straightforward.”

“Yeah,” Jake nodded.

“Having some experience with her fate myself, being a boss in a Tutorial, I believe I have some unique insights. Even if the dungeon we experience is something we know isn’t truly real, to the individuals living there, it is their only reality. To the Dark Witch, she was just a member of some organization who had arrived to help cure it of the plague. From her perspective, she was truly saved. Ultimately, even saving a “true” being in the multiverse is a mostly useless task as they are but one soul in an infinite sea of lives, living in an endless timespan where their paltry mortal existences matter not. So act according to what you judge best, be it in a dungeon or in the true world. In the grand scheme, neither truly matters, and consciously writing off beings as unreal is an easy path to apathy. It is a path all gods eventually find themselves walking down… for is the life of a mortal which will end in the blink of an eye truly more real than the life of a being in a dungeon that only exists when you are in there? Both are but momentary blips on the tapestry of the infinity that is their lives,” the Fallen King said, getting oddly philosophical. Definitely seemed like he had some unresolved thoughts from being in a system event… but he did also have some good points.

“I think what we did was good,” Dina said with a smile. “And being true to ourselves even in a situation where the stakes are low is only proof of being a strong character.”

“Ree,” Sylphie added wisely.

Jake just nodded, and before anyone else could say anything, they were hit with some long-awaited system messages.

Forty-first floor completed. 4100 Nevermore Points earned.

Achievement earned: Destroy the Karmic Plague from Tri-World entirely using the ritual in partnership with the Dark Witch, curing the planet while still giving it a path to recovery. 2000 Nevermore Points earned.

Reading over the floor completion and achievement, Jake nodded. The 4100 were expected with the rule change of every floor giving more base points, but the achievement felt a little low, only giving 2000 extra for choosing what was effectively the hardest way of completing the floor. Then again, they did complete a bunch of bonus objectives doing it this way, more than if they had chosen an easy path, so it probably was worth it.

The fact there wasn’t any reward for saving the Dark Witch also didn’t really surprise him. It wasn’t part of their goals at all, after all, but just something Jake had done out of an odd sense of vanity. No… he had done it because it just felt wrong to let someone sacrifice themselves for his gain, so he had done all he could to stop that from happening. Even if it had wasted time and led to him damaging his Soulspace, he didn’t regret it a single bit and would gladly do it aga-

Extraordinary Message: Additional achievement(s) based on unpredicted performance on the previous floor are being processed. Reward(s) pending; please wait.

Not that Jake was going to say no if the Wyrmgod and the system decided that an extra reward was in order.

“I did fear for a moment that Nevermore would not recognize what you did,” the Sword Saint said, smiling at Jake. “I am pleasantly surprised it does.”

anyone else in C-grade could have cured her unless they had a Transcendent skill

sure someone else could find a way,” Jake smiled, waving it off. Underestimating what others were capable of was never a good idea, and just looking at his four party members,

abilities. Moreover, you had to handle the backlash of an angry Karmic Plague created

or wait, was that what the drop of blood from Villy had promptly squashed the second he ate it? It

just hope that the reward matches the uniqueness of the feat,” the Fallen King said. “I shall meditate till the reward is done calculating. I would presume it is ill-advised

not take much out of me, it isn’t

Sylphie deciding to take a nap on Jake’s lap as he decided to go

actually do much, the process by which

Viper, which had gotten an even longer description than the last

toxic energy is determined by the user. The Alchemist can only use toxic effects he has concocted or created prior or to further empower an existing toxic effect within a chosen target. Allows the Alchemist to far more effectively control all toxins he is in contact with when using Touch of the Malefic Viper. Can be used to cultivate toxins of various forms. Can be used with all compatible types of mana affinities, further altering the effects. This effect is especially effective using your arcane affinity. Vastly increases the potency of transmutations made using Touch of the Malefic Viper at the cost of partly binding them to your soul. Some effects

9 and the added clarification that he only got 9 stats

to far more effectively control all toxins he is in contact with when using Touch of the Malefic Viper. Can be used

and when focusing on the skill, Jake felt unsure

eaten before. This did seem like a big downside considering he wouldn’t be able to cultivate powerful and unique natural treasures using Cultivate Toxin, but on second thought, why wouldn’t he just use Palate and eat those with the special internal stomach, in which case,

far as Jake could see, considering he would now cultivate using a skill related to the Malefic Viper,

Jake saw a few more changes with this

effects and properties. Further evolved, you can now also learn the properties of herbs while at the same time enjoying a greater benefit from all potions consumed. Natural treasures can be swallowed and refined at an accelerated pace using your current level of Touch of the Malefic Viper (Legendary). If the item is not a toxin, the item will still be refined but at a slower pace. Allows you to learn the properties of any treasure in your stomach as you slowly refine it. Allows the Alchemist to fully consume a swallowed item, destroying it in the process if possible. If the item cannot be destroyed or the result of its destruction is too violent, the Alchemist will suffer a backlash, and the internal space will be damaged. Grants immunity or resistance to most poisons. Passively provides 9 Endurance per level

that it was only for the C-grade variant of his profession was present in this one. Besides that, there were two changes. One was the addition of Touch of the Malefic Viper now being used,

it in the process if possible. If the item cannot be destroyed or

made it clear this was “intended” damage, giving him hope it would heal naturally with time. He would still need to have Eternal Hunger get done eating all the remnant

180 Intelligence and 180 Endurance before all bonuses. What’s more, he would get even more stats with every level-up… no matter how Jake looked at it, these Malefic Viper

process, had naturally also rewarded levels. Two

the Malefic Viper] has reached level 228 - Stat

[Heretic-Chosen Alchemist of the Malefic Viper] has reached level 229 - Stat points allocated, +35

[Human (C)] has reached level 228 - Stat points

getting his very first skill selection of C-grade, and while

get wasn’t done yet, Jake also entered meditation while pulling out his Soulflame Cradle, as he had mentally shortened the name to, and infused some more arcane energy while he checked on the situation within it. Nothing much had really happened on that front as he was still waiting for his arcane affinity to get a proper foothold

Jake and everyone else exited meditation simultaneously as they

based on actions

Grand Achievement earned: Allow the Dark Witch to survive while successfully curing her of the Karmic Plague. 500 Nevermore Points earned. Due to completing a Grand Achievement,

at it for a while. 500

okay?” Jake questioned out loud. The implication that this kind of Special Grand Achievement could even be earned honestly scared him a bit. What had other people gotten that he

Sword Saint said. “When you get a good thing, you just

“But-“