The Primal Hunter

Meira had experienced a lot of surprising and frightening things throughout the last few years. From the fall of the Brimstone Hegemon and her becoming a slave to recently being freed and having Teacher privately teach her all the time.

Yet today was more frightening than any other. Because she was called for a private meeting by the Hall Master herself, but not with the S-grade. No, someone else had asked – or probably demanded – to meet her.

The Lord Protector. Boundless Hydra. One of the most fearsome beasts in the entire multiverse, second to only the Malefic Viper within the Order of the Malefic Viper, as far as she knew.

Every other time she had met frightening existences, like that one time her Teacher brought her to buy herbs from a dragon god; she was always with someone and never the person in focus. Always just a tag-along. But this time, there was no Lord Thayne, no Teacher… not even Izil. Just herself and a god who had lived for nearly the entire lifespan of the multiverse.

Viridia, the Hall Master, had teleported her part of the way there, but on the final stretch to the domain of the Lord Protector, they had to walk. As they walked, Meira felt incredibly nervous and built up courage as she asked the Hall Master.

“Uhm… Mistress, I-“

“Call me Viridia,” the Hall Master smiled. “You should get used to not being so… meek. That simply won’t do.”

“Oh… okay,” Meira nodded, getting a disapproving look from the Hall Master. Still, Meira felt too curious not to ask. “If I may… why does the Lord Protector want to speak to me?”

“I do not know for sure, but I have my suspicions,” Viridia answered. “And if I am correct, I believe it is high time you drop those social-conduct lessons you are currently doing and for us to set up some proper conduct classes.”

Meira froze when she heard the mention of conduct classes. A shiver ran down her spine as she tried to control herself, but images flashed in her head of the “classes” she had when she first arrived at the Order. Clenching her fists, she continued walking as the Hall Master noticed her actions.

“You have reached the cap of D-grade for your profession, with your class soon to follow, correct?” she asked.

Meira just nodded.

“And the Grand Elder has discussed his plans of properly Blessing you soon, right? It is already known that you are his disciple… but from what I was told by the Verdant Witches, he is considering making you his Chosen,” Viridia said.

“I… maybe…” Meira said. She had to be honest; she wasn’t exactly sure what it meant to become the Chosen of someone like Duskleaf. The thought just seemed so foreign to her. Even now, it felt incredibly odd that many approached her, not just because of the people she knew but because they assumed she herself was also worth their time.

“In either case, but especially if that is true, you will have to adapt your demeanor to the situation, not only for yourself but the Grand Elder. You will be his representative, and your words will hold authority, so to speak confidently and assuredly is a must,” the Hall Master continued.

Meira nodded once more. It made sense…

“If such is the case, I would gladly help you in this process,” Viridia smiled. “And do know that my first free lesson is that people will want to form a relationship with you primarily for selfish reasons. Which is exactly what I am trying to do by offering you these lessons.”

“Yeah,” Meira nodded. “I know.”

That didn’t really surprise her. In her meetings with Izil and the others, that was an often-discussed topic, as they always had people approach them with ulterior motives.

The two of them kept walking for a good while, only exchanging a few words in a rather casual conversation. It was only when they reached the gateway leading into the domain of the Lord Protector that Viridia left, and Meira realized she had just casually been talking to the Hall Master of the Order of the Malefic Viper for nearly twenty minutes.

It felt odd.

But not as odd as what happened next.

next, she found herself standing on a stone platform. Before she could even orient herself, a presence swept over her that made her want to kneel… but she resisted. As best as she

a sigh of relief, a massive form appeared, towering over her. She looked up with wide eyes as she saw what looked

most frightening thing she had ever

voice of the Lord Protector echoing through the entire world. “And why I wished to have this conversation within

really unsure how she was supposed to act. Normally, one would kneel or something, but Teacher had told her that as his disciple,

uncertain if I agree with the actions of Master and Duskleaf when it comes to choosing Chosen like this, I am beginning to see the novelty. It is different than prior blessed I have had, in that there is less blind worship,” the god explained. “The mere

am I here because of Teacher?” Meira asked. Did the Lord Protector have something against

imagined doing, it’s better to just get it out of the way now

only disciple the Malefic One ever had, but the only one who remains. The only one Master allows to stay. Allows to assist him in his own

that of the one they assist, which meant that the Malefic One recognized Duskleaf as an equal peer, at least in some aspects of

somewhat, but do you truly know who Duskleaf is?

about Teacher?” Meira asked, curious and confused, forgetting herself for

Viper was around and would appear if the existence of the Order was threatened… but most of the older factions knew that the Order was never something Master cared overly much about,” the Lord Protector said.

she considered his words. But something didn’t fit. She was about to speak when a third Hydra head emerged on her

making Meira confused by the next words spoken by

not simple, and Duskleaf much less so. You may believe him

answered, not having to really think

should you somehow attain immortality? Secrets you may never be able to

that is what Teacher wants, yes,” Meira nodded once more without

role and Path. And know that should you stray or break the vow you made today, I shall carry out my duty as

out of the realm and back

as she looked down the hallway, unsure where to even

the realm of the

said happily. “Yes, perhaps I am getting a bit needlessly emotional, but this is the first time Duskleaf

all?” the Viper said,

the Dao Sect recently making moves, several gods that haven’t been active for a long time suddenly stirring to

cheerful tone. “But yes, more things do seem to be changing recently. Records are converging, and all the big players are aware. Let us look forward to it,

good nor bad on a fundamental level. However, they did represent opportunity

Malefic Viper and his insatiable Path, new was nearly always good, as it

variety of means. She would have never thought that something like a C-grade Perfect Evolution would ever be possible for her, but her Teacher had made it clear that if she wanted to become his official disciple, she at least had to

a group, even without factoring in the fact she was a student of Duskleaf. Even if she admittedly sucked at fighting, she still managed to get through all the dungeons she did, partly

people. No, it came from something else entirely. Healing was a school of magic that included many concepts and affinities. Light and life affinity were the two most famous ones for healing, but nature affinity

toward healing another form of life than usual. Rather than mend wounds, she would instead focus on truly helping people heal themselves

was more

she began changing her Path. Her aim slowly changed from simply healing other people to being able to mend

the Malefic Viper Path was a testament to that. As Teacher’s Master, it was natural that Duskleaf had taken inspiration and also come up with some ideas himself for how one could circumvent these restrictions,

more powerful, walking their own Paths. True, this was not a fight against a monster but the world

healed people who got hurt in the mines back with her clan and helped relieve those who suffered. That had earned her experience, so why couldn’t she

was strict but also accommodating. Something like the Augur class was proof of this, and Meira hoped to do something similar. To have both, with a class that was not truly combat-reliant but one she could