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.

Before she could even orient herself, a presence swept over her that

eyes as she saw what looked like the giant head of a snake staring

the most frightening thing she

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

supposed to act. Normally, one would kneel or something, but Teacher had told her that as his disciple, she shouldn’t kneel to anyone that isn’t the Malefic Viper,

classified. While I am still 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

Lord Protector have something against Teacher? Why would

way now to avoid annoyance in the future,” the Lord Protector’s voice echoed as a second head rose from

“He was not the only disciple the Malefic One ever had, but the only one who remains. The only one Master allows to stay. Allows to

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

but do you truly know

and

it is true most multiversal forces avoided the Order during the Malefic One’s absence due to my presence, I would not be enough to keep away some pinnacle factions. Sure, some still feared the Viper was around and would appear if the existence of the Order was threatened… but most of

words. But something didn’t fit. She was about to speak when a third Hydra

confused by the next words spoken

Protector noticed her confused expression and briefly elaborated. “Gods are not simple, and Duskleaf much less so. You may believe him a pacifist alchemist… would you still wish to be his official disciple if that is but one part

having to really think about

your existence, even should you somehow attain immortality? Secrets you may never be

that is what Teacher wants, yes,” Meira nodded once

should you stray or break the vow you made today, I shall carry out my duty as the Lord Protector and

of the realm and back to the long underground hallway

Meira shuddered as she looked down the hallway, unsure

little Snappy,” the voice of the Malefic Viper echoed through the realm of the Boundless Hydra just as the elf girl disappeared. “Watching out

am getting a bit needlessly emotional, but this is the first time Duskleaf has taken on an official disciple,

that’s all?” the Viper said,

Chosen, and his ability to manipulate Origins, rumors of the Dao Sect recently making moves, several gods that haven’t been active for a long time suddenly stirring to

said in a cheerful tone. “But yes, more things do seem to be changing recently.

neither good nor bad on a fundamental level. However, they did represent opportunity and risk, as well as the chance to get

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

thought that something like a C-grade Perfect Evolution would ever be possible for her, but her Teacher had made it clear that

the fact she was a student of Duskleaf. Even if she admittedly sucked

a school of magic that included many concepts and affinities. Light

would instead focus on truly helping people heal themselves through an odd healing concept Meira had not

than healing, it was more accurate to

affinity before she began changing her Path. Her aim slowly changed from simply healing other people to being able to mend and nurture other kinds of life, even those without

of the Malefic Viper and the entire Alchemist of 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

more powerful, walking their own Paths. True, this

combat. That was how Meira had initially leveled her class, after all. She had healed people who got hurt in the mines back with her clan and helped relieve those who suffered. That had earned her experience,

was proof of this, and Meira hoped to do something similar. To have both, with a class that was