The Primal Hunter

”I told you it would be easy, didn’t I?” Artemis grinned as Jake entered her mansion. Without even thinking about it, he had just headed there by default when he thought about “going home.”

Jake did feel a bit bad about bailing on Owen and Polly, but after his match, he saw the two of them walking around hand in hand. They looked like they were in their own little world, so, in reality, wasn’t Jake just being a good friend by not following them like a third wheel? Yep, definitely.

“You did, you did,” Jake nodded. “But I also expected it to be on the easier side from the moment I learned Umbra was an opponent in the Colosseum. Assassins just don’t have a good time against me.”

A statement that was true even before the system based on the life of Sim-Jake.

“I reckon that for most people, she will be considered the hardest. She is a nasty opponent that you need proper preparations to win against when you can’t rely on your usual senses,” Artemis nodded as she looked to be in thought. “But… you did destroy here more thoroughly than I had expected. It wasn’t even a fight. It was just pure domination from start to end, with her unable to do anything but try and learn the limits of your abilities, and from the looks of it, she wasn’t even able to do that.”

“I am indeed awesome; thanks for noticing,” Jake smiled teasingly.

“Your awesomeness may cause you issues, though. The recording of your fight with Umbra will definitely make its way back to her, and when it does, she will have a keen interest in you. Your Bloodline is a threat to her Path, and she definitely won’t risk you running loose without at least keeping track of you. So watch out for if she entices people close to you to join the Court, and-“

“A bit late for that,” Jake shook his head. “She discovered me during my Tutorial. Pretty damn fast, too, as I got an item related to her. After that, she likely wanted to recruit me, but I joined up with the Malefic Viper, so she missed her shot. A shot that then ended up hitting my little brother from the looks of it, giving him a Blessing from Umbra, the Legacy of some dead god called Tenlucis, and even made him a Judge.”

Artemis stared at him with wide eyes for a while before she smiled and tilted her head. “Either you two siblings are both utter monsters… or she values you that highly…”

Jake already knew it was the latter. While Caleb was good and pretty damn talented, he wasn’t a pinnacle genius on his own. He could become close, but he just wasn’t on the same level as someone like Eron, the Sword Saint, Carmen, or Arnold. All of these people would have reached greatness no matter who backed them or who they knew.

“Which one do you think it is?” Jake asked.

“First off, you are a Bloodline Patriarch, right?”

“Yeah,” Jake nodded. There really was no reason to hide it, as anyone who checked out his parents and brother would easily confirm it.

“Then, seeing as he doesn’t have your Bloodline and going by pure statistics, I will say it’s the latter,” Artemis said, sighing. “You are really a complete monster for her to want positive relations with you so much.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” Jake smiled.

grasped his clothes as she dragged him toward

arena. It had only been four days since his

Colosseum Points were all stupidly expensive and severely outdated. As in, most of

Jake had fully expected her to appear as she would also get her memories back like Artemis, but that didn’t happen. Then again, that Phoenix Queen lady had also survived their battle and hadn’t appeared again. He didn’t know for sure she was a god before, but Artemis

who was the odd one for hanging out with

went up to the one in charge of scheduling all his fights. As usual, the middle-aged man stood in his usual spot, seemingly waiting for Jake as

saw Jake. “It’s damn impressive if I say so myself. You are the first in quite a few years, and your run has been quite a sight, with the audience definitely fans of the Doombringer. You are the strongest we’ve seen since the only current Grand Champion did his Gauntlet, of that I am

“I guess you can already guess what I am here for? As you said, I have six down and only one Champion to go. There

and shook his head. “Let me check in with him real

Valhal like Gudrun, but then again, every single faction had people who could be described as Warmasters. Shit, the Necromancer looked like he could have been called

I got an answer. He

Jake said. “That was fast. So it begins

both fighters are ready,” the Battlemaster said with a slightly mischievous grin. “Now, shall we

said as he finally put two and

he should have probably

I retired quite a few years ago. I only ever show myself for these Champion fights,” the Battlemaster said with a smile. “So you must excuse me if I am a little rusty in

smiled. “Do

began to talk toward one of

the tunnel, Jake shook his head as he headed for his own tunnel. What a plot twist for the Battlemaster to actually be a Champion himself! Though it definitely wasn’t as shocking

war and our very own Battlemaster here at the Colosseum of Mortals. For years, he has guided fighters toward the arena, but today, he stands here himself as the final obstacle before a new Grand Champion ascends! Will his fate

from him. The Battlemaster, or Warmaster, who usually wore practical clothes and simple garments, had switched them for a set of full plate armor while he wielded a sword and a shield. He walked

the smack-filled arena. Because, yes, even if they had scheduled their fight and started… nine minutes after it had been scheduled, the stands had still been filled to the brim. It made

equipment,” Jake complimented the Warmaster. It wasn’t an empty compliment, either… Jake was utterly certain not a single piece of equipment or weapon was anything less than

more where they came from,” the Warmaster smiled. “Now, let us fight with our best and hold nothing back. I have seen your fights

he jumped back while he pulled out his bow, signifying the battle had

Jake wasn’t taken by surprise as he quickly shot an arrow that the man deflected with ease using

but what happened next wasn’t something he had expected. The sword he presumed to be of legendary rarity began to crack all over mid-swing with red fractures as it suddenly exploded without warning, releasing a blast of molten metal

few wayward fragments still hit him. Meanwhile, the Warmaster had been

like a normal person for a few moments as they exchanged blows. He was very defensive, though, and hid behind his shield at all times, never truly giving Jake the chance to land a blow.