The Primal Hunter

Artemis could admit she had been too hasty in her actions when she decided to head toward Nevermore immediately. She at least had the clarity of mind to go and ask Nature’s Attendant to come along, knowing he had his C-grade granddaughter currently participating in the C-grade portion of the World Wonder. Yet, somehow, she had forgotten that the Chosen of the Malefic Viper and his granddaughter were in a party together in the brief timespan between watching the recording and approaching him.

Originally, she had only planned to go and stick close to Nevermore, so she was around once the Chosen of the Viper was done with the World Wonder, as she doubted she could enter and get any information. Trying to learn more about him would be difficult, considering he was the Chosen of a Primordial, but maybe she could get lucky there if she had Nature’s Attendant with her.

When she arrived and was told by Nature’s Attendant that the Wyrmgod himself had invited them to enter a special viewing area, she got excited… only to find out it wasn’t just the Wyrmgod there. Not only was the Malefic Viper present, but even the Wargod Valdemar was there for some reason. Three Primordials gathered in one place was an incredibly rare happening and only really ever took place around peak-level system events.

However, despite this, the “meeting,” if you could even call it that, seemed incredibly casual. Too casual. To the level where it was suspicious. The last time she heard, the Malefic Viper and Valdemar were in conflict due to the rising star Yip of Yore, a god who truly did have the right to claim himself to stand among the other beings at the pinnacle as far as she was concerned.

Yet Artemis saw Valdemar and the Viper interact casually, though there was some tension. No bloodlust, though, meaning they didn’t give off the sense they wanted to kill one another. She didn’t display her surprise, though, but just kept quiet and tried to not attract too much attention while internally cursing her decision to come. There was no doubt in her mind that if other gods saw this scene, it would cause quite an uproar, so she couldn’t help but wonder if bigger plans were at play. Nature’s Attendant also gave her a subtle warning.

“You may see some things that perplex you, but it would be best to keep it to yourself. In due time, all truths will be revealed, but till then, your thoughts are not to be shared, alright?” he asked her in a friendly tone that Artemis knew was very much a warning. One she quite frankly didn’t need.

Who the fuck was she to risk messing up some plans or plots that involved several Primordials? She didn’t belong in the room at all, and she knew it. The only one with raw power roughly rivaling her own was Minaga, but comparing the two of them was a laughable endeavor. Minaga had hundreds of clones who were stronger than Artemis, and even if he wasn’t at the level of Primordials, his unique ability made him someone who could stand tall by their side.

Artemis wasn’t. She was weak in comparison. She felt small sitting in a room surrounded by titans of the multiverse, with her own strength still a step away from becoming a Godqueen. Meanwhile, all the other gods around had ascended beyond the circles of divinity.

She had honestly expected to be thrown out at some point but was allowed to stay. A decision she slowly began to regret the more time. Shortly after Nature’s Attendant and she arrived, two more Primordials also joined them. What’s more, they were two of the most famous and influential ones in all of the multiverse due to the utterly massive factions they controlled.

Both the Risen and the Holy Church were more powerful than the Pantheon of Life, and not by a little either. Their two leaders, the Blightfather and Holy Mother, were also absolutely unapproachable beings for someone like her.

It wasn’t getting any better when the Blightfather directly questioned why Artemis was here.

“Since we are talking about how great this reunion is… why is she here?” the Blightfather asked, staring directly at Artemis, making a shiver run down her spine, as she felt like the god could kill her with a mere thought. Even the life energy within her acted up, meeting a far more powerful polar opposite of itself.

Despite how precarious the situation was, she actually saw this as a chance. In all honesty, while she wanted to figure out more about the Chosen of the Malefic Viper, going to Nevermore was probably overkill. She could always find him after he was done and approach him then; she had just been too hasty in her decision-making.

So, if she took this chance to excuse herself, using the justification that she was showing respect to the Primordial, she could-

“Someone who was allowed to be here, same as you,” Nature’s Attendant spoke up for her. While Artemis certainly appreciated it, she did scold herself for missing her chance to get the hell out of there.

Minaga, who suddenly skirted over and

“You know… while there were recordings in that information package of yours, I got

she could just leave now, as that would make Nature’s Attendant look bad after standing up for her. Also, when a figure

you have?” she asked a bit tentatively as Minaga’s smirk

telepathy. “Or, well, the next best thing, as I can’t bring

kept her cool and entirely ignored the last part as she gladly began browsing his lengthy catalog of recordings, though she did notice most of the recordings had some odd names. For some reason, they were filled with expletives complaining about Jake’s Bloodline… which only made her all the more interested in seeing

had gathered. She

most of those who did communicate using telepathy. She also spoke to some people from the other factions, and unsurprisingly, this impromptu gathering turned into a diplomatic meeting of sorts between many

years after she arrived, the silence was broken by

with the Test of Character Challenge

gods until they realized who Jake was, and she also noticed how the confusion lingered for many,

Viper responded, everyone now truly perking

harsh, though,” Minaga

Minaga’s recordings. Recordings that had only made her more curious than ever about Jake. His entire demeanor was odd for a mortal, and he had zero change in behavior after realizing Minaga was a god - the same as with her own image in the Colosseum. For him to give reviews on a Challenge Dungeon was entirely in character, though she did wonder if it was smart to criticize the Wyrmgod. She knew he cared more about the Test of Character than any other Challenge

also spoke up, asking what they were waiting for…

Very well, what?

meant as an odd thought struck her. No… he can’t be

over there as a recognizable form appeared a few seconds later. This newcomer stood entirely still as sharp eyes reminiscent of a beast that hid

Nature’s Attendant… one would expect him to fall to his knees instantly if he even managed to stay conscious. Even if he did have a Bloodline

for several seconds was why no one spoke up. After nearly five seconds, Jake raised a hand and scratched the back of his head

I’m not intruding on some super secret

was genuinely unsure if he had picked the wrong prompt. Did the system bug out or something, allowing him to arrive in a room full of gods? Well, based on the slight smirk on the dragonkin god’s face, who he recognized as the person who had been observing him all throughout his time in Nevermore – meaning he was

the feeling that selecting it wouldn’t be a bad thing. What his instincts hadn’t warned him about was how awkward it would be to suddenly have so many people staring at him

Minaga were all people he had met before, while he had kind of met Valdemar and Artemis through his vision using Path of the Heretic-Chosen and, of course, during the Colosseum of Mortals. Artemis naturally being the one he had gotten to know the best during their time in the Colosseum, and based on the odd look she gave him, Jake would put his money on her being

few seconds as no one quite seemed to know what to answer. After a bit, the silence was finally broken as

over Jake’s shoulder, though it definitely looked awkward with Valdemar,

secret meeting you’re now invited to!” Valdemar yelled as he threw intrigued looks at Jake, almost expecting

asked, looking at the bearded god as he felt the arm resting on his shoulders, entirely unsure what to do or say. It felt like a mountain was slightly touching him, and at any moment, it could fall down

“Good! Good! You really are an interesting one! I would have been very disappointed if the one who managed to beat my image turned into a