The Primal Hunter

Jake had lots of stuff to address for sure and started with the most urgent one. With so many eyes on him, he couldn’t delay answering Valdemar’s bold proposal as he took a deep breath and jumped right into it.

“I am not sure this is the time or place or place for such an important discussion,” Jake said, trying to sound neutral to the question.

“But it is a discussion,” Valdemar grinned as he patted Jake on the shoulder. “You heard that, Vilas? Do you think this the time and place for such a discussion?”

His tone was very taunting as the Viper scoffed. “Are you seriously blatantly trying to steal my Chosen right under my nose? Kind of pathetic coming for the so-called god of war to fight a battle he should know he can’t win.”

“I never take fights that I don’t have a chance of winning,” Valdemar kept grinning as he stayed close to Jake. “My promises won’t be empty either. I think we all know your Chosen isn’t just some common C-grade but someone valuable regardless of his own power due to his unique abilities and Bloodline, so I won’t be cheap. And, honestly, do you think you can support someone like him better than Valhal can? Better than I can?”

Jake was a bit surprised at how articulate Valdemar seemed. Then again… Villy did say that Valdemar wasn’t stupid, just very simple. He was a bit like Jake himself in that regard… though the level of his own occasional stupidity was very much still up for discussion.

“Well, isn’t this something,” the Malefic Viper said with a smile that wasn’t really a smile. “My Chosen is not just some mindless warrior swinging around an axe; he is also a skilled alchemist. It is through his alchemy his Path to manipulate Origins was revealed… so let me counter. Do you think you can guide him to be a better alchemist than I can?”

“Odd, the version of your Chosen I saw defeat my image in the Challenge Dungeon didn’t look like some weak alchemist. From my point of view, you are sabotaging his Path by making him follow your Legacy. He should walk a path more aligned with his own Origin. A Path Valhal will gladly show him,” Valdemar said, crossing his arms. “How about this… someone like him is capable of choosing his own Path, right? Also, what was it you said before that big ceremony you did… oh yeah, that he can make his own decisions with his unique powers and that they only belong to him. Then shouldn’t we just let him choose, eh?”

Jake was far from an expert in political stuff, and he had a strong feeling Valdemar wasn’t either. With that in mind, he got the impression Valdemar had either been coached or at least given some tips. Maybe by Villy himself, but more likely by Gudrun. If she was talking to his real body while Valdemar focused on this avatar, he could easily relay everything happening within the room.

In fact, Jake was pretty damn certain everything happening in the room was being broadcast to many influential forces spread throughout the multiverse due to the representative gods. Which was part of the reason he had to be kinda careful. He couldn’t mess up Villy’s plan too much, right?

“I am not some pick-me god, and I find the very notion of having to even try and sell the honor of being my Chosen ridiculous. Being my Chosen is a privilege, not something to be coaxed into. If he is truly so foolish as to reject me as his Patron and give up on my Legacy and the Path he is currently walking with such great success, then maybe he wasn’t worthy of being my Chosen to begin with. Not with such utterly questionable judgment,” the Malefic Viper said, refusing to engage in the “discussion” anymore.

Valdemar just shook his head while muttering something to himself before looking at Jake, who was just standing there without really saying or doing anything. He was pretty sure that was what he was supposed to do.

“He must be exhausting to deal with, huh?” Valdemar questioned Jake.

Jake was pretty damn sure the question wasn’t actually rhetorical, and he had to stop himself from making some silly comment. Instead of saying anything genuine, he answered noncommittally again. “I don’t believe I should talk about my personal relationship with my Patron in a room filled with outsiders.”

That had to also be considered neutral, right? Damn, where was Miranda when he needed her… actually, it was probably best she wasn’t there, as he doubted she would have managed well with a few dozen gods, including a handful of Primordials, staring her down.

even said her successful ritual was partly thanks to you!” Valdemar said with a big smile. “Ah, doesn’t that sound nice? Two powerful fellow humans from the

he knew, Valdemar had not openly announced a Runemaiden who used his blood and Records had been born before now, much less that she was from the same planet as Jake

revealing to the multiverse that Valhal already had existing connections to Jake as a person, ones even predating Jake joining the Order, which gave credence to his claim that Jake could potentially end up joining them and

exchanged at that moment. The Viper also looked visibly annoyed, as Valdemar looked pleased with himself, awaiting Jake’s response - a response he took quite a bit to think

I believe it would be best for me

he shrugged. “I guess that’s fine. No need to commit to anything here and now that may distract from what’s in front of you. Just know that Valhal still has its

that one had worked. Valdemar did give up way too easily, making Jake more certain than ever this was all – at least partly – some kind of play he and Villy had planned. Jake said only partly because he had strong feelings that should he agree

well in playing their roles. Anything that had to do with scheming and Valdemar often didn’t go according to plan, much less when it involved both Jake and Valdemar, two people who weren’t known as the

Royal Road. If found on

shown up – and definitely wouldn’t – some of the representatives present would be feeding him information on everything that

to recruit Jake wasn’t overly surprising to many factions, as Jake was ultimately a human, especially not after it was disclosed he had beaten Valdemar’s image in the Colosseum of Mortals, and to Yip, this would serve as further proof of the rift between the Order

been part of

an asset to Yip of Yore’s plans, but also the Viper’s. Originally, Yip wanted his Chosen to defeat Jake in a proxy battle of sorts as part

It wouldn’t necessarily create enemies, but it would weaken the narrative that Yip was fighting for what was right and that Jake was just some evil follower of the Malefic Viper. So Yip

justice. Turning him to Yip’s side, or at least away from the Viper’s. Having his Chosen renounce his Blessing would be a heavy blow to the Viper, especially in the context of the narrative that was being constructed. For the Viper to be so evil that even his own Chosen turned his back on him… surely Yip of Yore was doing

also knew that personally recruiting Jake directly was out of the question. Ell’Hakan was an enemy of Jake, and their encounter in Nevermore City had only cemented this. That’s why Valhal had stepped up to try and

course, Vilastromoz knew this would

person, so he could admit that Jake being locked in when it came to being his Chosen was more of a positive than a negative in his mind. If Valdemar’s offer was truly genuine, Vilastromoz couldn’t even blame Jake for considering it seriously, especially not if Valdemar went as

that Valhal would suit Jake nicely. Jake loved challenges and fighting, and Valhal would offer that in spades. Far more so than the Order of the Malefic

least, he thought so… but with Jake, it was genuinely hard to tell. Because there was a genuine chance that the

inconspicuously among all the other representatives. It was naturally Eversmile whom Jake had picked out

very intriguing. However, I would advise against revealing my presence here. Doing so shall bring you no benefits and only serve to

the first place when there are already five other Primordials here?” Jake asked, not really bothering with the fact he

of that is of your concern,” Eversmile answered, pretty much confirming to Jake he was definitely up to something. “Nothing I am doing is detrimental to you

but also feeling petty at the same time. He still remembered how much Eversmile had messed with him during the Tutorial, how he had used William

mentally. “But I guess if you really want to stay hidden

Eversmile now, knowing how the Primordial’s Path worked. Also, if he could somehow make Eversmile owe him