The Primal Hunter

Throughout Nevermore, Jake had encountered quite a few gods. He had been recorded both visually and in far other ways by the dungeon and system as he made his way through the floors and Challenge Dungeons. However, despite this, he still felt like much about him still wasn’t shared. As if the system put up certain barriers of information not even the Wyrmgod could see.

Others had suspicions and theories, but they didn’t know. Minaga’s lack of fully knowing how Jake overcame his labyrinth was prime proof of this. The Wyrmgod asking Jake about Bloodline-related stuff when he was summoned to the streaming room also served as further proof that while Jake was analyzed from head to toe, some things weren’t revealed.

But… what if Jake handed a sample filled with his Records? Especially if he made an item related to his Origin energy or his Path as a Heretic-Chosen? Surely, that could cause some problems, right? Even if the system had some rules within Nevermore, they could just take these items or samples outside and figure Jake out there.

Also, on a side note, Jake didn’t understand how no one had called him out for being a Heretic yet. Jake had done all his usual Heretic stuff while in front of other gods and the Viper, but everyone just seemed fine and chill with it. Alright, sure, he could get no one calling him out publicly with his Patron right there, but they at least had to be thinking in their minds Jake was a damn Heretic, right?

Probably. Or maybe they thought Jake was just putting on an act or following the will of the Viper. In either case, confirming to them he was indeed a Heretic, even if he was also a Chosen, seemed like a stupid idea.

This begged the question of whether Jake had to hold back in his Challenge Dungeon out of fear that he would reveal something he really shouldn’t. Of course, he would only need to do that if the items and information scanned during the crafting process were given to the Wyrmgod or others.

Right now, Jake felt the usual observation of the Wyrmgod, who was likely streaming all Jake was doing to the other gods present. With this, it could be confirmed that everything happening in this dungeon wasn’t confidential.

Alas, Jake could not make a decision before he knew for sure what would happen with the items or the information he handed in for evaluation. So he did the only thing that made sense and went straight to the owner of the house to ask about just that.

At the very top of the atrium, on the highest floor, was a section Jake could not see at all due to it being cut off by spatial distortion. His guts told him that was where the Architect resided, and after confirming with an attendant, Jake flew straight up.

Up there, the entire pathway was empty. There weren’t any attendants anywhere, and even the walls were bare of décor. The only thing was a single wooden door that Jake couldn’t at all tell what was behind. However, the nametag saying “Architect” was a subtle clue as to what may be behind it.

Flying over, he landed in front of it, and as he did, something odd happened. The door began to open by itself, and right as it did, the gaze of the Wyrmgod he felt on him disappeared, having seemingly been cut off. Jake was surprised as he looked through the newly opened door and saw a smallish hall where the only thing of note was someone sitting in the center.

Jake observed what looked vaguely like a human woman but clearly wasn’t, staring right back at him. Her skin was an odd ashen gray, making her eyes stand out even more. One was golden like the sun, while the other remained black as the void itself. Her head was entirely bald, her bare head covered with an elaborate tattoo of some kind. She wore a tight-fitting suit, and in all honesty, Jake wouldn’t have been able to pin her as a woman if not for the system message and attendants mentioning she was one due to her androgynous looks. In some ways, her looks reminded Jake a bit about the system entity he had seen, but that was probably because of what he felt from her gaze.

It put him on edge. He felt like she saw everything. Far more than she should be able to. Villy had the same look at times, but this woman… her gaze was something else. Like he could not keep a single secret in front of her.

“Welcome, Jake Thayne,” she greeted him with a small bow of her head. “You have caused quite the stir, and seeing you now, I am beginning to understand why.”

“Thank you for having me,” Jake said while bowing slightly and walking into the room properly as the woman’s eyes continued to pierce straight through him. “Are… are you the Architect?”

“That is the role I am playing right now, yes,” she nodded. “A temporary title, if you will. Now, come, you are here to ask me questions, are you not?”

Jake slowly nodded as he tried really hard to get a read on the entity in front of him. Tried and failed. She felt wrong to his senses, and no matter how much he tried, he couldn’t truly detect how strong she was. What’s more… his Sphere of Perception didn’t pick her up properly, and that had only happened with one other thing before, although it was to a lesser degree with this woman. Figuring out the Architect wasn’t why he was there, though.

what happens to the Creations I submit? Who will see the full analysis related to

a reassuring smile. “There is no need for such worry. Not even the Wyrmgod will truly be able to know or see what happens here. I have enhanced his limitations beyond the usual for this Challenge Dungeon precisely due to your

enhanced them?” Jake asked as he suddenly

divulged to you. Minaga and the Wyrmgod have both been generous with what they divulged and keeping secrets from

a Bound God,” Jake said with

Gods. Unnatural gods who appeared and were linked to something, the most known example being Bound Gods bound to World Wonders.

it's taken without permission from the author.

I am Nevermore, though I

bound to, so it wasn’t even necessary to speculate how powerful Nevermore was. As a living dungeon, she was also linked directly to the system itself, which explained why Jake’s Sphere of Perception and senses acted a bit off around her. Being a

you the Architect?” Jake asked. “How exactly does that make sense with

“Also, yes, feel free to refer to me as my current role. As for the answer to your question… well, things are complicated, and there are many things I will not share. All I will say is that my original form was that of a dungeon core and that without me, Nevermore wouldn’t be able to exist

Wyrmgod somehow obtained you in dungeon core form, made Nevermore, which makes him the dungeon master, while you are the dungeon itself…” Jake muttered as his eyes opened wide and pointed

before she laughed. “What a crude term. Yet, I cannot entirely argue it’s inaccuracy. I also

is if I can keep the things I make? Also, I reckoned I may as well ask this, but do I get experience in this Challenge Dungeon? And if not, why

is plenty of Records to facilitate your later progress through C-grade. It is a way to build up your Records and exit each dungeon effectively with more potential than when you entered. To most, not getting experience here is purely positive, as getting levels isn’t the hard part; it’s raising their maximum potential and overcoming barriers. I do understand that for your situation, where Records are not a challenge, at least not yet, it is a negative.

see,” Jake muttered, understanding the logic even if he didn’t like it. “Ah, speaking of Records, is there some cool meta-achievement for doing well

not wanting to answer. Not that she had to, as Jake smiled, her silence and his

a good chance there is one, got it. Oh well, now I have to perform great, or

got your answer, didn’t you?” the Architect said, shaking her head. “Alas, it was probably a scenario I should have expected. The intuition and senses you possess are outside of anything Nevermore has experienced before. I fear this will have to be our only

final sentence as he furrowed his brows and

already tell you? Your secrets lay bare before me,”

of them, at least. I get the feeling you can see my status and have some read on my abilities, but you are still limited,

you think that? The system is omniscient, and as its representative and a World Wonder, is it that surprising I

system itself,” Jake said, shrugging as he remembered that faceless being he had seen during the integration as

in your words,” she said, sighing. “I am beginning to understand why Minaga finds you intriguing, yet frustrating, to deal with. You see and know things that

like to be perplexing,” Jake shrugged.

allies in a perpetual

thank you for noticing,” Jake grinned, joking around with the half-system World Wonder entity

is a first. Many try to be casual, hiding their true thoughts and merely putting on a façade, but you truly are merely a human who lives according to his own instincts. The data and the Records your very existence provides, not to mention your journey

of assistance, I guess,” Jake said politely, not sure how to feel about helping out Big Data over

you begin to prematurely uncover forbidden secrets of the multiverse,” the Architect