The Primal Hunter

”So, how exactly does this evaluation work? I would assume all of the submissions have already been evaluated upon submission,” Jake asked. “And even if they hadn’t, I doubt doing so would take you much time.”

“Indeed, each evaluation has already been completed. However, this final part is a bit different. This evaluation is not for anyone’s benefit, but your own,” the Architect answered. “Part of the purpose of this Challenge Dungeon is to benefit you, after all. Tell me, have you noticed something different about this House of the Architect compared to where you usually work?”

“A lot of things, considering it’s a Challenge Dungeon inside a World Wonder,” Jake responded in a rather deadpan tone. “Unless you expected me to notice something specific?”

The Architect sighed. “The environment. With your senses, you should have noticed a slight difference. Tell me, how would you evaluate your gains during your time spent here?”

“I felt like I made a lot of progress?” Jake semi-asked. “More than usual, but there can be many explanations for that… one of which is that the environment is actively helping somehow. But it isn’t like it’s anything extreme.”

“To you, perhaps it didn’t feel like it helped much, but to others, it is far more extreme,” the Architect said before elaborating further. “The environment in which you are crafting is incredibly impactful on what you can make, and the House of the Architect is filled with the Records of C-grade crafters throughout the eras. The effect was weaker for you compared to many others as you already do many things at a high level, but it will help uplift the Records of many of those who are struggling, allowing them to accomplish new feats they thought impossible.”

Jake frowned a bit at the explanation as a thought occurred. “Does that mean I make better things when I craft at the Order of the Malefic Viper compared to at my lodge back on Earth?”

“No, the differences in Records between those two places simply aren’t enough. They aren’t focused enough. Also, the environment itself wasn’t designed by a higher being to support crafting, and even if the Viper wished to do it, it would inadvertently come at the cost of weakening other forms of Records. In fact, places like this are nearly exclusively found at Challenge Dungeons or very unique locales, such as World Wonders,” Nevermore explained.

“Huh,” Jake let out, guessing that the Challenge Dungeon he had done when he first got his profession probably also counted.

“Are all the Challenge Dungeons in Nevermore like this?” Jake questioned, remembering when Nevermore first mentioned that one of the reasons why Challenge Dungeons didn’t give levels was to improve Records. Maybe every single Challenge Dungeon was also designed with special Records there in mind.

“In some aspects, yes, but it varies dependent on the era and the Challenge Dungeons in question. The Challenge Dungeons are ultimately evaluations for a grander achievement, and that is their primary design above all else.”

Jake nodded as he moved along the conversation. “So what does it mean when you say this evaluation is to my benefit?”

“Rather than simply give you an achievement and throw you out, we will go through your submissions and you will receive feedback. However, only the feedback you ask for yourself, outside of some very broad conclusions,” the Architect explained. “I will also give you a general oversight as to how good each submission is if that is something you want.”

“Damn, feels almost weird being told I won’t just be thrown out of the room for asking one question too many,” Jake smiled.

“That can still be arranged if you want,” Nevermore responded in what Jake really hoped was a joking tone. “I do have some leeway, after all. This part isn’t anything the system demands but merely an extra reward, so to say.”

“But there will still be a real reward after, right?” Jake said, trying to change the subject.

“That we will discuss later… for now, let us proceed with your submissions, starting with your first one,” the Architect said. “So, any questions regarding the submission of our first meeting?”

deciding to submit it?” Jake asked, a bit

entirely on impulse, and after over two years in the House, Jake felt more

point. “However, I will say that the submission didn’t drag down your overall evaluation when it comes to the ten Creations you submitted. Its uniqueness and vanity were enough to allow it to stand on its own. Also, if nothing else,

it to go super into detail about all of them, so can we just batch all the mediocre or even bad ones together? Do a quick-fire

properties, but the Creation itself isn’t of extraordinary quality compared to all the others. From my observations, you are already aware of its shortcomings, so it does not appear pertinent

also satisfactorily diverse, isn’t that impressive either relative to your other submissions. The Elemental Confluence Spirit Orb falls into the same camp as the prior two, where it is different but not outstanding on its own. It did help these two that you managed to upgrade your Sense of the Malefic Viper during their creation process, but the impact wasn’t extreme. Finally, we have the Adaptable Arcane Acid of Brittleness, which admittedly is the best of these four, but from a pure quality standpoint, it simply isn’t that impressive. The fact that this was your first time crafting an acid and the uniqueness of your arcane affinity did manage to uplift it significantly, but not enough for it to truly be considered a great

anyway. He was a bit surprised the Architect hadn’t tossed his final poison in there, which was a pleasant surprise. Jake also felt oddly happy that Temlat wasn’t mentioned in this batch, showing his Path hadn’t been one of the things the Architect evaluated as mediocre or bad. He did have one thing

relative

evaluation strikes me as meaningless,” the Architect answered, shaking her head. “Your definition of mediocre may be the peak of others or below average for a third person. When Creations are also put into the context of their crafting journey and the crafters themselves, it complicates matters further, so the only thing

let’s say…” Jake thought for a bit about the best crafter he knew as a face instantly appeared. “Arnold, that weird guy. He must have done well in here if he has done

the Architect shook her head. “Now, did you have any questions or can we move

questions… at least not any I think you will

over half of his submitted Creations, just leaving the Blackheart Poison, Unseen Arcane

Architect said. “With the remaining five, how do

know that it has been stolen. Report

from worst

best, do remember this is only in comparison to everything else you have submitted, so if a particular Creation is too close in nature to another, its evaluation will naturally fall due to a lack of uniqueness

am fully aware of that,”

evaluation is severely harmed due to the overflowing Records of the Malefic Viper that has been mixed in. Moreover, as a poison, it aligns closely with several of your other Creations, not to

wondering if maybe

been batched in with the other

that’s good, at least,” Jake nodded, happy to have even gotten a straight answer. “I don’t

rarities wasn’t too difficult, and while what you accomplished was a feat, it was primarily forced through due to your Bloodline and, quite frankly, ridiculously high Perception stat for someone who is barely mid-tier C-grade,” the Architect said, Jake only taking the

been mentioned yet, but Jake only saw that as

questions?” the

have much he needed to ask and partly considered that asking could be harmful. If she threw him off with her evaluation, making Jake doubt something he had done, it could hurt upgrades in the future. Her clear attempt to not mention anything negative about the details of the Creations themselves also wasn’t lost on him. Clearly, she

nodded as she had a slight pause. “With these last three submissions, it is a bit difficult to separate them in terms of the value of their evaluations, so I would deem it best to not do so. The Grimoire, Perennial Arcane Marble, and the Path of your student Temlat are all unique and stand tall on their own. So, rather than simply saying which one is best, I will explain the good and bad points of them all. Is that acceptable to you? If you so wish, I could also simply

ultimately just nodded as he realized how little it mattered. He also got the feeling Nevermore was partly doing it like this for his sake, as he

it

submissions: the Perennial Arcane Marble. This item exists solely due to your Bloodline and, despite not having any actual use cases, is by far the most valuable item of the bunch from any outside perspective simply due to its research value. However, since this Creation exemplifies your Bloodline and the many concepts related to it in such an overwhelming fashion, the impact it has on all your other Creations that utilize your Bloodline or arcane affinity is not to be underestimated. I can say that if you had only submitted a single Creation within this Challenge Dungeon, this one

he got an idea. Hiding a mischievous smile, he asked: “So, I have been wondering… can you give me a more in-depth review of the item? Some details regarding the energy sealed within the stable arcane

skills. Nothing can be shared with anyone, not even the ones who submit it. Sometimes, I can still bend the rules a bit and offer some information, but this Creation of yours only consists of elements related to your Bloodline, so