The Primal Hunter

Vilastromoz just leaned back and smiled, still within the streaming room that was now just showing the Nevermore City square and all of Minaga’s antics. Well, one of Minaga’s clones anyway, as the god was also still in the room with a god clone.

”Man, ain’t that host the most handsome Unique Lifeform you’ve ever seen? His presentation skills are also just through the roof!” Minaga praised himself loudly. They were all waiting for the grand reveal… and soon it did when his clone announced the dramatic twist of one more person appearing.

To many of the mortals in the square, it was perhaps a surprise… but to the gods in the living room, they had just waited for this to happen. They had watched Jake and his party for the last many years, and they knew how well he had done. For him to not even have been on the top 10 made it clear to everyone that he would appear at some point for a grand announcement.

Something he did… making Vilastromoz grin even more. The Wyrmgod and Minaga’s clone both looked at him as Jake appeared and his performance was revealed.

”Congratulations,” the Wyrmgod said with a slow nod. ”A joyous occasion.”

”Found a good one, huh?” the Blightfather said, acknowledging Jake’s achievement.

”A fortunate and earned victory,” the Holy Mother said, also showing her respects.

”Glad to see he did well,” the Nature’s Attendant added happily. ”For little Dina to have been in the same party as the new champion of the All-time Leaderboards… it was a good decision to have her join him. Thank you, Vilas.”

The Viper just smiled back at the second-in-command of the Pantheon of Life. ”She pulled her weight; you have nothing to thank me for.”

”But I do,” his father-in-law insisted. ”I expected him to do well, but this still exceeds it. The impact on her future will be felt for certain, and she has been granted a great boon. She was even on the top 100 of the Era’s Leaderboards, doing far better than I thought possible.”

”Well, in either case, you shouldn’t be thanking me, but Jake,” the Viper shook his head.

”I will make sure to,” the god nodded as he turned to Artemis. ”What say you, shouldn’t we have him visit the Pantheon of Life once he is available? I am certain Ygg will also want to see him. We should probably wait a little, though… let things calm down a bit.”

”My image already effectively extended an invitation within the Colosseum of Mortals, and I’m sure the Malefic One’s Chosen is more than aware he has an open invitation standing,” the archer god responded, sounding a bit more confident than before, having gotten quite used to being in the presence of so many far more powerful gods over the last nearly two decades.

”Well, he strikes me as the sort to easily forget things, so perhaps we should remind him,” Nature’s Attendant commented.

”I’ll do it for you, no problem,” Vilastromoz waved it off as he looked at Artemis and smiled. ”I have a feeling he wants to visit anyway. I heard something about archery lessons.”

Artemis averted her gaze as the Viper just grinned. This was fun, and he was feeling pretty damn good right now about how everything was going.

Anyway, bloody well knew he would do it,” Valdemar grinned as he waved his hand. ”And if it ain’t a feat that calls for a proper celebration. Drinks are

appeared, and the god held it up and yelled toward all

as they reveled in the opportunity. Many gods went by and offered their congratulations to the Viper for how well his Chosen had

Viper saw no reason not to accept as he joined in on the festivities and grabbed a mug. Raising up a mug of his own, Valdemar spoke loudly as he infused his voice with energy.

or two later stumbling back as the alcohol brewed to be strong enough for a Primordial to get drunk entered their system. Vilastromoz also had a taste, and he found the taste quite pleasant, even if it did carry too spicy

the moment. There was cause for celebration, after all. Jake and the Viper both had things to celebrate… while a certain other pair of Chosen and Patron were probably feeling

defeating Ell’Hakan on the Leaderboards had most definitely been within their margin of error for the story the two were trying to spin. Either they would

both of them. The announcement Jake had also beaten Yip of Yore was a brilliant strategic move by Jake – certainly made entirely accidentally – as it helped undermine the god who

of the multiverse, and for the top genius, what were truly his limits? As an unrivaled genius, it was only natural he would keep improving, perhaps to one day even become strong enough to slay the Malefic Viper. To slay the Primordial who had

Ell’Hakan was also troubled now, for he was no longer just the underdog fighting another Chosen genius; he was fighting the top genius. Was he even qualified anymore to challenge Jake? So much doubt had been sown with that

storytellers. They needed certainty and steadfast belief in the legend they tried to spin, not potential confusion and people questioning the validity and

Not just in regards to the stuff with Yip… the Viper also had to thank him for the personal rewards he got

not

an unexpected turn of events, as he and his Patron had already discussed the

the other Chosen in regard to how many floors he had completed. What was perhaps even more infuriating was that Ell’Hakan had genuinely started to

had, why wouldn’t he have revealed it? Getting a 100%

up, he had even prepared a welcome party on the city floor after floor seventy-five to receive the Viper’s Chosen and have him waste some time dealing with them while trying to sow discord within his group. However, Ell’Hakan never even heard of him appearing

so, Ell’Hakan just focused on himself and his own party. Sure, they ended up losing a member, but the one who died could only blame himself, and Ell’Hakan’s Patron would handle any blowback from the god

until the very end, where he at least had the foresight to make sure he would finish before the Viper’s Chosen. There were only upsides to this; if he did ultimately win, finishing first would block the Chosen of the Malefic Viper. Meanwhile, if he lost, he would at least still get

achievement or how fleeting this position is, this accomplishment can never be taken away from you. Attain first place on the Era Nevermore Leaderboards, proving yourself an Era’s Conqueror of Nevermore. Only one Nevermore Performance title

Chosen and he did not share a generation, Ell'Hakan would truly have no equal… but then again, perhaps he was only as powerful as he was because of the Primordial’s

All in due time.

newly arrived Chosen of the Malefic Viper, and Minaga announced how he had won, Ell’Hakan saw the shift on the Leaderboards as his own position fell one. Clenching his fists, he maintained his composure, even if the

meant by top dog… because I’m not just talking about this era. It’s with pleasure I can announce that for the

moment, Ell’Hakan let his expression drop as he stared toward the Chosen of the Malefic Viper in the distance, and for a moment, he met the eyes of the other Chosen before regaining

would have to shift and adapt the narrative

him. He wasn’t sure what he was supposed to do or say. When he had done the Chosen Ceremony, he at least had a game plan and could prepare himself, but now he was just thrown onto what was effectively a stage. Should he say something? Smile and

clap, as Viridia stood right behind him with her head slightly bowed and an incredibly happy grin on her face. Jake also saw Farleigh, the vampire patriarch, making him want to