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.

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

the god held it up and yelled toward

Quite the opposite, as they reveled in the opportunity. Many gods went by and offered their congratulations to the

the 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. ”To Jake Thayne and a

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 of an aftertaste for the otherwise

the Viper simply enjoyed 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

the two were trying to spin. Either they would spin one story where Ell’Hakan beat Jake and would thus begin his comeback to either defeat

which case Ell’Hakan would remain the underdog… the problem was that Jake hadn’t just beaten Ell’Hakan. He had beaten 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

only

just the underdog fighting another Chosen genius; he was fighting the top genius. Was he even qualified anymore to

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

in regards to the stuff with Yip… the Viper also had to thank him for the personal rewards he got from having his Chosen be the new

from its original source, this story is not meant to be

the arrival of the Viper’s Chosen. This was not an unexpected turn of events, as he and his Patron had already discussed the possibility of the Viper’s Chosen doing extremely well within

Chosen in regard to how many floors he had completed. What was

good chance the Viper’s Chosen hadn’t surpassed him either. If he had, why wouldn’t he have revealed it?

on the city floor

just focused on himself and his own party. Sure, they ended up losing a member, but the one who

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,

fleeting this position is, this accomplishment can never be taken away from you. Attain first place on the Era Nevermore Leaderboards, proving yourself

achieved. He was fully aware that if the Viper’s Chosen and he did not share a generation, Ell'Hakan would truly have no equal… but then again, perhaps he was only

All in due time.

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

just talking about this era. It’s

in

Ell’Hakan cursed internally as he knew they would have to shift and adapt the narrative

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

bowed and an incredibly happy grin on her face. Jake also saw Farleigh, the vampire patriarch, making him want to say hi, but the situation didn’t seem to allow it. The Fallen King noticed Jake’s discomfort and sent him a quick mental message to