The Primal Hunter

Chapter 895: Yggdrasil

The Mother Tree. Tree of Life. World Tree. Primordial of Life.

Yggdrasil, like the other Primordials, had many names she went by. Dina wasn’t sure about the Primordial’s true origin, but based on history she had been a tree that had simply just never stopped growing. The entire Great Planet Yggdrasil called her home had her roots piercing deeply toward the core as the crown towered above the planet. The entire tree stood more than a hundredth of the entire Great Planet’s diameter tall, and there were legitimate concerns that even the Great Planet would one day prove too small.

Her crown was a vast network of planets, making the entire crown practically its entire own world. Within the crown, there were even subspaces housing large worlds and small galaxies. Countless beings within, and some even referred to it as its entire own universe. Which wasn’t entirely incorrect… for it was all linked to the Divine Realm of Yggdrasil.

Most Divine Realms existed within the void. Hidden from all those who did not know where it was. However, some were able to directly absorb the realm into themselves and make it a part of their bodies. Yggdrasil was one such being – with the Starseizing Titan being another notable example – making her a living Divine Realm, her body representing the growth of her realm and power. This had some benefits and disadvantages for sure, the biggest disadvantage being that should someone manage to fully destroy Yggdrasil’s body, it would also spell the end for her. Not that many considered that a legitimate possibility.

Dina had naturally seen Yggdrasil many times before. It was impossible not to, and the planet she usually lived on was close enough to the Great Planet that she could see the green glowing crown through space, like a massive star in the sky.

However, she had never interacted with the Primordial. Few people had, especially among mortals. The only notable one was her grandfather, Nature’s Attendant, who acted as the right hand of Yggdrasil, dealing with everything that didn’t directly pertain to her own realm.

As a tree, Yggdrasil did have some drawbacks that came with her Path, such as her inability to move. Even with her massive power, she could not move herself from the Great Planet she had taken root on… though Dina had heard some scary rumors that even if Yggdrasil couldn’t move herself, she could move where she had taken root. The thought of an entire Great Planet getting forcibly moved through space in any way was more than a little scary in its own right.

Either way, Yggdrasil’s limitations meant she very much focused on only her own immediate domain and let Dina’s grandfather handle all the multiversal politics on her behalf. In fact, he handled pretty much everything the Pantheon of Life did, Yggdrasil very rarely taking any actions herself. Yet there was never any doubt who the true leader of the Pantheon of Life was, as when Yggdrasil did let her presence known and directly got involved in a matter, she never hesitated to take decisive action.

To ask for someone to meet her directly wasn’t something that happened often either. The only instances Dina knew it happened was whenever a new god had arisen within the Pantheon of Life or when Yggdrasil decided to get a new Chosen. This matter was definitely not related to making Dina any kind of Chosen, though. If Dina would become the Chosen of anyone, it was her grandfather, and even if she wasn’t, the Chosen of Yggdrasil was still alive last Dina heard.

This meant there was really only one thing this meeting could be about…

“Is… is this truly a matter important enough for the Mother Tree to get involved directly?” Dina asked as she traveled with her grandfather and Artemis. “I know Nevermore is important, but…”

“I talked to her after I returned,” her grandfather said in a calm tone. “She was naturally interested, especially when I mentioned some matters related to the new leader of the All-Time Leaderboard. Even so, I was surprised when she said she wanted to see you directly. But don’t worry, you’re not in any trouble.”

“I’m also surprised she asked for me. Is the reason she wants to see me related to… that?” Artemis asked, also sounding a bit concerned.

“To what?” Dina asked, having honestly been a bit confused as to why Artemis was even here, or had been at Nevermore in the first place. Dina didn’t really know Artemis that well, but her best guess had been that she was interested in seeing a hunter take the top spot on the Leaderboards. It wouldn’t be weird for her to take an interest in Jake… but it appeared there was more to it, and she hadn’t taken the kind of interest Dina expected.

Artemis looked at Dina before sighing. “What do you think of the Chosen of the Malefic Viper?”

“He’s peculiar and definitely extremely powerful. He was also a brilliant party member, and I wouldn’t have done as well in Nevermore as I did without him,” Dina said after thinking a bit.

as a potential partner or mate? I

that happy with the question… though he did seem curious about her answer. She was afraid to disappoint

quickly shut it down, fully expecting her grandfather and Artemis

hiding exactly what “that” was. “You know about my image in the Colosseum of Mortals and how those work,

confirmed with

time in

as

very respectful of him,” Artemis said with a smile. “Anyway, that’s why I went to Nevermore to see him for myself,

full memories of the gods themselves, effectively just making them unlinked avatars… she

“What made you-“

run down her back as she nodded slowly, dropping the subject as she still mentally mulled over the subject. Upon deeper reflection, wasn’t this great? If Jake formed a closer connection to the Pantheon of Life, it would only benefit the faction as far as Dina was concerned. For gods and mortals to pair up also wasn’t that weird. In fact, it was practically the norm. Seeing as how two gods reproducing was simply too difficult and rare, it was normal for powerful mortals

on Amazon, know that it has been stolen.

way, Dina deeply considered the Jake-Artemis matter and only got more on board the more she thought about it. They had traveled this last part toward the base of the utterly massive tree on a wooden barge floating through space. Once they got closer, they entered the trunk through a hole, and the second they were inside, Dina felt the pressure fall upon

a bit while her grandfather remained unaffected. Dina also felt her legs shake, but she managed to remain upright without many issues. They kept floating forward for a few more minutes as Dina looked around what may as well have been a massive cavern. She saw rivers run within the walls, and a vine moved here or there, as the life energy all around them was

they got off. DIna followed after her grandfather, who led them through a small hallway before they reached a small hole leading into a large round chamber. There was a bit of furniture in the center, having grown out of the tree itself. To sit on this furniture would be like sitting on a part of Yggdrasil

tried to keep her composure. She and Artemis both suffered from the constant pressure and while Dina found it a bit suffocating, she

child. You are the first C-grade to come here in many eras… and the first able to do so without a

part of my initial intentions, and

happy accident indeed,” the voice echoed again before it suddenly appeared much closer. “Tell

like Dina herself but didn’t have things like antlers or flowers anywhere. She was nearly entirely green instead. She wore no clothes, with all the important parts covered with either her floor-length hair that looked like grass or small natural growths coming out of her body. Dina naturally knew she was looking at Yggdrasil – or at least the dryad form she had momentarily adopted. As

Dina said, looking down

Dina not daring to not obey the command. She lifted her head and looked forward, meeting the eyes of the dryad. She saw those endlessly deep green eyes as she felt her consciousness begin to

appear mutated, yet it’s clearly changed somehow…” Yggdrasil commented before turning to her grandfather again. “And

“Undoubtedly,” Dina’s grandfather confirmed.

extended period of time for

grandfather once more confirmed, Dina

all; keep up the good work. I

words, Dina disappeared from within the tree, finding herself sitting back at her home in the very next

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check in on the Soulflame progress. He still infused it with his