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.

do you think of him as a potential partner or mate? I know you know

was a bit taken aback by the question, and she saw how her grandfather also wasn’t that happy with the question… though he did seem curious about her answer. She was afraid to

it down, fully expecting her grandfather and Artemis to be disappointed… and while her grandfather did let out a small sigh, Artemis reacted quite the

won’t complain if I decide to pursue him,” Artemis said, as she seemed uninterested in hiding exactly what “that” was. “You know

know,” Dina confirmed

image and the Chosen got, let’s just say, involved during his time in the Challenge Dungeon,” Artemis said. “Very involved, if you

what?” Dina asked, as her

kinda glad Jake didn’t mention it; very respectful of him,” Artemis said with a smile. “Anyway, that’s why I went to Nevermore to see him for myself, and… let’s just say I hope he takes me up on

had slept with the image of Artemis within the Challenge Dungeon? The images had the full memories of the gods themselves, effectively just making them unlinked avatars…

“What made you-“

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

tale on Amazon, know that it has been

it. They had traveled this last part toward the base of the utterly massive tree on

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 nearly suffocating. Without Yggdrasil’s presence, elementals or creatures would be born in the millions every

ledge, and their barge docked as 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

With apprehension, Dina sat down, as she tried to keep her composure. She and Artemis

is a first, child. You are the first C-grade to come here in many

that this boon was not part of my initial intentions, and I view it as a happy accident,” her

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

a chair of wood. The woman looked a bit 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

Dina said, looking

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 waver for a moment

Yggdrasil commented before turning to her grandfather again. “And this is caused by the Chosen of the

“Undoubtedly,” Dina’s grandfather confirmed.

simply in his presence for an extended period of time for

confirmed, Dina also instinctively nodding

keep up the

tree, finding herself sitting back at her home in the very

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check in on the Soulflame progress. He still infused it with his arcane mana intermittently, but he kind of just had to leave it to do its own thing most of