The Primal Hunter

Chapter 922: The Fine Line Between Cute & Terrifying

Jake knew that the logic of ectognamorphs was something he truly couldn’t understand. Vesperia also looked at him as if what she had said was only natural… which in her world it was. He had already known that the Endless Empire was the most hierarchical organization in the entire multiverse, putting even demons to shame, but still.

Throughout the multiverse, power was the ultimate decider of status. Jake was the Chosen of the Malefic Viper, yes, but he also knew that not a single god in existence viewed themselves as beneath him. Them being nice to him was either a display of respect toward the Malefic Viper, or because they found him interesting for his future potential. None of them would ever agree to be his subordinate and swear loyalty to Jake as a person, as he was ultimately just a mortal who was beneath their statute.

For Vesperia, it was different.reserved.

During the following conversation, where Jake asked some more things about how sure she was things would work out fine if she approached a bunch of other Hive Queens on Earth, and Vesperia explained a bit about her time at the Endless Empire,

She told him that during her time there, many variants of the Vespernat Lineage had made their way back to the Endless Empire. They had been independent factions before, operating by themselves with only a friendly relationship with the Empire, but when they heard – and felt – that a new Vespernat True Royal had appeared and resided at the Endless Empire Heartlands, they made their way there.

This included Hive Queen gods. Even a few at or around the realm of Godqueen – powerful beings with much renown in the multiverse in their own right – hurried there. Not just to see Vesperia but to recognize her and swear their loyalty without even knowing anything about her. It was also merely an implicit understanding that they were now part of the Endless Empire, ruled by Vesperia and Vesperia alone.

Despite how much weaker she was, they recognized her as their unquestionable leader. It was simply blind, biological devotion and loyalty, with no thought for rhyme, reason, or logic. They were just compelled by their nature. And while Jake had a good grasp of following his instincts… he did find the entire concept tough to fully grasp.

“I… to clarify, if you told a bunch of gods from your Lineage to go kill someone…?” Jake asked, just to clarify, after Vesperia was done with her explanation.

“Hm, I reckon they would ask the reason and offer me advice if it’s a good idea or not to carry out the order,” Vesperia answered without much thought. “Of course, that assumes it’s someone that’s controversial to kill.”

“And if you insisted, no matter the person?” Jake continued pressing.

“They’d naturally carry out their duty.”

“What if the other True Royals of the Endless Empire disagree?” Jake tried again.

“In that case, I would certainly consider the matter carefully,” Vesperia said, thinking a bit more about that one. “But I find the probability of that happening low. My desire to want someone dead badly enough to even disagree with the other Hive Queens beneath me will more likely than not be a desire born of the greater good of the Endless Empire, and my sisters would never disagree with something like that. However, let’s say that I want to do something everyone disagrees with. Just know that, no matter what, they do not have the authority or right to command me, even if I respect their opinions immensely.”

“What if Jake asks you to do something and the other True Royals oppose?” Sandy decided to also ask a hypothetical that Jake wasn’t sure he really wanted the answer to.

“That… would be problematic,” Vesperia answered with a frown. “I guess at that point, I would have to understand both sides and the essence of the disagreement and then simply decide for myself what I believe is best.”

Alright, that was a very balanced and reasonable response.

“To clarify, I am not going to be causing trouble,” Jake said. At least he wouldn’t cause any problems on purpose.

Empires decide to make you an enemy for some reason?” Sandy continued to try pushing their hypothetical

shook her head. “The Endless Empire does not declare enemies that easily, and if only one of the True Royals part

there you have it, no reason to fret over something that won’t

to that scientist guy

yourself,” Jake waved the big worm off as Sandy took to the air and headed toward Arnold to do who-knows-what, leaving Vesperia

peculiar creature,” Vesperia commented once the big worm was gone. “I looked through the library of the Endless Empire and even consulted my sisters, and there were no traces of knowledge about

doubt they need much help to progress or to be told some historical facts about what’s best to do. They just need to follow their own instincts, and

his words. “Perhaps you’re right. Simply following my instincts without considerable forethought just seems foreign, yet also familiar.

aren’t just a normal True Royal, if there even is

one of

just nodded nevertheless as he cracked a joke. “You’re not just a Vesperia…

what she was

over? If you wanna help with the Prima Guardian defense, it would be best to keep her in the loop, and I’m sure

spot this tale on Amazon, know that it has

best course of action,”

communication token and quickly infused a message. “Besides, if I don’t keep her in the loop, I’m gonna get quite the scolding later. I can already imagine Miranda sending some poor party into a hive, only

you. Is she not serving you?” Vesperia asked with some genuine confusion. “How could she dare

benefits. I also trust her, and she’s good at her job. But if she wishes to one day leave, I won’t do anything about it either. The same is true if she one day falls too far behind or fails to live up to expectations, at

such odd relationships,” Vesperia sighed. “Truly

he would argue it was ectognamorphs who had weird as fuck relationships, even if they were a

they sat and talked a bit more on a bench in front of the pond as he continued to pat Vespy. It didn’t take long before Jake detected the resident witch, who’d quickly made her way over. Jake couldn’t blame her

hoped Miranda and Vesperia could get along. If not, things would

--

would soon arrive on the planet. Making sure that fights wouldn’t break out was a damn struggle, and there was also still all of the usual

was finally calming down a bit… and then she got word that Sandy had returned to Earth. That in itself was fine, as the giant space worm didn’t really cause much trouble on their own. There were a few annoyances from people wanting to meet Sandy, such as representatives from the United Tribes, but nothing the Chosen of the Lord Protector couldn’t deal with

Miranda could take lightly. Not in the slightest. True Royal was truly a deserved title, as

different nature to people who simply had a high status. Jake was the Chosen of the Malefic Viper, yes, but he was still “only” a C-grade for now, and he wouldn’t be able to command the forces of the Order of the Malefic Viper unless the god agreed and gave

power but the status of one’s caste. What’s more, this power in the hierarchy wasn’t just some agreed-upon social construct but a tangible biological component of their races. It was simply the nature of every single ectognamorph to follow the command of their True Royal – their queen of Hive

was far from comforting. It wasn’t just that she was a powerful being in her own right, but that Miranda was legitimately afraid of the consequences if something

this True Royal. It was honestly a huge relief he contacted her, as she had honestly put it down to a fifty-fifty if Jake would keep her in the loop about what he and the True

of Haven, she hurried to the lodge. She could already feel the presence of the True Royal there, and she made sure to calm herself down fully before having her meeting with a being that truly deserved to be called royalty of the

their first real meeting, and she wanted to make a good