The Primal Hunter

Chapter 1006: Importance of Trust It shouldn’t have to be said, but Jake’s friends and allies back in the Order of the Malefic Viper were having quite the… experience. Meira, Irin, and Scarlett were all known for having a close relationship with the Chosen of the Malefic Viper, so with recent happenings, they were put in an awkward spot. People like Draskil, who had interacted with Jake quite a bit, were also being looked at weirdly. Even Helenstromoz and other members of her Dragonflight had people temporarily distance themselves from the Order due to the scrutiny they suffered.

No one dared to say anything directly about the Chosen of the Malefic Viper… but rumors were spreading like wildfire.

Either way, after Jake’s announcement he’d made together with Valhal, Meira, Scarlett, and Irin were all brought to Jake’s private residence by one of the enforcers of the Order. The place had special barriers placed by the Malefic Viper himself, making it one of the safest locations in the entire Order, and needless to say, none of them had any complaints about being put somewhere safe.

The mere fact they were brought there was cause for concern, though, even if it did seem like part of the reason was to hide them away without making it clear the Order was still officially protecting them. Fortunately, Meira’s master was also there helping calm their hearts… by teaching them fringe alchemical theory he thought they could all benefit from.

It didn’t really help.

“Teacher… can you tell us a bit more about what’s going on?” Meira interrupted the lesson on what kind of frog poisons were best to synthesize to create ointments to put on trees you didn’t want to be corroded when watered with or even grown in a bath of powerful acids.

Duskleaf seemed to understand that while the lesson was important, perhaps putting the minds of his students at peace would also be important as he spoke. “Yip of Yore is rapidly destroying the expansion and progress the Order has made over the last few years, and as of a little while ago, the conflict escalated to gods fighting with a few dying so far on both sides. Ah, but more on the side of the Order, so we’re definitely losing on that front.”

“That sounds… bad?” Scarlett asked in a slightly worried tone. Meira looked at her in agreement while nodding. She was happy Scarlett was there as the snake was far more honest and straightforward than herself, and she was especially more honest than Irin. Moreover, Scarlett didn’t seem that suppressed by her teacher despite him being a god, perhaps because she had been blessed by the Viper and had interacted with Lord Thayne a few times. It was definitely also a factor that her overwhelming faith and loyalty to the Malefic Viper made her view all other gods as lesser – even if that god was the Viper’s disciple.

“It does indeed sound bad,” Duskleaf agreed wholeheartedly before pausing for a moment. “Anyway, the best way to safely collect the poison excreting from the skin of the-“

“Can the Grand Elder share with us some of the contingency plans of the Order?” Irin asked respectfully. “Seeing as we will remain confined here till the end of the conflict without the ability to communicate with others without your permission, it would bring us comfort to be aware, and we wouldn’t be able to leak any secrets even if shared with us.”

Duskleaf looked at them for a brief moment. “Thinking about such things will not benefit you in any way whatsoever. What’s going on is far beyond the scope of what a few mortals like you should get involved in. It’s far better for you to focus on improving yourselves rather than worry about a reality you have no impact on.”

“But… just knowing if-“ Irin tried as Duskleaf cut her off by raising his hand.

“Fine. Was it contingency plans you asked about? Contingency plans for what exactly?” Duskleaf asked with a sigh.

“If… should the unthinkable happen… should the Malefic One fall… what will the Order do?”

“As I said before, certain trees grow better in very acidic environments that don’t seem capable of producing any life in the first place, and while the roots

didn’t know the answer to something – and couldn’t find the answer through study - was to simply ignore the question and change the subject. He would then come back triumphantly if he did discover the

those there not overly interested in what he was talking about… Meira saw it as him just trying to avoid talking about the massive Yip of Yore

on, and

--

figures behind him appearing as dark figures, nearly blending into the void. Every single one of them gave off the

come seeking answers… and once more, the Lord Protector

continue to focus on the retreat while trying to limit skirmishes,” he spoke, his voice echoing through the void. “Bring everyone back

The last time they met, only a few days ago, there had been nine more gods than today. Two had died, yes, but the other seven had left. The Lord Protector noted which ones as he continued

not waver. Do what you’ve done for so many

the gods spoke. A high-tier god who stood amongst the more powerful present. “May I know if the Boundless Hydra will take any

without

is to protect the heart of the Order. As long as it remains, we shall remain. Your job right now is to protect the members of the Order as best you can as they retreat while not losing ground too quickly. Avoid needless fights, yes, but do not be cowards. We are

nodded, while a few were clearly wavering. They’d already reported everything, and the Lord Protector waved his hand as there was nothing more to say that day. “I repeat, just continue as you are, and stop worrying about the losses of the day, as they are naught but

words and began disappearing one by one. He knew that the next time they met, there would be fewer than today as doubt overpowered their loyalty to the Malefic Viper. The gods kept fading away until only one more remained. The dark figure eventually floated over as Duskleaf – in his real body, not the plant avatar with the friends of the Viper’s

from Master?” Duskleaf asked with a sigh, already knowing the

“Not since he went into isolation, and his

might choose to remain in there again for a prolonged period?” Duskleaf asked with concern. He’d spent several eras just hiding away once and had only been back for a few years… so many had questioned if he had perhaps simply returned to what many had

nature, in wait for the right moment to strike at his foe’s neck. However, only when the time

while the Lord Protector was confident in his own power, he knew a figure like Yip of Yore was

Malefic Viper would show and take on the challenge.

heart. Duskleaf was no fighter and would always take the safest approach, and it was by far the safest for their master to simply remain in his Divine Realm while ignoring Yip of Yore entirely. While Yip perhaps had confidence in challenging the Malefic Viper, he also knew he wouldn’t stand a chance if the fight took place within the Viper’s

faith in him. The Boundless Hydra wasn’t fully confident, though, because there was a factor in this thing he wasn’t sure about

the Lord Protector spoke again. “I trust in Master, more than anyone… but I do not have the same feelings toward his