The Primal Hunter Chapter 1261 - An Era of Stability

Acknowledging one's errors marks the basic standard for anyone truly capable... which forced Jacob to concede that he was starting to doubt his own competence, far more than he'd ever imagined at the outset.

Numerous occasions had thrust him into the midst of domineering influencers, and each one had inevitably spiraled toward catastrophe. In almost every such scenario, Jacob had anticipated the grim conclusion—occasionally thanks to his talents as an Augur, yet just as frequently because he recognized that the challenges at hand exceeded what the Holy Church in the ninety-third universe could possibly manage.

The Holy Church stood as an immense powerhouse among factions, plagued by deep-seated divisions within. Even those subgroups often fractured further into rival offshoots, each vying to amplify their own sway. Though the Holy Church championed collective unity above personal gain, the underlying system demanded a dose of self-importance and independence that demanded recognition.

This dynamic bred numerous powerhouses whose clout came paired with swollen egos and an insatiable drive for greater might. Their Paths centered on expanding that dominance, with each increment in authority yielding more Records and experience, fueling their urge to cling to every scrap of influence.

Naturally, as members of the Holy Church, their Paths also compelled them to serve as effective guides and care for those under their charge. Poor performance meant their reach, no matter how vast, held no value, and since most bore titles like priests or equivalents, adherence to the Holy Church's doctrines remained mandatory.

This factor explained why the Holy Church refrained from stifling rivalry among its top ranks, and Jacob suspected it was the same reason the Holy Mother avoided stamping out all inner turmoil. Such competition held merit, warding off stagnation and urging all to strive harder, yet it teetered on the edge of ruin. Balancing that precarious line proved essential, and in the ninety-third universe—particularly on Earth—the Holy Church had blundered catastrophically, to put it mildly.

The organization clung to a standard strategy guide, and initially, Earth's commanders had adhered to it strictly. This approach fueled the Holy Church's rapid growth and sway, but it simultaneously sowed the seeds for its ultimate collapse.

The gravest error by far involved aligning with Ell’Hakan against the Chosen of the Malefic Viper. To outsiders, it appeared as a calculated move where the Holy Church balanced risks and rewards to pick the optimal path. A regrettable result that nobody foresaw... except for Jacob, who had glimpsed that fate from light-years distant.

Regrettably, back then, Jacob's voice had been sidelined, compelling him to yield to schemes from those convinced of their superior insight. His discussions with the Holy Mother and her adherents had largely verified that the Primordial had permitted this recklessness to expose the utter ineptitude of Earth's overseers.

And today... Jacob now stood within the Andromeda Galaxy. This spiral dwarfed the Milky Way in scale, yet hosted a comparable count of settled worlds. The system's integration had preserved much of the cosmic order across the universe, while reshaping plenty besides, with rumors even suggesting shifts of planets between galaxies.

As the nearest neighbor to the Milky Way, the Andromeda Galaxy served as the prime launchpad for any potential assault on its counterpart, should expansionist ambitions arise. Indeed, upon Jacob's arrival alongside the Milky Way's refugees—thereby bolstering Andromeda's ranks—talks swiftly turned to strategies for reclaiming the lost galaxy one day.

For Jacob, that marked the first red flag.

Under the Holy Church's total grip on the Andromeda Galaxy, an air of supremacy had swelled among the World Leaders, who viewed their faction as invincible and unchallenged. They dismissed any obligation to honor the Holy Church's exclusion from the Milky Way, gearing up to dispatch covert agents for a gradual cultural infiltration and influence creep.

Red flag two.

Soon after, as droves approached or attained B-grade, chatter ignited around the impending system event tied to the Seat of the Exalted Prima. With the Holy Church's unchallenged reign over the galaxy, the sole debate centered on which contender would seize it. A plethora of Administrator Candidates vied for position... so abundant that ambitions stirred for more than a single Seat of the Exalted Prima.

Given the Holy Church's dominance and their formidable unified forces, what force in this cosmic sector would defy them? The Andromeda Galaxy loomed as the grandest, while rival spirals lacked such cohesion and would swiftly bow to the multiverse's premier power. All advantages aligned in their favor, and yes, certain formidable groups warranted caution to avoid outright enmity, but through shrewd dealings and concessions, they could surely align with the Holy Church's vision. Even the Milky Way, bound by a shaky pact among factions beneath the rising Order of the Malefic Viper, stood no chance against the full might of Andromeda...

Red flag three.

Jacob saw the cycle of blunders on the verge of repeating. The fresh World Leaders in this galaxy teetered toward those same foolish decisions, their avarice and thirst for expansion poised to wound the Holy Church once again—and worse, the blameless souls within it.

In broader scenarios, these World Leaders' choices weren't inherently flawed. Their schemes succeeded overwhelmingly, bolstered by the Holy Church's unparalleled subtle authority, which had elevated it to the multiverse's top faction.

Yet their judgment faltered specifically against the Milky Way. The Holy Church's guidelines offered no blueprint for such a crisis. Every suggestion Jacob encountered promised only havoc and avoidable agony... compelling him to halt the Holy Church's repetition of past follies.

In truth, Jacob harbored no desire for authority or clout merely for its own thrill. He viewed acquiring them solely as tools for positive change. Armed with power and reach, he could uplift far more lives and amplify good far beyond what isolation allowed. Still, pursuing such stature demanded rivalry and self-serving maneuvers.

Though bold to claim, Jacob firmly held that he dwelt among clueless simpletons blind to their own missteps. He deemed the purest service to the Holy Church and its flock lay not in persuasion or candid counsel. Rather, it meant embracing utter self-interest, dismantling rivals, and ascending to a throne where commands replaced pleas.

As a refugee from a vanquished galaxy—regarded by many local World Leaders as a mere survivor—this ambition loomed daunting. He braced for fierce resistance and scant backing... until the inter-universal pathways fully unlocked.

Veteran commanders and Holy Church-trained experts from diverse universes surged into the ninety-third universe, each honed for this integration phase. Hierarchies churned in disarray, and Jacob seized the turmoil to pursue his self-centered agenda.

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With the Holy Mother's unwavering endorsement and resources, Jacob installed devoted allies in key roles while ousting those he saw as bunglers or obstacles. As his clout swelled, World Leaders sought him out, and leveraging his Augur prowess plus the Holy Mother's favor, rallying fresh converts proved simple—especially among those new to the crushing duties of steering such a colossal entity.

The shift unfolded steadily, yet unyielding against Jacob's detractors among the World Leaders. Some resisted, but their countermeasures fell short, and most sensed the shifting tide, opting to comply. To Jacob, he simply enacted the necessities, and ultimately...

“Thank you for your support,” Jacob uttered with a gentle smile and a nod, extending his hand to clasp the elf’s.

“It’s the least we can do, and I’m confident this is the right choice,” the elf replied, gripping Jacob’s hand and echoing the Augur’s smile.

Beneath that facade lurked defeat and faint bitterness. It was forgivable, and Jacob recognized he drew scorn from figures like this elf, but that weight came with his chosen path, and he remained convinced that time would reveal this as the wise course.

“My Lords, if you would both sign the decree here...” a priest clad in white robes approached, knelt, and offered the gilded parchment.

“Of course, and please stand,” Jacob instructed, gesturing for the woman to rise. She paused briefly before nodding and standing with a smile. Jacob inscribed his mark on the decree, and after a fleeting doubt, the elven World Leader followed suit.

The elf glanced at Jacob and transmitted a mental whisper, wary of his thoughts leaking to the throngs witnessing this landmark occasion—whether live or via the widespread magical broadcasts spanning the galaxy.

he conveyed, inking the decree while maintaining his grin.

Jacob responded mentally as they positioned themselves shoulder-to-shoulder, beaming before the jubilant crowds.

the elf pressed on, waving cheerfully.

Jacob parried in their hushed exchange.

the elf pushed for the last say. Jacob could have rebutted but refrained, sustaining the charade.

“Under the benevolent eyes of the Holy Mother, the decree has been signed and witnessed,” the priest proclaimed, elevating the document. “May the vision of the Augur, guided by his Patron, lead us toward the light.”

Jacob inclined his head and extended his aura across the chamber, taking care not to overwhelm. Freshly ascended to B-grade—thanks in large measure to the frenzy of commandeering an entire galaxy—he understood that scarce few onlookers could withstand his presence.

“Thank you, everyone,” he declared, his voice amplified through the vast cathedral and the arrays of recorders beaming it galaxy-wide. “Know that I do not take this trust and responsibility lightly.”

Jacob exhaled as he faced the assembly and offered a warm smile before pressing on with his short address.

“Not much time has passed since most of us felt our world completely change, and since then, this has been an era of strife, conflict, and chaos. Many of our dear ones have fallen or been left behind by the changes... but I swear that I will do my utmost to make sure no one is left behind. That the era of chaos has come to an end, and we shall enter one of stability and peace. Conflict remains inevitable and is a part of this new world we now find ourselves in, but it does not have to be chaotic. We can face conflict with wisdom and training, even if I know the mere notion of battle still frightens many. I understand why. But know that we can face conflict with order, chaos with stability, and that even if death should come for us, peace shall follow. As long as the Holy Mother is in your heart, and your faith is by her side, all are welcome in the eternal afterlife. So join me in facing the future, not with fear, but with a willingness to adapt and welcome the changes. Join me in allowing us all to become our best selves, and through that, create the world we all want to live in until it’s our turn to arrive in the blessed Holyland.”

Upon concluding, Jacob permitted the quiet to linger, letting his message echo through the sacred cathedral. Soon, applause rose from some, while others bowed in prayer, embracing the call for reflection.

With one last incline, Jacob withdrew, his duties here fulfilled for the moment. Ample tasks awaited in readying for the looming Seat of the Exalted Prima occasion. The prior scheme had eyed seizing the Milky Way's Seat in tandem with their own, but Jacob had swiftly scrapped that. The revised strategy now backed other galaxies while securing their own claim, given the unknowns surrounding how an Administrator Candidate might assert a Seat of the Exalted Prima.

Descending to the cathedral's undercroft, Jacob encountered Bertram in the corridor, propped against the wall with folded arms.

“Surprised no one tried anything,” the Guardian remarked, straightening up.

“I’m not,” Jacob replied with a smile as they set off along the passage. “In such a setting, no one with enough sense to become a World Leader in the Holy Church would dare make a fuss.”

“People can be surprising and act unpredictably,” Bertram shrugged.

“True,” the Augur conceded with a sigh. “Speaking of unpredictable, what’s the word from Kindroth?”

Though the Holy Church had formally withdrawn from the Milky Way Galaxy and Jacob had quashed schemes to sneak back in and reclaim dominance gradually, ties to that realm weren't fully severed. Kindroth, the elven World Leader overseeing the Milky Way's densest world, revered a deity that collaborated with the Holy Church despite standing outside it, and that alliance had trickled to his adherents. He didn't serve Jacob outright but supplied intel and updates, preserving a foothold for the Holy Church in Jacob's native spiral.

“Things seem to be going well for them. They’re still dealing with what’s suspected to be remnant followers of Ell’Hakan and Yip of Yore, but they’re handling it,” Bertram answered. “As for Jake, the latest news is that he recently did a dungeon with Casper before returning to Haven, after which Kindroth doesn’t know anything. I think it’s a safe bet he’s working on his profession as he’s yet to evolve.”

Jacob nodded, all aligning with projections. Alright, the Casper-Jake dungeon team-up caught him off guard a touch, but it warmed him too. They'd always clicked, and he appreciated their chance to reconnect.

“With that covered, have you had a chance to look through that crystal you got last week yet?” Bertram queried with a playful tone. “Now that you’ve reached B-grade, people are starting to find it weird you haven’t found one yet...”

Jacob shot his Guardian a sharp glare, met with a chuckle.

“What? I’m just a Guardian; such things aren’t expected of me,” Bertram shrugged. “And I’m sure you can find at least a few pleasant ladies on that list. Even if you’re not interested, just doing so should buy you some time.”

The beleaguered Augur longed to argue but held his tongue, merely shutting his eyes and sighing. He held zero interest in romance, yet the mounting societal nudge toward it intensified. No mandates enforced it or tied it to duties, but pairings—chiefly for bearing heirs—earned strong Holy Church endorsement, and as figurehead, Jacob faced pressure to lead by example. Hitherto, he'd dodged with claims of prioritizing B-grade attainment, but that dodge had expired.

Resigned amid Bertram's mischievous look, Jacob humored his protector by withdrawing the accursed crystal en route to the teleportation array. It brimmed with enchanting, intricately crafted matchmaking entries, and scanning them left Jacob uneasy. Plenty appeared kind, yet he recoiled at risking dashed dreams.

He skimmed past entries until a known name halted him abruptly.

The daughter of a Grand Master who commanded a Templar order, and she had reached B-grade. That title stirred floods of recollections from the Tutorial and its immediate aftermath, when he and Bertram had lingered with Inera and the Grand Master prior to Earth's return.

Her entry noted C-grade status, and on impulse, Jacob channeled a spark of energy into the crystal, signaling interest in a meeting. If only to reminisce and learn of the woman who'd aided his fledgling steps... plus easing the swarm of expectant voices. With luck, it'd grant a brief reprieve.