The Primal Hunter Chapter 1263 - How To Train A Generation

The push toward B-grade had become the central focus across the ninety-third universe in these recent months and years. With more individuals approaching evolution or achieving it, their Records reverberated through the multiverse, aiding others from the same generation to follow suit more readily.

Historians and scholars throughout the ages have puzzled over the strange pattern where competitors from D-grade often reached similar levels even in A-grade. The clear reason lies in the mechanics of Records and their influence on the multiverse's overall path and evolution. Eras bursting with Records accelerate advancement for all, whereas quiet phases slow it down universally.

This dynamic explains the rapid leveling seen during times like the fresh integration of a new universe. Progressing from D to C-grade in a few hundred years counts as solid in normal circumstances, yet in such vibrant periods, nearly everyone manages it inside a single century without strain. Factoring in that half this century passes in Nevermore, it's a speed unmatched in ordinary eras... though not entirely.

In even the most tranquil times, exceptional talents arise, surging to prominence at astonishing rates. Without the multiverse's Records to fuel their ascent, they still match the velocity of Record-rich eras. This baffled experts seeking ways to enhance progression in the multiverse, but the answer proved simple once more, rooted again in Records.

Geniuses possess innate Records that propel them forward swiftly. They require no external multiversal boost for growth, carrying ample Records within to optimize their leveling and storm through ranks and grades en route to dominance.

Still, these multiversal Records aid geniuses too during growth surges like the current one gripping the multiverse. The assistance varies subtly, though. Instead of capping speed, it acts like an elastic band, influencing only experience acquisition.

As sufficient numbers pull ahead, a band effect yanks the laggards along by modestly boosting their experience intake, naturally, provided one doesn't fall too far back and snap free of the pull.

For someone like Jake, such an effect seldom applies, since the differences stay minor at just a handful of levels. But a full grade gap ensures even Jake senses a minor uptick in experience gain, thanks to those who've already evolved.

The system's rationale for including this mechanic holds few secrets. Rivalry and competition fuel advancement chiefly, so the system encourages keeping potential challengers at comparable levels. This whole era of Record floods serves as a grand-scale version of the relational Records always linking those in close bonds. Only here, it spans an entire generation, united by their overlapping lifespans.

High-growth phases like these dot every era repeatedly, but they turn truly multiversal mainly around new universe integrations. Elsewhere, effects stay more localized or scale smaller. Galactic conflicts, system-wide events, or other major incidents uniting crowds spark comparable boosts, elevating Records for everyone caught up. And indeed, this fuels why major multiversal powers favor sustaining a few solid wars... the benefits to progress are immense.

Though all recognized the potency of these multiversal influences, plenty still marveled at their intensity this round. Each generation takes shape from its peak performers, and the ninety-second universe's integration unleashed a massive Record wave too, thanks to Yip of Yore and Altius the Blade rising up.

But this cohort outshone it. The Record surge hit harder. Two frontrunners defined this era—Ell’Hakan and Jake Thayne—until the latter slew the former. Now, none could deny the Malefic Viper's Chosen as this generation's summit, yet he didn't reign solitary at the crest.

Right below him clustered other remarkable standouts. Valdemar's latest Runemaiden in ages, the first from a fresh universe in epochs. Twin Ghost Kings from one generation, both at Nevermore side by side. Wintermaul, an elemental channeling pure ice and frost essence. The enigmatic Eastbound Monk, who shone brilliantly in the Prima Guardian trial. Lopas, shrouded in equal enigma post-Nevermore feats. A fresh True Royal from the Endless Empire emerged too, soon followed by the Cerulean Demon Prince, who claimed a god's full Records, stirring whispers of the Cerulean Devil's comeback. The Prince had trailed Ell’Hakan and Jake by mere steps in Nevermore, and his evolution amplified him further, fueling talk he might now match their tier.

These represented only the most spotlighted names. Divine rankings didn't always align with battlefield exploits alone, factoring heavily in projected futures. For some, only select gods grasped their promise, even if many already held recognition in their spheres.

Eron the Sword Saint, Sylphie, Arnold, Sandy, Jasper, plus scores of others obscure to the crowds but drawing godly scrutiny. Though Jake led this generation now, eternity might shift that. Topping C-grade dazzled, yet paled in cosmic view. Pioneering B-grade evolution counted as a footnote too.

No, true stakes hinged on godhood potential, and while the Malefic Viper's Chosen raced toward it undisputed, gods didn't unanimously peg him as the surest bet for divine success.

Not even among Earth's humans... but events unfold in time. Presently, the vital push stayed evolving to B-grade without faltering, since lost drive rendered potential moot anyway.

--

As the youngsters hustled toward B-grade, the elders pursued their agendas too. The trap had been set some time back, and at last... a bite came.

“I got it,” Eversmile confirmed with a nod.

“Quicker than anticipated, suggesting the god pulling strings lacks real clout,” Vilas grinned, eyeing the immobilized D-grade.

Time halted in their vicinity as the pair regarded the young woman from Jake’s earlier lesson. She’d blended into the audience, utterly unremarkable.

“Any idea of her origins?” Eversmile inquired. “Her karmic ties seem standard, if a bit sparse for D-grade. Nothing stands out as potent.”

“Enlisted ordinarily as a drifter. Passed the trials with average marks, sparked mild interest only after joining my Order. Enough to ping radars, but not to spotlight her,” Vilas replied.

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Eversmile dipped his head. “Prime pick for an obscure group’s espionage.”

“Appears that way,” the Viper concurred.

Probes into Jake’s void ambush masterminds yielded nothing yet. Informed factions, alongside this shadowy one, compiled rosters of vanished gods sans corpses, but suspects abounded. The Holy Church unmasked two spies tied to the unknowns, yet only after their demise.

This marked their first live lead, and the Viper refused to squander it. With a gesture, green crystals encased the D-grade’s form before he yanked her into his domain for deeper probing. Pressing duties awaited next.

“Onward,” Vilas urged, earning Eversmile’s agreement as the Karma Primordial summoned a gateway to their mark.

Stepping through, they materialized in a barren void pocket of the fifty-second universe. A nondescript void, distant from relevance, ideal for a lone god’s seclusion... or a faction hideout.

They’d traced there via the D-grade’s contacts. Her ritual looked basic, but the Viper’s watch spotted anomalies—no energy flares. Eversmile concurred on its oddity, tapping unfamiliar concepts or spells, sealing her faction link.

Confirmation hit when the ritual closed, message dispatched clean—no energy echoes or karmic echoes lingered, baffling the duo anew. Luckily, witnessing it all let Eversmile latch onto the faint karmic thread sparked by her recipient intent.

Guided by that, post-time freeze in her quarters, Eversmile pinpointed the dispatch to this desolate spot.

“Tucked in a spacetime crease,” Vilas noted after a swift sweep.

Eversmile ripped the veil without pause, ushering them inside the breach. Crude camouflage, sure, but effective unless scoured meticulously.

Emerging through, the Primordials entered a compact realm with one form perched on a levitating rock amid void. Vilas knew the occupant instantly.

Target in sight, neither stirred, both sensing the truth at once.

“He’s perishing, or truthfully, already gone,” the Viper exhaled, teleporting beside Eversmile to flank the slumped shape anyway.

Vilas’s gaze flared dark green, peeling back the elf’s soul bare. It lay in ruins—shattered beyond repair. Portions of soul and Soulshape seemed freshly ripped free.

“Empty,” Eversmile scowled. “Zero karmic bonds... not even forming ours passively now.”

“Meaning?” Villy pressed with a sigh.

“Body lingers vital, but he’s deceased,” Eversmile denied with a headshake.

“Hm,” the Viper cocked his head, eyeing the soul’s gradual unraveling toward oblivion. “Worth a try.”

Hand aloft, he unleashed dark green radiance via Touch. He targeted the god’s flickering soul not to heal—too late for that—but to heighten its lingering consciousness.

Brutally, the Viper extracted the final thought-fragments from the wreckage, shoving them center stage. The elf jerked upright, mouth gaping in soundless agony, then froze rigid.

Then words escaped.

“This... no... where am I? Why here? Wait... oh...” the elven god muttered, eyes flitting wildly though body locked. He gazed at Viper and Eversmile yet registered nothing, lost in self-mutterings.

Vilas funneled more power, scavenging any surviving notions from the crumbling soul pre-collapse. At last, he seized a dominant remnant and thrust it forward.

The elf grinned abruptly. “I understand... we merge as one.”

Those uttered, the soul’s scraps evaporated, yet both caught an oddity in the dispersal... prompting shared puzzled glances.

At “death,” no Truesoul reverted to the system... an impossibility barring non-creature entities like summons, Guardians, clones, or kin. Maybe some unheard-of variant mimicking them.

Vilas scowled as he and Eversmile locked eyes longer.

“Fingers crossed the D-grade spills more,” Eversmile noted, grin broadening amid evident delight at the enigma. The Viper disliked such riddles, but his Karma counterpart thrived on them, savoring total unknowns most.

“Yeah... let’s,” the Viper grumbled, vanishing to his realm to quiz their detained D-grade for clearer answers.

--

“More deliveries?” Miranda queried wearily, defeat in her tone.

Lillian affirmed, withdrawing the bag housing spatial storage—not Soulbound, tailored for such shipments.

“Count this round?” the beleaguered witch probed, dreading the reply.

“Exceeds the prior haul,” Lillian lamented, shaking her head. “Stash them for now? Given the gripes already, spreading these...”

“Blame him outright on any backlash,” Miranda dismissed. “Distribute to Council explorers and adventurers mapping uncharted lands. Complaints incoming, but source known, will they push hard?”

“Merchants, remember,” Lillian deadpanned.

“True, fuss guaranteed,” Miranda yielded, bracing for market meddling and rivalry sabotage whines.

Lillian had swung by Jake’s earlier, claiming his newest potion stock—over a thousand vials. Not her debut run, and Jake’s output terrified, poised to upend trade.

His brews outclassed rivals, and he supplied gratis. Alchemy dominated multiversal commerce, bolstering the Order of the Malefic Viper’s neutrality and ties via its elixir mastery.

Earth’s Noboru Clan topped potion output, thanks partly to Jake-recruited alchemists now in the Order. Reika, Sword Saint’s great-granddaughter, helmed their work—capable by Miranda’s gauge, yet no match for Jake.

Merchants managed sales, demand endless as none ventured potionless, ensuring steady trade. Thus, vendors fumed when premium buyers quit amid Jake’s pre-B-grade evolution deluge.

Miranda found one person’s market sway bizarre, but research clarified: Jake’s alchemy blended reliability and efficiency unmatched.

Standard crafters botched often, even familiar recipes. Top alchemists flubbed basic health potion runs on tiny slips derailing all.

Batch yields swung wildly too. Vast scales tempted, but complexity spiked failure odds. Plus, flops trashed ingredients, so pros favored compact cauldrons.

Jake... shattered norms, par for his course.

“Still wielding that monster setup?” Miranda double-checked.

“Else how?” Lillian countered, headshake underscoring.

“No... impossible,” Miranda sighed anew, staring at Jake’s desk-dumping bounty. Thousands strong, and she foresaw equal or bigger drops weekly. His year-long ramp-up only swelled yields.

Initial four months? Solid, non-disruptive. But...

Miranda reclined, gaze ceilingward. “It kicked off when h