The Primal Hunter Chapter 1273 - An Even (B)etter & Professional Evolution

Though a handful of the multiverse's leading powers detected the ripples from Jake's evolution, the very source remained completely oblivious, preoccupied with figuring out his subsequent steps.

Jake truly had no clear idea about his initial move. Damn, one side of him even yearned to simply take to the skies and test his newfound velocity, measuring it against the swiftness shown by Sylphie and Sandy, yet he recognized the foolishness of such an act prior to selecting his class.

Extending a connection and chatting with Villy proved highly alluring, since Jake possessed numerous topics to discuss. He could sense Villy's gaze upon him at this moment, and Jake understood that the instant he directed even the faintest mental outreach to the Primordial, their extended conversation would commence.

However, truthfully speaking, Jake favored conducting that discussion face-to-face over drinks back at the Order of the Malefic Viper. Although telepathic exchange offered great security, and Jake trusted his capacity to detect any eavesdroppers or listeners, it remained wiser to err on caution's side when handling matters that could reshape the multiverse. Thus, Jake chose to postpone the Villy conversation temporarily.

Moreover, completing his remaining evolutions would provide additional subjects for discussion. This still required Jake to choose between evolving his class or profession initially.

Yet, prior to contemplating that, Jake observed an unusual detail as he adjusted his position slightly on the bed beneath him. With a furrowed brow, he rose and examined the bed through squinted eyes, scrutinizing it thoroughly.

Employing Identify yielded no remarkable results, and on the surface, it appeared identical to the bed Jake had taken from Villy’s Challenge Dungeon during the Tutorial long ago. Nevertheless, upon channeling a portion of his energy toward it and prodding the furniture, he confirmed without doubt:

Although the bed hadn't transformed into a magical artifact, energy had unmistakably permeated it, reshaping its core essence. Its resilience had increased substantially, not to the extent that Jake couldn't shatter it effortlessly, but robust enough to withstand D-grade assaults and certain lesser C-grade strikes, as Jake estimated.

Jake couldn't suppress a grin and a soft laugh at the ridiculous notion of his bed apparently advancing slightly in tandem with him. It amused him greatly, prompting him to shake his head while vaguely anticipating what the bed might develop into after his A-grade evolution while perched upon it.

To achieve that, Jake needed to advance his class and profession levels beforehand, and prior to that possibility, both required evolution.

Reflecting on the past, during his C-grade evolution, Jake had opted to evolve his profession ahead, reasoning that his class had come first upon reaching D-grade. By that rationale, his class should evolve before the profession this time. In reality, Jake wasn't overly rational, and he simply inclined toward the profession initially. He anticipated both evolutions to prove spectacular, rendering the order inconsequential.

With this resolved, Jake spotted the enticing system prompt awaiting him and immediately accessed it.

Steadfast in your Path, you have fully embraced your identity as a living paradox, continuing to embody the values and traits of both a heretic and a Chosen, all while truly being neither. The Malefic Viper remains your Patron, not because of a lack of other options, but due to your own personal loyalty towards someone you consider a friend. Your bond grows stronger, becoming more equitable as you benefit one another more and more, though the balance is still far from equal. Perhaps one day it will be. Despite your Path as an alchemist and further embracing the Legacy of the Malefic Viper, you have not shunned away from expanding beyond, seeking power in all places. You have started to embrace the Primeval Origin welling up from within, while even starting on the profound Path of Enlightenment. Your possibilities seem endless, your Path boundless, with one certainty above all: nothing but the very apex will satisfy your primal cravings for power.

Begin evolution now?

Y/N WARNING: Postponing evolution for too long may have adverse effects, and no further profession experience can be earned before the evolution is complete.

As always with these system notifications, plenty to analyze, but he lacked the desire to delve too deeply into the particulars. Not until reaching the actual profession choices, at least. This notification aligned closely with Jake's expectations. Therefore, instead of lingering excessively, he concentrated on its references to acquiring his Sacred Meditate skill and approaching the Gate of Enlightenment. Those, along with the nod to Primeval Origins, stood as the sole fresh elements worth highlighting, while the remainder consisted of standard embellishments and the system affirming Jake's exemplary status, alongside its bafflement at his bond with Villy.

Having addressed that, Jake at last turned his attention to the initial offering among five possibilities, and frankly? A solid beginning, in his opinion.

Galactic Conqueror of the Malefic Viper: With the power of the Malefic Viper as support, you set out on a mission to conqueror your entire galaxy. Through your leadership and divine presence, victory was achieved, your galaxy falling under you and the Order of the Malefic Viper’s control.

WARNING: Skills pertaining to Heretic-Chosen Alchemist of the Malefic Viper may be lost or changed upon becoming a Galactic Conqueror of the Malefic Viper.

To address the obvious, that profession title sounded impressive. If anyone had once informed Jake pre-system that an all-powerful entity would deem him fit for the moniker Galactic Conqueror, he would've summoned mental health aid for the delusional soul.

In contrast, it ranked as the least appealing among the five potential profession advancements presented. Not that it lacked merit, but it clearly mismatched Jake's style. Furthermore, its origin posed no puzzle, given his galaxy conquest, widely attributed to advancing the Malefic Viper's cause.

Concerning stats—the key indicator of a profession's caliber and one of its vital features—this variant delivered +550 stats overall per level. An impressive sum, certainly, but considering all stats would triple anew during this evolution, the updated profession ceiling reached +720 stats per level. Viewed thusly, this option lost much of its luster.

Not unexpectedly, despite the appealing name, Jake suspected superior iterations of this profession existed, ones he failed to meet the criteria for. He lacked genuine leadership skills, and any morale enhancements had occurred mostly by accident.

It went without saying, but Jake dismissed this profession outright as a viable choice. Particularly since selecting it would devastate his alchemical skills entirely, he gracefully advanced to the second proposal.

This alternative suited him far more, yet the title alone signaled his disinterest in pursuing it.

Heretic-Chosen Prophet of the Malefic Viper: Despite the unorthodox actions that should brand you a heretic to be hunted down, you continue to further the goals of the Malefic Viper, making yourself worthy of the title of Chosen. With this acceptance and even at times encouragement from your Patron, continue to spread the influence of the Malefic Viper, bringing others into the fold, while at the same time claiming his powers as your own through a relationship you dare call that of equals. A heretic to some, a Chosen to most, but more importantly, a Heretic-Chosen to both you and your Patron. Your skills in Alchemy remain, but you craft primarily to strengthen your bond with the Malefic Viper while honoring his chosen Path. Grants skills related to alchemy, persuasion, manipulation, and religious practices. No matter the labels, no matter the definitions, you shall continue to further the goals of the Malefic Viper while grasping all the power you possibly can along the way.

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This represented a recurrence, bearing the identical name to a prior C-grade evolution offer Jake had received. Much of the wording echoed the original, though enhancements were evident, rendering it less overtly... devout? It shifted from portraying alchemy as worship to a means of fortifying his connection with the Viper. Overall, it emphasized their equality more prominently.

That aside, Jake held no intention of choosing it, despite the superior stats. +645 total stats per level exceeded the Galactic Conqueror of the Malefic Viper by 95, marking a substantial quality leap. Surpassing 600 stats entered elite territory for professions, where inherent restrictions and drawbacks gained prominence. For Jake, the Heretic-Chosen aspect's drawback stemmed from upholding that dual status, which the system viewed as inherently unstable.

Jake disagreed profoundly. He equated it to his class's limitation on experience from inferior foes. Was it a drawback in theory? Absolutely, yet it impacted him negligibly. Unless Villy abruptly demanded stricter adherence as a proper Chosen, of course.

Opting for this would steer him toward a more conventional Chosen role, but no thanks. Jake wasn't a prophet, and if Villy sought one, he shouldn't have bestowed his True Blessing so freely.

Advancing to the subsequent profession, and... very well. Time to focus intently.

With three choices remaining, the caliber of available professions had soared to extraordinary heights as he meticulously examined the third one's outline.

Enlightened Student of the Sage’s Path: To understand the world is the essence of power and a way of life. At least you believe it to be. Even if your encounter was brief, the interactions were profound, the guidance of the Sage paving your way towards enlightenment. Through your own efforts, you have gazed upon the Gate of Enlightenment and realized the endless depths lying within. You are determined to uncover all that you can. Enlightened Student of the Sage’s Path is a profession revolving around seeking enlightenment and comprehending the myriad concepts of the multiverse, documenting, assimilating, and passing them on to others. Grants skills related to documentation, comprehension, teaching, and understanding of the self. May you continue exploring your Path, the student perhaps one day becoming a Sage himself. Stat bonuses per level: +175 Perception, +175 Willpower, +175 Wisdom, +75 Intelligence, +100 Free Points (700 total)

WARNING: Skills pertaining to Heretic-Chosen Alchemist of the Malefic Viper may be lost or changed upon becoming an Enlightened Student of the Sage’s Path

Did this count as a Legacy profession tied to the First Sage? No... upon reflection, that didn't align, but it clearly drew heavy inspiration from Jake's encounter with the primordial sage. The description explicitly referenced guidance from a Sage leading to the Gate of Enlightenment.

Jake recognized that obtaining the sacred skill marked a remarkable feat, yet this development astonished him nonetheless. In terms of stats, it provided 700 total per level. Nearing the 720 cap, it bordered on flawless, and maximal-value professions proved exceedingly scarce, often burdened with severe trade-offs that Jake might not even desire. Moreover, while a 20-stat difference per level signified superior B-grade skills, at 700 it seemed almost trivial. Additionally... it boosted Perception significantly. Extra appeal there.

He also found it striking that the title denoted merely a Student for B-grade, an absurdly humble designation underscoring the Sage’s Path's immense potency. Regarding the term... what defined a Sage? The capitalized form suggested an official designation perhaps. Jake recalled no such title in his readings, only encountering "Sage" with the First Sage and in Sagacity of the Malefic Viper. It might simply denote profound conceptual mastery without formality, but Jake resolved to inquire with Villy later.

Naturally, Jake wouldn't choose this profession, though it warranted careful consideration. Its emergence from his fleeting First Sage interactions and that upgraded skill carried deep significance, urging him to allocate time for dedicated meditation.

Beyond Jake's alignment with conceptual comprehension and Gate of Enlightenment pursuits, this profession mismatched him entirely. It resembled a choice for a Dao Sect monk or a meditation-enthused scholar. Not for Jake, who would never meticulously record multiversal concept explorations or deliver enlightenment seminars in his downtime.

Thus, while professionally intriguing, Jake had no intent to select it. The disruption to his Malefic Viper and alchemy skills alone sufficed to bypass it.

As Jake progressed to the next option, he noted another repetition, bracing to reject it as before—its prior ominous vibe and alchemy loss had deterred him—but upon review... clear differences emerged this time.

Harbinger of Primeval Origins: All have an Origin; all have a Path to the peak. You shall be the Harbinger to awaken that Origin. Allows you to affect Origins, awakening primeval concepts within entities, resulting in the birth of things never seen before or long forgotten. You have already begun to embrace this aspect of who you are and strive to continue exploring the innate power deep within your being. It already seeps through every fiber of your being, so why hesitate? Through the heretically obtained Legacy of the Malefic Viper, you shall continue to make use of your alchemical prowess to display your abilities as the Harbinger of Primeval Origins, with or without your: perhaps soon to be former: Patron’s permission. In your eyes, not even a Primordial is fit to tell you how to use your Primeval Origin Energy, and staying a Chosen, heretic, or Heretic-Chosen is solely at your discretion. For only you wield this power, only you use it, and only you can spread its glory to the multiverse, awakening all you deem worthy of the honor. Or perhaps you could simply hoard it for yourself. Only you can decide, Harbinger of Primeval Origins. Stat bonuses per level: +210 Willpower, +120 Vitality, +120 Wisdom, +60 Toughness, +200 Free Points.

The previous iteration of this profession Jake had encountered differed vastly. During C-grade evolution, it centered on Jake as an erratic evolution catalyst, influencing surroundings coercively. The chaos and outright terror had driven him to shun it entirely.

He had anticipated a similar recurrence now, but it transformed. From a passive emitter of Primeval Origin Energy, it evolved into Jake as its deliberate controller. The authority over its application rested with him.

A prior deterrent had been its interference with his alchemical path once more. Yet again, the profession adjusted, now incorporating his alchemy seamlessly and permitting continuity as a Heretic-Chosen Alchemist of the Malefic Viper if chosen.

Admittedly, Jake doubted its alchemical efficacy matched a specialized version, but retaining all elements proved enormously beneficial. He suspected Path of the Heretic-Chosen—a foundational skill pivotal to encountering the First Sage—would overhaul entirely under warning-bearing professions. No scenario existed where Jake relinquished it, and this option appeared to preserve it intact.

Upon deeper reflection, Jake had desired to delve further into his Primeval Origin Energy during B-grade, and w