The Primal Hunter Chapter 1279 - Technically

Human variants tended to be incredibly scarce, given how adaptable humans already were from the start. The human species could accommodate nearly any Path, and standard skills often sufficed, including those permitting certain bodily modifications.

Crucially, possessing a variant human race didn't make one superior to a plain human. Jake had become a variant human now, yet his race offered precisely the same stats as any regular human, and regardless of the human variant acquired, those stats stayed unchanged. While the distribution of stats might vary, the overall sum remained constant.

Carmen possessed a variant race too; although she still showed up as [Human] when Identified, her variant probably bestowed much higher physical stats over mental ones, thanks to her Runemaiden Path. The primary shift in variant human races usually manifested in the race skill obtained during evolution, as demonstrated by Jake's ridiculously powerful Primal Spirit of Man.

Typically, such a skill wasn't outright superior, merely more tailored. Just like with Jake's case. Certain Spirit of Man skills obviously outshone others, creating some differences, and Jake had undoubtedly secured the most impressive one conceivable.

Nevertheless, these variant races exerted minimal influence on one's Path relative to classes and professions, serving more as a reflection of an existing Path rather than altering it. In cases similar to hers or even Jake's, they stayed fundamentally human despite the variance, to the extent that their race name remained unaltered.

Arnold stood out a bit more. As soon as Jake glanced at the scientist, he immediately sensed that his variant evolution diverged sufficiently to justify a name alteration, which Identify swiftly verified.

[Void-Touched Human: lvl ???]

It came as no shock that Arnold possessed a skill concealing his level, and a potent one too, since Jake's Perception normally pierced through such obfuscations.

What caught Jake off guard somewhat was Arnold's lack of apparent physical transformations despite his new status as a Void-Touched Human. At least, that was the initial impression, with the scientist facing away at the moment.

'You also evolved,' Arnold declared while pivoting around, still fiddling with the odd pyramid clutched in his grasp. Sections of it rotated and moved, resembling an entertaining gadget, although Jake figured it held far greater significance.

'Indeed. And so have you,' Jake pointed out the evident fact as well. 'Into a variant race no less.'

Arnold gave a nod of affirmation. 'I calculated that the advantages of such an evolution surpassed any potential drawbacks.'

'Makes sense, but it piques my interest all the same. What's the distinction? You appear unchanged from my vantage point,' Jake inquired. Of course, Arnold donned a scientist's robe along with what seemed like ultra-geeky sunglasses trendy perhaps half a century prior to integration. They were remarkably boxy.

'A quick glance reveals few physiological variances, yet...' Arnold started, retrieving a scalpel from his spatial storage before nonchalantly severing a finger. Jake anticipated blood or similar, but the detached finger vanished into oblivion the instant it separated from Arnold's form. Examining the remaining stump, Jake noted its solid black hue for a brief moment before a fresh finger materialized from apparent nowhere.

'As evident, I no longer qualify as a purely biological entity,' Arnold elaborated. 'Still, I remain human; merely, much of my former flesh has been substituted with void-generated energy structures. I retain a heart, lungs, brain, reproductive organs, and though my digestive tract is largely absent, I can still ingest food.'

Jake hadn't anticipated such a detailed rundown, sparking numerous follow-up queries in his mind. 'What's the benefit? Do these energy parts regenerate more easily or prove sturdier?'

'Rebuilding them is considerably straightforward, yes, but regarding sturdiness, no—my overall toughness has declined markedly. Luckily, my vital biological components and Soulshape are void-entangled, existing simultaneously in the void and my physical form, simplifying their repair, and should this body perish entirely, reconstitution becomes effortless.'

'So the downside must be that your form lacks the cohesion for strenuous physical activities?' Jake probed with an arched brow, forming a notion of Arnold's variant type.

'Precisely,' Arnold verified. 'Preliminary assessments indicate even lesser C-grades can inflict substantial harm via physical strikes, and straining my body risks disintegration, ruling out direct combat entirely.'

Put differently, were Jake to possess Arnold's variant, combat would become impossible. His arm would evaporate during an arrow shot, and a katar strike would fail due to insufficient physical might to deliver force.

'What of energy-based assaults?' Jake pondered aloud.

'About on par with prior levels,' Arnold replied. 'To elaborate, physical damage proves easiest to mend, far simpler than countering energy drains. Magical impacts hit harder than physical ones, though outcomes hinge on attack strength and embedded concepts.'

'Suppose your body gets completely obliterated. How does regeneration occur? Can you influence a new body's emergence location, or does it always reform at the destruction site?' Jake ventured into queries he doubted Arnold would address. His curiosity stemmed from recalling Eron's major vulnerability and how Jake had exploited it by confining him in their 'battle' at the Treasure Hunt.

Unexpectedly, Arnold responded without pause, revealing a key advantage. 'No, I can opt to manifest anywhere I perceive adequately with strong presence. Given how infused my essence is into numerous room constructs, I could reform here if destroyed. Provided the destruction space isn't wholly sealed or I endure grave soul injury during the process.'

'Damn,' Jake uttered, impressed both by Arnold's candid reply and how well this variant fit the scientist. Its weakness would cripple someone like Jake, but Arnold favored crafting massive golems armed with blades over personal combat.

'Looks like a solid pick,' Jake acknowledged with a nod. 'Particularly since it avoids transforming you into some horror from beyond. Based on other void-aligned beings I've encountered, that's their typical end.'

'Regrettably, I couldn't fully evade bodily changes that might unsettle others mentally,' Arnold responded, removing his peculiar sunglasses. In place of eyes, Jake beheld twin voids teeming with darkness, brimming with countless tiny gazes—thousands or millions. Gazing into them evoked a subdued echo of Oras, and though Jake felt no ill effects, prolonged scrutiny promised a severe migraine.

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Arnold spared Jake any prolonged exposure, replacing the glasses to conceal the void-peering voids where his eyes once resided.

'Yeah, those shades are wise to keep on,' Jake agreed with a nod. 'Except maybe in a pinch. Dramatically unveiling your eyes mid-fight could stun foes and grant you a moment.'

'Experiments show that's unfeasible,' Arnold dismissed Jake's clever suggestion. 'B-grades remain unaffected, particularly in alert states like battle. Feeble C-grades collapse upon direct sight, but typical C-grades avert their gaze instinctively, nullifying effects almost entirely.'

'That's a bummer,' Jake grumbled disappointedly. 'Any other perks from your new race?'

'Numerous, though none warrant detailed disclosure in my view. If wondering about enhanced abilities, rest assured they have.' Arnold withheld further details, convincing Jake the scientist concealed plenty. 'I assume your visit involves a request, or is this just to celebrate your B-grade evolution?'

'Actually, yes, a request,' Jake admitted, seizing the opening Arnold provided. 'My evolution turned out well too, and one perk means I don't need gear for stat boosts anymore.'

'Thus, you seek armor emphasizing pure defense or non-stat enhancements to boost your fighting prowess?' Arnold grasped instantly. He displayed no astonishment at Jake acquiring such an equipment-independent skill.

Neither Carmen nor the Sword Saint derived stats from gear owing to their skills; the Sword Saint gained full gear benefits only when sword-wielding, and Carmen, nearly a sentient armor with her unique skin, naturally shared this trait. Jake opted not to reveal his effect stemmed from his variant race, intending to keep that secret.

'Spot on,' Jake grinned, summoning his Voidblade Katar with a gesture. The weapon had aided him since post-Nevermore acquisition, prepping for the Prima Guardian clash. 'Also, could you re-examine this?'

'Of course,' Arnold assented, waving to teleport the weapon from Jake's grip into his own. Jake didn't resist as Arnold inspected it briefly, gesturing for Jake to sever his bond, which he did promptly.

'Aim to keep its current function if possible,' Jake requested, content with its performance thus far.

The Voidblade Katar, a legendary item, offered no elaborate features. It simply provided exceptional sharpness, excelling at breaching defenses via its subtle void infusion in the blade, converted from Jake's arcane affinity via Arnold's handle device.

Requiring level 275, as a legendary rarity, its endurance until Jake's B-grade evolution astonished, given his stats and might—it stayed not just viable but outstanding, never hindering or seeming fragile. That changed now post-evolution, as Jake deemed it insufficient.

Luckily, Eternal Hunger and his Apex Hunter’s Bow of the World Tree fared differently. Both self-evolved: the bow advancing with Jake's growth, Eternal Hunger strengthening via kills and soul absorption fueling its Sin Curse. Both gained from the evolution, absorbing energy—Eternal Hunger via Eternal Shadow linkage, boosting both to elite status immediately post-evolution.

'Agreed,' Arnold concluded after brief examination. 'For gear, nothing fitting exists currently, but I can craft a set upon settling fair recompense.'

Jake prepared to suggest consulting Miranda for resources, but Arnold interjected preemptively.

'Upon reflection, additional payment isn't required,' the scientist stated. 'Sandy mentioned your intent to pursue this core chamber's prior occupant, so let's deem this balances my taking your quarry.'

'Works for me,' Jake accepted swiftly. He'd long forgiven Arnold and Sandy for slaying the Ghostvine, but Arnold apparently worried about resentment and sought amends. No cause to refuse.

Buoyed by positivity, Jake smiled, posing one final curiosity. 'So, you snagged plenty of mythical skills in C-grade, I bet?'

Arnold nodded affirmatively, prompting Jake's broader grin as he pressed. 'Retain many mythical skills post-evolution?'

'Just one demoted, and a minor one at that,' Arnold replied, arms folded, recalling their post-Jake's C-grade evolution clash.

'Excellent,' Jake nodded, smile intensifying. 'What about skills surpassing mythical? Surely you hold at least one. Any reductions there?'

Jake recognized Arnold lacked sacred skills, and even if another rarity topped mythical—perhaps akin but void-tinged sans divinity—he doubted Arnold attained it.

'No, they all stayed unchanged pre-evolution,' Arnold stated flatly. 'In fact, my variant race granted an additional one.'

Jake paused, fixating on the impassive scientist without detecting humor. Arnold rarely jested, so absent some acting prowess from his new skill, truth prevailed.

'What the fuck?' Jake blurted in sheer astonishment. 'Sacred rarity or another kind?'

Jake knew secrecy barred non-sacred confirmation, but a parallel to his own evaded Forbidden Knowledge. Perhaps a void-specific rarity eluded his knowledge... plausible.

Arnold furrowed his brow, shaking his head. 'You nearly divulged Forbidden Knowledge there. Fascinating.'

'Alright, not sacred then,' Jake grumbled. Increasingly convinced of void ties, lest he feel like an imposter. Just one sufficed, but he needed certainty. 'How many skills beyond mythical do you possess?'

The scientist pondered briefly, likely reviewing his status, then responded. 'I prefer not specifying exactly, but multiple.'

'What the fuck again?' Jake's worldview shook. Was Arnold the First Sage's hidden heir or something?

'Your shock eludes me. Such skills aren't scarce,' Arnold remarked offhandedly. 'Even D-grades likely possess them, though potency differs despite uniform rarity.'

Jake sensed a profound misunderstanding, yet Arnold's gravity persisted, devoid of trickery. On the verge of demanding clarification, enlightenment struck.

'Don't tell me you're referring to damn unique skills,' Jake said incredulously.

'Hm?' Arnold arched a brow. 'Obviously. Unique skills rank both above and below mythical in rarity, with power fluctuating vastly, and it's common for a skill rich in Records to reach unique status.'

Jake fixed Arnold with a prolonged stare, itching to berate him, his stoic face and earnest tone exacerbating the frustration. Moments elapsed before Jake sighed.

'Reach me via Miranda for weapon and gear updates. Need supplies? Ask her too,' Jake instructed, conceding defeat this round.

'Understood,' Arnold nodded, oblivious or indifferent to Jake's abrupt demeanor change. 'Intending to teleport to Earth or fly back?'

'Neither... well, this might qualify as flying,' Jake replied, manifesting his Wings of the Malefic Viper. He aimed to return to the Order next, but first sought to test:

Returning fully to Earth via Wing's teleport feature.