The Primal Hunter Chapter 1291 - Venus(?)

Gazing intently at the poisonous atmosphere below, Jake came to the realization that the “treasure” detected by his Sense of the Malefic Viper across vast space distances held no value as treasure whatsoever. In truth, the atmosphere itself had attained toxicity levels so extreme that it triggered an immense reaction.

Intrigued, Jake began drifting closer to it, when to his surprise, Villy extended his presence—a move the god seldom made, particularly amid such scenarios.

“What’s up?” Jake inquired, figuring the snake god wished to discuss the forthcoming system event or something along those lines.

The Malefic Viper remarked, his voice laced with keen curiosity.

“Venus? I’m certain the planet’s been there forever. Regarding its poisonous atmosphere, I’d say it stems from Venus already being a hellish world pre-system. No way it’s fit for settling,” Jake replied. He recalled late-night internet dives into trivia, remembering Venus’s dense, gas-laden air that rendered the planet blisteringly hot.

Villy stated firmly, brooking no debate.

“Not a planet?” Jake furrowed his brow, cocking his head. “It sure appears like one still.”

The Viper responded.

“Similar to Yalsten?” Jake questioned, puzzled.

The Viper affirmed, clearly smug that Jake recalled it.

Jake’s frown deepened as he scrutinized the toxic haze more intently. “What does that precisely imply?”

Villy noted offhandedly.

“Merely a thick barrier of endless poisonous energy,” Jake muttered, shaking his head. A Pulse of Perception had already been sent out, yet it returned only overwhelming pure energy flooding his senses. With time, maybe he could sift through for anomalies, though Villy’s words made him skeptical of anything unusual.

The Viper added.

“What occurs if someone destroys Venus?” Jake wondered aloud.

The snake god replied with cheeky flair.

That response sparked a fresh idea in Jake’s mind right away.

The Viper offered a quick rundown.

“It’s undeniably a striking coincidence,” Jake conceded. “But that raises the issue: is it beneficial or detrimental?”

Villy retorted.

Jake nodded gradually, having overlooked such details before, yet now acknowledging the Viper’s logic. During the Prima Guardian trials, he’d visited numerous planets, and Earth outshone them all in native beasts and threats.

“Appreciate the insight, though it begs one crucial final query... should I dive in?”

The Viper declared confidently, no hesitation evident.

“Solid reasoning there,” Jake grinned faintly. “Any other hazards to watch for?”

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“Fine, I’ll explore it for sure,” Jake agreed, inching nearer to the toxic shroud. Probing with his energy proved futile as it dissolved instantly, prompting him to close the gap further.

Thrusting his hand into it, a sizzling sensation burned his skin, forcing withdrawal—revealing reddened flesh. This prompted yet another query from Jake.

“How do I actually get inside?”

Unfamiliar with minor worlds personally, knowing only Casper’s creation from Yalsten’s World Core, Jake figured mere contact with the atmosphere would suffice. Clearly, that assumption failed.

The Viper quipped humorously.

“Suppose plunging in is the only option left,” Jake shrugged nonchalantly.

Villy commented, leaving Jake uncertain of the jest, especially as the connection severed abruptly, denying further details.

Shaking his head, Jake peered into the venomous haze and sighed. “Nothing ventured, nothing gained.”

Spreading his wings wide, Jake armored himself fully in scales and a thin layer of stable arcane mana before charging headlong into Venus’s toxic veil. At once, the surroundings assaulted him viciously, aiming to erode his flesh and soul alike.

This toxin packed devastating power, lethal to most B-grades, and C-grades wouldn’t last moments. Even Jake doubted his pre-B-grade evolution self could traverse safely, explaining Arnold’s struggles with Venus’s mystery.

One revelation hit home: while the toxic maelstrom repelled others, Jake found its embrace oddly invigorating, as Villy predicted.

His arcane shield shattered promptly, letting the energy batter his scales for absorption. Overloaded scales permitted some intrusion, where Palate of the Malefic Viper intercepted it.

Via Palate, Jake devoured vast quantities of the poison swiftly, gaining insights into the barrier’s essence and bolstering his resistance, smoothing his passage.

Though unconfirmed, Jake sensed the peril ought to exceed what he faced, crediting Primal Spirit of Man’s potent environmental adaptation far beyond initial expectations.

Pressing onward, Jake discovered the spatial passage stretched far longer than anticipated. Blazing at top speed over four hours yielded no exit, leading him to deliberately draw in barrier energy for Palate’s feast.

He’d surpassed Venus’s full width long ago, judging by the illusory body in the solar system. Throughout, only swirling, multicolored toxic clouds filled his view—properties partially familiar yet overwhelmingly complex, their conceptual toxins eclipsing prior encounters, save Malefic Viper kin.

At last, post seven hours of relentless flight, Jake sensed the tunnel thinning ahead via his sphere—a herald of egress, spurring greater velocity. Moments later, breaching the final layer freed him into the genuine realm concealed within former Venus.

First observation: toxicity waned to survivable for elites, yet inhospitable to ordinary life. Unexpectedly, chill gripped the air.

Expecting infernal heat from Venus associations, Jake instead met sub-zero frigidity—not arctic, but biting. Temperature mattered little amid greater threats.

Sphere sweeping revealed no solid ground nearby. Glancing back, the barrier loomed vertically infinite, straight as a wall sans curve—unlike exterior hints, questioning the minor world’s sphericity.

Lacking bearings, Jake scanned randomly before choosing a direction to soar. Vigilant for beasts or life, fifteen minutes passed barren. Only at half an hour did activity stir.

A solid mass pierced his Pulse’s reach afar. Accelerating eagerly, Jake neared, acclimating swiftly—the obscuring fumes yielded to his filtering, expanding perception steadily.

Upon approach, it proved no mere boulder but a vast island—or continent—suspended amid the void.

Then, something thrilling registered:

Motion.

Enormous motion.

A colossal entity stirred upon the immense drifting landmass. Boosting speed with environmental mastery, Jake’s vision pierced to behold the beast.

It resembled a fusion of water, foliage, vegetation, and noxious sludge. Perched on massive stubby legs, stubby arms frayed into myriad vines. Towering fourteen to fifteen kilometers, its scale bordered absurd—vines alone could pulverize city districts. Using Identify, Jake verified its formidable nature.

[Elder Boglord Titan – lvl 411]

Its surrounding lake rivaled oceans, dubious as mere water given Sense of the Malefic Viper’s fierce warnings against immersion sans poison tolerance.

Swift despite bulk, the titan glided through the fluid, lashing vines from arms while extras sprouted bodily to fend off foes.

Indeed, Jake had barged into a fierce clash. Five diminutive forms darted around the titan, cohesive yet evading the giant’s swipes. Each neared four meters—hulking for humanoids, infinitesimal versus their adversary.

The quintet operated as a tight unit, dodging isolation against the superior foe. Perplexed by their form, Jake eyed vaguely froglike humanoids: three burly, two lithe.

Burly trio bore shell armor, slimmer pair donned plant garb signaling society. Clubs served the heavies for parries and strikes, while slenders cast from afar.

Identifying a bulky frog-beast, Jake noted novelties: unknown species, aptly named.

[Venusian Warrior – lvl 388]

Thus, men hailed from Mars perhaps, but Venus birthed frogs—not women. Possibly all females, though.

Jake planned deeper probes if survivors emerged, for their teamwork shone yet victory eluded against the Boglord.