The Primal Hunter Chapter 1305 - A Brief Tutorial & A Tunnel Mound

Tutorial.

To be entirely honest, Miranda could not claim to have excelled in her own Tutorial. In fact, no participant had truly stood out. Her Tutorial experience itself was, on the whole, decidedly ordinary, lacking any genuine luminaries. The individual who likely impressed the most was Hank, due to his background in construction.

Considering that her Tutorial primarily involved base defense, Hank's skills proved invaluable in ensuring their ability to hold out against the constant onslaught of monsters intent on their demise. Miranda had never ventured beyond their designated starting zone or attempted to explore the entirety of the Tutorial area. Her sole focus had been on survival, alongside Hank and his family.

Entering the Tutorial for a second time brought about significant changes for numerous reasons. While Miranda was not an avid reader of such narratives, she recognized this situation as what was commonly termed a 'regression.' This provided considerable inherent advantages, including foreknowledge of future events and the application of all accumulated experience from her previous attempt.

This scenario arguably held more power than a simple regression, as it was confined solely to the Tutorial phase. However, a single, minor complication existed: the objective.

Administrator Test has commenced. Stage one: the Tutorial.

Objective: Clear the Tutorial within thirty (30) days. All experience gained is doubled. Class, profession, and skill selection set based on prior choices made.

The original duration of the Tutorial was approximately sixty-three days. Now, they were allotted only half that time, but with a doubling of experience, which should compensate substantially for the reduced timeframe. Furthermore, Miranda possessed another significant advantage: four assistants who had joined her in the Tutorial, unlike in her initial run.

Reliving the Tutorial experience was, to put it mildly, peculiar. Miranda found herself spawning in the very same location as before, surrounded by familiar faces, some of whom were now deceased. Their realism was striking, likely a consequence of this simulated reality's exceptional fidelity.

It did not take long for Miranda to consciously detach herself from these simulacra, deliberately avoiding engagement. Instead, she directed her complete focus toward completing her assigned task with utmost speed, aiming to pass this stage of the test. She wanted to avoid overthinking or the risk of forming emotional attachments with individuals who would, in essence, cease to exist within a month's time.

Several immediate avenues were available for clearing the Tutorial. One strategy involved leveraging the other Tutorial Attendees. They too received double experience, and moreover, it was confirmed they could select distinct classes and professions. This implied that if Miranda possessed the aptitude to guide them toward specific Paths, she could potentially have amassed a cadre of highly competent allies.

Yet, Miranda once again eschewed this approach. Instead, she placed her sole reliance on her four chosen companions. Well, primarily three of them for the bulk of the endeavor, as one proved rather unhelpful in the initial stages. She still held a fond memory of witnessing the magnificent Northpeak Wyvern shortly after entering the Tutorial. She found herself accompanied by three other humanoids... and a small lizard. An iguana, to be precise.

Indeed, it was not the most useful companion at the outset, but it matured quite rapidly. Crucially, it retained its full cognitive faculties despite transitioning into a form that initially lacked any true sapience. As a monster, it also possessed certain inherent benefits; for instance, Tutorial creatures generally did not attack it. This allowed it to function effectively as a scout, identifying objectives beyond the task of defending the starting base.

Her decision to forgo the original Tutorial Attendees likely represented a forfeiture of potential and was suboptimal. However, Miranda felt an overwhelming sense of unease regarding their utilization. They felt far too authentic. Consequently, with the primary assistance of herself, Lillian, William, and Holstred, she ventured away from the sanctuary of the base, their diminutive iguana companion undertaking reconnaissance.

Miranda had been exceedingly weak during her initial Tutorial run. While she was demonstrably stronger now, she recognized the extent of her inadequacy. As a rudimentary caster, she was incapable of executing any of her specialized witch magic, which comprised her entire training regimen, rendering her exceptionally ineffective.

Lillian fared slightly better, but the magic she had trained in was also less than ideal. Lucenti magic, being inherently mystical, also prevented her from performing anything particularly impressive. Certainly, had they demonstrated this level of 'talent' in their original Tutorials, they would have been recognized as prodigies. However, in the current company they kept, they certainly did not measure up.

Holstred was undeniably a powerhouse. Perhaps it was his submissive way of acting, but she had forgotten he was a prodigy on his own world during his Tutorial. Now, armed with all the experience of a B-grade, he transcended the label of mere genius and became a true master, effortlessly dispatching any monsters that dared to approach. Yet, despite his extraordinary skill, he found himself dedicating the majority of the simulated Tutorial to protecting Miranda and Lillian. It wasn't even that they desperately needed a guardian; it was because of their fourth party member.

Miranda had begun to suspect that casters were inherently at a disadvantage in these regression scenarios compared to those who relied on martial prowess. To execute intricate magic, one needed the requisite mana and a certain degree of mana sensing ability, elements that naturally developed with levels and evolutions. In contrast, proficiency with a weapon was simply a matter of skill itself.

However, William completely shattered that notion.

If Holstred was a skilled swordsman, then William was a force of nature unleashed. Miranda and Lillian were both competent casters, but neither had been exceptionally gifted from the start. William, on the other hand, had always been a prodigy in mana manipulation, and now, with the backing of his B-grade experience, he could have easily conquered this initial phase of the Administrator Test single-handedly.

Despite his capabilities, William didn't seem pleased with the situation. Miranda was aware of his past, and it was evident that revisiting a Tutorial held no pleasant recollections for him. He remained reticent, appearing solely focused on exiting the experience as swiftly as possible, an objective he diligently pursued.

Ultimately, it took them twenty-five of the allotted thirty days to confront the D-grade boss of the Tutorial. They could have certainly finished sooner, but Miranda was adamant about ensuring no one would fall during the final confrontation. By that time, all of them had reached approximately level 60 to 70, with Holstred at level 70 and William at level 75, having been responsible for the majority of the eliminations. Jake had been around level 65 when he faced the King of the Forest in his own Tutorial, and Miranda wanted them to at least surpass that benchmark.

This proved to be entirely unnecessary.

Miranda's Tutorial was vastly different from Jake's. Its overall difficulty was significantly lower, and the final boss was so anticlimactic it was almost laughable. The epic showdown with the formidable D-grade entity concluded in less than thirty seconds, with William and Holstred absolutely demolishing the unfortunate boss.

With that victory, the first segment of the Administrator Test was successfully completed, although Miranda remained uncertain about the exact criteria being evaluated. Simply finishing the simulated Tutorial had seemed far too easy, but perhaps that was solely due to the caliber of assistants she had selected.

Once the initial test concluded, the five individuals found themselves back in the Seat of the Exalted Prima, with one among them particularly elated to have returned.

“Truly a dreadful ordeal,” the wyvern declared, shaking his head as he stretched, now restored to his humanoid form. “I only possessed memories of my time in such a state, so experiencing it firsthand, while familiar, also felt profoundly alien, as if I wasn't inhabiting my own body.”

“I do wonder how this testing stage functions with other monsters, particularly those naturally born at a higher stage,” Miranda mused, having pondered this throughout the Tutorial. What if she had brought someone like Vesperia, who originated as a C-grade? Wait... what if Jake had the opportunity to participate in this system event and brought the Forest King along? Would there have been two of the same Unique Lifeforms? What if the Forest King himself had been an Administrator Candidate? Things could have rapidly become mind-boggling. Then again, it was more probable that they simply wouldn't have entered a “genuine” Tutorial but some alternate scenario.

“In my estimation, we were fortunate with the challenge presented,” Holstred stated. “The difficulty was subdued owing to the system’s under-average assessment of potential during that specific Tutorial. Mine was considerably more arduous. Ah, I naturally intended no offense; I was merely offering an observation.”

The knight offered his apologies profusely, but Miranda simply waved them away. “None taken. My Tutorial was indeed on the easier side, and I wasn’t contributing much to the average, if anything, considering my lesser competence back then. I’m still not the absolute best, but I have improved.”

She glanced towards William, intending to speak, but he still appeared lost in his own thoughts, undoubtedly having wrestled with significant internal struggles during the test. He would certainly benefit from another consultation with that psychologist he occasionally visited.

The subsequent phase of this Administrator Test was slated to commence upon the expiration of the initial thirty-day period for the first test. This meant they had a few days to spend within the confines of the Seat of the Exalted Prima. Completely sealed off, they were unable to make contact with anyone, including their gods. However, this isolation did not lead to boredom.

The experience of advancing from level 0 to nearing D-grade over three and a half weeks had been immensely valuable, almost a reward in itself. Losing all their skills and gaining the opportunity to experiment without reliance on them had sparked newfound inspiration to enhance their current abilities, truly demonstrating the worth of such a simulation.

It was undeniable that all the top factions would covet this, if this was merely a glimpse of its potential.

The days subsequently unfolded as they all practiced and strategized for the upcoming Administrator Test. When the time arrived to initiate the next stage, they once again stepped onto the platform that transported them into the simulated world.

During their discussions, the general consensus was that the subsequent test would likely concentrate on the period immediately following the Tutorial. This seemed to be the most logical progression.

Oh, how mistaken they were.

Being effectively a diplomatic prisoner was certainly a new and unfamiliar situation that Jake hadn't envisioned himself experiencing. This was primarily because he was the type of individual who would sooner attempt to eliminate anything and everyone than be taken captive.

Yet, he had acquiesced to the Arachnec’s “request” to accompany him back to the Nest. The probable reason Jake wasn't despising the circumstances was that the undead spider had exhibited remarkable politeness when extending the invitation, not making Jake feel as though he was being coerced.

Which, technically, he wasn't. Jake possessed the capability to attempt an escape at any moment, and he remained reasonably confident in his ability to succeed should he undertake a daring flight. At least, for the present. Upon reaching the Nest, where he presumed at least one A-grade entity would reside, his confidence waned.

It was undeniably perilous, but Jake was also intensely curious to learn more about the Arachnecs and witness this Nest, so he followed willingly. To be perfectly clear, he remained very much amicable with the Venusians. They were his frog companions, and no amount of undead spiders would disrupt that camaraderie.

“I find it difficult to ascertain whether the level displayed upon using Identify on you is accurate or not,” the Archweaver stated, speaking for the first time after they had been airborne for over ten minutes, with Jake trailing the Arachnec.

“Why?” Jake inquired, although he already had a strong inkling, he preferred the Arachnec to elaborate.

“Your speed. Evidently, the Venusians were impeding you previously. I had initially assessed you as the weakest of that group, but it now appears otherwise,” the high-tier B-grade individual remarked.

“I shall accept that as a compliment, and for the record, my displayed level is entirely accurate,” Jake responded, once again perfectly content with allowing all the natives of this world to perceive humans as exceptionally powerful beings.

“Are all humans as potent as you, or are you a variation of some kind?”

Jake paused to consider the extent of his honesty before ultimately reciting the same explanation he had provided to the Shaman when posed the exact same inquiry. Again, it wasn't as if Jake could prevent this species from ever establishing contact with the outside world, and they would eventually discover that humans manifested in numerous forms, almost all of them less formidable than Jake. Technically, Jake stood as the sole superior variant of human, thus he could argue he occupied the pinnacle.

Their flight continued largely in silence; the Archweaver was certainly less loquacious than the Shaman. However, it observed him meticulously throughout their journey, as if endeavoring to extract some secret from his being. Jake also sensed the Archweaver’s magic, which substantially augmented their flight velocity, in addition to attempts to subtly probe him, though these efforts yielded little success.

Jake mostly disregarded the undead spider's attempts, reasoning that if the creature desired any information, it could simply ask directly. Jake utilized this interval to gain a proper perspective as they ventured deeper into Arachnec territory, proceeding directly toward the Nest. At least, that was Jake's assumption, but soon, something else captured his attention.

In the distance, something felt amiss. They were en route to an apparently vacant area, but upon Jake’s examination of it, an intuition suggested that what he perceived was not entirely accurate. Narrowing his eyes, Jake also activated the Sight of the Boundless Horizon, and upon doing so, his vision altered, enabling him to discern the truth.

A colossal structure, resembling a mountain or a grand hill, materialized before them, constructed entirely from bone, fused flesh, and intricate webbing. At its apex, a peculiar, worm-like appendage emerged, topped with an unusually large eye. This eye scanned its surroundings erratically until Jake focused his attention on it; it immediately swiveled and met his gaze as Jake activated his skill.

[Arachnec Guardian Monitor: lvl 499]

Classified as peak B-grade, this creature, even from such a distance, did not exude the same overwhelming power as the Archweaver. It felt considerably less potent, though still vastly superior to Jake in his current state due to the immense level disparity. Nevertheless, it presented a more manageable challenge should a confrontation become necessary.

“Your Perception rivals or surpasses that of Monitors many levels beyond your own,” the Archweaver articulated, having perceived Jake’s ability to see past the illusion. “Alternatively, you possess skills that grant you insight into falsehoods. It is likely a combination of both talents.”

“I do favor Perception,” Jake responded, deliberately withholding the full truth about his stat allocation preferences. He preferred not to engage in such detailed discussions, especially with the bone mound looming so closely.

“A preference? This implies that stat allocation for your species involves an element of choice. Intriguing,” the Archweaver remarked, clearly gleaning more from Jake’s statement than intended. Jake had momentarily forgotten that many monstrous beings received their stats automatically upon leveling, without the benefit of free points for customization.

“What exactly is this place?” Jake inquired, steering the conversation away as he observed their objective. “It doesn’t appear to be a Nest, at least not that I can discern.”

“You are correct,” the Archweaver confirmed. “This is what we designate as a Tunnel Mound. If you are acquainted with the Venusians, it serves a function analogous to the teleportation network they’ve established between their settlements, albeit on a more localized scale. All such mounds ultimately connect to a central Nest.”

Jake nodded, suddenly grasping how these Arachnecs managed to claim such expansive territories. If their entire kin emerged from these Nests, reaching remote outer regions would be an arduous journey. However, with these peculiar structures acting as long-range teleporters, their mobility was greatly enhanced.

Observing the steady stream of Arachnecs emerging from the Tunnel Mound, Jake surmised they were either replenishing their numbers after his recent cull or that this was simply the typical activity level at their teleportation hubs.

“Do these not pose a security risk?” Jake questioned, gesturing towards the structure, a term he used with considerable latitude. “What if the Venusians were to seize control of one of these Tunnel Mounds?”

“Such an act would yield no benefit and merely squander the resources invested in its creation. The Tunnel Mound functions as an extension of the Nest, dependent on its will for operation. It can be severed at any moment, rendering it completely inert,” the Archweaver explained, fixing Jake with a steady gaze. “Despite having allied with the Venusians to hunt my kin, you appear remarkably uninformed about many matters. Did they not impart this knowledge to you? It is peculiar that they withheld it.”

Jake deliberately ignored the Archweaver’s subtle attempt to sow discord as they drew nearer to the Tunnel Mound. Undead spiders, numbering in the hundreds, were stationed throughout the area, all fixedly observing him. None, however, advanced towards him. He surmised this was due to the Archweaver’s current enchantment, which seemed to not only augment his speed but also confer upon him the appearance of being one of their own among the undead.

Upon reaching the entrance of the immense Tunnel Mound, they proceeded into a cave leading to its interior. The environment within was, to put it mildly, quite unappealing – certainly not a place for the faint of heart.

he pondered as they advanced towards a dark chasm at the mound’s core, from which undead spiders were already emerging.