The Primal Hunter Chapter 1307 - Trickle-Truthing

Jake had truly failed to consider the consequences when he consented to meeting these serpentine beings. His curiosity, sparked by the rumor of a skill resembling the Malefic Viper’s Palate, had led him there without proper foresight.

Though Jake’s Shroud of the Primordial could conceal much, he was acutely aware that the visceral reactions of snakes upon seeing him could not be hidden. This wasn't instant recognition as the Malefic Viper’s Chosen, but rather a profound, palpable sense of kinship, which the snakes themselves seemed to acknowledge as unusually deep.

To deny this innate connection would be futile. The Archweaver observed him with heightened curiosity, yet not entirely with surprise. This led Jake to suspect that the Arachnec’s invitation wasn’t merely for his amusement.

It was plausible the B-grade entity had already sensed Jake’s affinity with the snakes, perhaps noticing the similarity between his own obsidian scales and those of the Deathscale Miresnakes. It wasn’t beyond the realm of possibility that these vipers possessed a variation of the Malefic Viper’s Legacy or had undergone a divergent evolutionary path for the skill.

Regardless, Jake opted for a composed demeanor as he addressed the Archweaver.

“Would it be an issue to disclose my origin?” he inquired, feigning nonchalance regarding their recognition of his kinship.

“No, eventually all shall come to know,” the Arachnec stated, its gaze remaining fixed on the unfolding interaction.

Jake inclined his head and turned his attention back to the Miresnakes. “I hail from beyond the Boundary and share a profound bond with a creature of immense power; it is this connection you are sensing.”

Villy, in a characteristic display of petulance, dispatched a divine message, abruptly severing their connection before Jake could elaborate. The incorrigible entity claimed he didn’t wish to ‘disrupt’ Jake’s adventure.

However, Villy’s message implicitly granted Jake the discretion to manage the situation as he saw fit. Had the snake god wished Jake to refrain from mentioning his name or leveraging his status as the Chosen, he likely would have intervened more directly. Alternatively, Jake considered the possibility of misinterpreting the Viper’s intentions; if so, the onus of clarity rested entirely on Villy, absolving Jake of any responsibility.

“A powerful serpent?” the Archweaver interjected, its tone laced with inquisitiveness. “You are likely unaware of the Great Sea Serpent, a preeminent entity of this realm residing in the depths below. It commands respect as a peak A-grade existence. Does your description of this formidable snake imply it surpasses this established grade?”

From Jake’s prior interactions with the Venusians, he understood that no known indigenous creature had ever exceeded the A-grade. Their understanding of higher tiers, potentially including the S-grade that followed A-grade, remained vague, as they referred to subsequent levels simply as ‘beyond A-grade.’

While Jake had offered a more guarded response to a similar query from the Venusians, he chose a more direct approach this time, meeting the Archweaver’s gaze and nodding.

“Its power transcends A-grade so profoundly that I concede this world is not yet equipped to grasp its true magnitude,” Jake confessed, a slight shake of his head accompanying his words.

“I comprehend,” the Archweaver replied. Jake remained uncertain whether the Arachnec fully accepted his claim, though it appeared to acknowledge the existence of beings beyond A-grade originating from beyond the Boundary. “Let us fervently hope for a future devoid of conflict with such an entity.”

Jake let out a soft chuckle at this statement, his gaze returning to the B-grade. “With all due respect, there would be no conflict. When I speak of beings far exceeding A-grade, I mean it literally. For them, eradicating your entire race would be as effortless as a mere gesture. This world you inhabit could vanish instantaneously should one of them decide it so.”

While Jake’s intention was partly to instill fear, his statement was unequivocally truthful. Villy possessed the capability to utterly annihilate Venus, perhaps collapsing it into a singularity, if he so chose. The destructive potential of a Primordial entity, especially one like Villy who had orchestrated the devastation of billions of galaxies during the seventh era and had grown even more formidable since, was nearly incomprehensible.

“Visualizing a being of such overwhelming power proves challenging,” the Archweaver admitted after a brief silence.

“As I mentioned, this world is not yet prepared for such cosmic realities,” Jake responded with a shrug. “However, venturing beyond the Boundary and engaging with the wider multiverse will inevitably lead to encounters with them. It’s even possible you might eventually align yourselves within their established factions.”

Jake could clearly foresee the Arachnecs eventually becoming part of the Risen. Although their general conduct was remarkably similar to the ectognamorphs found within the Endless Empire, their nature as undead creatures meant they wouldn't integrate smoothly with that particular faction. In contrast, the Risen were perpetually seeking new recruits to swell their ranks, and Jake was aware that their coalition already included several undead groups not officially designated as Risen.

“Pardon me,” the leader of the Deathscale Miresnakes inquired, seizing a natural pause in the discourse. “Why is it that we perceive a connection to you, merely due to your association with a potent serpent?”

“That matter is rather complex to articulate, and frankly, explaining it fully would consume too much time. In essence, he is so exceedingly powerful that your collective existence is influenced by his mere presence, and the link I possess with him bestows upon me tangible power,” Jake responded, feeling uncertain about the most effective way to articulate this concept.

He could launch into a lengthy explanation regarding Records. Based on his discussions with the Shaman, Jake was confident they had some awareness of Records, though their comprehension was undoubtedly limited. The multiverse as a whole seemed to lack a thorough grasp of Records' intricate workings, making it understandable that these factions, possessing at most A-grade power, stood little chance of fully comprehending.

“What form does this tangible power take?” the Archweaver interjected, his curiosity piqued as Jake sensed the B-grade creature’s power probing him.

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“My skills, for instance,” Jake stated, raising his arm and causing a portion of his scales to vanish, much to the astonishment of the snakes. “These scales are the manifestation of a skill. My capacity to absorb energy and venom, gradually refining them and acquiring understanding of what I ingest in the process, is also a skill. An ability, I believe, that you Miresnakes share.”

The snakes slowly inclined their heads as Jake elaborated.

“This particular ability of mine shares its Origins with yours. Even if these skills aren't precisely identical, the existence of the formidable being resonating with me has inherently impacted all snake-related skills, including those you would have naturally possessed from birth. This is logical, considering he evolved and enhanced these very abilities to attain their current state,” Jake continued, having resolved to divulge some information at this juncture.

It was information they would all come to understand quite rapidly once they departed this Minor World. Therefore, Jake wasn't revealing any closely guarded secrets. Nevertheless, the truths presented were still quite challenging to accept and process, prompting them to fall into deep contemplation, likely debating the veracity of his claims.

“Would you object if I sealed off the immediate vicinity around us?” Jake inquired of the Archweaver. The Arachnec regarded Jake with a measure of suspicion for a moment before assenting.

“Very well.”

“Thank you,” Jake replied, conjuring a stable sphere of arcane energy encapsulating himself, the Archweaver, and the Deathscale Miresnakes. This minor display of magical prowess undeniably rekindled the Arachnec’s curiosity, but before he could voice any inquiries, Jake spoke.

“Allow me to channel a small measure of this being’s power,” Jake declared, performing an action he had, quite frankly, long desired to attempt. He activated Pride of the Malefic Viper in conjunction with Invocation, momentarily channeling the Malefic Viper’s aura with such precision that it momentarily deceived even Artemis.

The impact was instantaneous.

Five B-grade Miresnakes appeared to lower themselves instinctively in a gesture of reverence, while the Archweaver became completely immobile, even his usually expressive eyes ceasing all movement. Jake maintained the activation of Pride and Invocation for several seconds before deactivating the skills. However, even after cessation, all six beings within the barrier remained frozen.

It took a considerable amount of time before they collectively began to regain their composure. Jake refrained from pressing them, allowing them the space to process the experience, imagining the profound mental turmoil they must be enduring. These six had previously held the conviction that peak A-grades represented the pinnacle of existence. Even if they entertained the notion of a realm beyond, they could never have conceived of deities as a possibility.

Jake’s introduction to the aura of gods had certainly not been gentle. Initiating with the Malefic Viper's aura was perhaps a touch excessively cruel, as even the most subordinate of gods would have been a reality-shattering revelation, let alone that of a Primordial. Still, Jake maintained that this was the most effective and advantageous approach. Judging by Villy’s lack of objection, Jake interpreted it as the snake god’s implicit endorsement of his course of action.

After an additional period of waiting, the Archweaver was the first to voice a question. “Could such an entity make its way here?”

It was not difficult to surmise the Arachnec’s thoughts. The Archweaver likely harbored fears for the continued existence of his entire species upon the realization that such beings actually inhabited the outside world. The fact that Jake was present suggested a potential pathway for entry.

“Yes,” Jake confirmed plainly. While gods were indeed barred from the ninety-third universe and thus unable to access their current Minor World, the Arachnec had inquired about their potential to reach it eventually, not their immediate capability.

The Archweaver paused, deep in contemplation. “This warrants significant consideration.”

“If it offers any solace, the discovery of new races or factions doesn’t typically lead to immediate aggression or termination,” Jake offered, attempting to lessen the impact of this revelation.

“These powerful entities largely inhabit their own realms, their involvement in the outside world limited to subtle influences via what are known as Blessings. This is also the nature of my connection to that formidable snake I mentioned,” Jake elaborated with a faint smile. The term ‘Blessing’ elicited no reaction, which confirmed for Jake that no other deities were aware of this place.

“Has this powerful being also become aware of this location due to your presence?” the Archweaver inquired.

“Naturally,” Jake responded with a shrug. “They perceive and comprehend all.”

Jake followed up by transmitting a telepathic message to the Arachnec.

Having progressed this far, Jake recognized the need for self-preservation, anticipating potential thoughts from the Arachnecs or other factions to eliminate him, thereby preventing discovery by external powers. He couldn't be certain they would resort to such measures, but Jake saw little harm in subtly informing them that if their intention was concealment, it was already too late.

Admittedly, he had slightly misrepresented by stating Villy could perceive everything, when in reality, his attention was solely focused on Jake. However, his Bloodline possessed such capabilities, and given the formidable power of the barriers obscuring the Hive's lower levels, the Archweaver would undoubtedly deem it impossible for Jake to have penetrated them through his own inherent strength.

“Beyond the Boundary… it sounds like a perilous domain,” the leader of the Deathscale Miresnakes murmured.

“Frankly? Less perilous than here, though you might encounter diplomatic hurdles and challenges stemming from differing customs and societal norms,” Jake opined, not viewing it as a significant obstacle for these beings to integrate into the broader multiverse.

“As someone closely associated with this formidable snake, would you be able to facilitate an introduction?” the Miresnake boldly requested in the Archweaver's presence, perhaps emboldened by the divine aura he had sensed earlier.

“It’s a possibility,” Jake acknowledged with a nod. “However, based on what has been discussed, I am keen to meet this Sea Serpent you spoke of. Perhaps we can establish an accord that will encompass all snake-kind within this world.”

The snakes exchanged glances for a brief moment before nodding in agreement. “We shall convey this message, and hopefully, await your arrival.”

“Excellent,” Jake affirmed, feeling rather pleased with his progress. If this Sea Serpent was genuinely a peak A-grade entity that had achieved such power within this world, Jake was certainly eager to make its acquaintance.

Perhaps even bestow a small Blessing of his own upon it.

Jake felt a surge of pride in his 'trickle-truthing' strategy, which had thus far avoided any significant setbacks, with matters progressing remarkably smoothly. At this juncture, what else could potentially go awry?

--

“This… is an unfavorable turn of events,” the Oracle declared, her steps echoing as she paced within her chambers, the Shaman observing with evident concern nearby.

“Could the Arachnecs have…?” the Shaman inquired, his apprehension mounting.

“Unlikely,” the Oracle responded, shaking her head. “That human entity possessed an anomalous level of power for his apparent standing, radiating an aura that suggested he did not belong in this world. Archweavers are acutely intelligent; they likely surmised his origin beyond the Boundary with haste.”

“In that case, the Archweaver must have taken him along,” the Shaman deduced, his pacing mirroring the Oracle's.

“It is equally plausible that he accompanied them willingly,” the Oracle stated somberly.

“But he is among the living, and he has already slain many of their kind,” the Shaman countered.

“We do not fully comprehend the customs of the world beyond the Boundary; their undead state may not inherently provoke animosity. Furthermore, the Arachnecs would likely disregard the slaughter of thousands of their soldiers if he offered a potential means of escaping beyond the Boundary,” the Oracle reasoned.

“I have already conferred with the Circle, and the collective decision is unequivocal. This marks our initial contact with the world beyond the Boundary, and this human will likely serve as the key. If our projections hold true, the external world facilitates the ascendancy of beings surpassing the A-grade tier. Should any faction achieve such a status, the existing power equilibrium will be irrevocably disrupted. We cannot permit the Arachnecs to seize this crucial opportunity first,” the Oracle continued with gravitas.

“Has the resolution been finalized?” the Shaman asked, his eyes wide with anticipation.

“Indeed,” the Oracle affirmed with a nod. “We shall initiate action against the Hive within the day.”