The Primal Hunter Chapter 1308 - Arachnec Nestmother

Farewells were exchanged with the Miresnakes, who seemed to have an urgent need to depart the Hive. It was presumed they intended to relay information to their superiors within the Nomads, or whatever designation the snake faction used. The Nomads, it turned out, were a diverse assembly of various races traversing the Minor World in a nomadic fashion.

Jake drew many inquisitive glances after dismantling the stable arcane barrier. The surrounding Nomads, by all appearances, had not perceived any anomaly. As the snakes retreated, the Archweaver remained silent, their peculiar arm-like appendages still unsettling to behold.

Once the snakes were no longer visible, the Archweaver turned their attention back to Jake. “I deem it appropriate to have an audience with the Nestmother now.”

“Certainly,” Jake concurred, anticipating this outcome given his recent display. He also perceived that while the Arachnec had initially treated him with respect solely because he was an Envoy from beyond the Boundary, a new, underlying emotion now colored their interactions. Jake wouldn't label it as outright fear, but a discernible sense of caution was present. This was not an undesirable development and could prove advantageous.

“Did the formidable serpent provide the magic you employed to erect the barrier?” the Archweaver inquired as they commenced their journey toward a grand central edifice within the Nest, a structure that seemed to have organically emerged from the colossal bone framework.

“No,” Jake replied, shaking his head. “That is a manifestation of my own unique magical abilities.”

“An arcane affinity?” the Archweaver posed the question, surprising Jake as he regarded the Arachnec. He had certainly not anticipated a B-grade entity to possess knowledge of arcane affinities, or indeed, for anyone in this world to be aware of such a concept.

“Indeed, it is,” Jake confirmed, his gaze still fixed upon the undead spider. “Have you encountered other arcane affinities previously?”

“My inherited knowledge contains references to the concept. One of my predecessors devised such an affinity and meticulously documented the particulars of this discovery, transmitting this information to all successors,” the Archweaver divulged.

“Do any of your kind still utilize this arcane affinity?” Jake asked, his curiosity piqued about whether it had been passed down or taught. Such was the common practice when a new discovery was made, after all.

Jake felt that his own affinity was deeply intertwined with his Bloodline, rendering it exceedingly difficult, if not impossible, to impart to others. The same held true for Eron and his peculiar white flame, which possessed the ability to consume the very essence of life. This, too, was partly a consequence of his Bloodline.

Upon reflection, this made considerable sense. Arcane affinities represented novel discoveries, and with the passage of eras, their emergence across the multiverse grew increasingly rare. Jake and Eron, upon Earth, had only succeeded in creating arcane affinities due to the singular nature of their respective Bloodlines.

This likely also accounted for the appearance of an arcane affinity in this world. Perhaps not due to the emergence of a Bloodline, but rather stemming from the world's unique properties. Jake could distinctly sense an unusual quality in the environment, unlike anything he had previously encountered. It stood to reason that if an Arachnec had drawn inspiration from this distinctiveness, the creation of an arcane affinity would be conceivable.

However, this was merely a hypothesis, and Jake harbored the suspicion that the Archweaver would not offer further clarification on the matter.

“That is not a question I can or will address,” the Archweaver stated, their words nonetheless confirming to Jake that users of this arcane affinity did indeed exist somewhere. It was plausible that other races had also developed arcane affinities, or perhaps similar ones had been “discovered” by others besides the Arachnecs.

“Understood,” Jake replied with a faint smile as they drew near the imposing central structure. As they approached, Jake’s sensory sphere confirmed something within its confines.

Inside the building, concealed within what was effectively a sealed chamber, resided a diminutive Arachnec that resembled a superior iteration of the Deathstalkers. It remained completely motionless, presumably serving as a silent sentinel for the edifice they were entering. He observed it twitch slightly, but upon perceiving the Archweaver's presence, it settled. Had it not been for Jake’s unique Bloodline, he would never have detected its existence, despite it being situated a mere ten meters above him after they entered the structure.

“We shall ascend,” the Archweaver declared, gesturing towards a teleportation circle situated at the heart of the building’s sole main chamber. This excluded the concealed compartment in the ceiling, housing an A-grade entity.

Jake nodded and followed, uncertain whether their movement would be upward or downward. He still perceived what he assumed to be the Nestmother far below in the chamber teeming with eggs, suggesting the Archweaver might be testing the veracity of Jake's assertion of comprehensive awareness of the entire Nest.

Upon stepping onto the teleportation circle, Jake found himself unexpectedly transported directly to the peak of the Nest. He hadn't given the chamber much thought initially, deeming it rather unremarkable, but its palpable, potent energy was undeniable once he was within it.

Jake was blindsided as a crushing wave of death-affinity mana slammed into him, feeling like a physical force. This energy attempted to infiltrate his being, seeking to eradicate all life, yet it faltered against his natural scales and the formidable environmental resistance granted by his Primal Spirit of Man.

The Archweaver raised a hand, seemingly prepared to offer aid, but quickly understood Jake was unaffected by the chamber's overwhelming power. It became evident this place was designed for Arachnecs to absorb and amplify their strength, likely a high-level A-grade chamber at that.

This suspicion was almost immediately validated when a portal violently ripped open before them. Jake sensed the aura of the creature emerging and, while lacking a precise definition of A-grade strength, knew with certainty this one was far beyond an early or mid-tier threat.

In essence, this was an entity capable of casually annihilating star systems. Not merely wiping out populations or scorching planets, but atomizing every celestial body and snuffing out stars.

He activated Identify as the figure emerged, confirming its identity as the Nestmother.

[Arachnec Nestmother – lvl ???]

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Jake was truly astonished by the complete appearance of this A-grade entity. Had he not been aware of the potent death aura she exuded, Jake could easily have mistaken her for a genuine Arachne.

She presented as a spider with a human-like upper torso, precisely as one might imagine. There were no signs of decay; her skin was a ghostly pale, and her hair was stark white. Even her lower half was predominantly white, and though hairy like a tarantula, her build was less robust.

She was, without question, the most humanoid creature Jake had encountered in this world to date. Despite the impropriety, Jake even confirmed the presence of breasts, concealed by her long white hair, though they clearly served no practical function.

The portal sealed shut behind her as she fully entered. Her movements were unhurried, as if granting Jake time to acclimate to her formidable presence. She then raised her hands, pushed back her hair, and revealed a face entirely human in its features: eyes, a mouth, a nose, and ears. Her ears were pointed, reminiscent of elven folk, but this was a minor detail compared to her overall being.

“So, you are the prophesied Envoy,” the Nestmother declared, her voice possessing a melodic quality that momentarily captivated Jake, forcing him to focus. He couldn’t ascertain if it was intentional, but her casual address contained potent mental magic.

“Prophecies aren't really my forte, but I hail from the world beyond. What you call beyond the Boundary,” Jake responded, attempting to bolster his mental defenses with Pride's assistance, only to discover a minor complication.

Due to his prior use of Invocation to channel the Malefic Viper's aura, Pride of the Malefic Viper was now weakened, significantly diminishing its protection against mental assaults. If she intended to target him consciously, Jake realized he would be in considerable peril in his current state.

Her subsequent words amplified his concern.

“The Archweaver has already shared all his knowledge of you with me,” the Nestmother stated with a smile. “You possess alarming insights. Might you permit me to experience the power you unleashed upon those below?”

Jake carefully considered his reply before sighing and conveying his refusal. “I cannot employ that power too frequently, as the risk of irreparable self-harm is too great. Or I might offend the entity whose power I borrow.”

He hoped this explanation would suffice, and thankfully, it seemed to appease her, as she nodded and maintained her smile.

“I understand; such an exertion could indeed be taxing,” she remarked, tilting her head slightly. “However, I find myself curious about another matter. Based on your account, the human race is abundant beyond the Boundary, and your scales are a manifestation of a unique skill. Would you be willing to reveal your true form? Rest assured, I will ensure your safety.”

“Certainly,” Jake agreed readily. As the environmental pressure vanished, he dismissed his scales entirely. It was worth noting that this didn't expose much skin due to his existing equipment, a fact she also observed.

“Your form appears adorned with many accessories? Might you please remove those as well, so I may properly perceive you?”

Without a second thought, Jake nodded, his chest armor vanishing into his spatial storage. He even made his mask invisible, quickly finding himself standing there with an exposed upper body… It was only as clarity returned to his mind that he realized what he was doing.

Despite believing he was on guard, Jake had unconsciously fallen under the sway of some passive mental magic she emitted. He’d just accepted her every request without a second thought. It was likely that, since he was in no immediate danger and would have considered the request anyway, his Bloodline hadn't alerted him to anything amiss—not until he was about to strip completely naked in front of an A-grade undead spider.

“Is this sufficient? Or would you prefer to witness more?” Jake inquired, his tone semi-teasing, as he sought to conceal the extent of his susceptibility to her influence.

The Nestmother let out a soft giggle as she observed him. “Tempting, but no, I believe I’ve seen enough. Your appearance bears a peculiar resemblance to my own, yet it is also markedly distinct. Pray tell, do females exist among humankind, and if so, might they bear a resemblance to me? Or perhaps just parts of me?”

“There are indeed similarities,” Jake responded, concentrating intensely on maintaining a composed mind and meticulously choosing his words.

“I see,” she acknowledged with a nod. “Would that not imply a degree of kinship between us?”

Her rather peculiar inquiries surprisingly aided Jake in steadying his thoughts as he shook his head. “Not precisely. Numerous races share resemblances to humans, and they are all incredibly populous. You bear a likeness to many of them, and possessing this general build is hardly unique.”

The prevalence of humanoid monsters across the multiverse was astonishing, and their numbers only continued to swell due to the mechanics of Records. As many monsters utilized their Polymorph skill to adopt humanoid forms, they gradually grew more accustomed to such shapes, pushing their subsequent evolutions toward further humanization.

Jake surmised that the appearance of this undead spider lady—who, despite not outwardly appearing undead, most certainly was—was a result of Records bleeding through from the wider multiverse. The Arachnecs and Arachne already shared strikingly similar names, and upon encountering this Nestmother, it was evident they were closely related. These beings were essentially the undead kin of the Arachne.

“The more I learn of this external world, the more my curiosity is piqued,” the Nestmother remarked, her characteristic smile gracing her lips.

Before she could elaborate, Jake swiftly re-equipped his gear, preferring the familiar protection. The Nestmother remained silent, merely observing him, having evidently perceived that he was no longer as under her influence as she might have anticipated. Alternatively, perhaps Jake was still affected and simply unaware. He truly detested mental magic.

“Understandably so, I believe you’ll—”

“Let us depart for there immediately,” the Nestmother interjected with a smile.

“Pardon me?” Jake asked, taken aback.

“We are convinced you hold the key to our escape from this realm, so let us put it to the test. Let us venture beyond the Boundary. You originated from there, did you not? Then we should be able to depart the same way you entered,” the undoubtedly high-tier A-grade inquired, causing Jake to break into a slight sweat at her proposition.

He had no certainty whether she could actually exit this Minor World, and if she could, the prospect of escorting a powerful A-grade entity into the solar system was a terrifying one. In either scenario, this development was far from ideal.

Should he fail to bring the Arachnecs out into the wider world, they might deem him useless or perhaps even a liar regarding his origins from beyond the Boundary, despite all evidence to the contrary. Conversely, if he succeeded in escorting them beyond the Boundary, he foresaw a grim and unfavorable outcome.

Jake did presume that, although this Minor World was linked to the ninety-third universe, certain restrictions likely still applied. Based on the Shaman’s account, they had previously attempted to depart by ascending through the Boundary, mirroring Jake’s entry, but all efforts proved futile. Perhaps the critical factor was merely traveling alongside Jake, but he held out hope for additional limitations.

“We can attempt it,” Jake stated after a moment’s contemplation. “However, I am uncertain if I can even exit through the very same passage I used for entry. Pray tell, how have you endeavored to leave in the past?”

The Nestmother regarded Jake with a degree of suspicion, as if anticipating him to possess innate knowledge of egress, yet she nonetheless provided an answer. “I believe a more pertinent question would be: what have we *not* attempted?”

She then proceeded to graciously detail some of the Arachnecs’ past attempts, and it swiftly became apparent they had undertaken far more extensive efforts than the Venusians. This was likely due to their ability to simply dispatch unintelligent undead spiders towards the toxic wall, letting them persist until dissolved by the Boundary’s ever-increasing corrosiveness.