The Primal Hunter Chapter 1310 - Stuck In The Middle

Jake's eyebrow rose in surprise upon hearing those words. He hadn't anticipated the Arachnecs would freely permit his departure from the Nest's safety, only to be deposited directly into a dispute among A-grades.

His initial expectations proved accurate, as that was indeed not the intention. The Archweaver gestured, conjuring a sphere of magic. Simultaneously, Jake observed the Nestmother above weaving a magical formation that synchronized with the B-grades. It appeared Jake would be joining the discussion remotely.

"I've got the general idea," Jake interrupted, shrugging. He saw no reason for a lengthy explanation. "They've hit a stalemate in their negotiations and decided to bring me into the conversation."

It wasn't difficult to deduce from Villy's earlier words and Jake's observations through his Sphere of Perception. He did ponder the urgency behind their request for him to step forward, but perhaps time was a critical factor for everyone involved.

The Arachnecs might have been concerned about an impending influx of more Venusians. While the immediate area was secured, it didn't prevent additional Arachnecs from heading towards the Nest at that very moment.

Furthermore, these weren't the only factions present in this Minor World. Although the Nomads maintained a neutral stance, Jake wouldn't be shocked if powerful individuals among them also sought involvement. Not to mention formidable solitary beings, such as the Great Sea Serpent or the formidable Bog Lord the Shaman had mentioned. If they were aware of an opportunity to access the world beyond the Boundary, they too would undoubtedly hasten to the Nest.

Postponing any resolution would be disadvantageous for both the Venusians and the Arachnecs. From Jake's understanding, their primary objective remained discovering a path beyond the Boundary. Their fervent desire to achieve this goal verged on obsession, leading Jake to believe there was more to it than a simple yearning for external exploration. It was also peculiar that numerous A-grades had materialized, including some at the peak of their rank, yet no S-grades had ever appeared. Frankly, based on all available information, Jake doubted they were even familiar with the concept of an S-grade.

Jake observed the magical bubble designated for his remote projection for a few moments before stepping onto it. Upon entering, he felt as if transported to another realm, finding himself in the world above, encircled by potent A-grades.

It was somewhat unfortunate that Jake could not sense their auras due to his projected form, but he could still discern that the Venusian wielding a massive cleaver was the most powerful. His posture exuded arrogance and unshakeable confidence, as if nothing in his vicinity posed the slightest threat.

"So that's the human, then?" inquired the large, armored Venusian, distinguished by two small horns sprouting from its head.

The Oracle exchanged a meaningful glance with one of the slender, frog-like beings nearby before directing her attention back to Jake.

"When did you first encounter my disciple?" the Oracle posed, causing Jake a moment of bewilderment until clarity dawned.

"I met the Shaman when he and his companions were battling a Boglord," Jake replied, readily confirming his identity. "It's the same question you posed when we initially met within the Venusian Village."

The Oracle nodded in acknowledgment before asking a single, clarifying question. "What classification did you assign to this world from your perspective?"

"A Minor World," Jake responded. His answer evidently elicited reactions from the other A-grades, perhaps finding the term derogatory. Jake quickly addressed this perception. "Minor, signifying its small scale. Which it truly is when compared to what lies beyond the Boundary. And that, my friends, is precisely what we are here to discuss, is it not?"

Foregoing any further preamble, Jake cut straight to the heart of the matter, confident that he had sufficiently established his identity. At least, the Oracle had offered an affirming nod to the other Venusians subsequent to Jake's response.

The horned Venusian regarded Jake for a moment before erupting into loud laughter. Once his amusement subsided, he fixed his gaze directly upon the projected Jake. "You are remarkably forthright. Surprisingly so, for someone in your predicament."

Jake raised an eyebrow at the remark, also somewhat perplexed why the frog-like being wasn't simply proceeding with Jake's direct approach. "And what precisely is my current predicament?"

"You are among the living; how could you willingly associate with the departed? We are aware you are a captive of the Arachnecs, regardless of the label they falsely apply to your present circumstances. This is also why you are not truly present, but merely a projection emanating from within your confinement," the horned A-grade scoffed, and Jake finally grasped the other's intention.

Jake's objective was to assert his affiliation with the Venusians, implying that his abduction by the Arachnecs necessitated their unconditional release of him as a prerequisite for any negotiations. Such a demand was unlikely to be met, but if Jake were to escalate the situation and the Arachnecs ultimately killed him, the Venusians would gain a significant advantage over the undead arachnids. Currently, the Arachnecs held him, and they were the ones believed to face retribution from external forces.

Despite his somewhat intimidating exterior, Jake suspected the horned frog possessed a sharp intellect.

"He is indeed a guest, and we are merely ensuring his safety amidst this conflict," the Nestmother stated dismissively. "His arrival here was not coerced, and he has displayed considerable interest in our people. It is only logical that he requires close supervision within our territory. As you are aware, our soldiers are not known for their intellectual prowess, thus it is prudent to assign one of our nobles to remain with him. If any of this has been misconstrued as a restriction of his liberty, it is merely a misunderstanding."

The Nestmother's rhetoric was exceptionally deceptive. While it was true they hadn't explicitly labeled Jake a prisoner, the Archweaver had strongly implied his choices weren't truly his own. Even if Jake had 'willingly' accompanied the Arachnec back to the Nest, it was undeniably under duress.

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"I am genuinely astounded by your capacity to utter such a flagrantly false statement with a composed demeanor," the Oracle interjected. "Are you implying that if he had refused the Archweaver you dispatched, the human would have been permitted to depart without consequence?"

"No, naturally not," the Nestmother replied with a smile. "We would have at least required an explanation as to why an Envoy from the world beyond our borders invaded our territory and hunted my kin alongside the Venusians. Hundreds of my kin. Once we determined he had been manipulated into aiding them in the slaughter of my people, our inquiry would have naturally concluded. Fortunately, he opted to join us as a guest rather than being subjected to an investigation."

Thus, the Arachnecs' strategy was to place the blame for Jake's presence in the Nest squarely on the Venusians, who, in a technical sense, were indeed responsible. Jake had inquired about potential prey in this Minor World, and the Shaman had directed him towards the Arachnecs, despite the availability of numerous other creatures. Jake's sole motivation for targeting the Arachnecs stemmed from the Venusians' shared animosity towards them.

"Or perhaps you intend to suggest that he initiated the hunt against my kind in the first place?" the Nestmother continued. "Because I find it difficult to comprehend any reason for him to harbor hostility towards my people. From my understanding, he does not possess an inherent aversion to the undead."

"Shall we permit the human to voice his own perspective?" the Oracle suggested, directing a hopeful gaze toward Jake, anticipating confirmation of his hatred for the undead. Jake, however, gladly feigned ignorance on the matter.

"I am uncertain of what precisely you wish for me to articulate," Jake responded with a shrug. "I have already conveyed to both parties that my entry into this world was for casual exploration, devoid of any specific objectives or prior knowledge of its contents. For the most part, that remains the case, but I can affirm that I am acquiring considerable insight at this moment."

If Jake were compelled to choose a side, his inclination remained with the Venusians, primarily due to his rapport with the Shaman and his perception of frog-like beings as more intriguing than malevolent undead spiders. However, he harbored no genuine animosity towards either faction. He found himself adopting a position of neutrality between the two, a sentiment he wished to express openly to avoid alienating either group and because it genuinely reflected his feelings.

"Pray tell, what are your sentiments regarding the undead?" the horned Venusian inquired, fixing Jake with a suspicious glare.

"I hold no particular prejudices," Jake stated, meeting the gaze of the formidable A-grade without hesitation. "In the world beyond the Boundary, the undead are not an uncommon sight, and I even count several undead among my acquaintances. They are not Arachnecs, mind you; this is my inaugural encounter with your race. As a general principle, I do not assess individuals based on their species but rather on their character and, on occasion, the actions of their respective factions."

Jake appended the latter clause as a subtle warning, yet he still wished to emphasize his primary focus on individual merit. He felt that given the way he was being treated and the evident desire of each faction to leverage him, he possessed sufficient influence to resist being manipulated.

Furthermore, he resented being treated as a mere prize to be claimed by whichever faction emerged victorious in this verbal joust. It was evident that these A-grades perceived Jake as some sort of magical key, a means to access the broader multiverse.

It was perhaps an arrogant thought, but wasn't Jake currently holding all the cards? Certainly, in terms of sheer power, any of them could easily overwhelm Jake. However, doing so would mean they'd forfeit their objectives. His demise would represent a loss for everyone involved. Therefore, Jake only needed to ensure he didn't provoke anyone to the point of losing their composure and striking him down. Thankfully, A-grades were long-lived beings, and he sincerely doubted they possessed the impulsiveness for such a rash action.

“Even if you feel indifferent towards the Arachnec, as a living being, can you truly remain within their territory for extended durations?” the Oracle inquired, her voice laced with evident concern. “At the very least, it must present challenges, as based on the affinities you've demonstrated, it's hardly a suitable environment for your personal advancement.”

Jake was once more reminded that this world was unaware of the existence of Enlightened races, which made the Oracle's point quite valid. Jake shouldn't be able to absorb the ambient energy within the Nest to cultivate and grow, given that he wasn't a creature attuned to death affinity.

Even the Nomads observed within seemed incapable of utilizing the environment to their advantage. They had even established protective zones to shield themselves from the dense death mana permeating the area. The Deathscale Miresnakes were indeed living beings that cultivated death energy, but Jake was decidedly not one of them… because as a human, he was fundamentally unable to absorb environmental energy and grow from it.

“I possess the capability to remain within indefinitely if the need arose,” Jake affirmed, noting the disappointment on the Oracle's face before continuing, preventing her from fully concluding that he sided with the Arachnec. “However, it is indeed true that remaining within would impede my progress.”

Being confined to any single location for too long would invariably hinder Jake's progress, as he would eventually exhaust the available prey. Unless he focused solely on alchemy, but even then, being restricted would mean missing crucial system events and other occurrences, which would undoubtedly slow his advancement, thus making his statement entirely factual.

This was likely a prudent course of action, judging by the way the frog beside the Oracle was observing him. He could sense it subtly, but something was affecting his physical body deep within the Nest through his projected form. This disturbance originated from the slender frog, who appeared to hold a significant position in Venusian society, and if Jake’s assessment was correct, it was a form of lie-detection skill.

It was undeniably impressive that this skill functioned effectively even when directed solely at a projection of Jake's true self. If he wasn’t mistaken, it incorporated elements of karmic magic, once again highlighting the considerable talent and intriguing magical abilities possessed by the natives of this Minor World.

Furthermore, for the record, Jake intentionally refrained from resisting the frog's magical probe, allowing it to penetrate Shroud. Any attempt to resist would have undoubtedly raised suspicion, and he wished to preserve the option of reactivating the skill if absolutely necessary to conceal something vital, while still maintaining the illusion that the frog believed he was being truthful.

He did, however, ponder why the Oracle had bothered with the preliminary questions to establish his identity. If she could have simply inquired about his authenticity and had the frog verify it, why hadn't they resorted to that method? His most plausible theory was that the Arachnecs were unaware that this skill was effective even on projections, and they intended to keep this capability concealed from the undead spiders.

Honestly, maneuvering between these two fiercely antagonistic factions was remarkably draining. This situation was certainly not the first, nor would it be the last, of its kind, and Jake could clearly perceive that both sides harbored a desire to annihilate the other, struggling to restrain their animosity. The horned frog, in particular, seemed poised to strike at any given moment. Nevertheless, Jake maintained his composure and spoke once more.

“And there you have it,” the frog declared, gesturing with its massive cleaver towards the Nestmother. “Let us concede, for argument's sake, that he is indeed your guest. We do not accept this premise, but let us proceed as if we do. In that scenario, upon completion of his tour and his exploration of your… quaint Nest, he will undoubtedly wish to depart for a location where the environment does not actively impede his cultivation. Perhaps he might even pay a visit to the Ancestral Village. We possess numerous sites there that would undoubtedly prove quite agreeable to him.”

The Nestmother regarded the horned frog with narrowed eyes. “That sounds entirely acceptable, and we shall contact you once his visit concludes, so you may escort him back to your village, should that be his inclination. Now, with all matters seemingly resolved, might I suggest you depart, as your purpose here has been fulfilled?”

“Naturally, the Nest couldn't possibly offer an abundance of intriguing locations to explore, and since we are already present, wouldn't it be more convenient for him to accompany us immediately?” the horned frog inquired with a smile. “In fact, why are we even deliberating this? Let us simply ask him directly.”

The amphibian creature spun around, fixing its gaze directly on Jake. "What is your intention? Remain here within the Nest alongside these Arachnecs, or accompany us back to the Ancestral Village to confer with the Circle?"

Jake sensed every gaze pivot towards him, and even the Archweaver’s attention settled upon his physical form. He genuinely felt cornered, caught between two formidable factions. He understood that choosing either side would inevitably ignite displeasure from the other, and as a B-ranker surrounded by A-rankers, such a decision certainly wouldn't lead to a pleasant experience.