The Primal Hunter Chapter 1314 - Through the Boundary

Upon Jake's arrival in Venus, a mere few hours of traversing toxic mist abruptly transitioned him into the Minor World. From his vantage point, it felt akin to navigating a vast barrier, not unlike the atmospheric layer enveloping planets, albeit on a significantly grander scale.

Naturally, employing his Sphere and Pulse, he discerned it to be considerably more complex, resembling passage through an extended spatial tunnel. During this transit, his senses proved largely unhelpful, compelling him to maintain forward momentum, hoping for eventual arrival at his intended destination.

Concurrently, from the perspective of Venus's indigenous inhabitants, the Boundary presented as an endless wall composed of progressively noxious energy. Their extensive experiments confirmed its unyielding nature, with even the most formidable peak A-grade cultivators succumbing to corrosive effects long before reaching the opposite side.

Considering these facts, on what basis did Jake harbor any confidence in his ability to depart Venus independently by force of flight through the Boundary? Fortunately for him, his assurance stemmed not from any knowledge gleaned within this world, but from a source far more reliable than empirical data or precise historical records: his intuition.

He considered his Bloodline-infused intuition to be exceptionally trustworthy. Having intuitively sensed his capacity to exit via the Boundary, he had acted upon this conviction.

However, harboring the belief that he could traverse the Boundary and possessing any understanding of how to escort others were entirely different matters. He felt no inclination to disclose this uncertainty, having resolved to hope that a solution would materialize after entering the Boundary. Perhaps, if fortune favored him, the system would offer a prompt notification, or the Venusian natives would receive some form of guidance.

“Alright, stay close to me,” Jake instructed the five familiar Venusians and five Arachnecs who had stepped forward. The Arachnecs, all noble variants of the same race, suggested to Jake that they represented the most prevalent form of nobility within Arachnec society. He remained uncertain whether this indicated a lack of trust from the Nestmother or held some other significance, but Jake had no intention of probing further.

Furthermore, even if these were considered “lesser” noble variants, they still held a superior standing compared to all Venusians, with the sole exception of the Shaman.

[Arachnec Lord – lvl 390]

They even bore titles akin to nobility. Visually, they bore a resemblance to the Archweaver, though significantly less imposing and slightly more arachnid in appearance. Observing them, Jake recognized he had little cause to fault the Nestmother for perceived distrust, as the individuals she’d assigned to accompany him were indeed nobles, not mere common soldiers.

With all the B-grades positioned near him, Jake subtly expanded his aura to encompass them, refraining from deploying a barrier, as such an action would be a futile expenditure of energy. Although the toxicity levels within the Boundary surpassed those encountered within Venus proper, these natives could still manage the environment with their exceptional innate resistance to poison.

It was inevitable that they would eventually face challenges, but the hope was that they could reach the other side before any individual reached their breaking point. Jake resolved to offer as much assistance as he could, though he could naturally offer no absolute guarantees.

“Let’s proceed,” Jake announced in an encouraging tone, and under the attentive gaze of numerous A-grades, their small contingent ventured into the Boundary, with Jake at the forefront.

Their pace was dictated by the slowest member of the group, which, as anticipated, was one of the Venusian Warriors. The Shaman contributed by employing some of his peculiar shamanic magic upon them, a technique that appeared completely impervious to the toxic energies prevalent within the Boundary.

The Arachnec Lords maintained their pace without apparent difficulty, though Jake periodically checked on their condition. “Inform me if anyone begins to falter.”

“We shall,” responded the highest-ranking Lord, his voice carrying a notably monotone quality.

Jake acknowledged this with a nod and continued forward, their journey proceeding in silence for approximately another hour. The Boundary's toxicity had escalated, yet it had not reached a level that adversely affected any individual. The passage of an hour, however, seemed to be inducing a degree of apprehension among some of Jake's companions, prompting him to speak again.

“When I initially crossed the Boundary, it required several hours of flight at a considerably faster speed than this. Therefore, do not anticipate an immediate exit, even if this endeavor proves successful,” Jake stated, uncertain whether his words offered comfort or exacerbated their concerns.

“How shall we ascertain if it fails? Will you simply vanish, leaving the rest of us to retreat?” the Shaman inquired.

“I have no certainty,” Jake replied with a shake of his head. “Did the system message you received provide any pertinent details?”

“It did not,” the Shaman confirmed, shaking his head. “Its sole communication was that we required an individual from beyond the Boundary to depart from this place you refer to as a Minor World.”

“Did the Arachnecs receive the same message, or a variation thereof?” Jake directed his question to the lead Arachnec Lord.

“Every notification from the system concerning this matter is the same, irrespective of race, according to the data you possess,” the Arachnec stated plainly.

“So, we’re all in the dark, really, just hoping for a favorable outcome,” Jake mused, a faint chuckle escaping him. “I suppose that’s all we can do. I’ll be sure to alert you all if I notice any shifts in my condition, and the same applies to you doing the same.”

The ten B-grades collectively acknowledged this with nods, and the group resumed their silent flight. Jake continuously employed Pulse and scanned his surroundings with Sphere, but detected no anomalies; all he perceived was an overwhelmingly dense energy that nearly overwhelmed his senses.

Several hours elapsed, and the pervasive toxicity began to impact the Venusian Virumancer. However, the Shaman intervened once more, neutralizing the threat and rendering it a non-issue. Yet, observing one of the Venusians starting to falter did introduce a degree of apprehension within the group.

Jake, for his part, felt perfectly fine and even found the experience rather pleasant, as Palate was operating at peak efficiency. To him, this journey was remarkably advantageous, and Jake would have readily entered a meditative state within the Boundary if his duty wasn't to escort B-grades through it.

Naturally, he was fully cognizant that as the toxicity levels escalated, he too would eventually reach his personal threshold. It was more than likely that this would occur quite abruptly; however, with both Palate and Spirit of Man being exceptionally potent skills, Jake wouldn’t be entirely surprised if he was the one who could endure the longest among them. Though, it went without saying, he certainly didn’t wish to discover definitively who would succumb first.

Jake pondered. He worried he might be forced to, yet Jake began to question the viability of this entire endeavor. Even if it were to succeed, how on earth were those less capable than his current contingent expected to manage? Perhaps through the use of teleporters or portals, but based on Jake’s observations, Venus is encased by an exceptionally dense natural barrier.

The sole reason Jake could teleport to the Order was due to the Viper’s crucial assistance in drawing him directly into the void. Whether it be a Minor World, a universe, or any other realm, all are interconnected through the void. This connection isn’t typically of much practical help, as unless one possesses knowledge of a specific location within the void, finding it is impossible, and, of course, only deities can truly survive within the void. Assuming, of course, that beings below godhood do not possess the direct protection of a deity.

Therefore, while Jake might potentially establish a teleporter capable of transporting them directly to the Order at some juncture, that doesn’t offer any immediate aid. This is particularly true if this prerequisite of having traversed beyond the Boundary directly is a perpetual requirement, or at least one that will persist until the universe is fully accessible, a process that could potentially take an unknowable duration.

Jake considered. Perhaps he could contact Arnold at some point to procure a spaceship or two, but regrettably, Sandy was presently unavailable.

The last he had heard, the unfortunate colossal space worm had been compelled by Snappy to take part in a system-wide event and assume the role of an Administrator for their own galaxy. Or at least make an attempt to, assuming the worm didn’t devise a method to evade such obligations.

He would definitely consult with Sandy after this current bout of the Seat of the Exalted Prima concludes, though.

Undoubtedly, all of this hinges on the assumption that the method of departing beyond the Boundary is simply a matter of flying through it, a notion that becomes increasingly improbable the longer their group of eleven continues their passage.

A palpable sense of unease began to permeate the group as the Warriors also started to exhibit signs of struggle. Consequently, with the Shaman dedicating their efforts to assisting them, their ability to sustain this support was also diminishing rapidly. The Arachnecs, due to their undead nature, remained relatively unaffected, though their habit of casting derisive glances towards the Venusians undoubtedly exacerbated the already strained atmosphere. The Boundary was inherently toxic enough, and Jake certainly didn’t need their taunts to worsen the situation.

Although no words had yet been spoken, Jake sensed that the suggestion of retreating would soon be voiced, an option he recognized as a potential turning point. Precious minutes ticked by, and the situation showed no signs of improvement. Jake, too, began to harbor serious doubts about the futility of their undertaking, but then...

Jake abruptly halted, raising his hand. “We have arrived.”

Everyone following behind him ceased their movement, their expressions a mixture of bewilderment. This was understandable. Directly ahead, nothing appeared altered, yet Jake could sense it distinctly. An invisible threshold lay before them. He couldn't precisely ascertain its mechanics, but he felt an overwhelming certainty that it was a direct creation of the system, likely operating on principles far beyond comprehension.

Glancing back at his companions, Jake addressed them. “Have one of you attempt to fly ahead of me.”

The B-grades exchanged glances before one of the Lords detached itself and drifted forward. It effortlessly surpassed Jake before coming to a halt approximately a dozen meters ahead of him. Jake’s brow furrowed slightly as he leaned forward, and in that instant, the Lord vanished from his visual range.

Leaning back once more, Jake observed its reappearance, the sole alteration he could discern. Scrutinizing the other B-grades, Jake found himself utterly bewildered.

“Did you perceive anything unusual?” Jake inquired.

“Your movement, leaning forward and then receding, did strike me as peculiar,” the Shaman offered helpfully.

“But nothing else beyond that?” Jake pressed, keenly interested in whether his head had vanished, for instance.

“Nay, nothing out of the ordinary,” the Shaman affirmed, shaking his head.

Jake's confusion deepened. An exceedingly strange phenomenon was unfolding with this invisible barrier, prompting Jake to attempt to step completely through it. Upon doing so, the Arachnec ahead of him once again faded from sight, while the nine others trailing behind remained visible.

Furthermore, through his sphere, Jake could still perceive the Arachnec that his eyes could not detect; however, rather than a physical form, it was more akin to an outline. It was as if the Arachnec had become one with the Boundary itself, while Jake remained a distinct entity.

Recalling his own Unseen Hunter skill, Jake drew parallels. His stealth ability allowed him to shift into another paradigm of Perception, rendering him effectively invisible to any who were not already cognizant of his presence, even if he stood directly before them.

In a similar fashion, this barrier seemed to displace Jake into another existence paradigm within the Boundary. Or perhaps it altered the Venusian natives who traversed it. Jake remained uncertain, and to him, the distinction seemed inconsequential.

As he remained stationary, Jake also noted that the Arachnec Lord before him appeared perplexed. It retreated to rejoin the other nine, and at that moment, the undead adversaries regained the ability to perceive Jake.

“You ceased to register within my senses when I too was positioned beyond this barrier, detectable only by you,” stated the Arachnec Lord, prompting a nod from Jake.

Indeed, Jake now felt certain that this barrier was the definitive partition between Venus and the outside world. He had already largely confirmed his ability to pass through this area and depart, especially noticing that the Boundary's oppressive toxicity lessened whenever he shifted his position in either direction.

Consequently, this location appeared to represent the approximate midpoint. Jake distinctly felt he had traversed further on his egress than on his ingress, though truthfully, it was difficult to gauge, particularly given he was accompanied by ten other B-grades, impeding his progress. The necessity of decelerating at times for the Shaman to assist his fellow Venusians had further complicated accurate measurement.

Jake shared his findings regarding the diminishing toxicity as his distance from the barrier increased in either direction. This was a stark contrast to the experience of the Arachnecs and Venusians, who reported that beyond the invisible barrier, the ever-intensifying toxicity seemed to accelerate its potency instead.

“Very well... now, I suppose it is time for the ultimate trial,” Jake declared, positioning himself just beyond the invisible barrier. “Someone attempt to cross through.”

The same Arachnec Lord promptly volunteered and aimed to breach the barrier once more, flying directly toward Jake. It harbored hope for success, but the instant it passed the barrier, the entire undead entity vanished from view. A moment later, it reversed its trajectory and reappeared.

“It appears to be ineffective,” the Arachnec conveyed, its tone clearly expressing displeasure.

“Confirmed,” Jake murmured, stepping back through the barrier. He then gestured to one of the Warriors. “Let us try, the two of us, while maintaining physical contact.”

The Venusian Warrior complied, nodding, and flew forward. Jake then executed his stated plan. With Jake's hand on the Venusian's shoulder, they passed through the barrier together, and at that precise moment, Jake sensed something.

A peculiar sensation, akin to a pull.

It was difficult to articulate, but it felt as though Jake's entire existence was being evaluated and compared. No actual energy was depleted or consumed, yet a distinct change occurred as Jake traversed the barrier with the Warrior in tow. It was immediately apparent that the Warrior had also perceived something unusual, as she froze, standing motionless and staring for several seconds.

“Was it successful?” the Shaman inquired with palpable anticipation.

The Warrior remained initially frozen before slowly nodding and speaking for the first time. “It was…”

An overwhelming wave of relief washed over Jake. He eagerly wished to repeat the experiment, selecting the lowest-ranking Arachnec Noble this time. A part of him desired to escort all the Venusians through first, but for the sake of impartiality, he chose an undead spider next.

“Permit me to test once more,” Jake announced. Rather than making physical contact with the Lord, he simply enveloped it within his aura. “Alright, attempt to pass through with me now.”

He harbored a hope that direct physical contact was not an absolute prerequisite. Fortunately, as the Lord passed through, Jake experienced the same characteristic pull. The initial instance had caught him by surprise, but now he could concentrate more intently on the exact nature of the phenomenon.

He quickly arrived at a conclusion regarding the unfolding events.

Jake contemplated, experiencing immense relief at this realization.

Just like the Venusians, the Arachnec also became motionless the moment they passed through the barrier. Jake felt absolutely certain that both groups received a system notification of some kind after their passage.

Moments later, the Lord provided confirmation that the maneuver was successful. Jake then proceeded to guide the remaining eight individuals through the barrier without issue. Growing bolder, he even attempted to bring them all through simultaneously. He discovered during this endeavor that the weighing mechanism operated identically, irrespective of the number of individuals being transported. It was exclusively an individual assessment, with Jake being evaluated as more powerful than all the B-grades, including the Shaman, who was likely the strongest among this contingent.

With all eight safely across, Jake offered them a smile, giving them space to process any system messages they might have received.

“Welcome to the multiverse,” Jake announced, just as the Shaman uttered something entirely unforeseen.

“The ninety-third universe... Forerunner of the New World...”