The Primal Hunter Chapter 1322 - Jake's Plan To Take Over the World

Okay… okay, stepping back, Jake eventually planned to bring Venus under his dominion, as frankly, he saw no other viable choice. Its positioning within the Milky Way Galaxy and proximity to Earth meant he wouldn’t feel secure if it remained entirely unattended. Furthermore, he strongly suspected Miranda would never permit such a potential hazard so close to home.

However, this did not equate to Jake intending to conquer the entire Minor World and forcibly subjugate its inhabitants. Especially not at this juncture, when it wasn’t an urgent concern. With the world still sealed, Jake possessed ample time to confer with Miranda and other astute individuals far more adept at such matters than himself.

Nevertheless, the Great Sea Serpent seemed utterly convinced that Jake was on the verge of executing his masterstroke for effortless global domination. That was certainly a drawback of being Villy’s Chosen. Since the Primordial was a renowned strategist and generally regarded as quite intelligent, others also perceived Jake as a cunning figure.

He most definitely was not.

Still, Jake hesitated to immediately shatter the expectations of the peak A-grade, who appeared to hold him in exceedingly high esteem. He genuinely attempted to craft a suitable reply, which was when the serpent spoke again, escalating the difficulty.

“I too now acknowledge my own ignorance and folly. In truth, we have been manipulated by you from the very beginning, haven’t we? By feigning weakness, you allowed all the natives of this world to lower their guard, revealing all their secrets, as they never suspected your existence posed a threat. Even now, they remain unaware of who and what you truly are, ensuring they will continue to underestimate you. Realization will dawn only when all their options are exhausted, and submission is their sole recourse.”

Indeed, the situation was deteriorating, and Jake felt a potent urge to strike Villy, as that scoundrel had undoubtedly said or hinted at something that led the Great Sea Serpent to believe Jake intended to seize control of Venus.

It was going to be utterly draining to maintain the facade of being some sort of mastermind. After some deliberation, Jake resolved to attempt a partial clarification, although he feared persuading the A-grade would prove quite challenging.

“You place too much faith in me; I am, in fact, merely someone barely at B-grade,” Jake stated with a sigh. “Am I also the Chosen of the Malefic Viper? Yes, but for reasons I do not expect you to comprehend, nor shall I attempt to explain them.”

While the Great Sea Serpent was undeniably an ally now, Jake still exercised caution. The peak A-grade clearly revered Villy and, consequently, displayed profound respect and deference towards Jake. However, he remained apprehensive about uttering anything that might be misinterpreted as heresy. This made him reluctant to disclose that he and Villy were, in essence, friends, and that friends sometimes found common ground despite their differences. Such as the vast disparity between being exceptionally intelligent and knowledgeable, and Jake, who leaned more towards impulsiveness and instinct, placing greater reliance on his intuition and gut feelings than on empirical data or other logical frameworks.

“Regarding the conquest of this Minor World, it is not a matter I feel the need to expedite, nor will I be the primary individual handling it. My focus is on enhancing my personal strength and advancing my levels; therefore, I must delegate this task to someone else,” Jake explained, deciding to divulge information he believed would still portray him as somewhat capable, albeit with differing priorities.

“To be precise, the territory encompassing the ingress and egress points of this Minor World is already designated as my personal domain. A domain whose magnitude, I believe, already dwarfs this entire world and will continue to expand henceforth. Consequently, the annexation of this Minor World is an inevitable outcome, as it would have transpired sooner or later regardless.”

Technically, Jake was not entirely certain he could assert control over the entire Milky Way Galaxy, as, quite frankly, galaxies are immensely vast. Certainly, he had triumphed in the system event and assumed command of all planets inhabited by the enlightened within the Milky Way Galaxy, but this represented merely a minuscule fraction of the total inhabited areas.

Numerous more perilous entities lurked within the galaxy, particularly toward its core. The centers of galaxies emit energies that contribute to the galaxy’s cohesion, but this also signifies exceptionally dense and potent mana, giving rise to equally formidable monsters.

However, based on Jake’s understanding, an entity such as the Great Sea Serpent would likely remain unparalleled unless an S-grade had emerged. The probability of this occurring is low, but it is technically feasible given the ongoing events at the core. Only time would tell once he commenced exploration of that region.

Although whether Jake could genuinely assert ownership over the galaxy was debatable, within the multiverse's gaze, it was undeniably recognized as his domain. Even lacking the present strength to fully claim it, any future challenge would be dismissed, making its eventual conquest merely a matter of time.

"I comprehend... this excursion into this realm is solely for its appraisal and determination of its worthiness to be incorporated into your territory?" the Great Sea Serpent inquired, grasping Jake's implication to some extent, yet still not entirely convinced.

"Upon my initial exploration of this place's entryway, I was unaware of the Minor World it contained or its specific nature. Most of this information was acquired only after my entry," Jake stated truthfully. "While my Patron, the Malefic Viper, undoubtedly possesses greater knowledge than we do, he prefers that we mortals explore and make our own determinations. It pertains to Records and related matters, as I understand it."

"It would be exceedingly presumptuous for us to anticipate the Malefic One's direct involvement in mundane affairs such as this world's dominion. I acknowledge that his intervention on this singular occasion stemmed solely from the significance of your presence here," the serpent responded, appearing to concur that Villy was not directly implicated in these affairs.

That understanding should, at the very least, serve to excuse any blunders Jake might inevitably commit. If a top-tier A-grade believed these events were part of the Malefic Viper's trials and tempering of Jake – which, in actuality, they were – it would prove immensely beneficial moving forward. Jake, still considered a "young" B-grade, was certainly expected to err and learn from his mistakes periodically.

"Precisely," Jake confirmed with a nod, sensing productive headway in their discussion. "Regarding the world's annexation, there are external obligations that my associates and I must address before we can dedicate our focus to this Minor World. Therefore, for the present, our priority should be self-enhancement and preparation. I have no doubt that you also have much to contemplate."

That assertion was exceptionally safe, as it was inconceivable that the Great Sea Serpent wouldn't have considerable matters to process following his encounter with Villy and the reception of a Divine Blessing. While the Blessing came with a title and a skill, these were not necessarily the paramount elements for a peak A-grade.

Unauthorized usage: this narrative is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings.

Instead, it was the expanded access to Records that he had been granted.

Following his advancement to B-grade, Jake's perception of concepts had seen a dramatic improvement, a growth that became even more pronounced upon reaching A-grade. It was also commonplace to acquire abilities akin to Jake's sacred meditation, enabling the exploration of concepts and self-improvement. These abilities, however, were considerably more restricted than Jake's, only touching upon limited concepts and affinities, often those closely aligned with an individual's Path.

Assuming the Great Sea Serpent possessed a skill for conceptual exploration, it was logical that the vast Records of the Malefic Viper would now influence the scope of his exploration and the improvements he could attain.

To be clear, a peak A-grade could likely always identify concepts associated with the Malefic Viper due to their intrinsic link with the Paths of all serpentine beings. However, bestowing a Blessing rendered this process significantly more effortless.

Consequently, the Great Sea Serpent stood to gain substantially from the Blessing, with numerous skills poised for potential upgrades and enhancements. This was something he would likely pursue prior to his evolution to S-grade, as it would undoubtedly lead to a superior transformation.

"I perceive that with my recently acquired power, I already possess an advantage against other apex beings within this world. However, you are correct. That is merely my prideful assertion. In reality, should I confront them within their own territories, I cannot guarantee a victorious outcome, and even if victorious, I might not prevent their escape," the Great Sea Serpent admitted with a tone of apology, though he quickly regained his composure.

"However, if I can grasp even a fraction of what the Malefic One has bestowed upon me, that situation will change. I recognize from a brief examination that should my comprehension deepen significantly, I will not only enhance my power but also discern my opponents' weaknesses. We all concentrate on cultivating toxins; thus, what if I comprehend their Paths and devise countermeasures? A notion I would have dismissed as absurd merely a day ago, but now... it holds merit," the peak A-grade concluded, his tone bordering on exhilaration at the prospect.

"That certainly sounds like a sound strategy on your part," Jake remarked, offering his full agreement.

The adage "fight poison with poison" had a reason for existing, although in this instance, the concept was perhaps more literal than originally conceived. Poisons weren't monolithic; they represented a vast spectrum of energies, many of which opposed, complemented, or reacted violently when in proximity to one another.

Should the Great Sea Serpent achieve a deeper comprehension of the toxins wielded by the other two top contenders on Venus, it could formulate countermeasures. These would be methods to neutralize their poisons and even create venoms capable of inflicting genuine harm upon its adversaries. While these two peak A-grades would possess a degree of resistance, as the venom would still fall under the broad classification of "poison," it would nonetheless present an advantage that might elevate the serpent to undisputed global supremacy among peak A-grades.

“However, I shall add one stipulation,” Jake stated after further contemplation. “Eliminating these other peak A-grades is only necessary if it proves absolutely unavoidable, or if they are beings incapable of communication. Ideally, they should be integrated as assets, not adversaries. The same principle applies to the Arachnecs, Venusians, Nomads, and any other faction within this Minor World.”

In truth, a significant motivation behind Jake’s directive was the apprehension that the Great Sea Serpent might embark on a retaliatory campaign once Jake departed Venus. While he harbored personal grievances against certain Venusians and Arachnecs, he would refrain from condemning an entire species based on the transgressions of a few. This was especially true given his understanding that their actions largely stemmed from ignorance and a fear of impending global catastrophe.

Furthermore, Jake wished to avert the actualization of these fears. Venus was indeed part of his domain, yet this did not necessitate an aggressive conquest and subjugation of all its inhabitants if avoidance was feasible. Such an undertaking also ran contrary to Jake's personal convictions. The Venusians, Arachnecs, and all other factions of this Minor World possessed their own unique cultures and histories, which Jake was unwilling to obliterate simply due to their misfortune of originating in his territory. His ideal scenario involved them maintaining self-governance, albeit under his overarching authority. He envisioned their integration into the multiverse as a beneficial development for both Venus and the Milky Way Galaxy.

That being said, there were a select few individuals for whom he would shed no tears should they meet an unfortunate demise. Initiating his “conquest” by eliminating figures in leadership positions might not be the wisest course of action, or perhaps it would be. Jake remained undecided and would have preferred Miranda to make such critical decisions.

“Transform them from adversaries into assets…” the Great Sea Serpent mused, causing Jake a moment of concern that the colossal serpent might not concur with his strategy. “Once more, I have underestimated you. Your aspirations far exceed anything I could have conceived. To aim not merely at vanquishing opposition, but at enlightening them to their folly and securing their willing allegiance, is truly audacious. It appears almost unattainable, yet I have previously encountered numerous situations I deemed impossible, so who am I to dispute your vision? Moreover, upon reflection, I do comprehend. Would the indigenous inhabitants of this world truly dare resist you if they witnessed the genuine might of the Malefic One? No, they would surely recognize their error and submit in awe.”

While that interpretation deviated from Jake's intended nuance, it was preferable to the giant serpent considering all the natives as potential sustenance in the name of the Malefic One. Jake harbored strong hopes for a positive outcome, but to facilitate this, he recognized the need to limit his personal interventions.

Although the situation ultimately resolved favorably, Jake was acutely aware that this entire excursion to Venus could have dissolved into utter catastrophe had it not been for Villy.

“It appears you grasp my objective to some extent,” Jake affirmed, briefly surveying the cavernous surroundings. “I require a private space to attend to certain matters, and I may need to commune with the Malefic One.”

The Great Sea Serpent’s gaze intensified, its A-grade form radiating fervent devotion. “Certainly! I shall prepare the deepest chamber for your use. While it may fall considerably short of your standards, the ambient energy there will hopefully offer some benefit.”

It was at this moment that Jake perceived another detail. Despite the serpent’s extensive exposure to the multiverse, the concept of enlightened species seemed conspicuously absent. Had Villy deliberately omitted this information? The exact reason remained unknown, but it appeared the serpent still perceived Jake as a monstrous entity.

Fortunately, the pervasive toxic atmosphere did provide a minor benefit, attributed to the Palate of the Malefic Viper. While the advantage was far less pronounced than it would be for an actual monster, Jake was nonetheless grateful for the offer.

“Then let us proceed,” Jake agreed. “I presume you will escort me there?”

“If the Chosen permits it,” the Great Sea Serpent affirmed.

Jake gave his assent, and a short while later, he was once again engulfed by the serpent and transported even deeper beneath the waves. The Great Sea Serpent seemed to possess multiple underwater caverns brimming with highly concentrated toxic energy, which, thanks to the ocean's natural formations, was easily absorbable.

Verily, Venus was a haven for poison cultivators, and Jake envisioned numerous members of the Order making spiritual journeys there in the times to come.

Upon arrival at his destination, a sprawling cavern concealed within a floating rock deep in the sea, Jake bid the Great Sea Serpent farewell. The colossal A-grade creature appeared hesitant to depart but ultimately complied, though it didn't venture far.

Instead, the Great Sea Serpent resumed its immense scale, lingering in the ocean surrounding Jake’s rocky sanctuary, safeguarding him while simultaneously commencing the digestion of its spoils from the Malefic Viper.

Jake was also pleased to ascertain that the peak A-grade beast made no attempt to eavesdrop, affording him complete privacy—a solitude he hadn't experienced in what felt like an eternity.

With a deep exhalation, he settled down, finally acknowledging the profound mental fatigue accumulated from his experiences on Venus. His soul remained somewhat wounded, and channeling Villy for a Divine Blessing had also exacted a toll, making the simple act of sitting and unwinding an immense relief.

He remained there, motionless, for approximately an hour, his mind adrift without conscious direction. Once his mental state felt mended, Jake let out another sigh and extended his senses to his Patron, realizing a discourse was long overdue.