The Primal Hunter Chapter 1 - Another Monday Morning

It was merely another tedious Monday morning. Thin slivers of sunlight filtered through the narrow slits of the blinds, failing to wake the man lost in a profound slumber. This tranquil silence was fleeting, however, as the obnoxious blare of his alarm clock commenced its daily tradition of shattering a pleasant dream.

Jake, who had been savoring the warmth of his blankets, was jolted awake. He scrambled blindly until his fingers finally brushed against his phone. With a low grumble, he climbed out of bed and began his standard morning ritual, bracing himself for another shift at the office.

A warm shower was followed by a hurried breakfast and getting dressed. He gathered his belongings and stepped out the door, having completed his entire routine in under thirty minutes.

As he descended the stairs toward his vehicle, a sudden intuition struck him that the day might prove interesting. He couldn't pinpoint the source of this feeling, as everything appeared normal, yet the sensation persisted. Perhaps someone had brought donuts to the office?

The traffic was predictably abysmal, a common reality of metropolitan life. Most of his commute was spent idling in the stagnant queues of the morning rush rather than actually driving. He had once weighed the options of cycling or running to work, but the necessity of showering and changing at the office seemed far too troublesome.

After finally pulling into the parking lot, he grabbed his bag and entered the corporate glass monstrosity that had served as his workplace for several years. The building was a massive tower of windows with an excessive number of floors, though it blended in perfectly with the surrounding skyline of similar structures.

Upon entering, he was met by Joanna, the receptionist. She was a middle-aged woman known for wearing oversized earrings and more cosmetics than a group of high school girls could use in a week. To Jake, Joanna was the quintessential soccer-mom trapped in a never-ending mid-life crisis. Since the reception desk sat just a few meters from the elevators, greeting her was an unavoidable part of the morning for most staff.

“Morning, Jake, had a good weekend?” she inquired, her energy levels far too high for the early hour.

“Same as always, how about you?” Jake replied with polite resignation, anticipating the response.

“Oh, it was great! You know me and Mike tried to…” she began enthusiastically. As she launched into a detailed explanation, Jake felt a wave of déjà-vu, as if the exact same conversation had occurred just the week before.

He was eventually rescued from the tedious small talk by the arrival of the elevator. Escaping the lobby, he made his way up to the 14th floor.

Stepping out, Jake entered the quiet atmosphere of the open-office floor. It appeared he was among the early arrivals, he noted, as he walked to his station. After booting his computer, he began sorting through the emails that had accumulated over the weekend.

Jake had been employed here for just over two years. While many would find his role monotonous, he found a certain peace in losing himself within financial reports and spreadsheets. He was part of the financial department and, in his own estimation, quite skilled at his tasks.

As a business analyst, his primary focus was investments. Jake possessed a natural talent for identifying profitable stocks and dodging the losers; he had always relied on a strong gut instinct for such matters.

The office gradually filled as more employees stepped off the elevator. Following the initial rounds of morning pleasantries, the room grew quiet as people focused on their work. He noted with significant disappointment that there were, in fact, no donuts.

While sitting at his desk after finishing his urgent tasks, a wave of fatigue hit him, a clear sign of insufficient sleep. Most of his colleagues had realized by now that he wasn't interested in idle chatter, so they generally left him to his own devices. He preferred it that way.

Jake had always been a reserved and cautious individual. Being a loner by nature, he typically chose hobbies that didn't require social interaction. Even when his father had pressured him to take up a sport to get him out of the house, Jake had picked archery because it was a solitary pursuit.

Broadly speaking, Jake was satisfied with his existence. He possessed a lucrative job, a stable family, a comfortable apartment, and decent coworkers. His future seemed bright. He wasn't someone extraordinary, just another face in the crowd, and he appreciated the lack of attention. Standing out only invited unnecessary complications.

As these thoughts trailed off, his manager, Jacob, approached him with a wide grin.

“Hey there buddy! Me and the others are heading out for lunch, you wanna come?” he asked with his usual cheer.

“Eh, sure, sounds good,” Jake answered with a hint of hesitation.

He held Jacob in high regard. Jacob was a natural-born leader who possessed sharp social instincts and an ability to make anyone feel at ease. He was one of the few individuals Jake actually considered a friend.

A man named Bertram followed behind him. Though he looked large and intimidating, he was actually quite gentle. Word was he had looked after Jacob since childhood, serving as a sort of butler.

Jake was aware that Jacob’s family was incredibly wealthy. It was honestly surprising that Jacob hadn't become a spoiled brat, given his background. He was universally liked in the office, particularly by a specific demographic.

His tall frame, handsome features, and natural charisma made him a favorite among the female staff. His hair was always perfectly styled, his suits were immaculate, and a relaxed smile seemed permanently fixed on his face.

The two got along primarily because Jacob could maintain a conversation even with someone as reticent as Jake. Furthermore, the fact that Jake was a reliable worker who never caused drama made their professional relationship easy for both of them.

This was why Jake agreed to the lunch invitation. With Jacob present, he knew the social interaction wouldn't be painful.

Jake stood up and joined Jacob and Bertram at the elevator. They chatted about work and an upcoming meeting scheduled for after the break.

He noticed Joanna and her husband, Mike, entering the same elevator they were approaching. The space became crowded quickly, as three other people were already inside waiting to descend.

Among them was Caroline, a coworker from the HR department which shared the floor. She was a year younger than Jake, blonde, slender, and exactly the type of woman he found attractive.

He suspected his feelings were merely the result of her being one of the few women his age he saw daily—a simple case of proximity. This was one of several reasons he never pursued anything. He wasn't much of a romantic, and his last relationship had ended disastrously. Finding out his girlfriend was cheating with his best friend certainly qualified as 'not panning out.'

Consequently, he only offered her a nod and a quiet “good morning,” despite it being midday. Jake struggled to hide his embarrassment, but she seemed to take the slip-up as a joke.

Jake was well aware that Caroline viewed him as nothing more than a casual acquaintance. Her interest was clearly focused on Jacob. He couldn't blame her; Jacob was an impressive guy. Even as a one-sided, unintentional rival in love, Jake found it impossible to dislike the man.

In terms of appearance, Jake considered himself average. He wasn't overweight or overly thin, possessing brown hair, brown eyes, and a face that was neither striking nor unpleasant.

His one physical advantage was his athletic build, a result of his hobby in archery and his consistent gym habit. He had maintained the healthy lifestyle he adopted back when he still harbored dreams of becoming a professional athlete.

*DING!*

The chime of the elevator doors closing snapped him back to the present as they began to descend. Just as he started wondering what to eat for lunch, his train of thought was violently disrupted.

*DING!*

A sound, hauntingly similar to the elevator's chime, echoed inside his head. Simultaneously, glowing words manifested before his eyes, deep within his mind. He barely had time to process them before consciousness slipped away.

*Initiation of the 93rd Universe confirmed. Introduction and tutorial sequence commencing*