The Primal Hunter Chapter 1218 - A March Through Nothingness

“It is certainly odd, though not necessarily a cause for alarm,” Vilas noted with a shrug. “Then again, the behavior might be so bizarre that it’s a deliberate ploy to lead us away from her trail.”

Eversmile appeared unimpressed as the Viper toyed with the latest intelligence regarding the thousand pupils who had attended Jake’s lecture. One particular woman among the attendees had allowed the sudden fame to inflate her ego; swamped by a sudden influx of suitors, she had begun inventing strange trials for them to perform to earn her attention.

Vilas suspected that these men—and even a few women—would eventually realize her instability and retreat. In his mind, it was clearly a humorous side story rather than evidence of her being a clandestine agent for some shadowy, elite organization.

“A few individuals have exhibited suspicious movements and have even gone as far as trying to sever their karmic ties,” Eversmile pointed out.

“Sure, but those are merely the standard spies,” Vilas countered with a shrug. “That is just the way of the world.”

“Their interference makes the situation much harder to read,” the other Primordial argued.

“True, but if we suddenly launch a crackdown on low-level D-grade informants, we would be the ones looking suspicious,” the Viper replied, shaking his head.

It was perfectly commonplace for factions to plant “spies” within rival groups; frequently, the target faction was aware of the surveillance and simply didn't care. The data these agents gathered was typically surface-level and irrelevant to the high-ranking leaders, even if it might disrupt the lives of ordinary mortals.

Factions refrained from purging these spies largely because they didn't want their own agents targeted in retaliation. The standard agreement was to limit the monitoring of these low-tier scouts, doing only what was necessary to catch the most incompetent ones.

Espionage required a training ground, and this hands-off method had proven most efficient. Furthermore, these agents rarely caused genuine harm to the organizations they monitored, providing little more than mundane logs of daily activity.

“Instructing those aware of the situation to reduce their karmic obscuration would also look fishy if this mysterious faction is watching us,” Eversmile muttered to himself, his frustration evident.

“Watching is all we can do for now,” the Viper sighed. “If they attempt to communicate, a karmic thread is bound to be created in that instant. If you can’t leverage that moment to uncover the truth… well, then we really are in trouble.”

“I don't consider that a possibility worth entertaining. If they possessed the power to hide from me like that, they wouldn't need these convoluted tactics; they would simply confront us directly,” the Primordial of karma remarked.

“Humble as always,” Vilas snickered, though he privately agreed with Eversmile’s assessment.

“Speaking of a lack of humility… I haven't heard a word about that Chosen of yours since his class ended,” Eversmile said, pivoting the conversation.

Although Villy enjoyed tracking Jake’s progress, he didn't make a habit of sharing the feed with others. While he occasionally allowed Duskleaf to watch with him, Eversmile was pointedly excluded from the viewing party. Eversmile could likely spy on Jake by force if he truly desired, but the Viper had placed enough protections around his Chosen’s home that any intrusion would be flagged. Even without those wards, Eversmile knew Jake had a supernatural knack for sensing when he was being watched.

“He’s been occupied with his own affairs,” the Viper said with a shrug.

“Word is he’s getting ready to hunt a dragon,” the other Primordial noted, displaying his usual excessive curiosity regarding Jake’s activities.

“Precisely. He’s busy, and no, your assistance in locating a dragon is not required. I believe I’ve already found a suitable target. You can keep asking, but unless you want to hear a tedious lecture on alchemy and the difficulties of a C-grade brewing bane poisons, I suggest we drop the subject of my Chosen,” the Viper said, ending the topic.

“You are always so protective,” Eversmile said, shaking his head. “Fine, I’ll stop prying. I just have a nagging feeling you aren't being completely transparent with me about him.”

“I'm not, but that’s nothing new,” Vilas shrugged. It was slightly irritating that he couldn't be a total jerk to Eversmile since he still required the Primordial’s help, but he could still poke fun at his peer. He knew Eversmile found Jake fascinating—a fact that was both a benefit and a risk—and he was certain the other god wouldn't want a mysterious faction ruining his source of entertainment.

As for Jake’s current state… that was a complicated matter.

--

A separate avatar of the Malefic Viper stood in the chamber, arms crossed as he observed the human sitting cross-legged. Jake wasn't breathing or moving; the Qi that normally flowed through his body had slowed to a near-halt. He was essentially in a state of stasis, his Truesoul barely tethered to his physical form.

Vilas doubted Jake would survive if anyone launched an attack right now. Even his Bloodline appeared to be sleeping, causing his presence to vanish entirely. As a fellow Bloodline possessor, Vilas could still sense it, but the feeling was incredibly faint.

Jake was teetering on the thin line between existence and total erasure. He wasn't exactly dying, but he was on the verge of losing the essence of who he was. He was at risk of losing the segments of his soul he could control, which meant his memories, his character, and his self-identity could be wiped away, leaving a hollow shell behind.

The Viper wasn't panicked, however, because he knew Jake wasn't truly alone in this endeavor.

Vilas wasn't the only deity in the meditation room either. Another god had insisted on being present, looking far more anxious than the Viper despite it being Vilas's Chosen in this strange condition.

“You have far more experience with these things… have you ever witnessed a C-grade attempt something like this?” Artemis asked, her brow furrowed.

“The followers of the Dao Sect do similar things occasionally. They refer to them as spiritual journeys,” the Viper replied smoothly. “Usually, it happens during highly regulated group sessions overseen by a Sect Elder.”

“But not this exact situation?” Artemis pressed, her worry growing. “If he is truly attempting to reach that place…”

“He is trying,” Vilas sighed, then offered the goddess a smile. “You have to admit, the possibility is quite thrilling.”

“Can a C-grade’s mind even survive the experience?” Artemis asked, ignoring the Viper’s lightheartedness.

“Absolutely not,” the Viper admitted, recoiling slightly. “His mind would be pulverized and his soul would likely collapse. That is why I suspect his method differs slightly from ours.”

“How did he even start down this path?” Artemis asked, looking toward the Viper. “Did you guide him?”

Vilas found her slightly accusatory tone somewhat charming. Artemis had been timid and cautious around him for a long time, but she had grown significantly in a few short years. Spending time in the presence of Jake’s unique Bloodline and getting accustomed to Primordials had worked wonders for her confidence. Regarding her question:

“No,” Vilas said, shaking his head. “But he isn't flying blind or relying solely on his own gut. He has the steady hand of another to guide him.”

Artemis’s frown deepened at the cryptic answer. “Who?”

“The most talented C-grade in the history of all worlds… if anyone has ever stepped foot there before, it would be him,” the Viper declared with conviction. Artemis had asked if he knew anyone who had reached Jake’s destination; while he couldn't be certain, he strongly suspected his own Master had achieved it.

“Am I permitted to know this person’s identity?” Artemis asked, intrigued by the Viper’s phrasing.

“No, you are not,” the Viper replied. “Just trust that he is the best mentor possible. I believe even if Jake fails, his survival instincts won't let him push too far.”

“And there is nothing we can do to assist him?”

“The best course of action is to stay close, watch for the conclusion, and celebrate the outcome,” the Viper said with a shrug. “I believe history will be written today, regardless of whether he succeeds.”

Artemis gave a slow nod, joining the Viper as they watched Jake, who had remained perfectly still in meditation for twelve days now.

--

Jake felt… bizarre. He wasn't even sure if 'feeling' was the right word. Nothing was logical, yet he had the sense of movement. He was searching for something. Coherent thought was beyond him, but his instincts kept pushing him forward.

He tried to organize his mind but failed repeatedly. It was possible that thoughts simply couldn't exist in this void where nothing made sense.

Still, he persisted, maintaining a faint feeling of progress. It was like a dream; Jake wasn't the one in the driver's seat. His experiences slipped from his memory almost instantly, and the events didn't follow any logical rules.

The only certainty was that the dream was ongoing, and gradually, Jake began to gain lucidity. Scattered thoughts began to coalesce, and a sense of meaning returned along with his sensations.

Jake attempted to open his eyes but couldn't tell if the action had been performed. His perception sphere was useless here, as there was no physical space to map. He felt adrift, his mind beginning to slip again, until something appeared.

A familiar resonance.

Without knowing how, Jake moved toward this sensation instinctively. He navigated the realm of non-existence, following this dim light until an image finally appeared in his mind.

In a dark expanse that felt like the void, a single, radiant page drifted as if carried by a phantom breeze.

Jake pursued it. As he did, his consciousness solidified. He began to feel his strange body again, sensing his surroundings and the odd world he had entered. He realized he was no longer in a physical form, but in a metaphysical state.

The experience reminded him of the Tutorial when he had used astral projection to visit the Malefic Viper. This felt very similar to that soul-projection.

Back then, he had somehow bypassed the Tutorial’s barriers and entered the first universe with his soul in a desperate, instinctive bid for survival. Villy had warned him never to repeat it, and truthfully, Jake didn't even know how he’d managed it. It had been pure instinct.

This was different, however. Jake felt like he was still contained within his soul. Instead of projecting his soul outward, he was forcing his entire being inward. It was as if he had entered his Truesoul, or perhaps the Truesoul had granted him entry to a place that existed inside him yet was separate from him.

Drifting through this void of nothingness, Jake fought to keep his focus on the only solid thing in sight: the golden page.

He followed it with singular devotion, though he occasionally lost the trail as it flickered out of view. In those moments, he had to have faith it was still there, letting his intuition lead. His trust was rewarded every time he spotted another golden page to guide him.

Time lost all meaning. One moment it felt like he had just arrived; the next, it felt like centuries had passed. He tried to block out the distractions, focusing solely on the need to reach his goal. He didn't know the 'what' or the 'why' yet; he only knew he had to keep going. No… he *wanted* to keep going.

As Jake’s mind cleared, he realized he could return to the real world if he chose. A small tether remained in the back of his mind that he could pull at any time to snap back to his body. However, he also knew that if he left now, he might never find this state again.

The chase through the void continued until the pattern changed. Eventually, Jake saw two golden pages instead of one. He pressed on, and soon there were three.

More pages appeared as he traveled, multiplying until they formed a path of light. As soon as that thought occurred, the pages stopped drifting and settled flat. Without hesitation, Jake stepped onto a page and stood firm.

A literal road of golden pages stretched out beneath him. Jake began to walk, eyes fixed forward, never looking back. The path only seemed to form a few meters ahead of him, yet it never ended no matter how far he traveled.

The walk was easy at first, but eventually, struggle set in. The difficulty ramped up quickly; every step sent ripples of agony through his soul-body.

He felt heavy and slow, each step more grueling than the last. He wanted to stop and rest, but a voice inside told him that wasn't an option. It was forward or nothing.

Step by step, Jake endured a pain that transcended the physical. He knew his soul was being strained, and as the pressure mounted, one specific part of him hurt more than the rest. He realized what was happening.

Like a wound that had been stitched and covered, Jake’s current trial was tearing the injury back open. The stress on his soul was so great that his danger sense flared. It screamed that this was dangerous… but he didn't stop.

His soul was begging him to halt, and the desire to quit was strong, but he forced himself forward. His soul was taking objective damage, and the situation was worsening. But if he spent even a second worrying about the consequences, he would lose the focus needed to keep moving.

Jake’s entire existence narrowed down to a golden path that felt like a march toward his own destruction.

Three things kept him going. First, his instincts hadn't told him to stop yet. They were warning him of the risk, but they weren't demanding a retreat.

Second, he knew these golden pages were linked to the First Sage and his mentorship. If it were just those two reasons, he might have wavered, which would have ended the journey. But there was a final motivation:

The certainty that something waited at the end. The conviction that a destination existed if he could just survive the struggle. This belief came from what he had studied in the First Sage’s tome and what he was sure the road was leading toward.

The essence of meditation was far more profound than just boosting resource recovery. The true purpose of the skill was to strengthen one's bond with the system itself. Every being’s Truesoul was a direct link to the system, and standard Meditation usually just deepened that link to speed up natural recovery.

But there was something deeper. To use the Truesoul as a gateway to find the profound truths of the system and, in doing so, gain power, knowledge, and records.

This was Jake’s own theory, but he had embraced it as absolute fact. Without that belief, he wouldn't have the strength to continue. Even as the pain grew distant and he began to lose his gathered thoughts and focus, his faith kept his feet moving.

Jake could no longer see the golden path or even feel his own steps. His consciousness was fading fast, and his instincts warned him that his soul was losing its shape—he was being erased. He knew that whatever repair the Viper had made to his Palate had been completely undone by now.

Just as he reached the breaking point… a new sensation hit him. His foot struck something solid, and clarity flooded back. Instantly, Jake was aware of himself again. The golden road returned to view, the pain lessened, and while the damage remained, he felt stable.

With his vision restored, he saw what he had encountered. The golden path had widened, and before him sat a bench made of the same glowing pages. He had bumped into it, and as he looked up, he saw the bench was positioned in front of a colossal gate that dominated his entire field of vision.

The gate was paradoxically small enough to look like a normal door, yet massive enough to span the entire horizon.