The Primal Hunter Chapter 1226 - The Curiosity of a Primordial

Jake finally emerged from his Soulspace, opening his eyes to find the two deities watching him. They both scanned him intently, as if checking for mental instability or soul fractures, which caused a faint smirk to play on Jake’s lips.

“Quite the reception for a guy who hasn’t moved an inch,” Jake remarked with a dry chuckle.

As the words left his mouth, a wave of relief was clearly visible on Artemis’s features, while Villy simply responded with a broad grin.

“I’d argue you’ve just returned from a significant spiritual trek,” the snake god noted, strolling toward him. “Journeys of that nature often cause a person to lose their sense of self, sometimes never returning whole. Looking at you, however, it seems this entire trip resulted in absolutely zero personal maturity.”

“Hey, I’d say the massive growth on my status page is as personal as it gets,” Jake retorted jokingly. He attempted to stand, but his vision swam and his legs turned to jelly for a brief moment.

Artemis was at his side instantly, catching his shoulder before he could stumble. Her expression shifted back to one of concern. “Are you certain you are alright?”

“I think so,” Jake replied, though he felt a strange disconnection. As he tried to circulate energy through his body, he felt a heavy resistance; his power felt sluggish and nearly impossible to mobilize. “Actually, scratch that. I’m definitely not at a hundred percent right now.”

“Hardly a surprise; you just put your own soul through a meat grinder,” the Malefic Viper laughed. “You might have used that unique skill to stabilize your mind, but your soul was still torn apart by those fractured Records of Palate. Just because the skill is repaired doesn’t mean your soul has finished mending.”

“It felt like it was fine, though,” Jake muttered, finally managing to steady himself on his own feet. “At least the damage doesn’t feel present anymore.”

“Oh, it isn’t damaged in the traditional sense,” the Viper clarified with a smirk. “Think back to before the system arrived, Jake—back when you used to lift weights. Remember the feeling in your legs after an intense workout? It’s exactly like that. You’ve overexerted yourself, and your soul is simply exhausted and in need of deep sleep.”

“The analogy is lost on me, but the logic seems sound,” Artemis agreed with a nod. “Even for gods, the strain of contemplating complex concepts for too long can bring about a peculiar weariness.”

“Speaking of those concepts, I want to verify one detail,” Villy said, fixing his gaze on Jake. “Did you witness the Gate of Enlightenment?”

Jake blinked at the Viper in confusion for a moment. “Yes? I assumed that was obvious…”

“That is precisely why I wanted to be sure,” the Viper replied, shaking his head with a quiet laugh. “I have mentioned it previously, after all.”

“No, you haven’t. Have you?” Jake asked, his confusion deepening.

“Exactly,” the snake god said, nodding as if Jake had just proven his point.

“Wait, you’re saying it was Forbidden Knowledge until now?” Jake finally connected the dots.

“See? He might be a bit slow on the uptake, but he gets there eventually,” Villy remarked to Artemis before turning back to Jake. “You hit the nail on the head. You shouldn’t be shocked, but most things of that nature are classified as Forbidden Knowledge. Many things will become clear as you approach godhood, but most don’t even hear of the Gate of Enlightenment until they reach S-grade.”

“Setting aside that backhanded compliment, when you say you can’t discuss those details, are you referring to the criteria for divine ascension?” Jake inquired.

“Look at him! Sometimes his intellect actually surprises us!” Villy joked to Artemis again before answering. “Yes, that is essentially what I mean. I suppose I can reveal that one requirement for godhood is indeed passing through the Gate of Enlightenment—a path you’ve already begun. Naturally, you also need to…”

Jake’s mind seemed to blank out for a split second, causing him to frown. “Also what? Wait, never mind…”

The Viper just smirked, having clearly spoken words that were still Forbidden Knowledge. Artemis shook her head at the display before speaking up. “I also have a question. Is it safe to assume you’ve acquired a skill of sacred rarity?”

Jake started to reply, but the Viper interjected. “The fact that he’s even able to attempt an answer proves he succeeded. The very existence of the sacred rarity is itself Forbidden Knowledge. Why the system insists on hiding rarity tiers is beyond me, but there it is.”

Ignoring the Viper’s commentary, Jake looked at Artemis. “Yes, I successfully obtained a sacred rarity skill.”

Artemis smiled warmly. “And I assume a new title came with it?”

“A title evolution, yeah,” Jake admitted, feeling a surge of pride. “And it’s a significant one.”

“Anything less would have been a disappointment,” Artemis said. She then turned to the Viper. “I’m curious—how many C-grades have you known to possess a sacred skill? I certainly didn’t have one back then. It was a struggle just to push a few skills to mythical.”

“Off the top of my head? I’m not entirely sure. People don't usually broadcast having skills like that, and I’d suggest Jake keep his bragging to a minimum as well. I know of a few, though. Some of the Daolords managed it, and I wouldn't be shocked if certain Chosen who became top-tier gods had them too, though it’s hard to verify,” the Malefic Viper shrugged. “What about the Pantheon of Life? Are you aware of any there, perhaps among the gods I haven't kept tabs on?”

“In the Pantheon of Life, I only know of one, and that was the result of a massive system event and an incredible string of luck,” Artemis noted. “Other than that, the only public instance in recent memory was the late Yip of Yore.”

“Ah, that makes sense,” the Viper nodded slowly. “That fellow really should have practiced some restraint. If he had allowed himself to grow instead of overreaching, he would have been a formidable force in a few more eras.”

“And now, he’s just a snack,” Jake added, earning a chuckle from the Viper.

“A delicious one,” the snake god agreed. A new thought seemed to occur to him. “I assume the First Sage assisted you in reaching the Gate? And if so, is his Legacy and the Records he left behind spent, or is there more left to find?”

“I did have his help, and no, there’s still more to the Legacy. I just can’t touch it yet. I probably won't be able to until I hit B-grade at the earliest,” Jake explained.

“Understood,” the Viper nodded. A brief flicker of relief crossed his face, seemingly glad that a portion of his Master’s Legacy remained intact.

“You two… you were just discussing Forbidden Knowledge again, weren’t you?” Artemis interrupted, reminding Jake that she had been excluded from that part of the conversation.

“Yeah, my bad,” Jake offered.

“No need to apologize. I am simply surprised there is Forbidden Knowledge that you two share which remains hidden even from me,” Artemis said, appearing more intrigued than slighted.

“Just a little bond between us,” the snake god teased. “Now, since we’ve confirmed Jake’s brain still functions—well, as well as it ever did—I think it’s time for me to head out and let my Chosen rest. I’d offer to play nurse, but I suspect someone else is eager for the position.”

As was his habit, the Viper vanished before anyone could respond, always needing the final word. He even managed to double down by sending Jake a parting telepathic message.

Unable to reply, Jake simply accepted the Viper’s point. Regarding the vision, Jake had plenty of questions, but he didn't want to bring them up in front of Artemis.

With the snake god gone and the immediate excitement over, Jake pushed thoughts of Villy aside and smiled at Artemis. “He’s right; this patient needs some downtime.”

“Then let me help you,” Artemis said with a playful smirk. She knelt down and suddenly scooped Jake up. Before he could react, she was carrying him in a princess carry, heading out of the lab where he had been meditating and toward their shared bedroom.

Jake didn't fight it, simply commenting, “I’m pretty sure teleporting would be faster than walking.”

“It certainly would,” Artemis agreed, continuing to carry him as if he were completely helpless.

“It would be great if someone in this room knew how to teleport,” Jake continued his dry commentary.

“It really would,” Artemis teased back. Jake finally gave in, leaning into her. They soon reached the bedroom, where Artemis tossed him onto the bed with zero gentleness.

Jake expected something more, but Artemis simply threw a blanket over him, covering him completely. He pulled it back to see her watching him.

“What? You need to heal, and the best way to do that is sleep or meditation. Both are better in a bed, so get to it,” she said, clearly enjoying the role reversal.

“I’m not that far gone, just a bit wiped out,” Jake argued.

“Sure you are,” Artemis nodded slowly.

Jake stared at her for a second before sighing in defeat. “Fine, fine.”

He settled into the mattress and let out a long breath. He felt tired, but not dangerously so. He figured a few hours of shut-eye would do the trick. With that thought, Jake closed his eyes, and within seconds, he was dead to the world.

He didn't wake up for three full days. By then, two facts were undeniable: first, confronting a gate meant for gods had drained him more than he realized; and second, his improved meditation skill was active even while he slept.

“He reached the Gate of Enlightenment? No, that’s impossible. It looks like he merely caught a glimpse of what lies beyond,” the Primordial murmured to himself.

“If he had actually opened it, my Chosen wouldn't be taking a nap right now; he’d be something else entirely,” the Viper replied, shaking his head. “But to satisfy a bit of your curiosity—yes, you could say he managed a peek.”

“Which only creates more mysteries,” Eversmile said, looking thoughtful. “That Chosen of yours doesn't have the temperament I’d associate with someone seeking enlightenment. He isn't a monk or a sage, yet he’s outstripped them in their own field. I thought it was his Bloodline at first, and while that’s likely a factor, I don’t think it’s the primary one.”

Vilas remained silent as the Primordial of Karma puzzled it out loud, perhaps hoping for a confirmation.

“No, there’s another variable. It doesn't look like your handiwork either. Could it be the Void Gods? They have an interest in him. No… that doesn't fit. I see; it’s something else. Something I don't know about. A unique chance he was given outside of standard system events,” Eversmile continued, proving his deductive skills were sharp.

The Viper thought about interrupting, but decided to let Eversmile keep digging.

“Something immense. Hidden… unknowable. Perhaps something that can’t be known at all,” Eversmile said, a look of realization hitting him as he turned to the Viper. “This is linked to the entity associated with his boots, isn't it? The one whose existence is Forbidden Knowledge, yet somehow you and Jake are aware of it. The only ones, it seems.”

“That is a very wild theory built on almost no data,” Vilas replied, refusing to confirm that Eversmile was dead right.

“You’re telling me you’re unaware?” Eversmile asked, his unsettling grin widening.

“Unaware of what?” the Viper asked, keeping his face neutral. He knew what was coming, but he wasn't going to make it easy.

“The karmic echo that occurred during his journey. My connection to karma allowed me to sense a sliver of it. Your Chosen wasn't alone at that Gate. Not really. Something else was present, or a remnant of something. It carried that specific karmic signature—the one I’m forbidden from identifying,” the God of Karma stated.

“So you already knew, and that whole monologue was just for show?” Vilas asked, rolling his eyes. “You really are bored, aren't you?”

“Quite the opposite,” Eversmile laughed. “I find this fascinating. With so many variables and secrets… how could I not be hooked?”

The Viper’s tone turned cold. “My warning stands. Do not mess with Jake just to satisfy your whims.”

“I’m content to just watch for now. Your Chosen provides enough entertainment on his own. Besides, he isn't the one I’m most curious about at the moment.”

“Found another victim?” the Viper asked, already suspecting the answer.

“I wouldn't call you a victim,” Eversmile chuckled.

“Have you seen how much gold Jake burns through for his poisons?” Vilas sighed dramatically. “But fine, I’ll bite. Why am I suddenly the center of attention?”

Eversmile leaned in close. “You’re an expert at masking your thoughts. You reveal nothing through your words or face. You can even hide lies from my senses… but today, you faltered. I felt it. When I mentioned your Chosen wasn't alone, and referred to that shared Forbidden Knowledge, there was a reaction. A tiny shiver. An emotion you couldn't suppress.”

The Viper kept his expression flat as Eversmile went on.

“It wasn't your Chosen who met this entity first… it was you. Jake met them through you. I suspect it’s linked to his ability to live through your Records. Yes, I know about that. Through that skill, he contacted someone from your past. Someone who is now Forbidden Knowledge.”

Eversmile’s excitement grew as he leaned further forward.

“Someone you have a powerful karmic and emotional tie to. To think such a being existed without my knowledge—how can I not be obsessed? This entity has an influence that resonates through time and even shares a karmic link with me.”

Vilas maintained his mask, but he had to admit—Eversmile was terrifyingly good at piecing together things he shouldn't know. Once he focused on a mystery, he wouldn't stop until every stone in the multiverse was turned.

Perhaps it wasn't all bad. The Viper himself was curious about his Master’s true footprint on the world. If anyone could dig up the truth, it was Eversmile. For better or worse.

If Eversmile stayed this obsessed, he might eventually uncover the First Sage's identity, potentially lifting the status of Forbidden Knowledge. The thought gave the Viper mixed emotions, but Eversmile could be a tool to reveal the secrets his Master had left behind. Vilas realized now that despite the eons spent with the First Sage, he had only ever seen the surface of the man’s true existence.