The Primal Hunter Chapter 1259 - An Unpleasant Path

The multiverse held countless enigmas that remained unsolved. There were World Wonders barely scratched despite enduring through dozens of eras, dungeons so tough that even the mightiest gods couldn't conquer them, and zones in various universes so perilous that only the boldest—or most foolish—creatures ventured in. This barely touched on the bigger riddles, like if a concept could ever be truly grasped or the reason behind the system's existence and the world's laws. And don't forget all things tied to Records, which could fill a whole separate catalog.

Yet the puzzle baffling Jake right now appeared much more straightforward at first glance, though he suspected the truth would always slip away from him. He had some ideas, sure, but regardless of whom he questioned or what he thought, nobody ever provided a clear response to this single query:

Why did Minaga act this way?

“... but you see, the minister of technology failed to secure the funding because of lobbying from the Elemental Mage Union, causing many in the pro-technology faction to develop a negative opinion of mages overall. With the national budget contracting after the failed war against the Southern Kingdoms, the Ministry of Technology ended up underfunded, igniting numerous protests. Folks from the pro-technology faction thought the Aginian Empire ought to lean harder into its knack for technology and adopt Paths blending the biological with the mechanical. Naturally, this idea didn't sit well with some political circles, particularly since it influenced the already declining birth rates, resulting in...”

Did Minaga appear to be inventing it all right then? Nope, not at all, and that just heightened the worry, because somehow this Unique Lifeform had kept chattering for over fourteen hours straight, spouting the most irrelevant backstory about an imaginary group.

Did it reference actual factions and happenings? Absolutely, but Jake couldn't distinguish reality from fabrication, and frankly, he was too drained to bother attempting it.

He'd hoped to simply meditate and recharge, but Minaga had even added a basic ego to the floating head projection, allowing it to detect if they were paying attention. The moment Jake tried meditating earlier, Minaga politely said he'd “wait for him” and then picked up where he left off.

In the end, Jake recovered without meditating, just sitting on the floor while genuinely tuning into Minaga's words. Casper still looked rough, but he was clearly mending as the wounds in his body sealed up. Jake had already tipped a potion down the Risen's throat, letting Casper slip into meditation, which he'd maintained for the past twelve hours.

Time dragged on with Jake nodding through the endless tale that Minaga had no real need to weave together, let alone share with him. He wouldn't gripe too much, however, since it bought Casper the recovery time he needed.

Once over a full day had elapsed, Casper's eyes finally fluttered open. Grimacing from the ache, he yanked the wooden stake free from his chest, his face twisting to show it was anything but enjoyable.

“How are you feeling?” Jake inquired of the Risen, managing to chat with Casper while still absorbing Minaga's monologue. Luckily for them both, the hovering Minaga head didn't mind its listeners conversing among themselves.

“Like shit,” Casper replied honestly, glancing down at the stake he'd removed before smashing it into fragments that scattered into the breeze.

“And Lyra?” Jake pressed. He realized that Casper's desperate move carried fallout not only for him but for his spectral ally too. Actually, from what Jake had witnessed, Lyra would bear the brunt of it the hardest.

“She’s... recovering,” Casper answered with a heavy exhale. “I mentioned earlier I had a trump card I desperately wanted to avoid playing. My Domain Skill is that very card.”

“Yeah, I figured,” Jake agreed, pondering if it was worth diverting brainpower to keep hearing Minaga detail how the revised tax laws in the Aginian Empire widened the wealth divide and fueled inflation, driving more people into non-combat roles to support their kin.

“In some ways, I’m a bit envious of your Path,” Casper admitted, easing his eyes shut. “I first advanced by delving into curses. I possessed a innate talent for them, but here's the catch—wielding curses isn't exactly enjoyable when you truly stretch past your boundaries. To deepen my grasp of curse power, the optimal approach is enduring them personally, and I don't hold fond recollections tied to my curse abilities... my suffering only amplifies the curse's might. It forms a brutal loop, making me balance on a knife's edge between breaking mentally and gaining strength.”

Jake stayed quiet as the Risen went on.

“Since Lyra merged with me, she endures the curses too, stuck in the identical predicament, with us aiding each other to stay steady. What evolved into my Domain Skill started as my effort to forge a private realm for Lyra and me to train, where we could fine-tune the curse's hold on our minds. A sanctuary to endure side by side while bolstering one another. Sadly, I botched it and birthed a skill that even my mentor—a S-grade lich—warned me to steer clear of until reaching B-grade.”

“That... does sound like it sucks,” Jake murmured. He recognized his own curse knowledge paled beside Casper's. The sole source of Jake's decent curse came from Eternal Hunger. Moreover, empowering his curse just involved feeding it, achieved simply by slaying foes.

On the flip side, Casper had to research and refine his curses independently. He drew curse energy from his own depths, turning himself into both host and container for the malediction. Jake enjoyed a buffer with Eternal Hunger keeping things apart.

“I’m not going to say it doesn’t suck at times, yet I also acknowledge that without it, I wouldn’t be able to fight for shit,” Casper said with a shrug that obviously hurt. “Curses carry risks, and risk breeds power. Plus, even the mightiest rarely comprehend curses fully, leaving them open to attack.”

“Yeah, I can see that,” Jake agreed. “Though there are also people who would be borderline immune to your curses.”

Casper eyed Jake and arched a brow. “Thanks for proving my point that folks misunderstand curses. You’re nowhere near immune; actually, your cursed weapon offers scant protection if I strike. Sure, if I ignore your Sin Curse on purpose, it’d shield you somewhat, but without mastering curse control like I have, dodging it is straightforward. Likewise, if I aim to boost your weapon's curse, that's no trouble either, as our past battles demonstrated.”

This narrative isn't legitimately hosted on Amazon; spot it there and report the breach.

“Huh,” Jake mumbled. Indeed, upon reflection, Casper had proven able to rouse Eternal Hunger's curse deliberately. Jake had never resisted it, and now contemplating it, he doubted he could anyway.

“Anyway... as I said, I would have preferred not to use that skill, but that fucking golem single-mindedly went only for me,” Casper grumbled, glaring at the suspended Minaga head still dissecting the tax code's fallout.

“How long do you think it will take Lyra to recover?” Jake wondered, wishing it wouldn't drag on.

“I don’t know,” Casper replied, shaking his head while clutching the locket. “It’s not just me who has a natural affinity for curses. Lyra shares it... but her curse energy stirred precisely at her death. Thus, the prime way to awaken it is reliving that demise. I know she’ll come back, but since I’ve only unleashed the Domain Skill today—beyond the initial unlock—some unknowns linger.”

Jake nodded gradually. “If it’s any consolation... your Domain Skill seemed pretty damn powerful.”

“Oh?” Casper responded with a faint grin. “Perhaps even powerful enough to take down the Chosen of the Malefic Viper?”

“Now you’re pushing it,” Jake laughed, shaking his head. And it wasn't mere boasting.

The domain was undeniably potent, but Jake had begun spotting its vulnerabilities, and if ever ensnared within, he trusted he could shatter free. Versus foes with weaker Perception blind to its gaps or brainless constructs like the golem, it rendered Casper nearly unbeatable—especially if they were dumb enough to target his ghost directly.

“Yeah, wouldn’t have expected it to,” Casper admitted, shaking his head. “But at least it got the job done. Lyra and I will need a lot of time to recover, though, and I’ll also need to re-craft a lot of materials I used to summon the domain in the first place. Again, it really wasn’t a skill I should have used while still a C-grade.”

Jake held his tongue, merely sitting quietly as Casper downed another spirit potion to ease his discomfort. He was in a debilitated state far beyond typical overuse of an enhancement skill. It fell short of the Sword Saint’s transcendence in severity, and with rest, the Risen would pull through, but it was no walk in the park.

Casper settled in alongside Jake to hear Minaga ramble endlessly. Jake braced for at least another day of the Unique Lifeform's yapping, but thankfully, just a few more hours passed before the vital detail emerged.

“... so despite the economic challenges, the construction of the Grand Labyrinth Project was approved. Of course, the true purpose was hidden from the masses, and from the very beginning, it was all a plot by the Ministry of Technology and the Aginian Formations Guild to create a complex that could hide and empower the ancient artifact they had discovered. From their research, they knew this artifact would take a lot of energy to fully awaken, so they wanted to seal it in a hidden dimension here at the center of the Grand Labyrinth. There, it would be allowed to slowly accumulate energy with the help of the labyrinth itself. How, you might ask? Well, quite easily. Because this is not truly a labyrinth... It’s actually one giant magic circle!”

Minaga bellowed this bombshell with thrilled energy, halting for a few beats as Casper and Jake merely gawked at the Unique Lifeform's projected visage in stunned quiet.

“I know, I know, it must be hard to contain your shock at this absolutely bonkers plot twist, but it’s true,” Minaga boasted, beaming with self-satisfaction. “Now, seeing as this entire speech – which I do plan on turning into an audiobook that will be rewarded to anyone who completes the dungeon – will only play if you actually complete the dungeon, I have a minor confession.”

The Unique Lifeform appeared slightly sheepish as he drew a long breath. “I kind of didn’t get around to making this last part, where the entire Grand Labyrinth Formation would activate and the entrance to the final dungeon, where you’ll enter the hidden complex of the Aginian Empire. Oh, but trust me, it’ll be super awesome and really impressive, so take that into consideration when you give the final rating, okay?”

Jake and Casper exchanged glances before shaking their heads together.

“I’ll just assume you agreed that holding such a minor lack of content over my head wouldn’t be fair. Anyway, where was I... alright, yeah, congratulations on doing the dungeon! No rewards! Woo, you two really impressed me. I totally didn’t believe you could do it! Oh, and I really hope that you both survived, because if not, this would be incredibly awkward...”

“Did he say no rewards?” Casper wondered aloud.

“But I’m sure you’re both fine and dandy, and you’ll both walk out of here with massive smiles on your faces from having had the best dungeon experience since Nevermore! Wait, that reminds me... now, where was it again... dungeon finish trigger, finish trigger... ah! There it was! See you soon!”

At those final words, a system alert appeared before Jake and Casper, confirming their dungeon completion. Along with it, the skyborne image of Minaga's head vanished, marking the true closure of the challenge.

Uncover the true purpose of the Grand Labyrinth’s construction

“Only ten minutes to leave?” Jake puzzled.

“No, until it shuts down,” Casper corrected.

“Isn’t that too... wait,” Jake cut himself off, scanning the surroundings. “Minaga didn’t put in an exit, did he?”

“Doesn’t look like it,” Casper replied with a shrug, instantly wincing from the motion's sting.

“So we’ll just have to wait ten minutes, and then we’re thrown out?” Jake mused. “I guess that works.”

“Yeah,” Casper confirmed. “I’ll just take these few minutes to ensure I don’t totally embarrass myself when we get out of here.”

“Alright,” Jake acknowledged. “I also have something I would like to check.”

Casper inclined his head and shut his eyes as Jake mirrored him. Jake had largely bounced back from the boss encounter, though traces of Arcane Awakening's drain persisted. Meditation would speed his renewal, but presently, two priorities took precedence. Primarily, he verified the dungeon's core goal was met, and yes, it appeared.

[Dungeon Pioneer XV] – Be the first to clear a dungeon suitable for your level. +195 all stats.

Jake had at last capped his Dungeon Pioneer title for C-grade. The stat boost wasn't enormous, but finishing it brought satisfaction. Given the tripling per evolution, he'd gain +81 to all stats per title level in B-grade. His Nevermore title's 50% uplift would make it 121 per level, and across five levels, it would accumulate nicely.

In contrast, delaying dungeons would trap him earning D and C-tier title levels later. The bonus Records from an advanced title helped, but honestly, Jake figured it meant little for him. Against prizes like his Nevermore titles or Sacred Prodigy, these Pioneer ones seemed trivial.

Even so, every edge mattered, and Jake aimed for maximum gains upon B-grade evolution. On that note...

Hitting class level 349 also delivered something else Jake had anticipated eagerly. An element that could trip up many evolution seekers, or simply a prompt validating their Path's progress.

He referred, of course, to the Class Evolution Quest... and this instance went beyond basic slaying requirements.