The Primal Hunter Chapter 1262 - Hearty Plans

Whenever Jake made his way back to Earth, he always sensed an overwhelming pile of tasks demanding his attention. Could this stem from his habit of deliberately dodging these responsibilities on a daily basis, stacking them all up for a single overwhelming confrontation? Absolutely, yet he had zero intention of ever admitting that to himself.

Following the beta run through Minaga’s dungeon, Jake made his return to Haven, stopping by for a brief session with Miranda to catch up on the latest developments. Their routine updates had fallen by the wayside lately, largely since there weren't many critical updates Jake truly needed to absorb.

That didn't mean events had stalled out. Earth's territory kept growing steadily, and the world's inhabitants had long surpassed the pre-system mark of around eight billion. Despite tight controls on newcomers, arrivals from various planets in the galaxy and even alternate universes kept pouring in, handing Miranda and her team a mountain of administrative headaches.

Luckily, a solid network backed her up. The Council she'd assembled had ballooned in size, now incorporating skilled World Leaders from beyond as its reach extended galaxy-wide, though the original World Council core stayed intact and zeroed in on Earth matters.

Arthur, father to Jacob and once the head of a coalition of minor groups, had evidently risen to the occasion, seizing control of numerous Earth-centric duties. He struggled with the intricacies of multiversal diplomacy and the influx of alien races and groups setting up shop on Earth, but he excelled at straightforward organizational tasks.

This setup freed Miranda to tackle the grander schemes rather than getting bogged down in minutiae. She no longer micromanaged aspects like urban development, delegating those after overseeing broader territorial layouts. Haven remained the sole city demanding her deep involvement, knowing full well it was the only one Jake genuinely valued, given his residence there. Skyggen counted too, but the Court of Shadows oversaw that domain.

Jake picked up fascinating updates on Earth's other booming metropolises during the chat. A wave of nostalgia hit him as Miranda described Paradise's transformation into a bustling trade center, drawing merchant guilds that established key outposts there. According to her projections, it might soon claim the title of planetary financial powerhouse. He hadn't set foot there since aiding Carmen with her familial woes, yet Jake remained certain the casinos still barred him from entry.

Renato held the reins, while Sultan had relocated and appeared to be thriving. Jake rarely caught wind of or encountered either anymore, but like countless others, they pursued their paths quietly in the shadows. Their pursuits steered clear of monster slaying or potion-making, so Jake paid them scant mind.

Countless additional groups had planted firm roots planet-wide, essentially carving out their own nations along the way. Jake remained uncertain about the long-term viability, but Miranda exuded assurance that this strategy best preserved Earth's autonomy, no matter the apparent paradoxes.

In her own words:

“The more factions establish a foothold on Earth, the harder it becomes for any one to dominate. No big player wants to let a rival swell unchecked, so they naturally balance one another. With just a handful of groups, we'd face dangers of takeover bids or coalitions forming, but what about dozens? One faction gunning for total control would enrage the rest, and forging a pact would demand massive coordination, which my intel web can spot easily. That's why most will likely see value in letting a neutral overseer... us... hold sway. Many might label it the Order of the Malefic Viper, but hey, the Order starts neutral anyway.”

Indeed, Miranda had the situation mapped out masterfully. She'd play the shrewd overseer, with Jake on standby as the decisive enforcer if fists needed flying. She didn't call on him now, though, as Earth's defensive strength dwarfed the combined might of all these newcomers and groups.

Figures like Scarlett and the Sky Whale could single-handedly crush most threats, both at B-grade. Sure, factions might theoretically import other B-grade natives from the ninety-third universe, but Miranda had smartly blocked that possibility.

Even so, if Miranda ever summoned Jake for direct intervention, he'd leap at the chance, though he suspected she'd regard it as her own shortfall if things escalated that far.

Anyway, once Jake wrapped up his thorough discussion with Miranda and grasped the current landscape, he swung by Rick the troll and his offspring in the subterranean caves under his home. He frolicked briefly in the garden, spotting how Rick had vastly extended it downward via the tunnels, forging a vast subsurface paradise for the family to nurture. The young ones were maturing fast, to the point where Jake hesitated to dub them youngsters any longer.

Jake pondered dropping in on Arnold, deep into his lunar outpost construction, but opted against it, sensing the inventor's immersion. Gazing skyward at the moon with a narrow-eyed stare, he detected traces of the eccentric genius's handiwork, and he anticipated a future tour—strictly upon invitation.

Myriad other spots tempted Jake for visits, yet he favored retreating to his lodge, or precisely, the alchemy workshop hidden below. Few levels separated him from B-grade breakthrough, and he refused further postponement. Especially aware that peers nearby teetered on evolution's edge, with some possibly already transformed.

Within his alchemy chamber, Jake settled in and tackled a few lingering minor affairs. Topping the list was the Soulflame Cradle snagged from Nevermore after toppling Minaga. He periodically scanned its inner realm for updates, and this instance proved no exception.

Diving his awareness into the Cradle's enclosed domain, Jake observed his arcane affinity advancing steadily within. Soulflames tied to his arcane essence outnumbered all others, and truthfully, securing the Supreme variant he craved boiled down to patience now. Before B-grade? Perhaps, or perhaps not. His role stayed limited to monitoring, occasional energy infusions, and wishing for that prized Supreme Soulflame to manifest.

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Shifting gears, Jake pondered if any final objectives warranted completion prior to his evolution. At first glance, nothing stood out. He'd aimed to fell a True Dragon—and succeeded. Enhancing class abilities further? Possible, but not essential, and truthfully, he'd prioritize his crafting craft for the moment.

There, too, Jake detected no shortcomings. Every Malefic Viper Legacy ability had ascended in C-grade, and though merely a handful hit mythical tier, he recognized the folly in pushing all to that peak. With Path of the Heretic-Chosen taps exhausted, no less. Plus, he'd upgraded Meditate and mended his Palate, as planned.

Concoct Poison's elevation came alongside his True Dragon pursuit, another box checked. Reflecting, Jake realized he'd nailed virtually every goal set, now shifting gaze forward. Any trailing endeavors? He dismissed them swiftly.

A fresh Primeval Origins ceremony? Feasible, yet the timing felt off, and no suitable subjects presented themselves. In Casper's dungeon, Jake toyed with offering the Risen aid for Lyra's superior B-grade shift, but held back.

As a Blightwraith bearing the Blightfather's own Records, Lyra echoed the Primordial's handiwork in ways that gave Jake pause. He wondered if the Blightfather harbored preset evolution schemes for her, but above all, Jake dreaded his meddling could prove fatal.

Far from ordinary, she existed as a specter tethered to Casper's amulet. She seemed autonomous, yet ties bound her. Jake had never tested his Bloodline ability on her kind, and risking Casper's partner's demise for a trial run horrified him.

Beyond her, no prime targets emerged. Jasper's ritual had been impulsive yet fruitful, but his bond with the Shimmerfur Warpsnatcher paled against ties to Sylphie, Sandy, or Vesperia. The Nevermore Demon Prince counted loosely as Jake's handiwork, but save for a pending wedding invite, their connection stayed distant.

Shaking off the thoughts, Jake reviewed lately acquired alchemical components to brainstorm poison recipes. Launching a grand venture like mastering Bane Poisons held no appeal, given the low experience yield from research phases, and his priority stayed swift B-grade attainment.

Ideas did spark, however. Casper's escapades inspired curse-affinity poison formulations, yet another affinity beckoned for deeper mastery:

Desolation.

Desolation wove tightly into the Path of the Malefic Viper, demanding eventual study from Jake. Thankfully, headway built gradually, thanks to the colossal blunder during his initial Palate of the Malefic Viper rupture.

Though advancement crawled, Jake steadily purified and integrated Records from the devoured World Core shard. Indeed, assurance grew that his gut held more than mere core remnants, and eyeing B-grade, notions stirred for consumables to bond with ahead of a fresh endeavor.

Leading that list was an artifact Jake still viewed with intense personal weight, approaching its use with real caution.

The bizarre, one-of-a-kind drop from Ell’Hakan lingered as a puzzle Jake hadn't cracked. He recognized its abnormality, though. Unique rarity items rarely dropped from individuals, even Bloodline bearers or unique Skill holders, but Ell’Hakan had yielded one.

Jake's sole theory on its origin tied to the foe's final battle frenzy. Swallowed by illusions, he'd morphed into a mythic entity dubbed the Celestial Child. Ultimately slain, he'd still bequeathed a captivating relic Jake approached with grave trepidation.

That said, Jake schemed its application elsewhere. Direct personal use? Off the table, given Ell’Hakan’s Bloodline's perilous nature. Instead, he'd deploy it on another entity... and a prime fusion partner for the Starlight Heart already existed: yet another heart.

[Light-touched Luxellian Dragon Heart (Mythical)] – The heart of a Luxellian True Dragon, touched and empowered by her kin mere moments after death. Contains the focused Records of a Luxellian True Dragon, granting it incredibly potent energy of the light-affinity and even the true essence of a dragon. Has many alchemical uses, but be warned that manipulating the inherent power within will not prove easy.

Yrelstromoz’s heart fell short of the Starlight Heart's caliber, yet as a True Dragon's core, it carried emotional resonance for Jake from his inaugural dragon vanquish. This link transcended sentiment, manifesting in Records. Creations from self-sourced materials always outshone purchased equivalents for him.

Regarding the fusion method... it wasn't rocket science to deduce. Having toppled a True Dragon, why not reverse course and foster one's birth?

This struck Jake as an ideal B-grade pursuit: merging True Dragon hearts with the Starlight Heart, amplified by Primeval Origin Energy, to birth whatever emerged.

Jake dismissed fears of unwittingly reviving Ell’Hakan’s Bloodline via the Starlight Heart's embedded Records. Such a feat lay beyond his grasp... but if it somehow transpired, comfort came from crafting a novel being rather than evolving an extant one. Killing a hatchling dragon? Twisted, yes, but if essential to eradicate Ell’Hakan’s lineage multiverse-wide, Jake would embrace the Dragonslayer mantle anew.

One small hitch nagged, though... birthing a dragonet required an egg. A genuine True Dragon egg, and procuring one promised challenges. Villy's aid seemed inevitable for that snag. Soliciting the Dragonflights directly? Tempting, but Jake balked, unwilling to thrust the resultant dragon into their folds as a curiosity.

That hurdle awaited later. Presently, he'd prioritize assimilating more desolation World Core for heart consumption, while launching a crafting marathon in parallel. Pure experience farming, dull as it sounded, but necessary drudgery for B-grade ascension and grander exploits beyond.

Mind set, Jake hauled out his cauldron and kicked off with standard potion production. Experience gains aside, he'd yield practical aids for allies.

Without question, Jake embodied the selfless, exemplary World Leader—utterly uninterested in exploiting those variant Lavender blooms Rick had handed over that very day. Absolutely not.