The Primal Hunter Chapter 1264 - Jake’s New Flame

Indeed... Jake genuinely had no clue when his Soulflame would emerge. The mechanics of the Cradle of Soul’s Kindling provided zero certainties, functioning essentially as a refined gamble that offered an additional shot at the jackpot, akin to yanking the lever once more in hopes of striking those elusive triple sevens.

Jake had fallen into the routine of inspecting the artifact roughly every week, observing how the Arcane Soulflames inside continued their gradual advancement, yet none among them truly captured his eye as exceptional. Given that only one could be drawn out, he decided to hold out for better odds. Still, it dawned on him that chasing after a Supreme Soulflame was simply unattainable.

To recap, Soulflames came in rarities ranging from elementary, low-tier, mid-tier, high-tier, pinnacle-tier, all the way to Supreme Soulflames. Elevating even one rarity level for a Soulflame posed a formidable challenge, and attempting multiple upgrades amplified the difficulty exponentially, as each step forward demanded ever-greater effort to enhance the flame further.

Since an Alchemist was limited to possessing just one Soulflame throughout their journey, securing a strong one from the start proved vital. Sure, separation from a Soulflame remained possible in theory, but that path was even more arduous than refining an existing one. The deep bond tying the Soulflame to the alchemist’s soul ensured some degree of soul injury during any severance, rendering it a peril most wouldn’t dare, including Jake himself.

Even though Jake figured a Supreme Soulflame emerging in the Cradle seemed improbable—and if it did, he suspected it wouldn’t occur until he ascended to godhood—hope lingered thanks to a vital trait of this legendary artifact. A trait he had speculated about ever since first scanning the Cradle of Soul’s Kindling description.

[Cradle of Soul’s Kindling (Mythical)]: The Cradle in which a flame may be kindled as it awakens its own spirituality. Nascent Soulflames of hundreds of affinities burn within the internal space of the Cradle, experiencing a cycle of life and death as they struggle and absorb one another while growing in power. Waiting for one of them to ascend to the world outside. Only a single Soulflame can truly be born from the Cradle, the item getting destroyed upon extraction as all others become fuel for the chosen one. The Cradle can be infused with energies to sustain and influence the internal world. The internal world of the Cradle cannot be entered by any being with a Truesoul, and any Truesouls born within will immediately find themselves destroyed, their energies only nurturing the Cradle further.

Requirements: Soulbound.

The key element in that description highlighted how every other Soulflame inside the Cradle would get devoured upon his selection and extraction of the chosen one. After all, the primary method for Soulflames to evolve within the Cradle involved devouring their peers, so this final consumption during extraction surely delivered a substantial surge of power.

Naturally, Jake wasn’t anticipating flawless absorption of energies from all those other Soulflames. Were that possible, he could have simply pulled a high-tier one earlier, and with the sheer volume of Soulflames present, it might have leaped straight to Supreme rarity.

Should Supreme rarity slip away, Jake would absolutely settle for a Pinnacle Soulflame without complaint. True to its title, a Pinnacle Soulflame already represented the peak of potential, and in terms of raw strength, no real gap existed between Pinnacle and Supreme varieties.

Rather, Supreme Soulflames excelled in versatility for applications, largely owing to their enhanced synergy with their wielder. Though no Soulflame could claim true sentience, Supreme ones edged closest to that boundary.

They lacked independent thought entirely, yet they excelled at grasping and executing their alchemist’s directives. Put simply, instead of micromanaging every aspect, a Supreme Soulflame would instinctively handle the finer details on its own, provided that aligned with the user’s overall intent.

In any case, acquiring his Soulflame wasn’t something Jake had scheduled, but it unfolded unexpectedly all the same. During that pivotal moment, mere months into his intense alchemy sessions, he examined the Cradle and right away sensed an unusual shift from the norm.

Typically, the Soulflames churned in perpetual motion, devouring each other relentlessly, but now they clustered much more densely, refraining from mutual attacks. Rather, they all appeared to await the approach of a nearby Soulflame, which immediately piqued his curiosity.

For the first time, Jake laid eyes on a pinnacle rarity Arcane Soulflame, instantly lifting his spirits. Even better, this Soulflame advanced toward the gathering of more than a thousand inferior flames, radiating a unmistakable hunger to engulf them entirely.

Jake halted his alchemy work for the day without hesitation, observing eagerly to witness the unfolding drama. As the Arcane Soulflame neared the diverse-affinity cluster of Soulflames, both sides abruptly surged forward in unison.

Dozens of Soulflames vanished into the pinnacle one in a flash, powerless against its dominance. Driven by intense zeal, the Arcane Soulflame devoured over a hundred more in quick succession, though in turn, the surrounding flames began to erode at its edges.

This dynamic explained why forging a truly dominant Soulflame in the Cradle proved so challenging. The mightier the Soulflame, the richer its energy reserves, rendering it an irresistible target for the horde around it. Each instance of absorption drained a portion of its vitality, leaving vulnerabilities for opportunistic strikes.

Coupled with the utter absence of cunning or self-preservation in Soulflames, they frequently doomed themselves in scenarios just like this. Drawn to the delectable Pinnacle Arcane Soulflame, the lesser ones ignored their own kind, fixating solely on claiming the prize.

Jake observed with growing unease as the Pinnacle Arcane Soulflame battled fiercely, yet it was evident that by day's end, it would fall, probably spawning several high-tier Soulflames along the way—ones likely to clash among themselves next. Inevitably, this cycle would sap their strength, leading to swift consumption by weaker flames post-evolution, thereby resetting the whole Soulflame development anew.

Had this been a living entity, Jake would have merely spectated and intervened only if it triumphed, claiming victory for himself... but this was no sentient being whatsoever. Applying his usual moral compass to an Arcane Soulflame made as much sense as judging a clash between molten lava and a serene lake. It was merely the natural order at play... though in this case, Jake elected to alter the course.

He permitted the Pinnacle Arcane Soulflame to gorge itself as fully as possible before activating the Cradle of Soul’s Kindling's primary mechanism.

At once, every motion inside the mythical artifact's inner realm froze solid. An enigmatic force enveloped the Pinnacle Arcane Soulflame of his choosing, and suddenly, the entire contained universe began to crumble.

As it crumbled, countless thousands of Soulflames got ensnared, instantly devoured and converted into a torrent of energy that flooded into the Pinnacle Soulflame. It resembled the apocalypse unfolding, with existence fracturing and vanishing from every direction, Jake's selected Soulflame reigning at the epicenter.

The Cradle's demise soon engulfed the encircling Arcane Soulflames, annihilating them and channeling their essence toward the shielded flame. It ravenously absorbed it all, swelling with newfound might. Jake continued monitoring as the influx persisted for several minutes, relying entirely on the artifact's inherent processes.

In the external realm, fissures spiderwebbed across the Cradle's surface. Jake's nerves jangled as fragments chipped away, dissolving into energy specks that looped back inside, producing faint luminous streaks.

With one last explosive influx, the Cradle ignited entirely. Initially, the blaze lacked hue, but it swiftly shifted to a pinkish-purple glow, emanating an aura he recognized all too well. The nascent Soulflame burst free from the Cradle, devouring even the artifact itself in the process, leaving the legendary item obliterated and supplanted by a hovering flame.

Jake gazed at it suspended there for a brief spell, sensing its presence. Soulflames posed little threat inherently, lacking any urge to assault, though they weren't wholly benign.

For an alchemist to bond with a Soulflame, absorption into their form and subdual were essential, and a grave error could inflict severe soul trauma or prove fatal outright. Predictably, the mightier the Soulflame, the tougher the integration.

Nevertheless, as Jake drew near the Soulflame, no peril emanated from it. On the contrary, the arcane blaze drifted subtly in his direction, drawn instinctively to his essence. This subtle shift brought a grin to Jake's face, solidifying his success, and a swift Identify skill verified his suspicions.

[Arcane Soulflame (Supreme)]: A Soulflame created from the arcane affinity of Jake Thayne. After having consumed countless other Soulflames, it has reached the Supreme rarity. Due to its nature as an Arcane Soulflame, its properties are mostly unknown and are to be discovered by its eventual owner.

Requirements: Jake Thayne’s Arcane Affinity.

The details were sparse, as usual with arcane affinities. The system avoided revealing too much in advance. Jake welcomed that, eager to explore his Bloodline-derived arcane affinity firsthand.

Wasting no time on postponement, Jake stepped toward the Supreme Arcane Soulflame and extended his hand. It drifted gently to meet him, settling on his palm before swiftly enveloping his entire frame.

Jake burst into flames, but no agony accompanied the blaze as it overtook him. Instead, he shut his eyes, concentrating on drawing the Soulflame into his being and soul, forging an unbreakable unity.

Most alchemists might opt for elaborate rituals to safeguard the merging process, but Jake saw no necessity. He was integrating an Arcane Soulflame rooted in his own Arcane Affinity, and the chief hazard in such bonds involved the soul—a realm where Jake harbored zero doubts. This confidence stemmed especially from his rigorous training under the First Sage and his glimpse of the Gate of Enlightenment, an ordeal that had fortified his soul beyond his current full grasp.

All that remained was for Jake to welcome the Soulflame within while deploying his Alchemical Flame to weave it seamlessly into his soul, intertwining it with the skill itself. The Alchemical Flame stood as a basic skill Jake had seldom pushed forward, and honestly, he rarely invoked it these days beyond warming his cauldron during alchemy. Even then, the cauldron's built-in formations often handled heating more efficiently and steadily than his flame.

Beyond generating warmth, the Alchemical Flame's sole other utility lay in dismantling ambient mana. Materials impervious to his mightiest Arcane Powershot melted effortlessly under its touch, thanks to the skill's distinctive principles. This same principle explained why Jake required a flame at all, employing it occasionally to tackle stubborn components.

His existing neutral Alchemical Flame had sufficed, if imperfectly, but infusing it with an Arcane Soulflame as his upgraded Alchemical Flame... Jake anticipated remarkable outcomes.

Minutes ticked by as the flame blazed over Jake's body, gradually permeating his skin, reaching his Soulshape, and descending to his Soulspace. Eyes closed, he attuned his focus and delved into his Soulspace to assess the progress.

Manifesting in his inner domain, Jake turned his gaze to the arcane-saturated heavens and spotted a fresh formation taking shape in his Soulspace. Piercing the vault was a heavenly body: a sun forged from his Arcane Soulflame, shattering the perpetual expanse of shimmering arcane power.

Jake required no effort to draw in or merge the Soulflame. It felt less like claiming an outsider and more like ushering it to its rightful abode, where it had always yearned to reside.

Lifting his hand, Jake channeled the Alchemical Flame skill, intent on blending the Supreme Arcane Soulflame into it. This fusion represented the sole phase that had mildly worried him, as failure to incorporate it fully via the skill would cause the Soulflame to gradually dissipate from his body and soul.

Luckily, it unfolded with surprising ease once again. A touch of willpower, bolstered by his prior studies on Soulflames and the innate aid from a Supreme Soulflame's supportive nature, rendered the task almost trivial compared to potential pitfalls.

A smile crossed his face as the alert materialized, revealing the most dramatic rarity leap for a skill in a single bound—possibly his smoothest upgrade yet.

[Alchemical Flame (Common)]: The flame of an alchemist is one of the most critical aspects of the crafting process. The flame itself is affinity-less and not polluted by the impurities of burning a catalyst. You have just embarked on the path of refining your alchemical flame, and may your path towards the pinnacle be swift. Allows the alchemist to create a moderate alchemical flame, emitting heat. Adds a small increase to the effectiveness of Alchemical Flame based on Wisdom.

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[Alchemical Flame (Mythical)]: Any good alchemist has a capable Soulflame, and you? You aim to be among the best. Allows the alchemist to create an Alchemical Flame carrying the properties of a Supreme Arcane Soulflame. The Arcane Soulflame is a paradoxical flame, capable of displaying both pure destruction and absolute stability. Control and usage of the Arcane Soulflame are dependent on the abilities of the alchemist. Adds a significant increase to the effectiveness of Alchemical Flame based on Wisdom.

Reviewing the updated skill entry, Jake grinned anew. Alchemical Flame ranked among those foundational alchemy abilities that evolved little over time, and even at mythical tier, its wording stayed straightforward, devoid of elaborate flair or specifics. It echoed skills like Concoct Poison and Brew Potion in that simplicity.

Nothing in the refreshed description leaped out as novel or unexpected. The lone astonishment came from earning experience points through the Soulflame integration itself.

Just a single level, admittedly, and one he'd missed despite months of crafting, but progress remained progress. It paled against elevating a Malefic Viper Legacy skill, though Jake hadn't anticipated otherwise.

His mind barely lingered on it, overwhelmed by excitement to test his fresh Arcane Soulflame.

Back in reality, his eyes snapped open to find the flames extinguished, now woven into his essence, and with a raised palm, a violet-tinged arcane blaze ignited swiftly, dancing and illuminating the chamber as a wild grin split Jake's features.

Oh, the possibilities racing through his head... he'd pored over countless tomes detailing varied Soulflames, their singularities, and vast potentials. With his own in hand at last, the moment had arrived to uncover the true prowess of a Supreme Arcane Soulflame... fingers crossed his alchemy setup endured the trials.

No guarantees there.