The Primal Hunter Chapter 1269 - Taking Stock One Last Time

Jake remained seated in meditation, restoring his stamina to resume the extermination of Aginian B-grades inside Minaga’s impressively built dungeon. He’d already taken down over a dozen of them, and he sensed that the experience needed for that anticipated system notification—announcing his readiness to evolve—was almost within reach.

Unfortunately, the message hadn’t appeared just yet, and following his previous pursuit, he needed to pause and catch his breath. He could have pressed on with blind hunting, which might have led him into excessive peril, but such recklessness would be utterly foolish. On second thought, wouldn’t it be absurdly comical if the Chosen of the Malefic Viper perished right before evolution due to impatience and unwillingness to wait one more day?

Many folks likely wouldn’t see the humor in it like Jake did, so to spare them the disappointment, he decided to tackle this hunt with his typical focused attitude. Even though these B-grades were on the weaker side, they remained B-grades, capable of real danger if Jake slipped up badly enough.

The dungeon Jake found himself in matched the one he’d cleared with Casper, but with a minor tweak. Instead of spawning inside a building, Jake had materialized directly in the central area of the Grand Labyrinth, near one of those vast chambers that normally held a ziggurat. None was present this time, but Minaga had generously stocked it with numerous B-grade Elite Guards for Jake to target. How thoughtful of him.

During his meditation, Jake decided to do what felt right before evolving: review his complete status screen. He aimed to assess his progress over the recent years, as he’d earned those final levels and hit the peak of C-grade.

As he accessed the status, Jake scanned through it swiftly, noting the shifts since his last thorough check, which was around the time he departed the Pantheon of Life and went back to the Order of the Malefic Viper.

Status

Name: Jake Thayne

Race: [Human (C) – 329 --> 349]

Class: [Arcane Hunter of Horizon’s Edge – 332--> 349]

Profession: [Heretic-Chosen Alchemist of the Malefic Viper – 327--> 349]

Health Points (HP): 344,062/344,062 --> 414,087/414,087

Mana Points (MP): 584,732/584,732 --> 687,111/699,718

Stamina: 329,537/329,537 --> 302,099/387,675

Stats

Strength: 40033 --> 45477

Agility: 49928 --> 56146

Endurance: 26363 --> 31014

Vitality: 27525 --> 33127

Toughness: 22015 --> 26510

Wisdom: 37423 --> 44782

Intelligence: 30241 --> 36288

Perception: 64921 --> 80740

Willpower: 33860 --> 40790

Free points: 0

Titles: [Forerunner of the New World], [Bloodline Patriarch], [Holder of a Primordial’s True Blessing], [Dungeoneer XV], [Dungeon Pioneer XV], [Prodigious Slayer of the Mighty], [Kingslayer], [Nobility: Duke], [Progenitor of the 93rd Universe], [Prodigious Arcanist], [Perfect Evolution (D-grade)], [Premier Treasure Hunter], [Myth Originator], [Progenitor of Myriad Paths], [Perfect Evolution (C-grade)], [Nevermore Challenger All-star], [Peerless Conqueror of Nevermore], [Sacred Prodigy],[Dragonslayer]

Class Skills:[Supreme Stealth Attack (Epic)], [Splitting Arcane Arrow Rain (Epic)], [Bestial Hunter’s Tracking (Epic)], [Piercing Cursed Arcane Fang (Epic)], [Avaricious Arcane Hunter’s Arrows (Epic)], [Archery of Expanding Horizons (Ancient)] [Arcane Powershot (Ancient)], [Arcane Awakening (Ancient)], [One Step, Thousand Miles (Ancient)], [Horizon-chasing Big Game Arcane Hunter (Ancient)], [Mark of the Horizon-Chasing Arcane Hunter (Ancient)], [Penetrating Arcane Arrow of Horizon’s Edge (Ancient)], [Relentness Hunt of the Avaricious Arcane Hunter (Legendary)], [Arcane Supremacy (Legendary)], [Unseen Hunter Arcane Hunter (Legendary)], [Lone Hunter of Horizon’s Edge (Legendary)], [Protean Arrow of Eternal Horizons (Legendary)], [Timeless Focus of the Apex Hunter (Legendary)], [Fangs of Man (Legendary)], [Unblemished Arcane Arrows of the Horizon (Legendary)], [Eternal Shadow of the Primal Hunter (Mythical)], [Primal Gaze of the Apex Hunter (Mythical)], [Moment of the Primal Hunter (Mythical)], [Event Horizon (Mythical)]

Profession Skills: [Path of the Heretic-Chosen (Unique)], [Grimoire of the Heretic-Chosen (Unique)], [Alchemist’s Purification (Inferior)], [Brew Potion (Uncommon)], [Craft Elixir (Rare)], [Concoct Poison (Epic)], [Soul Ritualism of the Heretic-Chosen Alchemist (Ancient)], [Malefic Viper’s Poison (Ancient)], [Arcane Curse Manifestation (Ancient)], [Blood of the Malefic Viper (Legendary)], [Sense of the Malefic Viper (Legendary)], [Wings of the Malefic Viper (Legendary)], [Touch of the Malefic Viper (Legendary)], [Legacy Teachings of the Heretic-Chosen Alchemist (Legendary)],[Pride of the Malefic Viper (Legendary)], [Scales of the Malefic Viper (Legendary)], [Fangs of the Malefic Viper (Legendary)], [Core Manipulation of the Primal Hunter (Legendary)], [Divine Bargain of the Malefic Viper (Mythical)], [Sagacity of the Malefic Viper (Mythical)], [Heretic-Chosen’s Invocation of the Malefic Viper (Mythical)], [Palate of the Malefic Viper (Mythical)], [Alchemical Flame (Mythical)]

Blessing: [True Blessing of the Malefic Viper (Blessing - True)]

Race Skills:

Bloodline: [Bloodline of the Primal Hunter (Bloodline Ability - Unique)]

--

In terms of stats, Jake had clearly surged forward once more, with Perception seeing an especially massive boost ever since he began pouring every Free Point into it. He’d started to feel uneasy about Agility creeping too near his Perception, but fortunately, he’d erased that unbalanced view from his status. He absolutely wouldn’t tolerate a future where Perception wasn’t overwhelmingly his top stat—why on earth would he? After all, Perception stood as the ultimate stat.

Extra stats also came from his enhanced titles, including Dungeon Pioneer hitting its maximum, and far more crucially, Mythical Prodigy advancing to Sacred Prodigy. That upgrade alone delivered Jake a load of bonus flat stats, plus an extra 10% across all stats compared to the prior version. Truth be told, this single title caused a stat jump nearly as big as all his levels combined—or at least darn close. Jake wasn’t bothered to calculate it precisely.

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Jake had picked up the Dragonslayer title too, although he remained uncertain whether it was a net positive or negative. Negative in that it broadcast to every dragon spotting him that he’d slain one of their kind, likely sparking instinctive enmity from many, yet positive because claiming to be a Dragonslayer just sounded epic. Overall, it balanced out as a solid new title.

As for his skills, Jake hadn’t seen a ton of advancements since his previous review, but the ones that occurred mattered greatly. Well, except perhaps the initial one. This round, only a single class skill had leveled up: Superior Stealth Attack evolving into Supreme Stealth Attack, shifting from rare to epic rarity. Not the flashiest change, but Jake considered it a solid improvement nonetheless.

He’d mulled over pushing upgrades for other skills, particularly those he relied on heavily. Things like Arrow Rain, Arcane Arrows, Arcane Powershot, One Step, Thousand Miles… these formed the backbone of his combat style, yet none had advanced in ages. Jake wouldn’t call it neglect, but he hadn’t deliberately focused on enhancing them either, maybe to his regret.

Still, Jake harbored no regrets about not pursuing their upgrades more aggressively. Deep down, he even intentionally held off, convinced by a possibly misguided belief that, with sufficient use over time, these skills would evolve naturally. Since he employed them constantly, he grew instinctively proficient, and he preferred upgrading only after mastering them completely, ensuring a clear path forward.

Jake also aimed to steer clear of any suboptimal evolutions, especially for Arcane Powershot. That ability served as his mainstay, integral to his Path, and he wanted its base strong enough to carry him toward godhood. Even currently, Jake recognized that his ancient-rarity Arcane Powershot outpowered numerous legendary skills purely from his deep expertise with it.

If he chose to, Jake figured he could evolve the skill in under a week. The same held for various other key abilities, excluding perhaps One Step, Thousand Miles. For that one, Jake was content to force any progress, given its upgrade trajectory was already well-defined.

In the end, though, Jake opted for the organic, intuitive route for his essential skills. He also sensed strongly that at least one would evolve amid his class progression, and he had faith the system would shape it to align perfectly with his Path.

Shifting to profession skills, far more developments had unfolded there. Jake had managed to craft a Bane Poison, elevating Concoct Poison to epic rarity along the way, solidifying his status as not just a capable Heretic-Chosen but a respectable alchemist too.

Naturally, there was the fresh leap in Arcane Flame, vaulting from common rarity to mythical in a single bound—the most dramatic skill upgrade Jake had ever witnessed.

Yet equally vital, if not more, Palate of the Malefic Viper had been restored after Jake’s mishap and even attained mythical rarity. In truth, this marked his paramount skill enhancement, since a fractured soul and ruined skill would have sabotaged his evolution entirely.

Connected to repairing Palate of the Malefic Viper, Jake had acquired the race skill that unlocked his Sacred Prodigy title: Sage’s Meditation of Enlightenment. It offered no obvious instant benefits beyond the title and quicker resource recovery during rest, but Jake knew it would shine crucially later on. Besides, its tie to the First Sage meant it was bound to prove profoundly significant, as everything linked to the First Sage always did.

Reflecting overall, Jake felt that despite the modest number of upgrades, he’d delivered a strong closing surge to peak C-grade. Could he have pushed further? Evolved more skills? Chased deadlier beasts? Absolutely, but perfection ruins the good, and Jake knew he was exceptionally solid by his own measure.

Once his recovery wrapped up, Jake rose to his feet and opened his eyes. He cracked his neck, drew his bow, and soared skyward, having already pinpointed his next quarry via a Pulse of Perception. A squad of Elite Guards patrolled the spacious zone ahead, and with renewed enthusiasm, Jake maneuvered into place.

He ignited Arcane Awakening fully from the start, seeing no need to restrain himself. This was pure farming for that final experience sliver to elevate his race to level 350.

Jake powered up an Arcane Powershot completely and loosed it, attacking from concealment without a single Elite Guard detecting him. Their routine patrol halted abruptly as a surge of arcane power, led by the arrow, ripped through the Labyrinth and slammed into the lead guard.

The unfortunate Aginian exploded into pieces, his torso utterly demolished by the devastating strike. His three companions snapped to attention, searching for the assailant, but they only encountered a volley of arrows raining down from distance as Jake fired off a relentless salvo, soon engaging Timeless Focus to accelerate his onslaught.

Regaining their composure, the surviving three Elite Guards lunged at Jake with their characteristic velocity. They blurred into motion, plunging through the arrow storm while shielding as best they could, but the projectiles twisted and arced, hammering them persistently despite their robust armor.

During his prior run of this dungeon alongside Casper, teaming with the Risen had undoubtedly simplified the challenge and hastened completion, yet it had sidelined Jake’s Lone Hunter skill for most of it. That wasn’t the situation anymore, and combined with his added levels, these Elite Guards—who’d been no match before—faced an even grimmer ordeal now.

A second Elite Guard got hurled backward before nearing Jake, his form riddled with arrows. The pair of remaining guards closed in simultaneously, assaulting from opposite flanks. Jake held his ground, building an Arcane Powershot while targeting one, employing Primal Gaze to immobilize his foe.

The guard halted in mid-flight as Jake prolonged the charge on his Arcane Powershot slightly to guarantee a fatal hit. Meanwhile, the other guard swung in from the opposite angle, but midway through his attack, an unseen force shoved him away as a dark silhouette burst from Jake’s form and pierced his torso.

Eternal Shadow granted Jake the brief window he needed, allowing him to release the Powershot that shredded the midsection of the frozen Elite Guard.

One Elite Guard lay gravely wounded from enduring the brunt of Jake’s arrow fusillade, while the second swiftly dispatched Jake’s shadow, only to be repelled by a massive arcane blast from Jake’s kick.

With another shower of arrows, Jake dispatched the severely damaged Elite Guard in short order, leveraging a fresh Primal Gaze and the budding Hunting Momentum, then pivoted to confront the last survivor. This one was the toughest in the group, deliberately left for the finale.

Not inclined to drag things out, Jake parted his lips and uttered two words.

“Event Horizon.”

Again, he caught a fleeting vision of a realm far beyond his grasp as the Elite Guard became ensnared in his Event Horizon. The momentary bewilderment from Jake’s skill gave the hunter the opening to deliver the opening shot.

Reeling from the impact, the Elite Guard struggled to protect himself while closing the gap, but Jake’s barrage showed no mercy, with arrows swarming from every angle yet unerringly striking true. The B-grade never made it to Jake, instead tumbling earthward under the relentless arrow hail, lifeless well before hitting the floor.

Jake verified the last of the four kill alerts as he stowed his bow. Rather than dropping his enhancement skill, he spun about and dashed back toward his starting point.

He unleashed One Step repeatedly without hesitation, blinking across the Grand Labyrinth briefly until he arrived at his goal. Touching down on the magic circle, Jake received a prompt that he accepted without delay, whisking him from the dungeon.

Minaga awaited outside, but unlike almost every prior encounter, the Unique Lifeform stayed silent. He merely offered an understanding nod as Jake sped to the teleportation hub, activating it promptly to whisk him to Haven.

With Unseen Hunter engaged, no interruptions plagued Jake’s haste to his lodge. He touched down directly before the porch, glanced at the tiny eels in the pond to note that someone had pilfered his bananas once more, then entered the dwelling.

Only then did he shut off Arcane Awakening, and though the ensuing fatigue washed over him, Jake paid it no mind. He proceeded to his bedroom and settled onto the well-known bed, reserved for truly momentous moments.

This qualified as one, since that ultimate kill notice hadn’t arrived solo—it had arrived alongside the very thing Jake had anticipated for so long.