The Primal Hunter 4 (The Primal Hunter, #4)

by Zogarth

[Splitting Arrow (Uncommon)] – One arrow becomes many; one fallen prey becomes a field of death. Fire an arrow that splits into several copies while in flight. Each arrow strikes with the power of the original. Adds a small bonus to the effect of Agility and Strength when using Splitting Arrow. --> [Enhanced Splitting Arrow (Rare)] – A skill most often used by archers, now usurped and reformed by the Avaricious Arcane Hunter. Allows you to clone your arrows while in flight, allowing them to retain innate magical properties. Each arrow strikes with the power of the original. Adds a small bonus to the effect of Agility and Wisdom when using Enhanced Splitting Arrow.

When he shot an arrow at the third Matriarch, the fourth one had decided to join in too, with all the young monkeys being ushered into the buildings surrounding the ancient temple. Jake had already found out they led to some small underground caves that were pretty much safety shelters. Jake had no interest in going after the young ones. He was no sand-hating youngling slayer, after all. Besides, he didn’t have a laser sword.

Five of them took to the air the moment he entered and moved to protect Arnold, it seemed. The only thing they really did was make the man aware of Jake’s presence. He turned around. "Ah, you’re here. I need you to help make bombs." Jake was pretty sure he’d just gotten placed on some kind of watch list.

Sylphie did feel that Uncle was a bit strong himself, but compared to Mom and Dad? Nah, Mom and Dad were super much stronger. But it was okay, because Sylphie could always protect Uncle so he could play with his smelly pot as much as he wanted! Sylphie was super kind like that.

This is to say, good or evil were one hundred percent subjective terms. Yet today, he was swayed in that belief. Mushrooms were—according to him—evil. Villy liked mushrooms, but at least he liked to eat them. But these… Deepdwellers… These monsters… They didn’t just eat mushrooms, or control them as tools… They lived in synergy with them. The Fungalmancers’ cloaks weren’t there just to cover their bare skin, but also the many fungi growing all over their bodies. They were living incubators of evil, abominations, a mix between Deepdweller and fungus. Jake knew it was his job—nay, responsibility—to purge this objective evil from the world. Jake would not strike from the darkness this time. No, he would walk in and crush them in his malefic crusade.

The troll defended a mushroom. Bad guy. The Deepdwellers practically worshipped mushrooms. Even badder guys. Jake hated mushrooms. Good guy. It was just math.

It was just a normal day in the village. The Deepdwellers spent it covering themselves in mushroom spores, praying to mushrooms, infusing energy into mushrooms, tending to mushrooms, talking about mushrooms, and thinking about mushrooms. Their evil acts had attracted a hero of justice. One who had come to put an end to their villainous ways. Justice would be swift and effective, but more importantly, highly explosive.

But for now… for now, Jake would clear out any village he came across on his warpath through the dungeon, leaving not a single Deepdweller alive in his wake. For lest we forget, they were evil, mushroom-loving monsters. Thus his righteous crusade continued.

Jake looked up and over at Miranda and then back at Neil, who gave him an affirming nod and muttered, "And they seemed damn proud of themselves too…" He threw a final glance after Silas, who was already far gone, but Jake could still see him shaking slightly. Jake decided there and then to make an executive decision as he put Sylphie down on the table. She read his mood and allowed him. Miranda looked over at him, and she understood as she made a subtle nod. He got up and received a few confused glances when he walked into the cabin with the four women. A loud noise. Two people were sent flying out through the side of the cabin and into the plains, a figure chasing them. An explosion. Yells and curses. And then… silence. A single person returned not even two minutes after departing and jumped back on the ship. *You have slain [Human - lvl 101 / Crudelis Hexer - lvl 109 / Experienced Silk Seamstress– lvl 89] *You have slain [Human - lvl 101 / Crudelis Hexer - lvl 107 / Recognized Jeweller of Zeil’Juia – lvl 91] Jake walked over to the chair and sat down, cleaning his hands on his cloak. Sylphie just jumped back on his shoulder as if nothing had happened. Everyone looked at him. "Continue."

Some even began to think she was the strongest archer on Earth, period, believing she had a shot against the mysterious Lord Thayne of Haven. Bertram didn’t agree with that at all… He knew exactly how much of a monster Jake was. A monster that was currently training harder than anyone.

Uncle also didn’t like monkeys throwing smelly stuff—which was weird, because Uncle liked playing with a smelly pot, but maybe they were different? Different kinds of smelly? Sylphie figured it out. She was so smart. One thing she had learned was that she had to get strong and defend Uncle so he could keep playing with her and his smelly pot. Sylphie liked Uncle; he was one of her three favorite people in the whole world. So in order to realize her goal, she had to beat up the bad monkey.

Hawkie’s fall ceased as he felt the familiar presence. A warm liquid entered his beak… one he also recognized. He felt the warmth spread in his body as he was swiftly moved through the air. He heard the cries of Sylphie, who seemed almost… panicked? There was no reason for that. Didn’t she understand? A true apex predator had arrived. Jake had teleported through the air, every step faster than the one before. With Limit Break active at 20%, every fiber of his being was focused. Mana condensed, he stepped, and he teleported, his momentum increasing as he ran. His speed was faster than anything he had ever achieved before. Every step was over two hundred meters, with more than ten steps now taken a second. He saw the eagle in the distance. He froze it. He took a few more dozen steps until he landed not on mana, but the back of the beast. Every shred of momentum he’d built up for far over a thousand kilometers was released with that one footfall. Jake’s leg hurt as the veins on it burst, while the frozen eagle was sent smashing straight down, a crack sounding out as its weak bones also gave out. His focus wasn’t on the beast, however. He felt anxious as he teleported again and summoned his wings. He caught Hawkie and quickly fed him a healing potion. A quick flight, and he reached Sylphie and gave her one too. She looked confused and afraid at his presence, screeching with warnings. Sylphie tried to make him leave. Jake just smiled as he picked her up and flew over to where h...

Sylphie looked down towards the biggest eagle and was surprised. It looked back up at them, but it didn’t move. It just sat there. Staring. It looked almost scared. Why would the biggest eagle be scared of Uncle? Were Dad and Mom right? Was Uncle actually super-duper strong? She got her answer when he summoned a stick. A string-shooty stick.