The Primal Hunter's
Dreamtime

Smiling with satisfaction, Jake pulled out two empty bottles. Usually, a batch like this would quickly fill four or five bottles, but the results of the first creation were not very good. He took a long time to craft and thus had vaporized many potions. But that was a bit expected, so Jake didn't think too much about it. It was a success, and that's the most important part.

Bottling it, he identified the poison.

[Hemotoxic Poison (General)] – Greatly increases bleeding in infected entities and makes wounds more difficult to heal. Toxins must be put directly into the bloodstream to get any effect.

That's really the same description of the low-scarcity version, except it adds "very" at the beginning. But Jake could sense that it was much stronger. The energy he expended was very clear, as expected after expending over 2500 mana during the potion.

Not because the manufacturing process takes a lot of things, but because, again, Jake does it very slowly and inefficiently. Something that will definitely improve as he gets more practice.

Now, his armor that could be recovered by their enchant had been repaired. His mana was low, and his stamina was not full either. He even lost some health points due to the toxic fumes released during the manufacturing process - the danger of trade.

Cleaning up everything, she looked at Mother Den as she was still sitting motionless.

Soon, he thought while smiling to himself.

Entering meditation, time passed as he slowly recovered his resources. During meditation, all senses except touch are completely cut off. He could still feel his energy and energy moving within his body, but there was nothing outside of him. With his normal senses, it. His usual Perception Scope was unaffected, and he had made it a habit to try and practice it during meditation.

At first, he could only see material objects through it, but after the first evolution at level 10, he also started to sense faint mana in the air.

It was just a little wind push. When Jake focused, it was as if he could 'see' the faint fog that covered everything. As he practiced using mana, and as his alchemy increased with mana control, so did his ability to sense it.

Every moment, he could feel it around him. He could pull it and try to bend it. He had tried many things, but so far, the only thing he had really managed to do was weave the strings. It was one of the first achievements he had with mana, and it stayed that way. But the limit was that this rope had to be attached to his body. Something that should not be needed.

So he spent his meditation trying to do just that. Manipulate mana without touching it directly. The biggest obstacle was to have mana that was not spread out just like that. If he made a piece of rope connected to his body, the moment he made it detach from himself, it would only be swept away. It was like it had no substance, so it just integrated back into where the atmosphere was.

As he meditated, hour after hour passed, and soon he began to feel a different kind of fatigue. His stamina recovered, but he still felt increasingly tired. No, fatigue is definitely the right word. Fatigue that a person feels after standing for too long, and the body eventually lowers its legs.

Thinking about it, he had been awake for a long time. He did not need as much sleep as before; it was obvious...but did he not need ANY sleep?

Herb meditation and stamina had kept him afloat for a long time. Maybe too long. The problem is .. He doesn't want to sleep.

Doing alchemy, training mana control, fighting, all of this was something to do. These things keep Jake's mind active. Occupied. It keeps out distorted thoughts and worries.

But if he sleeps, the floodgates will open. The last time he slept, he had a dream. The dream for him was a nightmare. He sees his family, his friends, the people in his life that he cares about. Those dreams only serve as a reminder of what she may have lost and what she doesn't even know if she still has it.

It should be remembered that upon entering the tutorial, Jake's lowest status is willpower. He was never the strong-willed type. He is the type of person who focuses on one thing and then becomes very devastated for a long time if it doesn't work out.

When he had an accident that stopped him from archery, he was depressed for a long time. He never took up a new hobby but simply wallowed in despair. Just because he was set on the university entrance path by his parents, he recovered. He has a new purpose. But he was still never serious about doing a new hobby again.

The same thing happened with his first relationship. After that, he never dared to pursue a new one. That experience had hurt him, and he was now hiding from him. And now he's doing the exact same thing.

He knew something bad had happened outside of the inner area, but he did not want to check it out. He didn't want to face anything. He prefers to hide and do things himself. Fighting to the death was simple. He knew how to do it because the outcome of the fight depended on him in the end.

But if his family is still alive.if his friends now there are only dozens of people outside who are still alive. It's not up to him.

He wanted to avoid anything beyond the one-mind path he was on at the moment, in other words. He has learned all his life to do so amazingly. To focus excessively on one goal at a time and complete set goals with excellent efficiency. That's why he's good at his job and why he's good at archery, to begin with.

Now, however, a sleep disorder is afflicting him. He managed to avoid the dream during the dungeon challenge somehow. He had slept back then, but he had managed to dream of alchemy. To dream of his duty. Something he feared he wouldn't do this time.

Retreating further, Jake goes into the tunnel that connects the two caves. Fighting the beast was foolish in its current state. He felt sluggish. Slow. He had to sleep, despite his desire not to do so.

Calling out the bed, he simply threw himself into his stomach as his eyelids grew heavier. As his body touched the sheets, his eyes closed, and a sleeping hug enveloped him.

As his mind began to rest, so did the chains that bound his mind. And once again, memories swirled out from his subconscious. A dream that immediately feels.wrong.

This dream is a memory. One that depicts Jake's darkest period of life.

He was at the time staying with a roommate when he went to university. They were friends from before and had applied to the university at the same time. To save money, they decide to get a place together and share the rent.

It was just a small flat, but it was their flat. Everything is absolutely fantastic. Although there were some hurdles at the beginning about who was washing the dishes and eventually decided to do the dishes, their relationship grew closer. Jake trusts his roommate with everything and believes that his friend trusts him back.

At that time, Jake even managed to get a girlfriend. He was in the same faculty, and they had fused well. None of them are overly social, so they find happiness by meeting and watching movies, enjoying their solitude together.

Jake has two people he let close in on at the university. Andrew, or just Andy, and Madeline. He's been with her for over two years, and things are going well there too. In short, she has a close friend, a boyfriend, and everything. At least Jake interpreted it that way because he didn't want to face it to be the other way around.

Everything went wrong on one fateful day. Jake has been visiting his parents for the holidays and plans to stay with them for a few more days between Christmas and the new year. But his mother convinced him to come back and spend some time off with his friends. His mind came from the right place, but the result was a disaster.

Jake thinks his roommate is out; he has said that he will be at his parents' house until the next day. His girlfriend said the same thing.

That day he got off the train and took the bus to their flat. He stopped by a small shop on the way to get milk and other necessities on the way. He wants to keep it when Andy gets back. To be a good roommate.

With two bags, he limped up the stairs like a duck. A silly smile on his face as he bought things to shock the two people he cared about most from his university life. Her plan for a fun dinner the next day had been set, and she was excited.

Putting down one bag as he reached the door, he took out his key and opened it. It was late in the afternoon, and the sun was already setting. She thought her apartment would be dark but it turned out that the lights were already on at the entrance. Strange, he thought as he entered. Andy must have forgotten to turn it off when he left.

But the thought soon dissipated when he heard some muffled sounds. Besides, there's someone there. Did Andy also return prematurely?

This might have made him suspect that something was amiss, but he once again chose not to think too much about it when he finished emptying the bag. He must have come or something after he left and accidentally forgot him or something.

After that, he went to take off his shoes so as not to dirty the place more than necessary. As he went to take it off, he noticed two pairs were already there. Andy. and Madeline. Whahuh?

A feeling began to build up in his stomach. His mind says that shit is wrong. So wrong. But he kept pressing her, because he kept making excuses. There must be a logical explanation. Yes, the two of them had just returned earlier than expected and decided to take a short walk. Totally normal.

Jake, however, still can't kill that feeling. Looking at Andrew's room door, he decided not to delay. The muffled voice continued as he slowly approached. Placing his ears at the door, he was afraid of what he would hear.

Fortunately, what he heard was not what he was afraid of - a film. He reprimanded himself for his stupidity and paranoia with a sigh of relief, for he no longer hesitated and opened the door with a smile. A smile that quickly faded away.

Two people lay curled up together on the bed. A black-haired man with a beard, and a red-haired woman. Both naked. And the two turned their heads towards Jake as he stood there looking like an idiot in the doorway.

Thoughts swirled in his head as he watched her. No one speaks, as the silence is finally broken by Jake who turns around and closes the door again.

He went and put on his coat and shoes once more and left the apartment without a word. He got on the bus again and returned to the train.

Throughout the journey, his face did not change. The mind keeps turning. How could he be so stupid? Ignoring all the signs for so long? He would have lied to himself if he had no previous suspicions. But he trusted them.

Arriving in his hometown, he got off the train and returned to another bus. Her phone had a few missed calls from Madeline and Andy, but she ignored them all. When he got to where his parents were, his mother, of course, was surprised to see him after only a few hours. She didn't even get to ask anything before Jake cried on the kitchen floor.

He missed the first month of the semester.

When he came back, he already had a new place. His father had arranged for the movers to do everything for him. He acted as if nothing had happened as he ignored Madeline and Andrew.

Before the break up, Jake was a good student. After that, he soared to the top of almost all of his courses. Jake ignores anything and everything as he delves into his studies. He doesn't think about friends or love. A part of him was cut off from then on, and it would take many years before the faint sparks would reappear.

Or that's what happened. But dreams have a way of not being completely accurate. Jake finds himself back after he just found the two of them together.

When Jake closes the bedroom door in his dream, he goes to wear his shoes and coat like he used to. But instead of a jacket and shoes, he wears his gear - boots, robes, bracelets, rings, and necklaces, along with his dagger and sword, and of course, his bow of trust.

He left the apartment like before, but this time he found 'Andy' in the hallway.

"Just go like that?" She asked. She was still naked as if she had just teleported here from the bed. But on his face hung a smile that Jake could not recognize. It feels. wrong.

"Yes," Jake replied, as he tried to walk past him, his face was blank.

"Like you left Jacob and the others?" ask Andi.

"Yes." Yeah."

"Like you left the whole fucking world to go play hunter?"

"Right," Jake replied as he turned to look at Andy. Now, he was completely clear - his dream illusion was shattered. He's still dreaming .. but he's conscious. And he can feel it. Dipped his heart, as blood flowed through his system. His bloodline and instincts flared up. Scope of observing everything.

He felt the intent of 'Andy' before him. Manipulation, something he would have fallen down many times before when he ignored his instincts.

“It's not that important, Jacob will betray you like everyone else. Oh wait, he already has, doesn't he?” said the fake person in front of him, still smiling sinisterly.

Jaka shook his head. He sensed what the creature in front of him wanted, and it irritated him. He felt the thought of killing Jacob popped up for a split second, but the way it happened was too unnatural. Whatever he tried in front of him obviously didn't work, but he didn't let it appear. Why he wanted her back for Jacob was irrelevant because the stupidity that lay before him only made him reaffirm what he wanted: Power.

Beings like the Malefic Viper could disappear for many years, yet no one dared to touch its Ordo core. Not out of respect, courtesy, or morals. But out of fear. The fear that the counterattack will be far more than they can handle. The fear that countless powers would descend upon them. The power Jake wants more than anything.

He was no longer the man who would break down his mother's kitchen floor for treason. He is the one who will fix the situation.

If he had the strength he held now, what would he do? Spreading the story of their affair to ruin their reputation? Getting them expelled somehow? Told to their parents? Defeat one or both? Or worse, kill them?

He didn't know, and honestly, it didn't matter. What matters is that he can. He has the power to do it. Or he will have the power to do so. Moreover, if he had that power ... would they dare to betray him, right from the start?

The next moment, Jake disappears from the dream. From start to finish, he never showed the slightest reaction to anything said.

Sighing, 'Andy' looked to the side as the entire side of the apartment complex turned to dust.

"I'm surprised you didn't interfere," he spoke in a loud voice.

"Well, why me?" a voice echoed within the dreamland. "I'm pretty sure you just made him mad."

Two green eyes opened in the dream sky as everything began to slowly disintegrate.

"Oh and .." the voice echoed as killing intent descended upon the entire dreamland. “Never pull that shit again. ”

With that, the entire dream turned to zero, leaving only a fake 'Andy' in the void. His eternal smile was still on his lips as sparks of interest entered his eyes.

“Truly strange..” he spoke before his karmic projection disappeared.