Zogarth
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Chapter 1022 - Bargain & Choice
🕑 Added 2024-11-18 12:20:24 +0000 UTCJake surveyed the core room a while longer to get a proper understanding of the environment. After having done so, he got to work with making a simple set of magic circles to facilitate what was to come.
Now, Jake had long considered how he could fuck with a Planetary Core, and the most obvious answer was the mythical Sin weapon he carried around. Using Eternal Hunger, Jake didn’t doubt he would be able to destroy an entire planet using his current ritual magic skills, but… he wasn’t dealing with a Planetary Core right now.
Cores were unclaimed. Natural. Seeing as they were part of the environment, they didn’t possess any innate will or intent, which made them a lot weaker to outside influence. It was like the difference between a stone wall summoned by a mage to block an attack or a natural wall of stone.
Once the Planetary Core became a Planetary Pylon, its defenses were heightened to an entirely new level. Someone like the Child of Loss wouldn’t be able to do much to a Planetary Pylon as it would passively fight back according to the will of the owner, and that wasn’t a fight any C-grade had a chance of winning.
Jake also knew that Touch of the Malefic Viper wouldn’t be enough. This isn’t to say Jake didn’t have any methods in mind. Given enough time and a complex enough ritual, Jake should be able to slowly influence the Pylon, though, once more, it wouldn’t be any fast endeavor.
Perhaps this was why Ell’Hakan hadn’t bothered much with placing defenses at the Pylon. He didn’t expect anyone to be able to cause it any harm, especially not before he would notice. As the owner, he would naturally be notified the second anyone messed with it, putting into risk any long-term ritual. The only times such rituals were useful tended to be with the World Leader missing or put out of commission, neither of which were true here.
All of this is to say that Jake had planned on just killing Ell’Hakan as his primary goal for a reason. Now, things had changed, and he now had the confidence to take on the Pylon due to a certain new skill.
As a reminder, when Jake reached level 260 in his profession, he got the skill called Chosen’s Offering of the Malefic Viper. A skill he hadn’t touched a single time ever since getting it despite its legendary rarity. The reason for this was because of the other skill he was offered alongside it… one he had now picked after reaching level 290 during his Villy roasting session above Primordial-4.
[Heretic’s Offering of the Malefic Viper (Legendary)] – To infringe upon the domain of the Malefic Viper and rob the Primordial’s Records is a great achievement. Allows the alchemist to make an offer to the Malefic Viper and be granted an Offering Fragment. Based on the value of the innate Records in the offering, you will be rewarded with a better Offering Fragment. The Offering Fragment contains Records and energy related to the Malefic Viper and can help empower other sources of Records and energy related to the Malefic Viper. All offerings must surpass a certain threshold to be submittable, and to hide your heretical actions from the Malefic One, there is an internal cooldown of the skill dependent on the value of the Offering Fragment received.
It was a skill practically identical to Chosen’s Offering of the Malefic Viper, except for some changes in wording and whatnot. What the skill would do was effectively allow Jake to offer stuff to Villy and get a catalyst for alchemy in return. At least, that’s how he read it.
Jake had very purposefully not used the Chosen’s Offering skill because he assumed doing so would mean losing the ability to pick the Heretic’s Offering one. Alright, there was a risk he would cut him off from the other skill merely by picking the first one, but things had gone the way he’d hoped.
Especially after he picked the second one… and what he’d hoped for happened. The two legendary skills that were so damn alike they might as well have been one turned out to indeed be part of a greater whole. Well, Jake assumed they were, based on how they’d instantly merged with one another. This merge of skills had given Jake something he wasn’t sure how worked, but it had to be good based on the fact it was mythical. Right?
[Divine Bargain of the Malefic Viper (Mythical)] – In your eyes, to make an offering is an act of subservience you refuse to take part in. No, to you, the Malefic One is an equal you deem yourself worthy of bargaining with. Allows the Heretic-Chosen to initiate a Divine Bargain using an entity he wishes to use for negotiation, forcibly creating an equal exchange between himself and the Malefic Viper. Upon successfully performing a Divine Bargain, the Heretic-Chosen will, by default, receive a Malefic Bargaining Fragment but may be granted other benefits based on the nature of the Divine Bargain. Malefic Bargaining Fragments contains Records and energy related to the Malefic Viper and can help empower other sources of Records and energy related to the Malefic Viper. Under certain conditions, the Malefic One can actively take part in the Divine Bargaining. Laws of equivalent exchange must be upheld to a certain standard. All bargained entities must surpass a certain threshold of Records to be submittable. This skill has an internal cooldown based on the nature of the Divine Bargain performed.
Right off the bat, it was a really long skill description. Jake did like it a lot more than the previous ones, though. Divine Bargain also sounded a lot more appealing than making an offering, as it was something one did between equals. Well, as equal as a god and mortal could become.
As for the skill itself, it was indeed quite complex, but it had the same concept as the offering ones for the most part. It would allow Jake to give Villy stuff, and Villy would give him a Malefic Bargaining Shard back in return, at least most of the time. With this version, he could also get other benefits, it seemed, with neither the system nor the innate knowledge he’d been granted telling him what these other benefits were.
What the innate knowledge did let him know was how to do a Divine Bargain. More accurately, it let him know how many ways there were to do it. It also included what he could offer and do with the skill. The more he studied the innate knowledge, he also realized that the skill had some rather unbalanced features, in his humble opinion, one of which would become clear once he was done setting up his ritual in the core chamber.
He also felt as if his decision not to use the skill had been good based on the first section of the skill. At least, it would have been very weird if it spoke about not agreeing to give offerings if he had actually used the skill to ever give any. Getting stuck with just the Chosen’s Offering skill would have sucked majorly, and more likely than not, even ended up hurting Jake’s Path as a Heretic-Chosen down the line as merely possessing the skill could be viewed as an act of subservience.
Oh, also, small side note… Jake found it really funny that both Chosen’s Offering and Heretic’s Offering had actual explanations for the skill’s cooldown period. Meanwhile, with the Divine Bargain, the system just straight-up told him it had a cooldown, borderline admitting it was entirely system-imposed and nothing else. Then again, based on all his talks with Villy, the system likely had its reasons for placing such a cooldown on a skill, and he should actually be happy he couldn’t use it constantly, as doing so would have fucked him up long-term somehow.
Anyway, there was still a lot to unpack with the skill, and Jake felt like it would need quite a few uses to fully understand it. For now, he had to prepare to initiate his first Divine Bargain, which was why he needed a ritual circle.
Starting a Divine Bargain wasn’t as simple as pointing at something and going: “Villy, I’ve come to bargain!” but you had to actually set up proper conditions. The simplest way of doing this was to set up a ritual circle, but other things like having a permanent altar or something like that would also work, a bit like how Miranda had her permanent ritual site below her office in Haven.
Jake preferred to just go the ritual route, though, primarily because he was actually pretty good at rituals by now. Continuing to work on the ritual circles, he prepared to create a spherical magic circle wrapped around the Planetary Pylon to initiate everything.
Now… before, it was touched upon how a C-grade couldn’t realistically destroy a Pylon. Jake couldn’t destroy one either, but he knew instinctively he could bargain with it. Of course, it wasn’t as simple as just initiating the bargain. No, he also had to claim ownership during the bargaining process.
In other words, the ritual would set into motion Jake laying claim on the Pylon with the intent of offering it to the Malefic Viper. This would put Ell’Hakan on a timer, with Jake getting the Pylon if either too long time passed or, preferably, he killed Ell’Hakan.
As for Ell’Hakan stopping the ritual? Well… it wasn’t really Jake doing the ritual, now was it? No, it was him and the Malefic Viper taking part in the Divine Bargain. So, for Ell’Hakan, his only choice was to either make Jake flee far enough away so that the Divine Bargain would be interrupted – which would require him to force Jake off the planet, seeing as the entire planet was technically what was being bargained – or to kill Jake. Something he assumed Ell’Hakan also viewed as the best option.
Funnily enough, one of the things Jake didn’t really consider was what he could potentially get out of the Divine Bargain in the first place. Neither did he consider that it was pretty crazy for him to offer something that didn’t even belong to him as part of a bargain. What’s more, it was even something that would actively benefit him to get rid of.
Then again… it did take a special kind of mindset and arrogance to believe yourself worthy of dealing with gods as equal to be able to perform something like a Divine Bargain.
One thing that Jake had thought plenty of while ignoring all those other practical things was the facial expression Ell’Hakan would get once he noticed what Jake was up to, and as his preparations were nearing completion, he really couldn’t wait.
--
“Still no signs of him?” Ell’Hakan asked the gathered mages, all of them looking nervous. He already knew the answer to his question, but he still asked.
“None, Celestial One,” the oldest of the mages said with a bow. “We’ve scanned the skies and sent out many scouts, but we fear his stealth skills may be beyond our capabilities.”
“I see,” Ell’Hakan nodded, tapping the armrest of his throne with a finger. This entire scenario was a rather frustrating one. He wanted to just go out there and look himself, but he knew it would be too risky in case the Chosen of the Malefic Viper was just sitting in wait, like a snake hiding in its mound.
Ell’Hakan had also been actively monitoring the entire planet and even what was slightly outside of it for large ripples in space. One of the things he and his mages had discovered was that these forced teleportations to planets were far from subtle and caused quite a detectable ripple in space. Based on readings, only one teleportation had been performed in the immediate surroundings of Ell’Hakan’s homeworld, meaning they were likely only dealing with the hunter.
This monitoring of space wasn’t just to see if he would be getting reinforcements. It was as much to see if the hunter would flee after his initial attack hadn’t found its mark. Ell’Hakan knew he could teleport back to his own Prima Vessel whenever he wanted using the ring part of the system event, but that ring also wasn’t very subtle. Detection magic attuned to the Prima Guardian Alliance teleportation circles would instantly detect if he used it, but so far, nothing.
Which was why Ell’Hakan found himself so frustrated. While he could contribute somewhat, being trapped in his own palace with a war ravaging the Milky Way Galaxy didn’t help at all. He even considered if the hunter was just trying to keep him there to help his allies gain more ground in the conflict.
All he got were reports of them facing more and more problems, especially when faced with the elites of Earth. Truthfully, Ell’Hakan did envy the allies the Chosen of the Malefic Viper had gathered around him. He had, in part, gotten lucky by encountering them, but he’d also actively helped create these powerful allies, so maybe he shouldn’t be too envious. He also had to remember he would have plenty of chances to make his own allies in the near future alongside the Holy Church.
As Ell’Hakan was still considering matters while getting constant updates and giving orders to the people he’d spread across the galaxy, the gate to the throne room opened as the Augur walked in.
“Augur, I do not have the time to-“
“Make time,” the Augur said, looking Ell’Hakan directly in the eyes.
The nahoom frowned as he raised a hand. “Clear the room.”
None of his subordinates questioned him as they instantly left, with only a few of his closest generals staying. Looking at them, Ell’Hakan shook his head. “Everyone but me and the Augur.”
The generals looked surprised but still nodded as they left the room, closing the gate behind them. Doing so also activated the passive seals, hiding the conversation about to take place from everyone.
“You delayed me on purpose back there after the ritual… and if you hadn’t, I would have been back around the time the Chosen of the Malefic Viper attacked,” Ell’Hakan said, glaring at the Augur.
“Yes,” the human simply nodded.
“Why?” Ell’Hakan asked, genuinely unsure. He didn’t even know if the Augur doing so had helped or harmed him. It was entirely possible he would have gotten attacked unprepared if he had teleported back a bit earlier, but it was equally possible he had just lost a great opportunity to kill the hunter.
The Augur was silent for a moment before sighing. “My purpose is to guide people onto their most ideal Paths. For people like you and him, it’s nearly impossible for me to give any advice, but I do have some insights. Going through with the ritual was a good thing for you and will help strengthen your foundation for what’s to come… and wasting all that isn’t in the interest of me or the Holy Church.”
“Wasting it, huh…” Ell’Hakan muttered.
“You still have obligations towards the Holy Church. Ones you must fulfill,” The Augur continued. “So, allow me to give you some advice, not just from the Church, but as an Augur who wishes to guide you… leave. Leave this planet and, eventually, this galaxy. You are to be part of the Holy Church, the largest organization in the entire multiverse. Anything you lose here can be rebuilt a hundredfold elsewhere.”
Ell’Hakan looked at the Augur, reading his emotions as a wry smile appeared on his lips. “You don’t want me to fight the hunter.”
“I do not,” he shook his head.
“Even after everything, you still view him as a friend, huh?” Ell’Hakan asked, and the brief emotional ripple he got from the Augur served as confirmation. “You’re really willing to go far to save him. Then again, I would guess the Holy Church prefers a scenario where they don’t make the Malefic Viper, who’s just shown himself to not be as washed up as first believed, an enemy.”
“You misunderstand,” the Augur sighed, looking at the floor.
“I do?” Ell’Hakan raised an eyebrow. “Are you perhaps implying that the Chosen of the Malefic Viper is more powerful than I, even on my own homeworld?”
“That’s not what I’m saying either. I’m not even going to comment on that, as it’s not my place,” the Augur once more just sighed as he looked up at Ell’Hakan. “What I am saying is that you have a choice to make now. A crossroads is before you. On one path, you stay here and fight the Chosen of the Malefic Viper and whatever that might bring. The other is one where you leave with the Holy Church, putting the past behind you. One where you forget the enemies you inherited from Yip of Yore and focus solely on the future. With time, all old wounds have a chance to mend, and while I’m not saying you could ever be allies or even people who don’t hold hatred toward each other, this will be the only option where the two of you even have a chance to coexist.”
“So you want me to run?”
“I want you to choose, aware that what you do today will define your life and Path going forward,” the Augur said, his words genuine. “I won’t make the choice for you, but I will let you make an informed one and advise you that some fights aren’t worth it.”
Ell’Hakan looked down at the Augur, unsure what exactly he was playing at. Was he trying to protect the hunter? Was he genuine in his advice? Based on his emotional readings, it did appear that Augur was genuine.
“Tell me, and don’t skirt around this one… who do you think would win if we fought?”
“Neither,” the Augur answered without any hesitation. “The only loser will be the Holy Church, no matter the outcome.”
“You really are frustrating,” Ell’Hakan sighed. “But, fine. You’ve said your piece. Now leave.”
The Augur nodded. “Don’t take my word lightly. This is perhaps the most impactful choice you’ll ever make.”
Ell’Hakan waved him off, the Augur turning around and walking toward the gate leading out of the throne room. However, just before exiting, he stopped and looked back at Ell’Hakan.
“You still underestimate him… not because you are overestimating yourself or downplaying him, but because you continue to fail to grasp exactly what you’re dealing with.”
With those words, the Augur walked out of the gate, not giving Ell’Hakan a chance to respond.
Comments
ElRealUnPedaso
I love all the references
jujuxxbean
The first half of the chapter with Jake had me absolutely giddy. I'm also looking forward to Ell’Hakan's face when he realizes what Jake is up to. Let's go!
Sonny Herman
Dr. Strange reference nice!
Justin
I Know it won't happen, but it would kind of be refreshing if he actually took Jacob's advice and left.
Chloe
Tyftc
Michael Ferguson
I feel like am the fly buzzing around Jake's kills. Jacob needs to suffer. Or I want him to.
Seen Death
While we were told about the First Sage through villys eyes, we might not know what we think we do about FS. However the knowledge we do have, is the first sage wanted to be killed by the viper, and we are now pretty sure he is somehow still somewhat alive inside the system. A super far fetched idea i had myself, would be what if Jake was the first sage, time traveling from the future? I doubt it myself but it would be interesting. They both had different bloodlines though, and im not sure why being killed by villy would be desirable We should get a lot more details after jake visits FS after hes saved up enough of those skill credit thingies
Dave
Great chapter
Ray Light
“Villy, I’ve come to bargain!” Dr Strange reference! Whoop
William WIlson
I think your right. Personally I think Jacob will eventually be the Augur of hope for Jake's order or what ever organization he sets up. Jacob the Primal Augur of hope.
William WIlson
I think the first sage is either the creator of the system or is the system. Possibly that the first Sage was 1 of 12 who were supposed to be the Primordials originally but Villy killed him because he was born with the powers of a god and didn't have the right mindset same with the other 12.
Gavin
This is actually a great theory because I have nfi what the FS is up to but it just feels dastardly.
SpitEoll
I think he just means, if one of them dies, if EH dies, they lose the bloodline, if Jake dies, they the lost the benefits Jake's bloodline could bring to the multiverse and by extension to the holy church. So the holy church loses. Worst case, the survivor or both are deeply wounded, ireemediably or loses momentum for the time needed to nurse wounds
Anthony Jenkins
Planetary Sacrifice! Planetary Sacrifice! Planetary Sacrifice! Sacrificing Planets!
Jeremiah Lambert
If cheeto runs to the church and the church protects dcheeto, you know it's gonna be Jake vs. Holy mother Anora (not sure where I heard this but somewhere it's said that; "Anora might be the strongest Primordial" all though valdemar might raise issues with that he isn't actually mentioned in any of those side stories, also he is just considered one of the strongest not "the" strongest, where as there isn't much to go on Anora besides the side stories saying she is one of or is the strongest of the Primordials. I really think Jake vs. Holy mother and Eversmile is gonna be the next big plot. Would be cool
Ben Heystek
I do believe that what Jacob meant by the whole neither will win is the holy church will now be against Jake after the death of EH making the church an enemy would bring a whole new perspective with the church vs villys peeps. You know having to be a primordial playing the universe like pawns in a chess game because the primordials get bored in their old age.
Ty Cooper
Villy pulls out the popcorn and gets Duskleaf "told you it was a matter of time. Now let's watch the show." Duskleaf countering with he won the bet that if he does one it won't be directly to the viper
Ty Cooper
Yeah he pretty much said you can fight Jake now or forget your path.
Ben Heystek
I bet villy is going to give Jake the little bit he took from yip and put aside for later to him after this sacrifice.
Christian Sullivan
Imagine how sad Jake will be if he oneshots his orange arch enemy.
Ben Heystek
I don't think king is fully dead. I think he is reforming on that planet with the desolate child as a new separate entity again kinda like groot from marvel.
Ty Cooper
EH even admits he has only gotten as strong as he has was because of Jake so if Yip had not sent him after Jake he would have been much weaker and possibly have offended Jake while he tried to mind f*ck his friends during the prima event and just killed him.
Sam
Bet some will think that Jake is giving the pylon to villy to get back into his good graces after the whole speech before the fight
Gitta Fekete
Yeah, maybe, but if we get a new villian or rival where that person was in nevermore? I mean that we already know not just the galaxy but the 93th universum strongest characters. Just Administrators can win so ghost in the moon and things like that don't count. The Desolation is not dead but he is not an Administrator anymore. Of course it is possible that it will not be a big fight in the end but with how this novel and the system work it is not likely. I hope you are right and I'm wrong. I want Ell'Hakan to die this week, I just given up hope a little.
jord
With your powers combined I am Captain Plane-*Gak*
egulio
Strongest seen is B grade. Although there's been mentions that there should already be god level beings restricted to some areas. The true Prima or whatever he's supposed to be, is almost certainly a Restricted God of the world wonder or whatever they were called (I forgot). Just like Nevermore. Side thought just imagine gravity elementals born next to a black hole.
Asher Mack
And that’s precisely why Jake has such a huge advantage - he’s used to being in disadvantageous positions and fighting opponents incredibly close to or much higher than his level and power. EH very well may escape, but there is no possible universe where Jake’s life is seriously threatened
Asher Mack
Indeed, EH was introduced much later and as such will be finished rather soon I think. He has been built up as Jake’s first main antagonist and so deserves a fitting end but I think we’ve seen enough of him at this point
Ty Cooper
They talk about him arranging fate. He does not believe that the bloodline is a good thing for the multiverse. My only skepticism is how EH could feel Jacob's emotions only said he was speaking genuinely. I almost feel he barged in because if he nudged EH he knew he would pick fighting Jake or simply mind bend the guy so he is second guessing himself making himself weaker
brjenness
Welcome to Malefic Pawn and Security, what would you like us to deal with today?
brjenness
It works for the legion god.
Blank
I really dislike the holy church, the only faction I would rather kill myself than join, but Jacob is supremely well done and important to the greater framework of the primal hunter universe. People who have extreme dislike for Jacob Generally fall into two camps; those who don't understand his path and character at all and those who want everyone to be a fighting badass and progress just for the sake of growing stronger
AsuraFalling
You know. Been lazily think about the First Sage. I think bro might an antagonist. Maybe one of the final ones. Probably not even a direct one but more of Jake is somehow blocking whatever FS is trying to do. Bro is connected on some level to the rising of every single primordial. While it COULD be out of the goodness of his heart. I think he did that for some selfish pursuit of his own. Just thinking.
Matthew Lemon
If Cheeto knew what Jake did in the fight against Valdemar he'd shit his pants
Doug
Arnold would be a terrifying enemy to have
BearHandMan
I can see them eventually becoming allies. A dysfunctional family, just like the primordials
Tammy Walizer
He also thinks those with power should use it for something to help everyone
JSC
I think people have missed it but Jacob has been Heretical for a while now. He’s just not very in your face about it.
Daniel is ŁØNE
Eversmiles ability is so busted he himself doesn't remember those who he has used this transcendent ability on and the only record of his actions existing in all universes is villy due to his also quite busted transcendence.
Daniel is ŁØNE
Wdym, Cheeto had a second that was also a contender, also I am fairly certain that the Child of Loss is still alive in some way shape or form, whether it be as an enemy or a potential reincarnation of King idk but it's definitely still alive. Also, there is an entire universe out there, claiming the World wonder doesn't have to be a climax fight, we still have multiple universe to explore.
Pickled Rick
There has been plenty of indications that Jacob doesn't really drink all the kool-aid. What Jacob wants is for everyone to be free to choose how to live without being oppressed by those above them. The Holy Church is close to his ideal but he has already shown that he doesn't think the Church goes far enough but without godhood he is powerless to enact any change.
AfroMocha
He did what he did. He can read Jake but he can read Cheetos. He knows what buttons to push to make sure Cheetos is pushed to fight Jake. He knows Cheetos will lose in an out right battle. There are people on earth that died that I think Jacob cared about that maybe just not mentioned yet cause we hasn't got a Jacob on his own chapter for a while. If it's pretty revenge for Cheetos attacking earth then that's one thing. If jacob is playing a bigger game it's something else. Remember he specifically held off mention anything that was happening in the 93 to hold off Cheetos getting back right when Jake first attacked. If he was there Jake would have lost that fight or Cheetos would have ran away injured. This way Jake changed his course and went planetary sacrifice route.
Pickled Rick
We might not have met the B grade that Jake fights for the World Wonder as it would be a Universe event not a Galaxy one. We do have hints that Jake's elf ally is also scheming something so we don't need EH around for B grade shenanigans.
brjenness
divine bargain divine bargain divine bargain (I'm in the checkout line) people looked at me strange last week when we did the sacrifice chant.
JJB4345_80_815
Yes, thank you for the chappy Zogarth!
Death56
If El Hakan dies I belive he will fight the desolation creature again cause I don't belive the king killed it
Matthew Lemon
Planetary Sacrifice! Planetary Sacrifice! Planetary Sacrifice! Sacrificing Planets!
JJB4345_80_815
Jacob personally didn't want El'Hakan to flee, so he made sure to argue FOR it in order to convince Cheeto NOT to flee. El'Hakan's bloodline eventually turns everyone (except the Auger apparently) into his sycophants. Imagine having that bloodline yourself and having everyone eventually groveling at your feet believing that you are already a God. You'd develop quite the ego, eventually, right? Everybody tells you that you are the best and instinctually knows the proper course to take. Now, some guy enters into your home and gives you unsolicited advice. If you have an EGO due to your inherent bloodline, how would you react? "I know what's best for me!!!" Since that's what your bloodline and everyone ELSE has reaffirmed for you throughout your entire life. Therefore, as the Auger, Jacob tells him the truth: If you leave, it's best for the CHURCH, but if you stay, then the CHURCH loses. Does El'Hakan care diddly poo for the CHURCH? Heck no! He cares about himself and he'll convince himself that by killing Jake that will lead to him having enough power down the road to regain agency over his life and path. Even though Jacob told him that leaving would be better for him in the long run, to Cheeto it will feel like a white lie in order to get him to submit easier to the church's whims.
Jelani Willock
DORMAMMU I'VE COME TO BARGAIN
Michael Ferguson
He would have done that anyway. Jacob is like a fly buzzing around other people's kills. He needs to go away.
Ty Cooper
I feel hubris is going to win out. EH is too prideful to walk away. Probably more than normal because of the usurper rritual.
JJB4345_80_815
"Villy, I've come to bargain! Fix my Palate of You Skill so I can properly digest the portion of pylon currently digesting in my upset tummy and you can have this Planetary Pylon in exchange! Savvy?"
Matthew Lemon
If anyone finds a way to climb into Zog's brain can you help me get in as well? I wanna see the words come straight from the source
Matthew Lemon
Cant let Cheeto spread his orange dust
MacMahon Wenzl
The most annoying characters have the most satisfying pay offs. Look at the whole thing between Yippy and the Viper, Jake and Cheeto. A lot of the time the back and forth with no progress is extremely annoying, but when it finally concludes it is some of the most like and interesting moments.
MacMahon Wenzl
All chant with me now! Planetary Sacrifice! Planetary Sacrifice! Planetary Sacrifice! Sacrificing Planets!
Clint
The pacifist thing is all Jacob. The Holy Church is very pro-war. It was Jacob’s pacifism (refusing to kill a helpless William, even to save the lives of dozens of people who he led) that got him his incredibly rare class. But yes, his choices have been irritating. No idea what his game is here.
Rob Lyon
Not really considering the whole principle of the bargain is that they are equals both of them using the short form of their names denotes friendship plus we already know the vipers going to be down pretty much anything just for the chaos of it
King Nereus
At this stage the Church has a mutually beneficial relationship with the promise of repaying a debt owed in the future, but they won’t get in the way if Jake can end him in the 93rd universe before he leaves. There is no resource they can deploy that could stop him at this point. Once EH defects to another universe they can and will shelter him because that bloodline synergizes way too well with the way they already operate. They don’t need EH anymore once they do have his bloodline, preferably in a true believerr of theirs. That person will still be very dangerous to everyone though, including the church eventually. In trying to stop Jake from killing EH outside of the 93rd, they will still play things cool and not engage in direct conflict where it can be avoided, and choose non-lethal delay tactics where it can’t be avoided, If somehow Jake is able to still kill EH outside of the 93rd with all of his protection, they will demand reparations of some kind but that’s it. He won’t be declared an enemy of the church and hunted down, there will be no war as a result of these actions. If things progress along and everyone is S grade or god level and the EH bloodline gets crazy, you bet Jake will be going after them even then, and that level of conflict could result in a real war, but not at c-grade.
Michael Ferguson
The church asked Jacob to walk away from the 93. Now he is giving the same advice to EH. I don't think Jacob has done anything relevant yet, he needs to go away.
Asher Mack
Although I’m sure there are limits to it. He couldn’t for example just erase a primordial. I’m curious what being he’d be capable of doing so with though.
Johnny_B
Villy will be like 'That's my boy!'
Björn Hermans
What ever happens... BUT if cheetofuck doesent die in the next 10 chappies i am going to revolt! REVOLT i tell you! :P Still.. thanks for the chapter =) i just cant cope with the mindfuckery anymore give me another villain instead! there has to be more villains in the other galaxies of the 93rd whould be sad if this one creeps along for soooooo long ;P
brjenness
a cold beer that makes him immune to mental attacks for 24 hours
Dao of Fried Foods
Sort of? He has picked every fight, thus far. Hes the entitled silk pants of the story, running around, sneering at his lessers, supported by his noble allies... Until his house gets caught embezzling from the kingdom and loses favor. His allies evaporate, and his reputation is garbage. He is faced with the choice of fleeing across the ocean or holding his tiny realm against incoming calamity.
Gitta Fekete
I'm afraid that Ell'Hakan can't die because if he die now than who will Jake fight against for the World Wonder? I think Ell'Hakan will run to the Holy Church maybe not right away but he will. And he will die in the fight for the World Wonder as a B grade. After all the 93th Universum won't open up till its over, so he can't leave the 93th.
Doug
He does have to “own” or be “in possession” of the thing. He can’t walk up to a god, and say hey Villy I give this gift to you. It says he actually has to be the owner of the pylon, which is fine for him because he expects that outcome to mean that he has killed EH, or EH no-showed and gave up his planet
Accio123
I actually think Jacob is a pretty realistic character in the tutorial and honestly his gf already had her reservations about Jake especially since he seemed almost sociopathic and dangerous from an outside perspective. A big part of the Tutorial was Jakob's struggles to adapt to the major changes brought by the system, acting as a foil to how Jake thrived. It wasn't until it was too late that Jakob finally found his place in the system, and it cost him dearly for it. Time and time again he has shown to go along with the church on the surface, but still find a loophole or go out of his way to still help Jake or Earth in some way. Ultimately I don't think it will last forever as eventually he will have to make a new decision to choose between remaining with the church or striking it out on his own or with Jake/Earth.
KenTX325
Could he move the pylon to primal 4? It sounds like the mega planet doesn’t have one.
KenTX325
I wonder if Arnold is invading any of EHs planets? That would be cool if he deployed a bunch of golems and drones.
Sargon Yami
They can't enter in general. The universe is still protected. The strongest being we know of is B
Sargon Yami
The church getting els bloodline is a horror option. He has to die before that
Jose Reyna
TFTC!!!!!
Dao of Fried Foods
Should have used the long form name.
John Looney
But doesn’t that set him up to show his influence once he chooses a side
ItWasIDIO!!
Nope just a dude that stops by to mooch the sugar(alchemy) & the internet (knowledge) of his famous friends adoring fan club
brjenness
Jake is the one in a snake god cult. errr... I mean order
J W
I dislike Jacob because he is a fence sitter. His attitude is what led to his little gf getting all "kill jakey" and even after that he just drank all the pacifist kool-aid the church fed him and talked a bunch of people into also drinking kool-aid. He probably was a scientologist before the system.
Micah Molina
Tbf not even us or Villy know what Jake's ultimate race is, so how could EH fully comprehend what he's facing when know one really knows. Facing Jake is accepting you're fighting something truly unique in the Multiverse. Yet, EH still only sees him as a powerful hunter.
Micah Molina
While I agree, the perspective we recently got where he tested Valdemar, shows he's willing to verify even when confident. So I'm mentally prepared if he decides to flee, even though I want to have the fight.
Micah Molina
I imagine the absence of EH during a war was the give away. Also, EH stated in the chapter that while he can't physically take part in the war due to Jake, he implies he's in contact and still giving orders where he can. So I'm sure his faction is aware what's happening even if they don't know the details.
Hotep Saxis
Both the viper and Yip had to agree to use tie void ball though. I just can’t see any reason at all Cheeto would agree to a 1v1. Makes no sense.
Micah Molina
When you put Jake in the context of all the little things people don't know about like his bloodline details and profession; Only the Viper has the greatest insight to what Jake is and could be. And neither Villy nor Jake know what Jake's race is, so how can anyone else know what they are really dealing with? When even they don't know lol.
Tristan
Id imagine the system would teleport the planet
ItWasIDIO!!
Yeah I don't think so unless I'm missing some info he's ball deep on the church because in his attempt to help everyone he helps no one his speech here literally is "run to the church & hope Jake forgets" or "fight Jake & EH wins the church loses/Jake wins the church loses" notice the second option is not helping either party its the cult the first option has the church pimping & using EH till Jake can get him if Jake doesn't pull a funny(forget) which only happens imo if EH drinks the kool-aid
Adam McCarter
Welcome to the fantastic world of Patreon!
Accio123
I know a lot of people dislike Jacob, not to the extent of Ell'Hakan of course, but I actually quite like him. I think he is going to be a very important character going forward and that Zogarth is setting him up for something interesting in the long run.
Andy Swearingen
I was really wary of Jacob till we got Jake's fake speech against the viper. I realized how Jake's speech almost perfectly describes Jacob's actual circumstances.
ItWasIDIO!!
Still hate Jacob but he's serving as a good example of a friend to deep in the cult kool-aid but still seems like a good guy
NovaZero
Lol a fridge that has Yip of Yore on it like Han frozen in Carbonite a la Star Wars
Gafgarion
“Villy, I’ve come to bargain!”. Glad Zog threw that one in there.
Wraithy
Villy needs to frame this moment and hang it on a beer fridge.
Ivo Wißen
What will happen if villy becomes a owner of a planetariepylon in a new univers? God's can't enter at this time,right? Will he have the right to visit this planet?
Ben Woods
That is why Jake sees EH as an enemy, yes. But EH only started that whole thing rolling because of Yip.
Azazel
I was thinkin more of the mustache/beard flick and *walks away* 😂
Matthew Lemon
Villy about to wip out some pop corn and put his feet up so he can fully enjoy the show
Jason
So he plucks EH’s eye out?
michael pigott
Ok so 1: The bloodline karma cult thing is a massive affront to Jakes whole "free will extremist" opinions, 2: the false God probably created from that cult killed his mask freind and almost killed his neice/daughter/hat. 3: killing his priest freind, 4: just EH's entire personality
Jason
And since Villy can’t even peek right now, it’ll be a complete surprise.
Jason
But the things EH did were planned by Yip. Yes, now there’s a lot of bad blood between them, but without Yip, neither would’ve even been aware of the other before the prima event, and they wouldn’t have been enemies right off the bat.
John Durrett
I don’t think Jake has any need to worry about the church. El is not part of the church, it’s a business transaction
Matthew Lemon
I think its eversmile. His transcendent ability completely annihilates someone through karma which severes all connections they have to the world and even erases their Records, making them cease to exist. Eversmile is the word horrifying personified 😂
Michael Younger
His point is EH did those things at the request of Yip. He wouldn't have targeted jake if he weren't the vipers chosen.
Naomi Roberts
Tftc. Having said that - really really don’t like orange dude. Mental influence sucks. Not to fond of Jacob (auger) either, though he’s just a wimp not evil.
SATIONAS
Villy, I’ve come to bargain!
John Durrett
Not just a hunter, that is why he is being misunderstood. Jake does shit so bizarre and dangerous that he’s borderline mental in his pursuits. Knife’s edge gameplay. El h plays by safety margins.
Skarpi
It was all done on behalf of Yip of Yore. Yip wanted his chossen to attack Viper's chossen.
John Durrett
But it may have been yip that told elhaktua to go besiege Jake’s planet so it did come from yip
John Durrett
Neat concept. Is it yip or eversmile that could wipe someone from existence and only Billy knew the score? Really puts a curve on you’ll wish you’d never been born
Matthew Lemon
Just had a thought. Jake has a powers relating to origins. What happens when he strips away someones elses origin? In this case jakes taking Ell Cheetos home world pylon. Could it do more damage than first thought due to jakes innate abilities? Idk the theories abit loose but I think it's worth a mention
Hayden Leech
Pls pls pls pls keep up with the Ell’Hakan POVs throughout the showdown!
Rewdan
Absolutely 🤣🤣🤣🤣. I’m super excited the rest of this week
AetherBoye
If only we were the augur
Henscratch
No duh
Biggy smalls
EH’s bloodline stopped growing before Nevermore. When Jake met EH with the Sword Saint, Jake tested EH’s bloodline and realized it didn’t upgrade like his did when they entered C grade. It’s still a deadly bloodline that should be eliminated. I’d prefer if EH dies this week or next and for Zog not to draw this conflict out anymore. I don’t see EH being able to keep up With Jake’s progression. The longer this conflict goes on the less threatening EH becomes narratively. I’d still like for the HC to eventually become Jake’s enemy. Maybe they already somehow acquired EH’s bloodline and Jake will find out about it in a later Grade. He’s sworn to eradicate it after all.
michael pigott
The portrayl of Jake as "an enemy inherited from Yip" is startlingly inaccurate for Jacob. Jake wants EH dead for a lot of reasons, "the viper fought his boss" is so low on that list it might not even be there. Jake is an enemy of EH purely because of things EH did or things core to Jake
Kt-x
Thank you for the chapter!! 😁
Reno
Ell'Hakan is perfectly killable even if he reaches S grade. The multiverse is big, powerful, and wealthy. If anybody thought he was too dangerous to keep alive, they'd make plans to assassinate him. It's not that difficult. Jake doesn't have an obligation to the world to kill a nuisance who cut all ties with the 93rd universe, to chase him across the multiverse on a mad quest for vengeance. (If he chooses to flee) The multiverse can take care of itself. Jake isn't even in the top trillion most qualified people to kill EH. I'm not saying it wouldn't be fun for EH to die, but it wouldn't make sense for Jake to make an enemy of the church for that.
Dragon
The system changed how conceiving and giving birth work
AfroMocha
Hahahahahaha oh man Jacob hit the nail on the head. Cheetos does not know what he is dealing with. Not a who but a what.
King Nereus
They will next chapter ;-)
brjenness
a bloodline to manipulate emotions... that also makes people loyal to eh and not the church
Gwiddion
At some point usurp the holy mother and lead a true church not what the holy church is.
King Nereus
To the primordials, I think you’re right none of them probably care or see this as any particular threat. Some of them likely even see it as an interesting ability, but eventually this kind of thing could subvert even their wills, effectively enslaving the entire multiverse. Jake himself has stated that he thinks it is an issue for the multiverse though, and he’s making decisions based on his own beliefs here.
Darshar Griffonmane
It is SUPER dangerous. It influenced gods, it makes everyone who is even aware of it doubt their own decisions. It seems to be able to be channeled through pylons atm, what if Cheeto reaches S grade or higher? We have no idea how strong that bloodline could get with future evolutions (no guarantee of course that it gets any stronger either). No to Jake, this is a very black and white situation. Cheeto dies, the bloodline ends or Jake dies trying to achieve that.
J W
Why isn't there a pay more for more chapters button? Zog give me more chappies. *please*
NovaZero
Am I the only one who caught how Jacob basically made sure EH would definitely face Jake?
Reno
Perhaps, but I'm not sure Ell'Hakan's bloodline is particularly bad or threatening? Eversmile can wipe you from existence. And that's an example we know. Ell'Hakan's bloodline is useful, I'll admit. But I'm sure there are some monstrous bloodlines out there that people have just learned to live with. Ell'Hakan's only threatening because of his current ambitions in the very small galaxy. Once he joins the Holy Church in some capacity, he'll just be one among many. Or he'll die to other challenges.
Marmik Vyas
Nah, I think Jacob used reverse psychology to force EH to stay on the planet by playing on his ego. By confirming that jacob doesn't want EH and Jake to fight, and telling EH to run instead is what causes EH to fight Jake in overconfidence.
Vega
Yes, you’re dealing with a progression fantasy protagonist, bitch! - Jacob, divining past the fourth wall I’d love to get Vilas’ reaction to this. The planetary sacrificial ritual has been such a running joke between them for so long, with Jake always refusing to even entertain the idea, that Vilas’ reaction to Jake out of nowhere actually sacrificing a planet to him would be hilarious. He’d die laughing.
Maple Hound
As an Augor of Hope, Jacob has to make people follow their fated path. I hope he goes against that by leading them to a path that is better than their fated one, as truth sayers and augurs have never, can never scry people to godhood. Villy stated that he was "fated" to die a bunch in D grade, even more so in C grade, and more so on and so forth. No one has ever been "fated" to become a God. Heretical Augur of Hope. not just bringing people to their fated path. But to a better one.
Marmik Vyas
Dormamu, I've come to bargain!
Alejandro Piña
William Wilson called it last episode with Jacob giving EH the two choices
Azazel
Not something you hear every day 😆 but I 100% agree!
NovaZero
I think Jacob made the offer to make sure he had the pretext to deny EH any annoying political escape. And you know... Make sure he WOULD fight Jake.
Azazel
Anyone else feel like the appearance of Master Pai Mei from Kill Bill would totally fit Jacobs personality this chapter?
Frost1005
Tftc
NovaZero
I'm thinking that the hope part doesn't differentiate between the two
kinglemur
For real bro the bluest 😭😭
King Nereus
If that happens Jake would eventually grow strong enough to hunt down every decedent (or maybe kill everyone just to be sure) and even take on the whole church and eventually the Primordial(s) if necessary.
kingofshibainu
Kill the Cheeto! And then sacrifice his planet. Or Elkie runs and the conflict is extended. Justice for Chris!
NovaZero
This is the start of the week. If by the end of the week, then it's straight up blue balls.
King Nereus
He doesn’t like EH, but sure without the bloodline being involved he probably would let him live. But since he’s after ending the bloodline itself, EH has no way out other than Jake dying. There is no future where they both remain alive in perpetuity.
King Nereus
Jake wants the kill.
Henscratch
If I were the HC, I’d be like, “if you’re going to make decisions against our advice, fine. But as insurance for our interests, please jizz into this cup. We’ll only use it if you die, since that will be the peak of your power.” Cold & practical. As long as it’s a voluntary part of the contract it should be fine with intent to procreate and other Bloodline rules. The only reason they need him to live is to build more progenitor level records to optimize results at the moment they use it the first time. Maybe have a new deposit every time he moves up a grade but that’s it. They don’t need him to keep their investment secure. But that’s not as exciting for the story, I know. Just saying….if I were the HC.
Christopher Torres
Welcome to the 93rd universe villy
deednam
JAKE JUICE FIGHT
Azazel
Please, Villy, NO! 🫣
King Nereus
I believe he was referring to Jake himself. His bloodline is a part of him, of course, but more so that through sheer force of will Jake is somehow able to overcome seemingly insurmountable obstacles in his path, anyone with any sense should steer clear of said path. The Augur doesn’t know any more about Jake’s bloodline than anyone else, right?
Christian Sullivan
He is a hunter. And he sees you as prey. As the one being hunted you should flee.
Azazel
“Vil-mammu! I’ve come to bargain!”
Trevor Mergen
Thanks!
Doctordirt
He's actually one of my favorite sidecharacters I have no idea what he's gonna do
TKOva
It's also the fact that the bloodline can be viewed as a karmic plague. So honestly Cheeto needs to die.
King Nereus
If EH does escape, then it could be setting the stage for an arc where the church is basically going to get wiped out in Jake’s pursuit of EH’s bloodline. Some kind of battle with at least some of the primordials is inevitable anyway, just a matter of time, so this could be one of the motivations for Jake to wipe them all out, down the road. Jake would need a really good reason to do something like that, but if making sure the bloodline is no longer a threat seems like motivation enough for him to sacrifice this entire planet, why not a faction or two later on in the story?
Byl jsem zde Fantomas
Same same. But on way home 😁
WolfWithAGun
I believe the answer is simply everything Jake is. He is a hunter focused on assassinations, has a cracked bloodline, is the chosen of one of the most powerful gods ever, has an incredibly powerful class, excellent items, and BS friends as backup.
TKOva
It's the void ball, 100%
Xarow
It’s the assumption that Jake will now be in his gods bad books due to the little heretic thing, which is probably adding to his view things can still work out.
Xarow
I’m thinking Villy’s presence will be there and Ell will be suppressed if he shows up.
King Nereus
So glad it isn’t Friday!! TFTC!
Xarow
Villy won’t need to do anything other than to have his presence there during the bargain. Jake is immune, but Ell is not and will be suppressed if he shows up. I think Jake can just wait the timer out on claiming the planetary pylon while Ell either shows up and wilts or stays away. Can Jake offer a package deal? Ell and the pylon? Villy can kill in a way where he can’t come back.
Seiryus
Jacob is also very good with people. With him knowing Jake from before the system, and after interacting a lot with EH recently, he probably has enough information to make very educated guesses about the future of both without relying on actual divination. That, and he can probably still divine at least some stuff indirectly.
SmokeJam
While I never really understood the character of Jacob, having an Augur around for the occasional mic drop seems viable.
King Nereus
If Jake did need to escape he could probably just use the ring, no need to go back out the way he came in. Once the skill/bargain is activated he may be committed though. The way I interpreted the text, this divine bargain thing will involve Villas, Jake, and EH once activated. Probably zapping them into some kind of pocket reality or something, where time outside effectively stops for mortals while they work out the bargain. Jake seems to suspect they won’t be zapped away though, and still remain where they are while they bargain, leaving room for them to fight around the pylon itself. Perhaps the only way for EH to avoid getting pulled under the skills’ power, thereby forcing him to engage in a 1-on-1 battle to the death right now, is to leave the 93rd universe outside of the range of the skill, and that was what the Augur’s warning was all about.
Josh Hietpas
A dr. strange reference. Nice. TFTC!
Nate Slusher
Omg, set up chapters are great when reading the book and I can continue on right away…..but this is brutal😇 Great chapter. Thank you!
Victory Holcomb
The tension build up is killing me.
ReadingObsessed
That was a fantastic chapter.
Mat
He is currently the underdog of the story to many and with Jake failing to let go after the speech at Nevermore, he has enough ammunition to build his comeback.
jazz
Maybe because el Cheeto and the rest of the planet doesn’t have a primordial shroud
Lynderyn
Jacob is hoping that if OF makes it to the church, by the time Jake is a god and can get to him, enough time will have passed for Jake to have decided that it’s not worth it
kinglemur
Damn quit edging me bro 😭😭
female person type thing
Makes you kinda wonder what type of damage will happen the owner if a plantary pylon is destroyed under your care and how it will effect EL's path. It's been noted in previous chapters that his race/people/loyalist give him strenght his most loyal subjects live on that plantet. then a differnt thing to wonder about is if the Auger is incouraging him to leave to avoid the funnelling of his path as he warned about while still defeating primas.
Cryfdwr
That’s what friendship is all about. You’re out and about, just living life and you see something your friend would like and you take it, just so you can give it to your friend when you next see them. It just gives me the warm fuzzies 😏😊
Precursor
Well as long as EH continues to walk down Yip's path this could create a permeant scar in his legend. One that may make it impossible to defeat Jake as long as it is remembered
Myke IsHere
I'd so love for Jacob to turn to a Heretical Augur of Hope, or would it be Augur of Heretical Hope? Hopes Heritical Augur? They could all mean something different.
Andromeda Adams
Tyftc! I’m so torn here! On one hand I want Jake to kill him. On the other I want him to go with the holy church. Shoot him not going to the church, wouldn’t that go against his agreement with them? Excited for tomorrow!
Paperback Hail6
Remember in nevermore Jake clashed with vladamer based on ONLY will and was about to draw with him while also subconsciously protecting artemis. So based on will he can beat out someone revered as potentially the strongest primordial.
Numbzy
Yep.
Mat
Outside of faith from the home world fanatics, does EH lose anything else if he runs. I mean he controls other pylons so most likely he will keep his position of the Seat of Exalted Prima for the Milky Way galaxy
Paperback Hail6
Also we have learned that Jake can somehow return a gods original skill to some kind of higher tier origin. My man can make a primordials skill even more godly. He just can't handle the change yet at his grade.
Shaibene
Id say El Hakan is too arrogant to run, he still thinks jake is simple minded and he himself is smarter
Dick Ramsey
I think challenging for a planetary pylon initiates a duel. It's hard to remember that far back though.
Andy Swearingen
I feel we also need to consider that Jacob is a broken character as well. Maybe not in combat strength but he's gotten a lot stronger and can probably pierce a little of the veil as a c grade now.
Crjourdan
Gosh he really knows how to drag things out and blueball us!! Hopefully tomorrow things finally kick off.
joel southard
Nice thank you for the chapter
Andy Swearingen
I doubt they want Jake juice more than Cheetos blood line, and there wouldn't be any backdoor deals either because villy has made it pretty clear they have to ask Jake for it.
Tim Schillinger
That one made me laugh 😂
Paperback Hail6
There is also the fact that numerous factions want some of that Jake juice. If Jake were to die to a "member." It would result in alot of negative sentiment directed at the church.
Shaibene
He already owes that to Jake for his part in the YoY plan
Sean
This comment section just looks like dms with death threats to Ell Hakan lol
Lizy Flore
Nah Villy saved him something from YoY transmuted remnants. That’s got to be it.
Sean
That's a stretch. It's more like the system recognizes that Jake views himself as equal to Villy and Villy is fine with that interpretation because he's aware of how Jake's bloodline works.
Paperback Hail6
Not necessarily, he has to push Jake away from the core. Meanwhile Jake has a large open area to stealth around and avoid the fight. All the way until the core is gone and the plant is doomed. Then most if not all of his believers will probably die in the collapse leaving a Jake and a weakened El'hakan
Sean
Well, not completely no value. One is a bloodline karmic plague which the Viper will presumably look at and say 'neat' and the other is a bundle of God records that Jake will presumably look at and say 'neat'.
Andy Swearingen
I really don't think Jake will go after Cheeto if he stands down. Jake will definitely be frustrated though.
znippes
If Jake has to run how many will be able to follow him outside of the safety of the core room and back into the magma chambers. I think Jake knows that he can run and not get caught while still picking off generals and just buy time until he gains control of the planet
Mat
Umm… I smell Yggdrasil leaf in someone’s spatial rings to save a bloodline holder for the greater good.
Paperback Hail6
I think as long as they are within the 93rd universe it won't be considered Jake attacking the church so much as el'haken
Sean
He already can come through in some capacity. The system won't allow him in on a technicality either way. Otherwise, the grace period would just be a farce every major faction eventually had a workaround for.
Bryan Wilson
Villy I’ve come to bargain is that taken from doctor strange dormammu I’ve come to bargain
Esch
Yeah but that squad ended up as puddle of goo and our boy Jake is several times stronger now.
Lizy Flore
Jake has said that no one on the planet would give him difficulties to deal with, he only said that some of them in the Capital would give him a good fight. That was without EH. Bringing manpower with him would be the equivalent of sacrificing pawns. They can help a little, but not change the game. That’s how I see it, anyway.
Josh stevens
I was thinking the same thing.
Sean
They're taking his babies, the savages.
William WIlson
I think that's exactly what happens. Villys own words hint at this at least
William WIlson
Ell’Hakan may have more that one trick but he should already realize that Jake already broke a divine level skill the first time they met in d grade. Remember Ell’Hakans own thoughts as he threw Jake across earth. He felt Jake's will grow and use a Viper skill while yips skill should have locked him down. Yes we all know vilVilas is more powerful that Yip by a long shot but I think this hints at Jake's will being more powerful that yips will was. Ell’Hakan has seen Jake overcome the Records he expects to be enough beat him currently without realizing Jake's tamed the records of Vilas partially.
Mat
So remember when Bertram said they could still negotiate with unless someone close to Jake dies and Jacob had a premonition of so much death. I think his getting potentially outcome of the conflict and the best outcome for the church is EH not on the board as far as Milky Way is concerned.
Jacob Conway
I think we’ll very likely at least have Villy’s presence in the area of the ritual.
secretchicken
if all of Jake's actions are hidden by the shroud, then divining the that there IS a fight already gave the game away. i understood the shroud to be more complex then just making it hard to see Jake. if tracking his known enemies and associates leaves gaps in their divinations, then you could just divine Jake by proxy all the time.
Hotep Saxis
Only if all the generals were D grades, but they’re not.
Namorat
Hardcore ending ^^
Indigo
But if cheeto run jake will be set against t the holy church jake had decided that cheeto must die and his bloodline cannot spread so holy church be damned cheeto will die
William WIlson
My thoughts exactly. Shoot i predicted this exactly chapter on Friday
Mat
Poison fumes will easily even those odds.
secretchicken
@Mrburn93 if Jake could be tracked by the absence in divinations he leaves then it wouldn't really be a good skill
William WIlson
He's not reading Jake he's reading Ell’Hakan. Basically if Ell’Hakan is to fight someone in the future and Jacob can't see the fight or outcome it's probably Jake. Yes it could be the Sword Saint but because the Sword Saint doesn't have shroud he could see result. He sees nothing in Ell’Hakans future if he fights Jake right now which Jacob probably takes as either both dying or Jake killing Ell’Hakan.
Clint
It means they both have ways to escape if they are losing the fight, so even if one of them “wins” it won’t be a final victory. But the Church’s best outcome is EH coming with them now. Everything he’s done to offend the Viper up to now can be blamed on Yip. And EH fleeing now would put him in debt to the Church for their protection. Fighting just risks both sides of that. Either EH bring more primordial baggage, or has less need for their protection.
Luis
Imagine Jake trading a planetary pylon for a Bargaining Fragment and a cold beer
Lucas Callahan
I'm pretty sure the shroud isn't currently extending to the planetary shift that would come off the bargain being set
Andy Swearingen
I kinda want Cheeto boy to run. I really don't want Jake to be set against the holy church.
Brandon Turner
It's funny that Jacob is saying that he doesn't understand when Jacob doesn't fully understand that there is no way that Jake will ever let El' Hakan live under any circumstances
Hotep Saxis
I don’t understand the play here at all. Once Cheeto detects Jake is at the core, just warp down there with 50 or 100 generals. One man can’t win vs all those people. Taking a 1v1 makes no sense and doesn’t even fit Cheetos character. He faced Jake will a full team when they fought on earth. Should be even more lopsided here.
William Goodell
His blood line, look at what he did to his whole planet before the system. Imagine doing that to several planets in the name of the holy mother.
James Faulkner
So excited, Tftc!!
Mantiqore
What a bait. I thought we'd get a reaction this chapter
NSaaby
Epic last words from Jacob :D
Mrburns93
Imagine if you will there's a massive dark spot in the future you can see that you can't see it so you know one of the chosen are in involved. So you go to your allied chosens homework to see the paths of every living being there ending, snuffed out.. you feel billions of paths end and all you have as a clue is that massive dark spot..
Reno
Imagine if Ell'Hakan flees. Jake will be like "wut?" Mission failed successfully.
A Flashy BR
Interesting... Very interesting
Jack Dawson
A deal of equivalent exchange, both items hold no value to the gifter
daniel gager
I can't believe that Jake and villy have yet to talk
Beemoss
Tftc
Dallin S
I think the church has plans to get Jake to make them something with his Jake juice. Or they know that they have now backed El that they would be a target of retribution if Jake dies. Also if el does their investment is destroyed.
Lynderyn
Planetary sacrifice ritual coming up. Love it.
Consumer of litrpg
Access to a bloodline that seems well suited for controlling/manipulating a large population, I think. I’m not sure if the precise deal was ever stated.
Baged
Blood sperm
Kevin Watson
yeah i’d say Jacob’s talent in foresight and his knowledge of personalities are enough for him to get a good grasp on the situation without divination, it’s also very possible somebody like the Holy Mother keeps him in the loop as much as feasible
Riptorius
What is the church getting from Ell-Hakan again?
Kevin Watson
I wouldn’t blame Ell’Hakan in not understanding the situation entirely, seeing as jake is presumably the only Heretic-Chosen of an insanely strong god ever, it’s hard to know if anyone as ever seen a skill like Divine Bargain. Offering up somebody else’s entire planet to your friend the primordial snake is fuckin crazy
C0bra$
Thank u for the story
Reno
"Hey Villy, planetary pylon coming right up!"
Ty Cooper
Tftc! So looking forward to this fight. I am curious about the "What you are dealing with" implies. Is he talking about the BFF tag team that's about to take the nylon or Jake's god-tier bloodline. Because we all know he will fully unleash it iif he needs it to kill EH. Also i REALLY hope EH doesn't run.
David Huskey
It means either way, the Order of the Malefic Viper becomes hostile towards the Holy Church or El’Hakan dies. Either way, the Holy Church loses.
Seiryus
"Alright, there was a risk he would cut him off from the other skill merely by picking the first one, but things had gone the way he’d hoped." [...]he would cut himself off from the other skill[...], I think. Also, that skill is completely bonkers if he can actually call a god to get rid of something and still get other benefits from it.
Tommy
TFTC! Fuck yeah divine bargain time. Villy is gonna have such a laugh!
Bruce Sheplan
I wonder why the answer to who would win in a fight is ‘Neither’ but that ‘The only loser will be the Holy Church, no matter the outcome.’ does he mean it will be a draw? doesnt sounds like it, but what else could it mean?
Hayden Leech
93rd. Even primordials can’t get in yet.
Akastor
Thanks now i remember where i heard that phrase from xD
Sayjinlord
I wonder if this Divine Bargain would allow Villy to come through to the 93rd Universe in some capacity?
Despair
The only good part of a Monday is reading some good chapter on the way to work :)
secretchicken
how did Jacob sense something is about to go down if Jake has the Primordial Shroud? which makes it impossible to divine his actions? was it just from knowing Jake?
hachetnif
No he is just Following His path of Auger the records Associated with Influencing there fate is Probably Immense. And he is doing his job with the church. But you're right, he wins, no matter what.
Horacio Solano
EH ego will hit a wall when he realize neither the gods or the strong ppl view himnas a main character It was always Yip of Yore, neither EH, eho make them wary, no one doubted about The Chosen of the Malefic Viper power
BlackRazaras
Thanks for the chapter
M Conroy
Tyftc
Roy
Jacob is trying to guide Ell' to a path of survival and long term success within the Church. hypothesis is that he gets the notification for the planetary offering and chooses to heed Jacob's words, leaving the galaxy to grow his strength within the church's backlines. Ty Zogarth 🙏
Sean
Jake gives the pylon (which we wants removed) and Villy gives the scales from Yip (which he was going to give Jake anyway). Perfect bargain screw the system
Sean
Prima Vessel whenever he wanted using the ring part of the system event, but that ring also wasn’t very suble. I’m guessing that should be subtle. Great chapter thanks!
Cmndprmpt
What I mean by trick is things hidden up the sleeve. It's a known fact that he's got high martial skill and Jake has high skill with bows and alchemy and is pretty alright at hand to hand with his katars. But Jake has far more hidden skills/plans (things he's prepared for ahead of time bc he was bored or was challenging himself or whatever other reason). That's just an assumption based on what we've seen from EH so far, I don't doubt he's got some things hidden but I don't think it compares to what Jake can pull out.
Gavin Wayne Pitcher
youre dealing with someone already recognized by the system as equal of greater than a primordial.
Arieh Sochaczevski
I dunno… how hilarious would Jake’s reaction to that be? He triggers the ritual, expecting EH to show up for the fight, and then nothing happens. … and nothing continues to happen… and then he realizes he’s all dressed up with nowhere to go.
Consumer of litrpg
I’m still torn over whether Jacob is just doing his job for the Church or trying to prick EHK’s pride enough to get him killed while technically just doing his job. Or maybe it’s just a win-win for Jacob.
Jim Meyer
Great chapter! Quick edit during the talk about Jake's teleportation ring: suble -> subtle Excited for the resolution!
Arieh Sochaczevski
EH has more than the one trick - his fight with the Saint proved that. He was also a martial genius before the system.
Arieh Sochaczevski
Thanks for the chapter! You set up the expectation of E’H’s reaction to the ritual, but then you ended the chapter before that. In this case, that feels less like a cliffhanger and more like a broken promise. The distinction is subtle, but palpable.
Cmndprmpt
"You have no idea what you're dealing with." That's basically the best way to sum up Jake and Villy. Villy just showed the multiverse he's not washed up, and Jake has constantly proved he's among the top contenders in his grade. EH has one trick, and he can't rely on that all the time. So he's gotta adapt around his limited skills. But Jake, he's been cultivating multiple skill sets and constantly challenging himself to be better. It's what drew Valdemar to him in the first place.
Shai182
TFTC! An extra snack for Villy... yeah, he deserves it 😁
Cory Sauls
TFTC!
Austin Barton
Tftc
fanfan8000
Chaos incarnate. Especially because technically he can pull almost anything back to its origin, If I understand what his abilities seem to have been pointed at.
deus vault
Being too annoying to deal with yeah. I can see that happwning.
Jana
Thank the Viper the Orange Fuck didn’t leave with Jacob. That would have sucked. We are all waiting for the final showdown and he just nopes out of it - yeah, no thank you.
Aaditya Ravindran
~Dorma...~ Villy, I've come to bargain!
Arrogant Savant
People are still going to be mad you didn't show the level 290 skills lol
Gitta Fekete
Please!!!!!!!!!! Don't run!!!!!!!!! Just Die!!!!!!!!
Phallusar
Jacob is probably one of the best people for dealing with Ell'Hakan other than Arnold, because while he may have personal feelings about things he doesn't allow his feelings to detract from genuine assistance in guiding others towards their Path. Jake in turn represents too many things to too many factions of the Multiverse. And to the System itself. Staying true to his Path seems to create opportunities, and Ell'Hakan isn't so much a goal or diversion as deciding to put himself between Jake and his goal. Run down and run over without much to show for it.
Rischirobi
Tyftc^^
Brian Griffith
Mentioning the old “I’ve come to bargain” trick. Truly the best way to defeat hostile gods beyond your comprehension.
Alexander C Hyde
Then again… it did take a special kind of mindset and arrogance to believe yourself worthy of dealing with gods as (an) equal to be able to perform something like a Divine Bargain.
Max
Eversmile( No good right now) cant get inside the newest universe. If Eversmile could He would be probobaly stronger than the sage and the atrongest of thr series.
Dave
TTFC
Exaiter
Oooh didnt see that one coming.
Tevin Pruitt
Nice. Jake's gonna do it
Sin
The bargain skill = hey villy I want to do something stupid and idiotic. Want to join in with me, system be damned?
Naotsugu97
Thanks for the chappy. Huh, I thought the auger was eversmile in shapeshifter mode, but I guess it was actually Jacob.
Tilen Praprotnik
Thanks for the chapter
Darshar Griffonmane
That is a terrifying skill. It has a lot of requirements and restrictions but man does it give a truly broad range of options to both Jake and Villy. And I love when Jake is doing ritual stuff, it really suits his massive ability to pay attention to the fine details. augur with the mic drop! Les see where this goes. tyftc!
Paulo Furlaneto
TFTC!!!! “You still underestimate him… not because you are overestimating yourself or downplaying him, but because you continue to fail to grasp exactly what you’re dealing with.” This advice from Jacob gave me chills.
deus vault
Tftc
Valhazstromoz
VILLY IVE COME TO BARGAIN!!
BumAssBumAss
Thanks for the chapter
Jordan joyce
Tftc
Ritsu
I love the idea that the Divine Bargain is just so bloody overpowered that it immediately triggered Jacob's 'Oh shit' fate senses, which have demonstrably been unreliable in Jake's case, but is definitely accurate now.
Connor
Thanks for the chapter
Michael Ferguson
Thanks for the chapter.
Jason
TGIM
Frédéric Cantin
TYFTC
Farmingaround
Tyftc Zogarth!
Detrox
Nice
José Ramos
Tftc!
