Zogarth
patreon
Chapter 936 - Prima Guardian (4)
🕑 Added 2024-06-14 09:06:08 +0000 UTCJake was a moment too late as he saw Arnold get attacked. The man had stayed a reasonable distance away and even applied some stealth field around himself during the fight so far. However, when the Prima Guardian - whom Jake could barely believe was still able to move around so fast - teleported behind him, the man had no time to react as the blade fell.
For a brief moment, Jake was filled with panic as he saw the scientist get cleaved in two… until the sky exploded, getting bathed in a blue blast of fire and electricity. Jake momentarily saw a spark before the explosion, as the inside of Arnold’s body did not have any flesh and blood to be seen. Instead, it had apparently been all explosives.
“What the hell just happened!?” Carmen yelled through her Golden Mark.
“I just felt the Mark upon the mechanic disappear,” the Fallen King responded before Jake quickly clarified the situation.
“It was a robot of some kind; I would assume the real Arnold is fine,” Jake clarified as he shot out a barrage of arrows almost instinctively while he was in a bit of turmoil internally, trying to figure out how the hell the scientist had pulled this off.
Jake… hadn’t noticed it wasn’t the real Arnold. He questioned how the hell he hadn’t, but he tried to excuse it by never looking that closely at Arnold. Due to how souls worked, the Soulshape was almost just one big entity, and Arnold had looked entirely like a real person to most of his senses. The man had felt “metallic,” if that makes sense, but wasn’t that also pretty damn normal? That this feel came from his armor or something? Wouldn’t it be a normal assumption that the man wasn’t actually a robot apparently made up primarily of explosive material?
He also saw what exactly Arnold had hit the boss with. It was a large metal pole, about ten meters in length, now entirely bent and twisted as it lay in a massive crater in the sand, already getting covered as it turned all the sand that was near it liquid simply due to how hot it had been upon impact.
“Do not let your minds wander. The Guardian is far from defeated,” the Sword Saint sent through the Golden Mark, making Jake also abandon his silly thoughts as he focused on controlling the arrows he had fired.
The chimera was pushed back as its body was filled with electrical burns and blue fire from Arnold blowing up his “body,” and it didn’t react in time as the barrage of arrows struck it in the back. Some of them were repelled, but some penetrated where the creature had adapted to deal with Caleb and Carmen’s attacks.
Speaking of Caleb, he and Sylphie struck just then, breaking through some of the still-falling glassified sand, landing a hit each as the Guardian only had one functional arm. It also only had one leg, but its flesh was quivering and moving, making Jake and the others certain its heavily damaged state wasn’t long for this world.
So they had to take full advantage while they could.
Everyone attacked at once, as the Prima Guardian defended itself primarily with magic. It created barriers of stable arcane energy, golden force, wind, water, and fire, trying to limit any damage it took. While it did help, it was far from enough. Carmen punched it square in the face with a heavily empowered blow, the Sword Saint cut its stomach, Vesperia pierced it through what was left of its chest, and Sylphie managed to shred the remaining arm, nearly cutting it entirely off. The damage it took from the assault of them all made the creature rapidly grow out a new foot, only to step down and teleport.
Right as it appeared again, a thunderclap sounded out as a dark pillar of black lightning descended, sending the boss reeling back down into the sand. Jake, Maria, and Casper followed up with an Arcane Powershot, a massive fire arrow, and a wooden stake that looked more like a large pillar. These attacks all fell upon the chimera, making the ground explode a mere moment after the boss landed.
“Don’t give it time to rest,” Jake quickly said as he continued shooting arrows. Others also threw all they had at the boss while it was crowded, Eron confirming to the group they were doing damage as the chimera just seemed to take the beating for a little while… preparing.
As Jake nocked another arrow, he noticed it had become overcast. He threw a quick glance the way of the Sword Saint, wondering if he had used a skill to make it rain, but the old man looked just as perplexed as Jake. That’s when a raindrop fell on Jake’s arm, and he instantly felt it sizzle and burn his clothes.
Oh… fuck.
Jake wasn’t even the one to warn them all first as the Fallen King spoke.
“Acid rain.”
However, he did add something: “Don’t hold anything back anymore… it’s third phase time.”
Arcane Awakening activated, Jake pushing it all the way as he felt a real sense of danger. Not just from the clouds above, but the Prima below. Everyone had stopped attacking for a moment to deal with the rain that had begun to pour down, as they all fully activated their boosting skills, the sky lighting up from everyone, unleashing their energy. This brief moment of dealing with the rain wasn’t even a full second… but it had been enough for the Prima Guardian as its body exploded with power.
A small shockwave sent sand flying as the chimera shot into the air, burning with power as it revealed its healed form. The four arms had become only two, one of them with a staff and the other not wielding anything. Its legs now just looked like two long, curved, single-edged blades, and on its back, the wings it hadn’t used before had been replaced with four long necks extending out, each with wyvern-like heads. The only thing that remained kind of identical to before was the eye-filled head.
Its entire body also looked far more uniform, no longer a mix of scales, skin, and bark. Now, it only had a single slightly golden tinge to it that Jake recognized immediately… the runic tattoos also quite the giveaway. It had mimicked something Jake wasn’t even sure could even be mimicked: the natural defenses of a Runemaiden.
Except without any of the drawbacks, as mana whirled around the Prima Guardian. It was truly a ridiculous creature that couldn’t exist under any normal circumstances. Jake was ready to defend as he felt a gaze land on him. One of the wyvern heads opened its maw and released a ball of fire his way, the other three heads also attacking others.
Jake dodged, nocking an arrow, as the boss suddenly disappeared. There were no ripples in space this time, and Jake’s eyes opened wide when he realized what happened, as he felt a slightly familiar form of energy. Caleb had recognized it a moment before Jake and quickly yelled.
“It’s using the sha-“
However, before Caleb could fully warn them, it was too late.
Casper had been preparing another minor ritual as the Prima Guardian appeared behind him. The overcast skies had made the entire area overcast and unnaturally dark… leading to plenty of shadows for the chimera to travel through.
The Risen tried to react, even turning ethereal, but he wasn’t fully in time. A staff slammed into his stomach, an audible crack sounding out as his body turned ghostly. He tried to get away, but the chimera punched with its other hand as it turned golden, unleashing what was effectively a Golden Claw. Jake quickly stepped in before it could land a third attack, making visual contact with the Guardian as it momentarily froze.
Primal Gaze activated as Jake felt his own soul clash with the monstrosity before him. What he felt was utterly unnatural, a mismatch of pieces that were forcibly held together by a fuckload of system-made duct tape. That’s also when Jake knew that the system never planned on having these Prima Guardians rule any planets… because Jake wouldn’t even give this chimera a decade before its Truesoul would fall apart. In other words, it wasn’t built to last at all and only persisted by the grace of the system’s direct interference. For now, it was stable, though, and Jake felt quite the backlash as Primal Gaze nevertheless worked.
Casper exploded with cursed mana, taking the chance as four massive ghostly wooden stakes appeared behind him. With a yell, he shot them all forward, and all four pierced through the body of the Guardian before fading away.
That’s also when the Prima could move again, and it tried to strike Casper once more, but the Sword Saint released a piercing stab, making the chimera address him instead. Carmen and Vesperia joined the old man as they faced the Guardian with a united front.
Eron was already flying over and healing Casper, who looked to be in quite a bad state, as the three melee fighters tried to restrain the chimera… and things weren’t going super well.
With a kick, the chimera landed a large cut on Vesperia, shattering part of her natural armor, as the Sword Saint was forced to block the staff, smashing him down into the ground. Carmen’s fist clashed directly with the Prima’s, as she was the one who got pushed back, only to find herself on the receiving end of a wyvern’s breath.
Vesperia tried to take advantage, but the chimera dodged her blow expertly, only to counter her instead, sending her reeling back. That’s when Sylphie struck, proving once more she was the fastest in their group as she cut off one of the wyvern’s necks with a flyby.
Maria also tried to land an arrow, but it was swatted away by the staff. The fire archer was having a harder time than everyone else with the constant acid rain, as not only was the rain aspect bad for her, but the acid also proved very effective against her defensive skill.
Perhaps the Guardian noticed this, as it pointed the staff it had just used to destroy her attack, as the clouds above rumbled. A black lighting strike descended, taking Maria by surprise as she was struck directly. Before she could properly comprehend what had happened, the Guardian appeared right before her, proving it still had One Step available.
Jake had already shot an arrow that he redirected, but the Prima Guardian chose to ignore it and instead attacked. Maria exploded with flames that the chimera just pushed through as it punched her in the chest, its fist piercing straight through, sending blood and bone flying before unnaturally bending, grasping her hair in its hand as it pulled backward. The giant maw on its head then opened as it bit down, with Maria barely forcing her head out of the way in time by burning away her own hair as half her neck and her entire shoulder were torn off, parts of her arm falling toward the ground.
“Glimpse of Spring: Stormcut.”
The Sword Saint appeared below the two of them as he cut upwards, the clouds momentarily parting and the blade sinking into flesh as the arm holding Maria was cut cleanly off. Jake’s arrow also arrived, striking the Prima in the head and piercing one of its eyes before exploding, making the Prima stumble a slight bit.
This left Maria with a tiny opening as she kicked off the chimera and turned into a ball of fire that shot away right before one of the wyvern heads could grasp her. It instead chose to just shoot a beam of energy her way that Sylphie flew in front of to redirect with a large blast of wind.
“I… need to retreat… Its teeth are fucking poisoned and cursed… good luck,” Maria spoke, shooting into the distance. Perhaps Eron could have healed her and allowed her to keep fighting, but she knew that the current situation wasn’t favorable for her, and with her weakened after using her escape skill, she knew her contributions to the fight had ended.
The first of their fighters was officially eliminated – if one didn’t count the four Queen’s Guards that had all died too. Maybe Arnold was also out of the fight? At least he had lost his robot… but that didn’t mean Jake was going to write him off.
Refocusing on the Prima Guardian, it switched its attention to Eron again to stop him from healing Casper as the healer faced the chimera. Waves of white flames washed over the boss as it flashed its blade legs a few times, cutting Eron up. It first tried to cut off his limbs, but Eron responded by blowing up his own body whenever his movement got too impaired, making the chimera switch its strategy slightly. Instead of directly fighting him, it created a tunnel of wind before blasting him away within a bubble of stable arcane energy and golden force, sending him flying all the way to one of the sections where people were fighting the regular Primas.
“Do not fret,” Eron spoke while flying away. “Its power surges as its spark wanes. It’s burning through its very own life with every passing moment. Keep going.”
Jake didn’t need to be told that twice as he released an Arcane Powershot, blasting the Guardian in the shoulder and sending it spinning, Carmen flying over, her fist burning with power. It appeared as if the Guardian welcomed another clash as it punched toward her while spinning, but the Runemaiden wasn’t just throwing a casual punch this time around.
A skill Jake recognized as Fist of Ragnarok roared out as an explosion lit up the sky, the impact sending blood and bone flying everywhere as the Guardian tumbled through the sky, its entire arm broken and twisted. Carmen was also blasted back, her arm bent at an unnatural angle.
She threw Caleb, who was beside her where she stopped, a glance, and he quickly understood as he slammed his staff into her side, pushing the bone back in place as the Runemaiden flinched.
Back at the Guardian, it quickly stopped itself in mid-air, as it cut off its own limb before a new arm regenerated in less than a second, ready to receive the attack of Sylphie and Vesperia while even counterattacking, landing a nasty cut on Vesperia and a wyvern’s breath on Sylphie.
Several more breaths also flew out, aimed at Jake, who dodged, and Casper, who was already struggling due to his previous injuries. The Fallen King stepped in to defend the Risen, but it was clear Casper was overdrawing on his own power to stay in this fight. Still, he looked like he wanted to get in at least one more big contribution.
The fight was at a stage where every moment was perilous. If the Prima Guardian had its way with someone for even a full second, they could take lethal damage easily, while their party just had to slowly land blow after blow, trying to whittle down the chimera’s resources. All while dealing with it still adapting to everything they were doing, though to a lesser degree. Oh yeah, and then there was the constant acid rain. While Jake could block it with the passive barrier from Arcane Awakening, and someone like Carmen was entirely unaffected, everyone else had to, at the very least, expend energy to not be negatively affected.
Nevertheless, they held on as they repeatedly clashed with the Prima Guardian over and over, dealing solid damage themselves but also taking quite a beating in return. Casper did manage to get his final attack off as he activated the marks left by the four large stakes earlier, leaving a curse of weakness upon the Prima. It wouldn’t last long, but it gave them some reprieve as it slowed down the boss while it was slowly adapting to deal with the curse.
After that, Casper became the second one to exit the fight as he had to retreat. Eron also tried to return to them, but it appeared as if the Prima Guardian did have some level of control over the regular Primas, as a few of them disengaged from their existing fights with the rest of Earth’s forces purely to lock down Eron. It was annoying, as without their healer, things became a lot more risky.
Luckily, their core group of melee fighters remained, as Carmen, the Sword Saint, and Vesperia did wonders, keeping the Prima Guardian at bay most of the time. The Fallen King also stayed close to melee, assisting the group with barriers and occasional blasts, while Sylphie and Caleb functioned as a hit-and-run team, both showing off their speed.
As for Jake… well, he was the only one doing any solid damage, as the Prima Guardian was too busy dealing with the other six to handle his curving arrows and powerful Arcane Powershots. The chimera did try to go for Jake a few times, as he was isolated alone, but he proved himself a bad target every single time when he responded by pulling out his katars and engaging it until help arrived, without taking any meaningful injuries in the process. On the contrary, the boss took plenty of damage from this decision, as Prima attacking Jake freed up everyone else to attack.
A tightrope was walked as the fight was barely balanced, with any little thing able to tip it over. Jake felt the words of Eron ring true as the Prima Guardian was burning through its life and resources at an alarming rate, especially as it had to regenerate all the time from the constant damage it took. At the same time, any minor mistake from any of them could result in the balance instantly tipping if another fighter was put out of commission…
Ultimately, it turned out the tipping point didn’t come from a mistake any of them made but from a severe miscalculation.
As the Sword Saint managed to land a blow, and Carmen blocked one of the leg-blades, Vesperia was slated to avoid the swing of the staff. She was clearly ready for it and was already retreating slightly away from the swing as suddenly, all of the Prima Guardian’s eyes opened wide…
Without any warning, they all morphed into yellow bestial eyes that seemed to stare into your very soul, their gaze freezing not just Vesperia but the Fallen King, Carmen, Sword Saint, and even Caleb, who had just been about to land another sneaky blow from behind.
What happened next was just one brief moment… but that was all it took for the tight balance of the fight to shift entirely.
Comments
Richard Ulrich
Loving this shit, but hopefully in editing you take out most of the "also"s... way overused in these prima battle chapters, a lot of things are happening in sequence and simultaneously, a lot of the "also"s are unnecessary and make it an awkward read...
Trevor Mergen
Thanks!
Olof Karlsson
Thanks for the chapter!
Vega
Nice. Man this fight has twists upon twists. I’m not the biggest fan of prolonged fight scenes, but I’m enjoying this a little more than expected.
Tim Bartlett
“Ree!” should be bold like the other named abilities
Anthony Smith
Eron can heal Casper now?
Ryan Ulrich
Can someone explain what happend with Eternal Hunger? I thought he stabbed Prima with it but it didn’t seem to do anything?
Demonshadow639
Wow, I was wondering why Jake forgot that using something on it allows it to use that ability… I mean I guess he thought his bloodline was safe??? Also I wonder what that is going to do to Jake, seeing his ability used to hurt his friends??? I imagine that while it may have helped he just pissed off jake? Cant wait to find out tomorrow. Though I was hoping 4 chaps would be enough wait to read the whole fight in one go :(.
Jake Atwood
This supports my point so I agree if it isn’t as strong then it won’t be as rewarding and killing the primas first will take a long time even with 100s of high tiers and I think it will depend on if he does the exalted difficulty or not cause if not it will be way easier. Plus I imagine the system will do first to kill prima guardians based on difficulty cause it’s striped to expect the people with the highest normal difficulty while also choosing to boost it to a whole new evolution to kill it at the same time as everyone else. It also just wouldn’t fit the systems way of rewarding cause the system consistently give the best rewards to the best feats and killing a way harder boss slightly slower is way more impressive than killing a mediocre boss faster
Jeff McCulley
Well, Ell’Hakan isn’t likely facing a Guardian nearly as tough as this one—not even counting the buffs. However, I can easily see him deciding to clear his Primas first, to weaken it.
Syf0
"0-24 F 25-99 E 100-199 D 200-349 C 350-499 B 500-749 A 750-999 S 1000+ - God Rankings for pinned comment." - pinned comment from author on his discord in channel #alchemist-discussion
Clint
B: 351-500 A: 501-750 S: 751-999 No idea where it was mentioned. Possibly Discord.
James mMcClellan
Has the level range for the higher grades ever been mentioned
Jake Atwood
Honestly el hakkan seems screwed here the number advantage is only an advantage in the first stage and from there it’s is bad cause it get more adaptations and skills and I don’t see them getting through the traps near as fast as Jake’s team plus el hakkan is the only peak elite there the rest are only high level as said by hakkan so around Maria level and she lost almost immediately into 3rd faze and no way they stop it from getting second faze the would have to know ahead of time and Jacob didn’t even know it would do that so el hakkan will get it first on the weaker version maybe or not get it first and have HEAVY losses no matter what I don’t see him getting the better end of the deal
Jeff McCulley
Or maybe the “mistake” is PG hurting Sylphie? Seriously. The. End.
Ansordia
Oww... Right his bloodline was offended at the mere idea of a subpar skill... I highly doubt it will tolerate a copycat... Most egoistical things rarely DO.
Jeff McCulley
Thought the same thing. The arrow didn’t actually land. Of course, if she were Jake, she could now stand miles away and snipe with impunity. Maybe she and Casper are helping either the outer ring now?
Jeff McCulley
I think you have it backwards. It’s Zogarth misdirection. The scales are about to be tipped—just not the way it’s intended to look. In other words, excellent writing.
Jeff McCulley
Pretty sure his bloodline is about to be seriously miffed.
Clint
Even inside the vessel, it’s not a protected System-generated space. Yip and Holy Mother and Eversmile can watch, along with all sorts of curious minor gods.
Mat
yes, if it was in the vessels then he could use Jake juice. Currently they are too many witness and EH will definately know
Martín Ballesteros Arias
This is me getting out of a 24h shift, all hyped for my Friday chapter... and reading this marvelous chapter... and being left feeling empty and without aim till Monday's chapter
Martín Ballesteros Arias
And the mistake being shown by Jake's bloodline doing a "nope you can't hunt this hunter"
Historia Jinn
It's a system given skill he evolved with the help of his bloodline in nevermore, not his bloodline itself
Christopher Lee
Nah, that's kinda bullshit, that is a skill that was basically forged by Jakes own bloodline. He shouldn't be able to copy that ...
MacMahon Wenzl
If I was Jake I'd personally feel offended at him copying that skill.
Clint
The team might well be fucked, but Jake still has his ultimate Jake Juice upgraded god mode. Of course, if he uses that here, it won't just be Villy, Wyrmgod, and Valdemar witnessing it...
ShivaMcTimber
TYFTC! So potentially just Jake and Sylphy left? Or is Mr. Z sending us the other way with Jake's gaze backfiring, the shift in balance may be against the Prima, its use of gaze being a mistake?
Jan Backhaus
Man, i caught up today (went to patreon after reading book 9 on amazon) and i fucking love this story. Zogarth, your world-building is just insane. Looking forward to hopefully years to come following jake ans pals. To godhood and beyond.
Aerlevsedi
Technically it hasn't specified one way or the other yet who was targeted, just who froze. Having said that I fully believe that you are correct and it did target everyone it could see, meaning Jake's about to fuck it up. But, it might not have, either way, all I was trying to say is that if it did target Jake then it just screwed itself. Regardless time to suffer the weekend until we find out Monday.
Ty Cooper
Well Jake does practice with a chimera often. And yeah team Earth is about to have some problems if Jake doesn't pull out some shenanigans.
Cole Schafer
In the arena, Jake scrapped together a makeshift gaze from scrap (I think he did a similar thing with his swiss army nesting arrow thing). Plus, I don't think it's all that good from his bloodline, since his presence (which was) was superior to a primordial, but his gaze (at least as far as I remember) varied a lot in effects based on how strong his opponents where.
Cole Schafer
Oml I feel so stupid 😭
Reno
From the way "tipping point" was used, this sounds like a setup for everyone except Jake to be eliminated, not an opportunity to tip the scales in their favour. They might still turn it around, but the current phrasing implies that the team is fucked.
Jeff McCulley
Sylphie wasn’t even listed as frozen.
S.w.
Jelly in the extreme. Stage 5.
KenTX325
Jake purchased the first version of gaze from the system. He upgraded it after the coliseum but I’m not sure if it had anything to do with his bloodline.
DBOMB YO
"Maria also landed an arrow, but it was swatted away by the staff." I feel like this should say 'Maria almost landed...' because "Also landed" would suggest that her arrow hit the target, but then you've said that it was "Swatted away" which implies the arrow was deflected before hitting the target...I don't believe its technically an oxymoron, but its a bit of a contradictory sentence.
Jeff McCulley
Nope. It just means that Jake was hit, but his soul was too powerful for him to freeze.
Jeff McCulley
You misread it. “…their gaze freezing not just Vesperia but the Fallen King, Carmen, Sword Saint, and even Caleb, who had just been about to land another sneaky blow from behind.” It says that they were frozen, not “hit”. Which leaves Jake to have been hit—but not frozen
Jeff McCulley
Sure, be we can have “the late Prima Guardian”. And are about to. Amirite?
Jeff McCulley
Writing has been on point all week. All month. All year. But thanks for trying.
Jeff McCulley
Like, when the Guardian’s Gaze meets Jake’s eyes? Yup.
Jeff McCulley
This. FK said right off the bat using his soul attacks felt like it would be counterproductive. As it turns out, PG would likely have stolen them.
Jeff McCulley
That’s happened already. The others have been too busy to notice. Or at least mention it.
Jeff McCulley
It’s a higher level than they are…so, nope.
Jeff McCulley
See the Cliff, feel the Cliff, be the Cliff.
DirePants
Jake’s Bloodline is NOT going to like that 😂 I guess we may get to see that move from the Valdemar fight again? I didn’t expect it so soon. I was working with the assumption it couldn’t copy Jake’s Bloodline, (i.e. his sphere, eyes, etc) I thought the many eyes around the head were it’s attempt to do so. I wonder if Jake and Fallen King will do some kind of soul attack? Or maybe Jake will feed the PG to his own curse/katar? That would be a powerful upgrade. A chimera for his weapon that used to be one? I honestly was expecting a higher intelligence for the PG- but judging by Jake observations, it’s true soul is just a Frankenstein’s creation of instinct. Oh you know what? The system can’t interfere with bloodlines but I guess the system can create skills based on bloodlines it’s observed? 🤔 idk See you guys next week! Great chapter Zorg!
Jeff McCulley
I’m thinking someone trying to appropriate Primal Gaze royally pissed off Jake’s bloodline. But you’re probably more right than I am.
Daniel Hogan
I am the predator, how dare you!
Chloe
Tyftc. Really well written fight of 1 v many.
Chloe
Hold my beer. Lol. Nice
Chloe
Seriously this.
austin kutz
The skill can't be identical to Jake's since the chimera doesn't have his bloodline, so Jake may be able to improve his own skill with the other as a basis
Owen Kaz
I don't think it will be that bad Austin, remember it adapts and copies, not copies and improves. The Gaze will be doing the same thing Jake does, however it ultimately lacks his bloodline and is instead closer to Jakes original skill. I see this as freezing an individual and allowing a moment to strike. Which is what the Prima will be attempting here. Freezing them all for a moment to allow for death bloes on individual party members. Not long-term soul damage
austin kutz
"You dare gaze at me?"
austin kutz
Yep, they're totally going to get into a contest of will and soul power. Other people will be, at most, slightly injured and need a few weeks to recover. Jake is probably going to find a way to upgrade his eye skill based on system changes to his skill used by the prima
Accio123
My guess for what will happening the next chapter is that either Jake will capitalize on the Prima gazing at his team by gazing at the prima at the same time, or his team's souls are more hardy than the prima expected due to over exposure to Jake's bloodline. Either way I think this ends poorly for the Prima Guardian, I don't think this will result in anything too bad.
Allen Davis
Maybe silphee will mention how the wind did not like the prima after the battle
DDHG
Gaze is more then just a skill. Its both outside of the system and works within its bounds. Just like in the Arena where all skills were locked. Gaze still worked because of Jake's bloodline. So copying gaze means to touch Jake's bloodline. Therefore, the Prima just shot itself in the foot with a anti tank rifle.
JJB4345_80_815
In terms of cliffhanger frequency, it is my belief that the majority of Zogarth's chapters end with some sort of tease that makes us greedy for more. However, since the longest WAIT we, as Patreon members, typically have is the weekend it makes us FEEL the Friday cliffhanger with a greater sense of suspense, comparatively.
Daniel is ŁØNE
honestly considering how battered it's soul is I feel like the backlash is gonna be counterproductive, I also reckon that the gaze ain't even gonna work on Jake. He was the only one not mentioned at the end there and It mentions that he is the person doing the majority of damage so I feel like this is gonna be a miscalculation on the Chimera's part.
Daniel is ŁØNE
Nah, he clearly plans these out, it's quite obvious when you look at frequency. We have a cliff at almost every Friday chapter, it happens way too often to be a coincidence. And it's not like Zog can't make minor edits to make the book format work for the daily readers.
Ty Cooper
Right! He is going to not only punch all the elite's souls and Jake's crazy soul. Not going to go as planned at all.
Aldhere
I see everyone saying something will happen from the Prima Guardian using Gaze on Jake and speculating on it, but... it didn't happen? It specified that Vesperia, the Fallen King, Carmen, Sword Saint, and Caleb got hit, but not Jake. Which makes sense. The concept of the attack is to force a collision between two souls; it's not an attack per se, and both sides are in the same situation. The reason it works so well for Jake is that his soul is just that busted, so it works on practically all things he uses it on. The Prima Guardian, who analyzed the skill and duplicated it, knows that if it used it on Jake, *it* would be the one frozen again for a split second, as earlier. So instead it used it on everyone else, since despite it's hodgepodge soul, it's still incredibly strong, and thus would work on the others.
John
Yes!! 🙂 Just came here to say the very same thing!
Josh Florence
Zog is a cruel mistress...
Captdeth
I think it’s just going be 1 soul vs like 5-10 souls means the 1 soul takes the loss
Ty Cooper
That's my guess as well
Ty Cooper
It cannot copy the bloodline. It is copying his skills. Gaze and moment it seems. I am looking forward to the backlash the Guardian will suffer for clashing souls with Jake. Only one tiger on the mountain for sure.
Sherry Melancon
THUMP
Ty Cooper
So many thoughts. Jake is definitely upgrading something at the end here. Moment vs moment?Moment? Gaze vs Gaze? Both vs both? Anyway it goes it will be interesting. But gaze puts the souls crashing into one another, right? Isn't the guardian's soul kinda cracked and almost Duct tapes together at this point? Plus his soul is going against all the elite party members. Plus the SS knows some work arounds by now. Will moment work normally on the SS? Or? Does any of that matter because Jake is going to pull out some crazy bloodline shenanigans? His bloodline won't stand for something encroaching on its turf. It is insulting they dare put their soul against his. And with Jake's crazy bloodline and anomalous soul anything is possible. Even kicking it so hard a rabbit pops out it's backside. And so many of us called it. Prima fight wrapped up Monday.
Sherry Melancon
Jake's bloodline is about to lose it's shit.
Austin Barton
The last part gave me the most major “Call an ambulance…. But not for me” setup I have ever seen.
Austin Barton
His eyes are a result of his bloodline it can’t be inferior to anyone or anything or bloodline shenanigans ensue
James Faulkner
Oh shittttt
Borbino the great
It’s not copying his bloodline I don’t think? Just his eyes
Phasmatic7
Thankies for the chapie zogie
joel southard
Nice thank you for the chapter
Christian Standhardinger
I'm unsure what you are going on about; I think this is great! Also, overall, the character development is at the level of the Cradle book series.
Cam
Dammit Zog! Always on a Friday!
ChRiAn
Bonus odds for Jake upgrading his gaze.
Chioke Nelson
I keep forgetting Jake's bloodline is a jealous bitch lmao
DDHG
It was at that moment, the prima realized that it done fucked up. The legend of Jake thane only allows for one beastial hunter to be within its presence. An now that the prima is copying his bloodline, it is time for Primal hunter fuckery to kick in.
kingofshibainu
I'm going to guess it's stitched together soul is going to explode by using the gaze which pits soul against soul.
Aerlevsedi
So I guess the only chance the Prima has of surviving the next chapter now is that Jake wasn't listed among those who froze because he wasn't a target at all. Bloodline will not take it well being challenged if he is a target. That said it'll be mildly amusing if Jake erases it from existence so thoroughly that the system has to recreate the other key or something.
Jeff McCulley
Sure, but he’s also writing g a book, not a weekly serial, so a Friday cliffy is more or less a coincidence. Especially since we don’t know how many chapters ahead he’s actually writing.
Andromeda Adams
That was my first inclination as well. Especially since Jake wasn’t mentioned in the last part. It was said Jake was the only one to do any real damage, earlier.
Jeff McCulley
I’d be okay with William chipping in, and continuing his redemption arc. However, I feel like the “severe miscalculation” was the PG deciding to do a trial run of Primal Gaze—right in front of the Primal Hunter.
Jeff McCulley
Blend of Jake and SS. A chimera, if you will.
Jeff McCulley
And that’s where it made its final mistake.
Jeff McCulley
Between system shenanigans and system fuckery, you mean.
Jay tolley
I like the cliff but I have a feeling the prima using that skill is game over. Not sure how yet but I am just expecting the miscalculation was by the prima using that skill and its going to back fire on him.
Andromeda Adams
Honestly it could be a little of both. Maybe William coming in to save Caleb and Jake breaking the PG soul.
SmokeJam
Well thats as bad as a cliff as I expected, but not as bad as I feared. I can see Jakes bloodline going completely bonkers and just snapping the chimera in half for the impudence of copying Gaze. Wonder if William gets screentime or if he just "collects merit and trust" before he gets involved. Lovely weekend chapter, thx.
Arieh Sochaczevski
A hell of a cliff… but just as expected. I think I’ll be fine with the fall. Thanks for the chapter!
Steve Shelden
Gotta be William. He’s been due for some legit redemption. I also like the Guardian’s soul breaking when he tries Gaze on Jake though.
Xhaare
Justice for Prima boyo, stuck between System shenanigans and a cheater
Xhaare
Zogarth tried to bait us, but you can’t forget that Jake’s bloodline hates being looked down on, and the Prima just attempted to apex predator stare a sleeping apex predator. Poor Prima True Soul about to explode :(
Anthony
I'm thinking it tried that shit on Jake and Jake's soul ripped it apart, tipping the balance.
wartgalore
If I'm not mistaken it's gonna be in mid July? Saw someone post about it on FB
wartgalore
He did a glimpse of spring in this very chapter
Kevin Watson
the cliff of the primal hunter may be stronger than the stare
ByLordMatsLuck
God I hope Vespy or Sylphy don’t die
RonGAR
Hmmm don't know how to feel about 'william' saving the day.
Hunter Thornton
Bullshit!!!!! That sumbich is cheatin
Gavin Wayne Pitcher
They're basically fighting Jake, so it's actually a miracle it hasn't one-shot half of them already.
Seen Death
The problem is the Prima copies pretty much every skill, and has a stupidly powerful soul- even FK was wondering if it was even counter productive to attack it directly. If FK tried his soul obliteration, and it most likely wouldnt work- it could probably copy that and obliterate everyone here
Cole Schafer
Y'all keep focusing on Jake... We haven't seen so much as a glimpse of spring yet
ItWasIDIO!!
Well fuck pulled out the ultimate ace that has carried our Hero thru the grades
Andromeda Adams
Oh yeah I also would like to point out that it did copy the poison and curses, but in like a venom style of use. The Acid rain was a surprise though.
Michael
I'm sensing Jake getting ready to trigger his "primal state" to smack the boss into oblivion
FastBilliam
Could definitely be springtime
Steven Miller
Tffc! Was there any word on the audiobook for book 9?
Talon Michaelis
I think it would be hilarious if you made a scene where Jake blocked something with his boots that had previously damaged Carmen's skin and have her or someone ask wtf are those boots
Razeel Nightfall
I would like to read about the bloodline scoffing at the prima's gaze, a hold my beer moment for Monday would be nice.
Phillip Hazlett
Tftc
Phillip Hazlett
I read the PG as puny god
KenTX325
FK should use his trump card. I think the SS faced the earlier version of the gaze skill and he may have a counter. This shows the power of this skill that Jake has used less since the upgrade in Nevermore. I’d like Jake to use gaze and his aura more.
Chase Burton
Tftc!
Micah Molina
NOOOOoooo! Not a cliff Friday. What a good fight though. Great chapter!
Loading Error
I feel like The Primal Hunter will be like “oh haellll naw, mufu”
Tom
“No schedule” refers to time of day it’s released, when people were whining about it being posted 20 minutes later than usual
RonGAR
Isn't Jake at god level in his souls pace? Isn't that what that Cerulan Demon Arc taught us? This fight should end here right? 😰
Sam Rosenberg
I kindof expected a super cliffhanger this time going into the weekend. Nice chapter. Good fight
TwistedVanity
Edit. "On the contrary, the boss took plenty..." on the contrary would mean your making an opposite statement you aren't. Jake took no damage, the Prima did. There is no contrary information. I suggest, meanwhile, the boss...
Gabriel Garcia
Much better chapter. Writing on point today.
Thenais
Waiting for the inevitable dbz comment. /popcorn
Dustin
I really hope William makes his appearance!
Jed
For anyone else? Yep, it would kill them to use it on all of them at once, but it’s soul strength is from being loads of patchwork, so lots of power but no stability, but system-fuckery means that it’s completely stable. Thus the soul is incredibly powerful whilst being stable, so it shouldn’t have an effect. Until it uses it on Jake. Then I have no idea.
Burkes
I knew that shit was coming! At first i thought it would be like a reveal for the second phase when it opened its eyes but it wasn’t. Still fucking called it though!
S.w.
I was thinking William.
Alex Cox
I think the SS and Jake both going full force
James Evans
her first -> her fist burning
Andromeda Adams
Jake’s own gaze comes and crushes the PG soul, gaze doesn’t work on Jake. One of many possibilities. I wish we could peer over the edge of this cliffhanger. Or here comes William… TYFTC!!!
Decibel790
Wow. You really know how to put the desperation in a fight and show how scary a monster can be. That combo it laid out on Maria was just disturbing.
Sayjinlord
A chapter is never late, nor is it ever early. Zogarth will drop it precisely when he means to.
Radzig
Prima's Gaze CLASHING with Jake's soul? That doesn't sound like a good idea for the chimera....
Jana
If Gaze pits Soulstrength against each other and the chimera is kind of a patchwork - wouldn’t it be kind of suicidal to use that skill on multiple people with exceptionally strong souls at once. I mean I would definitely celebrate an accidental suicide like this (and I’d probably laugh my ass of) but I think it would rate second on the unexpected outcome of a fight list - fist is still Jake pummelling William in the tutorial.
johnathan stewart
Nope. remember, there is no schedule.
jazz
Yea that makes sense. I be forgetting the soul shape is the whole body. Not just some core in the center
Tim Bartlett
thats not "just how the chapter fell". Zogarth designs these brutal cliffs
Tim Bartlett
Carmen flying over, her first burning with power. >>>Carmen flying over, her fist burning with power.
Tyler S.
Time for Jake, Prima 1v1 maybe 1v2 if Sylphie is still around
Tyler S.
No because souls and auras, if he has some of his blood or poison inside them it makes it easier but not automatically
John Durrett
Thank you for the very enjoyable chapter! Correction needed: “The Fallen King stepped in the defend the Risen” Suggestion 1: stepped into the defense of the Risen Suggestion 2: stepped in to defend the Risen Respectfully
Gavin
Not it copying soul gaze. That's crazy.
Cameron Whitaker
He explained it as he did not really look into Arnold and the soul just being one entire shape so I think if he tries to look into someone he could be he didn't see a reason too this time
Davan Krueger
Jake doesn't get stunned gets an attack through shifts the balance of the fight
Davan Krueger
He didn't look
Frederik
the schedule is just a myth only zogs will can bless us with heavens decree
John Balman
Dann Cliff LoL
Rid
Zogarth rarely posts before noon CET ergo it’s early. No need to be so pedantic lol
sata
betting jake is gonna use primal gaze on the prima while its already strained soul is dealing with fighting everyone else. effectively killing it
SpicyApricotTree
It’s time for the use of some Jake Juice!
sata
wdym early? there is no schedule from which to be early
Jim Meyer
Great chapter! I'm loving the power set here, the best parts of the "fight yourself" concept
Naotsugu97
Noooooo, the schedule!
TyranT-Rex
What and absolutely broken boss. This is such a good fight.
JJB4345_80_815
Thank you for the chappy! Friendly possible edit: The Fallen King stepped in the defend the Risen, but it was clear Casper was overdrawing on his own power to stay in this fight. stepped in the defend ==> stepped in to defend
Tommy
Can’t be early or late if there is no schedule!
johnathan stewart
Man, I know it's just how the chapters fell... but that's a hell of a cliffhanger on a friday....
Kt-x
Thanks for the chapter
Taj Malloy
Tftc a true challenge for Jake
Paulo Furlaneto
Tftc
hayden jack cowell
if it copied gaze did it get the backlash to?
BubblyGhost
Oh, chimera is fucked. Burning through it's life an already unsteady soul in a clash? Yeah the backlash from Gaze is going to knock it on it's ass.
Tristan
Oh shit chimera just used gaze. Man I'm just itching to see how this fight is going to go. Dam weekend ruining a good thing
T
I’m guessing more true soul shenanigans
Strato Junon
There truly is no schedule. Love it
GraveLurker
Such a cliff hanger on a Friday of all times!!! Nooo!!
dragonslaver
He fucking stole the gaze? Yeah Jake's going primal!
C0bra$
Thank u
jazz
Robot Arnold makes me question. Jakes almighty perception can’t see past skin?
Jacob Brady
Thank you for the normally timed drop of the chapter (Because it seems many forget, there is no time🤣🤣)
DeadMeat
yay chapter already and it isn't even my birthday
Rid
Chapter dropping early? You know it’s gonna be a good day. Tftc!
Lizy Flore
Can I just say I absolute LOVE this no-scheduling thing ? Bc. It’s absolutely perfect.
Ben Heggem
Early chap 👀
Drako07Spyder
thanks!
Tommy
Death to the Prima Guardian!
