7. City/Monkey Management

Jake recuperates from brutal injuries—regenerating an arm and eye—after pushing himself with explosions and force blasts. With less than a day before the World Congress, he reflects on how the second Matriarch (lvl 147) fell quickly thanks to refined tactics and stronger hemotoxins, granting immediate level gains.

Attempting to pull a third Matriarch backfires when a fourth joins, triggering a mass pursuit by nearly all D-grade monkeys around the temple. Jake kites the horde for over a day, relying on poison tracking, the Scimitar of Cursed Hunger’s lifedrain, potions, and Limit Break (10%→20%) to whittle them down. Mental fatigue dulls his tactics, leading to severe wounds, but he survives and uses Moment of the Primal Hunter to finish the last Matriarch. He confirms kills on Matriarchs (142, 146), plus many elites, and levels rapidly to class 112 and race 107 before collapsing into sleep.

In Haven, Miranda manages city affairs via the Pylon: expanding administrative messaging through Lillian’s new skill, planning for the World Congress, and debating attendees. She institutes limited immigration to preserve Haven’s character and safety, eyes future development near the Fort, and safeguards a nearby D-grade dungeon for Jake to clear first. She hopes—but cannot be sure—that Jake will attend the Congress.

Jake wakes refreshed after ten hours, cleans up, and returns to the temple to find the grounds deserted. Atop the highest point waits the Penta-Lighttail Monkey Prima (lvl 134), now stronger. With time before the Congress, Jake summons an Arrow of the Ambitious Hunter and prepares to test the Prima directly.