The Primal Hunter, #4
The Primal Hunter 4
by Zogarth
Contents
35. To Upgrade Or Not To Upgrade, That Is The Question
Overview
Jake reviews newly offered skills: variations of Arcane Bolt and Disruptive Arcane Wave, an epic arcane barrier, and an ancient upgrade to Mark of the Ambitious Hunter. Weighing new skill versus upgrade, he consults the Malefic Viper, who advises prioritizing core, synergistic skills.
The Viper deems the upgraded Mark—granting tracking, damage boosts, arcane charge detonation, and extra experience against higher-level foes—exceptionally valuable. Jake leans toward upgrading as he proceeds to read the final option.
Summary
Fresh from leveling, Jake opens his skill options with eagerness. He dismisses Arcane Bolt (Rare) as redundant, preferring freeform bolts and his arrows. Disruptive Arcane Wave (Rare) intrigues him for mixing mana and stamina, but he deems it replicable without a skill.
He studies Barrier of the Avaricious Arcane Hunter (Epic), a full arcane bubble that blocks physical and magical attacks and purportedly weakens external concepts. He notes its potential synergy with stamina use and its defensive promise but continues reviewing.
Mark of the Avaricious Arcane Hunter (Ancient) appears as a direct upgrade to Mark of the Ambitious Hunter, adding multiple covert marks, stronger damage boosts—especially arcane—position tracking, an arcane charge detonation, and bonus experience versus higher-level foes. The prospect excites Jake, though he weighs the loss of a new slot.
Unsure, Jake contacts the Malefic Viper for guidance. The Viper explains that upgrade offers commonly start in D-grade with aligned classes, stresses that fewer, stronger, synergistic core skills beat many mediocre ones, and notes some skills are impractical to replicate with freeform magic.
Upon hearing the upgraded Mark grants extra experience, the Viper classifies it as a rare, near-irreproducible signature effect and especially valuable for Jake’s rapid progression. Encouraged, Jake inclines toward upgrading his Mark while turning to examine the final listed skill.
Who Appears
- JakeProtagonist; evaluates new skill options, debates upgrading his Mark, and seeks advice from the Malefic Viper.
- The Malefic Viper (Villy)Mentor figure; explains D-grade upgrade offers, advocates focusing on core synergies, and endorses upgrading Jake’s Mark.