Ascension of the Primalist [A Tamer Class, LitRPG]

Seth walked toward his squad's inn, the dirt crunching under his boots, while his mind was still on his previous discussion with Marcus. The Alchemist had promised to help the Champions of Chaos navigate the political labyrinth of the NEVAK and prepare them as best they could to gain the council's approval for the transition they were aiming for.

The only thing they would still need to do would be to take down King Theron to turn Kastal into a republic.

As if it hadn't been enough, Marcus had also provided the coordinates of a nearby Rift, where Seth could dive and train while waiting for his squad's next deployment. Unlike the Cave of Elements, this one had already been explored, yet the Alchemist had insisted it was a great location to train for someone like Seth, because it was essentially a giant forest.

To a person who had spent his entire life navigating the woods like Seth, it would be an ideal spot to hunt.

Seth considered who he should bring with him. He had already promised Selena a spot, though venturing in with only her felt like a wasted opportunity for the rest of his friends. He needed to bring those who were hungry for the strength required to survive the coming battles.

A cold knot tightened in his chest.

If Devus, Jenna, or Elena were currently deployed, there was a high chance they wouldn't return at all, given the grim survival rates of the previous battles. Seth knew he could ask Professor Reat through his communication orb to see if they were already in the Warfare Rifts, yet his hand hesitated over his pouch.

'It will only make your mood worse,' Nightmare said through their telepathic connection, knowing what he was worried about. 'I think you should wait and focus on what you can control: getting stronger before the next battle begins.'

'I won't Rift Dive for two weeks without knowing if they're dead,' Seth retorted, jaw clenched.

Just as he was about to reach for the orb, he caught sight of a group gathered near his squad's inn ahead. His eyes immediately locked onto three familiar figures.

Elena stood at the center, dressed in mage robes of a deep, midnight blue that provided a startling contrast to the vivid, flowing crimson of her hair. Beside her stood Devus, his heavy plate armor so clean it practically shimmered under the rays of the sun. Last was Jenna, in her light leather armor with twin blades resting at her hips.

Elena caught sight of Seth; her eyes widened and her stoic posture shattered in a heartbeat. Ignoring the others, she immediately sprinted toward him, her boots kicking up dust. Before Seth could even react, the noblewoman launched herself forward and jumped into his arms, hugging him with desperate, suffocating strength.

Elena's voice was barely a whisper as it reached Seth's ear. "I didn't think you would come back alive."

Seth thought about putting some space between them, but he decided against it. He let himself be squeezed in her embrace. In that brief moment, it was as if all his problems had vanished. He didn't have to think about the visceral need of surviving, or the endless sea of soldiers he would have to kill over the following months to make the empire surrender.

That warm hug both made him never want to go back into Warfare Rifts and simultaneously urged him to charge in to ensure everything ended as quickly as possible, with as little death as possible.

Finally, Elena pulled away, her face slightly flushed, as Jenna and Devus joined them.

Devus didn't hesitate and also wrapped Seth in a giant hug of his own that compressed Seth's aching ribs. "I'm glad you made it back, mate," the Guardian said.

Seth clapped his friend on the back, causing the Guardian's polished armor to rattle. When the two of them stepped apart, Seth looked at Jenna. She appeared unsure if she wanted to follow the others' lead, shifting her weight, before she too finally stepped in for a quick hug.

As Seth looked at them, a heavy silence stretched between the group. Devus finally spoke up: "How did you come out on top? And how did you guys win at all? All the battles that happened before yours were basically one-sided slaughters."

"It was thanks to my new beast," Seth answered.

Almost immediately, Jenna and Devus' eyes widened. "What?" they exclaimed in unison.

Seth looked at Elena with a brief smile. Their response only confirmed she hadn't said a word to the others about that secret while he was in the Warfare Rift.

Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

"You will learn about him soon enough," Seth answered. "Everyone in my squad saw him, and now, the empire knows about him too".

"What kind of beast is it?" Devus asked, leaning in with intense curiosity.

"Can we see it?" Jenna pressed, eyes darting around as if begging the passersby to go away so Seth would say yes.

Seth smiled. "Not in the middle of the street," he answered Jenna before turning to Devus. "He's a giant scorpion. He's named Colossus. He basically fights like a Guardian, with taunts and defensive barriers."

"What?" Devus exclaimed before bringing a hand to his chest, feigning affront. "So I've been replaced by a bug?"

Seth smiled at the Guardian. "Calm down, you're not even in my squad. And if I were you, I'd avoid calling him a bug. He could smother you to death just by sitting on your chest."

"I'd like to see him try!" Devus answered with a chuckle.

Colossus' innocent-sounding voice rippled out of Seth's necklace. "If you want me to..."

Devus' jaw went slack while Elena and Jenna laughed beside him. "Is he a child?" the Guardian asked.

"Not anymore," Seth answered. He studied the three of them for a moment, his expression turning more serious. "Anyway, changing the subject, I'm thinking of taking some of my squad to a nearby Rift, to help them increase their Ranks before the next battle." He paused, then added, "You three want to come along? Do you know when you're scheduled to fight?"

"In a little more than a week," Devus said for himself before nodding toward Jenna and Elena. "Same for Jenna, and two and a half weeks for Elena."

Seth was taken slightly aback, but tried not to show it. His next battle was in two weeks, yet by then Elena still wouldn't have fought her first battle.

It was glaringly obvious who King Theron and his subordinates were choosing to sacrifice. They were throwing the commoners and the politically expendable into the battlefield to soften the empire's resolve before risking their "kin."

"Maybe you should rest a bit before you do that," Elena suggested, her voice laced with a concern that also filled her emerald eyes. She reached out as if to touch his arm, her gaze lingering on the blood on his gear.

Seth shook his head. "No. I want to be as strong as possible before my next fight. I'm sure many in my squad will feel the same way. Don't worry, we'll leave the Rift a day or two before the first battle so we are fresh."

"Then I'll come!" A giant grin broke across Devus' face as he slammed his fist into his palm. The sound of gauntlet against skin echoed through the quiet street. "Can't miss hunting with you for the first time!"

"Me too," Jenna added, her hand resting instinctively on the pommel of one of her twin blades. Elena followed suit with a slow nod.

A playful glint flashed in Jenna's hazel eyes. "It will be a good occasion to see this Colossus."

Seth smiled. Just as Devus said, this would be the first time Seth was hunting with people other than Nightmare and Colossus. Deep down, he felt uneasy, unsure if he should push them as hard as he pushed himself—the relentless, near-suicidal pace that had practically become his norm.

However, considering how bloody the war was becoming and the brutal standard the empire had set with those artifacts that prevented those of Kastal from using Escape scrolls, Seth knew pushing everyone to their absolute limits was the kindest thing he could do for their survival. He would rather they hate him for the muscle cramps and the pain today than die because they were too weak.

A few hours later, Seth stood before a hovering Rift portal nestled in the heart of a dense forest north of Veretia. It was like a shimmering tear in reality, pulsing with a rhythmic hum that made the surrounding leaves tremble.

Behind him gathered Elena, Devus, Jenna, Henry, Eddin, and Selena, along with twenty others from Seth's squad who had answered the call to go train with him. Seth looked down at the timer artifact resting in his palm—a small, brass-bound device provided by Professor Reat—alongside a flaring wand for emergencies for each member of the squad.

Seth infused aether to set the timer to fourteen days, precisely twenty-four hours before his next scheduled deployment into the Warfare Rifts. Around him, the others also adjusted their own devices as Seth turned to face the group.

"As I said, this is a Silver Rift," he began. "Expect the borders to be mostly crammed with Copper and Iron beasts, but we could still stumble upon a Silver one at any moment. If that happens, don't be a hero: use the flaring wand to signal the others. We'll converge to take it down together."

Henry let out a short laugh, adjusting the strap of his Protecting Belt. "Don't worry about us, Seth. We'll have the thing skinned and gutted before either you or Colossus can get there to save our asses."

Nightmare's voice instantly rippled out from the teardrop necklace: "Oh, really? Just the two of them? I'll be sure to remember that when you need my help."

Henry winced, then gave a quick, apologetic grin toward Seth's necklace. "Don't take it the wrong way, Nightmare. You're the spear, not the shield. You might not protect us, but you take care of the enemies!"

"Good recovery," Seth muttered with a wink. He looked at the portal once more, then at the faces of his friends. "Alright, let's go."

He reached out and grasped Elena's hand. Everyone followed suit, forming a chain of linked hands to ensure the Rift's transition wouldn't scatter them across different areas. Once they were all ready, Seth stepped forward into the shimmering light.

The next instant, the world dissolved. For a brief moment, Seth felt once again a profound sensation of nothingness—a cold, silent void that resonated deeply with the Null affinity pulsing within his Well. The absence of aether along with the stillness felt both terrifying and strangely welcoming.

Then, everything snapped back into focus.

The dry forest of Veretia was gone, replaced by the vibrant heat of a tropical jungle. Massive, fan-like leaves dripped with moisture, and the air was thick with the scent of soaked soil and blooming flora.

Vines as thick as a man's thigh coiled around towering trees that disappeared into a canopy so dense it turned the sunlight into a dim, emerald haze.

Seth looked to the others as they gathered their bearings. "Split into the pre-arranged groups," he commanded. "Then begin your hunt."

He shared a brief nod with Devus, Jenna, and Elena before looking at Selena, who was already drawing her daggers. Together, the five of them moved forward, disappearing into the tangled overgrowth of the Rift.

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