Chapter 1197 – An Una-Void-Able Gamble

Divine Bargain? Jake felt it wouldn’t help jack shit. His Umbral Cloak? The Shadow Realm didn’t overlap with the void, making the cloak inactive. None of Jake’s skills would work in a situation like this, simply due to how weak he was compared to those who stood before him.

The formation covering them all blocked any and all contact, and as the skills Jake possessed were part of the system, they were naturally also affected by the barrier meant to seal them in. If something like Divine Bargain helped, he was confident that everyone else besides the King would also have been able to at least notify or send a proverbial flare into the multiverse to alert their divine supporters.

Even if they could send a weak signal toward their gods, chances were the formation would still be able to block them. It could block even Artemis and any attempts she made to reach the outside, meaning it had to be of an incredibly high level.

Taking everything into consideration, Jake saw only two potential solutions. The first one was to actually do as the god said. To surrender and buy time that way, with the assumption that Villy and other Primordial-level figures would be able to do something once out of the barrier.

However, even that seemed like a bad idea. These masked gods had to have taken precautions against exactly that. Perhaps they planned to seal Jake and the others within a hidden space, or maybe they wanted Jake to do whatever they wanted him to do immediately within the barrier. In all cases, they had to realize they were on a timer.

At some point, as long as Jake and the others were alive, the masked gods would be tracked down. Leaving them alive for too long was thus simply too risky an option. As Jake looked around the room, they all seemed to also realize this as Jake spoke.

“I have one gamble, but I have no idea if it will work, and it may end up just dooming us all here and now,” Jake said to the others in the room.

“Then at least this brief third chance at life would have ended at my own choice,” the Forest King said.

The Sword Saint just nodded, Dina looking nervous but ultimately also agreeing. Sylphie had been quiet for a while, but even she realized the gravity of the situation as she let out a low screech of approval.

Jake nodded and gave them a solemn smile. “I suspect this won’t end well for me no matter the scenario.”

With those words, Jake took out an item from his spatial storage and, without further hesitation, drew on his Primeval Origin Energy. Time was running out, as the vessel would soon be breached, giving Jake no further time to consider matters.

Holding the object in his hand tightly, a whisper of Primeval Origin Energy soon entered it. At first, Jake felt no chance at all, but as he kept channeling his energies, something seemed to stir within the item.

Jake kept clenching the small black bead tighter, hoping his gamble would pay off as he sought to awaken the Origin within. Right then, the vessel was about to be breached, and to buy just a moment’s more time, Jake made a drastic decision.

He had seen how the vessel could be opened from within, likely as an emergency function, and, with the others looking on with bated breath, Jake unlocked the vessel’s hatch.

An opening appeared, and before Jake could even register any movement, the god appeared right in front of Jake. He saw a smile on her face beneath her mask as she spoke.

“I’m glad you finally saw sense.”

She didn’t sound quite smug, but more like this was indeed the only possible outcome of this situation. He also took note of the fact that she indeed hadn’t tried to break through the barrier still covering the inside of the vessel despite having an opportunity to.

It was likely she feared accidentally killing Jake in the process, as the moment he was exposed to the void, he would perish. So she would need to not only break in but shield Jake the moment the barrier was down. In the event that Jake resisted, it could quickly result in his death and them having wasted their efforts.

The god in question raised her hand toward the barrier, and she summoned a small magical shield herself to cover the entrance of the vessel. Her actions were very cautious, not out of fear for her life, but fear that everything wouldn’t go according to plan.

Perhaps she thought Jake was hesitating when he was actually deep in thought as she spoke again, this time at least trying to sound a little comforting.

“Just accept my hand, and I swear none will die this day.”

Jake was still infusing Primeval Origin Energy into the item hidden in the palm of his hand, and he needed more time, so he tried to buy at least a little.

“You said you wanted to speak with me… well, here I am,” Jake said, not having to infuse his voice with power as with the vessel open, all effects that stopped anything leaving the vessel had been deactivated.

“I also believe I’ve said all that needed to be said,” the god said, her words indication she was at least a little impatient. Jake, on the other hand, felt like he had a lot more time upon noticing the fighting between Artemis and the other gods pausing.

Jake considered his approach as he tried something bold that he hoped would work, in part because it wasn’t a good strategy for someone in his situation. “Let’s just put all the cards on the table. You clearly need me for something, and you need me to actively participate in helping you, so let’s reach an agreement where we both at least benefit from all this nonsense.”

The god tilted her head a little, her smile beneath the mask broadening. “I’m listening, Harbinger of Primeval Origins.”

“I want you to properly promise that everyone here will be kept alive, as I may still need them in the future,” Jake said in a slightly haughty tone. “Additionally, I’m not gonna help you totally for free. Seeing as I don’t know which faction you’re from, I guess details would have to be determined later, but I want something to help strengthen my Path. Powerful alchemical ingredients or artifacts for transmutation. Perhaps exclusive first rights to a few dungeons, as my Dungeon Pioneer title could need some work. Of course, preferably a bit of everything, as I know the ware I’m offering is invaluable.”

From what Jake knew from his recent dinner date with Artemis and interactions with many others, his reputation in the multiverse was indeed that of a young master with a sense of ego and arrogance only surpassed by his Patron.

Enjoying this book? Seek out the original to ensure the author gets credit.

Anyone not entirely up their own asses would realize that Jake wasn’t in a proper situation to negotiate. However, that didn’t mean the god wouldn’t entertain him. If Jake was correct, they never planned on having him survive long enough to cash in on any promises, so why would it matter what they agreed to? All that mattered was placating the delusion, arrogant Chosen, until he was done helping these gods.

“Bold of you to try to negotiate, but we’re not entirely unreasonable,” the goddess said, continuing to smile as she seemed to consider the matter. “While I’m not able to make all promises, I can agree to some of them. However, all payments will happen once you’re done assisting us. Got to make sure you’re not just trying to take advantage.”

“I could say the same thing,” Jake said smugly. “But fine, I’ll be magnanimous. Just know that if you need my help again in the future, I don’t do discounts for return customers, especially not to those making such rude introductions.”

“Apologies, but the circumstances demanded it,” the god said halfheartedly, still humoring the delusional Chosen. In her mind, she likely found it more funny than anything that Jake had tried to wrestle back some semblance of control over his life and situation, despite the fact that he truly had no cards to play outside of threatening to end his own life as an act of resistance.

“It can be forgiven if things are acceptable from here,” Jake said with a nod. He was starting to reach the end of his bullshittery as he tried to get on to more things to say… but that was when he felt it.

“All the details can be determined once we are out of here and in more comfortable surroundings,” the goddess spoke again, motioning with her hand once more for Jake to take it. “The sooner we leave, the better. For everyone involved.”

Jake slowly nodded and smiled. “You’re right.”