Progression Time

Book Recap

The Primal Hunter

Book 1 Recap· Released

TL;DR

Jake Thayne is an ordinary office worker until the System integrates Earth and drops him into a survival Tutorial in a monster-filled forest. Where his coworkers falter, he thrives: he hunts alone, picks up alchemy, forms a bond with the Malefic Viper, evolves his class and profession, and works his way through the Tutorial's beast hierarchy. The book ends on his first Tutorial quest.

Listen on Audible

As an Amazon Associate, Progression Time earns from qualifying purchases.

I · The Main Plot

Where We Start

A Monday morning at the office (Chapter 1, 'Another Monday Morning'). Jake works alongside coworkers, including Caroline from HR, when the world is integrated into the multiverse. He is placed in a Survival-type Tutorial in a great forest, where beasts roam, initiates fight each other for Tutorial Points, and the official goal is simply to survive the roughly 63-day duration.

Major Plot Points & Spoilers

  1. The Tutorial begins (Ch 3). Jake fights his first beasts, including 'Big Pig', while his coworkers struggle. He trains, rests, and starts to find the hunting playstyle that suits him.
  2. Group tension among the human initiates plays out over several chapters ('Friend or Foe?', 'A Splitting Provocation', 'Nicholas', 'Diverging Paths'), after which Jake goes his own way and hunts alone.
  3. Jake's Bloodline asserts itself (the 'Blood' chapters), and he starts hunting tougher prey such as Blue Mushrooms ('Finding a Challenge', 'Everybody Loves Blue Mushrooms').
  4. He takes up Alchemy ('Alchemy!'), and the Malefic Viper takes an interest in him ('Palate of the Malefic Viper', 'True Blessing of the Malefic Viper', 'Blood of the Malefic Viper'). The Viper is on the book's cover alongside Jake.
  5. He completes a Professional Evolution and a Class Evolution (two separate chapters), and develops his archery with Powershot and the Twin-Fang Style.
  6. A rematch with a stronger Steeltusk boar ('Big Pig II: Steeltusk Edition'), a run of encounters with other initiates ('Unexpected Encounter', 'Enemy of the People', 'Meeting Old Friends'), and a figure named Herrmann Schmidt.
  7. Jake clears a badger den and its boss ('Badger's Den', 'The Notorious B.I.G. Badger'), learns to use Dungeons for alchemy ('Dungeon = Alchemy'), and picks up the Infused Powershot.
  8. The book closes with 'Den Mother' and 'First Quest & Venomfang', in which Jake receives his first Tutorial quest and meets a foe named Venomfang.

Where the Book Leaves Off

Jake has a quest, a growing power curve and a patron's interest, but the Tutorial is still running. The Book 2 blurb says he now has a personal goal: defeating the remaining Beast Lords before he can face the King of the Forest, the Tutorial's final opponent.

II · Characters & Personal Progression

Romantic & Personal Status

Nothing romantic is confirmed by our sources. The wiki quotes Caroline, an HR coworker described as Jake's type, but we could not verify whether anything happens between them.

Inner Circle Check-In

  • The Malefic Viper: Jake's mysterious benefactor. He is credited as a cover feature of the book, and several chapters are named for his blessing and blood. How this relationship develops belongs to later books.
  • Caroline: An HR coworker who shares Jake's office floor. The wiki's quote describes her only as a coworker. We could not confirm whether she is in the Tutorial or what happens to her.
  • Nicholas: Gets a two-part chapter of his own. Who he is and how he and Jake part is unverified.

Key New Faces & Factions

The Malefic Viperunknown

Takes notice of Jake's talent and alchemy. His intentions are not settled in this volume.

Herrmann Schmidtunknown

Has a chapter named after him. Role and allegiance not verified from our sources.

Venomfangenemy

Named in the final chapter title, tied to Jake's first Tutorial quest. We have not verified what he is.

III · End-of-Book Stats & Power Gains

Current Rank / Grade

Tutorial-stage. The Tutorial is designed to raise initiates from G-grade (levels 0-9) to F-grade (10-24). Jake's exact level at the end of Book 1 is not verified.

Dao / Path / Class Evolution

Bloodline of the Primal Hunter, plus an archery-centred class that evolves once and a profession (Alchemist) that evolves once. The names of the evolved class and profession are not verified.

Major Skill & Body Gains

  • Alchemy, learned in the Tutorial and later boosted by Dungeon use.
  • Powershot, Infused Powershot and the Twin-Fang Style (chapter titles).
  • The Malefic Viper's blessing, which the chapters describe as a 'True Blessing'.
  • A Class Evolution and a Professional Evolution.

IV · Extras: Empire, Gear & World State

Territory & Faction Upgrades

No territory yet. Jake is a solitary hunter with a base he builds in the Tutorial ('Base-Building'), which is temporary.

Signature Gear & Vessels

  • Gear is not verified from our sources. The chapter titles ('Loot', 'Arrows', 'Loot 2.0') confirm a bow-and-arrow focus and ongoing loot drops.

Ticking Clocks

  • The Tutorial has a time limit of about 63 days, and the quest to defeat the Beast Lords and the King of the Forest is open.
  • Other human initiates are still a threat, since killing another initiate transfers Tutorial Points.
  • The Malefic Viper's growing attention and what he wants in return.