Chimera King Box Set Books 1-3

by Atlas Kane

  “But I am the one who—”

  He cut her off again with a kiss, hard and unyielding. Cade saw her eyes flash wide in surprise, and for a moment, he thought she would pull away. But then she pressed back into his lips, and returned his affection.

  They did not continue though. There was no time for anything more than a single kiss as they looted the cats and began their trek back to the village, eating as they walked.

  There was a long way to go still before it was dark, and Cade intended to make the most of it. Another ambush, or worse, was all they could expect away from the safety of their group.

  So when they’d finished eating, Cade fell into a run, Minda at his side. They were going home.

  16

  Of Ruin and the Promise to Rebuild

  The miles bled away as Minda and Cade tore across the land, driven by the hope of returning before midday on the morrow. It was a lofty goal, for by the time they’d finished recollecting their trap, making a proper meal and looting the grassland pumas, the sun was already heading toward the horizon.

  They reached the forest and dove in, their progress slowing significantly. Still, with great discipline, Cade ignored his growling stomach and waited until Minda called a halt for the night to devour a half-dozen deer steaks. They both ate their fill, cleaned up as best they could, then walked another half mile to leave behind any residual smell of their meal.

  Instead of setting up the tent as they had in the grasslands, Minda showed him the versatility of her shelter skills. She formed a half tent with the skins this time, using the base of a massive tree to attach it to, and the structure was finished in a few minutes. They crowded inside, Cade pressing against the cool trunk of the tree and holding Minda in his arms. Too exhausted to think of flirting this night, he closed his eyes to sleep.

  And he would have too, lulled by the soft thrum of Minda’s subconscious purring and the chittering cadence of the jungle around them. But he recalled the harsh lecture Pablo had given him not so long ago. He needed to select his level-up options.

  As usual, Attributes came first.

  Cade added one point to Wisdom, his lowest Attribute, one to Charisma, one to Dexterity, one to Intelligence and one to Constitution. He didn’t want to become a completely spread-out character, but each Attribute played a significant role in his survival. The next level, he promised himself, he would call on Pablo again and find a way to specialize.

  The Charisma was showing benefits in many areas. Not only was it nice to see Minda react to his presence so strongly, but if he was going to lead these people, assist Imenda in her role and possibly take over when she was gone, he needed that advantage.

  His next choice was a new Trait, perhaps the most significant of his upgrades.

  Marin Tenacity: By channeling the fierce marin, your hands can become weapons as well as tools. If this trait is chosen, your climbing ability will increase as will your Dexterity by a total of one Attribute Point.

  Alpha’s Fitness: With the endless endurance and tenacity of a herd of deer, this trait enhances one’s evasive skills and ability to rouse a group of followers. Constitution increased by a total of one Attribute Point and passive stealth gained if trait is chosen.

  Puma’s Puissance: Harnessing the explosive power of the Grasslands Puma, a Chimera Lord will gain passive tracking ability and one Attribute Point in Dexterity. The power of a peerless ambush is unlocked when choosing this trait.

  The first thing Cade thought was hell yeah, I want to become a puma. But rushing the choice was foolhardy. Reading the description of all three choices once more, he realized that Alpha’s Fitness might be a better choice. The stealth, for now at least, was more important than tracking.

  But what made his decision was the part about rousing a group of followers. Minda’s words came back to him, encouraging him to take up the heavy mantle of leader.

  Besides, Chimera Lord was a unique class. Strong on its own potentially, but if he chose to do so, one that could develop into a class that would support those around him, the people who chose to follow.

  This was the right choice.

  Selecting the Alpha’s Fitness, and finalizing his decisions thus far, the pain of acquiring the additional Attribute Points burned through his veins once more, but this time, rather than cripple him, it felt like a rush. He was acclimating to this world.

  Having selected the Trait, he progressed to choosing an Active Trait Skill. Again, only two choices populated.

  Alpha’s Call: By rousing the herd in a mighty call, you and your party gain 10% increase to Stamina regeneration, Health regeneration, and total damage output. 2-minute Duration. 10-minute Cooldown.

  Antler Evasion: Using your weapon like a rack of antlers, you reduce the damage of a single attack by 80% and inflict 20% damage dealt back to the enemy. 30-second Cooldown.

  Though defense was always needed, this was a no brainer. Alpha’s Call would help him and the villagers in more ways than could be imagined.

  Cade took a brief glance at his Character sheet before moving on.

  Name: Cade

  Level: 3

  Strength: 14

  Constitution: 16

  Dexterity: 14

  Intelligence: 14

  Wisdom: 10

  Charisma: 15

  Traits: Lycan Metabolism, Nilgathi Fervor, Alpha’s Fitness

  Skills: Culling the Pack, Wyrm’s Wrath, Alpha’s Call

  Cade felt like a gods-be-damned badass. The new Attribute Points cut new lines of sinew in his muscle, making him feel younger and stronger than ever before. He couldn’t wait to see Minda’s reaction to his change in the morning.

  But before he could join the fiery minx in her slumber, he needed to give just a little love to Mr. McGregor.

  Again, he pulled up his options starting with the axe.

  Herculean Hammer: Modifies the backside of the blade, balancing the axe with a blunt surface. Hammer’s damage equals the axe’s normal attack but causes blunt instead of slashing damage. Grants a 15% chance of causing a Stun effect on an enemy. Stunned enemies cannot attack or move for ten seconds.

  Mana Spear: A spear point made of mana extends from the end of the axe, adding an additional method of attack but leaving the weight of the weapon unchanged. Attacks with Mana Spear cause slightly reduced attack damage, but cause Piercing instead of Slashing damage and significantly increases armor penetration.

  Cade mused over the new option for quite a while. When fighting against the guards in town, the Mana Spear would certainly be required. But he went with his gut. Selecting Herculean Hammer, Cade reached for his weapon, unbuttoning the sheath as quietly as he could, and marveled at the addition.

  A rectangular block of metal the size of his fist sat opposite the axe blade. It not only looks awesome, but I’ll bet I can really knock some teeth out with this bitch. Before he woke the creature next to him, who was now snoring faintly instead of purring, he put the axe back, not bothering to snap it in place for fear of the sound it would make.

  Finally, Cade brought up the upgrades available for the blast staff portion of his weapon.

  Double Tap: Allows for two shots to be fired with a half-second delay between. Each shot is 20% less accurate but damage and distance are otherwise unaffected. Recharge time remains the same.

  Explosive Shot: The mana projectile explodes upon impact causing an additional piercing damage to target from secondary blast. Has the ability to hit nearby targets with secondary blast. Amount of damage reduced by distance.

  Explosive Shot was awesome. It was a seriously cool ability. The damage it could wreak among a group of shithead monsters would be a sight to see. But when Cade laid his eyes on Double Tap, he almost squealed.

  Two to the chest, motherfucker! They gonna fear me once they see my controlled pair. God, I can’t wait to shoot this thing. So Cade selected his final choice of the night and took one final look at his sexy-ass weapon system.

  Mr. McGregor Blast-Axe Level 3<
br />
  Primary Weapon System - Battle Axe

  Base Damage - 55% of Max Damage

  Damage Type - Slashing

  Attack Speed - Medium

  Mods: Razor’s Edge, Herculean Hammer

  Secondary Weapon System - Blast Staff

  Base Damage - 55% of Max Damage

  Damage Type - Ether Blast

  Attack Speed - Instant

  Recharge Rate: 31 seconds (Intelligence 14)

  Mods: Slug Shot, Double Tap

  Cade sighed, relieved not only to be done making such crucial and difficult decisions, but for the additional strength he would have going forward. He needed every advantage if he were to survive the brutal conditions of Antinium.

  They slept until daybreak, then quickly broke down their tent. Minda gave him an odd look when she took the first bite of their shared and silent meal.

  “Did you gain a level?” she asked in a whisper.

  “Yes, I did. How you like me now?” Cade said, doing a little turn for her so she could admire his hotness.

  Minda shoved him and gestured to his food.

  Nodding, Cade added only one other thing. “You gotta see what I did to my axe though. It’s almost as big as my dick now.”

  Minda couldn’t help but laugh. “Well then it must be amazing,” she said.

  Cade chuckled at his stupid joke, then thought of something. “Hey, so didn’t you get a new level? Or are you close at least?”

  She shook her head. “I’m at 36% to the next level. It doesn’t always fly by so quickly, you know? Not all of us are so new.”

  “What level are you?” Cade asked, curious to find out how far out of his league she was.

  Minda glared at him, but she was still smiling. “That is a rude question to ask so bluntly, Cade. But you have cum inside me, so I suppose we are well acquainted. I’m Level 5. If you want to know Satemi’s, you’ll need to ask her.”

  The two finished eating and continued their march through the jungle. No longer stopping to discuss the terrain or the various plant life, they made quicker progress than before. It wasn’t spoken aloud, but Cade knew she was as excited as he about showing off the fruits of their labor.

  Occasionally, Cade checked his map. The meandering course necessary for jungle travel made it difficult to keep track of the direction, but Minda seemed to have no such problems. He wasn’t sure if she too referred to her map or else was simply so accustomed to this lifestyle that it wasn’t a problem any longer. She never once side-tracked though, so he felt at the very least, it was a combination of the two.

  Just before noon was when they saw the smoke. A hazy pillar of black curling up above the jungle ahead, marked where the village should be.

  Exchanging a terrified glance, they both fell into a reckless sprint. No time for worries or caution, the two ran as fast as they could, cutting themselves on the foliage and making all the noise in the world.

  The sounds of combat came next, a few cries, then a pitched shriek, loud and alien in nature. It sent chills up Cade’s back, and he pushed himself harder than before. Minda, though her legs were shorter, kept up with him stride for stride. On a flat and even surface, he could most likely surpass her, but in the thick of the jungle, the woman was his peer.

  Finally, they burst into camp and saw the mayhem. Minda screamed, the dead bodies of those she loved intertwined with the forms of unearthly beasts. The fighting was over already, and the only one left breathing was Satemi. They found her clutching Imenda’s body, a deep laceration across her belly.

  Satemi wept, her eyes staring off, not aware they had come back to the village too late. She rocked slightly, repeating a phrase over and over. It was only when Cade came closer that he could make out the words. “Failed them. Failed them. Failed them,” she said, endlessly. Minda looked to Cade, tears spilling down her face.

  He gestured to Satemi. Comfort her. She needs you right now, he thought, and Minda knew his meaning.

  She wrapped her arms around Satemi and held her tight, rocking with her, and speaking into her ear. Cade couldn’t hear a thing, his blood boiling with rage. A familiar surge of terror and heartache threatened to bowl him over. He kept his calm, however. Now was not the time to lose his head.

  Instead, he walked through the small village and collected every item and weapon he could, storing them all in his Inventory. He steeled himself in an icy armor, detaching himself from the macabre scene. It would all come back later. He knew that much from experience. For now though, he worked silently and diligently.

  He retrieved the fallen villagers’ bodies, moving them into a row and organizing their limbs and covering their wounds to preserve their dignity if not their lives.

  Cade remained stolid throughout the process, but when he turned over a man who was lying face down in the center of town, he broke. Grissen’s honest face stared up at him. The man’s throat was torn out, dried blood coating his chest and torso.

  It wasn’t the first body he’d seen, nor was it the first so brutally destroyed. But Cade was luckier than many soldiers. Many of his friends were severely wounded, and some died. But none had died in front of him. It was a source of guilt on his part. Why hadn’t he been there? was a question that presented itself too many times to number.

  Here he was again, too late to have done a thing to save those around him.

  He knew that weeping would be appropriate, but a sickly cold gripped him, and he felt his mind drift back a few feet. Clenching his jaw, Cade hoisted the man up and carried him to lay beside the others.

  Though Cade was powerless to help them now, he at least could give their bodies a modicum of respect. So he arranged them neatly, took his time, and was as careful as possible.

  Finally, he inspected the creatures that had attacked. They had black, oily skin. It gleamed sickly in the sun, as if they were somehow both metallic and liquid in nature. With the forms of leopards, the cat-like creatures had wide, segmented tails, at the end of which was a long barb. There was no way of knowing for sure, but Cade guessed they were poisonous. Perhaps Satemi would know when she came back to her senses. He inspected one to at least satisfy his curiosity enough to know its name.

  Kargina Loor - Abyss Cat

  Level Unknown

  Creature Type Unknown

  In the rubble, Cade found a discarded wineskin. He brought it to where the woman was sitting, and he gripped Satemi by the chin. Minda raised a hand to call him off, but he shook his head. Satemi stared blankly, not seeing Cade even though his face was in front of her. He shook her gently, and called, “Satemi. Wake up! Are you with me? I need you to be here, okay?”

  For a moment, her mouth worked and her eyes searched until they found his. Then a mixture of rage and heartache welled up in them. “Not now! Are you still the protector of this village?” Cade said, the manipulation in the words making his stomach turn.

  “What village?” the woman growled, at last a thread of awareness coming back. “They’re all dead!”

  Cade cupped her cheek then, and moved closer until they were less than a foot apart. “Not all, Satemi. Minda is here, and so am I. We need your help or all will be lost.”

  Satemi nodded, but ground her teeth, tears spilling out of the corners of her eyes. Then she shook her head. “I can’t, Cade. I failed them. Look, they are all dead. Imenda too. I tried so hard, but those beasts, those monsters were everywhere and all at once!”

  Without thinking, Cade pulled her into a hug. He crushed her to him, and withstood the shuddering gasps that followed. Cade stood strong for her sake, though he spilled his own tears as well. He released her and stared at her. There were so many things that couldn’t be told but with the eyes.

  Then, lifting the wineskin to her mouth, he forced her to drink. When she gasped for breath, wincing at the burn of the liquor, he urged her to do so once more, finishing what was left.

  After a few more moments, Cade spoke again. “If you were attacked, there may be more on the way. We must leave
this place, but first, let’s build a pyre so that none of these here can be fouled by the creatures of the forest. Come, Satemi. It is not time to rest nor to grieve yet. When we find our new home, you can tell us all that happened here.”

  Cade’s voice broke off, and though his words were harsh, tears burned in his own eyes. But he needed her with them. “Now, Satemi, are you ready?”

  She nodded once more, and glancing down to Imenda’s body, continued to weep while she set the body aside and fell to the tasks at hand.

  The three of them tore down what was left of the remaining huts and stacked the old materials within the wooden structure Minda had grown. A few of the skins were newer, still fresh, and Cade stored these in his Inventory as well, but most were too old to be easily repurposed. Adding all of the stacked and dried firewood came next, over which Cade ordered the remaining alcohol to be poured out. Two more large skins, one of a potent liquor that one of the villagers had made using a skill, soaked into the tinder, and the pyre was set.

  Once a large enough pile of fuel was stacked, they began carrying the bodies over one at a time. Imenda was placed last of all, in the center of those she’d loved and cared so much about.

  Satemi had ceased weeping, and now her face was a mask of stolid and irrefutable rage. A fitting way to face the future, Cade thought. How else does one recover from such tragedy again? The woman held Imenda’s great metal mask in her hand, and as Minda sparked flame to the pyre using the remains of a burning branch, the woman put the mask over her face.