Chimera King Box Set Books 1-3

by Atlas Kane

  “What if we take the city later?” Cade asked, hoping beyond hope it was a possibility.

  “If you do, your Occupation can always be changed. It would result in a complete loss of skill progression, but it is not like your Class. You can change any time you wish.”

  That made Cade feel a lot better. Decisions, important ones at least, made him dizzy with anxiety. This was an important one, he could tell. At least he had the bat-winged demon to help. “Yes, please, cut down the list of all professions that are not possible to practice as well as those that are improbable. You can see our surroundings, so use your analytical skills to cut down the options.”

  “Of course, Caderick. Here is a modified list of eighty-seven options that would benefit your fledgling village immediately,” Pablo said, and a list populated before Cade’s eyes. He flicked down the list.

  Forager

  Seeker

  Woodsman

  Lumberjack

  Hunter

  Trapper

  Tamer

  Falconer

  The list appeared to be organized by type of profession. All the ones at the top were closely linked to the forest. Minda pretty much owned that domain, and though it would be awesome to tame a bunch of animals—talk about a frightening ally—none of these felt like the right choice.

  He flicked further down the list and the Occupations changed again.

  Miner

  Blacksmith

  Jeweler

  Harrier

  Mineralist

  Armorer

  Weaponsmith

  Tinkerer

  This list was more practical in a sense, or at least at first glance. How awesome would it be to make a set of plate armor, or craft gadgets to help them on their quest to overthrown Tanrial? Cade Inspected two of the Occupations of the list, closely related and most likely a good pair to choose at present.

  Miner

  Base Occupation

  Delving into the deeps of Antinium, the Miner is capable of identifying ore, gemstones, and fuel such as peat coal or crude oil. A valuable Occupation for any community, the Miner allows Advanced Occupations such as Blacksmith and its accompanying Occupations to thrive. As a Base Occupation, the Miner offers rapid skill increases.

  Blacksmith

  Advanced Occupation

  Taking advantage of the fruits of the Miner Profession, the Blacksmith is capable of both smelting ore and crafting tools, weapons, and armor. All items created with the Blacksmith skill are basic unless a dual profession is chosen in an accompanying Occupation like Armorer, Jeweler, or Weaponsmith. As an Advanced Occupation, Blacksmith skill increases are challenging and consume more time and resources.

  Cade’s thoughts drifted to the cave, the buried riches he could find there hidden in the dark. The Miner Occupation was a strong candidate, but as he’d also have to be the town’s smith, he paused to consider. I don’t know shit about blacksmithing, but I know you can’t forge with ore alone. I’d need a way to smelt the ore, tools to craft anything of note with.

  All of the necessary steps to get to the point where Cade could provide anything helpful to the village besides iron nails was adding up. Also, if Satemi could make leather armor, and knowing some of the crazy beasts of this world, he thought he’d keep looking around.

  He scrolled until the list changed once more, this time highlighting Occupations that all related to herb lore, chemistry, or biology.

  Field Botanist

  Comparative Biologist

  Herbalist

  Apothecary

  Arcane Botanist

  Alchemical Engineer

  Fungus Farmer

  Entomologist

  It was a good thing to have Minda’s skill closely related, but there was no need to have another food growth Occupation in the village. But Apothecary was interesting. Cade knew it must have something to do with healing but other than that, it was a blank. Also, the Alchemical Engineer sounded awesome. He took a look at both.

  Apothecary

  Base Occupation

  Utilizing essential ingredients found in raw states in the wild or extracted from plants, fungi, and other natural resources, the Apothecary can both produce reagents for more advanced Occupations as well as basic medicines. Every settlement relies heavily on its Apothecary to ward off disease and cure chronic or acute conditions. As a Base Occupation, the Apothecary offers rapid skill increases.

  Alchemical Engineer

  Advanced Occupation

  The mad scientist of Antinium, this Occupation allows for the creation of advanced reagents such as explosives, adhesives, pyrokinetic substances, and medicines. Without the support of several other base Occupations, the Alchemical Engineer would be inefficient at best. Well supported, however, and this Occupation has limitless possibilities. As an Advanced Occupation, the Alchemical Engineer skill increases are challenging and consume more time and resources.

  “Holy hand jobs! Explosives? Yessir!” Cade said, dismissing the information from his view. “Pablo, tell me more about Apothecary and Alchemical Engineer. Why am I getting a stiffy thinking about this combination?”

  Pablo extended his wings, soaking in the sunlight and extending his neck to full length. If photography were employed in all its exaggerating glory, he might look an immense and powerful creature. As it was, the demon looked like a cat after enduring an elaborate reptilian makeover.

  “They are good choices if that is the route you want to go. Apothecary is closely linked to Herbalist. The Herbalist specializes in growing and collecting materials that are rich in reagent substances. The Apothecary specializes in extracting and making use of those reagents. The Apothecary is a Base Occupation, however, so more advanced concoctions like potions, droughts, elixirs and such are not possible. Yet, even at low levels, the knowledge to make basic salves and poultices makes the Apothecary an ideal healing class for beginners. Likewise, the class has a set of base skills that allow the Apothecary to break down herbs and other resources for their essential components.”

  Cade’s mind spun with potential uses. The need for a healer in their village was obvious, but what could he use those “essential components” for? “What of the Alchemical Engineer? Making bombs is one thing, but will I be able to make anything cool and deadly with the reagents I can produce as an Apothecary?”

  “You would be surprised with how effective you can be with simple recipes and ingredients. So yes, Cade, you can. Though to make more advanced concoctions, it will take considerable time to level up those skills.”

  Considering that Cade could change his Occupations at any time, it seemed like little more was at risk than time itself, a precious commodity no doubt, but the only one he had to spend. “Alright, then I choose Alchemical Engineer and Apothecary as a dual profession choice. Finalize that bitch.”

  “Excellent. Now that you have your Occupations, you can take a look at the skill choices available to you at this moment. Eventually, your skills will branch off, but for now, it is a linear progression.”

  Cade looked at the Apothecary skills first.

  Apothecary Occupation Menu

  Essential Skill 1: Grind (Requires Crude Mortar and Pestle)

  Effects of Resulting Powder or Paste Dependent Upon Ingredients

  Essential Skill 2: Steep (Requires Crude Container and Water)

  Effects of Resulting Tincture Dependent Upon Ingredients

  Essential Skill 3: Distill (Requires Advanced Container, Water, and Heat Source)

  Effects of Resulting Distillation Dependent Upon Ingredients

  “Hey this looks cool, Pablo, but how do I know what any given herb or ingredient requires? Do these skills give me knowledge automatically?”

  Pablo opened one of his eyes, betraying the fact that despite Cade’s need, he was very nearly asleep. “Speak with your Herbalist friend. Surely, she is good for more than a bed partner. The Apothecary can gain knowledge of Herbalism with experience, but must learn such information directly fro
m said Herbalist. The benefit of having Apothecary and Alchemical Engineer is that once you have created reagents with your Apothecary skill, the information regarding each will be available to you to use as you need in the more Advanced Engineer Occupation. For now though, expect to rely on Minda to help you gather the ingredients you need.”

  Cade was ecstatic to begin his research. He was set on building something that went boom, or maybe Antinium’s version of napalm. Bringing up the menu for his Advanced Occupation, however, his resolve wavered.

  Alchemical Engineer Occupation Menu

  Chemical Recipes Known: 1

  Staunching Poultice (Requirements: Powdered Scorching Sweet Potato, Tincture of Rinan Root)

  “Wait! What the hell, Pablo? Why don’t I have more recipes? It says I can only make one thing!”

  “That is because you are a novice. Make enough of your first recipe and you’ll unlock more. This is the way all Occupations work. Get used to it.”

  When he opened his mouth to ask Pablo another question, however, he saw the demon dragon snoozing. “Do you need to be dismissed now, Pablo? I feel like I’m just interrupting your nap.”

  Pablo stretched his lengthy body further, relishing the moment. Then he answered in a languid tone, “Yes, that might be for the best. You have the basics at least. Go and play with your chemistry set, Cade. But be sure to call me again when you level up once more. We must discuss how you are going to specialize your Attributes. Farewell!”

  The demon gone, Cade shook off the daze of staring into space for too long. He looked around him, seeing the possibility behind every leaf and log. Without a doubt, there was plenty of work to be done, but with three able-bodied souls, each with viable Occupations and skills, it was quite possible.

  Satemi strolled up, an axe dangling over her back. Cade noticed wood chips scattered over her body. The mask stared at him as blank and unreadable as ever. Gods, what am I going to have to do to get this poor girl to take off the mask? he thought.

  The woman held up her hands dramatically, the axe rising above her head, then bowed. As she did so, a pile of logs fell to the ground between them, at least a couple trees’ worth. Somehow, he knew she was smiling. Satemi always seemed to enjoy his discomfort. And when he’d leapt away from the clatter of wood, he was sure he looked anything but comfortable.

  23

  The Alpha in Me Eats the Alpha in You

  Satemi held two of the logs together, angled points piercing the sky at either angle. “They would be joined here, a little more than halfway up. I do not know what they call them where you are from. We had a different word, but here, in my build options, this is called a Crude Palisade.”

  “Makes sense. We had those in my world too. So yes, palisades are cool. But where do you want to put them, and how can they help our defenses? The canyon leading up to the village seems too wide to block off entirely.”

  She nodded, her mask bobbing in the sunlight. “Yes, but we could still use it to choke off the way. A hundred feet or so that way the canyon narrows slightly. I thought we could use a palisade wall on either side to make sure we at least can face those abyss creatures from one direction. When they surrounded us, it got ugly quick. But we can do that in the coming days. It will take time. For today, I would settle for using this design to build a fence around our hut.”

  Cade agreed and though they worked close together, they split their efforts. While Satemi used Minda’s cordage to begin assembling the tall palisade around the hut, Cade hacked at the earth, scoring a small trench around the hut, then trailing off toward the area where Minda wanted her garden. It was quick work. The soil was a soft loam, and his axe cut through it like butter. But when he’d finished the initial trench, his back was tight and painful. He took a quick water break before starting on making their fire pit more sustainable.

  This task was important, and took considerable time and effort.

  Satemi told him to dig it a couple feet deep, and when he was done, and she had exhausted her supply of logs, she joined him in hoisting stones from the creek.

  They surrounded the pit with a solid lip of rock, slapping clay between each so that rain would fill the pit. When Cade mentioned that rain would simply fall from above, Satemi winked at him. “Let’s go and get more logs now. I have just the thing for this.”

  It was a marvel how efficiently his axe cut through each tree. A few swings and one fell. Thankfully, there were a few hundred of them, so they wouldn’t need to leave the glade for some time in order to supply their construction needs. As per Satemi’s orders, they took turns hacking the logs down into eight-foot lengths, enough that they were still as tall as Cade when propped up at an angle. Three others they cut much taller, nearly twelve feet Cade would guess.

  Then it was back up the hill, the weight of their burden noticeable.

  Clattering the logs in a much larger pile than before, Satemi grinned. So the woman simply loves wood. Who can blame her? Cade thought, not daring to tease the warrior as she sifted through the logs. Finding the three tall ones they’d cut last, she handed two to Cade and then showed him how they would tie the three off above the fire, and create a fire shelter with crisscrossing branches woven together into a roof.

  “We can also hang cordage from the union where they meet and use it to hang a cooking pot should we ever find or fashion one.”

  The woman was smart, or at least her skills were, so over another hour, Cade and Satemi made the fire shelter, propping it in place and stacking the fire pit full of dried wood they’d found in the copse of trees. They would be ready for tonight, even if it rained.

  Glancing over at their main shelter, Cade noticed that the trees Minda blessed were continuing to grow at a rapid rate. The trunks were still wide enough apart you could put your hand through the wall, but already the tops of the trees had joined together, twisting around and forming a strong frame. Soon, when they’d grown together completely, it would no longer need skins stretched over the top to keep out the weather.

  At last, it was time to finish the palisade Satemi had begun building. With both of them working, the fence went up quickly. She was masterful with knots, and each addition to the fence fell into place in short order. They’d finished the fence and brought it around to pinch off the entrance that faced the fire. As they worked, Satemi explained her desire to keep a guard up at all times, and that now the guard could have the luxury and company of the fire to watch by.

  Cade wasn’t about to argue. In fact, had they not been so exhausted, and so naked, he would have insisted they did so the night before. But they’d defeated the first wave of abyssal beasts, and if there were going to be more, they should be ready.

  The two were enjoying a meal when Minda came back, her hands stained green from the herbs she’d been picking. “Hey guys! This looks great. I have a ton of herbs and things to start my garden with, so that’s good.” She took a piece of dried meat in her hands prepared the night before and continued. “Oh, and Cade. What Occupations did you choose?”

  Cade explained his choices and how he’d come to his decisions. Both women were pleased by his Occupations, Minda especially, as it meant he would benefit directly from her Herbalism.

  She shared with him the wealth of herbs and ingredients she had gathered, and though some were scarce, Minda could grow a great many of them in her garden to build up a reliable store.

  When they finished their meal, the three took a brief dip in the pool, washing off the toil of the day and enjoying each other’s company as well as the coolness of the water. It was nice to see their bodies once more, exposed to the full might of the sun for the first time. He marveled at Satemi’s taut belly and strong arms, her skin the deep bronze that so many beachgoers sought without ever having a chance of achieving such a delightful tone. As she turned, her skin shimmered slightly. A breeze passed over her and a riot of goosebumps rose over her back and arms.

  Minda was white all over and stayed white. The sun didn’t bother her fa
ir skin as her fur seemed to refract the sunlight, diminishing its strength. She looked just as natural as her taller companion under the intensity of the jungle sun.

  Like two scoops of the world’s best ice cream, he thought. And I don’t want to share with anyone.

  It was a hotter day than they’d experienced so far, and for the first time, Cade felt the negative effects of his Lycan Metabolism. He burned hot, so it didn’t take long for his head to begin to swim and his body to feel lethargic. The pool restored his strength, however, and he was ever grateful for the watering hole so nearby.

  When they were restored, the three compared their Inventories and decided on the next phase of their labor. Cade and Minda still had enough hides to build a circus tent with, and since their shelter would suffice as it was, Satemi fell to curing enough of the material into leather that she could make them each a set of armor.

  Leaving her behind, Cade helped Minda dig her furrows, and plant the beginnings of her garden.

  It was a long day of work, and when they were done, all three were exhausted. They ate a feast of venison and fruit and fell asleep early that night, their plans for the following day big enough to warrant an early start. Cade took the first watch and listened to the whispering breath of his women behind him.