Chimera King Box Set Books 1-3

by Atlas Kane

  Ketzal had the same get-up along with the modified breastplate she’d worn from Tanrial, tall leather boots and a less bulky version of the greaves. Adding in the shield held in her offhand, golden whip in her right, she looked properly fierce.

  Gemma wore skin and more skin, but kept admiring her two bracers anyhow. Wearing anything at all was a new experience for her.

  The recently recovered Sholl had put on his old armor once more minus the creepy face mask. Those had all been melted down at his request, symbols too painful to bear looking at any longer. Since his own breastplate had shattered, he took one off of the others that was approximately the same size. The only challenging part was removing the depleted Mana Shard and deadly spike Vormer had installed that had ensured the other guards were dead.

  None looked quite so fierce and proud as Bellows though. He trotted up the hill, armor clanging against his body slightly. The metal plates made the otherwise grubby-looking boar much more attractive, as did the set of twisting horns that had begun to grow from the top of his head. Soon, the beast would be all tusk and horn, capable of killing even the Kotani Ma should the ape find himself at the pointy end of the bony protrusions.

  Their updated saddle was clever if not complex. Cade still sat just behind the shoulder, but now Gemma sat in Ketzal’s old seat. The demoness rode in a much improved saddle over Bellows’ neck, stirrups hanging down to either side to help her keep her balance.

  Minda and Satemi would ride to either side, as before, but this time Satemi had the foresight to install a good deal more leather padding to make the trip less abrasive. And Sholl, last of all, would be riding above the boar’s smelly ass. He didn’t complain about his positioning, and tactically, it was a smart move. His feet dangled down to either side of Bellows’ ropey tail, so he could quite literally watch their rear. With two spears in hand, the lizard man was ready for war.

  One of the more clever innovations of the previous day’s smelting project were the hoof spurs Bellows wore. Above each hoof was a circlet of steel, a sharp spike jutting back and to the side. He’d already been known for throwing kicks when angry or in combat. Now he’d have daggers attached to his feet as well.

  The group left as soon as the sun began to light the sky, and when they passed by the Earthen Apes, the poor beasts were so frightened they didn’t even make a sound of protest. The metallic war boar was impressive to look at, but the added noise of their passage might have had more to do with the notable change.

  Checking his map, Cade saw the location Pablo had highlighted. They were heading to the Waterfall District, and then up and around the cliffs to where the rivers nearly joined. It was only a few hours’ journey, but they all wanted a head start on the day. It would most likely end dramatically, whether for good or for worse. None were excited to confront the apes, but the plan still seemed likely to prove their best option.

  Their trip through the forest proved significantly more stressful this time around. No more counting on the quiet slip and shift of leather and hide. The racket that the boar’s plate mail made sent animals scattering in all directions, and after an hour, Cade’s mind was numb with the overdose of sensations. Memories of turbine engines and crackling radios buzzing in the background as he tore through street after street, Stryker-back, in search for an enemy that never quite presented itself ran through his mind.

  Still, they made good time, and it wasn’t quite noon by the time they’d located the trail that wove up and around the rocky slopes leading to the top of the waterfalls.

  The constant roar of the falls muted the racket of their approach until, at last, they crested the summit. What view met them as they did so was enough to make Cade gasp.

  Three rivers running away into the distance, scattered patches of thinning jungle grew between them, and islands lush and green dotted the landscape. It was a bizarre sight and reminded Cade of the Mississippi River. He’d been lucky enough to see it once. The locals didn’t have much to say about the vast waterway, but when he visited its endless, muddy banks, the memory stuck. It was like any other river, he thought. Perhaps a hundred feet wide and flowing past at a sluggish pace.

  “It isn’t so big,” he’d told his friend he was staying with.

  They had laughed, shaking their heads then taking a pull on their beer. “Don’t be a dumbass. That’s just an island out there. More river on the other side too.”

  The challenge of this prospect had blown his mind, and later that night, he’d gone and looked up aerial shots. The river was a behemoth of a thing.

  Something similar was occurring here, but perhaps in even grander scale. Three rivers joined to form the great falls, and their paths crossed and collided half a dozen times before joining in the vast cascade of the Waterfall District.

  Behind it all, the Borman Mountains rose up like angry giants. The contrast between the blue and green below and the browns and whites of the mountains above was breathtaking.

  Bellows was forced to slow considerably as the ground turned wet and unstable. Ketzal kept him to a hardened trail formed, if Cade had to guess, by the Kotani tribe itself. After another hour, the group passed through a dense patch of forest that opened up into a wide canyon. The map marker lay just ahead, and yet Cade still couldn’t see a single ape.

  He asked Ketzal to stop them, and they all dismounted. Cade led the group up on foot, and after another mile the canyon ended as a tall ring of stone wrapped around. Huge holes had been burrowed into the rock, which had the look of limestone. Implements of a crude society were everywhere. Basic stone tools, what looked like a doll made of jaguar skin, and a line of woven sticks atop which hung clusters of fruit.

  Then from all around them, emerging from the holes in the stone or out of the foliage that ringed the canyon, the Kotani apes showed themselves.

  A heavy figure pounded toward them from the rear, and Cade had no trouble guessing who was about to wreck their party. Turning on his heels, hands remaining steady at his sides, Cade beheld the raw power of the Kotani Ma. The ape charged, and Bellows reacted by digging in his hooves and preparing to attack. But Ketzal kept him in place, and soon the great ape halted himself.

  Fuming and chuffing up a storm, the beast at once began to converse with Ketzal. By his movements and the sound of his words, he wasn’t at all happy to see them. But he was talking instead of attacking. So while Ketzal replied as politely as she could, Cade took a moment to inspect the beasts around him.

  Their leader was nearly double the size of the rest, making their males still easily much larger and more powerful than the Earthen Apes. The females, smaller still, seemed fully capable of thrashing Cade all on their own.

  A few young apes played with a round stone, tumbling it along the ground, making the fifty-pound stone look like the toy it was to them.

  This had better go well, Cade thought. If not, we might end up finding out whether or not they eat meat as well as fruit.

  Hearing Ketzal sigh in frustration, he called out to her. “What’s wrong? If there’s going to be a fight, try to give us a heads up at least.”

  The demoness waved him away, but answered nonetheless. “He wishes us to leave. I can’t get very far yet, and haven’t even asked about the battle yet.”

  Taking a risk, Cade strode up beside her and held out his hands. Then he deposited every last piece of fruit he’d brought with him. A veritable hoard of plantains, clusters of grapes, and a mountain of wild melons and seedpods crashed to the ground. This caused the Kotani Ma to take a step back in surprise. Seeing the offered fruit, however, seemed to cool the beast’s temper.

  Cade picked up a plantain and peeled open its rind. He took a big bite, then bowed low, gesturing with his arm that the rest was for the Kotani. He walked back to where he’d stood before, and had the satisfaction of seeing the resulting conversation progress much smoother than before.

  After half an hour of patient communication, the Kotani Ma waved at a group of apes nearby and they rumbled forward and
retrieved the offering of food. Cade saw Minda and Satemi smiling as the fruit was passed through the ranks of gathered apes, some being stored in caves, and more finding its way into the mouths of their new allies.

  Yet when Ketzal turned around, he noticed the expression she wore. It looked like the Kotani Ma had asked her hand in marriage, or would otherwise require a blood sacrifice.

  “Jesus, Ketzal. What happened? Isn’t it good that they took the fruit?”

  The demoness looked confused. “What does Jesus have to do with this. He died a long time ago, Cade. No, they have agreed to shelter us for the night, have even agreed to accompany us on the raid tomorrow morning. But they have two conditions.”

  “And?” Cade asked, his voice faltering as a pit of fear opened up in his gut.

  “His first request was for a shared right in the spoils of Tanrial. They want access to some of the fruit that grows there. Apparently, long ago, they used to trade with the people who lived in Tanrial, and many of their most sacred fruits can only be obtained there. He also said there was an item stolen from their tribe by Vormer. I don’t know exactly what it is, something sacred or holy, he said. I think it is a bone perhaps.”

  “That is fine. No big deal. Done. But what else, Ketzal? Why do you look like you’ve swallowed a live eel?”

  “Because the Kotani Ma has issued a challenge. He explained that he cannot fight beside you unless you prove your strength. He said that since you are so small and weak, you will face his youngest son, little more than a baby. You must fight the ape barehanded.”

  Cade laughed, thinking the notion completely absurd. Having his weapons in hand, sure, Cade could probably take on all but the largest of the apes. A male ape ran up after having been called by his father. The son of the Kotani Ma stood on his haunches, as tall as Cade was even sitting down, and not a nickel less than four hundred pounds.

  He stared the ape in the eyes, seeing the same keen intellect that possessed the Kotani Ma. This would not be an easy fight, even if he could somehow trick the beast.

  Sighing, Cade unslung his axe first, setting the weapon down on the ground, then unfastened the top strap of his armor.

  “What’s happening?” Satemi asked, walking up to where Cade was undressing.

  He shook his head, not even wanting to say the words out loud. “Help me get out of my dress, Satemi,” Cade said, not able to prevent the sarcasm from taking over. “You’ll need to hold my heels too. Apparently, I have to kick that ugly bitch’s ass.”

  23

  Thank God for My Protein Shake

  Bare-chested, hands trembling from a gut-wrenching amount of adrenaline coursing through his body, Cade faced a wall of flesh and sinew. Chandi, the Kotani Ma’s cute little apple fallen very close to the family tree, was a four-hundred-pound Kotani Ape, their version of an adolescent, and a terrifying sight so close up.

  Cade had deposited his armor and clothing down to his long pants. Feeling so exposed, so close to a creature whose fangs were as long as his fingers, didn’t make him feel at all confident.

  Yet he had some hope. The Draught of Might he’d chugged had more of an effect than he’d anticipated. It tasted like snot, but as soon as it reached his gut, a river of power began churning in Cade’s body. He checked his Attributes on his character sheet and noticed his Strength had increased by 50%. He now had a whopping 22 points in the Attribute, and he felt he could pull up a tree by its roots. It wasn’t enough to make him feel happy about man-wrestling Chandi though. He just hoped it would be enough to even the scales.

  Chandi lifted his long arms out away from his body, staring into Cade’s eyes with unwavering determination. An elderly Kotani hobbled up with two shells of what looked like paint. A bright-white substance was smeared over Chandi’s body, highlighting his brow, cheek bones and the ridge of his nose. Then more was spread across his bulging chest and rounded gut. Aside from the traditional gorilla body, the “nice young man” Cade was about to fight had the same long claws at the end of his hands, and up close, Cade noted plates of bone armor running down his shoulders and arms. Fur grew in long tufts that hid the natural armor well, but Cade was sure that if he got clocked with a single monkey strike, he was done for.

  Cade was terrified to do so, but inspected his foe anyhow. He had to remain professional. Knowing what level this creature was might be helpful.

  Kotani Ape (Chandi)

  Level 8

  Apex Predator Fauna

  That’s great! Nothing like fighting a creature that is higher level than you are. Why not have it be an Apex Predator?

  Cade shook his head, trying to clear his mind and prepare for the fight. He knew this thing would be stronger, even with the Draught of Might doing its best to yoke him out. The potion had a ten-minute duration, so when the old Kotani came toward him with the paint, he too held up his arms to present himself willingly.

  A yellow paint was smeared over Cade’s face and body, and then the elder left them.

  In the center of the village, Cade and Chandi stood surrounded by the apes’ homes, their hulking leader standing above them on top of the largest cave, which presumably belonged to him.

  Raising his arms, the Kotani Ma silenced the village, and all stood still to listen to him speak. Again, the same odd language was produced along with a varied system of physical movements. Cade closed his eyes, prepared to ignore the speech until Ketzal walked up and started translating for him.

  “Okay, so literal translation isn’t really possible. But he is talking about the strength of the tribe. Strong like stones and like great trees. His strength is greatest. Of course he would say that. And then this last bit is a long-winded description of his son’s growing strength. He hopes he will be powerful enough to take his position as Kotani Ma, I think,” Ketzal said, resting a hand on Cade’s back.

  Having the demoness close was comforting. Her words calmed him and helped prepare him for the storm to come.

  She shook her head, then added, “Oh, okay. This next bit is about you. He thinks you are very weak and small, and yet respects how you have taken many mates. He… yes, he really likes Bellows. I think that’s what saved our lives all this time. Calls him mountain pig or hill boar, something like that, and boasts that their tribe will breed him to their herd. Gods, I hope he doesn’t mean that how I think he does. Apes and pigs just shouldn’t…”

  Ketzal broke off, turning her head around. Then she sighed. “Thank God. The Kotani keep the Brimstone Boar as pets. So no weird interspecies acts happening today, though I do think Bellows might be getting some attention.”

  Cade would have laughed, but the combination of anxiety and the viscous draught he’d swallowed had him feeling queasy.

  The demoness patted him on the back, and said one last bit of encouragement. “Good luck, Cade. Their leader claims this is a death match, but has hinted more than once that whoever loses will be treated with respect as well. It will end when one of you is unconscious. You will be fine, just use your head.”

  Planting a kiss on his painted cheek, Ketzal strode away, and the crowd hushed. How am I going to know when the bout begins? Cade wondered. No sooner had the thought crossed his mind when a massive gourd smashed into the ground before him. Chandi roared and exploded toward him.

  Predictably, the beast used his armored arms as long clubs, flailing his bulk toward Cade. He dove away to the side, dodging the initial onslaught, and only receiving a grazing blow.

  Faster. Got to be faster, Cade. As the ape turned to renew his attack, Cade cried out his Alpha’s Call. At once, more power and strength flushed through him, and he felt more prepared than ever. He held off on Wyrm’s Wrath for it seemed certain he would be receiving quite a bit of damage from the fight. Exacerbating those wounds, especially so early in the match, was idiocy.

  His call acted like a challenge, and Chandi’s anger flared. The bastard probably thinks I was taunting him. Like I would do that, Cade mused, then realized it was most likely his best option.<
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  Cade dodged more of the hammer strikes, feeling the ground tremble slightly when the beast’s fists landed. Three attacks successfully dodged, and Chandi shifted to the right, smashing his shoulder into Cade’s chest.

  His nose struck bone as well, and Cade tumbled back, blood bursting from his face and his sternum aching.

  The ape waited, expecting the fight to already be over. But when Cade stood up, then boldly—or foolishly—taunted him by throwing up his arms and screaming, Chandi properly flipped. Pounding the soil between them in an impotent tantrum, the Kotani Ape activated a skill. His arms shone with green energy that crawled over him like worms.

  The beast resumed his assault, and this time, reaching vines stretched out toward Cade with every strike. A quick swipe of his claws left bleeding furrows across Cade’s belly, and the energy vines leapt off and dug into Cade’s flesh. He thought to use Restoration of the Grove or even Shroom Shield to block the next blow, but those skills were linked to his buckler.

  Instead, he relied on the traits he’d gained from leveling. When Chandi swung at him again, this time with an overhead blow that might very well have killed him, he ducked below it and triggered Spider’s Kiss. Not having a weapon had an odd effect. Impulsively, his hand snapped out like a blade, his fingers jabbing into the ribs of the ape.

  A purple light burst between them, and though his hand ached from the contact, he’d somehow poisoned his foe. Chandi slunk away a few steps, shaking his head. The beast’s incredible immune system was most likely fighting to resist the venom. Cade wasn’t going to wait around to find out what would happen next.