Chimera King Box Set Books 1-3

by Atlas Kane

  Cade grinned, and turned to Sholl who was standing nearby. The lizard man looked terrified. His neck scales had gone deathly pale, almost as much as they had when he’d been ether sick. “Hear that, Sholl?” he muttered. “She thinks I’m pretty.”

  Sholl laughed nervously. Cade could see the man struggle. He seemed happy Cade was joking still, but scared at how close he was to the edge.

  Then Havasham’s voice echoed around them. “It’s complete! We’ve assembled the cannon. Ready when you are, Cade.”

  Behind the many-limbed mess of the gorgon, Cade saw what looked to be a mortar tube, propped up by a frame made of the same blue steel. Its barrel was six inches wide at least, and pointed straight at the pesky boss. It was time to end this thing.

  Cade handed the remote to Polde, who slammed her fist down on the button.

  Cade’s head was resting in the woman’s lap, so he could see most of what followed. Movement across the room. Long barrel as thick as Ronden’s thigh. White fire and a ball of smoke rising. The Reticulating Gorgon boss mob bursting open like an orange thrown to the ground.

  Somehow, it didn’t sound very loud, but he could smell its innards burning.

  He thought of that faint odor of plastic and copper when you burn out the motor of some electric piece of shit. It disgusted him and was appealing at the same time. Cade opened his mouth to make some joke about a priest, a nun, and a Rastafarian walking into a Radioshack, when everything went black.

  The delicious burn of a healer’s touch woke Cade from his slumber. At first he was angry. Just let me keep sleeping. I’m a little tired, that’s all. But when he heard Havasham’s voice, he opened his eyes.

  Above him stood the ragged band of fighters who’d plunged themselves into the dungeon not knowing the consequences. “Okay, I’m back. Sorry. Did we kill the thing or what?” he asked, trying to sit up.

  Polde held him from behind and Sholl handed him a waterskin. He didn’t fight this treatment. He knew he’d been close to dying, and though Antinium always felt like a game—XP, quests, and leveling—if he died here, there was no coming back.

  When he’d drank half the skin’s contents, he felt his head begin to clear. Having this healer around was really quite incredible, especially considering that the man was also adept with a sword. Cade thanked his crew and slowly stood up on weak legs. He looked from one of them to the next, making each glance meaningful, then warned them all. “If any of you tells Satemi, Minda, or the others, I’ll kill you.”

  Laughter rang out in the otherwise-silent chamber. Sholl slapped him on the back, teasing him in return. “That is, if you are still alive after they find out.”

  “Good point. Good point. But hey, what are we all doing, guys? Let’s loot this bitch!”

  Cade’s remark was met with high praise, and everyone set out by not only looting the hulking boss but whatever bits of scrap metal were usable within the rubble as well.

  As they did so, Cade glanced to see that a stairwell had been exposed in the far wall, opening a passage up as well as more stairs running down. The prospect of continuing deeper into the dungeon was madness. The second level had been a hard nut to crack. What mysteries, challenges, and badass beasts lay below, Cade could only guess at.

  But not all was lost. He’d gained a level, and a portion of his XP gauge had filled after. Considering that overlap wasn’t allowed, he had to assume the 26% XP gain had been because of the completed quest. And I’m a lot higher level than most of Camp Casmeer’s citizens. How many gained a full level outright? he wondered. The group would be returning to a very grateful village.

  The boss dropped a ton of loot. Foremost, Cade noted a single stack of items that was highlighted. It was the quest reward.

  Just reading the label explained what the item’s function was, but he read the description anyhow.

  Soul Weapon Enhancer

  Quality: Rare

  Description: Can be applied to any Soul Weapon. Provides a significant modification, upgrade, or enhancement. Results vary according to individual characteristics of Soul Weapon.

  There were five of them in all.

  Just one more thing to squabble over, Cade thought bitterly. He showed Havasham the item as well, and for an instant, a little of the old rivalry surfaced in the man’s eyes. The councilman knew it as well; there’d be a talk about who received these invaluable items. And it would be a long one.

  But then, thankfully, the man nodded to Cade. “We can handle it later. For now, let’s enjoy our victory.”

  “I couldn’t have said it better myself,” Cade replied, and they set about looting the rest of the gorgon.

  More of the same components as before had dropped. Barrels, cogs, rods, and hundreds of pounds of scrap metal. They had to split it among all of their Inventories to carry it all, and still, the weight increase was significant.

  Something more valuable dropped as well, though. No less than fifty Mana Shards had been left behind, most likely what had powered the gorgon. It wasn’t enough to solve their problem, but it would alleviate it for a time. If only every level of the dungeon dropped Mana Shards, they’d be flush. It wasn’t enough to make a huge difference, but given the discussion he was returning to—whether or not the ether-sapping shield barrier was worth the ongoing expense—he was grateful to have a little sugar to add to the bitterness.

  Upgrading his Attributes and selecting a new trait was exciting, but he could wait till they were all back in camp with food in their bellies.

  When every piece of rubble had been turned upside down, the ten fighters left the dungeon, a single group again. The sky was black when they emerged. Their struggles had taken the entire day. What time it was, Cade couldn’t tell by the stars, but a few peals of laughter came down the hill from Camp Casmeer.

  The villagers were still awake, and apparently celebrating.

  He couldn’t think of a better way of returning to his people.

  8

  The Limitations of Day Drinking

  The villagers were in full swing by the time Cade and the others made it back. Hearing their fellow citizens celebrating the victory they’d earned put everyone in a good mood. Havasham looked as close to happy as Cade had ever seen him, and when the others entered the throng of cheering Antinians, the councilman approached him.

  “Today was a great victory,” he said, reaching out and clasping Cade by the forearm. “And I will happily say that without the wits and courage of you and yours, we might not have made it out of there.”

  Cade nodded, grateful for the further mending of the breach between them. “I agree. That healer who came with you especially. I believe I would have died twice without him. Fenian, am I right?”

  “Yes. He’s a good man. Quiet and no man more humble. I assume you saw him fight as well?”

  “I did. I’m nervous about the whole thing, Havasham. What must the lower levels be like if this one was so hard?” Cade asked, changing the subject slightly.

  Shaking his head, Havasham smiled broadly. “Let’s worry about that after we get half drunk and enjoy ourselves. I’ll have Cha in my ear in minutes, so I think I’ll see how much I can drink first.”

  The two laughed, and when their mirth settled, Cade could see that the man knew as well as he that their division had not been permanently healed. Cha was another force to contend with, one that had a great deal of influence behind her words and actions.

  Before he joined the fray, Cade singled out the healer who’d pulled him through. No doubt, as soon as the women in his life found out about the man’s generosity, he’d be inundated with praise. But Cade wanted to do this in person if he could. He found the big man shoulder to shoulder with Dan. Tessra had just pressed huge wooden mugs into their hands, and was pouring them mead.

  “Fenian, may I have a word with you?” Cade asked, feeling suddenly embarrassed.

  “What is it,” the man replied.

  Cade went for blunt and simple. “Thanks, man! Thanks for bein
g kind enough to look beyond the squabbles that separate our village. Thank you for giving me a chance to see my women again. I owe you.”

  Fenian laughed, his broad face cracking in a handsome display of humor.

  Cade observed the man’s features and realized he wasn’t exactly human, not in the Earthling sense at least. Fenian’s skin was a subtle shade of blue, and when he smiled, Cade saw his teeth were all pointed. His bald head also lacked any stubble, and Cade wondered if perhaps his race simply didn’t grow hair on their heads.

  Holding out one massive hand, Fenian answered easily. “I will take the debt you so freely give, Cade. I’m sure I’ll be in need of a favor some time soon enough. But I would have done so for any of the Casmeer villagers. You know this.”

  “Yeah, yeah, but where I’m from, we do like to repay our debts. Just let me know, okay? Anything you need,” Cade emphasized with a clap on the shoulder and the two parted ways.

  Cade looked about, hoping to spot one of his girls when a flash of white fur caught his eye. Minda bowled into him, her face burying into his chest as she crushed him in a fierce hug. Then, of course, she pulled away and punched him in the arm.

  “I hear you almost died today! Twice! You are not going on the next dungeon dive, you hear me?”

  Rather than accept her admonishment with good graces, Cade made things worse by laughing. The abrupt change in her mood had simply been too much to contend with.

  After another punch, in the same exact spot, he relented. “Okay, I’m sorry. Yes, there was a mishap, but I’m fine, okay?”

  “Mishap is a word for stubbing your toe when pissing at night. You almost died,” she said again, this time her eyes flashing up at him with fear instead of anger.

  He calmed her by returning her gaze, smiling softly and nodding. “I understand.”

  Then, after a few more seconds of tension, Minda rebounded into another mood, one Cade could tell she’d been repressing. Hopping on her toes, she opened her arms wide. “What do you think? Can you believe it? A shirt!”

  Taking the beastkin woman in once more, Cade saw what he’d missed at first glance. Instead of a leather vest or a fur-lined coat, his lover wore a soft and pliant garment that hugged her shoulders as simply and conveniently as any t-shirt he’d ever seen. There’s no breast pocket, he mused. But then again, if there was, I’d see only gorgeous nipple winking up at me.

  He made his face and eyes do the appropriate level of surprise and satisfaction. “Wow! Tessra made that, I assume? It looks amazing. How does it feel?”

  Minda performed a shimmy that made her look more adorable than ever. “Like a bit of heaven. It’s so light and cozy. I have one for you too! Are you free?”

  “Well, I’m hungry as hell, and I did want to allocate my Attribute points. I gained a level, so—”

  She crushed his hand in a feverish grip and tugged him away. Shouting over her shoulder, Minda informed him of his changed plans. “I’ll ask someone to bring you a pile of meat to our shelter. You must try on the shirt first, Cade. It’s simply divine!”

  He allowed himself to be carried along. Giving a few nods along the way, Cade made sure to shout hello or you’re welcome to the few villagers they met. But soon, Minda had tugged him into their sleeping quarters, lit a few lamps, and pressed a bundle of cloth to his chest. He watched her a moment, enjoying the way her eyes flitted between his own and the prize she’d given him.

  Suddenly impatient, she urged, “Oh, come on! You know I’m excited. Put the damn thing on.” Her hands were tugging off his leather armor and discarding it roughly to the ground in no time.

  Cade didn’t make her wait any longer. He slipped the shirt over his head, and sighed. The woman is right. Sweet Christ, how I missed t-shirts!

  “Well? What do you think?”

  “I think I am glad we gave Tessra a proper place to work. It’s so silky. Reminds me of back home,” Cade admitted.

  Then Minda was kissing him. Her hands pressed against his chest, her lips eager.

  Pulling away after, Cade asked, “What’s that for? Miss me?”

  “I just missed normal clothes, and sure. Maybe I’m a little happy to see you back and not dead,” she answered and kissed him once more, this time thumbing one of his nipples through the cloth garment he’d just put on.

  A rumble split the building tension, emanating from Cade’s stomach. They laughed, and Cade shrugged. “I’m sorry. It’s how I’m built.”

  Minda opened her hand and summoned a handful of grapes. Then, shoving him down on his backside, she straddled him and began to feed him with fruit. “You can wait for something more substantial,” she said, already grinding against him. “I can’t though.”

  When Gemma walked in shortly after, Cade was already groaning with pleasure.

  She, too, was wearing a shirt. It hung over her otherwise-naked torso awkwardly, and Cade realized it was the first time he’d ever seen the tigress with any article of clothing on.

  Gemma grinned and approached the two. “I arrived at the perfect time,” she said, leaning down and running her hand down Minda’s back.

  “I thought you didn’t need clothing,” Minda panted, keeping her rhythm perfectly.

  The tigress laughed. “I don’t, but don’t tell Tessra that. I wanted to feel what it was like. So far, the best thing about wearing clothes,” she said deviously, “is taking them off again.”

  She did so after, exposing her lithe torso to the orange glow of the lamplight. Gemma’s hair began to ignite as well, her arousal illuminating the darkness around them. Minda slid off of Cade’s thrumming excitement and lay beside him. Grabbing his hand, she guided him to her ecstatic sex even as Gemma mounted him.

  All thoughts of food, mead, or companionship faded away as the two extracted every bit of pleasure they needed from the man.

  Cade, for one, wouldn’t hold it against them.

  The next morning brought back the responsibilities Cade had deferred. He’d leveled up once more, and waiting around without using his newly acquired Attribute points or picking a new trait and skill were foolhardy. He’d learned that lesson early on in Last World.

  Normally, he’d run it by one of the girls, preferably Satemi as she had a keen mind for tactics. But after grabbing breakfast and having a cold rinse in the waterfall, he decided to ask the first friend he’d had in this world. Settling down into the crook of a sun-warmed stone, he cupped his hands over his mouth and called, “Pablo! How’s it hanging, buddy?”

  The demon appeared in a swirling cloud of purple vapor. Flapping his dragon wings rhythmically, Pablo landed on one of Cade’s knees. “What is it, mighty Archon?”

  “None of that. Just figured I might be able to ask your advice. Have another level to deal with.”

  Pablo’s eyes fluttered dramatically. “And you thought you’d ask me? It’s been so long since you did so. Surely, someone as wise as yourself doesn’t need advice?”

  Rolling his eyes, Cade bulled past the demon’s sarcasm. “Satemi is the wise one. Now, will you help or not?”

  “Of course, Caderick. Shall we discuss the Attributes first?”

  “Yes, that seems logical. I’ve been stacking most of my Attributes into Charisma, as you can tell, and it’s been invaluable in buffing up those around me,” Cade explained.

  As he’d hoped, Pablo’s attention got whisked up in the game of analysis. “It’s a good strategy, but I think Intelligence could use a bit of catching up. Your Wisdom is low as well. Relying on Satemi might lead to your downfall. Regarding Strength and Constitution, I believe you’ve done well to avoid them. You don’t fight like that savage Ronden, so no need.”

  “Okay, so 2 Attribute points into Intelligence, 2 into Wisdom, and 1 into Charisma?” Cade suggested.

  “Why not?” Pablo conceded, then moved the issue forward. “Now, what about that weapon of yours. Your latest mods should be exciting to consider.”

  Cade held up a hand. “Hold on. I’d like to select a new trait an
d skill first. Then I’ll know which weapon upgrade will better suit my character.”

  Pablo laughed bitterly. He crawled down Cade’s leg and up onto his chest. “This is why you should continue to beg for my help at every occasion possible. When you turned Level 7, did you notice your weapon upgrade was skipped? Or did it slip your mind?”

  Pushing the dragon off of him roughly, Cade sat up. “I noticed. Why? Let me guess, no trait this time?”

  “Precisely. The levels alternate now. One weapon mod, one trait and subsequent skill. After level 12, it gets even more sparse. That is the system here in Antinium.”

  Sighing, Cade rubbed his face, still a bit frustrated by the change in progression. Then he shrugged and pressed on. “Nothing to do about it. So, let’s take a look at those possible weapon Mods.”

  Primary Weapon System - Battle Axe

  1 Available Upgrades Point

  Etheric Polearm: Your existing Mana Spear is enhanced even further. The spearhead is transformed into a two-sided polearm blade which allows for slashing as well as piercing damage. The weapon’s overall reach is extended an additional twelve inches and all damage is increased by 50%.

  Impact Rod: With the addition of a mechanical Impact Rod, your battle axe has the ability to increase damage output by 50% on any attack performed by the axe or hammer segments of your weapon. The Impact Rod does not increase the damage of Mana Spear or Blast Staff functions.

  “Wow, both are game changers. Seems like either way, I’ll be packing a bigger punch,” Cade mused. “I know where I’m leaning, but do you have any thoughts?”

  Pablo had landed on a rock of his own and had closed his eyes to better absorb the rays of the sun. He cleared his throat and answered. “Impact Rod. Your fighting style is already quite diverse. Adding new forms would lead to some issues, I think. Besides, the Ratcheting Reach already allows you increased range.”