Chimera King Box Set Books 1-3

by Atlas Kane

Dan flashed out a second bolt of lightning, this one disabling the other mechanical.

  With the only other threat held back by a heavy shield wall, the Betas moved to dismantle the second mechanical. In moments, it was smoking rubble.

  Then Cade shouted for a second volley of Boom Sticks. Everyone took cover a second time, and when the smoke and dust cleared, the last golem was laid to waste.

  “Loot these bitches, then everyone take a break. We got more ahead of us and no guarantee how well any of it will go,” Cade hollered and fell back on the cold dungeon floor.

  Minda, Gemma, and Ketzal came over to him and did likewise. Staring up at the distant ceiling, Cade caught his breath and took a little water and dried meat. He passed the waterskin to the left, and around it went, each of the girls taking their fill.

  It was a soothing moment, feeling the proximity of their bodies, heads all barely touching in the middle of a four-legged star; Cade only wished Satemi was there with him. He rolled over and propped himself up on his elbows. “Hey, I know the timing is weird, but I was just thinking… I’m fucking crazy about all of you. I mean, what kind of Chimera Lord would I be without each of you?”

  Ketzal blushed, as she so often did, and Gemma looked ready to claw his back and claim him then and there. But it was Minda who sat up and kissed his mouth. It was a light caress of the lips, no more, and yet shivers ran down his spine. And when she pulled away, her eyes were filled with unshed tears. “I love you too, Cade. Where would I be without you, my sweet and sexy king?”

  “Where would I be without you, Cadey Cade?” Ronden roared from above. “I would be half as satisfied and twice as lonely!” The big man’s laugh shattered the moment like a pane of glass.

  Cade thought it might be appropriate to stand up and punch the man, but Gemma’s response was a sight more subtle. Heating one of her fingers until it was white hot, she ran it down a few inches of his exposed leg. Ronden howled in pain and backed off.

  The tigress laughed hard enough to bring tears to her eyes, and a few villagers standing nearby gave her sidelong glances. Barely containing his own mirth, Cade hopped up and called an end to their break.

  The next room turned out to be yet another arena, this one with an ice and fire theme. Dozens of elementals poured out of opposing portals, and the groups squared off once more.

  It was a longer battle than the previous, the flow of elementals seemingly endless, but when Gemma and Polde turned their own elemental attacks—fire and ice respectively—on the portals themselves, the battle ended abruptly.

  Polde’s sharp mind had been responsible for the suggestion, and all were grateful. Covered in burns and cuts, the party took a half hour to heal up, eating herbs and relying on the most quickly recharged of their healers’ skills. But then they were off again, entering a fourth chamber, this one making the previous look tiny and insignificant.

  There was no suspense this time. As soon as they entered, they could see the towering final boss of the level. Forty feet tall at least, and made of the same glimmering crystal shards they’d seen entering the dungeon, the boss was an imposing figure.

  Cade examined it, wanting to know exactly what to call this beautiful nightmare.

  Crystalline Colossus

  Level 26

  Dungeon Elemental Boss

  “Level 26, everyone! On your fucking toes!” Cade barked out, then sent Alpha team forward with cautious steps.

  Wanting to get the party started early, Cade activated Burst Clip, and aimed his automatic weapon high up on the colossus’ face. Letting the bullets fly, the other ranged attackers joined his own attacks, and dozens of missiles careened into the crystalline monster.

  Its body fell away in an endless shower. Tiny crystals broke free and tumbled away, making for an eerie song of tinkling fragments.

  Pumped up and pissed off, the colossus strode forward on two powerful legs. It held one of its three-fingered hands out to the side, and a shimmering sword of pure light formed in the air. Oh shit! Now we get to see what fancy moves it has up its sleeves.

  Though their initial attack had been loud and fierce, the boss looked only slightly diminished. Its body reformed, shrinking slightly, cannibalizing its own crystalline body to heal its many wounds.

  Moving forward in a blur, it swung its huge sword. The Alpha team was wise enough to part their ranks rather than try to block the enormous weapon. It struck the ground and fragments of crystal shot out, cutting into exposed flanks of the Alphas.

  To make matters worse, the tip of the sword pulsed and sent a concentrated shock wave of white energy ripping across the dungeon floor. The Betas managed to pull their shields up in time, and blocked the attack, yet the ape who’d been struck directly fell unconscious, his shield clattering to the ground.

  “Spread out! Betas to my right and Deltas to the left. Fenian, pull the ape back!” Cade screamed, and everyone moved to respond as quickly as possible.

  Turning to the rest of his Charlie group, Cade summoned a Boom Stick and gave them a nod.

  “Alphas, shield wall!” he yelled, and they threw four large Boom Sticks at the boss’s feet.

  The monster had been lifting its sword for another attack, so thankfully, it faltered as the explosive blew chunks out of the legs.

  A wave of fragments blasted down on everyone within the room, and more were injured, unable to rely on the impervious shield wall of the Alpha team. Still, the monster shrunk by perhaps twenty percent of its full size as it healed from its wounds once more.

  Shaking shit up like any proper boss, the Crystalline Colossus spread its hands wide and shot a burst of light from the center of its chest. Thankfully, it had targeted the steel of the Alphas standing before it.

  The beam connected with the center of a shield, and burned against it. Even from fifty feet away, Cade could see the metal heating up on the shield’s backside. And luckily, the ape holding it had sense enough to move. Still, the still-glaring beam that burst through glanced off the ape’s side and it fell to the ground screaming.

  “Alpha team, back up!” Cade hollered, then motioned for Fenian and his fellow healer to pull that ape out as well.

  The boss monster had its own plans, however, and raised its sword once more. Then it swung down in a precise arc, aiming for the fallen ape.

  Cade dropped a Piercing Shot in the creature’s eye, Gemma let one of her powered-up arrows go as well, and it struck home in the crystal giant’s chest. Others did the same, unleashing powerful skills, hoping to throw off the thing’s aim or stun it.

  Crystal shards fell all around. Their attacks were damaging the creature, but still the sword fell.

  At the last minute, the Kotani Ma himself stepped toward the sword and raised his shield.

  The enormous ape looked like a toy soldier compared to the grandeur and might of the colossus. Yet despite their difference in size, the ape leader managed to deflect the sword, just a little, the magnificent blade sliding off to the side and smashing into stone instead of bisecting its target.

  Ronden screamed, and as he stalked toward the monster’s leg, shrinking slightly as it healed itself, Cade saw his improved soul weapon hammer burn with its own inner light.

  Everyone had gained a skill or two since slaying the Elder Turtlepine. Cade hadn’t been able to memorize the dozens of skill changes and upgrades that had happened because of it. And Ronden, it seemed, had been holding out.

  The man’s hammer doubled in size, growing almost comically large. His body ignited with a pure light that made the boss’s light look garish and unpure. Then he attacked. His hammer cracked into one leg, and then another. Huge chunks of the colossus broke free, and it shrank, trying to heal the damage.

  Twenty feet now, the boss stretched out its arms and another beam of light flashed toward Ronden. The Kotani Ma leapt up and blocked the beam, his own thicker shield just enough to absorb the attack.

  Cade screamed in his best commander voice, “Ranged, fire at will!”

&nb
sp; He shot an Explosive Round into the monster’s face, which by now was only twenty feet off of the ground. Ronden kept at his psychotic berserk mode, and when the beam blast had finished, the Kotani Ma dropped the glowing shield and pulled out a hammer of his own.

  The huge ape screamed in the boss’s face and jumped ten feet off the ground.

  It smacked its hammer dead center in the creature’s chest.

  Cracks formed, blinding light spilling through and causing everyone to cover their eyes.

  The boss shook violently and raised its sword once more. But before it could attack again, it shattered.

  Ronden and the great ape backed away, pieces of crystal cutting through their bodies. Still, they managed to fall back toward the shield wall. Everyone took cover as the dying boss erupted in light and beautiful shrapnel.

  Moments later, all was quiet.

  Ronden was pissed that the Kotani Ma had stolen his kill, but everyone told him to shut up. The giant man had been the one who’d turned the tide, and having saved a life directly, the Kotani Ma deserved credit as well. They looted the colossus, filling their Inventories with huge stacks of materials.

  And though the healers were called upon to perform some more major skills, all had survived.

  They’d finished the sixth floor.

  A burst of XP was shared by all, and Cade gained yet another level. The quest that had been offered for the sixth floor was granted as well, and 50 Mana Shards and XP for every town member was distributed. That would give everyone in Camp Casmeer who didn’t come, including the new ape inhabitants, another level of advancement. It would be a great night to celebrate.

  A section of the far wall opened up, revealing a stairwell. A flight led up, winding all the way back to the surface. The others led straight down.

  After a brief discussion, all agreed it was in everyone’s best interest to proceed.

  “Okay, I’m not gonna say that doesn’t make me proud. Let’s do this thing!” Cade shouted, and waited as Alpha team jogged forward toward the descending stairwell.

  As two of the huge apes made to take the first step, however, a wall of blue light formed in thin air. They crashed into it and fell back on their asses. Micah’s voice announced the biggest curveball in history, that none of them had seen coming. “I apologize. The seventh floor can only be accessed by a single person. The seventh floor can only be accessed by the Town Interface Controller.”

  “What the hell, Micah? Didn’t think to tell us this in advance?” Cade said through gritted teeth.

  Monotone and detached as always, Micah answered, “You did not think to ask. You alone may enter the seventh floor. Unless, of course, you wish to vote to elect a new Town Interface Controller?”

  After a few minutes of tense discussion, everyone concurred that Cade should proceed alone. “It might not even be a fight, after all,” Polde pointed out.

  Minda, however, was one of the voices of caution. “Sure, but it could also be a trap. If you go, Cade, expect the worst. And remember, you can always come back.”

  Sighing, Cade figured he’d ask the dungeon AI demon to confirm that last theory. “Micah, can I just run back up if I go in?”

  “No. The designer of this dungeon placed very strict requirements on the seventh level. Once you enter, you must complete the floor, or you will die.”

  “That’s fucking great!” Cade cursed, but pressed on anyhow. “Are there any other requirements you can tell me about?”

  Micah’s answer was terrifying. “Yes, you must enter the dungeon without any of your equipment. That includes your soul weapon and all of your armor. And your Inventory will be sealed off from access.”

  “Maybe we should just head back,” Ketzal said in a muted tone.

  But Cade couldn’t consider that an option. “No, I’m sorry, everyone. I know it’s a huge risk, but we need to take this damned dungeon. We need it, okay? And… I’m going.”

  He expected his girls to argue, for Havasham to tell him the risk was too great. Instead, he received only solemn nods and respect.

  Minda helped him out of his armor, set his battle helm aside, and took his axe from him.

  Kissing him on the lips, three of the four women in his life bid him good luck.

  And with the whole town relying on him, Cade descended the stairs alone, wearing only a linen shirt and pair of trousers.

  What kind of dumb-fuckery did you get yourself into this time, Cade? he thought, winding down further and further into the very bottom of the dungeon.

  With no access to his Inventory, he couldn’t summon a torch, but it turned out he didn’t need to. Recalling his recent level up, Cade did the only thing that seemed like it might help him out in the upcoming challenge. He assigned 2 Attribute Points to Strength, 2 to Constitution, and 1 to Dexterity.

  The scorching ecstasy of the increase in power helped to numb out some of the fear that threatened to overtake him. Yet, the looming shadows of the stairwell, winding ever deeper into the dungeon, reminded him of all there was at stake.

  At the bottom of the stairs, he entered a rectangular room. It was made of the same black stone of the cliff side. There was no door, but as he strode forward, a pulse of energy sounded behind him, making a popping sound. He spun and saw a similar wall of blue energy.

  When he turned toward the final room again, he found himself staring into the most familiar face.

  25

  Man Vs. Self

  Considering the string of cheesy movies, video games, and fantasy books Cade had experienced that featured a “shadow self” as a final bad guy, he might have been tempted to roll his eyes.

  To stand before one’s shadow self, however, was a sobering matter.

  Standing twenty feet away, with identical posture and features, stood a man Cade both did and didn’t know. The same knotted muscles wound around his limbs. The same eyes, both tired and kind, shone beneath his brow. The same clenched fists held rigidly at his side.

  Briefly, Cade examined the thing before him.

  Shadowed Identity

  Level 12

  Dungeon Reflection Boss

  Level 12. So it truly is my equal. Well, it will be refreshing to fight something that isn’t stronger than me for once. At least there is that much, Cade thought, trying to make the best of a disconcerting situation.

  His reflection was identical in all ways but there was an emptiness behind its eyes that spoke of something inhuman. Also, its skin and hair were a single shade darker. Not as if it had gotten a good tan or were another race, but as if a tiny film of pure black shadow had been wrapped around its features.

  The creature, for it was not truly himself of course, spoke in a chilling voice. It sounded less like a man than a recording of one from years ago. “I am your reflection. The Dungeon Interface Designer has programmed me to confront the replacement Town Interface Controller. In order to usurp control over this dungeon, you must defeat yourself.”

  Cade concentrated on each word, thinking of who might have spoken them and how long ago they were alive. Their speech was clipped and odd to his ears. They certainly weren’t from Earth.

  Continuing, the recording echoed out from his reflection’s mouth. “No skills or equipment are allowed. Your Attribute Points are identical. You will also have to face the darkness of your own mind. If you survive, you’ll find your mind and body stronger than it was before. Good luck, Antinian.”

  Cade sighed, and lifted his hands. He took a slight step forward and moved his weight to the balls of his feet. Squaring up, he kept his hands opened slightly, ready to grab his opponent as quickly as he might strike.

  The reflection moved a second later, mirroring Cade’s stance.

  Well fuck me with a nine iron! That is horrifying, Cade thought, but focused his mind. Pushing all sense of doubt away, he moved forward. Not me, not me, not me, he said like a desperate mantra.

  When he was within reach, Cade shot out an experimental jab. It was a hard strike, but he felt the
need to feel the thing’s flesh on his knuckles before he truly committed. The half measure had been a mistake.

  Quick as a snake, the reflection slapped away the jab and landed its own fist dead center in Cade’s face.

  Pain flashed through his mouth, a tooth loosening, but the train wreck that assaulted him mentally was much worse.

  As soon as the Shadowed Identity drew back its hand, a wall of festering emotion crashed into Cade’s chest and gut. All of his repressed feelings hammered him at once. The sensation was so upsetting that it caused Cade to stumble back until he crashed into the bedrock wall behind him.

  Blinding fear was everywhere. Fear for his life, fear for those around him, fear for the souls of the people that would not stop dying.

  City street Mosul. Shattered street lamp, glass strewn over pock-marked asphalt. Building littered with bullet holes, and mother’s crying: the fear was so thick it clogged his throat and filled his intestines with crawling insects. How can I escape this place? How can I get home? a younger Cade pleaded within.

  Through the veil of his emotional onslaught Cade could see the reflection move toward him. It was calm and deadly. He tried to stand up, but the fear had wrapped its roots through and around his limbs.

  A snapped kick shot out and struck him in the chest, and then the shadow threw a right cross. Cade felt his world shaken with each blow.

  Imagining the fear, and trying to get ahold of it, Cade closed his eyes and held up his arms to reduce the incoming damage. Fear had knotted itself within and around Cade, white hot and greedy. The image brought another to mind, that of pure white mycelium, the roots of fungus tearing apart a huge golem.

  Then, blessedly, Minda came to mind. She was smiling, her eyes filled with the same fear that tore at his soul, but despite it all, she was smiling.

  As quickly as it had come, the fear was burned away.

  Another attack from his shadow self came, an elbow this time.