Chimera King Box Set Books 1-3

by Atlas Kane

  Cade ducked under it, feeling the blow graze the top of his skull. He pivoted and sunk a left hook deep under the monster’s ribs. A tiny pop sounded, evidence that Cade had cracked a rib. It stumbled back a few feet.

  Again, another wave of repressed feelings lashed out at him. This time, the heavy guilt and shame of his every failure. Instead of burning roots, the guilt felt like the mountain itself had been stacked onto his shoulder.

  He fell to his knees at once, hands slapping against the cold stone floor. His shadow self darted forward and punched down into the side of Cade’s face, nearly knocking him down completely.

  When the fist struck, he saw yet another vision: a black plastic bag, a yielding weight within. Smell of cordite. Smell of a street covered in blood. Lifting the body onto a vehicle. Driving it away. Crimson stain left on the ground.

  Balling himself up, Cade narrowly blocked a knee to the face, blunting the impact with his elbows. Punches began to fall down on him, so he rolled to the side, hoping to escape.

  It was the memory of Satemi’s shared vision that allowed him to breathe once more. The village of those fallen all around her; the spear she’d sworn to use valiantly knocked aside. More recently, her friends and Imenda slain when she’d failed to fight off a horde of abyss creatures by herself. The mask she wore as penitence, and the long journey of recovery she’d already undergone.

  We don’t deserve it, Satemi. We don’t have to carry it alone, Cade growled in his mind, and shrugged off the mountain of guilt.

  His shadow had followed, moving to box him in against the stone. It snapped out a kick, the monster’s shin slamming up into Cade’s ribs.

  Cade caught the attack and pushed forward. He pushed the creature up and off of its standing leg, following it down to the ground. His whole weight crashed into the reflection. The creature grunted hollowly as its back struck stone. Rolling it up further, Cade pressed forward until he was above his shadow, its thighs spread around his waist.

  It hadn’t reacted quickly enough, hadn’t fully locked its ankles around him. So Cade bulled forward and gained a partial mount, the shadow trapping just one of his legs. Close enough to do damage, Cade threw a punch down into the monster’s face. It turned sideways, his fist striking the flat of its head.

  Just as the first two had been, a third deluge of emotion poured into him. This time it was grief, pure and unfiltered.

  The feeling was cold and liquid, and it flooded his limbs and belly unendingly.

  Tears burned his eyes, and he felt his core shudder with the need to weep. Dead friends. Men drowning their pain in liquor and women. False bravado shielding an ocean of heartache: Cade felt it all as fresh as if no time had passed at all.

  No! I’ve cried these tears already, Cade told himself. He dropped his head, face going against the shadow’s ribs, and he held his arms to either side of his ears. The monster threw punches, trying to shake him loose.

  Cade refused to let go of his position, but the shadow opened its leg and pushed on his hip, trying to achieve guard. If it managed to do so, Cade’s subtle advantage would be lost.

  Cade threw his whole weight into the shadow, pressing it down and locking the leg open. They slid forward across the smooth stone floor. Tears poured from Cade’s eyes, blinding him, and yet he refused to give in.

  The unyielding resilience of Ketzal came to mind. She’d been more oppressed by grief than nearly anyone he’d ever known. He could easily remember her cowed expression, Vormer staring daggers at her. Yet just a few days ago, she’d driven a Brimstone Boar into the side of a giant and deadly beast. She’d led the charge, her voice cracking out like the whip she favored.

  Roaring, Cade purged his body of every drop of grief that clung to him.

  Digging his elbows down, he found the soft inner thigh of the shadow. He wrenched open its legs further and barreled forward, gaining full mount. Then he rose up and let his fists fall like sanctified sledgehammers.

  Mercilessly, he pelted his reflection with well-aimed punches. It turned from side to side, arms up in defense.

  Finally, the thing straightened one of its hands out, palm up, trying to push free. Cade grabbed the shadow’s wrist and spun, throwing his leg over its face, his other leg over its chest. Pulling the arm down with him, Cade fell to one side, crashing into the ground.

  Pinning the arm against his chest, Cade didn’t wait for a tap.

  He clenched his legs and arched his back, crushing the reflection’s wrist and arm against his body. Quicker than he thought, the creature’s arm shattered in a half dozen places. Tendons in its elbow ripped free, and the bones near its wrist cracked. Then the entire joint connecting upper and lower arm popped apart.

  Cade released his grip and rolled backwards over his shoulders. In a crouch, he launched himself again at the shadow self, aiming to drop a knee on the writhing creature’s face.

  But when his knee crashed down, the reflection vanished.

  His bone smacked against cold stone painfully, but luckily, he hadn’t broken it.

  Blinking in confusion, Cade found himself alone in the empty room. The lights glowed just a little brighter than before, and the same recorded voice spoke from everywhere and nowhere at all. “Well done, Antinian. Not only have you been able to defeat yourself in raw combat, but you have also proven your mental resilience and commitment to your people. You are worthy of gaining control of this Dungeon Interface. Use this resource wisely, and your people will flourish.”

  Laughter rippled out from Cade’s core, and he let his forehead droop to the stone floor. Letting the cold seep into his face, Cade took his time recovering.

  Finally, he stood again. His body was bruised, his face bleeding. But he didn’t pull out a Health Tincture, didn’t chew any healing herbs. No. I think I’ll keep these as a reminder. At least temporarily.

  “Micah, are you there?” he asked, crossing his fingers for good luck.

  “Of course I am, Dungeon Interface Designer Cade. Would you like to review your options for reconfiguring the dungeon?” Micah replied at once.

  His newest title brought a smile to Cade’s lips, but he told the AI demon no. Though Cade stood within the dungeon still, he had a hunch there was another demon he might be able to summon, one he desperately needed a chat with.

  Clearing his throat, Cade called out to his oldest friend in Last World. “Pablo! Please tell me you can drop by.”

  A swirl of purple gas coalesced before him; a small but magnificent dragon flapped its wings in the air. “I can, Caderick! Nice work in finishing off the dungeon. As Designer, you can summon me anywhere within the dungeon, at least until you’ve reconfigured and reset its seven levels.”

  Relief swept through Cade’s chest, and he laughed again. “Thank god, man. I didn’t want to leave and come back again. I’m terrified this whole thing is gonna warp on me again. I don’t think we could clear it out again before the invasion.”

  The first thing the council had done after hearing Cha’s warning, was to contact Pablo. Unfortunately, the demon hadn’t been able to peer within Tanrial’s ever-churning storm. So though he agreed they needed to do everything they could to power up, his counsel had been of limited value.

  The demon landed nearby and sat back on his haunches, reminding Cade of an exotic hound. “No chance of that occurring. When the dungeon’s final obstacle has been cleared, it becomes inert. It now falls to you to come up with a new dungeon design.”

  Relief swept over Cade, and he took a deep breath. Putting his hands on his hips, he regarded his little demon friend once more. They would make this dungeon into something truly awe-inspiring. But first there was the matter of the two levels he’d gained. The second increase hadn’t been all that surprising.

  After all, killing a dungeon’s ultimate boss should be worth a shit ton of XP.

  “That’s great to hear, Pablo. Before we get to designing minions and bosses, I was hoping you might be able to guide me on my level upgrades?” he asked,
then pointed out exactly how he’d spent his previous Attribute Points.

  “In the grand scope of things, increasing your Strength, Constitution, and Dexterity aren’t terrible choices. However, your Wisdom is lagging behind. So, the first 5 Attribute Points should be spread out with 2 going into Wisdom. That should bring all of your supportive Attributes up to 21 apiece,” Pablo suggested.

  Taking a deep breath, the demon finished his assessment. “Intelligence is high enough given the advantage of your Recharge Booster. Right now, the greatest advantage you possess remains your many allies. The final 5 Attribute Points should be placed into Charisma.”

  Listening to his trusted advisor’s words, Cade allocated the points and finalized.

  The rush of pleasure and pain that assaulted him this time was distinct.

  Never before had he so drastically increased his Charisma. Though the enhancements to his body and mind were exhilarating on their own, the change in his Charisma Attribute made him feel as if his heart was filling with liquid, golden joy, and he stood a little taller, more sure of himself than ever before.

  He had to take a moment to breathe it all in, and he had to admit, he couldn’t wait to see the girls’ reactions.

  “Should we decide trait or weapon upgrades next, Pablo?” he asked at last, feeling once again capable of rational thought.

  Pablo scratched at something minute on the dungeon floor, his small talon making a rasping sound. “No need to wonder what trait you should choose. Read what you’ve unlocked in defeating your shadow self.”

  Cade quirked his eyebrow and did just that.

  Self’s Ascent: In conquering the blackened underbelly of your very being, you have unlocked the Self’s Ascent trait. All aspects of your class will be improved, raising your Class Title from Chimera Lord to Chimera King.

  “What the fuck does this mean, Pablo? It’s pretty vague. What do I get if I choose this?” Cade asked, his mind spinning with possibilities.

  “Shut up and choose it. I don’t know exactly how the system mechanics will play out, but this is a rare and powerful opportunity,” the demon replied, his voice oddly solemn.

  Cade selected the new trait.

  A pulse of energy shot through his body. He felt himself grow stronger than ever, his mind focused like a pin of light in the vastness of night.

  Examining his skill options, Cade found only one.

  King’s Command: By stoking the flames within your followers, you embolden their hearts and drive away their fear. All those around you will have 20% Stamina regeneration, Health regeneration, and total damage output. Additionally, all units under your command will have an increased movement speed of 10%. 10-minute Duration. 24-hour Cooldown (Alpha’s Call skill becomes unavailable).

  Eyes wide with the implications of the skill, Cade considered his choice even as he finalized the decision. No longer having access to Alpha’s Call was a loss, but King’s Command was the same thing but amplified twice fold.

  He saw only two other differences. One was that the skill didn’t affect himself. It only worked on his allies. Still, it was worth it, especially when he considered the last difference: adding 10% movement speed to his forces was insane!

  Pumped up beyond belief, Cade grinned like a savage. I can’t wait to show Satemi and the others. Though the title change, Chimera King, is gonna be hard to live down. They’ll insist on a proper crown before long.

  “Okay, Pablo. That was nuts. What about weapon though. Surely Mr. McGregor has a bit more to offer the world,” he said, and scanned the available modifications for his axe. The list was way longer than usual, and then he noticed it was because rather than offer new mods, he was given the choice of upgrading a previous skill. The Burst Clip and Recharge Booster weren’t available, however, most likely because they were already OP, and Burst Clip had been powered up by the Soul Weapon Enhancer.

  Greedily, he reviewed his choices and then chose the top four that seemed most advantageous, two for the axe and two for the blast staff portion of his weapon.

  Revolving Reach (Skill Upgrade): The handle of your blast axe has been modified in two ways. It has been hollowed and reinforced with mana. This reduces the overall weight of your weapon by 20%. It now has a built-in mechanism that allows it to extend up to three feet longer, allowing for maximized attack power. Attacks performed when Ratcheting Reach is activated increase by 50%. Attack speed is no longer reduced.

  Impulse Rod (Skill Upgrade): With the addition of a mechanical Impact Rod, charge with an internalized mana battery, your battle axe has the ability to increase damage output by 75% on any attack performed by the axe or hammer segments of your weapon. Attack speed is permanently increased by 20%.

  Armor Scoring (Skill Upgrade): The volley of three mana projectiles have increased in mass while tapering into more streamlined rounds. Additionally, it has a tip of hardened mana. This increases overall accuracy and allows for penetration of bone, plate armor or any piercing-resistant hide. Causes 300% base damage plus reduced target’s armor effectiveness by 50%. 5-minute Recharge Time.

  Explosive Cluster (Skill Upgrade): The volley of five mana projectiles explodes upon impact causing an additional piercing damage. Has the ability to hit nearby targets with secondary blast. Amount of damage reduced by distance. Causes 500% base damage. 5-minute Recharge Time.

  “Well, Pablo, what do you say? I think the Explosive Cluster is smart considering the army of beasts headed our way. Do you agree?” Cade asked.

  “Yes, I do. The chances for collateral damage are significant, but as long as you use your head, it should be a valuable asset,” Pablo replied. “As to your axe, I would go with the increased attack speed. So, Impulse Rod has my vote.”

  Cade nodded, imagining how much of a difference a full and permanent 20% boost to attack speed would have. He selected the choices and finalized them.

  Feeling more than a little cocky, Cade pulled up his Character Sheet, wanting to observe his progress more tangibly.

  Name: Cade

  Level: 13

  Accolade: (Chimera King: Ascended Class)

  Strength: 21 (+2 Chimera King Breastplate of Power)

  Constitution: 21 (+2 Chimera King Bracers of Fortitude)

  Dexterity: 21 (+2 Chimera King Greaves of Grace)

  Intelligence: 23

  Wisdom: 21 (+2 Chimera King Pauldrons of Insight)

  Charisma: 36

  Traits: Lycan Metabolism, Nilgathi Fervor, Alpha’s Fitness, Eel’s Bite, Ape’s Aptitude, Hale as the Horde, Lepidoptera Core, Hardy Hardshell, Self’s Ascent

  Skills: Culling the Pack, Wyrm’s Wrath, Alpha’s Call, Electric Touch, Earthen Assault, Spider’s Kiss, Mana Amelioration, Hardshell Haven, Commander’s Call

  “Well, Pablo, I’m a bonafide badass. How you like me now?”

  “No more or less than I ever have, Caderick. Do you plan on spending all afternoon gloating, then?” Pablo responded, a hint of amusement in his tone.

  “Of course not. As much as I love chatting, I think we have more important things to discuss. For instance, how do I summon a minion?”

  The demon laughed, then gave a verbal nudge to his AI cousin. “Micah, my friend is in need of a full introduction to his new job.”

  “Of course, Pablo. Shall we start with the Structural Overlay Design? Or do you wish instead to have a tutorial on the wisest methods of Dungeon Point allocation? Currently, you have 5000 Dungeon Points available,” Micah replied immediately.

  Cade scratched his chin, already a bit overwhelmed. “No, boys, I don’t think it’s polite if I spend too long in here. A large group of exhausted fighters are waiting to find out whether or not I’m alive. Is there any way I can come back and figure this all out at another time?”

  Micah answered stoically. “Of course, Dungeon Interface Designer Cade. You may access the Dungeon Interface in this room or in the room that contains the normal Town Interface.”

  “Good. Good,” Cade whispered, thinking. “Yes, I think
I’ll take off and come back tomorrow morning. But, there is something I’d like to try first.”

  “What is your command, Dungeon Interface—” Micah tried, but Cade cut him off with a rude grunt.

  “Minion. I’d like to make a minion before I go,” he explained. “And please, remember to only call me Cade. Okay, Micah?”

  “Okay… Cade. Would you like to see the list of current minion designs?”

  “Yes, I do,” Cade answered, excited to see what tools he had in his box.

  Suddenly, a massive list of creature names populated before him. The options were seemingly endless, and he nearly dismissed it out of hand. Instead, he tried to simplify his interface. “Micah, reduce the list down to… golems. Only golems, okay?”

  “Of course, Cade,” Micah replied, and a moment later, the list shrunk and organized itself into six distinct categories: Earth Golems, Metal Golems, Fire Golems, Ice Golems, Dark Golems, Light Golems.

  Cade selected the most appropriate type of golem to their current plight and a list of twenty variations dropped down after. After browsing a few minutes, Cade chose one that sounded epic. It cost a total of 30 Dungeon Points.

  Confirming the minion, Cade heard a pop of energy sparking behind him.

  Spinning on his heels, he saw a shimmering outline of a tall, humanoid creature. Blue ether burned in the air around him, and he was forced to shield his eyes.

  When the figure resolved itself from pure ether, an eight-foot-tall golem stood before Cade. Its body was made of clear and black crystal, and veins of pure white shimmered throughout its bulky limbs. It hovered above the floor, its hands flexing mindlessly every so often.

  The Light Champion Golem stood vigilant, awaiting orders.

  He gave it a mental command, imagining the minion attacking the far wall. Rather than charge, it simply raised one of its hands and a beam of hot, white light erupted outward. The bolt of energy sparked off the stone, and the room went dim once more.