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Chapter 37: Chimera 2
🕑 Added 2025-02-02 09:40:14 +0000 UTC“Hm? Where are the lungs?” James scanned the body parts listed by his Chimera skill. The lungs were nowhere to be found.
[The lungs of the Flaming Tiger Lord are the same as those of the other tigers. We took the liberty of hiding them from you.]
“They’re the same? It looked like it had a stronger fire-breathing attack,” James muttered. Nevertheless, that was not his main concern right now. His body was battered and held together by sheer willpower.
“That’s for later. Should I buy health potions?” James asked. He now had 1,000 coins, enough to upgrade his Chimera skill.
[We suggest that Survivor James take the Flaming Tiger Lord’s Fur. Using Chimera to acquire the Flaming Tiger Lord’s Fur will instantly heal all lacerations on your body. However, if you choose a different body part, we recommend either using health potions to treat the lacerations on your scales or resting for a full week to allow them to heal naturally.]
“Ah! I almost forgot about that. Hurry, then. Take the fur!” James exclaimed. He had forgotten that he had swapped out his original arms and legs for goblin limbs because his own were bloodied all over.
Dark motes of light consumed the beast and then transferred to James. His scales soon molted as black-striped fur grew from his skin. It was different from that of the alpha wolf—it was a bit thinner, but it had skills. James felt his fur draining his mana, and heat gathered around it.
James flicked his fingers. As he channeled mana into them, flames ignited along his arm, cloaking it in fiery fire.
“Neat!” James smirked. He then plopped down and leaned on one of the tiger corpses. The Chimera skill might have cured his wounds, but it didn’t restore his lost blood. As the sun began to set, James regretted changing his fur a bit.
“Ugh. This skill might look cool, but how am I going to use it?” Unless he was grappling or hugging his enemy, the skill felt useless. The Komodo dragon’s scales had offered more physical resistance than this fur. Without them, James might have suffered more deadly lacerations from the tiger’s claws and fangs. Moreover, he suffered additional mana and magic penalties.
After resting for a bit, James finally looked at his coins.
“I can upgrade my Chimera skill, right?”
[That is correct. You can also upgrade your Advanced Shop to Level 2 for 1,000 coins. You could also purchase another magic skill from your Mind Principle.]
“Huh?” James had been set on upgrading his Chimera skill, but the new option made him hesitate. As always, he was indecisive. This trait remained even after he had turned into a monster. “Oh yeah, I almost forgot about mind magic. How much does it cost, and what magic will I get?”
[The next upgrade to your Mind Magic will cost 500 coins. However, the specific magic you will obtain is classified.]
“I see. Well, I kinda expected you to say that. I should use this magic more often. It creates phantom pain, right? Can I use it on myself?”
[You may use it on yourself. However, the System will not be responsible for any damage incurred.]
“It will only create temporary pain, right?” James asked to make sure.
[Yes. The pain will be temporary. It will not create lasting damage.]
James tried his Mind Flay. First, he shot out his magic. Then, he curved the magic into himself. Suddenly, pain shot up all around his body. It was as if hundreds of hot knives were making thin slices across his flesh.
“ARGH!!” James groaned as he fell to the ground, writhing. He felt so stupid for even offering himself as a guinea pig for his own magic. “When will it stop?”
[The magic will continue for approximately 3 minutes.]
“Fuck!” James cursed as the pain changed. This time, he felt as if his insides were being put through a blender. James inadvertently vomited his lunch as the agony assaulted him. The System had said it would incapacitate enemies by causing them pain. He thought it would only distract them with a sudden sharp sting in the back or something. He never expected the magic to inflict unbearable torment like this for a full three minutes.
After another three minutes of groaning and bashing his head against the ground in agony, the pain suddenly vanished—like it had never been there in the first place. James gasped, drenched in sweat.
“Shit, I am never doing that again.”
[By the way, you may purchase a Dispel spell. It will dispel any magic from the same principle for 300 coins flat. This price will not increase.]
“I can use Dispel to remove any magic from the Mind Principle?” James asked.
[As long as the tier is the same. You may not dispel magic if your opponent has a higher-tier spell.]
“I see. Skip that, please.” James groaned. As always, the world was harsh. The Dispel skill wouldn’t make him invulnerable to mind magic—it would only work on lower-tier spells. He decided to put magic on the back burner for now. It had potential, sure, but he’d focus on it once he had more coins to experiment with different spells.
[Understood. So, will you upgrade your Chimera skill, or will you upgrade your Advanced Shop?]
“What does Shop Level 2 have to offer?” James asked. For a brief second, he felt stupid for even asking—this kind of information was usually classified. However, to his surprise, the System actually answered.
[The second level of the Advanced Shop offers a High Potion. This potion can regenerate a lost limb. It also offers potions for status ailments. The three potions available for sale are Life-Leeching Potion, Paralysis Potion, and Corrosive Potion.]
“I see. But I don’t have a normal body, right? If I lost my Orc Hands and used a High Potion, what would happen?”
[In the unique case of Survivor James, if you lose more than 30% of a modified limb, you will regenerate your original human hand. Note: Golem Hands cannot be healed with High Potions as they are repairable through shop functions.]
“Well, that’s a no. I’m already immune to poisons, and these hands are good as they are. Let’s upgrade my Chimera skill.” James was about to dismiss the Shop Level 2 upgrade when the last line from the System snapped his gaze back to the screen.
[The Advanced Shop Level 2 also offers the ability to buy unneeded monster parts.]
“What?”
[We will buy the full corpses of the tigers you have defeated for a set price.]
“How much will these tigers be worth if I sell them to the System?” James asked. But the System dashed his hopes yet again.
[That information is classified.]
“Fuck you! You tell me all that and choose this exact moment to keep it a secret?” James roared. He couldn’t contain his irritation at the System for playing him like this. The blue box from the System seemed to respond smugly.
[That is correct.]
“You know what? I’m not going to play your game. Just get me that Chimera skill upgrade.” James sighed.
[Your Chimera skill is now Level 2. Here is your updated Status.]
Name: James
Age: 35
Sex: Male
Level: 37
Coins: 0
Stats:
STR: 127
DEX: 120
MAGIC: 74
MANA: 800
Skills:
Novice Axe Mastery Level 4 (Powerstrike, V-slash)
Beginner Sword Mastery Level 7 (Hurricane)
Beginner Bow Mastery Level 7 (Quickshot)
Beginner Dagger Mastery Level 1
Magic:
Mind Flay
Mana Sonar
Unique Skill - Chimera Level 2 (↑1):
Goblin Stomach (Iron Guts) (Stomach Slot)
Mana Core (Water Spells: Ice Spear, Water Manipulation, Magic +60, Mana +1000) (Extra Slot)
Orc’s Left Arm (STR +10%) (Arm Slot)
Eyes of Mana (Mana Sense) (Right Eye Slot)
Golem Arm of Valhalla (STR +30%, Physical Resistance +30%, Negative Trait: Repairable, Mana -200) (Right Arm Slot)
Ratking’s Legs (STR +25%) (Leg Slot)
Flaming Tiger’s Fire Lung (Fire Breathing Skill, Negative Trait: Mana -100, Magic -10) (Lung Slot)
Golem Core (Poison Resistance, Negative Trait: Mana -250, Magic -10, Repairable) (Heart Slot)
Orc’s Torso (Torso Slot)
Orc’s Head (Head Slot)
Shadow Snake Fang (Intermediate Life Leeching) (Mouth Slot)
Jumping Spider’s Spinneret (Thread Creation) (Extra Slot 2)
Flaming Tiger Lord’s Firefur (Fire Cloak Skill, Fire Resistance, Physical Resistance +15%, Negative Trait: Mana -100, Magic -10) (Skin Slot)
Equipment:
Leather Armor Set (+10 DEX) (Damaged)
War Axe
Longsword
Crossbow (Damaged)
Waterspout Dagger
Mask of Identity
Leather Bag (Damaged)
Sphere of Fethusiane
Cloak of Dark Night
“So, what does Chimera Level 2 do?” James asked. His status screen had indicated an upgrade, but it offered no immediate insight into the benefits.
[Chimera Level 2 offers two additional extra slots. Additionally, you may dismantle a body part without installing it.]
“Hm? What does that mean?”
[For example, if you choose to extract a tiger’s legs, the Chimera Skill will remove them and place them before you. You then have two options: consume them or store them as a spare in case you lose your own legs in battle.
However, there is a limitation when it comes to living creatures. The extracted body parts will begin to decompose within three days. If they are not used within that time frame, they will become unusable, and the Chimera Skill will no longer be able to integrate them into your body.]
The system’s explanation made James pause. He suddenly recalled asking if his Chimera Skill could be used to skin animals and harvest their meat. Now, it seemed he wouldn’t have to butcher them manually anymore. A useful ability—but not one critical for his survival.
His gaze flicked back to his Coins: 0.
A sinking dread settled in his chest. If he got wounded, he wouldn’t be able to afford a health potion. He had no safety net. No second chances.
James clenched his fists. He couldn’t afford recklessness in the next battle.
As if the world had sensed his vulnerability, fate delivered a new threat.
The White Stag emerged from the dark.
It wasn’t alone. A herd of brown deer followed, their numbers thick and their presence unsettling. James had no idea what skills they possessed. His body was weary, his equipment in shambles. A direct fight was not an option.
He turned and fled into the night.
Luck was on his side. The deer didn’t pursue him.
Instead, the White Stag approached the corpses of the fallen tigers. Its crystal antlers pulsed with a radiant glow, and something miraculous happened—the burned savanna came back to life.
James watched, wide-eyed, as grass sprouted from the blackened earth. The wasteland transformed into a lush, green meadow, vibrant and full of life.
James took a cautious step back, pressing himself behind a tree. He was certain the stag would leave soon. He was wrong. The White Stag lifted its head and let out a deep bellow. Its luminous eyes locked onto James.
A chilling realization struck him—Dungeon monsters always hunt survivors
