Slowly over the years, the world has changed as people adapting with the invisible energy called mana. People wielding unusually power and the sight of monsters has become common now. This year also the first year where the mortality rate of human has decreased as more and more people awakened to become a mana user.
Still, it's not rare to see people dying every day. Especially in rural places where the troops from other world people are not there to help the earthens. Only people who live in the main city such as Kuala Lumpur are getting the benefit due to the limited numbers of other world people came to earth.
Monsters are frightening, but desperate people are the worst. Humans would do anything to survive. The world of mana has caused people to live with the strongest being on top and the weak are mere fodders. A new hierarchy has been born based on power. It was worst for earthen as they have to bow to otherworldly "heroes" and pleased them however they wanted to be pleased.
-----
Momo was sitting on a boulder bigger than herself just outside of the village. Her beautiful purple hair flutters as the wind blew. Her eyes flicker with a faint purple glow as she continues observing towards a certain direction. Kim may be far away from her, but she could always sense his warm mana.
She wanted to follow but Kim didn't let her. He told her that the voice asked him to go alone and this would be some kind of tribulation he has to face by himself. Momo insisted to go but Kim only patted her head and told he will come back soon. He smiled at her and told her to get ready to cross the sea.
"No need to worry about bro Kim, princess. You how strong he is... that Chimeara or whatever won't get him"
"Uncle... it's not that I'm worried about Master losing...it's just that I'm afraid Master would lose himself"
-----
"So this guy is the Chimeara you were talking about?"
"Yes, kid. Like Alpha Cerberus and King Hydra, this one is also a special kind of Chimaera. The Lord of Chimeara, Chimeara of the origin, "
There are many folktales regarding Chimaera across the globe. Unlike Hydra or Cerberus, depending on the culture of which region or which country the way how Chimaera is always different from one another.
However, one thing is the same. Chimaera is a monster that consists of different parts of animals. Another thing that the majority of books, video games or movie depicted Chimaera with the main body of a lion.
The one Kim seeing in front of him is a lion which you can find easily on the internet. Despite the gigantic size, it is just an oversized lion. It doesn't have any other features like the tail of the snakes, or eagle wings and talon or scally body. No zebra leg. No extra heads like elephant or monkey. Just a one-headed huge lion.
"Are you sure?"
"Yes"
"Have you seen Chimaera before? Or you just forgot how it looks like, old geezer?"
"Even if I'm blind I could sense this monster to be a Chimaera from another part of the world, brat. But it's like what you thought... it's weird... this one look more like a wingless Sphinx"
Hearing the word Sphinx, Kim's ear twitched.
"But I never saw Chimaera of origin as well...something is wrong here"
"Well there's only one way to find out"
Kim unleashed his mana while readying his stance. Sensing a sudden fluctuation of mana, the so-called Lord of Chimaera responded with an intimidating roar that would strike fear in the heart of many living being.
But Kim resisted. He wasn't the weak him six years before.
The roar almost didn't affect him at all. Except that, he could still feel the unpleasant feeling as if something is trying to grab his soul. Instead of fear, he felt irritated. Unpleasant memories started to flash into his mind.
He could sense the overlapping image of Alpha Cerberus and King Hydra on top of the so-called Lord of Chimaera in front of him.
Now he understood what that unpleasant feeling was.
Back then his knees would fail him. Unable to stand properly with his whole body trembling due to fear. He could only watch all of his friends die in front of him. But today, knowing the being in front of him is related to the two monsters that killed his friends. His blood is boiling from his thirst of revenge.
All the cells in his body are telling him to rip the monster in front of him apart, flesh by flesh.
"This feeling, I've been holding it for a long time... I know you are only a product of a devious plan but I still blow off my steam somehow!"
Kim waved his arm apart and two mountains appeared the Chimaera sides trapping it like a giant wall. However, the Chimaera was too big that it looked like it could easily leap through the mountains with ease. But the mountains were only a distraction to bind the Chimaera legs with trees that grew out of nowhere.
Angered, the Chimaera let out a roar and two more heads appeared on its body. One looked like a dog and another one looked like a snake. It was the head of Cerberus and Hydra with a lion head in the middle. Kim was astonished by the scene and felt like the voice wasn't wrong at all. However, he didn't have the time to think about it as the three head started to open their mouth. Each of them forming three fireballs of different colours. Red, purple, and lastly, white.
Kim prepared his fireballs which emitted extreme heat. Kim put up his hands and the three fireballs were dancing on his palms. He faced his palms toward the Chimaera.
Both of them shoot their fireballs which burns the entire area as the two attacks collided and exploded. The explosion has covered the whole place with smokes which blocked each other view.
The Chimaera expanded its mana sense to try to locate Kim but failed due to the disarray flow of mana from the explosion. Noticing a sudden fluctuation of mana, feathery wings grew from it back and the fur on its legs hardens and become a sharp scales that cut the tree from binding it. The Chimaera then flew away before getting squished like a mosquito by the two mountains beside it.
The Chimaera flap it mighty wings, sending a strong gust to clear its view. However, Kim was already gone. That moment, it felt a sudden chill piercing through its bone. As the air temperature dropped, snow started to fall. The Chimaera fur grew thicker to protect itself from the cold. The fur even changed its original brown colour into white.
"The Chimaera of Origin is truly in a different league than a normal Chimaera. I'm sure you already guess it as well kid. The source of its power"
Kim who was hiding within the falling snow continued to observe Chimaera. After a moment of silent, Kim gave the voice a short reply.
"A Conjurer"
Before the voice said anything Kim continued
"Its body is naturally strong. So it's not an enchanter. This monster must be a two-type user. Manipulator and Conjurer"
Within his sealing place, the voice smile faintly, feeling proud of his teaching.
"Aren't you grate-"
"What? I can't hear you. The storm is getting noisy!"
The snowfall has become severe. Added with strong wind, a calm snowfall has become a violent blizzard trapping the Chimaera inside. After the fight with the Lich, Kim has gained more insight as a manipulator.
He understood that, for a mana-user, what's important is their source of power which is mana. It doesn't matter whether a person is an enchanter, a manipulator, or even a conjurer. They all have the same source of power which is mana. However, everything within the universe has different patterns of mana flow.
When a person can understand just a bit of the pattern would enable him or her to use a certain portion of mana. When a person can fully grasp the pattern, he will gain mastery and become a master user. Thus, a master user usually would have a single type of mastery due to how hard it is to understand even one pattern of mana flow.
However, what Kim had transcended that. Instead of understanding the pattern of mana flow, he gained control instead. It's like making all the exam questions and knowing all the answer instead of studying for the test.
Although not much, Kim could manipulate almost anything as long he could understand the flow of mana.
The blizzard he produced is not as much as the fire which he manipulated for many years. So the Chimaera was able to free itself with a gust of wind from its wings. They both landed on the ground at the same time, keeping an eye to each other.
"How come Chimaera is stronger than Cerberus and Hydra. Aren't they suppose to be similar?"
"If Cerberus and Hydra were alive they would be this strong as well. You are not the only one getting stronger after 6 years. Can't you see how empty this place is from monsters? It might have a feast absorbing the mana of the monsters near this area. You were lucky to fight both of them at their weakest form"
The Chimaera let out a roar and giant lizard tails grew from its back. Then two strong limbs which looked like bear arms grew by its side. A turtle shell with spikes on its back. Horns that was similar to behemoth protruded from the main lion head in the middle. What was now just only a giant lion has started to wear its shining armour. Moreover, it may have more to offer.
"You telling me to stop feeling each other out huh? That's good... that's good!"
Kim suddenly rushed toward the Chimaera with a burst of mana. The Chimaera felt intimidated as it struggled to escape from Kim's mana pressure. The Chimaera felt threaten and let out another roar which summoned a barrage of lightning strikes that directed toward Kim.
Kim did several side steps while running towards the Chimaera leaving only after image just before the lightning managed to strike him. Some of the lightning was even sent back to hit the Chimaera. Angered, the Chimaera let out its mana and grew more vicious-looking and bigger than before. At this point, the Cerberus and the Hydra which Kim fought can't even compare. Kim is just the size of an ant in front of the Chimaera.
The Chimaera also rushing in like a raging bull. Both of them head towards one another bursting with mana. Blood in Kim's vein began to boil madly making his heart beating with excitement. At this point, he forgot the urge of revenge and only wanted to enjoy this battle.
"This is more like it! Come!"
----
One year has passed since the Borneo incident. It was considered as the worst exploration mission since the start of the calamity.
Taking responsibility, General Hassan publicly announced his retirement and the torch was taken by one of the personal knights of Prince Ray, Varius. He is the strongest S-rank mana user among Prince Ray personal knights, placing him in the first rank.
Many were suspicious of why Hassan would take early retirement because of that one single mistake. Especially when the one who took the title was not earthen.
Some say Prince Ray has always plan to find a way to get rid of earthen from getting involved with any kind of administration happening in the country. But there were some rumours regarding Prince Ray wanted Hassan as one of his knights.
The rumours did spread a while, but then soon flew by like the wind.
No one would expect 3 mythical monsters would appear near Borneo. Even Prince Ray or his trusted advisor Silva themselves would fail if they were taking command.
What had happened has happened. Ex-General Hassan has been off the public scene since then.
-----
He never felt regret retiring from the general position. The only thing that hurt him the most was the fact that he couldn't do anything for those who had lost a member of their family. The only reason he took that position was to protect the citizen of Malaysia. But if he couldn't save the lives who just fall last time, then why bother anymore?
He knew he couldn't just sit back and watch any longer. Being a General under Prince Ray wasn't the right place for him. Right now, he has one more important mission to accomplish.
"You have arrived"
Hassan looked toward Zane who suddenly appeared from the shadow and gave him a nod. They then proceed along the corridor together towards a giant wooden door which was engraved with a pattern that resembled a tiger
Hassan knocked the door in a certain way and the door opened by itself. Light shone to both of their faces as they see a group of people who seems to be waiting for their arrival.
"Welcome, leader!"