As the early morning sun crept over the city skyline, Alexis was already en route to Akihabara, catching the monorail as part of his usual routine. The familiar chime sounded as he stepped onto the platform, but this time, something new awaited him. While descending the train's steps, a subtle, translucent notification popped up in his Digi-HUD, a system he had long grown accustomed to ignoring since moving into this world.
"You have gained a new Passive: 'Chimera.'"
"You have gained a second Title: 'Human Chimera'"
Alexis arched a brow in surprise. Curious, he navigated through the HUD interface until he found the passive's description:
"Chimera: (unreleased passive) is a skill that grants the ability to absorb a monster's core. Upon complete consumption, gain 1-2 skills specific to that monster."
For a moment, he was intrigued. "An unreleased passive? But why…?" he thought, wondering if it was a glitch from his virtual origin. With a mental shrug, he dismissed it as yet another curiosity from his Boundless Adventure past and continued on his way, deciding he'd deal with it later.
Noon hit, and like clockwork, the Waves began. A dim ripple distorted the air, and familiar rifts opened just outside the restaurant. Alexis, Carna, Ferni, and Miz were already prepared, weapons drawn. Monsters spilled out into the streets, drawn to the life and energy in the area. They had experienced Waves before, but this one seemed more intense.
Alexis's usual role was directing his companions, but this time, he wanted to test something new.
"Carna, stay in the back and provide cover fire for Ferni and Miz. Miz and Ferni, stick together—don't let them break your formation," he said.
Carna exchanged a confused look with Ferni, but they followed his command. Alexis moved forward, his expression unreadable, eyes sharp, scanning the monsters flooding in from the rift. He cut down a few lesser beasts in his path with calm efficiency, hardly breaking a sweat. It was clear he was waiting for something specific.
And then he saw it: a Demon Eagle, much like the fierce Demon Bear they had previously fought. The bird's wings were vast, shadows rippling as it soared overhead, its talons extending, hungry for flesh.
"Perfect," Alexis thought, activating Agyl' Boost. In an instant, he shot forward, weaving between the horde, sending monsters sprawling with each swing of his blade. The others noticed, momentarily distracted by his sudden burst of speed, but they refocused quickly as he pressed forward.
With a flash of movement, Alexis lunged at the Demon Eagle, grasping one of its wings in midair. The creature screeched, flapping frantically, but Alexis swung it down with a powerful slam, driving it into the concrete. In a burst of shimmering dust and cubes, the Demon Eagle was gone, leaving behind a glowing core.
Alexis eyed the core, intrigued. He reached down, grasping it as Carna, firing arrows from afar, shouted, "Hey Boss?! What're you doing with that core?"
Miz, caught off guard, glanced back as well. "Wait, are you…are you going to—?"
Before they could process it, Alexis put the core between his teeth and bit down, crushing it. His friends watched, wide-eyed, as he swallowed it whole, and almost immediately, a notification flashed in his HUD:
"New Skill Gained: Demon Eagle Wing (Right)."
Amazed, Alexis glanced over his shoulder. Sure enough, a large, powerful wing sprouted from his back, the same dark and ominous color as the Demon Eagle's. The others gasped in shock as he extended it, testing its range. "So, this is Chimera," he murmured, excitement building.
Without hesitation, he looked around and sets his sights on a flying Wyvern, newly emerged from a rift above. Power surged through him,he took off running and with a burst of force, he took to the air, soaring upward with the help of his new wing. As he closed the distance, he felt a thrill unlike any he'd experienced before. The Wyvern, noticing his approach, bared its fangs and dove, intending to meet him mid-air.
Charging a Precision Strike to full power, Alexis waited until he was within arm's reach. In one fluid motion, he drove his blade deep into the beast's chest, right where its core resided. The Wyvern exploded into dust and blocks, and its core hovered, glimmering, in the air before him. He grabbed it, felt its power pulsing in his hand, and without a second thought, swallowed it.
Once more, the Digi-HUD alerted him:
"New Skills Gained: Wyvern Wing (Left) and Wyvern Scale Armament."
With a grin, he summoned his newly acquired Wyvern Wing, feeling the added power and balance as both wings extended from his back. He reveled in the sensation, the weight and strength in each beat, each gust of air around him.
From below, Carna, Miz, and Ferni were still in shock, barely keeping up with the rest of the monsters as they watched Alexis's transformation. He looked down at them, smirking as he angled himself toward the ground. Tucking in his wings, he plummeted downward in a controlled dive, sword clenched in his teeth.
"Alright, let's finish this," he muttered, setting his sights on the remaining monsters.
As he neared he ground, he activated Wyvern Scale Armament, feeling the magic surge through him, transforming his right arm into a weaponized Wyvern limb, armored with scales and ending in razor-sharp claws. He took a deep breath, instinctively sensing the potential locked within this form.
The last few Wave monsters approached. In one swift motion, he raised his arm and swung down diagonally, sending out a powerful diagonal arc of razor-sharp wind slashes from his claws. The attacks tore through the remaining monsters, each slice precise and devastating, until the Wave finally dissipated, leaving only silence and scattered dust.
Alexis landed lightly on the ground, his transformation fading, though his exhilaration remained. His friends gathered around him, still processing what they'd witnessed.
"Boss…what was that?" Carna asked, looking him over with awe and suspicion.
He grinned, sheathing his short sword back into Slu. "Just a new passive I discovered. Chimera." He went on to explain the passive's effects and what he had just tested for the first time. The sheer potential of it was staggering, even for him.
Ferni looked thoughtful. "So, you can gain abilities from monster cores? That's…that's incredible, but also a bit…weird."
Miz, still in awe, nodded. "You're full of surprises, Sensei. But…is it safe?"
Alexis shrugged. "Not sure. But I plan on finding out a bit more."
Alexis looked up at the sky, catching his breath as his wings and scales dissipated. As exhilarating as the new Chimera ability was, he knew it came with risks. Taking on monster abilities would have advantages, but consuming an unfamiliar core might carry unexpected side effects. Still, he couldn't ignore the potential.
As they regrouped in the now-quiet street, Carna studied him intently, a spark of concern in her usually calm gaze. "Boss, if this new ability lets you absorb monster skills, then won't it change you too?" she asked. "I mean, that Wyvern arm… it was real."
Alexis chuckled, trying to brush off her worry. "It's just another tool, Carna. I'll be careful."
Carna crossed her arms, unconvinced. "I'm not saying it's bad. I just don't want you biting off more than you can chew."
Alexis nodded, catching the double meaning. He took a last look at the Wyvern core fragments dissolving on the ground, then turned back to the others.
"Alright, let's head back," he said, sheathing his sword. "The Wave's over, and we've got work to do."
Back at the restaurant, the lunch crowd had already begun pouring in. The team quickly resumed their roles, seamlessly switching from fighters to waitstaff. Alexis found himself mentally splitting his focus, half-engaged with taking orders and managing staff while the other half buzzed with ideas of how to experiment with Chimera. The possibilities felt endless.
Between shifts, he slipped into the back room to review his HUD more thoroughly. Chimera had logged each skill he'd absorbed so far, from the right Demon Eagle wing to the Wyvern's left wing and Wyvern Scale Armament. It seemed to categorize abilities based on the monster type, grouping each set of skills by source. Alexis realized he could potentially mix and match these powers, combining skills from different creatures.
"I wonder if I can use both wings at once…" he muttered. The idea of blending skills hadn't crossed his mind until now, but the very thought made his mind race. He leaned back, eyes narrowed thoughtfully.
A sharp knock at the door interrupted his thoughts, and Miz poked his head in, looking amused.
"Boss, you've got customers waiting. Don't tell me you're letting the Chimera thing get to your head?"
Alexis smirked, standing up. "Just checking, Miz."
After closing time, the team gathered at the front of the restaurant to debrief about the day's Wave. Alexis leaned against a counter, arms folded, observing each of them.
"Alright," he started, "that was our first time seeing a real impact from Chimera. You all saw what I could do, but I want to hear what you think. Any concerns?"
Ferni's brow furrowed, her usual fiery energy dampened by thoughtfulness. "Honestly, I'm impressed. But I wonder if these monster powers could backfire. Like, what if they overpower you, or, I don't know… make you less… you?"
"Good point," Alexis admitted, scratching his chin. "The HUD's descriptions don't say much about it's drawbacks, but I'll stay alert for anything weird."
Carna spoke up next, nodding to Ferni. "It's still strange to see you sprout wings and scales, Boss. You know, there are probably other NPCs with Chimera—maybe they know something we don't-"
Until Alexis interrupted, "That can't be"
Carna asked "why?", which he responded with, "Because the Chimera Passive is an unreleased passive back in our world of Boundless."
So both Carna and Ferni questioned with exclaim, "So you're the only person with the Chimera passive ability?!"
Which Alexis responds with a calm tone, "It seems so... But... I don't know the reason why...."
Ferni then asked with wonder, "Do you think this was a sign of some sorts?...."
Which also left the others wondering as well... Alexis took notice that it was getting late, and they had to close the restaurant for the day and head back home.
The noon sun was high as Alexis, Rarun, Tess, and Miz geared up to face another Wave in the bustling streets of Akihabara. With Carna caught up in a mountain of restaurant orders and Ferni still tinkering with a car, Alexis had briefed Rarun and Tess about the Chimera Passive and laid out a plan.
"Rarun, take the left flank; Miz, you're on the right," Alexis instructed, eyes scanning the Wave Rift that was beginning to open. "I'll go down the middle, and Tess—provide cover with your magic from the high ground. If you spot any rare monsters—Absorvo Slime, Aqua Spirit, Corrupted Druid, Iron Golem, Toxin Scorpion, Demon Spider, or Ninja Skeleton—let me know immediately."
The others nodded, gripping their weapons as the Wave burst open, releasing a flood of monsters. They sprang into action, seamlessly moving into formation.
Rarun, with her katana gleaming, darted to the left, cutting through swarms of monsters with swift, precise strikes. She whirled through the crowd, unleashing gusts of wind from her blade, blowing back lesser creatures and leaving a trail of defeated monsters in her wake.
On the right, Miz activated his Agyl' Accel and rocketed forward, moving so fast he seemed a blur, cutting down foes left and right with fluidity and ease. His wooden sword crackled with energy as he mowed down any creatures in his path.
Alexis, in the center, activated his Agyl' Boost, a sudden surge of energy coursing through him. His left arm transformed with the Wyvern Scale Armament, hard scales layering over his skin and ending in formidable claws. With his steel short sword in his right hand, he charged head-on into the crowd, each strike precise and explosive. Monsters were blasted back from his forceful strikes, some shattering into data and dust with every blow.
Above, Tess held her position on a stone pillar she'd summoned, casting spells to cover her allies. From fire bolts to bursts of ice, her magic rained down on the monsters below. She spotted a rare Corrupted Druid emerging from the rift and immediately cast an ice bolt, freezing it in place. "Alexis! Corrupted Druid, near the center!" she called out, keeping a sharp focus on her position.
As the battle raged on, Miz spotted an Absorvo Slime and a Demon Spider amidst the chaos. "Boss! Absorvo Slime and Demon Spider!" he shouted.
"Take them out and grab the cores!" Alexis instructed, his voice carrying over the clamor. Miz cut down both monsters, quickly collecting their glowing cores and stowing them before rejoining the fight.
On the left flank, Rarun noticed a Ninja Skeleton, its sharp bone weapons gleaming as it moved with agility. She gritted her teeth, feeling the challenge rise, but dispatched it with a powerful slash to its skull. As the monster dissipated, she snatched its core. She then spotted a Toxin Scorpion in the rear of the horde. Summoning her Wind Magyk, she leapt into the air, launching three slicing wind attacks from her katana to slice through the creature. She swiftly collected its core as well.
Once the Wave ended, the group reconvened. Miz handed Alexis the cores of the Absorvo Slime and Demon Spider, while Rarun passed him the cores of the Ninja Skeleton and Toxin Scorpion. Finally, Alexis approached the frozen Corrupted Druid Tess had trapped and shattered it with a tap of his sword, gathering its core.
The group watched with a mix of anticipation and curiosity as Alexis, hesitating only a moment, swallowed all five cores. His Digi-HUD flared with a notification:
"New skills gained: Absorvo Slime Shield, Toxin Scorpion Stinger, Bone Kunai, Red Silk Shot, and Healing Vines."
Later that evening, after finiship with restaurant work, Alexis and his group—Seika, Miz, Rarun, Ferni, and Melina—gathered at the park to test his new Chimera skills. The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting an almost mystical glow over the quiet area as Melina summoned a Rock Golem as their practice target.
"Alright, let's see what this Bone Kunai can do," Alexis said, holding up his hand. With a concentrated thought, a sharp kunai made of bone materialized in his grip. He hurled it at the golem, the bone weapon embedding deeply into the creature's stony chest.
"Not bad," Ferni said, nodding in approval. "It's got some solid penetration."
Alexis grinned and summoned several more kunai, launching them one after the other. The golem's stony hide was soon riddled with bone weapons. His HUD flashed an option he hadn't seen before: Detonate.
"What's this?" he murmured, tapping the option.
With a quick gesture, the embedded kunai detonated, sending a spray of bone shards deep into the Rock Golem. It staggered under the barrage, its surface riddled with punctures.
"Whoa!" Miz gasped, stepping back. "Those things explode?! That's insane!"
Rarun crossed her arms, a smirk playing on her lips. "Looks like you're packing more than just close-combat tricks now."
Alexis chuckled, clearly pleased. "Let's see what else I can do."
He focused again, summoning his Toxin Scorpion Stinger. The group's eyes widened as a segmented tail, ending in a sharp stinger, extended from his back.
"What the…" Seika whispered, her eyes glued to the tail.
Rarun raised an eyebrow, looking impressed. "Nope, didn't expect that one."
With a swift motion, Alexis lashed the stinger out at the golem. It struck with a satisfying thud, injecting venom into the target. Then, he tested the stinger's versatility, whipping it around the golem like a rope before slamming it down onto the ground.
"Imagine getting hit with that," Ferni said, grinning. "One hit, and it's game over."
"Good thing he's on our side," Carna added, laughing nervously.
Alexis glanced at them, amused, and held up his hand to try his Red Silk Shot. A web of silky red threads began to form in his palm, gradually tightening into a sphere. With a powerful flick, he hurled it at the Rock Golem. The sphere shot through the air and punched cleanly through the golem's chest, leaving a gaping hole.
Everyone stared, speechless.
"Did that just… punch a hole through stone?" Melina finally asked, her voice filled with awe.
Alexis looked down at his hand in amazement. "It... Seems like it did."
Seika's eyes were wide. "With those abilities, you could take down just about anything."
Finally, Alexis decided to test his defensive skills. "Alright, Melina, have your golem give me its best shot."
"Are you sure?" Melina asked, glancing worriedly at Seika and Rarun, who looked equally concerned.
"Yeah, just give me a solid punch. I need to see how this Absorvo Slime Shield holds up."
After a moment's hesitation, Melina nodded. "Alright, but don't say I didn't warn you."
The golem lumbered forward, winding up for a powerful punch. Just before impact, a silvery, semi-liquid shield appeared in front of Alexis. The golem's fist slammed into the shield, but the force still sent Alexis skidding back several feet. He landed on his feet, but his arms ached from the impact.
Rarun and Seika immediately rushed over. "Al! Are you okay!?" Seika asked, concern in her eyes.
"Yeah, I'm fine," he reassured them. Activating Healing Vines, they watched as glowing green vines wrapped around his torso and arms, soothing the pain and repairing the damage.
The others watched, fascinated. The vines' glow faded, leaving Alexis standing tall and unscathed.
Ferni shook his head, chuckling in amazement. "Healing, offense, defense… You're like a one-man army, Al."
"It's almost too much," Melina murmured, looking at Alexis with a hint of awe.
Alexis shrugged, glancing at his hands. "I'm still getting used to it myself. But I think this Chimera ability was given to me for a reason, and if these abilities can help us protect this world and each other from the waves, then they're worth mastering."
Carna clapped him on the shoulder. "Whatever it is, Boss, you're practically unstoppable now!"
They all shared a smile, the gravity of Alexis's abilities settling in. With newfound responsibility and even excitement, they knew this was just the beginning of what the 'Chimera' passive ability could bring to their fights with the Waves in the future.