My (Monster?) Hero Life

Chapter 27: The Last Supper

"What do you mean, you don't know? You drag me out here to tell me all of this but you can't even tell me where to begin?" Kace replied furiously.

"Well, it's not that we don't know. More like we can't know." Ghursh replied, "Our memories and ability to retain information regarding the other original pillars has been sealed. This was done to prevent the humans from learning any information if they captured us."

"Original pillars you say? So you know something about Sonja and her vampires then?"

"Hmm, sort of. Just now we're situated at the eastern end of the continent Kephania. If you travel to the east across the sea you'll reach the Island she rules over. Though there has been no word from her for a few hundred years. So we are unsure if this is still accurate."

"So basically I'm operating off old information." Kace sighed, "It'll need to wait though. I have to settle things back with my friends."

"That shouldn't be a problem. However before you leave I insist you fill your belly and stay the night. When morning comes we can send you home directly using the roots."

"Oh, that's handy. Don't suppose you can use that to get me to the Island?"

"Ah, afraid not. The tree has a will of its own. Sending others through it's body is a rather unpleasant sensation for it. I hope you understand that this much is already asking a lot of it."

"I understand." Kace replied, having to accept the situation.

"I'll be taking my leave now. Grugda shouldn't be too much longer with your food. There's a bed in the back there for you to sleep. It truly was a pleasure to meet you. I wish you all the best in your journey."

"Thanks, I guess?" Kace replied, somehow feeling like he was saying goodbye for good.

He watched as the elderly Eljein took his leave from the house. To pass the time until Grugda arrived he explored the home. There wasn't much of interest except this was the first time he had seen indoor plumbing, of a sorts, since coming here. It seemed that some of the waterways acted as a sewage line. Allowing the inhabitants of Er-Gol the priveledge of indoor toilets.

'Guess those leaves growing on the inside of this room is what passes for toilet paper then?' Kace thought randomly.

There was also a bath that had a shutter that would allow water to pour in from another waterway. No heating though so he would have to make do with a cold bath later. Besides that he spent the remainder of his time waiting for Grugda by watching the Eljein go about their daily lives.

'This wouldn't be a bad place to settle down when all of this is done.' he found himself thinking as he looked to the future.

It was around this time that Grugda returned. Carrying a tray with an assortment of dishes on it. Grugda carried it to the room with the table before finally sitting it down. Taking a seat he closed all three of his eyes and bowed his head. Almost as if saying a prayer.

Kace, believing this was customary before a meal here, copied his actions. Then the pair began to enjoy the meal before them. As Kace took a few of the dishes that had meat in them he noticed that Grugda only took ones full of plants and what he guesses to be herbs or vegetables.

'Guess they're a vegetarian race? Would it be rude to ask?' Kace thought fleetingly. He was too engrossed with eating a proper meal to think to much on it. This was the first time he was getting to eat some kind of greens with his meat.

After finishing off his seventh dish Kace began to feel stuffed. With a yawn he laid back in his chair, to give his food time to digest. Rubbing his stomach he noticed Grugda watching him.

"Food. Good?" Grugda asked him.

"Very. All the food I've eaten since I came to this world has been good."

"Funny. I find. It lacking. Flavour."

"Maybe if you ate some meat it'd go down better?"

"I think. Only you. Feels this." Grugda said slowly, "I could. Never eat. My master. As you. Have."

Kace felt a cold chill in his bones. His eyes wandered to a bowl that held some plants and what he had earlier presumed to be some kind of round fruit. Now however. He realised it was a green eyeball staring back at him. He had a bad premonition of what was about to come next.

[Digestion Activated]: New DNA detected. Analysing. Awarding +200 Exp

[Assimilation Activated]: DNA strand activated. Eljein DNA strand unlocked. Awarding +30 DNA points. Awarding +20 MP. Awarding +3 Intelligence, +2 Wisdom and +2 Charm.

Kace now understood why he felt a little sad when he had watched Ghursh leave. 'He must have had his reasons.' he thought in an attempt to console himself.

"Master wished. To be. Of use. One last. Time. His end. Was near. He chose. This." Grugda said, in his usual slow tones, when he noticed the complicated expression that had arisen on Kace's face.

Kace nodded, pretending that he understood. He was just going to have to get used to this side of himself. 'A new DNA chain huh? Let's have a look at it. DNA.'

The DNA options immediately appeared in his mind. Scrolling to the bottom he found what he was after.

*

ELJEIN:

[Rocksteady] Cost: 10 DNA

Passive that increases hosts Endurance by 5 points.

[Nomad] Cost: 15 DNA

Magic allowing the user to commune with trees to have them provide you with a safe haven.

[Landslide] Cost: 15 DNA

Magic that turns solid earth into mud. Range of 20 metres.

[Natures Pact] Cost: 10 DNA

Passive granting immunity from poisons possessed by plants.

*

Kace considered his options carefully. With thirty DNA points to play with and a host of new options he could not afford to make the wrong choice. In the end after deliberating for a long time he chose three new abilities. He settled for [Rocksteady] since his Endurance had been falling behind.

For his second choice he chose [Natures Pact], he had no intention of ending up like Kharja had due to carelessness. Besides, he was sure that there were bound to be enemies who would coat their weapons with plant based poisons.

For his final selection he finally got his hands on an ability he had wanted since he first laid eyes on it. Unfortunately his situation had always demanded other choices to be made. So this was it, [Curtain of Night]. Sure it was another step down the path of an assassin but could he really complain? The effects were simply too good.

"Hm. Seems master. Was right. You gained. New strength." Grugda said slowly startling Kace, "Rest now. Long day. Tomorrow."

With those final words Grugda left for one of the rooms. Tears could be seen rolling from his eyes. 'I should let him mourn.' Kace thought solemnly, before finding a room with a bed in it for himself.

As he lay on the bed and gazed at the multicoloured lights, emanating from the fluorescent plant life, he thought over all that had happened to him since coming to this world. It seemed to him that everything had happened so fast that he had just gone with the flow. Not really stopping to think about the changes that had happened to him.

He thought back to his life on Earth. How he had been treated as a human. Only to discover that he did not miss it at all. This perplexed him slightly. He thought he would have had more attachment to his former life. Then he thought on how he had wished to be one of those heroes he was now fighting against.

'This is for the best. I'm a hero for those who actually need me. Not some pawn. I guess from tomorrow I should embrace this new life of mine fully. Time to stop holding back...' he thought seriously, as he drifted off to sleep.

***

CURRENT STATS

Name: Kace

Title: Glutton, Man-Eater

Level: 3

Age: 17

Gender: Male

Race: Chimera (Monster)

Rank: Captain

Legendary Feats: 1

HP 240/240

AP 200/200

MP 60/60

Exp 565/600

Strength: 13

Endurance: 12

Intelligence: 10

Willpower: 11

Agility: 17

Speed:15

Charm: 7

Luck: 3

Skills:

Racial: Basic DNA Manipulation (Passive)

Description: Having absorbed enough DNA strands into your own DNA chain has unlocked the Chimeras natural ability to alter themselves. Using accumulated DNA points you may choose only one genetic enhancement or skill from each strand per level of Mastery. Spend DNA points to rank up. Next Level: Apprentice. Current points: 10

Just think 'DNA' to activate.

Racial: Digestion (Passive)

Description: Able to eat the meat of any living thing absorbing a portion of its Experience for your own. Slight chance to trigger Assimilation.

Racial: Assimilation (Passive)

Description: A racial ability of the Chimera. When triggered randomly increases HP, AP or MP as a percentage of subjects Max Value. Slight chance to randomly gain an ability or knowledge possessed by the subject.

Racial: Chameleon (Passive)

Description: Your Chimera bloodline his awakened the ability to give a false reading of your status. Allowing you to "blend" into the world of humans with great ease.

Tracking (Active)

Cost: (None)

Description: Heightens users sense of hearing and smell allowing them to 'see' recent paths of passing lives.

Night Eye (Active)

Cost: (None)

Description: Allows user to see in the dark.

Kinetic Vision (Active)

Cost: (1 AP/ per Second)

Description: Heightens the users ability to track fast movements resulting in faster reaction speeds.

Stampede (Active)

Cost: 5 AP

Description: A skill allowing the user to rush forward at extreme speed for up to 10 metres ignoring all incoming damage in the process.

Instinct (Passive)

Cost (None)

Description: 70% chance to detect a stealth attack aimed at the user. 30% chance to automatically react to what would be a lethal blow preventing a killing strike.

Spider Thread (Active)

Cost: (3 MP)

Description: This is the innate skill of soldier level spider monsters. Able to secrete a mana enriched spider thread. Can be made tough like steel or extremely sticky. Highly versatile.

Flame Spit (Active)

Cost: (5 MP)

Description: This is an innate skill of the Salamander. Using magic you turn air into flammable liquid in your left lung. The right lung sets natural gases on fire. When you breathe out the two mix in your throat to create a high temperature flame. As you breathe out magic power mixes in to greatly increase the propulsion rate. Please note that while magic will keep you from harming yourself internally a serious case of dry mouth may be inevitable.

[DNA] [Padded Feet] [Passive]

Increases Agilility by 5.

[DNA] [Fangs and Claws] [Passive]

Increases Strength by 5. Elongates and hardens hosts nails and grows fangs.

[DNA] [Swift Foot] [Passive]

Increases Speed by 5.

[DNA] [Mind Numb] [Active] Cost: 3 MP

Magic that causes opponents thoughts to be slightly clouded. Occasionally causing slower thought processes.

[DNA] [Curtain of Night] [Passive] (New)

Passive ability that greatly enhances the hosts natural stealth. Without great perception the host may as well be invisible to their surroundings.

[DNA] [Rocksteady] [Passive] (New)

Passive that increases hosts Endurance by 5 points.

[DNA] [Natures Pact] [Passive] (New)

Passive granting immunity from poisons possessed by plants.

HUNTER STATS

Name: Kace

Rank: F

Level: 2

Age: 17

Gender: Male

Race: Human

HP 160/200

AP 140/160

MP 20/20

Exp 155/200

Strength: 5

Endurance: 4

Intelligence: 4

Willpower: 4

Agility: 8

Speed: 9

Charm: 2

Luck: 2

Skills:

Tracking (Active)

Cost: (None)

Description: Heightens users sense of hearing and smell allowing them to 'see' recent paths of passing lives.

Instinct (Passive)

Cost (None)

Description: 70% chance to detect a stealth attack aimed at the user. 30% chance to automatically react to what would be a lethal blow preventing a killing strike.

Stampede (Active) (New)

Cost: 5 AP

Description: A skill allowing the user to rush forward at extreme speed for up to 10 metres ignoring all incoming damage in the process.

DNA STATS

DNA Manipulation Level: Novice

Current DNA strands available: 7

Current DNA points available: 30

Amount of Enhancements/Skills available per strand: 3

DNA CHAINS:

WOLF:

[Fangs and Claws] Cost: Unlocked

Increases Strength by 5. Elongates and hardens hosts nails and grows fangs.

[Swift Foot] Cost: Unlocked

Increases Speed by 5.

[Padded Feet] Cost: Unlocked

Increases Agilility by 5.

Obtain greater mastery to unlock more options.

SPIDER:

[Venom] [Skill] Cost: 10 DNA

Use MP to spit a ball of paralyzing poison.

Obtain greater mastery to unlock more options.

GOBLIN:

Obtain greater mastery to unlock more options.

HUMAN:

[Adaptability] Cost: 15 DNA

Increases all abilities by 1

Obtain greater mastery to unlock more options.

SALAMANDER:

[Solar Powered] Cost: 10 DNA

AP costs/drain reduced by half during the day but doubled at night.

DREAMSCAPE MOTH:

[Mind Numb] [Skill] Cost: Unlocked

Magic that causes opponents thoughts to be slightly clouded. Occasionally causing slower thought processes.

[Curtain of Night] Cost: Unlocked

Passive ability that greatly enhances the hosts natural stealth. Without great perception the host may as well be invisible to their surroundings.

ELJEIN:

[Rocksteady] Cost: Unlocked

Passive that increases hosts Endurance by 5 points.

[Nomad] Cost: 15 DNA

Magic allowing the user to commune with trees to have them provide you with a safe haven.

[Landslide] Cost: 15 DNA

Magic that turns solid earth into mud. Range of 20 metres.

[Natures Pact] Cost: Unlocked

Passive granting immunity from poisons possessed by plants.