My (Monster?) Hero Life

Kace kicked a nearby rock in frustration. He had been so close to gaining some much needed experience. Only for the natural order of things to snatch it out from under him. He glanced at the dead Salamander with depression written all over his face.

'Guess I should head back and start a fire for dinner or something... Huh... Wait, I can still eat it!' he thought going from depressed to ecstatic in seconds.

With glee he set about carving chunks of meat from its body as he removed the scales. It was a bloody business but the scales had value and he was looking forward to what he might get in return for the meal.

After he was satisfied with his gains he tied the meat together with the leather strips he carried inside of his coat. Using a makeshift strap to sling the bundle over his shoulder. As for the scales he stuffed the better looking ones into his pockets. A surprising number of them had been damaged so he chose to leave those behind.

Checking his surroundings he identified the direction back towards the rendezvous point and set off. He was so happy he even hummed a little. The melody was off key but it helped to pass the time.

As he neared the meeting place he could catch the faint scent of smoke in the air. 'Ah, seems I'm late to the party.' he thought as he quickly moved on. Within moments he stepped into a small clearing, the party was gathered around a roaring fire discussing dinner.

"Yo! You guys were taking so long I decided to get a head start." He said as he tossed the bundle of meat to Paul who was tending the fire.

The party's tension eased up immediately. Apparently they had been worried something had happened to him. 'Worried I got away more like.' Kace thought, scoffing at them internally. Paul quickly undid the leather keeping the meat together and started skewering them on sticks he had taken from his pack. He gave off the impression of being quite a home with doing the cooking. Nobody even asked what the meat was, guess they just did not want to know incase it put them off.

Kace parked his ass on a log next to Connor. Staring into the fire he sat quietly, all the while listening politely to the stories the others had decided to tell him about their experiences.

Some of them were amusing, like when Jason apparently fell into a pit of Orc feces face first. Others were sad such as Connor's sister being killed on their first outing. Paul seemed to have the only normal memories amongst them. 'Must be quite a prudent guy.' Kace thought as he eyed him. 'He should be the first to go. Quietly if possible.'

Roughly a half hour had passed by Kace's reckoning when Paul announced the food was ready. He passed around a skewer for each person. Kace had a larger share on his presumably because he had supplied the raw materials.

He eagerly tucked in with anticipation. It only took a few bites for the anticipated response to come.

[Digestion Activated]: New DNA detected. Analysing. Awarding +75 exp

[Assimilation Activated]: DNA strand activated. Awarding +5 HP. Awarding +15 MP. Awarding +1 Intelligence. Awarding +2 Willpower. New Abilities Unlocked.

[Notification]: Skill: Flame Spit has been awarded.

He almost could not believe his eyes! After waiting for so long he had finally gained some mana! Sure it was not much but still! Getting excited while trying to keep a straight face he thought 'status' eager to discover what else he had gained.

*

Name: Kace

Title: Glutton

Level: 2

Age: 17

Gender: Male

Race: Chimera (Monster)

Legendary Feats: 1

HP 135/135

AP 115/115

MP 15/15

Exp 220/300

Strength: 4

Endurance: 3

Intelligence: 3

Willpower: 4

Agility: 7

Speed: 5

Charm: 3

Luck: 1

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.

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) (New)

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.

*

Kace went wide eyed reading this. Also what was with the random sarcastic comment at the end there? It gave him a bad feeling that Eve may have been involved in some way.

Eager to check his new DNA function he then thought to himself 'DNA'.

*

DNA Manipulation Level: Basic

Current DNA strands available:

Current DNA points available:

Amount of Enhancements/Skills available per strand: 1

DNA CHAINS:

WOLF:

[Fangs and Claws] Cost: 5 DNA

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

[Swift Foot] Cost: 5 DNA

Increases Speed by 5.

[Padded Feet] Cost: 5 DNA

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.

Obtain greater mastery to unlock more options.

DREAMSCAPE MOTH:

[Mind Numb] [Skill] Cost: 5 DNA

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

[Curtain of Night] Cost: 10 DNA

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

Obtain greater mastery to unlock more options.

*

Kace was extremely surprised by these new options. Essentially this could allow him to become extremely specialised or extensively diversified in his abilities. He was at a complete loss as to what he should choose. He knew that his best options would be whatever would help him most to win the coming fight against the others. The only problem was that he had no idea what they were good at making it almost impossible to choose. He grimaced as he thought about it.

"Hey buddy you don't look to good over there. You ok?" Jason called out.

Kace put the DNA System to the back of his mind as he looked at Jason. However this was when he realised everyone was watching him. 'Shit, must have let my face slip at some point.'

"Yeah I'm all good. Sorry just had some unpleasant thoughts about what might happen when go up against the Salamanders." He replied.

"Yeah don't worry about it. It's normal to feel uneasy. Especially about something you've got no experience in dealing with. But hey, that's what we're for right? You'll be just fine with us watching your back." Jason countered while wearing a serene smile that he plastered on his face.

'Yeah, you guys watching my back is the problem.' Kace thought maliciously.

"Alright, let's head out!" Jason announced to everyone. The others began packing away their campsite.

'Shit! I'll just have to go with this!' Kace thought furiously as he returned to his DNA options, quickly making his choice...