Chimera Rising: Beast King Ascension [How a human-turned-lion went from Zero to Absolute Ruler]

'I wish to visit the reward centre with my Pride,' Dominic announced since Nyx wasn't saying anything yet. He'd need to see what she thought as well as Leo. Talking to Sekhmet might be a good idea too. Maybe others as well. Though at the same time, he didn't want to turn this into a democratic process. 'I will think about your proposition and give you an answer when I return.'

The elves didn't look entirely pleased at that, but they were in no position to argue.

'Very well,' Alwen agreed, touching her left shoulder with the open palm of her right hand and then extending it before her briefly, palm up. It looked almost like she was taking something from her shoulder to offer to Dominic. Behind her, the other elders followed the same gesture, though Melia's was the slowest. One by one, the other elves around shifted so they were now all looking at Dominic and then did the same, several of them wide-eyed.

Dominic looked from one to another.

'What does that mean?' he growled at Alwen – clearly it meant something. Something big.

'It is a gesture of respect and an offer of service,' Alwen answered, her tone heavy. 'It is what we would offer our…lord. If he would accept it.'

'I see,' Dominic responded noncommittally. He felt a brief flash of anger – he felt like the elves were forcing his hand, their gesture feeling more manipulative than appreciative at this point – for all that Alwen had said it was a demonstration of respect. 'We're going now,' he announced, turning away abruptly and padding towards the city. He felt more than saw his Pride members falling in behind him. Nyx came to join him at the front and pressed her shoulder silently against his for a moment before falling behind to pad slightly behind his shoulder. Dominic sent her a wordless sense of appreciation for her support. Sekhmet joined him on his other side in a similar position and Jenkins padded just behind the three of them. Their companionship calmed Dominic more than walking away from the elves did.

'Berion, will you guide us?' Dominic asked the elf as they passed him – he might have an idea of where it was but it would be easier if they had a guide. It would probably make the elves more comfortable too – though that thought grated on Dominic. After all, if the elves wanted him to be some sort of lord to them, they'd better get used to seeing beasts in their city.

The elf in question glanced at the elders for a moment and then hurried to catch up with Dominic who had already moved past him.

'Yes, Honoured Brother, I would be glad to.'

After that, the dignified elf didn't say any more as he took the lead. Dominic was grateful for that – he had a decision to make and a lot of thinking to do.

The anger which had flashed through him at the gesture he had felt was manipulative faded away even before they reached the first set of buildings. It wasn't that he suddenly thought that it hadn't been intended to sway him to their preferred option; it was more that he understood why they might use any trick in the book to engage his aid. Their whole community was at stake – they had seen how poorly they had done against the matriarch's forces, and didn't want to repeat the experience.

Dominic wasn't sure that the dungeon overflow would be as numerous as the matriarch's army, at least not at the start. But from what little his snatched grasp of the dungeon master's knowledge told him, that depended on the level of the dungeon and the six in the vicinity were fortunately still quite low rank – in universal terms, anyway. But they were uniquely suited to battles of attrition since the dungeon could respawn the beasts killed, even if there were definitely limits on how frequently that could happen.

Truth to be told, Dominic himself was nervous about the upcoming threat. But despite that, he was hopeful that the additions they'd made to their numbers would mean that they had nothing to fear – that the dungeon overflows would be more of an opportunity to rake in the Prey Points without needing to worry about damaging the local ecosystem too much – until they decided that they'd had enough and wanted to clear the dungeon. But it depended on just how many dungeon beasts attacked them at a time. And if all six dungeons ended up focussing on them because they had the elves nearby, that could lead to them being overwhelmed – they couldn't replace their numbers nearly as quickly as the dungeons could so anyone lost would be a blow to their forces even as it was a boon to the dungeon in question.

Though…in a way, was this not based on the same decision which had led to him fighting the matriarch? One of the reasons he had wanted to deal with her before returning home was to ensure that a threat near his territory was removed. If he left the elves to their own devices, the chances were high that their defences would become overwhelmed either in the short or the long term. With no protectors, the dungeon beasts would rip through the vulnerable non-combatant members – assuming they continued being unwilling to risk this 'soul-wound' that the elders had mentioned.

At that point, the dungeon or dungeons in question would benefit hugely from the influx of whatever it was that they got from killing beings. For all Dominic knew, it might even be enough to push one or more of the dungeons up a rank. And even in the best case, the dungeons wouldn't leave Dominic's territory alone in the long term. They might be temporarily distracted by the elves, but after they'd dealt with Selanthis, they would come for Dominic and his Place of Power in time. And if they had already ripped through the elves, they would be an even bigger threat than originally.

Which meant that helping the elves and concentrating both groups of fighters together was actually a strategically sound decision. At least insofar as the dungeon overflow was concerned. The fact that the elves would be able to create weapons and armour which would enhance his force's offensive capacities while also enabling them to survive longer in a battle were added advantages to accepting their offer. They also offered healing – assuming that their healing worked better on the Pride members than Healing Cloud did on the elves. They might even be able to make health potions, or other enhancers. And in the long term, their farming abilities could help keep the Pride and allies fed, amongst other tasks.

And, arguably, defending against the dungeon beasts successfully would earn good amounts of Prey Points for the fighters, and when they decided it was time to clear the dungeons themselves, whichever group went in to do it would benefit significantly.

Finally, there was the question of the fast-travel network which Dominic knew they possessed, even if it was inactive at present. What would happen to that if he left the elves to their own devices and they were killed by the dungeon beasts? It was a selfish reason, but Dominic wouldn't deny that it played a part in his decision.

He reached out to Nyx and Sekhmet with Telepathy. After a moment of hesitation, he also connected with Howler, Jenkins, and Loud-Hoot. Since they hadn't all been part of the discussion, he quickly summarised the whole situation for them.

'So, what do you think?'

This narrative has been purloined without the author's approval. Report any appearances on Amazon.

There was silence for a little while as they walked in silence, each ruminating just as Dominic had.

'I think it's a good idea,' Sekhmet said firmly, the first to venture her opinion. 'The elves do not defend themselves, but the armour they made definitely helped. I was injured enough in the last fight; I am glad I was not injured more.'

'And battles are not the only thing needed,' offered Loud-Hoot. 'Building nests and foraging for food are important too.'

'It would be odd to have creatures part of our…group who are not part of its defences and not our cubs, but if they are offering other services in return, I would not object to protecting them,' decided Nyx next. Dominic wondered who the 'our' was in Nyx's 'our cubs', but then pushed that thought aside.

'And you're not worried about them causing more danger for us?' Dominic asked.

'Danger is everywhere,' Howler replied sadly. 'And it seems that not protecting the vulnerable two-legs would only increase the danger.'

'Agreed,' Jenkins offered.

'Alright, thanks for your opinions,' Dominic told them all gratefully – was he looking a gift horse in the mouth here? He'd wanted to have a good relationship with the elves, one of mutual benefit. Weren't they offering exactly that on a silver platter? And even offering to move the settlement closer to his Place of Power so they wouldn't even need to travel far for it?

'You're inclined to accept their proposal, then?' Leo asked quietly. By this point, they were deep into Selanthis, and Dominic could already see the massive trunk of the Great Mother ahead of them.

'I am,' he admitted to his companion. 'Honestly, now I've thought about it some more and heard how everyone else seems in favour of it, I can't see many downsides to it.'

'What about the issue you raised about their king? I do not like the idea of accepting those who have loyalty to another that is not sworn to us.' Leo indeed sounded rather wary – Dominic suspected that if he were in control of their shared body, he would have lifted his lips slightly away from his teeth and be growling quietly.

'That's a concern,' Dominic agreed. 'But the fact that they are holding so strongly to an agreement they made speaks well of them, I think.'

'Perhaps, but I do not like the thought of defending them only for them to turn around and give their loyalty back to the one who left them so defenceless in the first place.'

'It might not have been his choice to do so,' Dominic reminded the lion, 'but I see your point. I agree that I want us to benefit from the elves' presence which we won't really do if the king swoops in shortly after the dungeon overflow is stopped.'

'Which, if you are keen to activate the teleportation device, seems likely to happen,' Leo pointed out.

Dominic had to admit he did have a point.

Perhaps we should put in some stipulations about time? That even if the king appears and demands their loyalty again for past service, they will fulfil a certain period of time in service to the Pride in payment for the protection we're offering?' Dominic suggested after a long moment of thought.

'That might work,' admitted Leo thoughtfully.

'Alright, good. Can you think of any other issues?'

'Just one. Selessa.'

Dominic sent his companion a sense of question.

'What about her?'

'She is trying to gain strength secretly. Do these elves have any deities which they are sworn to who might pose a threat to her? Or, conversely, might some of them be interested in converting to her?'

'What, are you her evangelist suddenly?' Dominic asked Leo with amusement. The lion sent him a sense of affront.

'I am just trying to help our ally. We agreed that it was a good idea to do more than absolutely necessary on her behalf, but we haven't even approached our own Pride members about potentially following her! Perhaps the hunters of the elves would be interested.'

'Uh huh,' Dominic replied knowingly. 'I get what this is about. You just want her to agree to mate with you and you think that getting her a few more followers will get you in her good books.'

'And what if I do?' Leo asked defensively.

'It's just funny,' Dominic told him, revelling in Leo being flustered – it didn't happen often to the shameless lion. Unfortunately, it didn't last long either.

'We are already sworn to her,' Leo argued. 'The more followers she has, the stronger she can get. The stronger she gets, the more benefits she can offer us. It is a consideration we must make – you cannot deny that.'

'No,' Dominic sighed. 'No, I can't. Alright, finding out what the religious situation is among the elves should come before we give a final answer. Though I don't know how to know if the elven deities – if they have any – pose a threat to Selessa. It's not like we can just talk to her. And joking aside, I'm OK talking about Selessa – if that's what she wants – but I'm not trying to convert anyone.' No way was he going to become one of those obnoxious street-evangelists shouting out to passersby and making an ass of himself.

'Perhaps if we give her a sacrifice, she can send us some sort of idea? Isn't that what you primates did for a long time with your gods? Gave them a sacrifice in the hope of divine intervention?' Leo suggested, not responding to Dominic's last point.

'You're suggesting practices from centuries ago – pre-System, I'll add – as a basis of your suggestion?' Dominic asked the lion incredulously. 'And sacrifice what? I'm not killing any of our Pride or allies.'

'We have those carcasses in our storage space, don't we?' Leo pointed out. 'And we sacrificed the bodies of prey we killed before – I don't see why this shouldn't work any differently. Even if it doesn't work to get into contact with Selessa, sacrificing the carcasses to her will help her get stronger anyway. Besides, she heard and responded to your prayer on the female's behalf – why shouldn't she respond to a sacrifice?'

Unfortunately, Dominic had to admit that Leo had a point there.

'Alright, fine. We check out this rewards centre, then speak to the elves about both the time stipulations and the religious situation. If it turns out that they already have deities, then we try to get into contact with Selessa by sacrificing a few carcasses. OK?'

'I agree with this plan,' Leo replied loftily, as if he was doing Dominic a favour. Rolling his eyes, Dominic focussed beyond his own mind. They had reached the Great Mother and were waiting outside – Dominic realised that they must have recognised he was speaking to Leo as everyone was watching him.

Feeling uncomfortable and huffing in the leonine equivalent of clearing his throat, he stepped forwards towards Berion.

'I'm back. Is the rewards centre here?'

The elf nodded. 'It's just to the side of the Great Mother, nestled in her roots.' He pointed at something that looked like a growth from the roots of the massive central tree.

'Then let's go and explore it,' Dominic told everyone, anticipation kindling in his heart.