Storm Heights, the Chimera Nest.
Biting winds swept down from the north, only to be blocked by the rolling mountain ranges. Craggy rocks jutted amidst lush woods, where the silhouettes of multi-headed beasts appeared from time to time.
A hundred-li radius encompassed the bounds of the Chimera Nest. This was a breeding ground specially established by the Cinder Empire, where the chimera most loyal to the empire lived alongside over a dozen females of its kind, forming a sizeable pride.
That male chimera had even been officially conferred the title "King of Chimeras" by the imperial court, reigning as a local warlord.
A blend of traits from dragon, lion, and goat meant an adult male chimera would stake out a ten-li radius as its territory, prowling and hunting within it.
Thus, only female chimeras and young males were permitted to dwell here; even adolescent males were driven out to hunt upon the wasteland and eventually join the empire's Wyvern Legion.
The chimeras' territory had become a dedicated nursery of soldiers for the empire, steadily supplying powerful monstrous thralls to the Cinder Legion.
At that moment, inside a cavernous grotto at the mountain peak, an unimaginably massive chimera nearly twenty meters long lay sprawled across a stone platform. Shaking its wings, it exhaled hot, restless breath from its three enormous heads.
"Hrooor..."
Suddenly, a low, raspy voice echoed through the cavern, provoking a menacing growl from the chimera.
"How can you let that pack of mongrels trample over you? Haven't you noticed? They already treat you like a brainless beast!
"Noble King of Chimeras, you followed the Emperor more than a decade ago. You are the one who truly deserves to stand atop the Cinder Empire! Ogres, hobgoblins, and that mongrel ought to stand aside!"
The sinister humanoid wore a faint smile at the corners of his mouth. Clad in fine garments, he bowed slightly like a loyal butler, appearing beside the chimera.
His short hair was slick and glossy, and goatlike pointed horns protruded from his forehead. His eyes gleamed like blood, his feet resembled cloven hooves, and a grotesque, dark-red tail trailed behind him.
Clearly, this humanoid made no attempt to conceal his identity: a devil from Hell.
"Roar—"
The dominant dragon head of the chimera let out another impatient growl, yet its stubborn, vicious goat head seemed intrigued.
Spreading his arms like a bard reciting verses, the devil paced about the cavern.
"Mighty King of Chimeras, look around you! How vast the empire's territory is now, yet you are confined to this small patch of wilderness. Don't you feel wronged?
"You were the Emperor's earliest thrall! If rewards were handed out based on merit, you should have received at least the entirety of Storm Heights!"
"Albert... you have crossed the line! All this was the Master's decision; it has nothing to do with you!"
At last, the chimera's dominant red-dragon-like head spoke again, its thunderous, sonorous voice making the entire cavern tremble slightly.
Steeped in dragon blood for years, this "King of Chimeras" possessed strength comparable to an ordinary red dragon, and an intellect little different from a human's.
The devil known as Albert merely chuckled behind his hand, seeing right through the chimera's anger.
"But... are you truly willing to subordinate yourself, relegated to a pitiful breeding machine?"
"Devil, you court death!"
*Boom!*
A massive lion paw swiped through the air, frightening the devil into dissolving into a plume of smoke, while the ground abruptly shattered into a deep crater, sending rock fragments flying in all directions.
"My lord, you truly gave me a fright. But... possessing such power, are you truly content to be trapped in this wasteland?"
The devil patted his chest in feigned panic, though his tongue did not slow down in the slightest. He even reached into his coat pocket and withdrew a sheet of parchment.
The dragon head snapped in annoyance, "That is none of your concern, devil."
The lion head chimed in agreement, "I am the King among chimeras, a meritorious subject of the empire, not a prisoner of the wilds!"
Yet the goat head stared at the contract with its beady eyes, a flicker of greed showing in its pitch-black pupils. "Wait... what is this?"
Noticing the familiar emotion in the goat head's eyes, the devil was instantly delighted and said to the chimera, "Respected King of Chimeras, do you know... why the Emperor does not value your kind?"
"Why?"
This time, not only the goat head, but even the lion head and the dominant dragon head felt a surge of curiosity.
Under the gaze of several oppressive pairs of eyes, the devil remained unruffled. Tapping his temple with a finger, he spoke with feigned profundity: "Wisdom, my lord. What you lack is wisdom.
"Do you know why that ogre, despite pledging himself to the Emperor after you, can stand above you? Precisely because he possesses wisdom."
Before the chimera's hesitant gaze, Albert stepped forward and respectfully presented the contract inscribed with blood-red text.
"Respected King of Chimeras, this is a contract from Hell. It can grant you wisdom rivaling that of a wizard, and all you must offer in return is a single, trivial favor.
"My liege, the true master of Avernus, Bel, possesses a brilliant mind. Skilled in betrayal, treachery, and ambush, he is always one step ahead of his rivals..."
"Enough! What are you insinuating?" The fearsome dragon head roared, spewing scorching white smoke laced with sulfur as sparks scattered all around.
"Roar—!"
The lion head let out an aggressive roar as well, shaking the shaggy mane around its neck.
Albert quickly shielded himself with his black cloak to weather the terrifying blast of air, yet his mouth ran on without pause: "My lord, I have no intention of urging you to rebel.
"Think carefully, respected King of Chimeras. Are you... truly willing to be trampled underfoot by those latecomers?"
Albert offered a seemingly gentle, breezy smile. Wrapping the black cloak completely around himself, he spun on his heel and vanished into thin air.
The devil left behind only a black mist radiating an infernal aura, along with an enticing parting phrase: "Mighty King of Chimeras, when you have thought it through, I shall return to see you."
The chimera panted heavily, watching the dispersing black mist, each of its three heads bearing a different expression.
The central, dominant red dragon head exhaled another puff of white smoke and said in a heavy voice, "None of you are to speak a word of this devil's visit. The Emperor is our eternal master."
The lion head on the left shook its mane, cursing, "Mongrel from Hell..."
Yet the goat head's eyes flickered with hesitation and greed. It said softly, "But the devil said it does not require us to rebel. We only need to do them a small favor, and we can attain a status equal to that ogre's.
"He is now the Emperor's most trusted thrall, the empire's prime minister! Yet clearly, we were the first to follow the Emperor..."
Hearing the goat's words, the other two heads could not help showing a hint of craving in their eyes. After all, they shared one body and influenced one another, and chimeras were creatures driven by an intense hunger for power and status.
Soon, however, the dominant dragon head recalled His Majesty's magnificent, towering figure. A violent tremor ran through it, banishing every stray thought until nothing remained but total submission.
It gritted its teeth and muttered, "No. We cannot take such a risk."
The goat argued again, "But... the contract does not require us to betray His Majesty."
Taking full control of the body and ignoring the goat's protests, the dragon head strode deeper into the lair. "Enough. That devil is not to be trusted."
For some reason, a ruthless glint flickered faintly in the red dragon head's golden slitted pupils.
"Aoooh—!"
Outside the cavern, over a dozen chimeras screeched fawningly, continually flapping their wings and circling in the air, showing off their powerful, shapely bodies.
The King of Chimeras poked its head out, pointed a claw at the youngest female chimera, and led her into the depths of the cavern to indulge its primal drive to mate.
Before long, urgent, impassioned beastly roars echoed from the deep cave across the entire territory. Every creature within miles knew that the King of Chimeras was once again exercising its supreme authority over the pride.
...
Night fell, and howling gales echoed through the valley like the wails of beasts.
Deep within the cavern, the massive beast bearing three heads—dragon, lion, and goat—lay coiled upon the stone platform, snoring with a dull rumble like thunder. Not even the female chimeras dared approach, for this place represented the king's majesty and dominion.
Just then, the goat head snapped its eyes open, its dark pupils gleaming eerily in the blackness.
Immediately after, a flaming hexagram appeared on the cavern's rock wall. Faint sparks curled upward, coalescing into the tall, slender form of the devil—Albert.
The devil bowed slightly and whispered in a hushed voice, "Noble King of Chimeras, have you made up your mind?"
The goat head nodded hastily. Having accumulated mental power over several days, it had finally managed to wrest partial control of the body during sleep.
Obtaining the devil's wisdom was not only to grant intellect to the tripartite chimera, but also to allow the goat personality to gradually assume dominance.
After receiving the blessing of dragon blood, though all three heads had grown wiser and the chimera had become immensely powerful, the dragon head had grown far too overbearing and domineering.
"Splendid."
Albert clapped softly and stepped forward with eager anticipation, producing the parchment contract from Hell, which flickered with firelight.
The goat head wanted to examine it closely, but knowing neither Common nor Infernal, it could only nod with feigned understanding.
Albert said, "Very well. The terms of this contract state that you will aid me once at a crucial moment, and I shall bestow upon you... the wisdom of a devil."
He pointed to the bottom of the parchment and smiled. "Lord Chimera, right here, press your claw print.
"Press it, and you shall gain boundless wisdom, seizing everything you rightfully deserve." The devil's seductive whisper echoed in its ear.
Gathering its strength and exhausting nearly all its mental energy, the goat head barely managed to take control of the chimera's right arm, raising it slowly to press down upon the parchment—
*Boom!*
In an instant, a thunderous explosion sounded in the cave, and ancient wails seemed to echo from the River Styx.
The rows of grotesque script flickered continuously, black mist poured from the magic circle drawn upon it, and countless sparks swept forth from the contract.
"Roar—what are you doing!"
The chimera's dragon head snapped awake, instantly reclaiming control of the body. With golden eyes, it glared furiously at the goat head and the devil.
"Hahahaha, excellent! Splendid!"
Albert flung his arms wide and threw his head back in laughter, hellfire wreathing his form and blazing furiously.
Staring at the chimera with pitch-black pupils, the devil wore a sinister grin that stretched almost from ear to ear.
He raised a hand and pointed at the chimera's goat head. "King of Chimeras, a devil never breaks his word! The contract is sealed, and you shall receive—the wisdom of a devil!"
The goat head was instantly overjoyed. Opening its jaws, it snapped viciously, "I am the true master of this body!"
"Accursed traitor!"
The dragon head roared, snapping its jaws toward the goat head. But they were one and the same entity, their thoughts entwined—how could they truly harm each other?
Yet in the next moment, the devil transformed into a sinister plume of black mist, howling as it surged directly into the goat head's open maw.
The goat head stiffened instantly. A moment later, a glimmer appeared in its dark pupils, infernal sulfur and smoke drifted from its nostrils, and its countenance turned monstrously twisted.
"Hahaha! Chimera, this is the wisdom of a devil I promised you! Only... it comes at a price!"
So the "wisdom of a devil" mentioned in the contract was achieved by taking over the chimera's body—and indeed, it did not violate the contract!
Though the chimera was physically mighty, on the level of mind and soul, it was utterly no match for a devil that had lived for centuries or millennia, feasting upon countless vile souls.
"What a magnificent body! Come, let me delve even deeper..."
The goat head poked out its long tongue and licked its lips. The hellfire representing the devil's mental power spread further, locking in fierce contention with the dominant dragon head.
A dragon's mind was far more stubborn than a goat's, yet to a devil accustomed to manipulating souls, it was merely somewhat troublesome.
Yet right at that moment, the chimera's dragon head flashed a sly smirk. It ceased its fierce resistance entirely, instead yielding control of the body and letting the devil freely enter the domain where dragon blood flowed.
"Heh, nothing more than a beast..." the devil's soul mused as it wandered through the chimera's sea of consciousness.
"Still, worthy of the Emperor's bloodline. Incredibly powerful. It deserves to be put to far better use..."
"Wait, what is that?"
Suddenly, he looked up in terror. In the chimera's inner world of consciousness, a red dragon thousands of meters tall abruptly manifested! Its wings blotted out the sky, and its spine undulated like a mountain range.
Even more terrifying, the red dragon seemed to take notice of the insignificant devil. Lowering its head, a faint light flickered in its pale-gold slitted pupils, revealing a hint of... mockery?
In that realm of consciousness, the red dragon slowly opened its maw and unleashed a long, reverberating roar: "Roar—!"
Albert instantly felt his consciousness battered by a torrential deluge, on the verge of shattering completely. He could only flee frantically, scrambling back into the narrow goat head in a desperate bid to escape.
Yet soon, he discovered he could no longer leave. Like a bird trapped in a cage, he was sealed inside that head!
"No—this is a trap!"
An overwhelmingly terrifying pressure descended, more dreadful even than that of an Archdevil from Hell. Only now did Albert realize the horror of his predicament, thrashing the goat head about in a frantic attempt to break free.
Meanwhile, the chimera's dragon head commanded the entire body to fold its wings, drop to its forelimbs, and kneel in utmost reverence.
"Master, as per your command, I have eliminated the consciousness that harbored rebellion."
The devil instantly knew who was arriving, yet he could only watch helplessly, devoid of any power to resist.
The pressure grew ever more suffocating as space warped, cracking open with burning rifts. A colossal red dragon claw reached through, accompanied by a low, rumbling voice:
"Tsk, tsk. Are Bel's subordinates truly this ill-mannered? Barging into my domain without an owner's permission, and even attempting to seize my thrall.
"In that case, devil, you may remain inside that head and truly become the chimera's 'wisdom.'"
Chapter 592