AlterWorld

I could only explain what happened next by the catatonic state I was still in. You wouldn't expect me to admit I acted like an idiot, right? Why, oh why did I try to cast that summoning spell?

The earth bulged. The enormous bulk of a zombie bear crawled out of the depth. Summon my aunt! How did you go about burying him back in the ground? Why on earth had I had to summon him?

I heard stifled cries behind me. A group of three minor Elves stood behind my back.

"What… what's that?" a level five female warrior pointed a trembling finger at the beast's bulk.

"That," I said bitterly, "is my pet. Model My Brain Hurts, version I'll Rip Your Head Off. Cute, isn't he? Just don't disturb him, he's easily excited. Aren't you, Hummungus?"

Chapter Eight

I didn't need to ask myself what to do next. Teddy was my ticket to level 30 and beyond. Ideally, of course, I had first to get to level 10 and choose specialization. Then I had to spend some quality time rearranging my characteristics and choosing the right spells. Only then could I pack my lunch box and walk out one fine morning, prepared for a long and rugged marathon.

But what was done was done. Even though it complicated my task, it was no reason to regret it. Now I had to concentrate and brace myself before I screwed it up and lost the pet.

I reached for the flask and took a large swig of tea. I swished it around my mouth enjoying the taste. Then I packed the flask back and slapped the bear's side, cold and resonant like a drum.

"So, Hummungus? Ready? Off we go!"

And off we went. The bear wasted gnolls in two hits, three max. It took them about seven minutes to respawn—pointless waiting—so we kept on moving down an ever-narrowing spiral with the dungeon entrance as its center.

Very soon I realized I couldn't collect all the loot. Another fifteen minutes, and I'd start losing speed, what with my strength and all, and in another twenty, I'd shudder to a halt like a brick-loaded strongbox.

I emptied my bag onto the ground, putting aside the more valuable items. Soul Stones, bracelets, an odd piece of jewelry, the Bear's loot and the food. That was it. The rest I left lying on the ground: some shabby clothing, bits of ore, a few rusty weapons and other such trash loot. After that, I organized the looting process: down to pick up a few coppers, in they go, clinking, into the wallet, one second to rummage through the rest and leave the trash on the ground. Very soon I looked like a trawler pulling in netfuls of fish. Behind my back, youngsters were quarreling over my cast-offs like a flock of seagulls. About a dozen of them followed in my tracks picking up everything that lay in temptation's way. Soon they self-organized and formed a waiting line; they even agreed on their share of the drop before the gnolls were even killed, estimating their chances of a fat loot.

In a few more minutes, the bells finally jingled.

Congratulations! You've reached level 10!

Warning! This is the first key level. You aren't immune to other players' attacks any more. Proceed with caution!

When killed by an NPC, you'll lose 15% of the experience gained at the current level.

You will receive 1 Talent point per each level. See Wiki for more details.

Choosing specialization and distributing my points in the heat of the fight wasn't a good idea. Better not rush it. Once done, I couldn't undo it. In any case, it was Teddy who did all the fighting as I barely had time to cast an occasional spell.

Within ten more minutes, the bells jingled again. Level 11.

The spiral kept shrinking as we approached the fence blocking the entrance to the caves. We had to fight our way in, for two reasons. First, the surface mobs were limited to level 10 which prevented me from using Hummungus' full potential. Secondly, I was a bit concerned about the archer's reaction when he returned to pick up his stuff. He could be quite upset to see my pet—so upset in fact that he could pepper me with arrows simply to make himself feel better.

Two warriors guarded the gate, backed up by a shaman covered with dangling charms. This was getting interesting. I hadn't come across any gnoll warriors earlier. They had all been gatherers, messengers and other such small fry. Not that it made any difference to the zombie bear. The warriors lasted about ten seconds. The shaman managed to cast three freezing spells, very spectacular but utterly useless. Talking about a bear in a china shop. Ready or not, here I come, you can't hide.

I turned to my remora crowd. "Listen guys, I'm going down the caves now. I might be down there for quite a bit and I'll be way too busy to cover you or accompany you back. You'd better go back now before the gnolls respawn."

Most of them saw my point and hurried back along the by now footworn path. All but one small level-nine rogue. I didn't know him.

He answered my surprised stare with panache. "I don't think they'll notice me. I've got stealth all maxed out. If I croak, no hard feelings, man. But at least I'll get all the spare loot for myself."

He gri

Then I noticed a long row of cages along the fence's far edge. Several dozen, by the looks of it. Locked inside were emaciated prisoners—mainly Dark Elves although I noticed a couple of other-race captives, too.

I walked towards the closest cage, curious. A haughty Drow glanced at me out of the corner of his eye before focusing again in front of him.

"Dear Sir," I spoke. "Is there anything I could help you with?"

The Elf barely deigned to turn his head. I opened the pet control interface and chose the Speak! command. The bear reared up and growled. It wasn't the Wild Roar ability, of course, as the zombie hadn't preserved it; but the sight of a fifteen-foot growling behemoth impressed the Elf enough. He nodded at the heavy lock of his cage door.

"My name is Inerion. My group was out farming in the nearby woods when gnolls lured us into a trap. Their shamans put some sleeping weed blossoms into the water upstream from where we filled our flasks. When we came to, we were here already. If you get hold of the key, I'll reward your service well. If you fail, then just kill me here and now. I don't want to be slaughtered like a sheep and sacrificed to their Beast God. I have a few gold pieces. You can have them for the trouble."

New quest available! Freedom Ain't Free.

Go down Gnolls' Dungeons and find the key from the cage.

Reward: experience and improved relationship with the Drow and Dark Alliance.

Alternative quest available! Coup de Grace.

Help the Dark One to end his own life, saving his soul from Beast God.

Reward: some gold.

The Elf looked past me with an expression of eternal sadness. Captured characters would undoubtedly undergo some changes, but their AI controller was bound to remember everything. I didn't think many players had ever bothered to look for the key. Most likely, they'd stormed the cages and killed off the prisoners for an armful of easy gold. Never mind. I had with me there a short-leashed wonder waffle to do just that. Together we could go through that cave with a fine-tooth comb and get him that key of theirs.

I actually walked from one cage to the next, getting the same quest everywhere. In the last one languished a slim, scarlet-haired Drow maiden, beautiful in a haughty and indifferent way. A thin carved collar flashed crimson on her neck. I offered my help to her, too.