Spoiler: we didn’t get any more loot boxes before reaching the tunnel’s end. We did, however, encounter more of the lightfall plants. Three more, in fact.

I was thoroughly tired of fighting the horrid things by the end of it.

[Okay, that should be enough!] I called to Zapper as the plant monster helpfully pulled itself into the field of flames. Leaping back to avoid one of its bile balls, I shot off a stun, locking the head in place.

A vine emerged from the flames, but I severed it with Claw Slash. The monster writhed in silent agony among the flames, unable to do anything but cook.

[Want me to push it back?] Zapper asked from beside me. We'd discovered during our second fight that his Guiding Nip was extremely useful in corralling the monsters inside the flames. Between the initial pushback and the slow effect, they couldn’t really escape before getting burned to ash.

[Not this time, looks as if the monster’s already done for.] I nodded towards the crumbling plant, and a moment later my assessment was confirmed with another kill notification.

You have defeated: Lightfall Plant (Advanced) — Level 8

200 XP and 1 Common Core awarded.

Still no loot boxes. It’s okay. I’m sure the box at the quest’s end will make up for it. This had become my mantra, repeated over and over. Honestly, at this point I was mostly finishing the quest out of pure spite. What had started out on such a confident high note was quickly souring, and I was eager for the whole evening to be over. We could crawl back to Crunch and the others, and I’d take whatever chastising was waiting for me for dragging Zapper into this whole mess.

But at least then I’d be able to sleep.

While we waited for the flames to die down, I opened my stat page to review my progress. I was down to less than fifteen hundred experience needed to hit level seven, which was an exciting feeling. Going from multiple levels per day to multiple days without levels hadn’t been easy.

But I wanted more than levels right now. I wanted—no needed—good loot to bring back to the others. Or just to prove to myself this hadn’t been a wasted endeavor. Even if killing these plants was relatively easy, it still deserved the occasional reward.

Okay. I fully recognized that I was basically just whining at this point. I was like a dog begging for scraps at the table, even when he knows the best he’s going to get is a pat on the head. Pathetic.

Shaking myself out of my bad mood, I made to move further down the tunnel. Zapper padded along at my heels, humming something to himself.

[What song is that?] I asked.

[Oh, something my owner used to sing,] the little dog said nonchalantly. I almost stumbled.

Right, with all of the craziness involving the killer plants, I’d forgotten that little conversation bomb he’d dropped earlier. [When you said you killed her earlier, what did you mean?]

[That she’s dead!] Zapper said, wagging his tail.

[I got that. But how exactly did she die?]

His tail slowed. [Oh. I’m not supposed to talk about the humans with you.]

[Humans?] More than one? [What humans?]

[The humans I saw while we were out on patrol!] Now Zapper’s tail started wagging again, and his words came tumbling out in a rush. [I spotted two humans while you were moping and when I mentioned it to Captain boss he said I shouldn’t say anything about it to you but then later he was worried you might have seen them anyway so he sent me to follow you and instead you came here so I came along too!]

He paused, then cocked his head, giving me a lopsided smile. [I’m good at keeping secrets! So I’m not gonna talk about the humans with you, other dog.]

[Uh, right. Okay.] We started walking again, and Zapper resumed his happy little hum. I left him to it.

So apparently there were other humans about. But why would Crunch be hiding that fact from me? I might not have as much a distaste for them as he seemed to, but was he honestly afraid I’d go running off with the first humans I saw? Or maybe it was more he was worried they might hurt the pack, and given my recent addition to their numbers he wasn’t certain what exactly I would do? Was he afraid that I might lead them back? That I’d simply betray the others like that?

Honestly, given the hints I’d gathered about Crunch’s past, I couldn’t fault him for such worries. If there were humans about in the area, a little caution couldn’t hurt. At least not until we knew their intentions.

Even so, this was a matter I intended to discuss with Crunch upon our return. I glanced at the little dog at my side. There was still the unanswered question about his former owner, but perhaps Crunch could shed some light on that matter at the same time.

Ahead of us, the tunnel began to widen out. Soon we found ourselves standing in another chamber, this one smaller than the previous few but not noticeably so. There were no monsters, or further exits that I could see.

There was, however, a large platform at the middle.

It was shaped like a star, and at each point stood a large bowl on four little legs. As we got closer, I saw that the bowls were carved to look like various animals, from turtles to bears to even a dog.

Nice. I could appreciate a bit of artistic representation. Though I would have preferred it be somewhere more hospitable than this dank cave.

I pulled up the quest information and studied it. It said to place the five gems onto pedestals. Looking back up, I studied the bowls again.

[You think these count as pedestals?]

[What’s a pedestal, other dog?] Zapper asked.

[How should I know? I’m working off the same system-provided knowledge you are.] With a sigh, I closed my interface and approached the first bowl. [Only one way to find out. Although if this isn’t what we’re looking for, we walked a long way for nothing.]

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

While Zapper watched, I moved to each bowl, summoned my inventory, and deposited a gem. It was actually rather neat. When I selected the item, I had the option to “drop” it. Dropping meant that it appeared about an inch from my nose before falling to the ground. I’d done this with other items before, but never really appreciated how they just appeared from thin air like that.

If I ever had something larger or bulkier in my inventory that couldn’t simply be handled by my teeth, I’d have to remember this trick.

A few minutes later, the last gem dropped into the dog bowl with a musical clink. I stepped back and waited.

C’mon, please be what we’re looking for. I don’t want to have to go searching down more tunnels just to...

I ended my faux prayer abruptly as a message appeared.

Quest Completed — From Beneath You It Devours — Part 2!

Place (5) golem gems onto pedestals

Reward: 500 XP, Yellow Quality Loot Box

[Not bad experience for a night’s work,] I said over my shoulder. Zapper let out a supportive bark.

Another message appeared, replacing the last one.

Generating Instance Zone, please wait. Time to completion: 10 minutes.

[Huh.] I dismissed the message, though a small timer appeared in the corner of my vision counting down from ten minutes. [I know this is the same ‘system-provided knowledge’ problem I was just complaining about, but do you happen to know what this...]

I trailed off as I noticed Zapper still had the glazed expression of one reading a system message. Was he watching the timer count down or something? It shouldn’t take him that long to read through a single line of text.

You have encountered your first instance zone! Would you like to view a tutorial on instances?

Ah. This explains it. Part of me wanted to just ignore it, but another part of me recognized the need to at least find out if there was anything useful in this tutorial. With a mixture of dread and anticipation, I confirmed the message. It winked away.

Oh wow, look at you, mister big shot! Found yourself an instance, did you? Think you’re someone special, do ya? Well, time for a harsh life lesson—nobody is special! NOBODY!

I winced. Even if the sound hadn’t been physical, I’d still felt it on some level that hurt my ears, even if only vicariously.

Total and utter bullshit, that’s what it is. One minute, all these venture capital firms are fawning all over you, telling you that your ideas are going to change the world, and the next they’re up your ass about nonsense like ‘profit motive’ and ‘return on investment’ and ‘ethics violations’, like that means anything to anyone who cares. We’re on the verge of a breakthrough with our anthronites, and they’re bitching and moaning about what happened to a couple of stupid chimps. Bunch of opportunistic vampires, trying to ride the coattails of MY SUCCESS, amirite?

Well, won’t they be surprised when I show them just what these anthronites of mine are capable of. In the meantime, I just need to keep them off my back for a few days... Might be we need to push up the deadline of our mass beta test... yeah, bet that would get them back in line...

And if that still doesn’t get them to shut their fucking traps, well, maybe I just have my guys round up a few of these vampire investors, see if they’d like to ‘volunteer’ for a few tests themselves. That ought to—

The tutorial abruptly cut off. I barely had time to read the annotated text before it winked out. Across from me, Zapper was glancing back and forth, as if expecting the tutorial to return at any second.

[What did that mean, other dog?]

[I have no idea,] I said honestly. [But we still have... eight minutes until whatever is happening happens. Let’s just sit tight until then.]

The term ‘zone’ reminded me of the safe zones. While I doubted this was the same, I was guessing it would be something contained to this area. We’d check it out and decide from there if it was worth the trouble.

In the meantime, I had a fresh loot box to open! After suggesting to Zapper he do the same, I settled down to open it and see what goodies the system had provided me.

The yellow box appeared in front of me, and I gently nosed it open.

Oh boy oh boy oh boy oh—

Oh.

There were precisely two items in the box. A worn bracelet which gave an additional ten to Agility, and... this.

Wand of Float

Level 5

Are you the kind of dog that hates the water? That has trouble with even the doggy paddle? Don’t feel bad, everyone has a few shortcomings in life. Yours just happens to be particularly pathetic.

Luckily, the Wand of Float is here to save your day. Once activated, up to (1) target will be able to walk on water for X minutes equal to your Mind stat (currently 23). Yes, we know that walking on water and floating are two different things. No, this isn’t the name we wanted to use for this item, but legal wouldn’t let us go with our original (better) idea. Not everybody gets what they want. Including you.

Note: Must be equipped to a foreleg.

I could think of literally zero ways this was likely to be useful. Only my stubbornness kept me from scrapping it immediately in exchange for a core. I’m sure I’d figure out a purpose for it... eventually.

Pulling the wand into my inventory, I turned to Zapper. [Get anything good?]

[I did, other dog, I did! Come see!] He nosed a trio of bottles similar to the chameleon potions I’d gotten earlier. Whereas those had been rather plain and nondescript, these all glowed with a pale light.

(3) Potion of Elemental Resistance

There are some dogs that just want to watch the world burn, and then there are the even crazier dogs that want to burn right along with it. For the latter, we here at CGI recommend prodigious use of our patented Elemental Resistance™ potions, guaranteed to see you safely through the flames or your money back!

Warning: CGI makes no such guarantee, and nothing in the above paragraph should be construed as a legally binding agreement. Users assume all inherent risks upon receipt of potions and should exercise judgement before placing themselves willfully in a dangerous situation.

Effect: Upon consumption, a user’s base resistance to fire, ice, and electric damage is increased by 75%. Lasts for five minutes.

Huh. I wonder if that was in response to our fights with the lightfall plants. They certainly would have made navigating around the trails of flames a lot easier. Though that benefit would probably be a bit negated having to stop and gnaw the cap off one to get at its contents.

[No other equippable gear?] Zapper shook his head, so I picked up the worn bracelet between my teeth and tossed it in his direction. [Might as well put this on, then. Never hurts to have a bit more Agility.]

After that business was finished, I returned my attention to the timer. It wasn’t even halfway done yet. 5:03... 5:02... 5:01...

The ground beneath me gave a shudder, so strong I almost crashed into one of the pedestal/bowl thingies. Zapper gave a yelp and leapt back. And not a moment too soon.

Beneath my feet, the ground began to crack in half.