Shane couldn't help but stare at both the incredible chest on the dog's back and the greyhound itself. Being a greyhound meant this absolute cutie was nearly as big as a great dane but toned and a bit thinner. Unlike real greyhounds, this one's fur was brindle with glowing blue runes that he couldn't decipher near its shoulders. This large adorable pooch wasn't more than two or three years old to Shane's eye.

Every instinct he had as a developer told him that this poochy equivalent to a loot goblin would always run from a player. So to see this big, short-haired, long-nosed pup lick him out of a nightmare was beyond astounding.

Shane offered the big dog an open palm, and without hesitation, it came to him and rested its long snout in his hand. He began petting its smooth head with his other hand, and he swore it smiled at him as it panted happily, its tail wagged side to side in big arcs.

"How did you get here?" Shane asked the big dog as he got to his feet.

There was to be no more sleeping after a dream like that. Besides, between the loot pupper coming to him, and a quest update notification, Shane had enough to distract him from yesterday and everything prior. First things first, that chest on this pooch needs opening. That responsibility falls to me, he thought with a smile.

Shane stood up and stretched his limbs, reaching for the brightest star out of thousands in the brilliant night sky. The rune-sporting greyhound sat patiently as it watched Shane stretch with interest. When Shane finished, the dog stood again and didn't move an inch while Shane opened the rare chest on its back.

-Adamantine Loot Chest!-

You Have Gained The Following Rewards:

200 Gold (Supreme) 1x Level-up Scroll

This scroll gives the user one free level upon use

(Rare) 10x Elixir

A potion that restores a percentage of health and mana and reduces fatigue

"Good freaking god! A supreme quality drop!" Shane couldn't help but shout. This was a first for him, including all the tests he ran when making Endless Veil. A supreme rarity item drop had the rarity that was equivalent to winning the biggest jackpot on a slot machine. The fact it was a scroll that would give him a free level-up was as significant as it was unheard of. The two-hundred gold wasn't anything to sneeze at either. Though it would have been excellent for his [Wealthy] modifier to proc and double the already sizeable currency reward

The adamantine chest closed itself upon accepting the bevy of rare goods and currency. It then promptly fizzled into digital dust, whisked away by a gust of wind. Shane thought about using the level-up scroll right away but thought better of it. If he used it now, it would likely reset his experience points toward the next level. Better to wait until I've leveled up, which works since I'm almost there.

A quick study of his character stat window confirmed as much.

Name: Shane Carther

Race: Human

Class: Sage

Level: 8

Exp: 1,857/2,164

HP: 200/200 (0/18 Overshield)

Mana: 195/195

Fatigue: 0/143

Soul Points: 0

Attributes:

Strength: 30

Agility: 29

Vitality: 23

Endurance: 25

Intellect: 37

Wisdom: 28

Luck: 25

Physical Attack: 59 (36 Base)

Magical Attack: 10 (0 Base)

Physical Defense: 38

Magical Defense: 44

"Every level I gain puts me one step closer to making this world a better place," said Shane as he thought about Cain Prime, and what that man had done to Alabaster and Sharlot.

While lost in thought, the greyhound noticed Shane squeezing his fists. When the dog went to nuzzle the side of Shane's leg and lick his hand, Shane recoiled out of surprise. Surprise retook him when he realized the loot pupper wasn't leaving, even after he opened its chest.

"You're an odd one, aren't you?" he said with a powerful sense of gratitude and slowly stroked the dog's head that reached his waist easily in height.

As Shane did so, he remembered Liz and had no idea if she was safe or given some new form courtesy of his corrupted alter-ego. The thought that a version of himself could and would change Liz physically to suit his fancy disturbed him greatly.

I'll save both of you. I promise.