The War (Play to Live: Book #6) by D. Rus Page A

I could refuse the cub. Surely I said yes.
    The cub gently probed my mind through our newly formed mental connection. Finding that friendship was possible, it huddled up to me.
     
    Status alert! You have accepted the Great Gift and Unmanageable Responsibility.
    The cub of two bloodlines is capable of becoming stronger than both its parents. Are you ready to help his power grow?
     
    Status alert! New mission available: Acquisition of strength I.
    Become the teacher of your future uncategorized pet, help him reach level 100.
    Reward: undetermined.
    Duration: one month.
    Nonfulfilment fine: loss of familiar.
     
    This opportunity made me pause. After quickly picturing the possible outcomes, I decided to accept the quest.
    I would have to level up the cub anyway. The quest would be just an incentive to do it sooner.
    Holding the soft cub to my chest, I waved goodbye to the small pride. "Thank you!"
    The two beasts roared triumphantly. All the monsters within a mile’s radius hid in their burrows. Even the basilisks lifted up their multi-tonn heads in alarm and nervously beat their meaty tails on the ground.
    Clap! Clap! The felines left by portals. I had to resume my duties as clan leader.
    I looked at the mules, then beckoned to the impatient treasurer. It was very difficult for me to open my trade window. It was getting harder and harder to pull it up. Handing an item over physically was much easier.
    But at that moment I was carrying over half a million coins of different value, not to mention other valuables. I couldn’t just hand them over.
    I passed the cash on to the treasurer, then pensively scratched my head. I had about 3K loot items on me. When would I find the time to sort it? I was sure my greedy pig was up to the task, but I didn’t want to go psychotic.
    However, I had heard that a pretty competent piggy now lived in the castle treasury. I decided to let him prove his worth and handle the sorting.
    I transferred the loot to the mules. "Take this to Durin, all of it. We’ll sort it later." I lowered my voice before adding: "If it doesn’t sort itself…"
    I cracked my spine. What’s that proverb? Your own burden doesn't hurt you? Yeah, right! Put 15,000 pounds on your back and try to waltz. I’ll get first row seats for that one.
    The battlefield looked horrific. AlterWorld had not seen such carnage until today. There must have been 20-30 thousand graves out there. Stuff worth tens of millions of dollars. And it would all end up in some backwoods graveyard within the next three hours.
    I could have kicked myself. I walked up to the nearest gravestone with an old English Gothic design and read:
     
    Crazy Grizzly. Level 211.
    Time left until teleportation to cemetery: 02:37.
     
    I looked her up in the paid database. A she-troll, the main tank of the women-only clan Physis.
    What a terrible life! Not only trapped with other trolls, but getting no male company whatsoever.Clearly a mental case. Or something else.
    I tried to guess the price of the grave as I walked by it, passing my fingers over the rough granite.
    A joyful-looking Orcus fell out of one of the open Super Nova portal arches. "Congrats, Sir!" he said, hugging me. "That was some decent ass whooping! You broke all the laws of logic and game mechanics!"
    I pushed the orc away. What a day! Why’s everybody trying to hug me ? I snorted when I saw our pets staring at each other; the rainbow-colored dragon suspiciously eyed the snow leopard that was sneaking up to it. "Tommy, shoo! Friendly troops ahead!"
    "What a beaut!" said Orcus. "Where did you get him? Found a cat egg and hatched him yourself?"
    The ogre mules burst into uproarious laughter. I smiled. "Something like that. But I’m asking you, please don’t touch the local cats. No one wants to hear falsetto mewing!"
    "Why would I do that?! I have Scaly. And you tell those big guys to be quiet, or there won’t be a single tomcat left in the entire Valley by tomorrow! And what’s up with you