I keep my voice low, addressing the undead soldier as it kneels. Its eyes glow with faint light, and it stands silent as I wonder how to direct it.
I open my skill panel, hoping to see more details. The soldier is marked as "Undead Soldier (C-Tier)," a weak starting piece of my arsenal. If I'm a Battle Summoner, I need stronger units. Right now, I'll have to manage with what I have.
A few adventurers watch from a distance, whispering among themselves. They glance at the soldier, then back at me. I sense their amusement. A newbie summoner isn't worth their attention. That's what their faces say.
I ignore them. I have a weapon and a summon now; let them snicker.
I face the clerk's counter again, tapping my fingers on the rough wood. He gives me a curt nod.
"So you got your first summon. Good. The next step is to raise your level. Dungeons are everywhere, and each one holds monsters and loot. We pay for tokens, pieces of monster bodies, artifacts. Clear them out, bring back something valuable, and we'll reward you."
He leans forward. "I have a job for you. There's a den of feral hounds north of here. The pack's leader is a brute. Cull the smaller ones, learn your summoner trade, bring back the leader's fang. That'll prove you can handle something tougher than skeletal rats."
I try not to show any hesitation. I ask, "What's the pay?"
"A small purse of coins and a chance to pick from the starter armory. Maybe you'll find something that suits you better than that battered blade. Also, a bit of EXP." He shrugs. "Better than standing around."
I nod and accept. The prompt appears in my vision:
New Quest: Cull the Feral Hounds Objective: Defeat 5 Feral Hounds and their Pack Leader. Retrieve Pack Leader Fang. Reward: 200 EXP, Starter Armor Piece, 30 Coins
I exit the settlement. The undead soldier follows, silent as always. Maybe I can mentally command it.
I try thinking about it moving to my left. It shifts position, standing by my side. That's good enough for now.
I glance at the overmap signboard, spot the hound den marker, and select it. The world blurs. One moment I'm outside the settlement gate, the next I'm standing before a shallow cave entrance. Thick roots dangle from the earthy ceiling.
I grip my longsword and check my status. Still Level 1. If I defeat these hounds, maybe I'll level up and unlock something new.
I step forward, and a system window appears:
Enter Turn-Based Combat with Feral Hounds (x3)? Yes/No
I steel myself and think "Yes." The world shifts. My feet feel heavier as if the ground itself demands I stay put until the fight ends.
The hounds appear, snarling shapes with cracked, dirty fur. Their eyes shine with hunger. Turn order icons appear overhead, showing my face, the undead soldier's helm, and the three hounds.
One hound acts first. It leaps at me, biting deep into my calf. Pain flashes red in my vision. My HP drops to 35/50.
I clench my teeth and strike back, swinging my blade. The hound yelps as I cut into its shoulder, dropping its HP by a third.
The undead soldier moves next. It hefts its rusted blade and slams it down on the injured hound's spine. The beast collapses in a heap, its body dispersing into ragged chunks of code and dust.
Two hounds remain. They rush in. One snaps at my soldier, dealing small damage. The other goes for me again, but I sidestep. It grazes me, dropping my HP to 30/50.
I take another swing. I finish off the wounded hound, sending it scattering into shards of faded light. The last one tries to circle around, but the soldier intercepts, cutting it down with a swift strike.
A prompt flashes:
Victory! +30 EXP Loot: Hound Fang (x2), Tattered Hide (x1)
Not bad. But I need five kills plus the leader.
I walk deeper into the cave. The system transitions smoothly. Soon I spot another group of hounds, this time four snarling beasts.
I engage again. It's a brutal pattern: the hounds rush in, I take a few hits, and my soldier dispatches one after another while I finish off the stragglers. I find a rhythm—attack, defend, let the soldier handle the heaviest lifting.
After a few minutes and two more battles, I stand panting, HP down to 15/50, pockets holding more fangs and hides. A prompt announces:
Quest Update: 5 Feral Hounds defeated. Locate Pack Leader.
There's a darker alcove ahead, dripping with something foul-smelling. The pack leader should be there.
I open my item menu and notice I have a weak healing vial. I drink it. My HP rises to 30/50. That should help.
I move forward. The pack leader is there, a hulking hound twice the size of the others, its fangs chipped and stained. It snarls low, red eyes fixed on me.
Two smaller hounds flank it, but I've killed enough by now to know how they behave. Still, this leader looks tough. I confirm combat.
Turn order displays: one small hound first, then me, then the leader, then my soldier, then the second small hound.
The first hound lunges. I block with my blade, reducing damage. My HP slips to 25/50. I slash back, wounding it but not killing it.
The leader growls and leaps. It strikes with enough force to stagger me, driving me back a step. HP: 15/50. I wince, tasting something bitter.
The soldier charges forward, delivering a sweeping strike that wounds the leader, dropping its HP by about a quarter.
The second small hound snaps at the soldier, chipping off a chunk of its HP. I never considered that my soldier might have HP. A small bar hovers over its head, showing 40/50 left.
This might be closer than I want.
The first hound tries to bite me again. I manage a quick strike, killing it. Now it's me, the soldier, and two opponents.
The leader lunges, going for my jugular. I dodge poorly. Its claws rake my shoulder. HP: 5/50. I feel my limbs shake. One more hit and I'm done.
The soldier raises its blade and hacks at the leader again. HP bars flash overhead. The leader's bar now reads something close to half. The other hound tears at the soldier's armor, dropping it to 30/50.
My turn. I have no more healing. I must finish one opponent fast.
I swing at the smaller hound, hoping to take it out and reduce incoming damage. My sword bites deep, killing it instantly.
Now it's just me, the soldier, and the leader. The leader snarls and rushes me. I brace myself and block with the sword's hilt. I feel bones creak. HP: 1/50. My vision darkens at the edges.
The soldier raises its blade, delivering a heavy overhead strike. The leader howls. Its HP hovers at a sliver.
My turn again. If I miss, I die. If I hit, I might win.
I drive forward, sword aimed at its throat. The blade meets flesh. The leader collapses. A triumphant chime rings in my ears:
Victory! +100 EXP Loot: Pack Leader Fang (x1), Hound Fang (x2), Tattered Hide (x3)
Quest Complete: Cull the Feral Hounds Reward: 200 EXP, Starter Armor Piece, 30 Coins
A swirl of energy envelops me. My level rises. Level 2. My max HP climbs to 60/60, and I feel slightly stronger.
The undead soldier stands nearby, still wounded but stable. I approach the exit. Another prompt asks if I want to return to the overmap. I say yes. The scene shifts.
I'm back at the settlement gate, holding the pack leader's fang. I enter and present it to the clerk. He nods approvingly and hands me a set of patched leather armor. I also notice the coins jingle nicely in my pouch.
He looks me over, eyes lingering on the undead soldier.
"Not bad," he says. "You handled yourself well. Keep it up, and maybe you'll survive longer than most. If you want more power, find dungeons with better loot. Artifacts can raise summon tiers if you ever get something beyond common. You'll need that to climb the ranks."
I ask, "Where do I find these artifacts?"
He shrugs. "Monsters in tougher dungeons, rare quest rewards, maybe even from other adventurers if you're willing to pay. Your class is special. Don't waste it."
His voice drops. "Rumor is that a Battle Summoner once commanded armies of legendary creatures. Maybe you'll find a way. Until then, get stronger and don't die."
His words stick in my mind. I look at my undead soldier, at my battered sword, and at the settlement's makeshift buildings.
To grow in strength, I'll need better summons. To get that, I must fight stronger foes.
I'm Level 2 now—just a small step, but a step all the same. I point my soldier toward the next quest board and start scanning the listings, looking for something that can push me further.