They turned their attention to the third gnoll and the gnoll leader, both moving normally. Dreu wasn't sure if it was his imagination but the two gnolls looked pissed, likely from the death of the other gnolls.

If only the slow lasted a bit longer.

Dreu and the demon worms surrounded the last two demon gnolls. The gnoll leader howled into the sky. While Dreu’s blade hand shook violently, the demon worms, with the exception of Zog, all retreated behind him. The young man used his free hand to steady his shaking hand as he took deep breaths to calm his breathing. A quick glance showed that Ragellon was still engaged in combat with her counterpart. Trusting her to take care of her opponent, Dreu was determined to handle the threats on his end.

< Demon Worm (Zog) is evolving. >

The two things sticking out of Zog’s back developed into wings similar to those of a butterfly. The patterns on the wings were very plain with a black outline and dark green interior. A few flaps of the wings saw Zog take flight, though the demon worm only hovered around Dreu’s eye level. The two gnolls backed up slightly when they saw Zog's evolution.

Good work, Zog! Even the demonic gnolls are wary of you now.

Dreu was very tempted to check the stats and information on Zog’s new form but he couldn’t afford to take his eyes off the two gnolls. The two creatures were wary but, with each passing second, they could be emboldened to attack. When he sensed movement by his feet, the young man peeked down to see the other demon worms stared up at Zog in awe. The sight brought a smile to Dreu’s face but the young man refocused on the threat at hand.

We can celebrate after this win. You eight focus on the gnoll on the left. I’ll handle the leader.

Without hesitation, the seven demon worms charged at their target. Before the gnoll could counterattack, Zog fired a few green fireballs at the gnoll which the creature tried to intercept with its polearm. Most of the fireballs were intercepted but the few that landed resulted in burn marks on the gnoll's body. The attacks got its attention which meant Dreu could focus on his opponent. Dreu didn’t have the luxury to watch the other fight because the gnoll leader was making a move too. He closed the gap with his opponent and intercepted the gnoll’s claws with his blade. The gnoll’s claws, while sharp, paled against the Red Mist Blade. Dreu focused heavily on defense, making sure his blade edge always came in contact with the claws. Following a few exchanges, the gnoll leader's claws were trimmed to nothing. Lacking its two weapons, the gnoll was forced to create fists with its hands.

Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.

So far so good. I still have to avoid a punch from the gnoll. A hit and I might be a goner.

Suddenly, the gnoll leader leaped at Dreu with a flurry of punches and the young man barely dodged them. The creature’s complete disregard for defense caught Dreu by surprise but he steadily calmed himself as he searched for openings. The young man took advantage of low risk openings to inflict damage while allowing him to defend against further attacks. Bit by bit, the combat shifted in his favor with the gnoll leader covered in countless wounds. The gnoll leader eventually collapsed after it bled from its many wounds. The armor kept the gnoll in the battle longer but, upon its defeat, the armor faded away as though it was unsummoned. Not risking anything, Dreu delivered the finishing blow.

That was a tricky opponent but Bayard’s teachings are paying off. If only he is still here so I can get even better.

Dreu turned to his left to see Zog and the demon worms had defeated their opponent. The demon gnoll had multiple nasty burn marks, indicating that Zog did most of the work while the rest supported. When he checked on Ragellon, she had also defeated her opponent. However, her kneeling on the ground made him feel concerned. Unlike the energetic demonic child earlier, Ragellon now appeared as a child pushed to her limits and not ready to step out into the world. The young man knew firsthand that mock battles could only prepare an individual so much for actual battle.

Good thing no one got hurt. If these are weak creatures, I would hate to see what the strong ones look like.

Dreu walked over to Aggich. Picking her up, he noticed the fox was sound asleep so he held her tightly.

Good work! You earned your rest!

With Aggich in his arms and Zog perched on his right shoulder, Dreu walked over to Ragellon who was surrounded by her concerned friends. He waited for them to vent their nervous energy before he spoke up.

“Good work!” said Dreu encouragingly.

“I underestimated you, human.”

“Happens a lot,” said Dreu after sensing a softer tone from Ragellon. “What now?”

“We will find a safe location to rest. Consecutive combat won’t do us much good here.”

“Take the lead then.” Dreu noticed the hesitation from the demonic child. “You are still more familiar with these parts than me. I’ll handle the fighting if you handle the leading.”

Acknowledging his comment, Ragellon stood up and was unsteady at first. With the encouragement of her friends, she got her footing back. Dreu felt comforted after seeing the new fire ignited in her eyes. The young man paused to check on the other demon worms. The seven of them appeared ecstatic after their victory with no signs of visible injury. Their contributions were small but it was the effort that counted. With Zog’s evolution, the other demon worms had something to look forward to. As Dreu was about to take a step, he paused to look down at Aggich.

Didn’t Tragthan say this cursed fox couldn’t use curses when Eglallin took her in? When did Aggich learn to use curses?

Curiosity got the better of Dreu so he opened his prompt window. Between Zog and the seven demon worms, Aggich’s name was there among the active roster.

What if…