The scene that took place before Aaron could have been out of a hero’s tale. To his right, flames began to climb the lone tree in the clearing, seemingly reaching for the sky. As Aaron continued to take everything in, he also saw what looked like two handfuls of monkeys. Only those didn’t look like the ones he normally found on his adventures. No, the ones before him looked taller, bigger, and a whole lot meaner.


    They surrounded something, though what that was wasn’t discernible from his current position.


    Still, this didn’t really concern him. He would need to wake up early tomorrow to cover as much distance as possible. A few monkeys wouldn’t get in the way of that.


    Aaron had just turned around when he heard them cry out in what appeared to be anger. Two more steps, and he heard another scream. Though that one didn’t sound like it came from a monkey but from a pissed-off woman. Aaron stopped.


    “If you want a piece, come and get it!” Isabella shouted.


    As Aaron looked back, he was finally able to make out a spot of red in between the beasts that were now starting to advance as a whole.


    “Fuck,” Aaron whispered as he began to run.


    Twigs and grass were trampled as he threw caution to the wind.


    One of the monkeys closest to him turned around and screamed. Two more began to turn around; he needed to hurry.


    He was still far away as the dwarf unhooked his warhammer.


    He needed to time this perfectly. Just as with the mother wolf, Aaron used Rock Shield. Though this time it wasn’t to jump up but to jump forward.


    As he put down his right foot, Aaron leaned forward. A stone cube shot up from under his foot, propelling him forward.


    The monkey he had aimed for was in the process of turning around as the cold iron of the warhammer met its head. The head lost.


    The triumph Aaron felt quickly turned into horror as he noticed that he was now too quick.


    The dwarf braced himself as he crashed into the crumbling monkey. His chest was hit by an arm, driving out the remaining air.


    Aaron was launched further into the circle, only coming to a stop as he hit a pair of legs.


    “Aaron, what the fuck are you doing?!” Isabella had forgone her bow to equip two daggers.


    “Ugh, give me a moment, please,” Aaron said as he got up.


    With the enemies right in front of him, he was finally able to observe them closer. They had pitch-black fur that was interrupted by multiple grey streaks that rounded the torso. If they stood like a human, Aaron was sure that they would have been only a bit shorter than him. But that wasn’t the only thing that stood out to the dwarf. Their nails were long, almost as long as the fingers they were attached to.


    “I thought that you were in a bit of trouble and could use my help?” The monkeys that had stopped their attack during his flashy entrance slowly began to move closer again.


    “Fine, you take this side; I take that one.”


    “Alright. Let’s do this.” Aaron turned his full attention to the enemies in front of him. They were wary now.


    Aaron swung his hammer around, keeping them at bay.


    It didn’t take long for one monkey''s patience to run out. Just as Aaron''s weapon passed it, it jumped with its nails raised high.


    This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.


    Still, Aaron was prepared. He Rock Shield raised a wall right in front of the beast. A loud thud could be heard throughout the clearing as the monkey jumped right into it.


    The short moment where the others processed what had just happened was all Aaron needed. He moved towards the monkey in the front, building momentum with his warhammer at the same time.


    As he swung it, the monkey finally seemed to notice the danger and began to move back. It wasn’t quick enough to avoid injury altogether. The weapon clipped the shoulder and hurled the monkey back.


    He wasn’t done yet. Another wall appeared to his left, blocking another attack. With the won time, Aaron turned around just in time to hit the monkey that had launched the first attack right in the face.


    Blood splattered everywhere. Aaron had even seen an eyeball fly away into the tall grass. Using a weapon like this never looked nice, but Aaron still loved it for its effectiveness. It was also why he had chosen such a weapon in the first place.


    With one dead and one thrown away, there were two monkeys remaining in his immediate vicinity.


    Just as he turned to the one he had blocked with Rock Shield, pain shot through his leg, causing Aaron almost to fall. The other monkey had thrown a sharp rock with shocking accuracy, striking his left knee pit.


    That short inattention was all that was needed for the other monkey to jump him. Both Aaron and the beast dropped to the ground. The monkey continuously tried to scratch Aaron open while he tried his best to block its attempts with his hammer.


    Aaron tried to summon another shield, but the situation kept him from focusing on the spell. As the injuries started to mount up, Aaron began to grow desperate.


    “SHIT!” Aaron shouted as he tried to think of anything.


    Maybe he could call out to Isabella? Yes, that would be a good idea.


    But just as Aaron was about to shout, he remembered something.


    The dwarf wedged the hammer between the beast and him to the best of his abilities and let go with his right hand. After that, he quickly reached down to his belt, searching for it.


    Just as the monkey began anew with its scratches, Aaron finally pulled free the dagger he had added at the beginning of his journey.


    With his enemy being so close, there was no way that he would miss. Aaron brought the knife upwards and stabbed the monkey in the neck. Two more stabs followed quickly after that.


    Finally, the scratching ceased. For a moment, he just lay there. That was until he remembered that there was still one or two monkeys from his side alive.


    As he jumped up and searched for the enemy, he cursed as he saw the monkey running towards him. There wasn’t enough time to create a Rock Shield; Aaron braced for the impact.


    It never came. It was only five paces away from him when it stumbled, crashing down onto the grass in a quick motion. As Aaron looked up again, he saw Isabella with her bow in her hand, looking towards him.


    “Is everyone dead?” Isabella asked as she looked around.


    “No, not yet. I think there is one left over here—” It wasn’t there. Where was it?


    “Hm, it probably fled. Then what about you? That monkey got you quite a bit.”


    “It hurts, but it’s fine. My flesh is very durable.” It was nice to hear concern coming from Isabella.


    As Aaron looked at the aftermath of the fight, he couldn’t help but ask, “So, what happened? Why were you fighting them?”


    Isabella''s face was a touch red as she answered. “They ambushed me. I was a bit tired and got careless. It won’t happen again.”


    “Tired? Why?” Aaron had been very energetic since he woke up in the cave.


    “I have been fighting every day ever since I left the cave. Like I said, it will not happen again.” Her face hardened at the declaration.


    “Really? I haven’t fought a single time in that period. Though now that I think of it, I did find quite a few corpses along the way. I guess that was you then.”


    “This seems logical. Anyway, I have to go now. It is already dark, and I need to find a place to sleep.” Isabella had already turned around to leave when Aaron called out to her.


    “Wait! I can help you. I will just make us a hole underground again. Just let me absorb the remaining magic here. I need to replenish quite a bit.”


    Isabella turned back towards Aaron. She thought about it for a bit before she finally responded, “I would appreciate it. Though regarding the magic, these monkeys didn’t have much to begin with; otherwise, I would have sensed them even in my state.”


    Aaron already knew that. He had checked to see if he needed to be careful of spells before he had even joined the fight.


    Still, magic was magic, and Aaron spent a few minutes binding the remaining magic to himself.


    “It’s not much, but it helps. So, where do you want to make camp?”


    “Come with me.” Isabella was already walking as she said that. Behind them, the light shed by the alight tree became ever smaller as the tree slowly burned out.


    After almost ten minutes, Isabella finally said that that was the place. The tree here was tall, almost a third taller than one normally found here.


    Aaron quickly got to work and used Shaping Rock to form two spheres, functioning as their sleeping quarters, under it. They quickly began to settle in.


    “Until morning, Aaron. And thanks,” was the only thing the elf said before Aaron closed her sphere.


    “Good night, Isabella.”