The Hunt Begins

After a two-kilometre walk, the satyr stopped and turned to him.

"I spotted a fox den ahead. The vixen gave birth a few weeks ago, so its babies are still with her."

Adam frowned at the report.

The cubs wouldn't yield any meat or noticeable experience points. They could use the fur to make clothing or sell it as a luxury item. But the development stage hadn't reached that point yet. 

"Focus on the wider packs or ferocious beasts."

The satyr goat's horn glinted under the sun as he nodded before leading them deeper into the forest.

After a tense yet pleasant walk in spring's climate, they stopped in the middle of a clearing.

"We entered a wolf pack's territory. I counted thirty yesterday, but take it with a grain of salt."

He nodded before giving his commands.

"Everyone in position. Do not and, I insist, stray away. Fight as a single man, cover for the one next to you and protect each other."

Even if his demons wouldn't have trouble eviscerating the beasts, he wanted to use this hunt to increase their cohesiveness. After all, what kind of army lets its fighters run wild on the battlefield?

'They need coordination and to learn to trust the person standing by them.'

He nodded at his thought. 

A clear discipline standard had to be established from the beginning, or they would continue following their instincts.

Thinking about instincts, humans had some pretty terrible, too. Yet, they learned to control them over the years. What about demons? Somehow, he doubted those high-ranking ones like Baal suffered from this problem.

'I hope it's possible.'

HOWL

His eyes narrowed as his train of thought halted.

Instantly, he raised his hand commandingly, muscles tensed.

"We fight in a circle. Don't break the formation. And don't let them encircle us!"

His subjects nodded, but he noticed the confusion in their eyes. Not that it mattered. They'll slowly change as long as they listened.

Twigs cracked, and bushes shook around them as the noise of paws meeting the soil echoed.

Like them, the wolves worked together to encircle the intruders and limit their losses.

'You aren't prepared for a group of demons, though.'

He smirked, his nail glinting and tail whipping under his robe.

A second later, the first wolf leapt from its cover, aiming at the weakest-looking demon... at him. 

He saw the gloating in its intelligent eyes and stifled a laugh.

His right leg blurred, propelled in a wide arc above his head. 

BANG

Like a whip, it collided with the wolf's open jaws, shattering them and sending bloody teeth flying. Its body followed, thrust to the side with more strength than a bear's blow before it collided with the ground, unmoving.

Incensed by the counter-attack, the other wolves jumped from their hiding spots, teeth bared and growling.

He didn't know if they were angry after one of theirs died or just believed the saying: there is strength in numbers, but they made the worst decision.

"Now that they're out, don't let them flee. We need warm blankets!"

With a thunderous roar, the djinn bent its fiery knees, ready to pounce on his prey.

Yet, Garduck seized him by the shoulder.

"Stay in formation." 

He gazed at the scene with an appreciative nod.

'Garduck can lead a battalion if he continues like that.'

Simultaneously, his nails sparkled as he jumped above a leaping wolf. Then, his hand blurred as they dug into its back, shattering its spine in a second.

Without great difficulties, they emerged victorious in this battle.

The rest of the pack tried to flee once faced with annihilation. Yet the djinn only waited for that moment.

As if to vent his bottled-up violence, he charged at them with fierce abandon, swiping their ranks like a fiery bulldozer.

Meanwhile, Shihan used her shadows to end their lives cleanly.

A brief moment later, thirty carcasses littered the reddening ground as the morning wind blasted the scent of blood westward.

CLAP CLAP

"Well done, everyone. I want you to engrave this fight in your minds."

He lingered for a second, scanning their faces before continuing.

"Now imagine we were facing the hobgoblin instead of the wolves. Do you think it could have overwhelmed us?"

He noticed the pensive frowns creeping on their brows with a pleased smile.

"We would have beaten him without suffering a single wound."

Shihan answered first, her eyes sparkling with understanding.

After all, she specialised in assassination and ranged attack. The moment the hobgoblin reached her yesterday was when she lost the confrontation.

She wouldn't have suffered a wound with reliable allies to absorb pressure and keep it away.

The others gradually nodded, too, acknowledging the strategy.

"But we don't trust anyone but ourselves. We'll need time to adapt."

Garduck spoke for everyone, voice laced with hesitation and his eyes slipping to the sides.

"I know and won't press you. You all lead hard lives. I know about it. But remember that the only person who can change yourself is you and no one else."

He patted the tall demon's arm, showing his support.

"But isn't it tiring to live on edge from sunrise to dusk? To suspect everyone you ever meet? The territory I want to build won't be like that, and I need you to change to make that dream come true."

Despite their apprehension and horrible experiences, they offered hesitant nodes, agreeing with Adam's words.

If they didn't change under an uncommon demon, when would they?

"It's probably our only chance to live happy lives, guys. Even if it's hard, let's jump the barrier and experience the life on the other side."

Shihan's smile illuminated the forest as he saw genuine hope sparkling like stars in her eyes.

He smiled at the rowdy bunch warmly before giving his command.

"Let's bring the carcasses back. We'll return to hunt right after. Think about what I said at your own pace and give me an answer once you're ready."

With light steps, he guided them back to the territory, taking time to check the notifications on the way.

[You and your subjects have defeated 30 Lvl6 wolves. You have gained 180 experience points.]

[Congratulations on levelling up. Please check your interface and decide how to distribute your points.]