Akira and his guards quickly formed into a small square formation as they exited the trees and moved forward to quickly help Fluffball and then bring him back to the defense.

“Faster! Build the walls faster!” shouted Pegleg slapping one of his officers on the head. The head was knocked off and smacked into a tree causing the skeleton to stumble around dazed for a second before he could walk over and pick it up and place it back in its proper position.

The skeletons working on the makeshift wall were frantically shoveling the snow into a pile some moving too fast that their arms dislocated from the jerking motions.

A few of the skeleton pirates ran back and forth from the river carrying buckets to pour over the snow wall that was being packed down to create an ice-covered snow wall supported by the several trees.

Fluffball let out a roar and launched a frost attack at the small boulder Puffball covering its outer layer in white frost.

Akira arrived next to Fluffball seconds later and used a [Shield Bash] to knock away the infected Puffball bolder who was jumping through the air ready to bite Fluffball.

Akira transformed his right arm and grabbed onto the fur at the back of Fluffball's neck to stop him from chasing after the Puffball.

“Fluffball, calm down,” shouted Akira as he dragged the reluctant large ice wolf back towards the trees and the ice fort being built by the skeletons.

ROAR! RAWR!

As Akira and his guards squeezed back through the small entrance to the small fortification two echoing howls rang out from the dark mist.

Akira still had a firm hold onto the struggling Fluffball, while he looked into the dark black fog.

The sound of explosions and voices could now be heard. It was the sound of a battle! And the battle was growing closer by the second.

“Why are these things chasing us!” shouted a voice from inside the fog.

“How should I know? This place gives me the creeps and is making my skin dry and itchy.”

“Don't stop or you're going to be left behind!”

“I have to shoot skills to keep them away!”

“You're just angering them more! Hurry!”

Ten Demigods ran out of the dark fog, a few looking behind them as they ran towards the trees in front of them.

Fwoosh!

A small hill-sized white-furred Puffball soared through the air out of the fog and landed with a fwump!

“GAH!” two of the demigods were immediately turned into light fragments when they were smushed under the landing Puffball.

A rumbling sound was heard as a second Puffball rolled out of the dark fog at a quick speed and curved right towards the lagers at the rear of the group.

Two more demigods were rammed into at high speed and sent flying into a snowbank taking a large amount of damage. They were too slow at standing up and were run over by the small hill-sized Puffball.

The rolling Puffball curved right, heading back into the dark fog, and reappeared from the left ready to roll over the rear Demigods again.

One demigod in a colorful mismatched set of heavy plate armor stopped running and spread his feet out and held a large square shield in front of him.

“BASTION!” a bright yellow light covered the entire body and shield of the demigod lighting up the gray overcast area.

“You guys! Escape and report our findings to Commander Fela,” shouted the knight demigod.

The other demigods did not spare a word of thanks or look behind them, they just continued running towards the trees.

Ding!

You have gained knowledge of the skill Bastion 50% knowledge.

Properly practice the skill as seen to upgrade your skill Harden.

BAM!

The spinning puffball hill of fur slammed into the demigod and was halted. The bright yellow light was dimmed greatly from the attack. The demigod still stood firm as the rotating Puffball tried to run over him causing the yellow light to grow even dimmer.

Fwump! The second Puffball jumped into the air and landed right on top of the demigod knight.

Rawr! It let out many howls of pain and started to roll back and forth due to its pain it had received.

The Knight demigod who had been flattened by the first attack soon disappeared into several light fragments as he was repeatedly run over by the large Puffball hill.

The spinning Puffball started rolling towards the rest of the fleeing Demigod's.

“We're going to have to fight those things out there. These trees won't hold them back and will be even more of a danger to us than a help!” shouted Pegleg.

“Are you kidding me!” shouted Akira in exasperation.

“No, I am dead serious.”

With a howl, Akira ordered his men out of the trees and to form a square.

Captain Pegleg followed after the transforming werewolves and ordered his skeleton pirate soldiers to form up on either side of the werewolves.

Klyn continued to hurriedly chant his complex holy shaman chants giving Akira and everyone alive a buff. He ignored the loud curses and clacking jaws of the unhappy skeleton pirates that were near him.

At the sides of the skeletons, the Garg mounts stood ready to pounce at anything that came near.

The Demigods faltered a few steps when they saw the small gathering of werewolves, skeletons, and large wolves pop out of the woods.

“Just run past them and let them take care of the crazy monsters,” shouted a demigod that Akira had seen before several times due to having killed him multiple times.

It was Yu-Huu.

“Javelins,” growled Akira while pointing towards the demigods that were coming closer and attempting to pass them and in doing so pass off the chasing puffball to Akira and his allies.

“Launch!”

Two of the leading demigods immediately disappeared into fragments of lights as multiple javelins pierced their bodies.

The remaining three Demigods stopped and tried to run to the other side but the large rolling Puffball arrived at that moment crushing another demigod and leaving only two left. The last two demigods turned and targeted the large puffball with two quick bright skills that flew out from their weapons and slammed into the mangy fur of the large puffball.

Akira could now see that just like the smaller bolder Puffball, these larger puffballs also had large black stony patches on their skin.

The smaller Puffball rolled out from behind the large puffball and growled towards the line of werewolves. Fluffball took the challenge and charged forward to fight it.

“Damn it Fluffball! You're going to have triple training and be on a no snack diet when we get back!” shouted Akira.

His leg muscles tensed and then he shot forward as he activated his skill [Shield Slam]. He was plowing through the snow headed right towards the large Puffball to pull its attention away from Fluffball.

Bam! He slammed into the Puffball causing it to roll back one time before turning to look at what had hit it.

[Puffball Lvl 110] Akira cursed after checking its level.

Zundar jumped from the center of the werewolf square and landed right next to the remaining two Demigods. With a swing of his hammer, the leather armored demigod lost his head leaving only Yu-huu as the last one alive.

He dodged Zundar's next attack and rolled away slamming right into the back of Akira's legs knocking Akira onto his butt with Yu-huu trapped under his legs.

“You stupid demigod!” shouted Akira angrily as he kicked the Demigod away from him towards the oncoming puffball.

Akira rolled to the side and hopped back onto his feet. As he did this the puffball ran over the last demigod and passed right next to Akira.

Javelins and a Debuff chant were sent towards the large puffball as it turned around and headed right back towards Akira.

Akira decided to try the skill he had seen and took the stance he saw before, putting his shield out to accept the rolling Puffball.

Bam! Although he was able to halt the forward momentum... Akira was sent tumbling backward causing him to feel sore all over his body.

Ding!

+5 toughness. Failed to understand. Skill upgrade 75%.

The werewolves and skeletons charged forward and started to stab at the Puffball taking its attention away from Akira.

Zundar jumped high into the air and slammed his large hammer onto the top of the Puffball with a dulled THUD!

“ROAR!” With the dazed and pained roar came an answer from the other puffball that had been rolling around still in pain.

Fwump! It jumped and landed on a group of skeleton fighters who were attacking the other Puffball. But because the skeletons were already dead it only flattened them and pressed them into the snowy ground.

They used their old and crappy weapons to attack the Puffball's wounds underneath it that were created by the demigod knight. Causing it to cry out in pain and jump away with black blood splattering the snow.

Akira used [Shadow chains] on the jumping Puffball to stop it from attacking at least for the moment.

The spinning Puffball rolled away from the werewolf guards and Zundar and targeted Akira who was once again getting ready for the charging puffball.

Bam!

Ding!

+5 toughness. Failed to understand. Skill upgrade 100%....failed.

What did you expect with such a poor excuse like that?

Ding!

New title received!

Classroom Dunce: You aren't the brightest tool in the shed. But maybe if you bash your head against the problem a few more times you might figure it out.

Ding!

From utter failure, a new skill has been created!

Reflection(Unique): Like the reflection of the moon on a winter night lake, use your shield to block the damage from one attack and reflect 10% of the attack back towards the enemy.

Level up the skill for a higher percentage.

Akira had little time to read the new skill and messages in detail before the large puffball started rolling towards him again.

He positioned himself and activated the skill [Reflection] just before the puffball arrived.

Bam! Akira was not sent flying and only moved a few steps backward.

From his shield, a blue light shot out. It was the size of a small puffball boulder and slammed into the body of the large puffball piercing its fur and tough skin causing black blood to splash onto the ground.

The Large puffball rocked back and forth as it tried to decide which target to attack. Before it could decide it received another attack on the top of its head by Zundar's large hammer.

RAWR! ROAR!

With their last howls, the large puffballs escaped back into the dark fog the small bolder puffball who had several new wounds also followed them escaping from the fight.

“YAP!” Fluffball now back in his mini form sent a defiant yap at his retreating rival.

He turned and trotted back to Akira who was now surrounded by his guards. Akira's body was aching terribly from getting knocked around several times by such strong attacks.

Klyn chanted a few of the minor healing chants to help soothe his aches allowing him to at least move without much suffering.

Captain Pegleg pulled himself up out of one of the snowbanks where he had been buried by the large jumping puffball and looked around.

His two skeleton officers were also pulling themselves out of the snow near him.

“Is it over?” asked Zundar.

Akira shrugged and watched as Fluffball came over to him with his tail wagging, happy with the results of his fight.

Fluffball upon seeing Akira staring at him without saying anything cocked his head to the side and looked at Akira with his best cute and innocent eyes impression.

“That might work on the girls, but not me. Come here,” said Akira pointing in front of him.

Fluffball came over with his tail no longer wagging as he sat down in front of Akira.

Akira reached down and rubbed his head.

“You and I are going to be doing some extra training when we get back,” said Akira.

Fluffball licked Akira's armored hand as if saying sorry.

“That fight nearly gave me a heart attack,” said Captain Pegleg as he walked up to Akira.

“I already had one now look at me!” said one of his officers pointing to his bony body.

“Captain Pegleg what happened to your arm?” asked Akira.

“Oh! I must have lost it. Where did it go?” asked Pegleg as he scratched his skull with his remaining bony hand.

“Fluffball, help him find his arm,” said Akira.

“Yap!” Fluffball fully recovered after hearing the order.

He ran through the snow right towards the trampled snowbank and started to dig searching for the buried arm.