Alpha Instinct

They ventured deeper into the Wailing Wetlands. Crude structures began to appear amidst the swamp, the remnants of a civilization, but clearly not one built by refined hands or keen intellects. These were the outposts of Gnolls.

Shacks cobbled together from rotting wood, mud, and scavenged bones leaned at precarious angles. Some were little more than lean-tos, while others were more substantial, with crude attempts at thatched roofs.

Tattered banners, displaying crudely painted symbols of skulls and crossed bones, hung limply from poles. Weapon racks, fashioned from lashed-together branches, held rusty spears, axes, and clubs.

Cooking fires, long extinguished, left behind blackened circles of earth and the lingering stench of burnt meat—a smell distinctly different from the general decay of the swamp. Skulls, both animal and… 'otherwise,' were used as crude decorations, adorning doorways and strung together on lengths of sinew.

The overall impression was one of savagery and decay, a place where life was cheap and brutality reigned.

"Leo, aren't we getting a bit too deep?" Kaleb asked, his voice hushed, nervously adjusting his grip on his staff. "Running into a whole camp full of Gnolls would be... problematic."

Leonard's jaw tightened. "The only way to draw out Fleshripper is to cause a major disturbance. He won't come until you've made a real mess of things."

Kaleb paused, considering this. "Can you handle Fleshripper on your own, with just, you know, passive support from me?"

Leonard frowned. "What do you mean by 'passive support'?"

Kaleb grinned sheepishly. "Oh, you know, a little fire here, a little fire there... maybe a big fire if things get really interesting."

Leonard chuckled, shaking his head. "With the new Blade Dancer skills Saito taught me, I'm more confident than before. But 'confident' doesn't mean 'invincible'."

Suddenly, Kaleb stopped walking, crouching low to the ground. He closed his eyes, extending his magical senses. "Further in," he whispered, his voice strained with concentration, "there's a Gnoll meeting in the encampment. Twenty, give or take. Hard to be precise with just mana sensing."

"What else can you tell me about it?" Leonard asked, his voice low and urgent.

"It's hard to get a clear reading, just through the mana flow. They seem to be... focused on something. We need a visual."

"Alright," Leonard said, his eyes scanning the surroundings. "Let's circle around."

They moved with practiced stealth, Leonard's step skill of training evident in their silent steps. Leonard, despite his recent injuries, moved with a fluid grace, blending into the shadows cast by the gnarled trees. He used every bit of cover, every dip in the terrain, becoming one with the swamp.

Kaleb, while less physically agile, compensated with his magical awareness. He constantly scanned the area, his staff held ready, not for direct combat but for a quick burst of flame to create a distraction or a wall of mana to cover their retreat.

They moved around the Gnoll village, their footsteps muffled by the thick mud and decaying vegetation, their breathing shallow and controlled. The fog itself seemed to conspire with them, obscuring their forms and dampening the sounds of their passage. The air was thick with anticipation, a palpable sense of danger lurking just beyond their perception.

From a slightly elevated position, Leonard finally got a clear view of the Gnoll encampment. The sight was grim. They had clearly hunted something. The remains, mangled beyond recognition—human or animal, he couldn't tell—were being roasted on several large bonfires.

The Gnolls were gathered around the flames, engaged in a grotesque parody of a banquet. They danced, a jerky, uncoordinated movement, laughed with hyena-like shrieks, and shouted in their guttural tongue. It was a scene of primal savagery.

An idea sparked in Leonard's mind. A dangerous idea, but potentially effective.

"Kaleb," Leonard said, turning to his companion, his voice low and serious. "Listen, can you cast a powerful spell, one with a large area of effect? Like a... mega-explosion?"

Kaleb considered for a moment, stroking his chin. "Yeah, I can use Explosion," he replied. "It's... well, it's pretty much what it sounds like."

"I'll draw them in," Leonard explained, "and you'll use that ability on my signal. If you need to concentrate or do any..." Leonard waved his arms around in a vaguely mystical gesture, "...you know, mage stuff... do it before I go in."

Kaleb glared at Leonard, indignant. "You make that sound strangely ridiculous and comical," he said, offended by Leonard's clumsy imitation of spellcasting.

Leonard grinned, unrepentant. "Don't be sad, Kaleb. When I started, I was so awkward they called me 'Dummy Fairy.' Let's just say you're the 'Staff Fairy.'"

Kaleb's face turned red. "Fuck off," he muttered, visibly flustered. "I'm going to blow this whole place sky-high. And if you're in the blast radius, well, that's your problem."

Leonard's grin widened. "That's what I'm talking about! Let's go!"

Kaleb began his incantation, his voice low and steady, as Leonard moved out from their hiding place. With a running start, he leapt, soaring high into the air, and let out a piercing whistle, deliberately drawing the Gnolls' attention.

The Gnolls below, startled by the sudden appearance, looked up. Their guttural growls and howls intensified, but there was a shift in their tone. It wasn't the focused aggression of a hunt, but something closer to… anticipation.

"More food had arrived," was probably their thought, and the atmosphere, fueled by their grotesque feast, was one of savage celebration, not fear.

Still airborne, Leonard drew Smiling. He landed gracefully beside one of the Gnolls, his sword already a blur. The blade sliced through the creature from head to tail, splitting it cleanly in two. "Hey, guys!" Leonard shouted, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Are you just going to stand around partying? Come on, enjoy yourselves! Eat your friend, too! I already cut him up for barbecue."

This time, the Gnolls erupted. Leonard's taunt, his blatant disrespect, had pierced through their celebratory frenzy. It was as if he had activated a provoke skill; their arrogance had been challenged. They charged him en masse, a wave of fur, claws, and rusty weapons.

Leonard gave Kaleb the signal. "Now, Kaleb!"

But nothing happened.