"The Gnoll Siege"

He could understand a few words, but everything else was gibberish.

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Fabric: Boar Hide (Leirion)

Quality: Excellent

Construction: S

Craftsmanship: 15% enhancement.

Note for comparison: 

-Qualities: Common, Good, Excellent, Epic, Mythic.

-Construction: F, E, D, C, B, A, S, S+.

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"It's about 14%, isn't it?" Ashton's gruff voice interrupted his thoughts. The master armorer stood in the doorway, a knowing smile playing on his lips.

"Yes... 15% craftsmanship... but what does it...?" Leo trailed off, feeling lost.

"Craftsmanship is the armorer's ability to make the armor more useful to the wearer," Ashton explained patiently. "Quality refers to the condition of the materials used, and construction is the skill applied in making the piece."

"I get it, but... is it good? Sorry, I'm just a newbie," Leo admitted, feeling a bit embarrassed by his ignorance.

"In all of Gothia... no, in the entire duchy of Gothia," Ashton declared, "there isn't a single craftsman capable of achieving 15% on a boar hide armor, no matter how good the material."

"Wow..." Leo was stunned by Liam's skill. He looked at the young Blacksmith with newfound respect.

"Even I, with my 45 years of experience, could only get around 15% if I was feeling particularly inspired," Ashton said with a shrug. "So, keep this information to yourself, if you please."

"I understand, sir. I'll take it to my grave," Leo assured him, his voice filled with sincerity.

"We're only helping you because old Carl sent you," Ashton said, fixing Leonard with a stern gaze. "He's a good friend, a trustworthy man. Keep that in mind." There was a subtle warning in his voice, a reminder that their generosity came with expectations.

Looking back at the paper, Leonard realized he had discovered a hidden treasure, a place where true craftsmanship flourished.

"Mr. Leonard, excuse me," Liam said softly.

"Yes?" Leo looked up, meeting the blacksmith's hopeful gaze.

"This little knife... I'd like to give it to you as a gift," Liam said, holding out a small dagger.

"A gift? But why?" Leo knew the boy was trying to bribe him, hoping to tag along on an adventure.

"You're a newbie, and how I envy the Neumond Equalizers who have the guts to try," Liam said with a hopeful grin. "I'd like you to carry this little dagger with you, in my name."

"Stop trying to bribe me," Leo said, raising an eyebrow, but a small smile played on his lips.

"Dang it..." Liam laughed, realizing his attempt was a bit too obvious.

Leo smiled, finding himself warming to the young blacksmith's enthusiasm. Curiosity piqued, he took the dagger.

As he drew it from its simple leather sheath, his eyes widened in surprise. 

It was a masterpiece, far more than just a "little knife." It was a work of art worthy of a display case. Crafted from dark Frosteel and inlaid with black mithril. Its blade was sharp enough to cut through time itself. 

Any rogue would be enchanted by the subtle S-curve and the silver star-shaped pommel.

With a genuine smile, Leo said, "I think I'll accept your bribe." Even Ashton from the back of the shop let out a chuckle.

A loud bell tolled through the air, its urgent clang shattering the moment of camaraderie. 

Liam's eyes lit up as he prepared to celebrate his first mission, but the sharp sound reverberated throughout the shop, causing a chill to run down their spines.

Leonard and Liam exchanged a nervous glance, their faces reflecting the sudden tension.

"An attack!" Leonard first said the words, heavy with dread.

Leo handed the dagger back to Liam and turned to leave, his steps quickening with every clang of the bell. 

From the back of the shop, Ashton's voice boomed, calm but loud, "South gate! Go, kid!"

Liam pursued Leonard as he dashed out of the shop. Leo anticipated that the south gate, which borders the slums, would sustain the most damage. 

He had lived in those slums for years, witnessing countless attacks that had claimed the lives of his neighbors. 

Leo had to get there to help, to protect those who couldn't protect themselves.

They ran as fast as they could down the streets, dodging panicked people and runaway carriages. The clanging alarm bell grew louder as they neared the gate. 

The howls and laughter of hyenas cut through the terrified screams and shouts of guards attempting to organize a defense.

There were gnolls, monstrous bipedal hyenas with red eyes as bright as burning coals. 

There were many of them, somewhere between 100 and 130 gnolls. It was the infamous battle stampede—the instinct born in Humbra centuries ago—to hunt and exterminate the humans who gathered. 

They were a tide of fur, teeth, and claws, a terrifying wave of destruction crashing against the city's defenses.

Leo saw a gnoll leap four yards and rip a woman's arm off. 

When one of the gate's guards attempted to assist her, he was immediately killed. 

The woman's screams were cut short, replaced by a sickening gurgle as the gnoll tore into her flesh.

Leo's blood raced at the sight of such carnage. His old traumas came back to haunt him, and he rushed into battle without hesitation. 

He felt a surge of adrenaline burning like fuel—to fight, to protect, to avenge.

He glanced back at Liam, who stood frozen in fear. "Don't just stand there!" Leo shouted. "Help the people!" He knew it was a dangerous request, but he couldn't do it alone.

Liam was stunned by the savagery and carnage. 

It was his first time seeing a battlefield between humans and Leirions up close. He couldn't imagine anything more terrifying.

The long period of relative peace had softened the guards, leaving them ill-prepared for Humbra's brutal tax collection. Each gnoll was a debt collector, demanding payment in blood, and now Gothia was paying dearly.

Leonard couldn't hold back any longer. His hands tightened around the hilts of his swords. His eyes burned with a thirst for vengeance. 

The battlefield was a chaotic mess, and the morale of the remaining guards was crumbling. Those who were arriving were already shaken.

He spotted the first gnoll and charged, his twin swords flashing.

The gnoll saw him coming and managed to parry the attack just in time. The clash of steel echoed across the battlefield. By the speed and force of the blow, the gnoll stumbled back, surprised.

Leo landed on the ground, spinning to reduce his momentum. 

The gnoll roared furiously. Its fetid breath washing over Leo, making him gag. The stench of rotten flesh emanating from its mouth towards Leo was disgusting. 

This time, the creature took the lead, its claws tearing through the air with impressive speed. 

Leonard dodged, sliding on his knees, narrowly avoiding the gnoll's claws. He could feel the wind from the gnoll's claws as they whooshed past his face. A hair's breadth from tearing into his flesh.

One of the guards on the battlefield saw Leonard fighting a gnoll alone and shouted, "NEUMOND!" The army's morale surged. That was the impact Neumond had on society.

Leo felt their support and got back into his fighting stance, his swords held ready at his sides. His focus sharpened; his desire for vengeance and survival burned within his soul.

He charged again, thrusting his swords towards the gnoll's vital organs, but the creature easily deflected the attack. 

The gnoll counterattacked with its sword, and Leo blocked the blow with both his swords crossed. He pushed the gnoll's sword upward, spun to the side, and aimed a swift cut at its neck.

The gnoll snarled and ducked, dodging Leo's attack. Then it slashed at Leo's torso with its claws. 

Blood sprayed. 

Leo cried out in pain and stumbled back, "Ahhh! Fucking dammit!" Pain exploded in his chest. Instinctively, he twisted away, minimizing the depth of the wound.

"That was close… shit…" Leo thought.

The creature pressed its advantage, rushing towards him, trying to grab him. Leo dodged, rolling to the side. 

The monster was in a blood frenzy, its eyes fixated on his flesh.

Realizing how close he was to death, Leo focused his mind with a primal survival instinct.

His ELEV flickered, and in an instant, his cognition calculated every potential outcome of his next move. 

The gnoll charged, spun, and swung its sword horizontally. Leo met the attack head-on, sliding on his knees. His swords held parallel. He plunged both blades deep into the gnoll's gut.

A roar of pain echoed across the battlefield as the gnoll writhed in agony. Leonard pulled his swords free, and blood gushed from the creature's wounds. 

The gnoll fell to its knees, its eyes losing their frenzied glow.

With a clean strike, Leo decapitated the gnoll. Its head remained attached until its body hit the ground, then rolled away like a bloody furball.

A momentary silence fell over the battlefield. Leonard, panting and wounded, looked at the scene with a mix of relief and disgust. 

He had won his first battle against a gnoll, but at a high cost. His wound was serious. If it weren't for his new armor, the claws would have ripped through his chest, and he would be dead.

Leo looked across the battlefield. This was just the beginning. Humbra was unforgiving.