Alpha Instinct

Leonard shot to his feet, adrenaline surging. "That's not normal..." he thought, his hand instinctively going to the hilts of his swords. He glanced down at Kaleb's unconscious form. "Damn it, worst possible timing to pass out."

Then it came again. The sound. Not a roar, not a growl, but something in between.

It was deep, guttural, undeniably masculine, but with a rasping, grating quality that sent shivers down Leonard's spine. It was a sound filled with power, but also with a chilling control. It wasn't the mindless rage of the Ursulos Rex; this was something far more unsettling.

It echoed through the swamp, seeming to vibrate the very air.

Leonard's curiosity warred with his caution. "What if it's Fleshripper? What if it's something else entirely?" He couldn't leave Kaleb alone, unconscious in the middle of a destroyed Gnoll encampment. But he needed to know what was out there.

His gaze fell on the large, withered tree at the top of the hill—the same tree they had used for cover moments before.

It was the highest point around, offering a potential vantage point.

The tree itself was a challenge. Thick moss covered its trunk, making it slick and treacherous. The wood, weakened by the swamp's dampness, looked brittle and unreliable.

Leonard stared at the tree, his mind thinking. "How the hell am I going to climb that without breaking my neck?"

He considered his options. After a few seconds of deliberation, he decided on a plan. He'd use a rope, anchoring himself as he climbed.

He quickly found a sturdy length of rope in his pack, tied it securely to a low-hanging branch, and began his ascent.

The moss made the climb difficult, his hands slipping on the slick surface. He had to move slowly, testing each handhold and foothold before committing his weight. The brittle wood creaked ominously under his grip.

Finally, he reached the top, pulling himself onto a precarious perch among the higher branches. He had a commanding view of the surrounding swamp.

And that's when he saw it.

Further in, beyond the destroyed encampment, he could make out several other Gnoll camps, similar in their crude construction. But moving between these camps was something... stupid big.

Leonard's foot slipped on the mossy branch, a jolt of fear shooting through him as he nearly lost his grip. He grabbed the trunk, his heart pounding. "Holy shit... what is that?"

It was a gnoll. But unlike any other he had ever seen. It was tall, towering over the threes, easily as high as a small watchtower.

But it wasn't just its size.

This gnoll was straightened. Not emaciated, but athletic, with a defined musculature that rippled beneath its surprisingly smooth, dark fur. It moved with an almost human grace, a fluid, powerful stride that was completely unlike the lumbering gait of the Fleshripper or the jerky movements of the common gnolls.

Its armor, while still crude, was fitted, not just scavenged. It wore a breastplate of dark, polished metal, and its weapon—a long, curved blade—gleamed with a sinister sharpness.

The gnoll's face was also different. The snout was shorter, the eyes more intelligent, the expression almost contemplative.

Leo thought, "It was a gnoll, yes, but a kind that had somehow transcended its bestial nature."

Observing the gigantic Gnoll patrolling the area with a certain focus, Leonard realized that the explosion had attracted unnecessary attention. "Just thinking that this guy could attack me..." A shiver ran down his spine. It was an alarm bell, warning him that this monster meant death. Leonard had no desire to even approach such a threat.

Besides that immense aberration, Leonard couldn't see anything else unusual. He jumped down from the tree, landing gracefully with a practiced roll.

"What do I do now?" he thought, his mind blank, devoid of any viable ideas. Any further commotion could attract not only Fleshripper but also that immense troglodyte of a Gnoll.

After a few minutes, Kaleb groaned, showing signs of waking up. Leonard went to his friend and helped him to his feet.

"What happened?" Kaleb asked, confused, his head still spinning. Luckily, his situation was not serious.

Leonard took a deep breath, trying to remain patient. "You had mana depletion," he said, pausing briefly to look around, before continuing, "Next time, you need to warn me about these things."

Kaleb retorted, "You asked me if I had a spell with a relatively strong area of effect. You didn't ask about the consequences."

Leonard wanted to smack Kaleb on the head, but restrained himself. "There's a Gnoll over twenty meters tall about six hundred meters from here. I've never seen anything like it."

While talking, Leonard offered him a canteen of water. Inside he diluted another vial of mana regeneration

Kaleb took the canteen. As he thought for a moment, still dazed, rubbing his temples, murmuring, "Gnoll... twenty meters... Wailing Wetlands..." Suddenly, Kaleb's eyes widened in shock, staring at Leonard.

"What is it, Kaleb?" Leonard asked, his eyebrows furrowed, showing complete confusion as he tried to understand the situation.

"Skullcrusher... Fleshripper's father..." Kaleb replied, the color draining from his face, leaving him pale. A cold sweat broke out on his forehead.

"Another Elite for me to kill?" Leonard said, but something felt wrong. "Why do I feel like I want to run from him?"

Kaleb grabbed Leonard's arm, his grip surprisingly strong. "Don't provoke him," he pleaded, his voice desperate. "Stay as far away as possible. I'm begging you."

Leonard, bewildered, pulled Kaleb's hand away from his arm. "If I have to, I'll kill him," he stated, trying to sound confident.

"You don't understand... Wake up, kid!" Kaleb's voice, usually laced with humor, was now filled with a raw terror that caught Leonard's attention. It was a stark, vivid contrast to Kaleb's usual personality.

"What do I need to know that I haven't grasped?" Leonard asked, his own unease growing.

"He's a... a Legendary-class," Kaleb replied, his voice trembling like a live storm. "Not an Elite... He's a living calamity…"