I began to creep slowly through the forest towards the gnoll camp. I brandished my new magic sword but it did nothing for stealth. I stuck out like a sore thumb with a blue aura surrounding my weapon. A weapon they would undoubably recognize as belonging to the female. I had also taken a moment to equip the pristine leather armor set, which had increased my dexterity, defense, and movement speed by a lot.

I heard movement in the brush about 20 feet away. A gnoll popped out of the brush and locked eyes with me. He immediately fled, barking and howling like a maniac as he went.

Shit! A scout! I had fought the interceptor for too long and a gnoll scout had time to spawn!

The scout was quickly alerting the whole forest and I rushed after it. I began to close the gap, when two gnolls jumped in front of me and blocked my path. They held swords out in front of them and prepared to attack me but I was to fast. I activated power attack and slashed at the neck of the first gnoll.

Hit!

You have dealt 350 damage! (0/200 hp)

You have slain gnoll warrior! Gained 15 experience. (1515/2000)

Ding!

You have activated cleave!

The attack froze his neck as it sliced through, producing a loud cracking sound. The head plopped to the ground with a wet thud as my weapon kept its momentum and hit the second gnoll.

Hit!

You have dealt 329 damage! (0/200 hp)

You have slain gnoll warrior! Gained 15 experience! (1530/2000)

My blow smashed into his shoulder and cut deeply. He stopped moving and I kept pushing forward, but the exchange had cost me time. The gnoll scout was getting further away and would alert the entire camp. I had no choice but to press on.

I had barely gone ten feet before another pair of gnolls blocked my path. They had a look of crazed vengeance etched upon their faces.

I used rapid strikes and easily killed them, giving me 30 more experience. (1560/2000)

I didnt stop to loot them. I pushed past them and continued chasing the gnoll scout.

This pattern kept repeating itself every ten feet. A pair of gnolls would pop up to block me and I would quickly strike them down. Before reaching the edge of the forest I had killed 20 gnolls in this way. Gained 300 experience! (1860/2000)

The scout rounded the stack of boulders and quickly approached the camp. There was nothing I could do to stop him. Seconds later dozens of gnolls swarmed in my direction. Walking behind them was the gnoll chieftain with the gold etching and the war-hammer. He was the apparent victor and I had taken his prize, no doubt he wanted revenge.

I swung my sword at the first two that approached and sliced them apart.

Gained 30 experience! (1890/2000)

Frostweaver was such a powerful weapon that each blow brought about death to a gnoll. One after another the gnolls dropped dead to my blade as they approached me. I used power attack and rapid strikes every five seconds which often activated cleave for further destruction. I received constant notifications, one after another informing me of my experience gain.

After killing eight gnolls I heard a truly wonderful sound.

Ding!

Your character has leveled up!

You are now level 1! Hp increased!

You have gained one stat point!

This sound did not deter me and I continued until I had slain every gnoll that came at me.

Gained 450 experience! (2450/5000)

The gnoll warchief did not care for the lives of the gnolls of this camp, for they were not his people. He viewed them as cannon fodder.

The warchief charged me and swung his mighty warhammer in a downward slam. I dove to the right and dropped into a roll. I activated rapid strikes and slashed at his leg three times as I came out of the roll.

Hit!

You have dealt 310 damage! (700/1010 hp)

Hit!

You have dealt 302 damage! (398/1010 hp)

Hit!

You have dealt 298 damage!(100/1010 hp)

The attacks froze his leg and with a crack sliced it off. The gnoll looked dumbfounded as he began to lose his balance. I quickly stabbed him in his side to finish him.

Hit!

You have dealt 178 damage! (0/1010 hp)

You have slain gnoll chieftain! Gained 750 experience! (3200/5000)

I looked around and saw no more living gnolls. I moved into the camp and looked for the other warchief. It only took a minute to find him unconscious on the floor.

I saw no other gnolls, so I un-equipped the Frostweaver and switched to the wooden sword.

Let's see if this works.