Chapter 260 - 114: "Arrogant and Domineering" Lynch Blackwood

Chapter 260: Chapter 114: "Arrogant and Domineering" Lynch Blackwood

Though tense, they showed no signs of panic, maintaining a surprising degree of order.

"Musketmen! Front rank, prepare—" the squad leader roared at the top of his lungs.

Just then, the seven or eight Gnolls leading the charge leaped the final distance, lunging at the nearest humans with savage grins.

It was as if they could already smell blood and hear the terrified screams of humans.

However.

But what answered them was a sudden flash of fire from a disciplined line, followed by a deafening, simultaneous roar!

"BANG BANG BANG BANG~!!!"

Blinding flashes of fire tore through the darkness as thick smoke from the gunpowder instantly billowed out.

The Gnolls at the front of the charge slammed into what felt like an invisible iron wall. Blooms of blood burst from their bodies as they were sent flying backward with wretched howls, crashing heavily to the ground and convulsing.

Iron pellets and lead balls tore through their tough hides and muscles, inflicting grievous injuries.

The Gnolls’ charge was brought to a sudden halt.

They were dumbfounded by this unprecedented form of attack.

The thunderous noise, the blinding flashes, and their instantly fallen comrades brought shock and fear into their savage eyes for the first time.

Meanwhile, the humans, despite some fumbling movements, did not stop.

"Front rank, fall back to reload! Rear rank, step forward—fire!"

Another, less coordinated, volley of gunfire rang out.

More Gnolls spouted blood and fell, howling in agony.

They were fast, it was true, but flesh and blood could not withstand the impact of metal shot.

What truly struck terror into the Gnolls’ hearts were the few "Authentic Dwarf Muskets" mounted on two minecarts. Now, under the operation of the two strongest militiamen, they were aimed at the most densely packed group of Gnolls and fired with a tremendous roar!

"BOOM! BOOM!"

With a thunderous crack, a wide spray of iron pellets shot out in a fan-like pattern, instantly shredding three tightly packed Gnolls into a bloody pulp and killing them on the spot.

In the blink of an eye, over a dozen of the charging Gnolls had fallen. The rest, stunned and disoriented by the savage and unfamiliar firepower, felt their morale shatter instantly.

The Gnoll chieftain let out a terrified howl. The surviving Gnolls immediately turned tail and fled, trying to escape back into the Mist Forest.

However, it was already too late.

Just as the gunfire erupted, Ghost Yi, Ghost Two, and Ghost San drifted out from the woods on both flanks, emanating a chilling aura.

As Third and Tier Four specters, they were faster than the Gnolls. With a SWOOSH, they plunged directly into the Gnoll ranks.

Bloodcurdling shrieks filled the air as an area-of-effect spiritual assault enveloped the fastest-fleeing Gnolls.

The fleeing Gnolls froze mid-stride. Many clutched their heads and collapsed in agony.

Even the Gnolls further back, untouched by the spiritual shockwave, visibly faltered.

Just then, from the shadows behind the transport convoy, a tide of Skeleton Warriors surged from the forest, completely cutting off the Gnolls’ retreat.

It was clear now: the Ghost Squad, Bone Jade, and the other Soul Fire Skeletons had been lying in ambush nearby all along, waiting for the Gnolls to show themselves.

The Skeleton army then swarmed them. The terrified Gnolls, their courage broken, failed to put up any meaningful resistance and were swiftly annihilated.

Once the dust had settled, the tarp on an ore cart was thrown aside, and Lynch leaped down.

This counter-ambush was, of course, a "fishing" expedition he had meticulously planned.

The defense and operation of Lakefront Town couldn’t rely solely on him running around putting out fires.

New equipment meant new tactics. He had to see for himself whether the regular militia, equipped with "Militia Muskets," could independently handle a Gnoll raid of this size.

He was very pleased with the results.

The muskets’ performance in their first real battle had exceeded his expectations.

Though slow to reload and mediocre in accuracy, their devastating close-range, area-of-effect damage, combined with the deafening blast upon firing, was exceptionally effective against Gnolls accustomed to melee ambushes.

Once these weapons were widespread, the combat effectiveness of the Lakefront Town militia would undergo a fundamental transformation.

Besides, the entire Gnoll tribe numbered only about three hundred. In a single day, they had lost nearly a tenth of their forces.

Lakefront Town was currently developing at a good pace. Including the surrounding areas, its total population was nearing seven thousand. With so many able-bodied adults, they could field a thousand trained, musket-equipped militiamen at a moment’s notice.

****

After this initial victory, Lynch turned his attention elsewhere.

In the days that followed, the furnaces in the Dwarf Workshop burned day and night, and the clamor of hammering grew ever more intense.

Thanks to the efforts of the dwarven artisans, improved "Militia Muskets" were being forged in a steady stream.

The personnel organized by Aus also worked with great efficiency. Batches of newly selected militiamen underwent training, and upon completion, each received their own musket and a standard allotment of ammunition.

The armed forces of Lakefront Town were transforming at a breathtaking pace.

The Gnolls, for their part, clearly sensed that something was amiss.

They organized several more raids on villages and small mining outposts, but they were no longer met by panicked, fleeing humans. Instead, they faced musket squads firing thunderous volleys from behind crude fortifications, all under the command of their captains.

Though the humans inevitably suffered casualties with each raid, the Gnolls always left behind more of their own dead.

After taking a few beatings, the Gnolls became much more cautious. Large-scale raids all but ceased, leaving only a few scattered stragglers to occasionally harass the populace—clearly not an organized effort.

Their main force seemed to have retreated back into the Mist Forest to lick their wounds.

Lynch wasn’t impatient. Instead, he waited with considerable patience, planning to use this time to build up his strength and enhance his forces. When the time was right, he would uproot the Gnoll tribe in one fell swoop, clearing the path to the Angelo Mountains for good.