Chapter 29: Heart-Pounding
The first step of the joint training naturally began with Gauss.
The others’ gazes all focused on him one after another.
"The magic I’m demonstrating now is Mage’s Hand."
"Mage’s Hand!"
Gauss’s thoughts flowed, and the activation of Mage’s Hand was already quite skillful.
Accompanied by magic power twisting and forming before him, an invisible magical hand appeared.
Except for Priest Daphne, the others couldn’t specifically perceive the energy flow changes in front of Gauss.
But they could vaguely feel that after Gauss shouted the name of the spell, there was indeed an indescribable strange feeling.
Perhaps it was what people call the sixth sense.
Since the others couldn’t see the existence of Mage’s Hand, Gauss could only control it to raise a rapier, waving it a few times in the air to demonstrate its effects to them.
"The power seems very weak." Doyle, the swordsman, casually commented without much thought.
His evaluation was made entirely by comparing it to his usual sword swinging strength.
Naturally, he felt this slash was soft and powerless.
The expressions of the others varied.
Only Levin’s eyes lit up upon seeing Mage’s Hand.
"No, no, it’s a very powerful spell." He couldn’t help but admire.
Hearing an evaluation completely opposite to his own, Doyle looked at Levin in surprise.
"It can help us detect traps, as well as remotely trigger traps and mechanisms set by Medvedeva. By the way, Gauss, how strong is your Mage’s Hand?"
"About ten pounds."
"It’s a bit small, but it’s enough. It can also have an intervening effect in battle." Levin pondered, touching his chin.
"Can it stick powder?"
"I think it should." Gauss hadn’t specifically tried it and was not too sure.
Bringing Mage’s Hand in front of him, he bent down, grabbed some soil and dust, and carefully sprinkled them on Mage’s Hand.
The dust quickly covered Mage’s Hand with a thin layer. Although Gauss felt he could shake it off at any time, it indeed adhered.
"It really is a hand!" The usually silent archer Oliver grew curious upon seeing the hand materialize in the air and moved closer to take a look.
Although they had been more or less exposed to magic before, opportunities to observe it closely were rare.
"That’s great!" Levin clapped his hands suddenly.
"Medvedeva, distribute some of your specially prepared Poison Powder to Gauss later."
The others understood Levin’s intention.
Each showed a sudden realization.
If it’s Poison Powder + Mage’s Hand, though it might reveal its form, as long as it’s controlled properly and applied or sprinkled on sensitive parts of monsters like the eyes, it can still immediately inflict negative effects and control, at least reducing combat power.
Facing some monsters with insufficient defense, ten pounds of force might even be enough to let a poisoned dagger break through enemy defenses.
"Later, we can think of specific ways to cooperate with Gauss based on the effects of Mage’s Hand."
Although it’s an auxiliary ability with weak direct combat power, if fully developed with the team’s support and cover, it can indeed be very effective.
The gaze Doyle and the others cast on Gauss seemed much more enthusiastic.
Even Doyle, who most believed in power supremacy and was always indifferent to mysterious magic, had to admit that, compared to straightforward warriors, Mages sometimes seemed a bit more terrifying.
At least he absolutely did not want to have poison powder suddenly sprinkled on his eyes during combat, or a hidden dagger thrust into his back.
𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺
As for precaution, who can pay attention to so much during a fight?
Thinking about it, he couldn’t help but have a hint of awe in his eyes as he looked at Gauss.
Mages are indeed insidious and fearsome people.
"Alright, Gauss’s skill demonstration ends here, next..." Levin was about to continue when he noticed Gauss about to speak beside him.
"What’s up?"
"No, Captain Levin, I wanted to say that I have another magic up my sleeve."
"?"
"Another one?"
The crowd, ready to start warming up, all turned to look at him with a bit of indescribable meaning in their eyes.
Generally, quasi-professionals like them, due to limited energy, time, and resources, would choose to delve deep into a single skill.
Occasionally, some might temporarily learn an additional skill to enhance their combat power.
But they mostly belonged to the warrior-like professions.
Do Mages learn an additional magic as well?
Like the team’s Medical Priest Daphne who only mastered one 0th Ring Trick, the Life Maintenance Technique.
The ability stabilizes the injuries of wounded organisms, preventing further worsening, allowing her to use medical tools for further treatment.
The effectiveness of the Life Maintenance Technique depends on the caster’s level.
It is said that when cast by a high-level Priest, it can stabilize life even if the injured are on the verge of death, clinging to their last breath, just before the reaper raises his scythe.
Gauss nodded.
He also needed to use Magic Missile in combat later to increase proficiency.
If he didn’t demonstrate it now and used it later, wouldn’t it just add to the awkwardness?
Just as the few people subconsciously assumed Gauss’s next magic would also be a supportive spell like Mage’s Hand,
Gauss spoke.
"The second magic I’ve mastered is called Magic Missile."
"Magic Missile..."
"Magic Missile?"
Everyone silently recited the spell’s name in their hearts simultaneously.
The next moment, before they could ponder deeply.
"Magic Missile!"
Gauss activated his magic power.
A bluish light orb condensed in the air before Gauss.
At Level 2 proficiency, he no longer needed to clutch it for control.
The air flow seemed to change due to the orb’s appearance.
The wind began to flow slowly.
"Be careful and keep a bit of distance, its power might be a bit much."
Gauss reminded the already somewhat entranced team members, and after ensuring they had moved to a safe distance.
His consciousness locked in on the spell target — an open area in the distance.
The next moment, Magic Missile fired!
"Boom!"
With a flash of thought, it began accelerating, reaching top speed in a blink.
This speed caused Magic Missile to pull a brilliant beam through the air.
And at the end of the beam, at the moment it hit the distant ground.
A heavy explosion thundered.
"Bang!"
Like a heavy object crashing into the ground.
Clumps and particles of soil splashed out.
The explosion stirred the dust, along with a slight tremor underfoot.
When the dust settled.
A cobweb crater with a diameter of several dozen centimeters appeared on the ground, with a fist-sized depression at its core.
"So strong!!" Doyle and the others woke up from their dream and swallowed hard collectively.
Their expressions completely changed when they looked at Gauss.
They didn’t expect Captain Levin to find such a powerful "Mage" at the Adventurer’s Guild.
The power of this spell was tremendous!
It didn’t seem like something a bottom adventurer who hadn’t yet reached the professional stage could master!
The missile just crashing into the ground caused such massive destruction, what if it hit them?
They would likely die instantly or be severely injured, and with such speed, it’s hard to dodge, right?
They stared at the big crater, unable to quell their growing apprehensive feelings.