His silhouette left a streak of dark blue in the night sky.
Given his larger build compared to the dwarf Sorin, the impact of his charge was even more striking.
Approaching the rat monster, his right arm bulged with muscles, covered with energy dragon scales and molded into a dragon claw, magic power pulsing.
Rushing forward, he raised his right arm high, gathering strength, a downward thrust combined with 10 points of strength blasted forth with a monstrous force!
"Boom!"
The massive dragon claw landed solidly on the chest of the rat monster.
A terrifying thunderous explosion of implosive force echoed louder than Sorin’s earlier heavy hammer strike!
The rat monster erupted internally as if packed with explosives.
Fragments of bone, rotten tissue, pus, and countless mouse-like flesh pieces sprayed in all directions.
The powerful impact even knocked the rat monster’s body backward!
It staggered several steps back, its body close to collapse, but after a shroud of black mist enveloped it, its near-collapse form stabilized once more.
From afar, Sorin and his group silently observed, communicating via the "Consciousness Channel."
[Sorin, seems like his strength surpasses yours?] Nancy sounded a bit more lively than usual through the consciousness channel.
[Ha... haha, you’re not serious, right? I’m a proud dwarf warrior!] Sorin’s consciousness showed slight embarrassment.
[But he’s bare-handed, and you’re using the top gear crafted by your kin, and he achieved even more dramatic results.] Nancy added.
Sorin felt as though two sharp arrows had pierced his body.
Though he admired Gauss, hearing Nancy say Gauss’s strength was superior to his left him somewhat ashamedly frustrated, causing him to puff up his beard.
[I wasn’t going all out earlier.]
[Hehe.] Nancy knew Sorin had held back but pretended she didn’t know.
Of course, she too was astounded by Gauss; it’s hard to imagine that a level 3 caster was fighting in front of her.
If Gauss got close, she might not fare well.
Just as Sorin picked up his war hammer, intending to prove himself with a decisive strike.
Not far away, on the battleground, Gauss was entering the closing stage.
Feeling the rat monster’s life force so strong it seemed otherworldly, he unleashed his energy all at once.
When another dragon claw, like a heavy pile driver, struck the rat monster, a deep blood hole burst open on its surface.
His left hand tightly grasped the White Magic Wand.
The next moment, a splendid blue light compressed and expanded rapidly between the five fingers of his dragon claw!
"Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!" "Boom!"
Five magic missiles condensed in the dragon claw sank deep into the monster’s wound, instant explosion ensued.
The hollow created by the dragon claw hadn’t recovered when the instant explosion of five missiles further enlarged the wound!
The ensuing shockwaves, after being absorbed by the rat monster’s body, were greatly weakened, blocked by Gauss’s now incredibly solid protective barrier.
"Squeal!" "Squeal!" "Squeal!"
The rat monster emitted a chilling screech, realizing something, as its body was gradually enveloped by another wave of black mist particles.
But Gauss couldn’t afford to give it more time.
His right hand clenched once more, dragon claw solidifying into an unbreakable form.
He swung the second punch with terrifying might! Followed by the third punch! And the fourth!
With his relentless barrage of strikes, the rat monster’s body constantly exploded.
Finally, with the fourth punch, "Bang!!!" a complete, catastrophic explosion occurred.
The rat monster could no longer maintain its form, blasting outward, showering the ground with countless foul flesh chunks and thick viscous fluid.
The air was filled with a nauseous stench over the devastated scene.
The chunks rapidly turned into black smoke, dissolving into the air.
Gauss stood in place, his chest covered in energy scales slightly heaving.
His magic was not that easy to consume.
He waited briefly, flashes of text appeared before him.
"Elite Demon Rat Demon Race*1 slain"
"Title [Rat Hunter], Effect: ...."
"Achieved 10 Elite Points...."
The title was the same as when previously hunting giant rats and ratmen, seems like this so-called Epidemic Rat Demon Race was related to those monsters encountered before?
Indeed, did it attack me this time due to the influence of that prior commission?
He fell into contemplation.
A strange energy silently slipped into his body from beneath him unnoticed.
Feeling a mysterious egg inside him throb, forcing Gauss to break from his thoughts.
"What’s this egg up to again?"
Elsewhere, around the campsite, silence fell for a brief moment, only the crackling of campfire flames was distinctly audible.
The frustrated Sorin halted his steps, Gauss’s quick and clean resolve of the battle surpassed his expectations.
Or perhaps every battle was naturally short-lived, from the rat monster’s outburst, Sorin’s single hammer strike, and Gauss’s relentless assault, all completed in less than a dozen breaths.
For the first time, Sorin felt having overly powerful teammates might not necessarily be a good thing.
Nancy tilted her head, her previously somewhat distant gaze now reassessing Gauss.
The pure power explosion and precise magic control perfectly merged; such a display was a rarity in her past experiences.