Dark yellow urine flowed from the tattered cloth and green leaves that wrapped around their lower bodies, moistening the soil beneath.
They instinctively looked towards the direction of that terrifying aura, but the next moment, an increasingly massive blue light completely filled their view.
With a brief but intense full-body burning sensation erupting, they instantly lost consciousness.
Gauss’s two rounds of rapid-fire Magic Missiles swept the ground, causing the goblins to perish before they even saw him.
The fluctuations of magic calmed, leaving the clearing in chaos.
The death appearance of the goblins was shocking.
They were almost unrecognizable.
Everywhere lay charred fragments, broken bone shards, blood, and visceral matter splattered all around, staining the surrounding grass and tree trunks with a large swath of filthy dark red.
Gauss had just tested the effect of the Magic Missile after leveling it up.
As it turns out, the power almost doubled, and in terms of quantity, it increased from 5 to 6 salvos, and Gauss even felt that pushing for a 7-shot wasn’t difficult.
Don’t mention a group of ordinary goblins; even 1st or 2nd level Elite Goblins couldn’t withstand this level of attack.
"The... the green-skin vermin all died?"
The four little elves were dumbfounded, their heads buzzing.
Just as Gauss looked at the elves, who seemed to be in a dazed state, and quietly reflected on whether he had caused too much of a bloody scene...
The elves suddenly turned quickly, flew before him, and exclaimed excitedly.
"You’re amazing, big guy."
"With a thud, those green-skin vermin just died completely."
"Can you teach me? I also want to kill the green skins like this."
"..."
Alright...
Looking at the excited elves, Gauss realized he was overthinking it.
Unlike the Pick Elves, many little elves were fierce warriors, and they do not harbor much empathy for their enemies.
"Sorry, little ones, I can’t teach you this magic."
"Such a shame...."
"But with you being so strong, big guy, aren’t we useless?" The little elves, realizing this, sank into disappointment.
They lowered their heads, looking at the weapons in their hands, feeling a bit like having skills with no use.
"Your ability to guide me to them is the greatest help." Gauss comforted the little ones.
Then he walked towards the clearing in the camp.
Traces of goblin spirituality gathered towards his body.
Yes.
In these two days, after his Clay Magic proficiency broke through to lv4, he no longer needed to rely on this magic to kill targets to collect spirits.
As long as he killed them, regardless of the means, he could complete the collection by activating the magic power of Clay Magic afterward.
Feeling his Goblin Soul Body grow slightly stronger, Gauss nodded in satisfaction.
"Gauss, your Magic Missile has become stronger," Aaliyah exclaimed.
The change in power was quite obvious, not to mention she had been with Gauss for a while now and was very familiar with this often-used spell of his.
"Just got used to the upgraded level," Gauss said softly. "Next time I’ll hold back a bit; I won’t level up against such weak enemies."
Making things so bloody every time is not ideal.
The group’s Ying had no impulse to make a move the entire time.
Just a small group of goblins couldn’t stir her fighting desire in the slightest.
She just blinked, looking at Gauss and the Magic Staff in his hand, tilting her head into puzzled thought.
...
Time flew by quickly.
Knowing how formidable Gauss was, the elves decisively led him to clear out the goblin nests in the forest one by one.
Although Gauss’s current commission was to investigate and eradicate the subordinate Goblin Tribe of the "Black Tooth Tribe," he wasn’t in a hurry.
Because, to him, striking goblins was also a high priority.
Moreover....
"Total monsters killed: 3859"
In just a couple of days, he killed nearly two hundred goblins.
The node for receiving the next stage reward was drawing nearer.
If possible, he hoped to receive rewards and enhancements before officially confronting the commission target.
In fact, he had a hunch that the farthest bunch of goblins mentioned by the elves, the mining tribe, might be related to the commission target.
But with the reward almost in reach, there was no reason to neglect it and blindly push for the main quest.
When allowed, Gauss didn’t want to do any last-minute breakthroughs during combat.
It’s more cautious and reliable to secure the imminent reward first.
Even if attribute enhancements could refresh the body’s state during battle, alleviating weariness, it’s unnecessary to risk it.
One should know that attribute enhancements and potential rewards need time to be absorbed.
This is also a plan for growth.
Gauss prefers breakthroughs during calm daily life over rushed ones during battle; it’s more controllable.
"The green-skin vermin are wiped out again."
Little elves counted on their fingers, smiling joyfully.
Each death of the goblins they loathe intensely was great news for them.
"Are there still goblins nearby?"
Gauss looked at the cheerful little elves and asked.
Having local guides was indeed a blessing.
Many goblins hidden in caves and holes would be hard to find just by trying to explore without these forest-dwelling natives.
As Gauss continued to kill goblins, he felt his Racial Talent [Energy Storage Glands] and [Sturdy Scale Bloodline] had improved significantly.
His energy scales had become much more vivid, and his protection slightly stronger.
"Yes, big guy, there are."
"Let me think."
"Take your time thinking." Gauss looked towards his companions.
None of his companions objected to his plan to clear goblins around.
Even Ying, the temporary member who had just joined the team.
Yet, as the days with Gauss went by, Ying’s confusion deepened.
Especially these past two days, even while merely following the team, or more accurately Gauss alone silently annihilating goblins, she hadn’t done anything herself.
But she was surprised to find her strength seemed to have increased.
Initially, realizing this, she thought it must be an illusion.
Until some days ago, her Archery suddenly broke through to a new tier.
After her arrows gained the ability to imbue shadow power, she realized the sensation of growing stronger wasn’t an illusion!
This Archery was something she recently learned, mainly to have some attack means when using shadow power wasn’t convenient.
Due to her high 5th Profession Tier, she was able to learn archery at a speed incomprehensible to ordinary people, and although this progress was already tremendous, it accelerated these days as if riding a swiftly galloping carriage.
[I too sensed my power grew stronger, and it seems related to Gauss; I always told you, it’s not an illusion.]
Feeling her mind, Shaid in the shadows remarked innocently.
[Everything started when you joined this team.]
"Could it really be because of Gauss?" Ying pondered internally.
From the beginning, she could sense the mystery surrounding Gauss, even more than herself.
Yet with deeper interactions, Gauss’s secrets surpassed her expectations.
She couldn’t resist glancing at Aaliyah and Serdur.
She knew why the two teammates heeded Gauss’s commands readily...
"It seems... it seems rather nice, this feeling."
No one can refuse the sensation of continually growing stronger.
She turned her gaze to Gauss’s back.
Moreover, Gauss’s demeanor was great, even though she kept her shadow ability hidden without making it known, he didn’t force her.
Additionally, the inexplicable sense of familiarity allowed her to unconsciously lower her guard against Gauss.
[Friendly reminder, my master, you’re only a temporary member of this team; once this commission ends, you’ll part ways.] Shaid reminded her rather inappropriately.
"...I know, you don’t need to remind me."
[Your current priority should be figuring out how to stay; the food here is too good; I don’t want to leave.]
"I’m not as profit-driven as you?"
[So you’re going to leave?]
"...."
"I didn’t say that."
[Then what else is there to say?]
"I’m here to unravel the mysteries about myself... Yes, that’s right." Ying nodded, as if convincing herself.
[Haha]