Besides, no matter how you look at it, it robbed us of our spoils, and those Water Ghosts’ materials weren’t fully collected.
Before Gauss came, he asked Abelhard for images of Ghouls and Demon Ghosts to reinforce his impressions. Although a long time had passed, that Demon Ghost was the first powerful opponent to force him to retreat, leaving a deep impression in Gauss’s then not-so-firm will.
So after a brief contemplation, Gauss found the feeling.
"Biological Positioning Skill · Demon Ghost (Ghoul)"
As the Magic Power rapidly spread across his body surface, a target quickly appeared in Gauss’s Perception.
"Found you!"
The Biological Positioning Skill was very useful.
With Gauss’s current level, he didn’t need to be overly cautious after discovering the target.
He walked straight to the area in his Perception.
The target’s Perception was about eight or nine hundred meters in a straight line from him.
It should be hiding in some natural cave.
Arriving at the destination, he looked at the hill in front of him; the target was underground.
"It’s below."
"How do we get down? Blast it open?" Aaliyah asked curiously.
"There doesn’t seem to be an entrance nearby."
At this time, Ying had already let her clone search on the surface but hadn’t found an entry passage.
"It should be an underground passage connected to the river beside it."
Gauss reasonably speculated.
Although using the Fireball Technique to start a map-scale bombardment wasn’t impossible, it was overly ostentatious.
Upon hearing this, Ying immediately let her clone delve underground to start searching.
After a while, she made a discovery.
"Found the underground passage."
Following Ying’s guidance, Gauss broke through the river’s ice surface.
"Splash——"
Beneath the ice surface, clear river water surged endlessly.
"Do you want to follow?"
"Or should I go alone?"
"Together." Facing Gauss’s inquiry, Aaliyah decisively responded.
After all, she wasn’t afraid of the cold now.
"Then hold on to me."
Gauss indicated.
Then he took both of them and jumped into the icy water.
Entering the water, he felt like returning home, with a very strong sense of reassurance.
Aaliyah began to hold her breath.
She looked at Gauss and noticed bubbles emerging from his body in the water, somewhat surprised.
Suddenly, she remembered that she could also freely move.
She transformed quickly into a slender white fish.
The trio progressed swiftly along the cave.
After swimming through the winding cave for about a minute, Gauss and others reached the end of the cave.
They emerged from the water.
In front of them was a relatively open space, the air faintly filled with a stench.
"Tap tap——"
As Gauss and the others hadn’t intentionally concealed themselves.
The cave’s owner quickly noticed these three uninvited guests.
Several Ghouls quickly rose from the ground, standing on four feet, their eyes locking onto the entrance spring.
"Grra grra——"
They emitted a boxy roar from their throats, their emotions gradually becoming agitated.
But this group of Ghouls remained motionless, waiting for a certain command.
And behind these Ghouls, a blue figure stood on two feet, eyeing the three with a flicker of unease in its pupils.
Its entire body was shriveled, covered in blue-spotted skin layered with dense reptilian scales.
It had canine features on its face, with sunken eye sockets and a pair of crimson eyes, its snake-like long tongue flicking in the air.
"So it’s really you."
Gauss’s voice was exceptionally clear in the spacious cave.
With just one glance, he was certain this was the Ghoul from before.
However, the powerful creature that once scared him into a chill now seemed utterly mundane.
"So weak..."
It was as if his memories had been embellished, seeing it again now, Gauss felt a bit wistful.
This was his first encounter with a BOSS, one of the contributors that made him resolute in steady growth and slaying minor creatures with commendable flair.
Now, in his rough assessment, the opponent only has a combat strength at level 2 at most, while its few subordinates are at level 1.
Seeming to understand the meaning in Gauss’s words, the Demon Ghost’s crimson eyes flickered uncertainly.
The intelligence of the Demon Ghost is not low.
Soon, it faintly caught a familiar scent from Gauss.
It seems to have matched an image from its memory, a touch of human-like uneasiness flashed in its eyes.
"Heh-heh-heh-heh!"
At its command, several Ghouls charged forth like wild dogs.
"Leave these for later."
Gauss ignored them and swiftly flew towards the Demon Ghost that turned around to flee.
Although Demon Ghosts and Ghouls are essentially the same elite beings, differing only in intelligence levels, Gauss decided to first eliminate the Demon Ghost.
The speed of the Demon Ghost was already fast, but Gauss’s movements were quicker.
In a few breaths, Gauss was already behind it, while it was still far from another escape entrance.
"Whirl!"
Meteora’s Sword brushed past its neck.
"Boom!"
The Demon Ghost’s head fell to the ground, with a lingering hint of horror in its eyes.
As if shocked at how that once frail human had become so formidable.
"Sizzle!"
The sacred power remaining in the Water Sword continued to purify its body.
"Elite Level creature Ghoul slain *1"
"Killed 20 types of elite demons (20/20)"
"Elite Path stage 3 achieved."
"Reward acquired: Randomly draw one racial talent from elite demons."
"Current elite demon catalog types: Mantis Man, Half Ogre, Golem, Treasure Chest Monster, Spider Ghost, Big Goblin, Parasite Arthropod, Jackal-Wolf People leader..."
"Randomly drawing talent ability and performing improved adaptation to Constitution."
"..."
The information paused for a while.
"Drawn ability from the demon [Goblin Wolf Cavalry], Wild Symbiosis."
"Improving to racial talent [Rider] blue quality."
[Rider](Initial Level): You need to select a target mount with whom you have deep rapport and form a contract; once contracted, it cannot be undone. The rapport and connection between you and your mount will be enhanced, allowing smoother and swifter cooperation.
While traveling, the endurance consumption of the mount will decrease.
When you ride this mount, the combat instincts of you and the mount will steadily increase.
The longer the binding time, the higher the rapport, and there is a chance for a subtle positive influence to develop between both parties.
Rider?
Gauss silently examined this newly acquired racial talent.
Indeed, during the last campaign, he slew many Goblin Wolf Cavalry, several of which reached elite levels.
Thus, he wasn’t surprised to draw this target.
He just didn’t expect to gain such a talent.
It appears to grant him a talent ability to command mounts.
It seems quite useful.
Regarding the target, the best choice in front of him was only one, Red Dragon Dragon Beast Hephaestus.
He felt there was no need to reserve this spot, even though there might be chances to subdue other Giant Dragons or stronger creatures in the future. But at that time, he would likely be much stronger, coupled with the fact that the more powerful the creature, the more prideful they tend to be.
Even if subdued, it would be hard to make them sincerely submit, and perhaps fail to meet the contract conditions.
Thus, it’s better to enjoy it early.
Reducing endurance consumption during flight means Hephaestus could cover a greater distance in a single journey, indirectly saving the time Gauss and his comrades would otherwise spend on the road.
And saved time signifies opportunities for kills, which in turn bring prowess enhancements, a crucial factor.
Moreover, this talent ability grants him stronger riding aerial combat capability.
Most importantly, the final line: the longer the binding time, the higher the rapport, and there’s a chance for a subtle positive influence to develop between both parties.
If he interpreted it correctly, this talent could allow both parties to gain each other’s excellent traits.
Then he could absorb the powerful physique talent of the Giant Dragon from Hephaestus, and Hephaestus, being in close association with him, might significantly enhance intelligence and gain magic talent, a win-win situation.
Furthermore, with this talent in place, he wouldn’t need to worry about Hephaestus growing rebellious as it matures.
It’s known that the stronger the creature, the harder it is to tame their wildness; now this talent can thoroughly bind Gauss with Hephaestus.
A slight smile curled the corner of his mouth.
Recently, he was dubbed the nickname "Red Dragon Knight," and of course, he knew it was merely a hollow title, but now it seems like he’s going to truly embody this name.
To become a Dragon Knight... seems rather nice.