They had been traveling for several hours. A lingering chill from the parting still clung to Gauss’s heart, and on the way back the sky opened up into a heavy rain. The downpour came suddenly. A thick, lead-gray cloud layer instantly swallowed the sunlight, and pea-sized raindrops began to pelt down without warning. At first it was sparse, but in moments it merged into a white, drenching curtain. Drops splashed into muddy puddles with a slap and a sizzle. “Ugh, this rain comes at the worst possible time!” Aria drew her brows together and wiped the damp, pale-blue strands stuck to her forehead. Cold water ran down her neck and soaked into her collar. Gauss pulled a rain cloak from his Storage Bag and tossed it to his two companions. He then glanced around. Beyond them was an open stretch of ground with nowhere suitable to shelter. He soothed the ostrich, which shifted nervously and kept shaking its wet head. Bad weather was an unavoidable part of any adventuring journey. The three exchanged a look. “Keep going?” Gauss’s voice cut through the rainfall. “Okay.” Both nodded in agreement. Even Aria, the frailest of the three, was used to rain in the wilds. She only felt a bit deflated because their short “holiday” had just ended and they hadn’t even made it back to Grayrock Town before the storm hit. Gauss squeezed his legs against the bird’s belly. The ostrich obeyed with a powerful stomp—its thick hooves, like a horse’s, dug into the ground, flinging up sticky, soft clods of mud as it charged into the thickening rain. The sturdy ostrich sped through the curtain of water. The cold rain washed across Gauss’s cloak with a dull patter. The world shrank to white rain, the slippery muddy road beneath their feet, and the steady breath and splashing steps of the ostrich. “Maybe we should find somewhere to pitch a tent and wait the storm out?” Gauss silently sent the thought twice via Message to his teammates. He was hoping to soon ride out from the storm’s center. But while he waited for their replies, the ostrich under him suddenly let out a sharp, urgent “skk!” “Careful, something’s up!” Gauss saw a small dark blot in the distance. His heart tightened and he pulled the reins hard. The ostrich skidded to a halt, its hooves carving deep furrows into the mud. It stepped anxiously in place; the feathers along its neck prickled upright. Aria and Serlandul reacted quickly. Aria steadied her mount and Serlandul froze his sliding progress and drew a weapon with alert speed. Gauss squinted through the heavy rain, water streaking down his cheeks. He blinked frequently to keep his vision clear. Through the tall, wavering grass, he made out small, twisted shapes moving along the road and in the brush. Amid the pounding rain came high, sharp, ear-splitting cries. A swarm of green-skinned goblins spilled out of the rain and brush, thick as a swarm of insects—dozens at a glance. Their deep-green skins were slick and oily under the downpour, making them look uglier. They brandished crude weapons. At their crowded center stood a figure bigger than the goblins, radiating a distinctly vicious aura. Gauss focused and his heart leapt with a flash of delight. It was an elite Gnoll! It had a lupine, feral head, its body covered in gray-brown hair bristling like steel needles—still stiff even in the storm. Its fangs bared, drooling murky saliva. A rugged half-plate of leather and metal plates hung on its torso. In its hand it gripped a huge, sharply curved blade that flashed with a cold gleam. Rain pelted its body and streamed down massive legs, but it was unaffected. Its cruel, cunning amber eyes locked onto Gauss and the others with a low, threatening roar. That growl immediately drowned the goblins’ shrill noises; the small green creatures instinctively shrank their necks. The trio had accidentally run into this elite Gnoll-led goblin warband! “How did we run into them here?” Aria blinked. This place was north of Grayrock Town. Compared to normal, the odds of meeting a monster squad led by an elite were relatively low. And yet here they were. “Prepare for battle!” Gauss’s mouth curled into a slight grin. Though something about the situation felt off to him, his superbrain told him he had to go all-out with his abilities. Luckily, his Monster Encyclopedia did not yet have an elite Gnoll entry. That Gnoll wasn’t merely a target to kill—it represented ten walking Elite Points. From a distance, in this heavy rain, it was hard to judge the Gnoll’s exact strength, but rational analysis suggested it wouldn’t be too troublesome. Most tellingly: if an elite were truly powerful, it wouldn’t lead such a small gang of goblin lackeys. Like humans, the stronger the creature in a monster’s social structure, the stronger its vassals likely are. Even the fact that this Gnoll had dragged a pack of goblins into human territory was unusual behavior, but it should not indicate excessive power. The Gnoll didn’t appear to want to negotiate. The rain hid a lot; as Gauss couldn’t read the Gnoll’s strength, the Gnoll likewise could not gauge the trio’s level. As Gauss processed these thoughts, the Gnoll suddenly raised its curved blade and roared a battle cry! Under the Gnoll’s pressure, the goblins dared not disobey. With their shrill, strange cries they slipped and charged through the muddy ground toward Gauss’s party. Gauss did not choose to retreat. First he had Aria use Animal Communication to command the two ostriches to withdraw so they wouldn’t be dragged into the fray. Then he faced the charging goblins. These goblins were disposable fodder, while the Gnoll in the rear did not approach them. Instead it retreated a short distance. Was it testing their strength with its cannon fodder? Ready to run if things went south? Gauss thought quickly. What can you say—Gnolls are truly the crafty monsters the books describe. Cowards without a fighting soul! But Gauss wasn’t going to let it get its way. “Aria, Serlandul, you take the goblins.” After a quick exchange, Gauss activated Enhanced Jump. His boots glinted with a metallic sheen as they crushed the mud. The burst from Enhanced Jump tore Gauss through the rain curtain in an instant. Pea-sized drops blasted around him, shredded by the force into a mist. A dark streak darted through the downpour. Before the goblins could react he had ripped through their formation, killing several as he sliced past. Shaking blood and water from his hands, Gauss lunged toward the Gnoll. The Gnoll watched Gauss intently. Its cruel amber eyes took on a cautious look; it had felt the force and speed Gauss had just shown. But now it was too late to run. The Gnoll bellowed in anger and frustration. Forced to give up its retreat, the giant curved blade left its hand and whistled through the air, spinning in a precise arc toward Gauss as he hung in the air. The strike was heavy and accurate, obviously timed to meet Gauss mid-jump. However, the Gnoll’s plan failed. Gauss’s reactions were far quicker. At the instant the flying blade neared, his newly raised Level 3 agility and transcendent coordination kicked in. His body twisted impossibly in midair, then slid to the side in a low maneuver. The curved blade shredded rain around it. The cold edge passed just by Gauss’s chest, the gust severing a few drenched strands of hair. He narrowly avoided the thrown blade. Though the moment looked dangerous, it wasn’t—after reaching professional Level 3 his body control and judgment had improved markedly. So the near-miss felt far wider in his own perception; he purposely minimized his evasion to preserve forward momentum. At the end of the slide, Gauss slammed his palm into the mud and used the force to spring back up. The Gnoll, clearly without honor, was already turning to flee. It had seriously underestimated Gauss’s response speed to the curved-blade attack. It had not yet fled far and still lay within Gauss’s range. Gauss’s White Wand hummed with mana. Several Magic Missiles flew from his hand! Blue magical spheres flared brilliantly in the rain. Under his precise control, the missiles struck the Gnoll’s fast-moving knees. Its knee joints had little protection; the explosions shattered them. Without lower-leg support, its upper body pitched forward by inertia and toppled into the muck. That’s why you can’t flee blindly. Back-facing the enemy, unable to see incoming attacks, sometimes kills you faster and more senselessly. Of course, the Gnoll wasn’t dead yet. Indeed, it wasn’t particularly strong. To Gauss’s sense, it might not even be Level 2. Fearsome in appearance, but fragile to the touch. Still, Gauss didn’t care about degrees. A Level 1 Gnoll or a Level 5 Gnoll both unlock one elite-monster entry in the Monster Encyclopedia—there’s no difference in that respect. If anything, the weaker one is easier to kill. Gauss stayed back rather than closing in. Although its legs were blown apart, the Gnoll’s stubborn life force let it prop itself up and sit on the ground. It grabbed a cleaver from its waist and stared at Gauss with panic-stricken eyes. It chattered something incomprehensible. Gauss couldn’t understand it. Maybe Aria in the rear could. But he had deliberately held back earlier—not out of mercy or some desire to toy with it. He simply wanted to maximize the Gnoll’s value. His White Wand sent out a clay-magic pulse. Several lumps of clay materialized on the ground and immediately congealed into large spiders of various shapes. “Rain really is a major negative for clay magic,” Gauss murmured, frowning. He could feel the clay spiders were unstable and had to spend extra mana to stabilize their forms against the rain’s erosion. He’d need to find waterproof materials to craft versions suited for wet environments. For now, though, he needed to harvest spirit energy. Spirit collection required killing with clay magic. He sent three weaker clay spiders to turn and strike at the goblins. The strongest venomous specimen targeted the disabled Gnoll. A construct’s strength depends on mana quality, spell proficiency, material, and other factors—but “spirit” is also a crucial element. Through his continued study of clay magic’s spell nature, Gauss discovered it was best to center constructs around spirit residue exuding from an elite individual. The stronger the creature, the more powerful the spirit it sheds upon death. So far his four clay spiders had been built around spirits from basic creatures like Giant Spiders, absorbing insect spirits for nourishment. Quantity wasn’t the issue—the quality was. The elite Gnoll made an excellent alternative core. If Gauss’s guess was right, the Gnoll’s spirit would likely be richer because its cunning nature implied some soul-level advantage. The bluish-white venom-spider darted across the mud. In a blink it reached the Gnoll. The Gnoll crawled backward in terror, watching the spider-construct with anxious resignation. It swung its cleaver. The clay spider easily avoided the blow. Then it compressed its legs and sprang forward, its slender, sharp chelicerae piercing the seam of the Gnoll’s metal-and-leather armor. At the puncture point, jet-green energy spread rapidly, webbing over the Gnoll’s body. Its muscles didn’t liquefy like that sparrow they’d seen before; instead it slowly stiffened. The muddied yellow pupils rolled upward. After its body convulsed a few times in the mud, “Elite monster killed: Gnoll Leader *1” “Unlocked the 8th elite monster entry.” A notification quickly popped up announcing the kill. Another ten Elite Points were added, bringing the total Elite Points to thirty. At the same time, when the clay spider killed the Gnoll, Gauss felt a large mass of spirit energy drift to his side. Unlike the loose, unstable spirits of basic Giant Spiders and Goblins, the Gnoll’s spirit felt fuller—less ephemeral and less prone to immediate dissolution. This was Gauss’s first acquisition of an elite-tier spirit. Then he glanced toward where Aria and the others were fighting. Their skirmish was also nearing its end. The three clay spiders he’d released were diligently helping finish off monsters. Because he’d been farther away, pockets of spirit drifted through the air waiting for him to collect them. When the dust settled, “Total monsters killed: 2415” Gauss walked over as spirit motes began to rush toward him like iron toward a magnet. Goblin forms could also be strengthened. “Still short one elite goblin, though.” Gauss muttered inwardly. After experiencing the elite Gnoll’s spirit, these loose spirits looked slightly inferior. If he could center constructs around an elite goblin’s spirit and then slaughter large numbers of ordinary goblins to use their spirits as fodder, he could probably incubate a decent assistant. Of course, a Gnoll leader as a helper would be even better. After Gauss and his companions regrouped, they quickly gathered the battlefield spoils. Especially the Gnoll—many of an elite monster’s organs had substantial value. After looting, Gauss and Aria soon mounted their ostriches and resumed their ride toward Grayrock Town. Curiously, after passing that area the rain rapidly eased. Before long the sky cleared entirely. At speed, they even skipped using magic to dry themselves—soon their clothes were dry. They stopped only at noon to find a place to rest. “That Gnoll squad earlier felt off,” Aria said over their meal, bringing up the brief fight again. Although that group was nothing to their small party, if such a squad appeared in a village the results could be disastrous. A Gnoll leading monsters deep into human territory was risky behavior for the monsters themselves. Even if they hadn’t met Gauss, they could have run into other professional adventurers. Once they began raiding, attention would be drawn and stronger adventurers would come after them. Normal elite monsters also avoid unnecessary risk, so they rarely cross boundaries into human settlements. “Maybe they were herding goblins in?” Gauss shook his head—he had no clear answer. But he vaguely sensed that since last winter the border area of Emerald Forest had been getting more active. He also recalled Vice President Sherry asking for their help—maybe it was connected to the forest’s unrest. After lunch Gauss and the others set off again. After a day’s sprint, they returned to Grayrock Town before nightfall. The speed boost from having ostriches made the trip much faster—if they’d taken the merchant caravan as before, it would’ve taken two or three days. Gauss eased the reins near the gate, slowing the ostrich. With a rhythmic clip-clop they passed through the barrier into Grayrock Town. The main avenue was bustling—vendors, laborers loading and unloading goods—noisy and crowded. But when Gauss appeared astride the impressive ostrich, an odd thing happened as if an unseen breeze passed through. Many townsfolk who’d been hurrying, stall vendors, people leaning against walls chatting—everyone unconsciously slowed and turned their heads toward the gate. The figure came into view. A young man in a fitted black robe rode the ostrich upright. A few stray bangs fell across his forehead but did not look messy. His face was handsome and well-defined—not merely pretty but a blend of strength, confidence, and calm intelligence. His eyes were clear and sharp, seeming to read people’s hearts without aggression—rather, they exuded a reassuring steadiness. The sky was especially clear today and the warm yellow sunset gilded him with a faint golden rim. The noisy market seemed to hush for a brief moment at Gauss’s appearance. Only after he rode away did the noise return and people resume their work—life carries on after a pleasant pause. A few blushing maidens, of course, still chattered excitedly. “Gauss, everyone’s looking at you.” Aria blinked. “Yeah. I know.” Gauss knew why. “A bit annoying…” “Come on.” Aria didn’t buy it. He had definitely slowed the ostrich earlier. Gauss shook his head. After leveling up to 3 recently, his Charisma had risen to 10 points. Charisma didn’t just polish his looks; it enhanced his aura, presence, and attraction. Strangers found it hard not to look twice. And his Charisma wasn’t the only boosted stat—his overall attributes were close to 10 each, and at equal level such near-perfect physical condition radiated a more harmonious sense of presence. So even if others could raise Charisma, they’d still be outshone in raw presence. This wasn’t entirely positive; it was a “side effect” of growing stronger. “But…” Gauss glanced down at the Empathy Bracelet on his wrist and frowned. He felt the item could no longer grant meaningful attribute bonuses beyond this point. His displayed Charisma read 10 (9). His true Charisma was 9, but the bracelet was pushing it to 10, and that felt strained. Once his true Charisma hit 10, the bracelet’s effect would weaken further and likely stop granting even a single point. They reached the Adventurers Guild hall. They tied up the ostriches with Ulfen and Eck waiting outside. The three of them entered the hall. “There are a lot more people back than I expected.” Gauss had met several professionals on the road. With the Maze temporarily closed, many adventurers had returned home to their towns. After submitting his commission and collecting the twenty silver-coin fee, and guided by a receptionist, Gauss headed toward Sherry’s office. It wasn’t quitting time yet. Gauss knocked on the office door where he’d first met Sherry. A slightly languid voice answered. Gauss, Aria, and Serlandul entered. At the desk Sherry’s presence was impossible to ignore. She was like a walking, living flame. Her long hair hung casually over her shoulders and back, the tips slightly curled like a burning waterfall—deep merlot, sunset blush, and ember-orange blended together in a lively gradient. Gauss glanced once and looked away. After sitting, he got straight to the point. “Vice President Sherry, may I ask why you summoned us?” “Tea first?” Sherry, half-reclining in her chair, straightened slightly at their arrival. A fine ceramic teapot appeared in her hand, steam curling from its spout. “Sure.” Gauss nodded. He had come to expect a cup of tea before a discussion. Cups of tea appeared in front of the three of them. Clear black tea flowed from the pot, catching the late sun through the window like a pool of liquid sunset. Sherry stared at Gauss’s face and didn’t look away. It might be her nature—she had no seeming concern for propriety and simply studied him intently, as if trying to divine something in his features. After a long moment she let out a sigh. Gauss felt a few invisible lines appear on his forehead. Could she speak any more vaguely? She’d stared at his face for a long time and then said “pity” — about what? Aria shot him a sideways look. “Don’t get me wrong.” Sherry suddenly realized something. “I mean it’s a pity you didn’t become a Warlock.” Misunderstanding resolved. “A Mage’s also fine.” Gauss said carefully, though inwardly pleased. Sherry rolled her eyes inside. From their first meeting she’d doubted his profession as a simple Mage. Even mundane careers subtly shape a person’s aura—and in the transcendent professions, the difference is even sharper. After several close encounters she sensed Gauss’s aura differed markedly from a typical Mage. She couldn’t match it to any known profession, so it had to be a relatively rare one. Yet given his exceptional Charisma, it was a shame he hadn’t become a Warlock. Charisma for a Warlock is more than looks or speech—it represents a powerful personal force, will, and the ability to command inner magical power. Mages seek magic through study and external understanding; Warlocks draw strength from innate magical bloodlines and supernatural gifts, channeling inner potential. So Mages need wisdom, while Warlocks require a strong self to command and shape raw inner magic. Gauss understood Sherry’s lament, but he felt no regret. His visible Charisma was high, but among his six attributes it was only average. His Intelligence was higher. “Let’s get to business, Vice President Sherry.” The tea finished, Gauss continued. After this they still planned to go home and rest. Although the woman opposite was pleasant to look at, he preferred sleeping in his own bed. “Impatient, aren’t you?” Sherry shook her head. “Fine. I called you here to discuss opening Outpost No. 11.” “Outpost No. 11? What’s that?” “In response to higher orders, we’re assembling adventurers from Grayrock Town, Lincrest Town, Absinthe Town, and Blackwater Town, together with a knight unit assigned by the province, to establish a development point inside the Emerald Forest.” Sherry paused, took another sip of tea, then continued in a low voice, Content orıginally comes from 𝔫𝔬𝔳𝔢𝔩~𝕗𝕚𝕣𝕖~𝙣𝙚𝙩 “You’ve probably noticed that since last year, monster activity around the Emerald Forest’s border has become more frequent and aggressive. There have been repeated reports of abnormal monster migrations.” At the words “abnormal migrations,” Gauss, Aria, and Serlandul exchanged glances. They immediately thought of the Gnoll-led goblin squad they’d encountered in the rain this morning. Sherry caught the change in their expressions and asked, her lips slightly parted, “You seem to have something to say?” “We ran into them to the northwest of the town on our way back…” Gauss summarized the encounter concisely. Sherry tapped her fingers on the table and a look of understanding and deep thought passed across her eyes. “The situation you encountered isn’t an isolated case. Recently many adventurers have reported similar incidents—monsters are pushing lower-tier beasts toward town.” “And Outpost No. 11 sits on a special natural mana node at the fringe of the Emerald Forest. Occupying it will have a positive effect on the surrounding situation.” “In fact, besides the Outpost No. 11 in our area, the entire Emerald Forest border will get seventeen outposts. The Adventurers Guild wants you to station near an outpost until it’s established. There will be bounties, and daily garrison subsidies.” “How about this? Interested in checking it out? It’s much more interesting than you clearing goblins and goblin-like creatures around the town.” Gauss didn’t answer immediately. He lowered his eyes and idly traced the warm cup with his fingers. “Honestly, I find clearing goblins pretty fun.” Sherry’s expression shifted; she almost forgot. This man before her had been gaining a reputation as the Goblin Killer around Grayrock Town. Maybe he truly found killing goblins enjoyable—even satisfying. “Stationing at an outpost will mean even more goblins… as you know, goblins are the most common cannon fodder.” “I need to discuss it with my companions.” Gauss looked to Aria and Serlandul. Aria had also learned the Cantrip Message recently. The three quickly exchanged ideas via Message in front of Sherry. With adventurers from four towns and provincial forces converging, there would be no shortage of professionals—this would be a grand gathering. Within the adventuring world there’s an unwritten truth everyone knows: the best way to increase one’s Rank is to participate in big events. Throughout history, those who stand at the summit seized opportunities during sweeping era-defining waves. Only by taking the stage on a larger platform can one hope to leap in life hierarchy. Their own team had already shown traces of that. After Gauss finished the Winter Hunt he rose from Level 1 to Level 2; exploring the Maze led Aria to Level 2; and with enough experience Gauss had soon reached Level 3. Even Serlandul had hinted he sensed a touch of the Level 4 threshold. The establishment of Outpost No. 11 seemed a local symptom of escalating conflict between humans and monsters, perhaps the opening chapter of a new era. The three quickly reached consensus via Message. Gauss looked up and addressed the leisurely Sherry sipping her tea as he prepared to decide. “Vice President Sherry,” Gauss said. “We accept the commission.” Sherry’s face broke into a knowing smile as she set down her cup. “A wise choice. Now, details…” With her hands clasped and chin supported, Sherry explained the specifics. Through Sherry’s patient briefing and Gauss’s occasional questions, the three finally had a clear picture of the long-term commission. First: Outpost No. 11 had not yet started construction; progress was zero. Personnel were gathering toward Lincrest Town. When built, not only would the four towns’ adventurers and provincial knights be involved, but inland adventurers would also arrive. As one of the “pillar forces” from the four towns, they’d enjoy extra benefits. Second: The outpost’s site—a natural mana node—had unique properties. It naturally attracted monsters and affected the spawn frequency of nearby monsters. So while garrisoning, small bands or groups of monsters would periodically attack the site. Third: Garrison duties weren’t just monster-slaying and resisting sieges. They included assisting with heavy cargo transport between nearby towns, helping villages eliminate wandering monsters, investigating special locations—each task paying more than ordinary commissions. Fourth: Beyond fixed bounties and daily subsidies, there would be “priority exchange rights.” Special missions would award Guild Merits. Merits could be exchanged for rare resources hard to source externally—magic-grade materials like Clay King, equipment, potions, spellbooks, and so on. “No objections.” Gauss folded the parchment scroll Sherry handed him. It listed clear terms and exchange options. “Excellent.” Sherry smiled. “As soon as possible. But since you just returned from a mission, rest one day. The morning after tomorrow a supply caravan will depart for Lincrest Town from the Guild entrance—you can join it. I’ll notify them ahead of time.” “I’ll count escorting that caravan as an introductory 1-star task for you.” Though a simple escort, Sherry used her authority to grant Gauss’s party a little extra benefit. With arrangements settled, Gauss stood to take his leave. Outside the Guild, the sunset painted the sky a brilliant orange-red. Gauss watched the bustling street. His gaze drifted toward Lincrest Town—somewhere he’d never been—and to the soon-to-be Outpost No. 11. Beneath seeming daily calm there were undercurrents of turmoil. Though Grayrock Town looked peaceful now, if conflict intensified and humans fell behind, these frontier towns would be the first to suffer—possibly attacked by wyverns or even stronger monsters. Frontier towns like Grayrock exist as forward posts. Likewise, an occupied natural mana node below Grayrock would allow monsters to spread, turning the area into a breeding ground. Thinking back on his talk with Sherry, Gauss felt relieved. Not bringing his family to town had been the right choice. Small villages are less valuable to monsters—beyond raiding a bit of loot there’s little gain. Human-monster territorial disputes are ultimately battles for natural mana. Mana spawns monsters and precious medicinal herbs, ores, and gems, and increases the chance of nearby adventurers emerging. “Enough thinking—rest well for one day. We leave for Lincrest the day after tomorrow.” Gauss looked at his companions and the sunset. Lincrest was the largest nearby town. Gauss had been surprised by Grayrock Guild Leader Eberhard’s strength, but that was an individual’s prowess; the town’s overall adventurer quality was not particularly high. That was why a three-star team like Iron Arms could have real renown here. Grayrock lacked Level 4 and 5 professionals. Many elite adventurers coming from inland would arrive for the outpost. Though inland adventurers might lack as much field experience, many had formal Academy training and family support—strength and potential that could not be ignored. “Let’s use Lincrest as the place to really make our name… no, our team’s name.” Gauss pinched his chin, pondering. “Aria, what should our team be called? We need something catchy.” To prevent the title Goblin Killer or Goblin Killer Squad from spreading further in a malicious way, Gauss wanted to take the initiative and establish a name themselves. “I don’t have a good idea.” Aria took a half-step back. “Then Serlandul, you?” Gauss looked sharply at Serlandul. “Captain, I don’t have any ideas either—these big matters are for you to decide.” The half-snake shrugged. Gauss hadn’t expected naming their rise to fame to hit a snag immediately—everyone on the team suffered from name-anxiety.