civilwarnovels Chapter 392: [Precision]
Chapter 392: [Precision]
At the moment the notification popped up.Gauss keenly sensed that a peculiar power had appeared within his body.
"You have obtained a fragment of World Rule power."
"Rule: Precision."
"Huh! ?"
Once the dust settled and the mysterious power fully integrated into Gauss's body, he finally saw the specific content and instinctively widened his eyes.
No wonder he was so startled.
The information displayed was truly impactful.
"World Rule power..."
Although not entirely clear about its exact function, the name alone sounded incredibly formidable.
Especially when he saw the words "Precision," he suddenly recalled the scene from his earlier battle with the goblin-like creatures, where the sky was filled with firebirds swarming towards him like moths to a flame.
Originally, he thought that was controlled by the goblin-like creatures.
He was even thinking that, although the goblin-like creature Leader's "delay" was quite high, being able to control so many firebirds to attack simultaneously showed decent skill.
But now it seems, it likely had absolutely nothing to do with the goblin-like creatures.
It was probably the power of that Golden Candle, the Divine Material that Gauss had now absorbed.
Looking at the Divine Factor that had reached 2.65%, objectively speaking, this proportion was still not high, but drawing a special power from it was still a cause for joy.
Moreover, if this truly was a fragment of Rule power, did that mean that by collecting more fragments of the same type, this "Precision" Rule power could be strengthened?
And, do other kinds of World Rule powers exist?
Can other creatures master them as well?
As he pondered, his expression unconsciously turned serious.
Just like that ordinary elderly goblin-like creature, after possessing this fragment, it could borrow its power in an extremely crude manner and unleash strength far beyond its own.
If other humans, or monsters, mastered it, they could likely also gain enhancement.
This World Rule power is far too dangerous... Gauss felt that if necessary, he needed to collect more.
His mind recalled the final, utterly exhausted state of that goblin-like creature Leader.
Activating World Rule power also seemed to require a tremendous price. In less than a minute, it completely drained the life force of an 8th-level monster. That was terrifying.
Or perhaps, that goblin-like creature wasn't as old as it appeared.
After all, it used the Golden Candle so proficiently; it must have used it frequently before. The loss of life force would naturally accelerate its aging.
So, what price would I pay for using that power?
Gauss thought of the most crucial point.
If it meant rapidly losing life force like the elderly goblin-like creature, he definitely wouldn't use it.
If each use burned away a fraction of his lifespan, he'd be typing GG after just a few times.
If so, no matter how powerful, it would be a false strength.
Temporarily suppressing this worry deep in his heart, he decided to cautiously test it later when he had free time.
For now, he still needed to handle the final cleanup.
His gaze swept towards those goblin-like creatures.
"Total monsters killed: 30922"
The battle was over.
Flames still burned throughout the entire mining valley, but aside from the Red Dragon Guild members, no other living creatures could be seen.
"Cough, cough!"
A Red Dragon Guild member who had just removed his mask to drink water, smelling the lingering pungent odor in the air and thinking it might contain many toxic substances, could only quickly grab his waterskin, take a few hurried gulps, and then hurriedly put his filter mask back on.
They looked at the densely packed, mass-grave-like valley around them, couldn't help but swallow hard, their hearts still filled with awe.
Originally, they thought the number of goblin-like creatures they killed while guarding outside and intercepting those fleeing was already high. Only upon entering the valley did they realize the monsters they personally killed were just a drop in the ocean.
"Guild Leader Gauss is truly too strong."
"So many monsters, even if they were tied up and placed in front of me, I probably couldn't kill them all even if I chopped until I was exhausted."
"Haha! Of course. But I say, aren't you getting a bit carried away? You're actually comparing yourself to the Guild Leader now."
"Who doesn't have dreams?"
...
Ivan came to Gauss's side.
"Guild Leader Gauss."
"Hmm?"
Gauss was recovering his mana.
He had also consumed a lot of mana earlier.
Fortunately, the Feast Power reserves provided by his Feast talent could instantly replenish his depleted mana.
He effectively had three mana bars, which greatly enhanced his endurance.
In most situations, this total mana was sufficient.
But after all, this place wasn't safe. Even though he still had some mana left, it was best to replenish it immediately.
Hearing Ivan's approach, he knew the other was coming to report.
"Guild Leader, three team members were injured just now."
"Any casualties?"
"No deaths." Although answering this way, Ivan's face still carried a trace of shame.
In his view, this was a failure in his duties.
In other adventuring guilds, paying such a price to take down a nest of over two thousand monsters would undoubtedly be considered a great victory.
After all, for many adventuring guilds, ordinary members were merely "consumables." Only veterans who remained in the team after several real battles were considered true comrades.
Other members who fell, were severely injured, or lost combat capability would be ruthlessly removed from the team.
If they encountered a Guild Leader with a conscience, they might receive a substantial compensation payment.
But if they encountered those black-hearted bosses, especially those who exploited loopholes, they were finished.
In Ivan's eyes, Gauss was actually an anomaly.
He treated people as people, not as cannon fodder or tools.
He also allowed team members to gain real combat experience, but he wouldn't make them do things beyond their capabilities; he wouldn't send them to certain death.
"Are the injuries serious?"
"They were all injured by falling rocks during the valley collapse earlier. Serlandul has already treated them. Their lives are not in danger, but they may need a few days of rest and observation."
"Hmm."
Gauss nodded upon hearing this.
"Treat them well. If any are later deemed unfit for adventuring, compensate them according to the regulations."
He said this not out of a desire to discard them after use.
But because it was a good outcome for both parties.
If their physical condition didn't permit it, forcing them to continue taking on commissions would only bring greater risks, both to their own safety and to their teammates.
"I understand."
Ivan nodded seriously.
His peripheral vision glanced at the Red Dragon Guild members who were cheerfully looting the spoils, and he couldn't help but feel that they were very lucky to have a Guild Leader like Gauss.
...
"Gauss, I found quite a few valuable spoils here."
Shadow had looted many treasures from the goblin-like creatures' mine tunnels, likely the personal stash of that goblin-like creature Leader.
There were also several spellbooks written in strange, crooked characters.
Several large gold nuggets.
A small box of magic stones, mostly primary magic stones, but also about twenty intermediate magic stones.
As for the rest, they were items of lesser value.
His gaze immediately went to those spellbooks.
He picked them up and glanced at them, decisively using [Tongue of Languages]. Soon, those unfamiliar characters, like little tadpoles, were temporarily understood by him.
3rd circle spell Memory Seal, 2nd circle spell Hypnosis Charm, 2nd circle spell Echo Location.
Seeing the contents, he felt some joy; it was better than he expected.
Memory Seal, as a 3rd circle spell, was not as powerful as the 5th circle spell Modify Memory.
The former's effect was to "seal" a recent memory from the same day, not exceeding 5 minutes, from a willing or restrained, helpless creature. After being sealed, without special circumstances, the person would forget that part of the memory, like a blackout from drinking.
Modify Memory, as a 5th circle spell, was much more powerful. It could permanently erase a memory or, according to the caster's needs, create a new memory in the target. Moreover, this created memory would be very smooth because the target would subconsciously fill in the details themselves.
But even so, Gauss felt the 3rd circle Memory Seal was a good magic.
If someone witnessed something they shouldn't have, that part of their memory could simply be sealed.
He needed some "flexible" magic.
The effect of Hypnosis Charm was also quite good; it could hypnotize targets to perform specific actions or answer questions. Of course, it also had drawbacks; after the hypnosis ended, the target might still retain some memory.
Echo Location was a sonic-type magic, emitting bat-like sounds. Even in darkness, it could map the surroundings through echolocation.
Gauss guessed these spells were also collected by that goblin-like creature Leader.
Especially the first two; it was highly likely that because it possessed heavy treasures and feared discovery and leaks by its subordinates, it specifically collected them.
Gauss had always been very interested in collecting spells, so he naturally accepted the magic before him with a smile.
Whether purchased in towns or looted from monsters, it was the same to him. If it had learning value, he didn't mind trying it.
The Red Dragon Guild's looting process this time proceeded quickly.
After collecting easily gathered materials and valuable items, everything else that couldn't be taken was smashed or burned.
Simply because they couldn't stay in one place for too long, otherwise there was a risk of being discovered by other monsters.
Destroying those supplies was also to prevent later monsters that came to this mining valley from using them after they left.
The mining tools, smelting equipment, and workshops here could potentially later produce arrows shot at human adventurers and towns.
After a hasty looting, the Red Dragon Guild quickly withdrew.
As usual, after clearing a monster village, the Red Dragon Guild began to rest.
Gauss, after his subordinates settled down, came to an open area outside the village.
He had been thinking about the [Precision] power. Now that he was finally in a relatively safe area, he could begin some testing.
"Don't let me down."
His consciousness slowly sank inward.
Deep within his consciousness, he gradually saw a fragment emitting a brilliant light.
Just from the first contact, Gauss knew this was that fragment of World Rule power.
It was breathtakingly beautiful, emitting a grand fluctuation.
As he focused his attention on it, more streams of information continuously emerged from within.
"Huff—"
Gauss didn't dare "look" too much and quickly diverted his attention.
In just that one second, he felt his mind grow heavy and muddled.
He realized that with his current Intelligence, forget analyzing its essence, he couldn't even "observe" it.
A few more seconds of looking, and that flood would fill his brain, potentially causing irreversible damage.
He must be extremely cautious!
Gauss reminded himself in his heart.
This thing seemed very dangerous.
But he had to admit, this dangerous power was very attractive to him.
As if sensing its "host" observing it, that fragment representing Precision emitted a special fluctuation.
"Hum!"
In an instant, Gauss's muddled state of consciousness improved somewhat.
Then he began to notice changes in himself.
"This is..."
Gauss noticed that in his consciousness, those dozens of spell models were influenced by the fluctuation emitted by [Precision] and had entered a state of resonance.
"My magic seems different."
He opened his eyes. His entire body seemed enveloped by an invisible force field.
Then he looked towards the open ground in the distance.
"Mage Hand!"
With a thought, an invisible hand instantly materialized before him.
This was the first cantrip he mastered.
Initially, its casting range was 10 meters, and its movement required Gauss's continuous control.
Later, as his strength increased, this casting range also improved. Now, without upcasting, it had reached 25 meters. What remained unchanged was that it still required Gauss's full control.
But now, after obtaining that [Precision] fragment, everything seemed different again.
He looked at a sparrow on a branch not far away.
"Go."
With a thought, the Mage Hand moved towards it.
"Indeed, I no longer need to control it continuously; it locks onto the target by itself."
Just as the Mage Hand was about to reach it, Gauss deliberately made a sound. The sparrow, hearing the noise, flew up from the branch, leaving its original spot.
And that invisible Mage Hand quickly adjusted its trajectory following the sparrow's new position.
"Chirp chirp chirp!"
The sparrow caught by the invisible Mage Hand let out frightened cries.
But with its strength alone, escape was clearly impossible.
Fortunately, Gauss didn't intend to torment it. With another thought, he had the Mage Hand release it.
"So convenient."
Gauss watched the sparrow fly away and couldn't help but raise an eyebrow.
How to describe this casting feeling?
It was like suddenly switching from a traditional gasoline car to driving another vehicle with intelligent assisted driving. Casting magic became exceptionally effortless.
All his magic seemed to have gained some ability to lock onto enemies, and controlling them became more precise and free.
Even when the Mage Hand exceeded the original 25-meter range, it could still autonomously track the target.
And this was just the effect of one fragment.
Gauss stroked his chin, lost in thought.
If this Precision power were made more complete, would it become even more terrifying?
If this "locking" power could be continuously strengthened, could it form a kind of tracking that defies common sense, or even an absolute hit that cannot be dodged?