latelenovela Chapter 287: Joining the Team
Chapter 287: Joining the Team
After leveling up to level 5, Gauss began testing his specific abilities the very next day.First and foremost were the third-circle spells.
After a series of tests, he found that using Fly and Fireball had become much easier.
Although he had managed to master third-circle spells in advance at level 4 before, using them had actually been quite awkward.
Now there was an added sense of ease.
No matter what it was.
Whether it was flight speed, maneuverability, or endurance, all had significantly improved.
Gauss drifted down from the sky, feeling the enhanced "aerial combat capability" and nodded with satisfaction.
The other companions were also training their respective abilities.
Only Shadow was not here.
She had gone to find a secluded place to seek her breakthrough.
Every profession, and even every individual, had vastly different ways of breaking through.
Someone like Gauss used conventional meditation, while Aria needed to comprehend nature, and some warriors would seek professional sparring partners to seek breakthroughs through combat.
Like the Eight Immortals crossing the sea, each showing their divine powers, there was no single correct way to level up, only the method most suitable for oneself.
Someone like Shadow didn't need teammates to follow her;on the contrary, she needed to find a secluded, uninhabited corner alone.
"Breaking through from level 5 to level 6... should be quite a significant improvement."
According to the experience provided by Albenia, every professional who breaks through from level 5 to level 6 randomly awakens a skill suitable for themselves, and all their abilities receive a considerable boost.
It's unclear exactly how long it will take.
Even though Shadow said the team didn't need to wait for her in place, and that she would find them after successfully breaking through, Gauss certainly couldn't be so heartless as to just leave.
Coincidentally, he also needed to use this time to familiarize himself with the improvements brought by his breakthrough.
"BOOM!!!"
In the distance, Albenia was descending from the sky, swinging her double-bladed axe to chop at a massive rock.
Accompanied by a roaring sound, the hill-sized hard boulder cracked open with a deep fissure.
The crack rapidly spread, instantly covering the entire boulder like a spiderweb.
"BOOM!!"
The intact giant rock instantly turned into a pile of rubble.
Albenia landed steadily, hoisted the great axe onto her shoulder, looked at her result, and wiped her sweat with satisfaction.
To be honest, due to being busy with blacksmith work over the past period.
Her offensive skills had become somewhat rusty.
This was also the reason she hadn't participated much in offense during the recent commission.
Now, for some reason, she wanted to quickly regain proficiency in her offensive skills.
"Clap clap clap."
"Truly impressive."
Gauss walked to her side, clapped, and did not hesitate to offer praise.
A warrior's destructive power was indeed terrifying.
Even he, in a normal state, would find it difficult to withstand the power of that strike.
Of course, in actual combat, he wouldn't just take the hit head-on.
Facing an opponent like Albenia, he would naturally choose to utilize his superior mobility to maneuver and look for offensive opportunities.
His close-combat methods were generally used to bully opponents physically inferior to himself.
Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses.
One needs to selectively exert corresponding strength based on the specific situation.
"Haha, not bad, been a bit out of practice for a while." Albenia gave a simple, honest laugh, but inwardly she was happy that Gauss had noticed this scene.
"Ahem, Albenia, come with me, there's something I need to confirm with you."
Gauss suddenly shifted to the main topic.
Albenia followed his gaze to Aria and Serlandul, who were already waiting in front of the Fold House door, and suddenly had a feeling.
Catching a glimpse of Gauss's handsome face in her peripheral vision, her heart started pounding rapidly.
"Co...coming."
Entering the Fold House's first-floor hall.
Black tea and food had already been set out on the dining table in advance.
Everyone had done some training and now had a good appetite.
So they began the main topic of this conversation while eating.
Even though Shadow wasn't here, Gauss had already confirmed her opinion in advance.
Gauss picked up the white teapot and poured a cup of black tea for everyone.
"This is like gathering together for a chat, having a small meeting."
Hearing this, Albenia slowly put down the food in her hand, subconsciously sat up straight, and took a sip of black tea.
Gauss turned his gaze to Albenia.
These past few days, even though the commission had ended, Albenia had not left the team.
Actually, whether it was Gauss or Aria and the others, they could vaguely guess her intentions.
But dragging things out like this wasn't productive;naturally, it needed to be thoroughly confirmed, whether she was leaving, joining, or had some other arrangement.
Having spent some days together, they were considered friends now;laying things out clearly would be easier for everyone.
"Albenia, I'd like to ask, on behalf of our team, if you have any intention of joining our team?"
Gauss didn't beat around the bush;that wasn't his style, he asked directly and straightforwardly.
"Yes, Lord Gauss, I wish to join your team." Albenia nodded immediately without any hesitation, as if she hadn't even thought about it.
Although he had already sensed Albenia's intentions beforehand, Gauss still didn't expect her to be so straightforward.
"What about your blacksmith shop?"
Objectively speaking, Gauss felt the other party needed some consideration to make this choice.
"No problem, I've already been gradually selling off my stock these days. Give me some more time, and I should be able to clear it out." Albenia indicated this wasn't an issue.
She had been quietly preparing all along.
Although the blacksmith shop was a decent livelihood, for a Master-tier warrior, it wasn't that hard to give up.
The blacksmith work was just more stable;in terms of income, it naturally couldn't compare to becoming an adventurer.
Moreover, she never planned to be a blacksmith for life.
Being a blacksmith was just a transitional period after leaving her hometown.
She was also tired of the desolate Gold-Silver Town, and with Gauss's presence, she was naturally willing to follow their team on adventures.
"Also, I don't plan to sell some of the high-grade materials. Later, when we find other suitable materials, I can forge a set of equipment for all of you." Albenia patted her chest and guaranteed.
This was the benefit of being both a warrior and a blacksmith;having such a versatile member ensured the team's equipment and subsequent repairs and upgrades were taken care of.
However, some high-level equipment required extremely precious materials, and gathering enough would take some time.
"That's so kind of you..." Aria smiled.
"Don't stand on ceremony with me." Albenia was always generous with her own people.
Especially now that the important matter of joining the team was finally settled, making her indescribably happy.
"Well then, welcome."
Gauss extended his hand, shook hers, and welcomed her into the team.
Albenia joining the team would also give him more room to maneuver.
Although he could also serve as the front line, becoming the "main tank" inevitably hindered his spellcasting.
If there was a proper "big tank" upfront to attract fire and tie down enemies, he would have more operational space whether using sword techniques or casting spells.
"Next is that Red Drake;I plan to keep it." Gauss confirmed the second topic with his companions.
Besides becoming a mount, the Red Drake was also the team's second "tank";it was thick-skinned and tough, and more crucially, had strong recovery ability.
Plus, with means of restraint in place, there was no need to worry about it causing trouble for now.
It was just a bit unruly temporarily, but Gauss was confident he could train it properly.
"Over the next couple of days, I'll make sure it gets along harmoniously with Ulfen and the others."
Gauss continued.
Otherwise, Ulfen and the others not being able to enter the Living Bag was always a troublesome matter.
If they couldn't reach an agreement with the Red Drake, then fists would have to be used.
Over the past couple of days, Gauss had roughly figured out that Red Drake's "personality."
Despite its outwardly irritable appearance, it was actually quite "savvy," able to distinguish who's boss.
As a drake, different from a true Dragon, its intelligence wasn't high, but this manifested in complex thinking abilities and spellcasting aspects;it wasn't the kind of fool who couldn't recognize what's good for it.
Its "wisdom" was more the cunning of a wild beast.
Ever since the day it was subdued by Gauss relying on strength and the golden chains, it had already yielded.
For instance, regarding the drake's food these days, Gauss took it out for an all-you-can-eat buffet. Initially, the drake was somewhat reluctant, but it compromised.
Or rather, the drake naturally ate monsters anyway.
When it was in the Goblin-like creature tribe, it frequently treated those loyal subordinates as little snacks.
It's just that monsters like Goblins and Goblin-like creatures naturally didn't taste as delicious as other prey with plump fat.
Total monsters killed: 7115
Gauss looked at the monster kill count on the panel.
With the drake around, it could digest some monster corpses, also saving him the subsequent steps of burning or burying them.
He himself needed to frequently go out to kill monsters anyway, so he could conveniently feed the drake along the way;it wasn't troublesome.
After he killed over eight hundred Goblin-like creatures last time, during this period, because he needed to feed the dragon, he had also killed several dozen to a hundred monsters intermittently.
It wasn't too far from the next stage's 8000 kill count.
Coincidentally, he felt the drake's current size still wasn't big enough.
Just like human teenagers needing to eat more and exercise to grow taller and stronger, Gauss felt a dragon's development followed the same principle.
Its current size wasn't big enough because it hadn't eaten enough.
Anyway, the wild Goblins were as plentiful as stray dogs on the roadside.
As long as the drake wanted to eat, it could have its fill.
As for not wanting to eat, that wasn't an option;it had already been vetoed.
Based on Gauss's observations, he noticed the drake had already started growing and developing these past few days.
This further proved his breeding strategy as the "keeper" was wise and on the right track.
What's the point of lying around sleeping all day, and after waking up, fiddling with those cheap glowing ores?
It would only ruin the dragon.
Dragons need to be taken out for exercise frequently, for faster metabolism, so they can grow more muscle.
Inside Aria's Living Bag, the Red Drake, who was resting with its eyes closed, suddenly sneezed, its body trembling inexplicably.
"Might as well start today." Gauss felt there's no time like the present.
"Then I'll go call Ulfen and the others back." Aria nodded.
Because they were "homeless," the Living Bag was occupied by the dragon, Ulfen had been frolicking with its animal friends in other parts of the wilderness during this time.
It only symbolically came back during dinner time in the evening.
Aria also felt it was time to rein it in a bit.
The two were in immediate agreement.
First, they called Ulfen, Eck, and the other animals out from the distant forest.
Then they released the still sleepy Red Drake from the Living Bag.
"Roar—"
The drake let out a soft roar.
The decibel level wasn't too loud;Gauss had taught it what volume was appropriate during this time.
The drake lowered its head before him.
As its strength was partially sealed and Gauss broke through to level 5, their strengths shifted;Gauss found it easier to suppress the drake.
He sometimes used the drake to practice spell coordination.
No dragon knew better than it the terribleness of this kind-faced man.
On the other side, Ulfen, who was dragged to the drake's side, had its wolf legs trembling wildly, and upon closer inspection, it seemed some yellow liquid was dripping onto the ground.
Gauss glanced at it.
This was just too pathetic.
Actually, Ulfen's strength was quite good;in his judgment, most level 2 monsters couldn't defeat it, and it could tie down some level 3 monsters relying on its speed advantage, barely considered a local bully in the wild.
Even a few days ago, facing level 5 individuals among the Goblin-like creatures, it showed no fear at all.
So, its fear didn't completely stem from the level difference, but from a deep-seated fear in its bloodline.
If Aria weren't holding it, it would probably have bolted.
"Whimper~ Whimper~"
It kept its tail tightly tucked.
Call it a wolf, but it was no different from a dog now.
Aria looked up at Gauss, her face very embarrassed.
It seemed she didn't expect it to behave so disgracefully even with her and Gauss present.
Seeing that she could barely hold Ulfen back, Gauss stepped forward, activated his strength, and forcibly dragged it next to the drake.
The silver wolf Ulfen instantly bristled.
"Growl~~"
As if sensing its fear of itself, the drake's "bully the weak, fear the strong" nature surfaced again;it turned its head and tried to roar to intimidate Ulfen.
Gauss felt speechless internally.
He had just formed an evaluation of its knowing its place, and this guy was already itching for trouble again.
Indeed, monsters were creatures that remembered eating but not beatings;without frequent lessons, they couldn't help but reveal their bullying nature.
Most likely, it wanted to make the silver wolf Ulfen submit to it through intimidation, to be driven around like those Goblin-like creatures.
"THWACK!!!"
Gauss's other hand activated Monstrous Strength, striking the drake's head fiercely.
This punch was powerful and heavy, smashing the drake's head down into the ground with force.
The drake let out a pained grunt, its just-raised arrogance instantly shattered.
Facing Gauss's loving iron fist, it felt no anger, only gazing at Gauss resentfully.
Clearly, it had already been so submissive;wasn't it allowed to have someone to order around?
"I'm telling you, you guy! Can't you get along with them properly?"
Trying to form cliques within the team was not allowed;the only one who could call the shots in this team was Gauss.
You, understand?
The drake had already become obedient, nodding repeatedly.
Gauss's punch not only dispersed the drake's arrogance but also shattered a certain illusion Ulfen had towards the drake.
It seemed to have figured something out.
It glanced at Gauss, then at the drake.
It just felt that the originally unattainable stature had slowly fallen into the dust.
It lifted a paw and gently placed it on the drake's body.
The drake turned its head away, not looking at it.
The silver wolf Ulfen verified its conjecture, and with Gauss backing it up, it gradually became bolder, circling around the drake a few times.
Sniffing here, looking there.
As a wolf, it was also the first time it had such close contact with a dragon.
Following Ulfen's lead, the other animals also slowly let go of their fear of the drake.
The boldest among them was undoubtedly the raven Eck.
It even dared to step on the Red Drake's head.
The drake half-closed its eyes, pretending to sleep, but inwardly couldn't help but lament.
In its peripheral vision, it saw the wolf, raven, Ostrich, horse... all sorts of riff-raff could sit as equals with the great dragon.
It felt this was the most miserable day of its dragon life.