Gauss checked his Adventurer's Manual, and sure enough.

The Rapid Digestion talent he'd plundered from the goblins had upgraded from Initial Grade to Elite Grade.

Reading the effect description:

The Energy Storage Gland seemed like a more advanced version of a camel's hump, capable of storing extra energy reserves within the body that could be directly converted into stamina or mana during emergencies.

So basically having a hidden backup energy source?

Not bad.

Gauss felt his "mana bar" had invisibly grown longer.

But the Adventurer's Manual seemed quite directive, almost encouraging him to kill more of the talent's original hosts - the goblins.

The more he killed, the better the energy storage effect would become.

Moreover, looking at the grades - Initial, Elite...

These seemed to correspond with the monster grades in the Monster Encyclopedia.

Meaning this talent could potentially upgrade further to Transcendent Grade, Lord Grade, Legendary Grade and beyond?

Though going from Initial to Elite already required killing over two hundred goblins. Reaching the highest grades would require numbers difficult to even imagine.

Whatever, he'd take it slow.

Gauss felt the talent's current effects were already quite good.

Mainly it was convenient - if enemies thought they'd pushed him to his limits, he could secretly activate this hidden reserve to restore stamina, replenish mana, and refresh his combat state, which was no small advantage.

And as he kept upgrading, his reserve mana bar would keep growing longer.

The goblin village had been temporarily cleared out.

Kevin and the others, who'd been hiding in the distance, had somehow found clothes and now approached the blood-soaked Gauss with trembling steps.

"Honored sir, is it safe now?"

"Mhm." Gauss collected his thoughts, looking at the three still-pale faces. "Are you three the only ones here? Any other companions?"

"Just us three."

"Thank you for saving us, great adventurer."

"We're eternally grateful!"

Though their words overflowed with gratitude, shadows of fear still lurked in their hearts.

None dared meet Gauss's eyes.

Gauss's vicious slaughter of the goblins had left too deep an impression, and they hadn't fully recovered yet.

Ordinary people instinctively kept distance from creatures that could casually take their lives - their survival genes screamed at them to stay away.

This wasn't about character, just basic self-preservation.

Especially since Gauss had just finished a massacre and hadn't fully restrained his aura, making the oppressive feeling even stronger!

Noticing how the three trembled, their legs shaking uncontrollably,

Gauss felt mixed emotions.

They... fear me?

Have I become so terrifying in others' eyes?

A complicated glint flashed through his eyes.

The joy from his talent upgrade dimmed slightly.

"Eat something." Gauss handed them some bread and jerky. "Keep hiding. After I deal with the returning goblins, I'll escort you out of the forest."

He gave them some food,

then walked away to sit on a clean rock, quietly eating to replenish energy.

His newly upgraded Energy Storage Gland also began working, storing additional reserves.

Leaving the three to exchange glances, looking down at their trembling legs with shame and humiliation.

Even facing their savior, their bodies still reacted with fear?

They could sense Gauss's underlying kindness through his calm expression, yet their bodies refused to obey.

Still, they couldn't think of any way to repay him.

They were too weak.

And he clearly didn't need their help to eliminate enemies they could never hope to defeat.

"Whitney, Wick."

"What is it?"

"I want to become an adventurer."

"Are you serious?"

"Yeah. I want to be like that adventurer, killing monsters instead of trembling like prey."

"You'll die."

"I want to try."

"Then... I'll join too."

Gauss sat some distance away,

but his 7 Perception still let him clearly hear their conversation in the deathly silent goblin village.

So three more rookie adventurers would join this world?

His peripheral vision caught their expressions - the terror fading, replaced by the spark of newfound purpose.

Maybe not a bad thing.

Shifting focus, he turned his gaze to the village entrance.

His stamina and mana were gradually recovering.

After about an hour of patient waiting,

under Gauss's eager gaze, a large group of goblins finally returned.

Amidst chaotic footsteps and chatter, the goblins cheerfully entered their home.

But before they could greet their kin, their expressions froze in shock at the incomprehensible scene.

They'd only been gone briefly.

Yet their familiar village had become utterly alien.

Blood soaked the earth - intestines, severed hands, heads, younglings bisected waist-high. Overturned cauldrons had extinguished bonfires, huts collapsed. The once lively village stood eerily silent, everything gray and ruined.

The only moving creature in this devastation was the man standing at the village center,

now slowly rising from his rock,

raising that "white stick" that now glowed with dangerous light.

"Waaah!!"

The experienced leader behind them screamed warnings.

Too late.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three blue orbs tore through the air, instantly exploding amidst the dense goblin ranks.

"Bang!"

Six or seven goblins were blown apart in the blast.

"Magic Missile!"

Gauss watched the petrified goblins, simply speeding up his casting.

Against tightly packed low-level mobs like this, it was practically suicide.

"Boom!"

Magic Missile proved devastatingly effective again.

Blood sprayed everywhere - his vision dyed crimson.

The largest goblin's eyes burned red,

watching its home destroyed, kin slaughtered, a bloody tear sliding down its cheek.

That man had taken everything from it!

Hatred festered in its heart.

Gauss's figure loomed larger in its vision,

until he seemed to fill its entire world.

He must die!

"Hummm!"

A dark, sinister energy rapidly expanded in its brain, making its body convulse violently.

Some primal power was awakening within.

"BOOM!!!"

A full-power Magic Missile streaked through the air.

The leader's boiling blood suddenly chilled as it looked down.

Its once muscular chest now had a massive, smooth hole.

Cool air even seemed to whistle through the cavity.

"So cold! So cold!"

Never had its mind felt so clear. Teeth chattering, eyes filled with resentment.

Just a bit more time, just a bit...

In its final moments of bitter resentment, darkness swallowed its world.

A shadowy energy dissipated into the void.

Gauss frowned at the fallen leader.

He'd sensed something strange - a bizarre fluctuation, as if some mysterious power had briefly focused on that goblin.

Whatever.

It's dead now. Doesn't matter.

Taking out leaders first was standard strategy anyway.

And after losing its frontline cover, instead of retreating, it had glared at him with such hatred - how could he not answer such fighting spirit?

Channeling mana into his hands,

Gauss now had enough reserves to exterminate every remaining goblin with Magic Missiles.

Thus began the chase - goblins fleeing in panic as he advanced relentlessly, firing missile after missile.

From the village center all the way to the open fields beyond.

"Boom!"

With the final missile launched,

Gauss surveyed the field. Besides himself, nothing else remained standing.