Gauss's heart suddenly surged with an intense desire to obtain it.

Though he didn't understand where this emotion came from or why it arose.

He considered himself generally quite composed.

But now his heart was pounding wildly, as if a voice inside kept urging him to act.

"Don't get distracted..."

Gauss pressed slightly on his chest, taking deep breaths, trying to calm himself.

"Gauss, are you okay?"

This scene caught the attention of Aria, who had been watching him closely. Thinking something was wrong, she quickly asked with concern.

"I'm fine, not uncomfortable, just a bit excited. It's good news."

"Oh." Aria nodded, only half-understanding.

But seeing no expression of pain or discomfort on Gauss's face, she immediately felt relieved.

This was probably what they called "concern leads to confusion."

In contrast, Serlandul appeared much calmer, just glancing at Gauss before refocusing attention on monitoring their surroundings.

Of course, it might also be because as a priest, he had special means to sense Gauss's physical changes in advance, so he wasn't overly worried.

"I just saw - in the center of the woodland, there's a pond with a huge egg about one meter in size floating above it. But there are three giant treants guarding it, their strength probably beyond what we can currently handle. Besides that, there are also..."

Gauss shared all the intelligence he had gathered with his two teammates.

"A giant egg? One meter in size?" Aria held her breath. "Could it be the offspring of some incredible magical creature?"

"A white egg..."

As a druid with the ability to contract companions, she was naturally more sensitive to such items.

"Could it be a Sacred Unicorn?" she couldn't help but let her imagination run wild.

Sacred Unicorns were magical creatures residing in enchanted forests, a powerful branch of the unicorn race.

They resembled horses but weren't docile ordinary forest creatures;

they were noble, highly intelligent, and incredibly powerful celestial beings typically associated with purity, forests, and benevolent divine power.

In folk legends, these creatures combining beauty and strength often appeared in stories, living peacefully with forest creatures - from rabbits, wolves, and foxes to various fey beings, all often serving this forest guardian.

Adventurers with good intentions might receive its help;

but those with evil thoughts might face expulsion or attack.

Legend said that when darkness fell upon the land, the gods would pair a Sacred Unicorn with a virtuous warrior to crusade against the leader of evil!

Thinking of this legend, she couldn't help but glance at Gauss.

Could the legend be true?

She thought their captain had something of a hero's appearance too...

She shook her head.

"Could also be other powerful creatures," she reconsidered.

This place didn't feel like where a Sacred Unicorn would appear.

"Could it be other neutral creatures or evil magical beings?"

There were actually quite many candidates that fit the requirements.

"Couldn't rule out it being a dragon egg either?"

Though the probability of a white dragon egg was probably low, since white dragons were frost dragons typically inhabiting cold polar regions, glaciers, and high mountain snowfields, disliking warmth - this environment would be too hot and humid for them.

But low probability didn't mean zero.

Besides, it could be other draconic species, or special dragon breeds with extremely low probability.

Beyond that, it might be even more mysterious creatures and existences.

"However, obtaining it seems quite difficult at present," Gauss said honestly.

He hadn't even figured out how to smoothly bring out such a huge egg from among a group of magical creatures.

Not to mention that getting close to it was the prerequisite for taking it out.

And he'd probably be exposed the moment he entered the woodland.

"Indeed." Aria also calmed down, thought for a moment, then nodded helplessly.

She couldn't think of a good solution either.

The reason she was willing to consider it was because Gauss's strength and diverse methods far exceeded ordinary level 3 professionals;

otherwise, they'd simply turn around and leave.

Direct assault was undoubtedly seeking death.

Sneaking in to steal it among the magical creatures wasn't realistic either - such a large object, and clearly the focus of all magical creatures' attention.

Setting a fire?

In this magic-rich forest, flames would naturally extinguish before long, impossible to spread.

Luring the tiger away from the mountain was even less possible - at most they could draw out a few Converts, then alert the grass and startle the snake, letting them know the trio had reached the vicinity.

What should they do?

They couldn't bear to leave... but had no concrete strategy for action.

Gauss's heartbeat grew faster, feeling his body gradually heating up.

...

"Uncle Mo, still no discovery?" Lock jumped off his horse.

Looking at the mist-shrouded canyon around them, his tone carried a hint of impatience.

Though they had taken clarity potions in advance, countering the toxins with the medicine's effects, the mist in the air still made people somewhat uneasy.

"Wait a moment, Young Master Lock," Mo Jar responded respectfully.

Before and behind the two, besides the always expressionless, silent adventurers, there was a whole team of cavalry.

The group marched grandly through the Mist Path, which was fraught with danger for civilian adventurers.

Such a team of all elites and above, having taken protective measures and consumed potions in advance, feared nothing even if faced with groups of Banshees and undead creatures.

Hence they moved with almost no vigilance.

They simply didn't believe they would encounter any surprises here.

A small, exquisite compass appeared in Mo Jar's hand.

Clearly, being produced at this moment, this item wasn't an ordinary direction-finding tool.

In fact, it was a precious magical artifact.

Its function was detecting abnormal magical aura and fluctuations within a certain range.

Thus it could serve as an early warning and treasure-finding tool to some extent.

The compass needle spun rapidly in Mo Jar's hand.

"Whirr whirr whirr!"

Over ten seconds passed, it still showed no sign of stopping, instead spinning faster and faster.

The dial almost showed afterimages from the spinning.

"Broken?" Lock glanced at it, then looked away.

Normally, it would spin for a few seconds to complete positioning, then stop, indicating a certain direction - not keep spinning endlessly like this.

Just as Mo Jar also felt puzzled.

Above them, an overwhelming powerful presence descended like a mountain.

"BOOM!!!"

The annoying mist in the Mist Path suddenly dispersed.

But now, everyone present showed dazed expressions.

"Monster, incoming!"

They looked up.

With the mist gone, sunlight poured through the gap.

In the golden light, a massive bat slowly descended from high altitude.

Its size was enormous, with a wingspan approaching 15 meters.

Morphologically, it resembled a terrifying combination of a twisted giant bat and a land dragon, its main body covered in dark green, nearly black rough leathery skin covered with warts and abscesses.

Its head was part dragon, part bat, with a short snout and densely packed venomous teeth.

Its limbs were strong, especially the hind legs, bearing curved sharp claws that reflected heart-palpitating cold light under the sunlight.

Most notably, its eyes were surrounded by constantly churning turbid ink-green poisonous gas.

Each flap of its wings created massive gusts of wind, dispersing the surrounding mist further away.

"It's a Rotwing Drake!!!"

A knight looking up noticed this scene, muttering somewhat inappropriately.

Couldn't blame him for struggling to contain his fear, because this Rotwing Drake was an extremely powerful magical creature.

It was a key general under the Emerald Forest's ruler, the Green Dragon Queen, a vanguard magical creature bearing the title "Tyrant of Warts."

Why would it appear here?

Originally, having a few drakes stationed at the Wyvern Nest was already slightly excessive deployment for Outpost 11 relative to the Emerald Forest's long border.

But now the Rotwing Drake had appeared for some unknown reason.

Making the many cavalry present feel timid and uneasy.

Most of them were only at levels 1-5;

though outstanding among ordinary people, they weren't much different from cannon fodder when facing such a terrifying magical creature.

Some cavalry even began trembling, including their mounts which lost mobility.

The powerful oppressive pressure spread wantonly through the air - those who couldn't withstand it would lose most control over their limbs.

This was the impact of a "top-tier combatant" on the battlefield.

Fortunately, they weren't without a backbone either.

They secretly turned their gaze to Mo Jar at the team's center.

They saw this white-robed middle-aged man actually showing an expression of sudden realization as if things made sense now.

Mo Jar stared at the Rotwing Drake above, his heart still heavy.

That powerful oppressive feeling surpassed his own.

However, his attention wasn't entirely on the Rotwing Drake itself.

Its appearance instead further confirmed the prophecy's authenticity.

He indeed hadn't been wrong - that legendary prophecy was in the Mist Path!

Otherwise, how to explain why this vanguard under the Green Dragon Queen, the titled Rotwing Drake, would descend here?

He looked at Lock beside him.

Shouted loudly.

"Everyone, prepare for battle!!"

The resounding roar deafened ears, reaching everyone, making these originally fearful cavalry, mounts, and other creatures instantly regain courage, their eyes turning determined.

"BOOM!!!"

The Rotwing Drake noticed the movement below, as if provoked, its dragon head slowly lowered, emitting a substantial roar!

Circles of sonic shockwaves pressed down violently.

.

"ROAR!!!"

Gauss drove the clay Convert toward the pond direction.

But was soon roared at by a pure white Convert standing guard on a giant treant, extended willow-catkin-like attacks knocking him flying.

The posture seemed less like an attack, more like a warning and expulsion,

Not letting him approach the pond.

As if such a lowly ordinary Convert approaching the pond would defile the sacred object that many of its kind worshiped and venerated,

Or perhaps, the closer to the center, the clearer the contact with its emitted vibrations, the greater the benefits received? Hence unwilling to share the benefits.

It seemed that whether in human society or the primitive forests where magical creatures lived, strict hierarchies were everywhere.

"Quite stingy."

Just as Gauss was somewhat at his wit's end.

The originally calm pond water in the middle, the floating pure white giant egg suddenly moved, like a heart about to awaken.

"Hum! Hum! Hum!"

Accompanying the pulsation, visible circles of pure white energy waves suddenly radiated outward from it, washing through the surroundings.

This energy impact swept over the ground, glowing moss, trees, prostrate Converts, standing treants, instantly causing massive tremors.

"Boom! Boom!"

The ground began to tremble.

And the energy impact was far from over, finally penetrating the layered black tree barriers, sweeping past where Gauss's trio was hiding, rippling toward the distant forest.

"Huh?"

Gauss only felt a cool yet vitality-filled energy sweep through his entire body, refreshing his spirit, comfortable all over.

Aria and Serlandul also looked in astonishment toward the black tree barrier interior.

Inside the black tree barrier-enclosed woodland, drastic changes were occurring.

All Converts and dwarf treants, even the three largest giant treants in the center, became more fanatical and fearful at this moment.

They didn't understand what was happening to the sacred object.

Could only become more devout;

the magical creatures originally prostrate on the ground now almost tightly pressed against it.

"Boom!"

Just as the magical creatures were piously kneeling, that giant egg slowly rose into the air.

"Woo——"

This scene immediately caused a commotion among the magical creature group;

in their understanding, this sacred object granting evolutionary power had never moved before.

Indestructible, immovable, like a divine existence.

And now, it was moving!

This change was enough to break their understanding, if they truly had any.

After floating, the giant egg briefly locked onto a certain direction.

Then rapidly flew toward the woodland's exterior, and through the clay Convert's perspective, Gauss suddenly discovered it was floating toward their position!

Combined with that strange summoning feeling.

Gauss knew exactly it was approaching him!

Before he could think further, after a few more breaths.

The giant egg arrived above Gauss's head, emitting a reassuring soft glow, as if meeting an old friend after many years apart, sparkling with light.

Then the next moment.

Without warning, it crashed downward from above toward Gauss's direction.

Gauss reflexively stepped back twice, trying to dodge, but the giant egg was faster.

"No! No no..."

He simply had no time to dodge, was directly struck in the chest by it.

Then, a strange phenomenon occurred.

The Gauss Field that should have activated lost effectiveness.

It rippled on the surface like melting, then rapidly merged into Gauss's body, disappearing.

".."

After a brief moment of stunned silence,

Gauss felt his chest, confirmed it was intact, then sighed in relief.

"It merged into your body!" Aria stared in disbelief with wide eyes.

Serlandul's eyes also flashed with some surprise.

But his actions were faster, getting up and moving away.

"Time to go! The magical creatures inside are about to riot!"

He looked toward the black tree barrier interior.

Now, the originally tranquil woodland had become chaotic as a boiling pot.

After the giant egg left the black tree barrier, the magical creatures in the rear woodland finally awoke from piety and unease.

The sacred object had flown away!

Realizing this, the treants controlled the black tree barrier to slowly open an gap.

Then, the magical creatures inside poured out en masse.

Meanwhile, Gauss's trio outside had already taken the initiative to begin withdrawing.

Gauss ran swiftly through the forest.

Listening to the dense angry roars behind and the following sounds.

The entire Dark Forest seemed to be boiling.

Shocked and furious roars exploded through the woodland like a tsunami.

Especially the three giant treants at the very back - their deeply set eye sockets even faintly showed a hint of crimson glow as they moved legs composed of thick roots, the earth rumbling and trembling under their tread.

Their speed wasn't slow.

Gauss, Aria, and Serlandul changed direction several times, discovering the commotion behind still closely followed.

He knew these magical creatures had probably locked onto their trio through some special method.

And most likely it was that giant egg's fault.

Otherwise, couldn't explain why the three were fine before, but after the egg hid in his body, those magical creatures pursued them relentlessly like they'd seen their father's killer.

"Aria, Serlandul, I'm carrying that egg, probably targeted. You two head toward the Ostrich direction. I'll separate from you first, we'll meet at Outpost 11." Gauss, having guessed the reason, quickly used Message to send his voice into their ears.

With the two present, he couldn't unleash his full speed anyway.

In short bursts, his speed was actually faster than both of them, even Serlandul with various enhancements.

"Gauss! You..."

Before Aria could finish, Gauss burst forth at full speed toward another direction.

Serlandul hesitated for a moment.

"Aria, let's get out first."

His thinking was more rational than Aria's.

Especially seeing Gauss burst forth with astonishing speed, he guessed Gauss's intention.

Gauss was locked on - actually better to act alone. Against that magical creature army, forget their duo, even a Master-level professional could only turn and run. They couldn't provide any help.

The greatest help was leaving this place quickly.

Meet at Outpost 11;

if Gauss didn't emerge, report what happened to Guild Leader Rich and bring reinforcements.

"Okay."

Aria looked at Gauss's already disappeared figure, slightly dazed for a moment, then continued toward their mount's direction.

...

Gauss listened to the sounds still chasing him behind, not pursuing Aria and the other, and couldn't help but sigh in relief.

His guess was correct.

His "theft" of the giant egg had driven these magical creatures completely mad!

Even returning the egg now wouldn't lead to reconciliation.

"Crack!"

Suddenly tremendous force erupted under Gauss's feet, his body urgently dodged sideways.

The next moment, a huge rock smashed into where he had been, leaving a bottomless crater.

"BOOM!!!"

So dangerous.

The giant treants chased while hurling massive rocks like catapults.

Feeling the giant egg still emitting warm light within his body.

Gauss felt helpless.

Egg treasure, oh egg treasure, you've really gotten me into trouble.

Though he had desired it from the beginning, he wasn't that stubborn.

Wouldn't place himself in such danger for an egg of unknown origin and purpose.

This was exactly why he hadn't taken substantial action before, only driving clay Converts to test.

Who would have thought this egg would be so overbearing.

If he didn't go to it, it would actively fly to him!

Feeling the commotion getting closer behind.

Gauss's legs were slightly cramping from the intense exertion.

Apart from not using [Ghost Form], he had almost exhausted all means, his body bursting with one hundred twenty percent strength.

But still couldn't shake them off.

On both sides of his vision, some high-level Converts had already reached his side through rapid displacement.

And ahead, even faintly saw a few white fleeting figures arriving early to intercept.

While behind, slightly slower but more powerful dwarf treants and giant treants.

"Time to activate Ghost Form?" Judging the surrounded situation, Gauss quickly thought.

In Ghost Form, his speed could receive further significant enhancement.

Could definitely create distance from them in a short time.

But what after... if he couldn't completely shake them off during Ghost Form.

They would quickly catch up.

Then after Ghost Form consumed most energy, he wouldn't even have strength to resist.

Just quenching thirst with poison.

But not drinking this "poisoned wine" meant immediately falling into heavy encirclement.

Just as Gauss prepared to activate Ghost Form.

The next moment, a soothing intention came from within his body, from the hiding giant egg.

This intention wasn't clear words, but Gauss instantly understood its meaning.

"You have a way?"

"Then hurry up."

Gauss's legs moved swiftly;

he could already see a black figure ahead "growing" from the ground, extending thorn-entwined "arms" to grab him.

"HUMM!!!"

The next moment.

A circle of white energy waves radiated from within Gauss.

The energy waves rapidly expanded outward, affecting all surrounding magical creatures.

Instantly.

All magical creatures seemed to have a pause button pressed - movements halted, bodies bowed in prostration.

Looking closely, one could see their bodies trembling slightly.

An intangible will enveloped this land.

Gauss didn't dare delay, seizing this gap to hurry and escape.

Instantly he ran far away.

After a few breaths, the magical creatures behind were left out of sight.

Only after running very far did roars sound behind again.

But this time, Gauss faintly heard helplessness and sorrow in the cries, like believers abandoned by their deity, or like young beasts abandoned by their owner.

These magical creatures didn't pursue further, just dumbly frozen in place.

After a long time, those dwarf treants began frantically destroying everything around, like impotent rage, venting their grief and anger.

Trees collapsed under their hammer blows, dust flying.

Some unlucky Converts tragically got caught up in it, swept away like rags when struck!

Even some dwarf treants began fighting each other.

The entire originally silent black forest descended into disorder, rage, and chaos.

Gauss didn't dare stop.

Until he ran out of the black forest, confirming no pursuers behind.

Exhausted, he sat on the ground, breathing heavily.

Still... still good! That egg seemed to still retain some control over the magical creatures it had nourished.

Otherwise he couldn't imagine how to escape alive.

He began putting food into his mouth.

The physical consumption made him feel extremely hungry.

After eating many pieces of dried meat.

Gauss still didn't feel full.

He frowned, sensing the changes within his body.

After a moment, he raised his eyebrows.

"No way! How is this egg still constantly consuming my mana?"

"You thief!"

No wonder even after eating enough food, based on his usual understanding of his body, it should have restored consumed stamina, but why he never felt full.

Turns out there was a mana thief inside his body.

Continuously devouring his mana in large gulps, forcing his body to activate [Energy Storage Gland]'s power, continuing to rapidly convert consumed food into lost mana.

But considering this egg was somewhat understanding.

During his critical moment earlier, it hadn't left him to die, so he sighed.

Forget it.

If hungry, just eat.

Anyway, he had plenty of mana, recovered quickly.

Just consider it compensation for its earlier consumption.

After being discovered by Gauss, this egg stopped pretending.

Directly generously transmitted intention.

The intention was jumbled, which translated to the following content.

"Hungry!"

"So hungry!"

"I'm so hungry!"

In Gauss's perception, it was like a nursing child.

"Eat, eat. Could I let you starve?"

Gauss continuously put dried meat into his mouth.

"So hungry, so hungry..."

"Don't rush, aren't I eating too?"

However, chewing and chewing...

He suddenly felt... something wasn't quite right.

No way! Did you really take me for your mother?