Team's Big Brother

In the unwavering gaze of everyone, the main force of Water Ghosts finally arrived near the trap. The closest ones impatiently began fighting over the corpses on the ground.

Slender fingers with sharp claws continuously dug out soft, mushy, bloody flesh and put it into their mouths.

While eating, they let out soft growls, appearing to be thoroughly enjoying themselves.

Gauss felt a biological revulsion, especially recalling the strong stench he smelled from afar when setting up the trap earlier; he almost felt like vomiting.

Although they bore some resemblance to humans, Water Ghosts were entirely different creatures from humans in terms of habits and essence.

Seeing the Water Ghosts fight over the corpses, which smelled worse than excrement, as if they were delicacies, Gauss resolutely refused to acknowledge the popular rumor that Water Ghosts might originate from drowned humans.

They had to be completely wiped out.

When the Water Ghosts were happily feasting and had let their guard down, Meva on the other side began signaling Gauss.

Seeing her movements, Gauss immediately made a gesture in response.

This was a pre-arranged plan between the two, meaning it was time to cast the net.

Then, Gauss activated Mage Hand.

With a thought.

An invisible spectral hand materialized skillfully not far in front of Gauss.

The Mage Hand floated out a few meters, triggering the pre-arranged mechanism.

"Swish!"

The next moment, a large net connected together shot up from the ground, directly cutting off the Water Ghosts' retreat back to the river.

And Meva, at the same time as Gauss, also activated a mechanism.

Because the riverbank was relatively open and vast, many traps couldn't be set up. Meva had set up fire traps, targeting the Water Ghosts' fear of fire.

"Crackle!"

A flaming arrow landed precisely in the pre-buried dry reeds, pine resin, and other flammable materials soaked in lamp oil.

"Roar!!!"

Almost the next instant, huge tongues of flame erupted from around the arrow.

The closest Water Ghosts were engulfed in flames, falling to the ground and rolling around, emitting continuous, tragic, dry hisses.

"Yaa!!!"

The Water Ghosts around, not affected by the flames, panicked and instinctively tried to flee back into the water, but their retreat was cut off.

Although the surrounding net wasn't particularly strong, it was enough to hold them back for a moment.

On both sides of the surrounding net, the others lay in ambush.

The squad surrounded the main force of Water Ghosts in a pincer movement.

"Don't let them escape!"

Water Ghosts on land weren't particularly difficult opponents, but if they were allowed to escape back into the water and gain the environmental advantage, they would become much more troublesome.

Leven, Gauss, and the others stepped out.

To catch the bandit, first catch the king.

Gauss looked at the leading Water Ghost sub-chieftain still issuing orders and immediately waved his Staff.

The Mana within his body surged into the Staff.

A sapphire energy sphere materialized in front of him.

He locked onto the leading Water Ghost with his consciousness. The next moment, with a flick of his thought, Magic Missile shot out like an arrow from a bow.

"Magic Missile!"

The leading Water Ghost saw the shimmering glow and instinctively tried to dodge.

But the speed of Magic Missile, a first-ring spell, was hardly something an ordinary Water Ghost could react to and evade.

"Bang!"

Magic Missile accurately struck its rotten, soft neck. Accompanied by a wave of Mana, the entire neck was blown to pieces, cleanly separating the head from the body!

"Thud!"

A head hit the ground and rolled a considerable distance.

"Water Ghost killed *1"

"Total Monsters Killed: 41"

"Obtained Title [Water Ghost Hunter]. This title will increase as the number of this race's creatures killed increases!"

"Current Title Effect: Dancer. In combat against this race of creatures, it is easier to predict their next move and react in advance, with a current bonus of 10%."

Having successfully killed a Water Ghost, Gauss unlocked his 4th Monster Codex entry and also obtained the Hunter title for Water Ghosts.

Looking at the title's effect, it seemed to enhance his prediction and reaction in combat with Water Ghosts. Combined with his Brain Overclocking state, ordinary Water Ghosts would find it difficult to attack him.

Gauss put down his Staff, drew his Rapier, and carrying his round shield, charged forward with Leven.

The reason he only used Magic Missile once and then stopped was because Leven had secretly told him something over dinner.

Gauss had privately asked Leven to assist him tonight in creating more kill opportunities.

Leven agreed, and also shared his own bad premonition.

Although he wasn't sure if the other party's feelings were reliable, out of caution, Gauss still reserved some Mana to guard against special circumstances.

In fact, if he hadn't thought that killing the Water Ghost leader first would throw the other Water Ghosts into a state of confusion without a head, thus helping them save more strength, he wouldn't have even wanted to use that first Magic Missile.

"Kill them all!"

Doyle excitedly charged at the front.

Gauss's speed was equally fast.

As his brain began to accelerate, the world in his eyes once again slowed down.

And this time, unlike before, he felt much more at ease facing the Water Ghosts.

It was as if he were an expert who had studied Water Ghosts for many years, able to know their next moves and reactions with just a glance.

The Dancer's effect was reassuring.

Gauss rushed in front of a Water Ghost and raised his Small Round Shield.

The shield instantly appeared ahead of the path where the Water Ghost's claws were swiping, steadily blocking it in advance.

"Dong!"

The Wooden Shield let out a dull sound as it completed the block.

A cold light flashed!

Without pause, Gauss, having withstood the Water Ghost's claw strike, thrust his Rapier out like a poisonous snake, accurately stabbing towards the Water Ghost's heart.

The moment the grayish-green, sticky skin came into contact with the sword tip, it was instantly pierced by the blade like a popped balloon. Then, the soft, unresilient muscle tissue within its body was also thoroughly penetrated by the Rapier.

The Rapier poked a bloody hole, stirred, and was withdrawn.

The Small Round Shield then slapped the weakened Water Ghost away.

The entire process was fluid and seamless!

"Water Ghost killed *1"

"Total Monsters Killed: 42"

Only 8 more to go!

"Gauss, come here!" Leven called out from a distance.

Gauss looked in his direction and saw that Leven was indeed doing as they had communicated beforehand.

He used a skill to blast away several Water Ghosts in one go, creating kill opportunities for Gauss.

After silently thanking him in his heart, he didn't waste Leven's efforts.

With wind beneath his feet, he rushed forward with his Rapier, finishing off the Water Ghosts struggling to get up on the ground one by one!

The Rapier in his hand was like the Grim Reaper's scythe, harvesting lives. Every flash took the life of a Water Ghost.

"Water Ghost killed *1"

"Water Ghost killed *1"

Stabs, slashes, shield bashes, insidious arrows that sliced through the night sky...

First ambushed by traps, then losing their leader, the Water Ghosts were in full retreat, constantly falling under the slaughter.

"Total Monsters Killed: 49"

Seeing that only one kill was left, Gauss looked around. The ground was already covered in corpses.

Looking around, only one Water Ghost remained, being dealt with by Doyle.

"Doyle, leave the last one to me!"

Gauss didn't want to save this special opportunity for the next quest commission, and his tone was a bit anxious.

Doyle, who was about to pounce forward and launch a slashing attack, hesitated for a moment upon hearing this. He sighed and retreated a few steps.

Without looking back, he kept his eyes fixed on the Water Ghost and waved his hand, signaling to Gauss that he was yielding his opponent to him.

There was no other way; Gauss was the team's leader now.

Circumstances dictated it. Even the proud Doyle had to bow his head.