That was the reward from the last time he entered the Maze, when he defeated that Mud Statue on the first level.
At that time, besides some mud, there was also a lump of white clay of magical item grade.
Combined with the recently acquired 2nd circle spell [Shaping Magic: Clay].
To be honest, Gauss began to suspect that the rewards from the stats panel might not be entirely random.
He retracted his thoughts.
Not much time had passed; Serlandul and Aria, who had reverted to human form, were harvesting the loot.
After his brief moment of “spacing out,” Gauss also joined them.
“How did you change back?” Gauss asked as he approached Aria. “Wasn’t it supposed to last several hours?”
“A bit tired,” Aria answered honestly.
Transforming into a wolf and engaging in combat consumed more stamina than she had anticipated.Her physical strength was not poor, but compared to Gauss or other warrior professions, she was definitely weaker.
“Turning into a raven seems to require less effort,” Aria added.
“Looks like it’s related to the size and strength of the transformed creature,” Gauss nodded.
After finishing the loot collection, the three took a short rest nearby.
The number of monsters on the first floor of the Maze was significantly less than the last time.
This was likely thanks to the Adventurers Guild issuing bounty commissions.
Many lower-level adventurers dared not venture deeper into more dangerous lower levels, but on the first floor, if careful, the danger was lower than expected.
Or perhaps, accepting other commissions on the surface also carried risks; at least inside the Maze, there was the chance of unexpectedly acquiring special rewards.
The three cleared out a patch of ground.
They drank water, ate, replenished their strength, and silently waited for the raven Eck to return with intelligence.
Gauss took advantage of this “rest time” to try practicing the newly acquired 2nd circle spell.
For this “advanced” spell, he was a little impatient.
It was like getting a new phone or computer in his previous life—if he didn’t use it for two or three days, he just couldn’t shake off the excitement. This was his current feeling.
He found a broken stone pillar to sit on and placed the white magic wand across his knees.
When he touched the wand, magical inspiration surged forth continuously.
Taking advantage of this, he closed his eyes and sank deep into his consciousness.
There, many spell models emitting faint light floated and drifted.
The brightest among them was the newly formed 2nd circle spell model [Shaping Magic: Clay King].
“As expected, this spell can’t be compared to 1st circle...”
It hovered in the middle of his mental sea like a rotating star cluster. Compared to the relatively simple and clear structure of 1st circle spells, or even cantrips, its complexity was geometrically greater.
Hundreds of faint golden strands of conscious energy wove intricately into a three-dimensional honeycomb-like structure. Runes glowed at the grid nodes.
Just looking at it would give a novice 2nd circle spellcaster a headache.
From the perspective of an average spellcaster, Gauss thought, constructing this model by will alone would take a very long time.
Even for him, relying on himself, the process would not be easy.
“Good thing I’m not ordinary.”
Having completed the “model construction,” decoding its structure backward was much easier than building it brick by brick from zero.
As time passed,
Gauss quickly gained a preliminary understanding of this 2nd circle spell.
Clay magic was a transformation-type spell, requiring a corresponding material medium to cast.
Of course, Gauss could also improvise by manipulating the mud king on the ground, shaping and controlling it through mana and spell effects, altering its appearance and temporarily giving it some stable structure, but this would greatly reduce effectiveness.
The best approach was to use clay or specific soil suitable for conducting mana, molding it into a biological form.
Once proficient in the spell, he could attempt to give the clay a trace of [Spirituality], thereby granting it simple basic “intelligence,” allowing it to execute some simple preset commands like attacking enemies, protecting targets, carrying items, and so on.
As long as the imbued mana was not depleted, the clay creature could continue to operate. Even if parts of its body were destroyed, it could self-repair by collecting scattered clay.
How to obtain [Spirituality] was not complicated either. If he used clay magic to kill some creatures capable of simple thought, the clay could naturally absorb the [Spirituality] that they emitted.
However, this spirituality was consumable and could not be stacked in large amounts. This meant the clay creature’s intelligence could never increase without limit to the level of intelligent life.
That level already involved the powerful realm of creating life.
At least, as a level 2 magician mastering a 2nd circle spell, [Shaping Magic: Clay] had not yet reached that height.
From his perceptions,
Gauss vaguely felt that the upper limit of this spell from the spellbook reward would be very high.
This wasn’t out of favoritism for it being his first 2nd circle spell.
Rather, in studying its model, it revealed a kind of open and free characteristic, as if it could combine with many other spells or materials to create new magical effects.
If this guess was correct, then [Shaping Magic: Clay] was not just a simple isolated spell but had the potential to develop into a whole magic series.
Absorbing the spirituality of birds, creating clay king birds, then combining with some shared-vision spell, he could practically have a high-altitude long-distance viewer.
Absorbing spider spirituality, wrapping simple explosives inside, or combining with fierce fire spells, it could become a mobile dangerous mine.
If there was enough clay, he could even create a large clay doll to serve temporarily as a mount or perform other functions.
Just thinking about this inspired a flood of ideas.
Of course, he also knew very well that only an extremely small number of spell models were relatively unrestricted and supported freewheeling “ideas.” Only some extremely rare spells had that kind of divergent potential, and even then, they had to follow certain basic rules.
Gauss sincerely hoped his intuition was right, so the spellbook’s “punishment” was just a complicated 2nd circle spell.
Thinking that, he prepared to practice practically.
He took out the lump of white clay obtained from killing the Mud Statue from his storage bag. The total amount was about the size of a basketball.
He had taken quite a bit in that practice session.
He just pinched out a lump the size of an egg and placed it in the palm of his left hand.
At the same time, he clenched the white magic wand tightly in his right hand and mobilized the spell model deep in his consciousness.
Mana began to flow slowly inside him.
Unfortunately, after only a short while, the flow abruptly stopped awkwardly.
Gauss was not surprised.
Starting to practice a brand-new magic spell always required some exploration, especially since this was originally a spell only 3rd level and above spellcasters could master, so the actual difficulty of using it was even greater.
Fortunately, based on his past experience, this process would not be too long.
After several attempts, the mana of clay magic finally successfully infused into the white clay.
The clay wriggled like a maggot several times in his hand, then returned to calm.
“Caw caw!”
Just then, overhead came the sound of the raven Eck returning with intelligence.
Gauss had to temporarily stop practicing.
He continued his business of clearing out minor monsters.
In his spare time, he kept practicing clay magic.
He hoped to master this 2nd circle spell as soon as possible.
Since he did not deliberately hide it, Aria and Serlandul soon noticed the movement in his hands.
“New magic?”
“Yes,” Gauss nodded. “Related to clay.”
Aria was silent for a moment, her tone carrying a faint, barely noticeable bitterness.
“You with bloodline talents are so lucky, awakening spells without spending money.”
Gauss had also shown her [Ghost Form] in the past two days, so she now believed that Gauss was a human with a relatively pure ancient bloodline.
Because of that, she had an answer for Gauss’s abnormal physical qualities and the occasional appearance of new spells.
Ordinary people, unless like Serlandul who was originally a non-pure human race, rarely awakened any special bloodline. Once awakened, they would have varying degrees of mutation.
Some were benign mutations, some malignant.
Benign mutations meant retaining the human main form and rationality while mastering the innate power of other races; malignant mutations meant being eroded by alien bloodlines, body deformities, and in severe cases, losing reason and humanity, turning into beasts or monsters.
Gauss’s case, in her eyes, was undoubtedly the highest-level benign mutation.
A chance all adventurers dreamed of.
Faced with Aria’s envy, Gauss said nothing and simply kept practicing.
In this situation, anything said would sound like humble bragging.
Silence was the most appropriate response.
Gauss put away the clay king in his hand.
After several hours of practice, he had achieved preliminary results.
Now the clay in his hand could change shape according to his will, although the speed was slow, it at least meant he had grasped the method.
2nd circle spell [Shaping Magic: Clay King] lv1 (1/10)
As long as it appeared on his skill panel, improving it was just a matter of time for him.
Gauss breathed a sigh of relief.
“It’s getting late. Let’s head back to the entrance hall.”
Coincidentally, the scouting raven Eck also returned.
This time it had not found traces of monsters nearby.
Both nodded.
Then, under Gauss’s lead, they headed straight to the entrance hall on the first floor.
The faint glow in the air gradually dimmed.
Approaching the hall, the warm light from campfires and torches rekindled the environment.
The huge hall was bustling with people. Adventurers gathered here, fetching water at the fountain or making fire and cooking in corners.
Those with better conditions chose to patronize nearby shops to relieve the day’s fatigue.
Returning to the hall, the three were made clean and tidy again through Gauss’s magic.
“Shall we cook ourselves or eat out?”
Looking at the lively hall, Gauss left the decision to his teammates.
“Either’s fine,” Serlandul shrugged. He was not picky about food; he had even tried goblin-eaten water bugs.
“Let’s go to a restaurant, my treat.” Aria glanced between her two teammates and spoke proactively.
Their tolerance for food was questionable—one more so than the other.
After a tiring day, she just wanted to eat some normal food and feared Gauss might pull out those long thin water bugs he had caught over a hundred days for cooking.
“Alright.” Gauss thought he had not experienced the Maze’s restaurants yet and figured there might be some unique local dishes, so he gladly agreed.
They led the ostrich mount around the plaza for half a circle, and Aria finally chose a barbecue restaurant.
“So generous?” Gauss smiled brightly.
Pure barbecue was not cheap, especially now that his appetite was larger than usual. Although he could afford it with his strength, sometimes after a meal, he would feel the pain in his wallet.
“Yeah.” Aria hesitated a moment, then nodded.
She had saved quite a bit of money.
It should be enough to cover it.
The three entered the restaurant, and the waiter immediately came over.
The interior was unexpectedly quiet and refined, with most patrons showing the aura of professionals.
“Are there any private rooms?” Aria scanned the hall and asked the waiter.
“Sorry, all private rooms are fully booked tonight. Only one table remains in the hall.”
“Then we’ll sit in the hall, same difference.” Gauss waved his hand.
Though noisy, it was just right for gathering intelligence.
After sitting in a corner, Aria began ordering dishes.
Gauss’s peripheral vision discreetly scanned the other adventurers.
Relying on a vague sixth sense, only two or three people in the hall gave him a sense of threat.
Of course, this did not mean his strength had leapt to such a level.
At this stage of the Maze, many truly powerful adventurers could not enter and had to wait for the Maze to grow and open further.
At present, in terms of actual combat strength, he might be close to the first tier.
While observing, he caught fragments of information amid the noisy drunkards.
Many talked about intelligence on the second and even third underground levels, also mentioning entrance locations. Unfortunately, those places had mostly changed with time, making the information useless.
While waiting for the dishes and listening attentively,
another group of adventurers entered through the entrance.
“Captain, if you’re paying, I’m going all out eating, you have the money anyway.”
“Dorien, when will you treat us once?”
“Next time, next time. I need my money right now.”
A somewhat familiar conversation reached Gauss’s ears.
“Sorry, four honored guests. The restaurant is fully booked; would you like to wait a moment or try another place?”
Gauss’s table was exactly the last one.
So the four newcomers were quickly stopped by the waiter.
Gauss looked up just in time to see this and locked eyes with Quick, who was scanning the hall.
“That’s him!”
The thought flashed in both their minds simultaneously.
Quick was the captain of the Iron Arms team with whom Gauss had briefly interacted during the Winter Hunt.
They had shown some care for him.
Thinking this, Gauss exchanged a glance with Aria.
Then he quietly asked Serlandul,
“I have some friends. Would you mind sharing the table with them?”
“No problem.”
Serlandul slid his chair a bit closer to Gauss.
After brief communication, Gauss stood and waved to the four.
“These are our friends. Please add some chairs; we’ll share the table,” he said to the waiter.
Since he said so, the waiter had no objections, and soon everyone was seated.
“Didn’t expect to meet in the Maze, Gauss.”
“Long time no see, Big Brother Quick.”
Quick’s gaze lingered on the three.
He first noticed the adventurer badges they wore.
A 3, 2, 2 configuration, which was not weak at this stage of the Maze. Wearing badges could reduce a lot of trouble for them.
Complex feelings arose simultaneously in Quick and his three teammates.
At their first contact with Gauss, they were only level 1 professionals. Now not only was Gauss a level 2 professional, but the druid Aria had also advanced to level 2, and they had a level 3 half-snake teammate.
Just now at the entrance, he clearly saw the three’s demeanor, with Gauss clearly leading.
A level 3 professional obeying a newly promoted level 2 professional, and probably not as master-servant or employer-employee—wasn’t this turning the natural order upside down?
He felt it somewhat overturned his long-held understanding.
However, when he sat beside Gauss, an inexplicable sense of pressure silently appeared.
As if his body instinctively wanted to keep away from some dangerous creature.
Gauss? An illusion? Or was he really that strong?
Quick thought to himself, keeping a calm face, and looked at Gauss, continuing the conversation.
“How’s your Maze exploration going?”
“Not bad. Last time we reached the second underground level. This time, the goal is to push towards the third level.” This was not a secret, so Gauss told him frankly.
The third level, huh…
Quick nodded, glancing at the half-snake who remained silent beside Gauss, quietly drinking.
Seeing Gauss’s confident demeanor, the last bit of condescending attitude in his heart quietly disappeared.
This young man was indeed extraordinary.
Perhaps next time they met, the other’s strength and influence would far exceed his own.
He sighed inwardly.
Forcing a slightly stiff smile, he said,
“I have informants on the first level of the Maze. I’m helping gather intelligence on the current second-level entrance. Results should be ready by tomorrow morning. We can set out together then?” Quick suddenly lowered his voice.
“Convenient?” With such convenience, Gauss certainly wouldn’t refuse rudely, only politely asked back.
“No inconvenience at all, it’s just some intelligence.” Quick smiled honestly. “We all came from Grayrock Town; we should help each other.”
“Thanks, then this meal’s on me.”
Gauss expressed gratitude and called the waiter again to order more dishes.
On the other side of the table, Casey and Dorien, who had not spoken, exchanged a glance.
Doubt rose in their hearts.
They always felt their captain’s attitude towards Gauss had become much friendlier this time.
Even… if they said it, there was a bit of a flattering tone in it?
But how could that be?
Although Quick usually looked honest and simple with people, as team members, they knew their captain had a scale in his heart—basically, he was somewhat snobbish.
It just didn’t show in his words or expressions.
The barbecue meal ended.
Besides dining, the groups shared a lot of intelligence about the Maze, including changing passages and some special monsters not found outside.
After the meal, the two teams parted ways, agreeing to set out together the next morning.
After walking away, the level 3 swordsman Quick and level 3 warlock Sana fell silent at the same time.
“Did you feel it?”
“Yeah.” Sana nodded.
“So scary. When we met in the convoy last time, he wasn’t this strong.”
“Maybe in a while, he’ll be a level 3 mage.” Warlock Sana sighed.
She had not spoken throughout the meal because the subtle threat from Gauss made her lose appetite.
Level 3 mage? Really?
Ranger Dorien listened to their conversation, and a scene of the first time he met Gauss in the forest flashed through his mind.
At that time, he was quite proud of his level 2 profession compared to Gauss, who was a level 1 newbie.
Unexpectedly, in the blink of an eye, Gauss had left him far behind.
This is a genius?
...
A night passed without incident.
The next day,
Because the second underground level environment was unsuitable for riding mounts, Gauss spent money to commission a carriage company to take care of his mount.
Then he met with Quick and the others at the agreed place.
After a night,
Gauss noticed the others frequently smiling at him.
Even though he was piggybacking on their intelligence, it now felt the other way around.
He was a bit confused but said nothing.
“Shall we set out?”
The previous night in the rented inn, he continued practicing clay magic.
His proficiency had reached 1v1 (6/10). He felt he could raise this 2nd circle spell to level 2 today.
Unlike other spells, level 1 clay magic could not be used in combat.
He probably needed to reach level 2 to grant spirituality and create simple clay creatures.
However, because Quick’s group was still around, he paid some attention and did not continue practicing during the ride.
Fortunately, the process did not take long.
With the general direction known, the two teams quickly reached the current second level entrance.
A deep staircase led into an unseen abyss.
“Fortunately, the location in the intelligence hasn’t changed.” Quick sighed in relief.
At least they hadn’t wasted a trip.
They descended through the passage.
Soon, the light gradually brightened.
Exiting the passage, the verdant world of the second Maze level unfolded again.
The scenery was lush and green, like an underground paradise of shrubs, moss, and insects.
“We’re back, the second level of the Maze.”
“Then we’ll take our leave first.” Quick and the others did not intend to continue traveling with Gauss’s group.
Sharing intelligence was already a small favor; accompanying each other further would not be proper.
After all, these were two separate teams. How to distribute monsters, benefits, and loot if they met later?
Even if the two captains could negotiate, wouldn’t the team members have other thoughts? Besides, they weren’t close enough to form a team.
“Alright, be safe.”
“You too.”
Watching the four disappear into the shrubs,
Serlandul the half-snake shook his head.
He didn’t like that swordsman, who gave him a slick impression, so from last night till now, he hadn’t had any decent conversation with him.
Even when the other became warmer after learning his profession, he didn’t respond much.
He knew this was a flaw in his character; he found it hard to have a genuine interest in talking to people he disliked.
With Gauss, he spoke more; with Aria, he could have some simple exchanges, but he was still getting familiar.
Serlandul flicked out his snake tongue. After confirming the Iron Arms team had gone far away, he spoke to Gauss.
“Gauss, last time I explored the second level of the Maze and found a dark room.” He lowered his hoarse voice. “But I was alone then, and for safety, I didn’t enter.”
“Do you want to check it out this time?”
“Dark room?” Gauss pondered.
According to current public intelligence, dark rooms in the Maze often housed monsters stronger than the average level of creatures on that floor, so the rewards were richer.
Like the spider-demon nest that once knocked him unconscious, that might have been a dark room.
The second level of the Maze shouldn’t have such high-level dangerous monsters. He and Aria might have accidentally entered a secret passage, which led to the subsequent series of events.
Because of that unpleasant experience, he still had some psychological shadow in his heart.
Faced with Serlandul’s intelligence, he hesitated.
Once bitten by a snake, one is wary of a well rope for ten years.