A warm current poured into Gauss in an instant.
It wasn't a scorching heat, but a perfectly measured, gentle, and mighty energy—like sinking into a hot spring.
An unprecedented comfort swept through him, especially in his mind. His thoughts sharpened; a quiet, strangely vital energy unfurled, nourishing his brain cells.
It felt as if his soul slipped free of his body and entered some vast, mysterious higher-dimensional space, where he sensed countless tiny points of light.
These "little lives"—some reached toward him with childlike devotion, as to a mother; some radiated pure fear; most were muddled and unformed.
Sadly, that wondrous "view" lasted only a heartbeat. His awareness withdrew from that field of lights and settled gently back into his body, coming to rest.
The lingering mental fatigue from activating [Ghoul Form] a moment ago had already been washed away by that energy.
Now Gauss could feel his brain cells leaping with joy, his mind polished clean.
And…
He had gained a new talent.
He closed his eyes and felt for it: a cold, precisely ticking sensing network, like a newly grown organ, naturally fusing into the core of his consciousness.
[Racial Trait: [White Quality] Proto–Hive Mind (Upgradeable).]
Its description surfaced clearly on Gauss's personal panel.
At a thought he stirred this newborn power. An invisible "field" spread from him as the center.
At once, a flurry of tiny voices filled his ears.
"So hungry! So hungry!"
"Hide… hide…"
…Simple, primal, subconscious mutterings rose and fell.
Gauss followed his gaze to the ground—minute crawling bugs.
Were they… talking?
To what end, though?
It was all useless noise: raw instinct broadcast by tiny insects, nothing he could mine for real intel.
Just as mild disappointment set in, a comparatively clear voice surfaced among the rest:
"My king, awaiting your orders."
The sound felt familiar to Gauss—simple, pure, loyal.
He looked toward it: the white clay spider. A faint tug pulled from its direction.
He followed that tug—and a strange image opened slowly in his mind.
In it, three towering "giants" came into view, one of them unmistakably himself. Everything else around them seemed small.
This is…the clay spider's vision? Gauss realized at once.
The experience was uncanny. He could perceive the spider's visual feed while his own primary consciousness stayed free—as if he'd opened picture-in-picture on the mental level. An invisible thread linked spider to self, making it all work.
Gauss tried issuing a movement command. The order traveled cleanly down that thread—far clearer than his old, hazier commands. The clay spider skittered exactly where he willed it to go.
Along with the shared visual, the spider also relayed simple intel back through the link.
After enjoying the bug's-eye view for a bit, Gauss released the feed. Back in his own body, a small smile touched his lips.
He was very pleased with this reward.
Beyond granting the [Proto–Hive Mind], that energy had nourished his whole body—especially his mind and his class progression. He could sense he wasn't far from advancing to Level 3. And he had the feeling this talent's potential went well beyond this; more odd effects were waiting to be discovered.
Gathering himself, he turned to Alia and Serandur.
He wasn't the only one who'd been rewarded. Both had absorbed their orbs as well, and the joy on their faces said they were satisfied with the haul.
They quickly compared notes.
Serandur had received a skill: Swift Insect Wings.
Its passive effect: a permanent, modest boost to movement speed and evasion. Its active: Burst Dash—briefly surging speed and explosiveness, leaving short afterimages behind to throw off enemy aim and timing.
Odd at first glance for a healer, sure. But given his race-born mobility—and how he'd been the one doing the kiting while Gauss rested—this was a highly targeted power-up. Whether in close-quarters scrapping or ranged maneuvering, he'd benefit.
A "healer" picking up mobility may look mismatched, but think it through—it's perfect. What matters most to a healer—HPS? a wide arsenal? big buffs?
None of that matters if you're dead. Save yourself first; then you can save the team. Sustained presence enables sustained heals and buffs.
Stack the CON and stamina from the [Lumbar Spine] gear, his serpentfolk racial speed, and [Swift Insect Wings], and his mobility is capped out. "Serpentine footwork" becomes literal on Serandur—a healer destined to be a nightmare to pin down.
Alia, for her part, gained a nature pact companion: the Powderwing Butterfly.
This palm-span, translucent creature is dusted in moss-like scales and glows with a soft emerald light. Its falling scale-dust has several uses: (1) short-term optical camouflage for allies; (2) "Life Spore Dust," which slowly scrubs negative effects from a target while amplifying ongoing heals; and (3) accelerated plant growth.
Compared with Ulfen and Echo, this magic creature's abilities are stranger by nature. It doesn't fight directly, but its utility is huge: brief invisibility, cleanse + heal amplification, and growth acceleration.
The second is especially valuable—Goodberry, Serandur's healing spells, and Gauss's innate regeneration should all benefit.
The plant-growth boost suits Alia's profession too; outside of day-to-day cultivation, her Entangle will power up significantly when combined with it.
All told, the arena rewards pushed the team's combat power up a tier. These new talents, skills, and the pact creature will need time to digest and sync—especially Gauss's talent and the class XP. Once he's fully absorbed it all, advancing to Level 3 should happen naturally.
~~~
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