I Am Not Goblin Slayer Chapter 430: The Monster Lord Full of Anticipation

Gauss was slightly taken aback for a mont.

Leaving aside the fact that they were still in the midst of combat, that Sli had vanished and launched its attack with such decisive swiftness just monts ago. Was it only now, halfway through the fight, that it decided to introduce itself?

Was there so error in the sequence of events?

He could only interpret this as a significant difference between monster and human thought processes. Even if their intelligence was no less than that of a normal human, it remained so because they lacked certain human concepts of honor, disgrace, and sha. Their thinking was more straightforward and direct in style.

Gauss's gaze locked onto the surrounding environnt.

Through the probing exchanges of the past few rounds, he had deduced the pattern: disrupting the surrounding mana environnt would force the Sli Lord, hiding within it, to reveal traces.

Right now, what needed to be done was to roughly pinpoint its general area, and then he could use similar thods to make it manifest again.

Thinking this, he simultaneously used his ntal energy to send out a ssage and communicate with the Sli, exchanging his own na.

"My na is Gauss."

Of course, this was rely a tactic to lull the opponent.

Just like how he actually had no idea what the aning was behind that Sli suddenly spouting that long, cumberso full na. Perhaps it was also just trying to distract his attention, secretly preparing so kind of move?

Suddenly, Gauss's sixth sense detected sothing abnormal again in an area not far in front of him.

Imdiately after, the White Wand clenched tightly in his hand once more spat out a torrential storm of Magic Missiles.

"Boom! Boom!"

The terrifying mana effects once again inundated that area.

A figure vaguely surfaced within it once more.

However, this ti, the stream of Magic Missiles released from Gauss's hand did not stop. They continued to fire out in an unbroken stream.

After the opponent exposed that faint trace, Gauss, relying on that tiny fragnt of World Rule power, [Precision], within his body, completed a temporary lock on it.

The subsequent missiles, like a violent storm, continuously assaulted a specific point in the air.

Once that entity was locked on, it also swiftly moved, but the missiles persistently followed, altering their trajectories behind it.

Although a portion of the missiles were ultimately dodged, another portion still managed to strike the mass of energy it had rged with the ambient mana.

"!!"

The Sli was forced out from the environntal mana.

Its soft, jelly-like body now underwent a new transformation. Four energy arms extended from its torso, their surfaces wrapped in a layer of hardened mana plating. Relying on its agile bodily control, it continuously batted away the unavoidable missiles in all directions.

For a mont, Magic Missiles flew in all directions like stray bullets on a battlefield.

Perhaps because this Sli's essence was already extrely close to a mana form, Gauss could sense its application of mana was exceptionally formidable. It wasn't that its technique was particularly outstanding; more accurately, it was an instinctual use of mana.

Just like how most animals are born knowing how to breathe.

What constitutes extrely intricate mana manipulation for conventional creatures might just be an innate, instinctual reaction for that Bigby.

That is the cruelty of talent. So high-level techniques that certain geniuses might struggle a lifeti to master are rely innate gifts for other creatures.

"Human, you are very strong."

While dealing with Gauss's onslaught, which surged like a tidal wave, the Sli could even spare the ntal effort to offer praise.

"Thank you."

The mana in Gauss's hand was still intensifying.

Using the Magic Missiles as cover, a powerful spell completed its charge-up preparation.

"Dawnbreak!"

This was one of only two 5th-circle spells Gauss currently mastered.

Unlike the large, sweeping, and dominating Bigby's Hand, Dawnbreak's attack range and flexibility were not as impressive. But in return, enemies within its attack range would suffer stronger, omnipresent damage.

From beginning to end, the Magic Missiles were rely a feint. Gauss did not expect a spell fundantally at the 1st-circle level to pose much of a threat to the abnormal creature before him. Even though in his hands, its power far exceeded ordinary Magic Missiles, its foundation was what it was. Faced with an overly powerful enemy, it could only serve as a supplentary ans.

A brilliant golden light pillar descended from the sky, instantly swallowing the vaguely, rapidly wriggling figure completely.

"Hum!"

At this mont, ti itself seed to have been put on pause.

Blinding light began radiating outwards in all directions from the light pillar. All creatures directly exposed to this wash of holy-light-like energy were simultaneously blinded.

Especially the monsters were affected more severely.

The light energy of "Dawnbreak" inherently carried a degree of suppressive effect against dark energies. Gauss's White Wand could further amplify this effect as much as possible. Additionally, the mbers of the Red Dragon Guild already knew their Guild Leader possessed a blinding spell akin to a flashbang. So, the mont the light appeared, they instinctively lowered their heads or hid behind cover.

"Kill!"

Seizing the rare opportunity while nurous monsters were scorched and blinded, the Red Dragon Guild mbers sward forward, cutting down the many mushroom creatures.

anwhile, at the very center of the light pillar, the light that seed capable of purifying everything continued unabated.

A vast number of particles surged within it; even microorganisms would find it difficult to escape unscathed, and that Sli was naturally no exception.

Upon contact with that extrely potent light-attribute mana, its mana-essence body, after a very brief resistance, finally began to fall into an unstoppable process of annihilation.

Large amounts of its bodily fluids were vaporized into their most fundantal particles, and its mana collapsed within.

Clearly, even the most powerful chanic-based monster fears raw numbers. If you cannot overco it, it just ans the numbers aren't high enough.

But Gauss's carefully prepared, perfectly targeted 5th-circle Dawnbreak was sufficiently qualified in terms of numbers.

"!!"

Perhaps the Sli Lord's mana was simply too powerful, as an explosion even occurred within the light pillar.

"Not right!"

Gauss narrowed his eyes slightly.

From the intense explosive disturbance, he caught a few abnormal traces of sothing leaking out.

Due to his cautious nature, he would not dismiss this as inconsequential rustling in the wind.

Sure enough, several puddles of liquid, having used the mana explosion to escape the light pillar's area of effect, rapidly combined with the ambient natural mana around them. Subsequently, their aura visibly began to swell.

"Is it so combination of division and high-speed regeneration?"

Gauss couldn't help but feel a touch of admiration. Even as an enemy, he had to acknowledge this Sli's strength.

To be honest, the oppressive pressure it gave Gauss was completely incomparable to that mutated Transcendent centaur leader encountered in the center of Blackwater Town. But its survival thods and various abilities were simply endless, one after another, leaving one in awe.

Superb concealnt, elental transformation, mana hardening, division, high-speed regeneration...

Each ability, taken alone, could serve as the signature skill of a Commander-level Monster. Yet at this mont, they were all concentrated within its single body.

Moreover, even now, Gauss could not be certain if these were all its abilities. After all, from the start of the battle until now, it had continuously revealed new capabilities and talents.

"Human, you are so terrifying. You almost killed ."

An utterly flat voice sounded beside Gauss.

Gauss could no longer tell if this was that Sli mocking him or expressing genuine, heartfelt fear and trepidation.

"But you are still alive."

Although he hadn't killed the Sli in one strike, Gauss's expression remained calm.

He still had many trump cards. As a Magician, while possessing powerful chanics, he also possessed nurical values far surpassing his peers.

Whenever he deed it necessary, he could launch a dinsional-reduction-strike-style attack at any ti.

He just felt a bit regretful. With this Sli's talent, if it weren't a monster but a human, it would undoubtedly be an exceptionally powerful individual, perhaps even having a chance to climb to the very peak.

Several of the split bodies nearest to Gauss, having regenerated, suddenly shot towards his position at high speed.

Its body, enhanced and empowered by mana, erupted with terrifying speed.

"Dragon Breed!"

Gauss unlocked his first trump card.

An aura so dense it was almost tangible rose from his entire being—a majesty that should not belong to a human.

"Thump! Thump! Thump!"

That dragon's heart began to beat slowly yet powerfully within his chest, pumping blood that could circulate through his entire body dozens of tis in less than the blink of an eye.

This granted him greater stamina and explosive power.

Any creature witnessing this scene would involuntarily share the sa thought.

A Dragon was awakening from deep within this man's body.

Gauss's pair of burnished-gold eyes, after the Dragon Breed talent was fully activated, erupted with an intensely scorching oppressive pressure. Deep within them lay a ntal pressure of unimaginable power.

If an ordinary person were to et Gauss's gaze at this mont, their eyes would likely be painfully seared white in the first instant, their mind thrown into a daze.

If they failed to look away quickly, there was even a risk of having their eyes burned blind and their brain matter incinerated.

His armor beca even more resilient.

Although his physique didn't change drastically, his skin, already far tougher than leather armor, now, infused with that formidable Dragon Breed power, beca several tis more durable. Not to ntion the additional layer of energy dragon scales generated by the combined Gauss Field. One internal, one external, causing his defensive power to skyrocket.

The three Sli split bodies, having devoured large amounts of ambient natural mana, had arrived beside Gauss.

The Sli's appearance was no longer gentle and cute; it began to reveal its true, ferocious visage.

Especially under Gauss's dragon eyes, which could now clearly perceive the essence of mana, he sensed a wild, unrestrained posture that was no longer concealed.

In his eyes, the Sli was not as small and delicate as it appeared to the ordinary naked eye. It was a colossal entity fused with vast amounts of natural mana, like a mist where you were in and I was in you.

To be precise, Gauss was currently within its body.

"Bigby's Hand."

Gauss directed the silver giant hand he had already summoned to his side in advance.

"Interposing Hand!"

Bigby's Hand rapidly hardened, firmly shielding Gauss within.

Several split bodies extended branch-like piercing attacks, engulfing both Gauss and Bigby's Hand.

Each piercing attack was extrely sharp, carrying a sharp edge that seed capable of piercing through anything in the world.

"Fast! Extrely fast!"

Every single attack effortlessly broke the sound barrier!

"Whoosh!"

The area for several kiloters around began to tremble.

Outside the battlefield, other adventuring guilds that had followed the sounds looked from afar at the scene at the battle's center.

Their previously moving legs instantly froze in place, and they collectively swallowed a gulp of saliva in their throats.

So whose minds were already unsettled were even shaken and fell to the ground on the spot, scrambling to brace themselves against the earth with their hands to maintain their balance.

"This is simply power that only Transcendent experts can wield!"

There were no Transcendent-level experts present, but that didn't an they were completely ignorant of the tiers above their own strength.

Faced with the terrifying exchange at the center of the battlefield, if they, as guild leaders, were drawn into it, they would likely suffer severe injuries or even face mortal danger in an extrely short ti.

"I think it's best we don't go over there."

The hearts of the high-ranking mbers of adventuring guilds, who had originally harbored thoughts of providing so support from the sidelines and then shalessly claiming a share of the spoils, also began to waver.

The adventurer community could be described as a mixed bag, but it never lacked courage.

However, bravery and suicide cannot be equated.

That level of combat intensity had completely surpassed their ability to intervene.

"But, why is it so strong? This is only the fifth level of the Timberbell Maze!"

At this mont, they were like Bronze players blundering into a King-tier match, their small heads filled with big confusion.

Or rather, if not for the existence of Gauss, this freak, this maze exploration journey would have been a one-way road to death for so among them.

Without Gauss, how could they possibly contend with that terrifying creature at the center of the battlefield?

After recognizing reality, so couldn't help but feel a belated sense of fear.

At the center of the battlefield, the Sli split bodies, having absorbed massive amounts of mana, began to cool down, their attacks gradually slowing.

It was, after all, a living creature. Even though its degree of mana-transformation was significant, it was still bound by physical limitations.

When the thorns dispersed, Gauss himself, sheltered within Bigby's Hand, was completely unhard.

Those suprely sharp attacks had pierced through the first layer of Bigby's Hand's Interposing Hand defense, then penetrated the energy dragon scales, and were finally blocked by the Moonlight Robe and Gauss's skin.

A satisfied smile appeared at the corner of Gauss's mouth. This ti, there was also an elent of testing his own capacity. The mont he sensed anything amiss, he would have activated Dinsion Door to relocate.

The multiple layers of protection were sufficient to buy him zero-point-sothing seconds of spell preparation ti.

But the final result seed to indicate that, compared to the Sli's spear, his Gauss shield was still more sturdy.

"Dawnbreak!"

...

Gauss did not waste the opportunity either. Seizing the exhausted state of the Sli split bodies right after they launched an offensive wave, he imdiately released several Dawnbreak spells, subrging them.

This ti, they were already at the end of their rope. Additionally, there wasn't enough ti for them to absorb excessive energy from the natural mana to recover. Or perhaps they had reached a certain limit in a short period. In any case, the several split bodies ultimately perished completely within the brilliant light of Dawnbreak.

The only thing that made Gauss feel regretful was that killing the split bodies did not trigger the Monster Encyclopedia's kill notification.

It seed to recognize the Sli Lord as a single, unified entity. This instantly extinguished a certain unrealistic idea that had just begun to sprout in Gauss's mind.

However, killing the Sli split bodies was not a aningless act. He could sense that the aura of the main Sli body in the distance had weakened significantly.

Its power also ca with certain costs.

"Human, are you going to kill ?" The Sli sent another ssage.

"I think so."

Although he sowhat admired the Sli's talent, Gauss had co to the maze specifically to kill monsters. Naturally, he wouldn't hesitate to deal the fatal blow.

The only thing that made him feel sowhat odd was that he seed to vaguely detect a thread of eager, restless excitent within the Sli's flat tone?

Being killed... could that possibly be sothing worth feeling elated about?