The Emerald Forest remains evergreen throughout the seasons due to some mysterious power, but there are still subtle differences in scenery during each specific period.

During the transition between spring and summer, the atmosphere of spring and the early heat of midsummer envelop the land. After the frequent rainfalls of recent times, sunlight, moisture, and the natural life magic intertwine, spurring the vigorous growth of trees, vegetation, shrubs, and ferns within the Emerald Forest.

Although the route toward the Dark Forest had been artificially cleared, wild branches and weeds continually encroach upon the path, revealing the primitive wildness of the forest.

The moment they stepped into the forest, far from Outpost 11, the noise faded away, replaced by complete silence.

"Be careful," Gauss warned his companions in a low voice.

The closer they got to the Dark Forest, the more dense the "sounds" he could perceive became.

Most of them were the noisy chirping of insects that should have been filtered out.

However, worried about missing some crucial information, Gauss had slightly relaxed his filtering on such background noise after officially entering the forest. Consequently, a flood of useless information came pouring in.

"Reproduce!"

"Love!"

The closer they got to the Dark Forest, the more dense the "sounds" he could perceive became.

"Hot!!"

"Want to eat!"

"Danger! Evade!"

However, worried about missing some crucial information, Gauss had slightly relaxed his blocking on such background noise after officially entering the forest. Consequently, a flood of useless information came pouring in.

The group slowed their pace slightly. Four Clay Spiders followed beside him, periodically pouncing on passing robust insects or small creatures, swiftly ending their lives.

It appeared quite cruel, but within the boundless expanse of this vast forest, such minor changes were but a drop in the ocean, instantly swallowed by the endless ecological cycle.

The Clay Spiders continuously transmitted feelings of "joy," "delicious," "relaxed," and "growing stronger."

Even the most common insects in the Emerald Forest, like scarab beetles, rhinoceros beetles, and flower bugs, were stronger than those near the towns.

Gauss speculated that perhaps the denser natural magic of the Emerald Forest had subtly integrated into their bodies, nourishing their spiritual energy and making them more succulent nourishment for the Clay Spiders?

It seemed they might come here often in the future to give the clay creatures some extra meals?

While each insect provided little spiritual nourishment individually, their vast numbers made them perfect for the Clay Spiders.

Many of the "panic" sounds Gauss heard were "tragedies" caused by his own four spiders.

As he pondered this, an exceptionally clear sound abruptly reached his ears.

"Humans have entered!"

"!!!"

Having remained highly focused, Gauss was certain this time he hadn't misheard.

This voice carried a human-like sense of alarm and rejection.

It was like a child seeing a villain break into their home, hiding inside a wardrobe, peeking cautiously through a crack in the door, and anxiously communicating.

"Stop," Gauss raised his hand to signal.

Aria and Serlandul looked at him and nodded in understanding.

They had discussed this beforehand: they would first expose their presence to lure out the enemies hiding in the shadows, then use Gauss's Hive Mind Form talent to gather intelligence.

Gauss followed the sound.

He eventually stopped before an ancient tree.

This tree was exceptionally thick with lush branches and leaves, casting a large, dense shadow on the forest floor.

Its dark green bark was covered in a layer of slippery moss and tiny, faintly glowing fungal spores.

This dark tree looked drastically different from ordinary trees. Was this the origin of the so-called Dark Forest?

Gauss's group was still on the path and hadn't yet entered the demarcated area of the Dark Forest.

This was the first "black tree" they had seen.

When Gauss approached, the sound completely vanished.

"Heard the voice again?" Aria asked, moving closer.

"Yes," Gauss nodded. "It came from right here, announcing our arrival."

He pointed at the large tree.

"The tree was talking?" Aria asked in return.

"Not necessarily," Gauss shook his head. "It might be these little things, or even smaller, invisible entities."

He leaned more toward insects or something else living on the tree rather than the tree itself.

"Little ones, come out and talk, are you there?" Aria circled the black tree once, then attempted to communicate.

Unfortunately, the Animal Communication she mastered only worked on larger, conventional animal individuals.

The vast majority of insects were beyond communication.

"Gauss, any reaction?" After her attempt, she looked at Gauss.

"None," Gauss shook his head.

His fingers were rubbing those faintly glowing fungal spores.

Initially, he thought the sound might come from these, but no matter how he rubbed them, there was no reaction.

Or perhaps it was on the tree itself?

He looked up at the dense canopy but abandoned the idea of searching.

"Let's keep moving."

He mounted his Ostrich, and the team continued toward the Dark Forest.

The further in they went, the darker the bark became.

Coupled with the lush canopies that completely blocked the sky above, preventing light from penetrating, the interior of the forest remained gloomy and dim even during the day.

If not for the various glowing mosses, fungi, and other vegetation providing light sources, it would be no different from night.

"Crack!"

The Ostrich's hoof snapped a branch, producing a crisp breaking sound.

"No wonder it's called the Dark Forest, it's really dark..." Aria muttered, looking at the surroundings. "And too quiet."

The cries of wild beasts were almost inaudible, and even bird calls were rarely heard.

The entire forest seemed enveloped by a mysterious power.

Of course, in Gauss's "hearing," it was completely different.

So noisy!!

After entering the Dark Forest, he found those insect languages had become much clearer.

For example, the frequently heard "eat" might now become more specific, like "Eat the leaf!" or "Eat that insect!"—slightly longer thoughts.

The insects here seemed to have become smarter?

Besides these useless messages, Gauss also intermittently heard some of the special sounds that had appeared earlier.

"The humans have really entered!"

"...What to do?"

"Drive them out!"

"Drive them out!!"

The voices echoed through the dark forest, making it impossible for Gauss to locate the source.

The entire Dark Forest seemed to be resisting their entry.

"Squawk!!"

The Ostrich, as if sensing something, slowed its pace, becoming heavy-footed, and let out a few uneasy cries with its head raised.

Animals, with their simpler thoughts and less emotional interference, sometimes had sharper intuition than humans.

"What's wrong?" Aria stroked her Ostrich, calming it by feeding it a carrot, finally settling its nerves.

"Gauss, be careful. Something seems to be in the shadows. The Ostrich is scared."

Just as Gauss was about to say something, a rustling sound suddenly came from the shaded area of distant bushes.

In any other place, it might just be an ordinary animal passing by, nothing strange.

But in the abnormally quiet Dark Forest, this sound felt slightly eerie.

Gauss snapped his head around to look, catching a glimpse of a tall, slender figure swiftly disappearing from view. When he tried to focus, it had vanished without a trace.

He ordered the four Clay Spiders, engrossed in their "all-you-can-eat" feast, to chase after and investigate.

Receiving his command, the Clay Spiders naturally didn't dare delay. They immediately dropped those tasty insects and quickly scurried toward the target direction.

Their eight limbs scurried rapidly over the ground covered in humus and moss, making almost no sound.

Gauss focused slightly, immersing his consciousness into the connection with the Clay Spiders through the 【Proto-Hive Mind】 ability, quickly sharing their perceptions.

The images relayed through the spiders' compound eyes weren't as rich as those captured by human eyes, but they were enough for him to "see" the scene ahead: twisted black tree trunks, roots exposed above ground, mottled spots of light from glowing fungi... and several very fresh scrape marks on the ground that were definitely not natural.

There were also a few broken black thorns.

"Those monsters!"

Gauss immediately connected the traces on the ground with the intelligence gathered earlier at the Tavern and the wild men that Guild Leader Richie mentioned, the ones who could beguile minds.

"Swish, swish, swish—"

Accompanied by a series of rapid, grating friction sounds.

Several black vines that had been crawling on the ground suddenly sprang up, coiling toward the spiders like lurking venomous snakes.

These vines moved with swift and precise actions.

Gauss was currently sharing the vision of a Decoy Spider. Suddenly, everything went black.

The Decoy Spider, unable to react in time, was pierced through.

Compared to the other spiders, its combat strength was the weakest, but its ability to draw aggro was the strongest. This time, it successfully lured out the enemy.

The other Clay Spiders instantly pounced, brandishing their sharp limbs to block and slash.

The tough vines were severed, oozing dark green sap with a pungent odor that dispersed into the air.

Gauss could feel the spiritual energy on the Clay Spiders fluctuate briefly before quickly stabilizing under his control.

After all, they weren't flesh-and-blood real creatures;

the influence of that beguiling aura was almost negligible.

Once the Clay Spiders cleared all the vines, the environment returned to calm.

The pierced Decoy Spider slowly reformed under the effect of mana.

"Something is controlling plants to attack my spiders," Gauss quickly said to Aria and Serlandul.

Almost as his words faded, that tall, slender figure flashed by again in the darkness ahead.

This time, with the help of the light from the glowing moss, not only Gauss but also Aria and Serlandul saw it clearly.

Coupled with the lush canopies that completely blocked the sky above, preventing light from penetrating, the interior of the forest remained gloomy and dim even during the day.

In that fleeting glimpse, its body seemed cobbled together from withered branches. Its skin was a deep brown, like the surrounding bark, and its upper body seemed covered in moss and lichen.

Most striking were the dense black thorns entwined around its limbs and torso. Unlike ordinary dry, hard thorns, these writhed slowly as if alive.

And a fanatical green gleam shone in the eyes of this humanoid monster.

"Kill them all! Protect our Master!"

Gauss heard this very clearly this time.

No sooner had the words been uttered than it retreated, swiftly vanishing into a massive black tree instead of charging.

The "malice" of the surrounding forest intensified.

"Careful!"

Even without understanding their earlier hissing, Gauss wouldn't let his guard down.

The cries of wild beasts were almost inaudible, and even bird calls were rarely heard.

"Looks like it's time for some activity." Gauss tightened his grip on the White Wand.

Serlandul also conjured a magical weapon, and Aria drew her Oak Staff simultaneously.

Several thorny creatures emerged from the nearby tree trunks.

Several Elite-tier monsters had appeared together!

The Clay Spiders reacted quickly, pouncing the moment the enemies appeared.

Each Clay Spider was equivalent to a Level 1 Elite monster in strength. Especially in terms of short-term burst damage, the Explosive Spider form's destructive power was actually greater, though the cost was depleting the mana stored within them.

"BOOM!!!"

One thorn creature, unaware of the Clay Spiders' diverse abilities, mistook the pouncing Explosive Spider for another entangling individual like the Decoy Spider. It didn't dodge, instead extending several thorns, attempting to impale the Explosive Spider.

However, the next moment, the Clay Spider used the thrusting thorns as leverage, its chelicerae tapping lightly on them, propelling itself even faster toward the thorn creature.

It finally attached itself to the creature's torso.

"Cheep!!!"

The spider's abdomen rapidly glowed red. Within an extremely short time, the red light became intensely bright. Reaching its peak, it culminated in a loud "BANG"!

The entire spider exploded mercilessly!

Flames and a massive shockwave of the explosion spread out from the center of the Explosive Spider.

"BOOM!!!"

The red light completely engulfed the target enemy.

Intense heat and a brief but powerful impact erupted in an instant, blasting the thorn creature to pieces. A silent whisper echoed in the air.

Visions seemed to flash before Gauss's eyes.

Black vines, treants, a strange cave somewhere...

This death whisper seemed to carry an extremely strong will of beguilement, but it had met its match.

Gauss's 13 points of Intelligence stood like a solid wall, blocking out this mental bewitchment.

Aria and Serlandul paused briefly before also regaining clarity.

The whisper dissipated into the air.

"Elite Monster Convert slain *1"

Only after the sound faded did the panel notification of the kill pop up.

Gauss successfully unlocked the 9th type of Elite Monster. Additionally, for adding a new entry to the bestiary, he received an extra 10 Elite Points.

His Elite Points now jumped to 40. He needed only 10 more to reach the amount required to upgrade the white-quality talent 【Reptilian】.

However, besides this, Gauss noticed something else particular.

That thorn creature directly hit by the Explosive Spider only died completely after the sound faded.

The panel's prompt had its significance.

What would happen if one failed to resist that charm?

He had a vague guess.

But there wasn't much time to verify it now.

Because even though held back by the clay spider creatures, three Converts still swiftly closed in.

Their figures flickered in and out of sight.

"Boom!"

A Magic Missile hit a tree trunk, sending wood fibers flying, but it missed the Convert that had concealed itself within the tree a moment earlier.

However, through this brief probing, Gauss had already gauged his opponent's true capabilities.

Their offensive power wasn't strong, around Level 1 monster level, but their peculiarity lay in their mystique.

Particular attention needed to be paid to their powerful concealment ability within the environment and that seemingly "converting and infecting" ability.

If he wasn't mistaken, failing to withstand the bewitchment of that whisper would result in losing one's sanity and being converted to their side.

"Hum!!"

Suddenly, Gauss sensed a wave of magical fluctuation originating from the dense canopy above.

"BOOM!!!"

Receiving his command, the Clay Spiders naturally didn't dare delay. They immediately dropped those tasty insects and quickly scurried toward the target direction.

Re-infused with life force, the branches instantly forked, expanded rapidly, and hardened, transforming into sharp, wooden spears gleaming with magical light. They rained down like a storm of pear blossoms.

These Converts could use magic?

Gauss raised an eyebrow, slightly surprised.

Most monsters couldn't use magic. Even Level 1-2 Elite monsters mostly relied on powerful bodies or innate talent abilities to attack. But this was clearly different from previously encountered attack methods.

Was it because of higher intelligence?

Magic and natural mana weren't exclusive to humans;

many races with higher intelligence could also harness this ubiquitous, great power.

The area covered by the wooden spears was vast, making evasion difficult.

Gauss simply didn't bother dodging.

After advancing to Level 3, his strength had reached a new tier.

The biggest change was in his core skill, 【Gauss Field】. The ability and essence of this protective spell advanced alongside the promotion of his mana level.

Now, the Gauss Field initially possessed the power of a 2nd circle spell.

"Bang! Bang! Crunch!!!"

The projected wooden spears were firmly blocked by a powerful force the moment they approached the trio.

In Gauss's perception, the current Gauss Field felt incredibly "thick."

If the previous protection was a thin layer clinging to the body, the current protective degree was like being covered in a thick, intangible armor.

Accompanied by a series of rapid, grating friction sounds.

The combined effects of the two professional talents, 【Spell Mastery】 and 【Magic Resistance】, combined with the essential power of the 2nd circle level, made the attacks from ordinary Level 1 and 2 monsters seem pathetic in comparison.

Several black vines that had been crawling on the ground suddenly sprang up, coiling toward the spiders like lurking venomous snakes.

After a flash of white light enveloped him, Gauss felt considerably lighter.

"Gauss, it's at the treetop!" Aria reminded.

Her natural power had already enveloped the surroundings, quickly locking onto the monster somewhere on the treetop that had just released the wooden spear magic.

Simultaneously, Entangling Roots surged forth. Stimulated by the Scale Powder Butterfly, the vines created by Entangling Roots became thicker and stronger.

Those who could utilize natural power weren't limited to these monsters!

The Entangling Roots firmly bound it.

The Magic Missiles released by Gauss followed closely, piercing through its body one after another.

"Eeeeeek!!!!" A wave-like sonic attack, similar to the death whisper that could dizzy the mind, appeared again.

Everyone covered their ears in advance.

Even if they wouldn't be "brainwashed and beguiled," suffering less was better.

"Thud." After the mournful cry, the Convert whose body was pierced fell from the treetop. But it wasn't dead yet;

the active thorns on its body seemed to be slowly melting, attempting to merge with the earth.

The Blessing Spell had put Gauss in excellent condition. He quickly perceived and captured a certain power within the monster's body attempting to transfer. He pointed his wand.

"Bang!" An attack, swift as a bullet, tore through the air, hitting a certain writhing mass.

Gauss could feel the spiritual energy on the Clay Spiders fluctuate briefly before quickly stabilizing under his control.

After an extremely feeble mournful cry, Gauss slew another Convert.

However, the Elite Points gained this time, being a repeated bestiary entry, were only 1 point, bringing the total to 41 points.

Was that beguiling power limited? Gauss noticed its death this time didn't produce intense mental pollution. He guessed the previous release must have depleted its "mana bar."

The Converts weren't particularly difficult to kill, especially for Gauss's elite adventuring team, which far exceeded the norm for a Level 3 party.

However, one monster still managed to escape.

Gauss couldn't do much about it.

Their combat ability wasn't strong, but fighting on their home turf, coupled with their powerful concealment skills, if they truly wanted to flee, he couldn't stop them.

He couldn't very well punch the ground to pieces while they were merging into the earth along the tree roots, moving rapidly underground via the subterranean root system, could he?

Out of five Converts, four were slain.

The Elite Points finally settled at 43 points.

Just 7 points short.

This time, with the help of the light from the glowing moss, not only Gauss but also Aria and Serlandul saw it clearly.

It was very close now, and he was patient.

The number of Converts in this forest seemed considerable. Even without encountering new Elite Monsters, killing seven more would be enough.

Of course, it would be even better if he could find a new bestiary entry.

In that fleeting glimpse, its body seemed cobbled together from withered branches. Its skin was a deep brown, like the surrounding bark, and its upper body seemed covered in moss and lichen.

There were also four small lumps of green slime—the true form of the Converts. They seemed to be some sort of soft-bodied insect.

Most striking were the dense black thorns entwined around its limbs and torso. Unlike ordinary dry, hard thorns, these writhed slowly as if alive.

That was the spiritual energy of 2 Elite-tier monsters.

The first died in the Explosive Spider's blast, the second was dealt with by a Venom Spider cooperating with a Steel Armor Scout.

2 lumps of Elite Monster spiritual energy.

Gauss thought for a moment, then retrieved the corpse materials he had just collected.

The green slime, under the mana kneading of 【Shaping Magic: Clay King】, quickly fused with the Mud Statue, changing form.

Soon, two plump, soft worms took shape before Gauss, looking somewhat like enlarged, green versions of longhorn beetle larvae.

"Mumu!"

The newborn Convert babies quickly transmitted simple thoughts of attachment and affection.

Of course, this spiritual energy couldn't maintain relatively complete sentience like the original bodies.

Fortunately, Gauss could also communicate with these clay lives through 【Hive Mind Form】.

"Can you transform into the forms of those monsters from before?"

Gauss transmitted the thought.

Although the clay Converts couldn't answer directly, they soon responded with action.

Even without understanding their earlier hissing roars, Gauss wouldn't let his guard down.

"Swish, swish, swish!"

Thorns emitting a green light continuously joined together, combined, and grew taller, eventually firmly enveloping the Converts, forming two nearly 3-meter-tall, slender beings.

Only a pair of green lights were visible.

"Yes, exactly right." There was no discernible difference in appearance.

Gauss felt that by controlling them, he might even be able to infiltrate their ranks.

Unlike other clay creatures, the Converts themselves used magical power to hide within the thorn branches, making their true bodies hard to detect.

He thought it was a good idea.

After recovering on the spot for a while, the two clay Converts walked ahead. The trio maintained some distance behind them, then continuously explored deeper into the Dark Forest.

Mounted on his Ostrich, Gauss also divided part of his attention, sharing the perception of one clay Convert.

Suddenly, Gauss sensed a transmitted hidden pheromone signal.

"Fellow tribesman?"

Turning his head to look, an unfamiliar Convert had appeared beside the clay Convert at some unknown time.

It didn't seem to have realized these were two imposters.

Gauss didn't know how to respond. Although the Proto-Hive Mind seemingly could also respond, he worried about being discovered, so he temporarily didn't take action.

It was like a wolf encountering two huskies who actively came forward to greet it.

The situation remained at a stalemate for a moment.

Fortunately, this Convert didn't seem to think too much. It soon walked ahead.

One thorn creature, unaware of the Clay Spiders' diverse abilities, mistook the pouncing Explosive Spider for another entangling individual like the Decoy Spider. It didn't dodge, instead extending several thorns, attempting to impale the Explosive Spider.

It left behind a pheromone signal before its body merged into a tree trunk, then swiftly traveled underground along connected roots, completely ignoring these two slightly sluggish "companions."

Gauss, who had finally found a clue, naturally wouldn't miss this good opportunity.

He ordered the two clay Converts to follow closely.

Like the oriole following the mantis in the proverb, under the effect of the Scale Powder Butterfly's stealth powder, they trailed as far behind as possible.

He had a faint premonition that this time, he might be able to follow the clue to the source.

Fortunately, they had the disguise of clay magic. Otherwise, given this race's extremely scattered movement patterns, finding their lair would be nearly impossible.