Gauss observed carefully for a long time, utterly convinced that a clearing not far away was the lowest point of the entire valley.
"Is it there?"
Serlandul followed Gauss's pointing finger to look in that direction.
"Let's keep some distance first."
Knowing there might be anomalies, Gauss naturally wouldn't approach directly.
He took out his climbing gear, using Mage Hand to secure ropes high on the cliff wall. After fastening them tightly, he and Serlandul climbed to a higher vantage point to survey the suspicious clearing from above.
With a flick of his Bone Staff's tip, a Magic Missile shot out, accurately striking the spot he'd identified as the lowest point.
The next moment.
"Hum!!"
A faint blue glow suddenly radiated from the ground, followed by the earth sinking and rotating, forming a deep quicksand vortex. The Magic Missile disappeared into it without making any impact.There was magical fluctuation!
Gauss kept his eyes fixed on the spot after launching the missile.
He certainly didn't miss that initial mysterious blue light.
So... this wasn't ordinary quicksand, but a magical phenomenon connected to some mysterious space.
There might be another world beneath the ground.
After the brief disturbance, the ground quickly returned to normal, as if nothing had happened.
Gauss conducted several more tests.
He found the surrounding area safer than expected.
Only magical fluctuations could trigger the reaction there. Other physical impacts like thrown rocks, crossbow bolts, or any other physical force failed to produce any effect, as if it were just solid ground.
"Let's go down and investigate."
After preliminary reconnaissance.
The two returned to the spot and tentatively stepped on it several times - the ground felt completely solid.
This meant unless one could control magical energy, no amount of ordinary creatures passing by could trigger the phenomenon.
Gauss took out a sparrow he'd casually caught earlier from the cliff.
He tied a rope to its feet and bound its wings. Concentrating briefly, he carefully enveloped it in a layer of [Gauss Field].
Then he tossed the tethered sparrow toward the target location.
A blue flash appeared, and the quicksand vortex reemerged.
Soon swallowing the sparrow.
After the sparrow entered, the vortex didn't disappear but remained active.
The rope showed no abnormalities either.
Gauss deliberately waited several seconds before pulling the sparrow back up by the rope.
The retrieved sparrow seemed dazed momentarily, then perhaps realizing its predicament, began struggling vigorously.
Gauss examined it and found no injuries - it appeared temporarily unharmed inside.
But this wasn't conclusive enough.
Even in extreme environments like airless conditions, ordinary creatures could survive for dozens of seconds.
So Gauss conducted a series of follow-up tests with the trussed-up sparrow.
Finally concluding that the space beneath the vortex was deep, contained breathable air, and could sustain life.
Looking at the terrified sparrow in his palm, Gauss gently soothed it before releasing its bonds.
"Thanks for your cooperation, little one."
The "escaped" sparrow immediately flapped its wings desperately to take off upon release.
But due to prolonged binding, its stiff limbs caused it to plummet after a few flaps.
Kind-hearted Gauss swiftly caught it again.
He asked Serlandul nearby to cast a simple healing spell. Released again, the reinvigorated bird finally flew skyward.
Disappearing from view at remarkable speed.
"What a pity."
Gauss sighed.
He'd originally planned to share half a "Lantern Fruit" with the sparrow - a maze specialty it might never taste in its lifetime. But it was too frightened to appreciate such delicacy.
So Gauss had to enjoy it himself.
Coincidentally, after using several spells for testing.
He needed food to restore his energy to full capacity.
After completing all preparations, Gauss prepared to explore the mysterious underground space.
"Captain, should I go down instead?" Serlandul volunteered.
"No need, I'll go." Gauss waved his hand. "I'm more suitable."
From the tests, if there were unexpected dangers below, he'd accept that risk.
Most importantly.
He could instantly shield himself. Even if attacked unexpectedly, unless the defense was shattered completely, he could immediately recast Gauss Field.
His [Reptilian] talent granted him tougher skin, regeneration, and extreme environment resistance beyond ordinary humans.
Moreover, it made no sense to risk the "healer."
Frankly speaking, if something happened to him inside, Serlandul could pull him out and provide immediate medical aid.
But if something happened to Serlandul, what could he do? Just stare helplessly?
"If anything happens, I'll tug the rope, and you pull me up immediately. Serlandul, you stay outside - if I get injured, I'll need your healing." Gauss added before Serlandul could speak.
Serlandul thought it over and saw the logic.
Thus he didn't insist further.
Gauss tied one end of the rope securely around his waist, the other end to a large boulder.
"My safety is in your hands now." Gauss said with a smile.
"Rest assured." Serlandul pledged solemnly, gripping the rope's midpoint, ready to gradually release it as Gauss descended.
Taking a deep breath.
Gauss, enveloped in Gauss Field, strode toward the "magical quicksand."
The moment his foot touched ground, the sand transformed abruptly!
Ripples spread across the surface as his toes passed through an invisible boundary into another world.
Ankle, calf, thigh... until his entire body submerged into the vortex.
After Gauss entered, the vortex kept spinning.
Only a thick rope swayed slightly at its center.
Inside the vortex, Gauss tentatively opened his eyes.
Complete darkness greeted him - no sand or soil visible.
He cast Light Cantrip, dispersing the darkness enveloping him like tidal waves.
But the light only illuminated his immediate vicinity - further out, illumination rapidly diminished into profound shadows.
The Light Cantrip seemed suppressed in this environment.
Looking up along the rope.
Only darkness was visible - the rope's other end seemed suspended in void.
"Keep descending." Gauss took a deep breath.
He sensed more space below. Fortunately, the prepared rope was sturdy and long enough.
As Serlandul gradually released rope outside, Gauss slowly descended.
Finally, his feet touched ground.
Steadying himself, he untied the waist rope.
Crouching, he examined the deep black floor tiles under the Light Cantrip's glow.
Tapping them lightly produced hard, solid echoes.
Upon closer inspection, the black tiles bore plant-vine-like runes.
These runes emitted inexplicable mystical fluctuations in his vision, though he couldn't comprehend them immediately.
Gauss studied them carefully, memorizing them thoroughly. Still unsure, he took out a scroll to copy the runes.
Then standing up, he prepared to explore the remaining area.
But first, he marked his location on his mental map.
Ensuring he could find his way back in this pitch-black space with only faint magical light.
"Let's go." Gauss muttered, partly to reassure himself.
Scouting the surroundings.
He realized the landing spot was likely a plaza.
At one end, a deep passage seemed to connect to other areas.
After thoroughly searching the plaza with no discoveries, he headed toward the passage.
The environment was terrifyingly silent.
The darkness seemed to devour not just light, but sound, senses, even vitality itself.
As he walked, an inexplicable sense of familiarity crept into Gauss's mind.
Have I been here before?
Gauss searched his memories.
Absolutely certain neither his original self nor his post-transmigration self had visited such a place.
Though that was obvious - anyone visiting such an eerie place would remember it vividly forever.
Could it be "déjà vu"? Gauss wondered.
He'd read about it in materials and books from his previous life.
Déjà vu, or "false memory," refers to feeling familiarity with unexperienced scenes.
It occurs when the brain mistakenly categorizes new scenes as "old memories," confusing them with long-term memory storage. Most common among teenagers and young adults.
This body happened to be around twenty...
Gauss entered the passage.
Deploying a Mage Hand ahead to scout.
The deeper he went, the stronger an odd attraction grew.
The light from his Bone Staff also brightened slightly.
Dispelling more darkness.
The passage wasn't long.
Ending at a small room.
Gauss carefully checked the entrance for traps before entering.
The roughly 3-meter square room contained only a plain black stone chair at its center.
On the chair lay a flawless white gemstone.
Nothing else.
"Thump thump!"
Seeing the gemstone, Gauss's heartbeat accelerated uncontrollably.
Anyone would recognize its extraordinary nature at a glance.
But he calmed his excitement.
Controlling Mage Hand to grasp the pure white gemstone.
The magical hand contacted the gem, fingers closing, smoothly lifting it from the chair.
No other reactions occurred.
Mage Hand brought the gemstone before Gauss.
"Better cast Identify first!"
He raised the Bone Staff near the gemstone's position.
Just as he focused to cast [Identify Spell] and reveal its nature, the staff suddenly vibrated violently.
Then the white gemstone broke free from Mage Hand's grip and, before Gauss could react, slammed into the Bone Staff.
"Crack!"
Almost instantly, the white gemstone merged into the Bone Staff.
Next moment, the staff emitted dazzling radiance.
So brilliant that Gauss had to squint.
In his hand, the staff gradually warmed.
Its appearance slowly transformed - the scaly bone texture smoothed, becoming slender and elegant.
Length extended from original 30+ cm to over 50 cm.
At the handle, a white gemstone materialized.
As the light faded.
What remained in Gauss's hand was a breathtakingly beautiful magic wand - a veritable artwork!
"My staff is finally complete!"
Gauss held his breath.
This Hundred Bone Staff originally came from halfling mage Andni.
He'd always called it a staff because, however mysterious its origins, it was merely base material without a core.
After obtaining it, Gauss had tested many materials unsuccessfully.
Unexpectedly today, by sheer coincidence, he'd found the perfect core for this mysterious staff.
Gauss swung the wand lovingly.
It was truly magnificent.
And moved as naturally as an extension of his own body.
"Boom! Boom! Boom!"
Before he could admire it further, sudden explosions echoed around him.
A sense of foreboding struck.
Without hesitation, he immediately activated [Ghost Form], simultaneously using [Enhanced Leap] and [Monstrous Strength].
Following the map's guidance, he shot toward the rope location like an arrow.
Peripheral vision showed the darkness had "activated."
An odd description, but that was his instinctive feeling.
The "darkness" became viscous, living fluid, thickening and surging from all directions.
His Light Cantrip resisted valiantly but visibly shrank rapidly.
Clenching the wand in his teeth, Gauss grabbed the rope, releasing Monstrous Strength to avoid snapping it.
Without waiting for Serlandul to pull, he climbed upward frantically.
His speed was tremendous.
The rope whipped beneath him!
Just as darkness was about to extinguish the Light Cantrip completely, he burst from the quicksand vortex like a leaping fish.
Arcing through air before crashing heavily to ground.
"Hum!!"
The quicksand trembled violently several times before solidifying into ordinary earth.
Gauss pushed himself up.
Now with snow-white hair, small curved horns on his forehead, pale energy swirling around his body, and a pristine wand between his teeth.
His eyes showed faint confusion.
"Captain, what happened down there?" Serlandul immediately noticed Gauss's abnormality.
Feeling Gauss climbing actively below, he'd refrained from pulling to avoid hindering him.
"What happened?" Gauss looked even more bewildered.
"Captain, release this form first." Serlandul patted Gauss's shoulder, reminding him.
Gauss had mentioned this form consumed tremendous energy.
"Right, right." Gauss deactivated Ghost Form.
Immediate emptiness and hunger overwhelmed him.
He hurriedly took out dried meat, stuffing it into his mouth.
"Captain, eat slowly, drink some water." Serlandul could only suppress his numerous questions for now.