Translator: Simple MTL Editor: Simple MTL
In the depths of the Dark Forest, Bates was pursuing a goblin camp just a few kilometers away.
“Ding! Your armor has been frozen by frost. [ adaptability ] talent activated. You have obtained a skill fragment.”
The long-awaited system notification sounded. Bates calmly killed a frost goblin in front of him, and opened his attribute panel.
In the last five days, Bates had cleared out seven goblin camps, successfully pushing his level from 5 to 7, and his four attributes increased once again.
He’d also encountered a different type of goblin spellcaster; a frost goblin. The frost goblin could cast a secondary-level ice arrow, which had given Bates the primary frost resistance skill.
After fusing ten skill fragments into a full skill, Bates upgraded his basic frost resistance to intermediate, greatly reducing the damage dealt by frost spells.
Bates looked at his second panel.
[ gene points ] : Goblin Gene 1971, Salamander Gene 54, Rabbit Gene 11
[ evolution points ] : 1,338
[ skill fragment ] : none
He’d met the requirements for his fourth evolution!
The nearly 2,000 points of goblin genes were even more amazing. If Bates had chosen to mutate into a goblin this time, he might have immediately obtained skills and attributes that were no less powerful than that of the goblin general Geer.
After all his evolutions, he’d come to understand more about the rules for, and differences between, mutation and the main body evolution.
Mutation was the transformation from an ant race to another race. For example, for his fourth evolution, he only needed to put in 100 points of goblin genes and he would be able to perfectly transform from an overlord ant into a goblin. The extra goblin genes would then become his potential. In the future, if his strength increased again, and he became the Goblin King, he would be able to establish his own small goblin kingdom.
The main body evolution was to continue strengthening the race that he already had. Putting all the gene points into the main body evolution to strengthen it, meant that the evolution would absorb the advantages of the other genes, allowing his main body to evolve and become stronger.
A disadvantage of that though, was that every time he evolved, his body size would change a little. The more times he evolved, the less he looked like an ant.
Looking at his second panel, Bates sighed softly.
If he mutated into a goblin, he would only ever be able to become a mid-level boss in the game, even if he achieved a Goblin King status. However, it would make sure that when the game started and players arrived, he would not be attacked as he would be much more experienced than any of them.
If mutation could turn him into a legendary creature like a dragon, a magic wolf, or even an evil eye tyrant, Bates would consider choosing it.
Nevertheless, he said, “Choose main body evolution. Invest all my gene points into this evolution to strengthen main body evolution!”
“Selection completed.”
“This evolution will last for 60 minutes. Please ensure the safety of the surrounding environment.”
“Evolving…”
With the sound of the system notification, Bates crawled into a cave and lost consciousness.
After some time, Bates woke up from his deep sleep.
During the fourth evolution, his had body grew to 50cm long and 20cm tall.
The armor on Bates’ body flickered with a black light, as if his armor were made of steel.
The soft antennae on his head had hardened, shining with sharpness as he pointed them forward.
His back legs were strengthened again, making them more flexible.
Yet, the biggest change was Bates’ front legs. After receiving the [ sickle ] passive skill, his first pair of limbs had transformed into the shape of two sickles, and became his main hunting method.
However, after this evolution, his front legs had undergone another transformation. Perhaps due to the fusion of the nearly 2,000 points of goblin genes, they had transformed into the claws of a cat!
There were a total of five sharp claws that flickered with a terrifying radiance. They looked like five sharp daggers, and much sharper and more lethal than the previous scythes!
‘I don’t look like an ant anymore.’ he thought. ‘I wonder what I will become if I evolve a few more times.’
Bates flexed his new claws. He smiled bitterly and opened his attribute panel.
[ name ] : Bates
[ race ] : Overlord Ant
[ template ] : Advanced Attribute template
[ level ] : Level 7
[ status ] : Health 500, Mana 250
[ attributes ] : Strength 32, Agility 25, Energy 30, Spirit 25
[ talent ] : Soul Bonus, Devouring Evolution, Adaptability
[ skills ] : Sharp Claws, Tough Armor, Limb Regeneration, Intermediate Poison Resistance, Intermediate Fire Resistance, Intermediate Ice Resistance, Stealth
[ gene points ] : 0
[ evolution points ] : 338
[ skill fragment ] : none
[ soul points ] : 6
This evolution had increased his strength by 15 points, his agility by 9 points, his energy by 11 points, and his spirit by 6 points. His current attributes had far surpassed other monsters of the same level. He believed his current strength was even greater than the goblin general, Geer.
Next, he had to choose a skill.,Due to the influence of the goblin genes, the four new skills that appeared were all related to goblins.
[ heavy strike: active skill. After consuming half of one’s stamina, one would deal a physical damage equal to the strength attribute x2, and there would be a small chance of dealing serious damage to the enemy. ]
[ savage throw: active skill. After consuming half of one’s stamina, one would be able to throw out an attack that exceeded the limit of one’s strength attribute. ]
[ elementary fireball: active skill. Using 20 mana points, one could release a secondary fireball that would deal fire damage equal to the spirit attribute x2. It also would have a burning effect on the enemy. ]
[ primary ice arrow: active skill. Using 20 mana points, one could cast a primary ice arrow, dealing frost damage equal to the spirit attribute x2, slowing the enemy down. ]
[ heavy strike ] came from a goblin warrior, [ savage throw ] came from a goblin thrower, and [ primary fireball ] and [ primary ice arrow ] both came from magic goblins; fire and frost.
After thinking for less than half a minute, Bates chose [ heavy strike ], as all of his passive skills were related to physical damage.
Even though the two magic skills could inflict a lot of damage, he felt that choosing a physical damage skill would benefit him more!
Immediately, Bates flexed his hands and added a soul point to [ heavy strike ], upgrading it to level 2!