After the third evolution, a player would need to build up and collect 1,000 evolution points to evolve again, which would take a lot of time to complete.
The benefits from leveling up were now too little, and soul points were too precious. The best way to increase someone's strength was to increase their attribute template.
After careful observation and consideration, Bates knew it was important that he made the goblin camp his next target. The goblin thrower not only had the advanced template, but he could also have the corresponding skills that Bates needed.
Bates opened his attribute panel and looked at the 9 soul points he had worked hard for, and thought, 'I hope luck's on my side this time and I receive better loot from this hunt.'
Bates wanted to spend some more of his soul points before the battle. He used two on his [ sickle ] skill, which increased it to [ enhanced sickle], then to [ sharp sickle ].
After that, he spent one on his [ enhanced armor ] skill, which changed it to [ tough armor ], one on [ healing ], which changed it to [ rapid healing ], and another on [ regeneration ], which changed it to [ rapid regeneration ].
Looking at the remaining 4 soul points, Bates, with apprehension, gritted his teeth and added one more point on [ sharp fangs ].
Then, the description of [ sharp fangs ] and [ sharp sickle ] became blurry at the same time, and after a few seconds, the two passive skills disappeared, and a brand new skill replaced them!
[ sharp claws: passive skill. With the help of mysterious power, your teeth and claws became extremely sharp. You could easily tear apart most of the items in this world. Only some precious magic materials could stop you. ]
'Sharp claws? Soul points can be used like that?' Bates thought with excitement.
The fusion of two passive skills into a completely new skill, had greatly increased his strength!
Just by looking at the description of the [ sharp claws ]'s skill, he could tell that it far surpassed [ sharp fangs ] and [ sharp sickle ] separately.
Bates did question whether it would now make upgrading this skill even harder, as you would need to collect double the soul points. However, he had realized that the '+' symbol that used to sit beside the skill, had now disappeared.
'It was likely that I had already reached the limit of this skill, so it won't continue upgrading.'
The [ sharp fangs ] and [ sharp sickle ] were able to fuse together as they had a great correlation.
Bates was happy he had figured out this new use for the soul points. Before, he had been so worried he would use them carelessly and waste the hard-earned soul points. Now that he had discovered an even better way to greatly increase his strength with soul points, Bates would not be stingy with them.
This led to him adding one more point to [ rapid healing ], which caused it to merge with [ rapid regeneration ], this time. The descriptions of them both became blurry, and a few seconds later, it was replaced by a brand new skill.
[ limb regrowth: passive skill. With the help of mysterious power, you gained a powerful regeneration ability. Both the effects from bleeding and serious injury, are now greatly reduced. When facing an enemy, any severed limbs or injuries that you receive could be quickly healed and regenerated. By consuming energy, you could greatly increase the speed of healing and limb regrowth. ]
"Amazing!" Bates could not help but exclaim.
Just like [ sharp claws ], the newly fused skills were not only stronger than the original two, but were also much more practical than them.
Originally, Bates had some reservations about attacking the goblin camp, but now that he had these two new skills, he no longer had any worries!
They had increased Bates' strength by several times!
Bates looked at his attribute panel again. No other skills could be upgraded apart from [ elementary poison resistance ], so he kept the last two soul points.
He took a deep breath and crawled towards the goblin camp, the hunt had begun!
Inside the goblin camp, he saw the goblin thrower, the leader, lay down in front of a dilapidated tent, lazily basking in the sun.
The four goblin hunters were spread out, patrolling the small camp. From time to time, they would find a fat worm in the surrounding bushes, stuff it into their mouths, and chew it with their ugly yellow and black teeth.
The six goblin woodworkers were at the bottom of the camp, and had spread out into the surrounding woods, and began to cut down trees.
Dong! Dong! Dong!
Using the cover from the bushes, Bates got closer and closer to one of them.
When the distance between him and the goblin was less than half a meter, Bates quickly sprung up, his small figure like a cannonball, and fiercely rushed towards the goblin!
Before the goblin could react, Bates' sharp claws had already slashed across the goblin's neck!
Large amounts of green blood sprayed out!
The goblin didn't even have time to scream before his head was chopped clean off, and fell to the ground!
"Ding! You have killed the goblin woodworker. Obtained 20 experience points and 1 soul point."
Listening to the system notification in his head, Bates carefully dragged the goblin's corpse and hid it in the dense grass.
After devouring its corpse, Bates would obtain more experience, gene, and evolution points. However, now was not the time to eat.
Bates lay down, sizing up the goblin camp, ready to ambush. Then disappeared once again in the grass, and crawled towards the second woodworker.
A few seconds later, the second goblin also fell under Bates' sharp claws.
"Ding! You have killed a goblin woodworker. Obtained 20 experience points".
Then the third, and the fourth...
Bates continued to kill one goblin woodworker after another. Soon, the last woodworker was killed, and there were only four goblin hunters and one goblin thrower left.
The heavy sound of cutting wood could no longer be heard.
In the center of the camp, the goblin thrower, who was sunbathing, suddenly stood up and roared at the four lazy goblin hunters.
The four hunters became flustered, drew their wooden bows, nocked their arrows, and walked towards the forest.
Goblins were not smart, they only had basic intelligence.
The forest, which had become deafeningly quiet, made the goblin thrower feel a little uneasy.
His lack of intelligence caused him to send all four goblin hunters out to patrol the forest. This was the best situation Bates could have hoped for!
The goblin then grabbed the throwing spear on his back, ready to attack at any time.
A quiet sound spread through the forest.
Bates' figure suddenly appeared behind one of the goblin hunters, and with one sharp claw, he pierced through its heart!