Chapter 58: Race Aptitude
“Thud!!”
The azure-hued Magic Missile shattered the chest cavity of the first kobold almost instantly.
Then its momentum slightly waned and it struck the second kobold behind it.
“Boom!!”
The second, skinny kobold was blown several meters away by the projectile-like Magic Missile.
Amid screams and explosions, shredded flesh and blood sprayed everywhere.
“Killed kobold *2.”
“Total monsters killed: 52.”
“First time killing a kobold, earned the title [Kobold Hunter]. This title will level up as the number of kills of that race increases!”
“Current title bonus: False Draconic Roar. When you imitate a dragon’s roar at kobolds, you inflict a certain degree of mental attack, thereby reducing their strength and combat will to some extent. Current effect: 10%.”
Accompanying this kill, text flickered once again before Gauss’s eyes.
At the same time, the Monster Encyclopedia in his Adventurer’s Handbook added an entry for the kobold.
“Monster Encyclopedia species count reached 5 types: Goblin, Slime, Skeleton, Water Wraith, Kobold.”
“Randomly selecting race aptitude ability, optimizing and adapting it to constitution.”
“Drawn one of the random abilities from the monster goblin race: [Instant Stomach].”
“Converting it into race aptitude ability [Rapid Digestion].”
Rapid Digestion (initial): through eating, you can slightly accelerate recovery of stamina and mana.
“Notice: [Rapid Digestion] can also be enhanced through increasing the number of goblins you kill.”
“Next race aptitude draw available when Monster Encyclopedia species count reaches 20.”
Gauss watched the text scroll before him.
He thought: Did he draw an ability from goblins?
He pondered quickly.
Killing goblins could boost Rapid Digestion’s effect?
Suddenly, he kind of missed goblins.
Especially since the aptitude he gained suited him well. His heart raced faster in his chest.
Normally, whether practicing weapons or magic, he needed to spend stamina and mana, and after spending them he had to wait silently for recovery.
This was one of the obstacles to improving skill proficiency.
Now Rapid Digestion could speed up that recovery—it was clearly beneficial to his path as a professional.
Though it was only a minor boost, the later notice said this ability would grow stronger as he killed more goblins—so the effect would only improve.
Moreover, Gauss considered a possible future route.
He tentatively viewed his core skill [Mage Armor] as having growth potential, and the race aptitude [Rapid Digestion], gained from goblins, also possessed “growth potential.”
In the future, stacking levels in both core skill and race aptitude, and linking them together—wouldn’t that achieve a synergy greater than the sum?
He could completely protect himself with a “shield,” then consume food items or other special supplies, then use the upgraded Rapid Digestion to quickly restore mana; with restored mana, he could cast more spells; if Mage Armor wore off, he could recast it; if mana ran low, he could take more supplies to restore mana... and loop continuously—like a spell turret.
Of course, this depended on his own mana, Mage Armor, and Rapid Digestion all growing together—none could be missing.
The idea was solid, but the path had to be walked step by step.
Gauss reined in his thoughts.
That entire train of thought had taken very little time.
Now, with the two kobolds down, the other kobolds hurriedly gathered from various directions.
“Woah!!!”
For a moment, kobold cries echoed throughout the cave.
By firelight, those little lizard-headed creatures trembled as they lifted their weapons and stared toward the darkness.
They were timid and valued survival, but seeing their companions die harshly, they knew they had to take up arms and kill the enemy.
"Leave none alive!"
The team, already geared up and brimming with the frustration of crawling through the passage, now had their fighting spirit soaring.
The group charged forward.
Compared to the skinny and short kobolds, they were like giants storming ahead, unstoppable.
The moment they clashed, the kobolds were instantly crushed.
Cold blades mercilessly slashed through the kobolds’ not-so-tough lizard-like scales, and dark red blood spurted out, splattering everywhere.
In direct combat, kobolds, with their inferior size and weapons, could gain no advantage against a well-equipped team of adventurers.
In just a short moment, the first wave of kobolds had fallen to the ground.
Gauss also casually took down one kobold with his rapier.
Suddenly, he noticed a dark corner not far away. On a platform along the rock wall, an elderly kobold—smaller than the others and holding a wax stick—had a long, protruding lizard-like snout that was glowing red.
"Left side, watch out!!!"
Gauss quickly warned his teammates.
Soon after his warning, the elevated elderly kobold suddenly spewed a burst of flame from its long snout.
"Boom!!"
A fireball shot toward the group.
Luckily, Gauss had warned them in time, and everyone dodged swiftly, avoiding the blast radius of the fireball.
"Bang!!"
The fireball hit the ground and scattered sparks like fireworks.
That was close! Everyone was startled in their hearts.
Although the fireball’s strength wouldn't be fatal to their armored group, injuries were certain—and nobody wanted to get roasted.
After spewing the flame, the elderly kobold looked even older, its face visibly grayer and more withered.
"A spellcaster?" Gauss quickly shook his head. He sensed no magical fluctuation. "Maybe just a kobold with a mutated organ?"
He then saw the elderly kobold take a deep breath, and red light swelled again in its throat pouch.
This time, with enough reaction time, Gauss wouldn’t let it breathe fire again.
Mage Hand activated and solidified.
Then he pressed it firmly onto the kobold’s lizard-like snout.
"Cough, cough!"
The elderly kobold’s rhythm was disrupted by the sudden force pressing on its snout.
But the flame building in its chest and throat pouch was already past the point of no return.
As fear flashed in its vertical pupils, the red light in its throat suddenly heated up intensely!
"Boom!!!!"
The fire erupted like fireworks, exploding from the kobold’s throat!
Its neck was blasted to pieces by the fiery eruption.
"Thud!"
A lizard head tumbled off the platform and hit the ground, rolling far away.
Its narrow, slit pupils shrank tightly, still showing a trace of fear and confusion.
As if wondering why it had died by its own breath.