Chapter 72: Rewards
Spent most of the day wandering in the woods.
Finally, in the afternoon, Gauss found traces left by goblins on the ground.
There were a few dried small footprints on a gray stone.
"Total Monster Kills: 94"
After killing those 5 goblins last night, he was only 6 short of the target of 100 kills.
If he could find one goblin nest, that would likely meet the quantity requirement.
Not only was Gauss joyous, the two villagers who had been wandering with him in the woods for most of the day were also pleased.
After finding signs of activity, Gauss increased his search efforts around the area.
Finally, in a muddy area, he found a goblin group.
He hid at a distance and observed briefly, noticing this goblin group was relatively small, with only 8 green-skinned creatures enjoying a mud bath.
It was unclear if the 5 goblins from yesterday were also from this group, but even with them, there were only 13.
In terms of size, this group of goblins was also relatively small, with an average height around one meter.
Typically, well-developed goblins can grow to about 1.4 to 1.5 meters tall.
The height disparity between the two types of goblins was very significant.
This is why many people can’t quite figure out goblin combat strength, as even ordinary goblins have varying strengths.
"Wait here for a while, I can handle this myself," Gauss instructed, fearing the two villagers would follow.
Firstly, he felt he could handle it himself, and secondly, worried they might "steal a few kills," leaving him short of 100, which would be frustrating.
"You take care then."
In truth, Gauss worried too much, as the two villagers never planned to help.
Gauss’s figure swiftly traversed through the woods.
He quietly approached near the muddy area.
Perhaps lost in the enjoyment of the mud bath, the goblins’ alertness was greatly reduced.
Gauss was almost upon them before one goblin suddenly noticed his presence.
"Uwah, uwah, uwah!"
As it tried to warn its companions, Gauss stepped foot into the muddy area, just above his ankles.
Pushing off with his foot, mud splattered as it hit the muddy water.
His body quickly closed the distance.
A cold rapier sliced through the air.
From above, it pierced through a goblin’s throat.
"Goblin killed *1"
"Total Monster Kills: 95"
The other goblins, a step slow, scrambled to grab their weapons with hands and feet.
In their terrified eyes, another goblin was quickly beheaded by Gauss.
"Total Monster Kills: 96"
Gauss’s sword grew increasingly precise and deadly.
The near hundred monster kills were not just a simple stacking of numbers, but a reflection of his overall abilities improving.
Kill efficiency, psychological resilience, on-the-spot strategy, an understanding of the respective monsters’ reactions and attack methods...
These abilities and judgments, not represented by numbers, require substantial combat experience to accumulate.
A few minutes later.
When the last goblin thrust its Stone Spear, the spear tip pressed against Gauss’s abdomen, finally absorbed and resisted by an invisible force.
In the goblin’s unwilling gaze, Gauss’s rapier flicked up, severing its neck, and the head fell with a "plop" into the mud.
The battle was over.
Having killed all the goblins, Gauss eagerly looked at the Adventurer’s Handbook.
As expected, once the 100-kill stage was met, the system, as with previous stages, provided a new reward.
"Goblin killed *1"
"Total Monster Kills: 102"
"Reward Gained: Talent [Magic Resistance]"
"[Magic Resistance], based on the quality of your Magic Power, shows corresponding resistance to external hostile spells, thus weakening the effects of enemy spells. The effect of this talent is related to the quality of your Magic Power."
"Reward Gained: Strength +1"
"Next stage: Total Monster Kills to accumulate 200."
A mysterious warm flow quickly surged within Gauss’s body, especially in his muscle tissues, where mysterious energy rapidly permeated as though countless invisible hands kneading continuously.
His muscle fibers visibly became stronger and firm, and the previously slightly loose muscles quickly solidified.
Within several breaths, Gauss felt strength surging significantly throughout his body.
Opening his eyes, Gauss wore a smile, not only for the increase in strength.
Unlike the previous rewards of spells and attribute points, this time there was something new.
He received the talent [Magic Resistance]!
The moment Gauss saw the talent, he couldn’t help but glow with excitement.
Between spells and talents, which holds more value, needs no debate.
Spells, even without the system rewarding them, could theoretically be learned through Spellbooks, teachings from others, or other methods.
But talents are different.
At least according to his current information, other apprentices could only gain corresponding talents upon professional advancement, based on their practiced skills.
And for him?
Without even advancing to a profession, he already possesses two growth-oriented talents.
One is [Rapid Digestion], which improves based on the number of goblins killed, and the other is the newly acquired [Magic Resistance], described as being influenced by his own Magic Power quality.
So theoretically, as his Magic Power grows stronger, his Magic Resistance will also increasingly enhance.
A frightening effect!
Moreover, this Magic Resistance also fills a gap for Gauss.
In fact, a few days ago, when he had just mastered using Mage Armor on other targets, he found in his tests that Mage Armor’s resistance to physical attacks was much stronger than against Magic Attacks.
The moment his Magic Missile hit the Mage Armor, the magic counteraction would cause a disturbance, making the Mage Armor unstable.
He speculated then that either Mage Armor was intrinsically weak against Magic Attacks, or he hadn’t practiced it enough.
But now, having the Magic Resistance talent, he no longer needs to know the reason.
With this talent, facing some Magic Attacks, he would undoubtedly handle it more effortlessly, and perhaps Mage Armor combined with Magic Resistance’s effect will dramatically enhance its spell resistance capabilities.
And once he advances his profession using Mage Armor as a core skill.
The spell itself will further transform, and his Protective strength will stack to a level that’s terrifying for peers.
After swiftly assessing the effect of [Magic Resistance], he glanced at the second reward.
Strength Attribute +1.
Unfortunately, it wasn’t added to the strongest Intelligence Attribute.
He highly suspected the Adventurer’s Handbook reward allocations might not be random.
But adding to Strength wasn’t too bad either, at least feeling the robust power within, Gauss was quite satisfied.
As a Mage apprentice, he has to admit, at least in the early stages, this sword in his hand can greatly assist him.
The enhancement of Strength is a significant boost to his current combat capability.