Undead Tyrant: Evolving from a Skeleton - Chapter 4

Translator: Simple MTL Editor: Simple MTL

After immersing himself in the huge harvest of increasing his attributes by two to three times, the joy he felt gradually faded away.

In fact, for the attributes that he devoured, Bruce was still somewhat dissatisfied.

In the beginning, he could absorb 0.2 attribute values from each skeleton on average, but later, the attribute values absorbed from each skeleton decreased to 0.1.

Until now, he needed to absorb several skeletons in order to obtain 0.1 attribute points.

The benefits of the [ devour ] talent were decreasing.

Actually, it wasn’t so complicated and was very easy to understand.

This was the periphery of the boneyard. The skeletons that lived there were the weakest existences even among the most trashy monster races in the second world.

Level 1 to Level 3 were weak skeletons.

Level 4 to Level 6 were normal skeletons.

Level 7 to Level 9 were strong skeletons.

Even if it was a “solid skeleton,” its four-dimensional attributes were still so miserable that it was unbearable to even look at.

For example, Bruce’s level had risen from Level 1 to Level 4, and he had received a total of three attribute increases.

From Level 1 to Level 2, his vitality had increased by 0.5; from Level 2 to Level 3, his strength had increased by 0.5; from Level 3 to Level 4, his vitality had increased by 0.5.

In other words, every time a skeleton’s level increased, it would only receive a 0.5 increase in attributes.

Moreover, this 0.5 increase in attributes was random.

With such a growth rate, even if a Level-1 skeleton rose to Level 9, its four-dimensional attributes added together would only increase by 4 points compared to when it was at Level 1!

On average, in terms of strength, agility, and vitality, each attribute would increase by 1.3 points.

In other words, leaving aside the spirit attribute, a Level 9 strong skeleton’s strength, agility, and vitality were all around 2.0.

This was far lower than Bruce’s current four-dimensional attributes.

Bruce’s [ devour ] talent was essentially to absorb the essence of the skeletons that he had killed to strengthen his skeleton body.

Bruce was weak, and each of the skeletons there was probably just as strong as him, or even more. Their skeletons were also stronger and sturdier than Bruce’s.

The essence absorbed from such skeletons would naturally allow Bruce’s skeleton body to be strengthened rapidly.

When it was displayed on the attributes panel, it was an increase in attributes value.

When Bruce’s level increased and his attributes increased, his bones would also become stronger and sturdier than those of the other skeletons. The essence absorbed from their skeletons would naturally not be enough for Bruce’s bones to be strengthened rapidly.

When it was displayed on the attribute panel, the income from attribute values was getting lower and lower.

Therefore, it was not that [ devour ]’s talent was not strong enough, but the skeleton essence provided by the skeletons could no longer keep up with Bruce’s needs as he gradually became stronger.

According to Bruce’s calculation, when the four-dimensional attributes of the skeletons reached or exceeded half of his own, the essence absorbed from the skeletons would quickly increase the strength of his bones.

In that case, he had to give up on the low-level skeletons and look for higher-level skeletons to devour.

Level 8 and Level 9 skeletons would be enough to satisfy his needs.

However, at a glance, although there were skeletons all over the periphery of the boneyard, even Level 7 skeletons were very rare and difficult to find. It was harder to come upon Level 8 and Level 9 skeletons.

Without high-level skeletons, he could only hunt ordinary skeletons and weak skeletons. This way, the speed of his absorption of essence would be greatly reduced.

He even needed to hunt several ordinary skeletons or a dozen weak skeletons to gain 0.1 attribute growth.

This was definitely not what Bruce wanted. He wanted to increase his strength to be strong enough before humans logged into the game or to even crush humans, the “fourth natural disaster.”

“It’s time to head to the depths of the boneyard,” he muttered.

Looking at his status panel again, Bruce made up his mind. He held a leg bone that he had taken from a strong Level-7 skeleton and walked lightly into the deeper parts of the boneyard.

The boneyard was very big.

With Bruce’s speed, it took him half a day to walk from the edge of the boneyard to the position near the inner layer.

Along the way, he killed quite a few skeletons.

Although these skeletons did not give him many attribute points, they increased his level from Level 4 to Level 5. Along with his physique attributes, he also increased from 3.7 to 4.2. In one leap, that became Bruce’s highest attribute!

Starting from the edge of the boneyard, the deeper he went, the thicker the aura of death.

Similarly, the stronger the aura of death was, the more powerful the undead would be.

At the edge of the boneyard, Level 1 to Level 3 skeletons were the norm. Level 4 to Level 6 skeletons were relatively rare. Level 7 to Level 9 skeletons were as rare as diamonds.

However, in the inner layer of the boneyard, Level 7 to Level 9 skeletons were the norm!

With a four-dimensional attribute that was more than twice that of a Level 9 skeleton, Bruce did not hesitate. After reaching the boundary between the outer layer and the inner layer, he walked straight towards the inner layer of the boneyard.

However, just as he entered the inner layer of the boneyard, Bruce stopped his footsteps, only to hear the creaking sounds of bones crisscrossing.

A special skeleton appeared in his field of vision!

“A Level 9 skeleton soldier!” he muttered.

The aura of death in the inner layer of the boneyard was even denser than the outer layer. It was not surprising that a Level 9 skeleton was there.

What surprised him was that this was a skeleton soldier with a class template. It was not an ordinary skeleton!

Just like players who had reached Level 10 and could change their class by completing quests, obtaining mage apprentices, warrior apprentices, assassin apprentices, and other classes, a human-shaped monster like a skeleton could also obtain a class template!

As for beast-type monsters, the corresponding attribute templates would be the same.

Having a job template and not having a job template were two completely different concepts.

The growth rate of a normal skeleton was only 0.5.

Moreover, when the level was raised, a 0.5 attribute was randomly added to the four main attributes, which was really an uncertain value.

The growth rate of a skeleton soldier was at least 2 points, and it was a fixed attribute bonus!

In other words, for a skeleton soldier with a class template, the growth rate of its strength when its level was increased by 1 level was even greater than the growth rate of a skeleton from Level 1 to Level 9!

This Level 9 skeleton soldier could at least be considered an elite monster.

“A Level 9 skeleton…” he murmured.

In the inner layer of the boneyard, Bruce was watching the skeleton soldier that was much stronger than ordinary skeletons. It was holding a bone sword and a bone shield. The green light in Bruce’s eyes flickered slightly.

He did not know when this skeleton soldier had obtained the class template.

If it was in a recent level, with its four-dimensional attributes that far surpassed ordinary skeletons, it could still kill it and turn its bones into nutrients for its further growth.

If he had obtained the class template from the beginning, from Level 1 to Level 9, then this skeleton soldier had obtained at least 16 attribute growth points. In addition to the skeleton soldier’s fixed attribute growth method, this skeleton soldier’s strength might far surpass his own!

“I can’t be careless.”

After muttering to himself for a while, Bruce temporarily had the thought of retreating.

With his [ devour ] talent, if he killed a few more strong skeletons in the inner layer of the boneyard, his four-dimensional attributes would rapidly grow again.

At that time, it would not be too late to harvest this skeleton soldier.

However, just as he was about to leave, the skeleton soldier not far away suddenly turned around, its eyes flickering with green soul fire looking in Bruce’s direction.

He had been discovered!

Without waiting for Bruce to make any movements, the skeleton soldier held up its sword and shield. Its mouth opened and closed rapidly, making “da da da” sounds as it rushed towards Bruce at an extremely fast speed!

Bruce knew that it would be difficult to escape this Level 9 skeleton soldier. He knew it would definitely be too late to run.

Judging from its movement speed, this Level 9 skeleton soldier’s speed was definitely a few times faster than his.

Bruce knew that if he ran, he would still get caught.

Then he had no other option. He had to enter into a duel with this strong opponent!