Linda handed him the weapon with a neutral but expectant look. Then, without saying a word, she gave him a worn-out pamphlet titled: "The Most Basic Method for Training the Body."
"This should be enough for someone in your situation," Linda remarked dryly. "Don't expect miracles, butMarcus took the pamphlet and carefully placed it in his backpack.
"
"Sure,
Determined, Marcus headed to the mission board. Although Linda mentioned there were modern devices that allowed hunters to receive missions directly, he couldn't afford one yet. For now, he had to settle for the old physical board hanging in the shelter's lobby.
The board was packed with notes, each detailing the available missions. Marcus skimmed through a few with interest.
Hunt a Vampire (Grade C)Reward: 50 medium ether stones.Note: The vampire is suspected to be hiding in an abandoned village to the south.
Marcus paused for a moment. His revolver, loaded with 10 special bullets, was worth only 2 ether stones. This job seemed dangerous, but the reward was tempting.
Hunt a Dragon (Grade A)Reward: 500 medium-quality ether stones (equivalent to 50,000 normal stones).Note: The beast has caused destruction in the northern mountains.
The very idea of facing a dragon seemed absurd. If hunting a dragon is just Grade A, he thought, I don't even want to imagine what's above that. He also understood the immense power gap between monsters and humans, even for experienced hunters.
Hunt a Ghoul (Grade F)Reward: 25 normal ether stones.Note: Attacks have been reported near the black market on the city's eastern side.
This mission seemed far more accessible, but Marcus knew that, at his current level, he didn't yet qualify to take it. Frustrated but determined, he chose to return to his room and start with the pamphlet Linda had given him.
Opening it, the first pages detailed basic exercises designed to increase physical strength and endurance through the use of ether energy. The method seemed simple but effective: it combined rigorous physical training with breathing techniques to absorb and refine small amounts of ether into the body.
"Step by step," Marcus thought, closing the pamphlet with a mix of determination and anxiety. He was clear that before facing any monster, he had to strengthen his body and learn to harness energy. This would be the first of many steps in his journey as a hunter.