A little tired from all the information he had absorbed the previous day, Marcus decided to rest. His mind was overloaded with new ideas, concepts, and emotions, something he hadn't experienced in a long time. He laid down on his bed, closed his eyes, and drifted into sleep.
The next morning, he woke up with a sense of urgency. His mind was buzzing with thoughts, and the anticipation of what had changed in his panel was too much to ignore. Without wasting any time, he leaped out of bed and immediately checked the panel.
His heart skipped a beat when he saw the change: Learning Points: 1. Marcus stared at the screen, surprised. Just last night, it was at zero... he thought. He had to figure out what triggered this shift. His mind raced through the events of the previous day, but nothing seemed to explain it.
Suddenly, a thought struck him: Exactly one hour ago, it had been 24 hours since he obtained the panel. That might be it. Was it time that influenced it?
Next, he noticed something new on the panel: a small plus sign next to his Entry-Level Manual. What does this mean?
Intrigued, Marcus tapped the plus sign, and a new option appeared: Upgrade Manual. His pulse quickened. It made sense to use his one learning point for an upgrade, so he didn't hesitate. He selected the option and allocated the point.
As soon as he did, the pain hit him like a lightning bolt. A shockwave of discomfort radiated through his body, unlike anything he had ever felt before. His muscles clenched, and the energy swirled inside him. It was as if his body was trying to absorb a power it was not prepared for.
The pain was overwhelming. It spread from his core to his limbs, his bones aching and burning with each passing second. This is... too much, Marcus thought, his breath ragged. He gritted his teeth and tried to focus, even as the agony intensified. It was as if his body was breaking down and being rebuilt at the same time.
For what felt like an eternity, he endured the pain. His thoughts became a blur, and the passage of time seemed irrelevant. The pain lasted for what felt like 20 minutes, but it was so intense that he could barely keep track. He began to wonder if he would survive this ordeal.
Finally, after what felt like an endless struggle, the pain began to ease. Marcus's body relaxed, and he breathed deeply, trying to regain control. Sweat dripped from his forehead, but there was a sense of relief now that the worst had passed.
With trembling hands, he opened the panel once again, hoping to see some sign of progress. To his amazement, the display now read:
Hunter: Level 1
Marcus blinked, unable to believe his eyes. He had done it. Despite the excruciating pain, he had reached Level 1. It was just the beginning, but the accomplishment filled him with a sense of pride.
The road ahead was still long, and he knew that more challenges awaited him, but now he understood the price of progress. The journey was not just physical—it was a test of endurance, both mental and physical. Marcus had taken his first step, and there was no turning back now.