Sitting beside the ghoul's corpse, Marcus tries to process what just happened. It was his first time firing a gun, and instead of feeling nervous or afraid, he feels exhilarated. A rush of adrenaline courses through his veins, filling him with energy, though it leaves him slightly drained. As he works to calm his pounding heart, a mix of emotions surges within him: pride, surprise, and a hint of fear over what he had just accomplished.
He knows he can't linger here for too long. The town's streets aren't quiet enough for him to stay unnoticed with a dead body. Seizing the moment, he opens his panel to take stock of his progress. To his surprise, he notices he's gained an additional learning point. Without much hesitation, he invests it into the Basic Body Refinement Method, which immediately upgrades to the advanced level.
The decision, though promising, comes with a cost. An intense pain surges through his body, unlike anything he's ever felt before. Every fiber of his muscles feels as though it's being torn apart and rebuilt simultaneously. His skin burns, his bones tremble under the strain, and his mind screams that he shouldn't have been so hasty. But the desire to advance had clouded his judgment.
After five grueling minutes, the pain finally subsides. Gasping for breath, Marcus forces himself to check his panel again. The improvements are significant:
Strength: +3Agility: +3Constitution: +4Hunter Energy: 2.8
He smiles at the progress but also reflects on the challenges ahead. To reach level two, he would need to raise his Hunter Energy to 5 and all his physical attributes to 20. The road ahead was undoubtedly long and full of obstacles.
Turning his attention to the ghoul's corpse, he realizes he can't just leave it there. Searching for a solution, he finds a black garbage bag large enough to cover the body. With some effort, he drags the ghoul into the bag and hauls it to the trunk of the old car he stole. Relieved to have a means of transportation, even if it's crude, he sets off for the tavern.
As he drives back, thoughts swirl in his mind. He recalls overhearing in the inn about arcane masters, individuals who create storage artifacts that would make tasks like this far easier. However, he knows obtaining one is beyond his current means.
Finally, he arrives at the tavern, where Linda greets him. She can't hide her surprise when she sees him return with a trophy from his hunt.
—Are you serious? —she says, eyeing the black bag with curiosity. —In just three days? You've already made your first kill?
Marcus nods, exhausted but satisfied. Linda smiles, though a hint of disbelief lingers, and she adds:
—Didn't expect you to move so quickly. You might have potential, Marcus.