Just as John started to gather his thoughts, an eerie, guttural laughter echoed from the surrounding bushes, spreading from every direction.
His stomach churned with dread as realization struck. "Damn it... hyenas!"
Through the dim light, he could make out pairs of yellow-green eyes gleaming menacingly in the shadows. At least a dozen of the scavengers were encircling him, their rancid stench wafting through the night air.
Suddenly, one bold hyena lunged forward. Without hesitation, John fired his rifle.
The gunshot echoed loudly, and the charging hyena crumpled to the ground. The rest of the pack scattered, startled by the noise.
John immediately sprang to one knee, his rifle pressed against his shoulder. His eyes darted around, scanning the surroundings for any remaining threats. Despite his racing heart, his movements were swift, almost instinctive, as if ingrained in his very being.
After confirming the danger had passed, he collapsed onto the ground, panting heavily. The tension in his body gradually eased as his nerves settled.
From behind him, he heard a soft rustling. Turning his head, he saw the lion cub cautiously crawling toward him, trembling visibly. The earlier gunfire had clearly frightened it.
John sighed, his voice laced with exhaustion. "Didn't that damn system say it would upgrade my body? Why did I black out and wake up in the middle of the night? I was nearly a midnight snack for those hyenas!"
Ding!
The mechanical voice of the assistant chimed in his mind again, making him flinch.
"Congratulations, Host. Your physical enhancements are complete. The beginner's package has been delivered. Please check your status."
John groaned. "Can you not scare the hell out of me like that?"
"Apologies. I am merely the basic AI for the Mercenary System, not a human."
John rolled his eyes. "Fine, fine. Forget it. How do I check this... package or my status?"
"The system will display your current stats directly on your retina. You can view them at your convenience."
"Alright," John muttered. "Let's see what's changed. I do feel stronger, and handling this AK is becoming second nature."
The moment the words left his lips, a translucent interface appeared before his eyes, displaying a detailed breakdown of his stats. It looked like something straight out of a video game.
Host: John Walker
Age: 24 Height: 6'1" (185 cm) Level: Rookie Mercenary (Just mastered basic skills; combat ability is minimal.)
Attributes:
Strength: 10
Constitution: 10
Agility: 10
Reaction: 10
Speed: 10
Endurance: 10
(Note: Average values for a healthy male are all 10.)
Available Attribute Points: 0 Mercenary Points: 50
Skills:
Basic Hand-to-Hand Combat (Level 1)
Basic Firearms Handling (Level 2)
Basic Survival Skills (Level 1)
Basic Driving Skills (Level 3)
Basic Languages (Proficient in English and French)
John stared at the floating stats, feeling a mix of intrigue and disbelief. "So... I'm just an average Joe for now? Great."
He grinned wryly. "Guess this explains why I'm getting the hang of this AK. But what the hell do I do with these 'mercenary points'?"
The assistant's monotone voice responded promptly: "Mercenary Points can be used to upgrade skills, purchase equipment, or unlock advanced features in the system. As the host completes tasks and gains experience, more points will become available."
John rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "Alright then, I guess this might not be so bad... as long as it keeps me alive."