Myles wiped the blood from his knife once more and scanned the desolate city. The thrill of the hunt pulsed through him and even though his mana was running low he wasn't ready to stop.He continued his hunt and moving through the ruins of the city like a deadly shadow.The sun that barely in the sky casting long, jagged shadows across the broken buildings and piles of debris. Myles crouched low as he moved from cover to cover using the crumbling walls and shattered cars to his advantage. The destruction already this much even though the apocalypse just happened few hours ago.Every corner seemed to be dangerous whether from mutated humans, feral creatures, or the unstable remnants of the city. But Myles was growing more confident. His steps lighter. He wasn't just surviving but he was starting to adapt to this kind of world.After killing another mutated and horned human with a quick strike to the neck, Myles took a moment to rest and leaned against a dilapidated wall, wiping the sweat from his brow. He didn't get anymore skills from them, just EXP.He opened his status window again and frowned at his mana pool. It was dangerously low after using his skills, almost depleted. Shadow Bind was effective but it consumed too much mana for repeated use."Not sustainable," he muttered to himself, staring at the dwindling number. "I need to figure out a way to increase my mana capacity... or at least pace myself using the usual killing method."The knowledge gnawed at him but he pushed it aside for now. Resting wouldn't solve his problem. He needed to act fast before he became an easy target.His gaze swept the streets ahead, taking note of how the broken buildings could be his allies. They provided him with the perfect cover. He can do stealth kill pretty effectively when his composure is good. After all, in this early stages there's only weak monsters roaming around.He rose from his position and silently moved again. The streets were a maze of buildings, abandoned vehicles, and corpses, perfect for ambushing his prey. As he crept along, he kept his senses sharp, listening for the sounds of creatures nearby.Another mutated human stumbled into view. He was a lone figure with its body hunched with sharp horns protruding from his back and head. He stood in the center of the road, sniffing the air like a predator.Myles considered using Shadow Bind but hesitated to make him kill faster. He couldn't afford to drain his mana any further, not for something as weak as this.Instead, he opted for a more direct approach. He climbed up onto the nearby building, using the debris as a makeshift ladder. From his elevated position, he waited, crouched like a predator waiting for prey. The mutated human wandered closer, oblivious to the danger above him.Then, Myles leapt from his perch and landing silently behind the creature. Before it had time to react he drove his knife into its neck with precision. The creature let out a choked gasp before collapsing to the ground, blood pooling beneath him.The kill was clean, efficient, and most importantly mana-free.Myles stood over the body, wiping his blade that started to dull yet again."I need to rely on my skills less for these weaker ones," he thought. "Save Shadow Bind for when it really matters. Stronger monsters, faster targets... that's when it counts."He thinking of the different ways he could approach each fight. The last thing he needed was to face something powerful without enough mana to fight back.Myles glanced at his status window again, noting the numbers flickering before his eyes.[EXP: 75/100.]He sighed in frustration. Leveling up was taking far longer than he had hoped, and the initial thrill of the hunt was starting to wear thin under the weight of his slow progress."Well, complaining won't change anything," he muttered to himself and shaking his head. "I just need to keep killing."He pushed aside his irritation and set off once more into the ruins to look for more targets.As he wandered through the shattered streets he caught sight of a nearby convenience store. Its glass door hanging ajar and debris scattered across the entrance. A hint of curiosity piqued his interest and he cautiously stepped inside but keeping his senses alert for any lurking threats.The interior was in chaos, filled with overturned shelves and scattered merchandise. Myles moved quickly and scanning the shelves for anything useful. His stomach grumbled, reminding him that he hadn't eaten since the chaos had begun and he been using his energy almost non-stop.He found a few cans of energy drinks and some packaged snacks. He grab them and cracked open the can and took a long sip. The cold liquid was a shock to his system, invigorating him more than he expected.He then munched on the snacks and immediately felt his energy replenishing."Not bad. All of this has become free," he thought with a wry smile, the tension easing as he took a moment to catch his breath.But he knew he couldn't afford to linger. He finished the last of his snacks before steeling himself for the hunt once more.With his energy somewhat restored and his mind clearer, Myles stepped back out into the chaotic world.Myles continued his hunt, knowing he needed six more victims to level up. No longer did he see them as unfortunate souls trapped in this chaotic world with limited choices. Instead, he regarded them solely as sources of EXP, mere stepping stones on his path to power.In the midst of it all, fleeting moments of doubt would creep in, and he found himself questioning his own sanity. Was it truly normal to adapt so easily to a world that had descended into madness?But he quickly pushed that thought aside. Perhaps he wasn't normal at all. After all, it was only those who were truly different who could adjust so rapidly in a world that had become this twisted.So what? It didn't matter right now, he reminded himself.---