Boyd's approach of explaining the loop while omitting the creatures was smooth, as if he had done it many tis before.
Smart, Daniel thought, drying his hands on his pants. He doesn't want to scare before I see the loop. Damage control.
It made sense. If Boyd started talking about immortal smiling monsters, any normal person would assu he was insane. It was better to let reality speak for itself.
[You did notice he's testing you, right?]
"I did. He's suspicious and wants to see how I react. Whether I panic or do sothing stupid, Boyd is cautious. Intelligent."
When Daniel left the bathroom, he felt the weight of Boyd's gaze on him. The sun was still high, but the sense that ti was running out was strong, like an invisible clock counting down.
Hours until nightfall. Hours until the monsters ca out.
He took a deep breath, filling his lungs. As night approached, the discomfort grew. But excitent, that old companion, grew as well.
This is going to be interesting.
The wind cut through the afternoon with a harsh murmur, lifting dust and dead leaves along the main street. Daniel sat back down in the sa chair. Kenny went outside to watch for the family's return.
Before Boyd could ask anything, Daniel spoke first.
"Sheriff, how long do you think it'll take for them to co back?"
"About an hour, more or less," Boyd replied.
"Then I'll take a nap. I didn't sleep well last night." Daniel did not want to talk to Boyd right now. The more he spoke, the more likely he was to let sothing slip. He knew how observant the man was.
"That's fine. You can nap on the couch. When they get back, I'll wake you."
Daniel closed his eyes, pretending to relax. Silence filled the room. The clock ticked softly. He took a deep breath and spoke to the System.
"Show the mission rewards."
[Hunter's mory available for absorption. Random skill available. Attribute and skill points.]
"Explain this mory thing better."
[It belonged to a real hunter. mories based on hunting, tracking, traps, and survival. When absorbed, you gain part of their experience and may awaken enhanced, even supernatural abilities.]
"Interesting. And the random skill?"
[It's in your inventory. A sealed card. Tear it ntally to unlock a random ability. Or keep it and live with eternal curiosity. Your choice.]
Daniel rolled his eyes. "Will the mories cause pain or influence in any way?"
[You will feel a mild headache that will pass quickly. Due to your passive skill, the emotions within the mories will not affect you.]
"Great. Integrate the mory first."
When the mories began integrating, heat spread through Daniel's head. A dull, pulsing ache followed, along with fragnts of recollection. Tracks in the mud. The sll of iron in the air. Hands stained with blood. A feeling of instinctive precision.
[New skill acquired: 🕸️Hunter's Web, Level 1 (0/5)]
Type: Active
Uses: 2 tis per day
Description: Creates a trap to capture animals, as long as you have the necessary materials. Can also apply the effect to existing traps.
Effect: 40 percent chance to capture an animal.
[Now all that's left is for you not to fall into your own trap, which, honestly, I doubt.]
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[New skill acquired: 🎯Hunter's Eye, Level 1 (0/5)]
Type: Passive
Description: Improves focus and hand stability.
Effect: 10 percent accuracy with thrown or ranged weapons.
[ 10% accuracy. You are now ten percent less pathetic. Almost average.]
Daniel smiled. "Not bad. The precision skill is pretty useful."
Now that he had silver coins, he opened the shop ntally. Two tabs appeared.
Supernatural: Talisman, 100 coins.
General: Everything imaginable. From groceries to weapon stores, from car dealerships to pet shops. There were even illegal drugs. Naturally, Daniel lingered on the different types of marijuana. At least the afterlife knew how to prioritize essentials.
"Why is there only one item in the supernatural tab?"
[Because you are still weak. The System evolves alongside you.]
"I prefer the term 'in a refinent phase,' thank you."
At least he could buy a talisman in case of an ergency, since with it the creatures couldn't enter houses.
He thought of the sealed card and tore it ntally. A blue flash lit the edge of his vision.
[New skill acquired: 📡Danger Wi-Fi, Level 1 (0/5)]
Type: Active
Uses: 2 tis per day
Description: Emits an energy that detects creatures within a 50-ter radius. Hostile entities are marked in red, peaceful ones in white.
Effect: Creates a mini map for 1 minute.
[Congratulations. Now you know sothing wants to eat you. Good luck figuring out what.]
He stayed silent for a few seconds, processing. "This one is actually useful. Finally, a skill that saves lives."
Even though it was not passive, knowing he could detect sothing before it attacked brought real comfort. He was still scared of being in a horror world. Of course he was. But for the first ti, he had a tool that could make a difference.
Daniel focused on his status screen to distribute his available points.
[HUNTER NU]
Status: Alive [For now]
Life Level: 1 – Common Human
Strength: 12
Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 10 → 11
Speed: 11
After placing one point into intelligence to reach the threshold, he felt so hazy thoughts beco clearer, nothing drastic. A pale blue glow swept across his vision, and a loud beep echoed in his mind.
[All Primary Attributes have reached Threshold 11 or higher. Congratulations!]
[Life Level increased: Common Human ➜ Peak Human]
[Reward: 1 Attribute Point, 1 Skill Point]
He still had two attribute points remaining and added both to speed.
The mont he confird the distribution, a warm wave coursed through his body. His muscles tightened for a second. It did not hurt, but the sensation was strange, as if every fiber were being recalibrated. His reflexes sharpened, subtle but undeniable.
In a world where monsters followed their own rules, running could be the difference between living and becoming a statistic.
Or maybe they did not run not because they could not, but because they chose not to. The thought sent a chill up his spine.
[HUNTER NU]
Status: Alive [For now]
Life Level: 1 – Peak Human
Strength: 12
Endurance: 11
Intelligence: 11
Speed: 11 → 13
The silence inside the house was heavy. Daniel tried to understand the System's power scale.
"Why didn't I reach Level 2? If all attributes are at eleven or higher, that should be a full level up."
[You did not gain a Level. You gained a Sub-Level, genius. Think of each Life Level as a staircase with three or four steps. You were on the 'Common Human' step. Now you are on 'Peak Human,' which is the last step of Level 1. Reaching Level 2 requires a Threshold of 15 in all base attributes, which, by the way, is a cruel joke at your current state.]
He rubbed his face in resignation. "So I'm a 'Peak Human' stuck in Level 1's comfort zone. Great."
After lying there for a while, he actually dozed off.
He woke when Kenny returned, breathless, sweat on his forehead.
"Sheriff." The urgency in his voice made Boyd straighten. "The trailer is coming back."
Boyd's already tense expression grew heavier, the lines around his eyes deepening.
Daniel stood, yawning, picked up the bag leaning against the wall, and slung it over his shoulder with an almost provocative calm. Far too calm for soone who should have been scared.
"So it's now." He adjusted the strap, the leather creaking softly. "I'll see with my own eyes if what you said is true."
"Don't forget what I told you about not saying anything to them," the sheriff said as he opened the door.
Daniel nodded and walked toward the road. He stopped with one hand in his pocket and the other gripping the strap of the bag on his shoulder. Boyd and Kenny watched from the porch.
Even aware of Boyd's assessing stare, Daniel did not care. He could always claim he was used to stressful situations because of his work.
Which was true. He rembered the ti he had been trapped in an avalanche, or the ti he almost drowned while surfing during a storm. Daniel just had to stay alert and avoid saying anything that revealed he already knew about the place and the monsters.
The sound of the trailer approached, the old engine echoing through the empty street. It stopped in front of Daniel with a sharp squeal of brakes, kicking up a cloud of dust.
He waved and walked to the window. Jim looked visibly disoriented, hands gripping the steering wheel with unnecessary force. Tabitha seed frightened, her pale face contrasting with the dark interior.
"Why did you co back? Did sothing happen?" Daniel asked, putting on an expression of feigned curiosity and confusion.
Jim scratched the back of his neck. "Yeah, we probably missed the highway entrance." He glanced at the bag on Daniel's shoulder, frowning. "What happened? Are you leaving already?"
"Kenny saw you coming back and told Boyd. I took the chance to ask for another ride. The chanic left town, and it seems the sheriff didn't know." He nodded toward the porch, where the sheriff watched in silence.
Jim looked at him questioningly, and Boyd nodded, slow and deliberate.
Julie leaned forward, her eyes shining with concern. "I don't think it's a good idea to leave Daniel here alone. This place doesn't feel safe."
Ethan chid in eagerly. "Please, Dad. He's cool!"
Tabitha exchanged a quick look with Jim, sothing unspoken passing between them. Jim sighed, the sound heavy with resignation. "Fine. Get in, before I change my mind."
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